Hello,

Putting together my first issue of Nursery Industry has been a challenging, but ultimately rewarding experience and I am looking forward to taking the magazine forward into 2009 and beyond. Having talked extensively with manufacturers, suppliers and retailers at the Harrogate Nursery Fair, I couldn't wait until May to bring you the review - check it out now on page 17! On page 10 we bring you Editor's Choice, highlighting good new products, while over on page 20 we find out what retailers can do to support Nursery Education at home. What's more, in the first of a series of interviews with retailers across the UK, we talk to Sally Starley, founder of Tiny Tots in Ashford Kent.

Child safety manufacturer Clippasafe is lobbying the Government to introduce tighter laws following the release of the latest figures showing 2,671 children killed or seriously injured on England's roads in 2007. 

Kicsi, the new funky baby wear range has been given a financial boost to help its launch with a business start-up grant from The Prince's Trust. Elaine Player, founder of Kicsi, has been awarded this grant having signed up to The Prince's Trust's Business programme.

The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), widely used in the manufacture of baby bottles and other food and drink containers, has been the subject of fierce debate in recent weeks. The United States has banned its use in the manufacture of baby bottles following growing concerns about the link with heart disease and diabetes. Six American manufacturers made the decision to remove BPA from their bottles ahead of the ban, but will continue selling bottles containing BPA in the UK - prompting anger among campaigners.

The Practical Pre-School Awards 2009, the definitive awards scheme for pre-school and early year's products which identifies and rewards excellence, is now open for entries. 

Whether you're a Dancing Queen or a Rock Star, Silly Souls make an ideal gift & keepsake for a baby's first pair of shoes.  They come with their own collector's tin, which can be used as a money box or lunch box.

Hippychick has signed an exclusive deal with Dusky Moon to bring its brand new Dream Tubes product to market.  An easy to use and completely portable double-sided bed guard, Dream Tubes consists of a fitted sheet with two integral pockets and two sturdy inflatable tubes. You simply place the specially designed soft cotton fitted sheet onto the bed, inflate the tubes and zip them into the pockets.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and fdf (Foundation Degree Forward) have joined forces to offer more support to smaller businesses facing skills gap issues. In particular, they are promoting the kind of support available through Foundation degree programmes provided by universities and colleges across the UK.

The baby products testing organization TIPS has awarded Yes! SuperBaby with the prestigious Clever Idea Award for both the Miracle Scarf and Miracle Band. Founded by Midwife and Mother & Baby Consultant, Sharon Trotter, the TIPS Award scheme uses parents to independently and impartially test products.

John Crane Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Pilkington as Managing Director.  Simon left his position as Managing Director of John Adams and Toy Brokers Limited, to take up his new post at the beginning of this month.

Early Years & Primary Teaching and Special Needs North 2009 is taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April at Manchester Central (www.teachingexhibitions.co.uk).  The show will bring together over 6,000 teaching professionals, parents and carers and offer a hub of advice and resources for early years and Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Taga - the innovative and stylish three-wheeled vehicle which combines a pushchair and child carrying bicycle is set to launch in the UK this month and has already exploded into the world of design by winning the ‘Red Dot Product Design Award 2009'; its third award in seven months.

Newbury based CN Sales and Marketing appointed kids and parenting specialist PR Agency Norton & Company to help launch their latest product, the Original BabyDam Bathwater Barrier, to consumer audiences at the beginning of this year.

Six months before it opens, all the indications once again point to a successful Kind + Jugend. Established brands along with numerous first-time exhibitors have already registered for the event, which will be held from 17th to 20th September in Cologne. Compared to the same period last year, more registrations have been received and more exhibition space booked.

Medela, producer of technologically advanced breast pumps and The BabaSlingTM have teamed up with Babybase, wholesaler of baby products to the independent nursery trade, to help bolster their position within the nursery sector.

The multi-award winning manufacturer Little Helper has announced the appointment of Dutch nursery distributor Bacookie to distribute its products exclusively in Holland.

The date and venue for Christmas in July 2009, the toy industry's premier long-lead press event, is now confirmed. After huge success in 2008, the organisers, Evolution PR Ltd, are to keep the venue the same, the Hellenic Centre in Marylebone - whilst the date has been confirmed as Friday 10th of July 2009.

