The dynamics of the show have changed somewhat this year and, while many of the familiar nursery names were in attendance, what really stood out were the numerous new exhibitors, with products that hadn't been seen in the UK before. Many retailers have said that having concentrated more time this year on the smaller, new companies at the show, they have discovered some really exciting new lines.

The Launchpad exhibitors, in the main, were thrilled with the contacts that they made. For most it was a first time opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the large multiple retailers - and for a lucky few - seeing them sign on the dotted line of their order books.

The Baby and Child Recognition Awards (BACRAs) added an electric element of anticipation on the first day of BPA Baby & Child while judges spent the morning visiting the short-listed entrants before meeting to make their final decisions. This excitement carried through to the evening when the winners were announced at the BPA Party & Awards night at the National Motorcycle Museum - great fun and a chance for everyone to mingle and let their hair down after what had proved a very busy first day.

The Concept Awards add a dynamic element to the show and a different angle to the Baby Products Association and what it strives to achieve for the nursery industry. They encourage ideas and innovation and provide a platform to bring these to fruition, to the point where they may be considered for launch into the nursery market. In fact in recent years, many of the products entered into Concepts at their earliest development stage, have subsequently made it from the drawing board to the retail stores.  Entrants include university students, inventors, companies and individuals - often mums - who have an idea that they would like to pursue further.

The run up to the announcement of the Concept winner, which takes place each year at BPA Baby & Child, is a stringent process which takes almost a year to complete. In order to be short-listed, entrants are required to present their prototypes and a sound business plan to a panel of experts (a bit like BBC's Dragon's Den). From here the chosen finalists are invited to showcase their concept at the show.

The four finalists this year were extremely impressive. The winning product, ‘the Wean Machine', the brainchild of Tilly Beazeley and her partner Phil Jackson, is a portable, self-contained product to quickly and easily mash a baby's food. It is a simple and very effective product which allows parents to give their children healthy organic food, even while on the move. Following the success of Concept, Tilly hopes that the product will now go into production and be available for sale in the UK shortly.

The Snooze Chair, which has been developed by Sophie King and Alison Raphael, imitates the motion of a car and promises tired parents an alternative option from car rides in the middle of the night trying to get baby to sleep. The product attracted significant interest from retailers as did the Easidream rolling rocking cot developed by Lynda Harding. Peter Dabbs, who until recently was a student at Coventry University entered his unique project design of a car seat which can be lifted and carried on the shoulders.

With the added attraction this year of the Product Demonstration Arena and some top quality seminars, all-in-all I believe that the majority of exhibitors and visitors enjoyed a great show.

BPA's announcement that BPA Baby & Child 2009 is moving to ExCel in London next year from 11th to 13th October has been warmly received. I believe that this move will inject a new lease of life into the show. We have already been contacted by many exhibitors and visitors who chose not to join us in Birmingham, advising that they will be returning next year.

London will not only offer an easily accessible location for most (while I do appreciate that the Docklands Light Railway isn't everyone's cup of tea), but it will also give the opportunity for people to mix a bit of pleasure with business and visit some of the UK's top tourist attractions. BPA is currently negotiating competitive hotel rates which will make staying in London a very attractive option for many. We will be continually updating details on the show website at http://www.babyandchildfair.co.uk/ - so do check regularly for more information.

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