BPA Retail as a separate organisation with it own aims and objectives and its own management structure, has been created with the express purpose of supporting, guiding and representing the UK’s nursery products retailers. The Association is very much now up and running and the inaugural meeting of the BPA Retail Council took place during the Harrogate Fair.

This Council is made up of prominent members of the nursery retail sector and you can find out more about them, gain an insight into what the association has to offer you as a nursery retailer and see the growing list of BPA Retail members on the new website www.bpa-retail.org.

When you join BPA Retail you will receive a certificate of membership and a window sticker testifying to your best practice approach to retailing in the sector. As a member you will receive regular e-bulletins keeping you up to date with the industry and can have exclusive use of our safety pages on your website.

You will receive a range of membership services and privileges and have exclusive access to the online forum to discuss issues real-time with other members. Naturally you will be able to use the BPA Retail logo on your stationery and website and will also receive completely free of charge three months PR from our retained agents Evolution PR.

We have now sent out over a hundred membership packs since Harrogate so please give BPA Retail a call on 0845 456 9587 for your pack, or of course, visit the website.

NEW SECOND-HAND GOODS LEAFLET

This year alone we have sent out another 37,000 of our two second-hand goods leaflets. These form part of our campaign to inform and enlighten the buying population of the dangers associated with some second-hand baby products.

We are about to publish a third leaflet and for the first time this will be aimed at the sellers of such products. It is our contention that many sellers of child seats, pushchairs, cots and safety barriers do so just to empty their loft or garage of items no longer required. With environmental awareness rapidly on the increase they have no desire to just dump them and with the omnipresent eBay it is easier to get some cash for them.

We believe that if sellers are made aware of the latent dangers of what they might be selling it might deter them from doing so. Naïve? Maybe… but we prefer to think most of the nation has a conscience.

EXHIBITING: YOUR BUSINESS

Once again the BPA is holding its very popular exhibitor seminar. Whether you exhibit at BPA Baby & Child or not it’s a valuable day for anyone involved in organising a company’s presence at any exhibition, and is especially effective when used as a staff training day.

This year the seminar is entitled ‘Exhibiting: Your Business’ and will be held at the Birmingham NEC on June 27th. The day will include:

• Coffee on arrival
• Presentations covering all aspects of successful exhibiting including PR, pre-show activity, effective exhibiting
• An opportunity to talk to the editors of the trade press
• Networking opportunities
• ‘Meet The Visitor’ – your chance to find out what drives a visitor to YOUR stand
• Buffet lunch
• The opportunity to talk to exhibition service providers
• Conference notes sent to all delegates after the event.

Early booking is advisable as places are limited. For a booking form, please email jenny@babyandchildfair.co.uk

BPA NURSERY RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2007

Entries for the 2007 Awards are now invited from every UK independent nursery retailer.

The Awards recognise best practice amongst independents, encouraging the highest levels of customer service, and the willingness to embrace and work with the challenges of modern-day retailing. Once again this year the awards are sponsored by Recaro.

The results will be announced at the BPA Party & Awards Night on Sunday 7th October in Birmingham, after the first day of BPA Baby & Child.

To request an entry form email info@b-p-a.org or visit the BPA Retail website www.bpa-retail.org

BPA AGENTS’ REGISTER

We are often asked the question by suppliers as to whether we could recommend an agent to them to handle their products. After some consideration we have decided to compile a register of agents with the necessary experience and track record for the use of our supplier members when required. If you are an agent and believe you should be on this list please contact us on info@b-p-a.org

OTHER NEWS

Clothing Retailer Charged - Following an investigation by Trading Standards a well known high street retailer has just been fined after being found guilty of selling a child’s garment with a functioning hood cord. Such garments were banned under Statutory Instrument (SI 1976 Part 2) back in the 1970’s after a child had been killed when the cord became caught on a slide. For a full list of standards and regulations visit the BPA or BPA Retail website or consult our Yearbook.

Tel: 0845 456 9570
Email: info@b-p-a.org
Web: www.b-p-a.org

Peter White
Chief Executive BPA