A fascination with celebrities and their offspring has upped the ante in the new mum fashion stakes.  Without the benefit of a celebrity entourage - stylist, make-up artist, etc - how to look effortlessly chic on the school run? OiOi has the answer.  Accessories, shoes and bags are quick ways for fashionistas to add a fashion fix to their outfits and a sophisticated OiOi baby bag merges the practical with high-end fashion - without the movie star price tag.

From this month, the popular Difrax bottles and cups will be available in a brand new packaging; namely, a de luxe box with window. Vivienne van Eijkelenborg, Managing Director of Difrax, commented: ‘Parents often choose which bottle or cup to buy only when they're standing in front of the shop shelf. So the most important features of the product must be clear in a single glance. With the new packaging, all the features of the product can be clearly presented and the products themselves look very attractive on the shelf.

Jané's EXO, 3rd generation ISOFIX car seat uses a Pneumatic Absorption System (PAS) that works to reduce the force of an impact by up to 4Gs when compared to conventional ISOFIX car seats, it is claimed.

In a parents' survey undertaken by baby sleep experts The Gro Company, 61% of new parents say their biggest worry is ensuring the safe sleep of their baby and just under half of all parents (45%) say their concern over safe sleep is being able to monitor their baby's temperature accurately.

When it comes to fixing the seat in the car, at least 75% rely on the seat belt to keep the infant seat securely in place. Over 80% of parents surveyed have experienced the seat belt securing that infant seat coming adrift while driving.

Gopak, the UK leader in lightweight, foldable and stackable products, has released a brand new product catalogue with a fresh look that makes it easier than ever for customers to find the exact products they need.

Gopak, the UK leader in lightweight, foldable and stackable products has launched a new website that's set to streamline customers' online experience.

Bushbaby has designed a range of attractively decorated mini-packs for children which sport safety reins providing children with independence with a safety net.  The mini-packs can be filled with a child's essentials providing them with a sense of independence, however they aren't totally free: the mini-pack's detachable reins retain parental control.

This year saw the 40th anniversary of the Harrogate Nursery Fair, and with more than 160 exhibitors it was certainly an encouraging start to 2009 for the nursery industry. The prominent names were joined by a host of smaller suppliers, which served to provide visiting retailers and buyers with a mosaic of product stands to visit and people to meet.

Dealing with Trading Standards is part of every day life for Nursery companies large and small. Both sides of this relationship work hard to achieve the right balance. Nobody wants the industry tainted by rogue elements. At times, however, it can be frustrating for companies and many would welcome a more sympathetic regime.

The government's answer is the new Compliance Code for Regulators. In theory this should help companies but what is the reality? The Code has at its heart a set of obligations on regulators. These are highly relevant to enforcement action and will be quoted by TSO's and companies alike. So what are they? Michael Morse investigates

A baby carrier that doubles as a baby wrap, the award winning Shelter fleece from the Dutch company Lodger is now available in cotton.

Hippychick is delighted to bring you a fabulous new product from Dusky Moon.  Dream Tubes is a revolutionary, high quality and easy to use bed guard for a child moving from a cot into a single bed, and its efficient and portable packaging make it ideal for those trips away.

For an incredible £149.99 City Bug is a compact, nippy little stroller that has a comfy padded multi-recline seat that's suitable from birth.  Plus it comes with Petite Star's group 0+ infant car seat that locks simply onto the stroller when you need it.

There's more good news for British retailers from kiddy; the group 1 infinity pro and the group 1/2/3 comfort pro are now available in Racing Black. The new design is made of matt black washable cotton fabric, with chic white highlights, and it has been especially designed to meet the tastes of UK consumers.

This was the third time Leebruss has attended the Harrogate Nursery Fair and it proved to be their most successful show to date, many new accounts were opened at the fair and sales figures were up on last years show by 15% as a result. The new Premier patterns on display were once again greatly received with the Polka Mallow taking the majority of interest. Of the ABC Design collection the new carbon coloured 3Tec and Zoom were in high demand but it was the Limited Edition Crocodile 3Tec that surpassed all expectations, with a limited number in production, over half the available amount were ordered at the show, with its bright colours and classy design it's an obvious choice for turning heads and drawing attention.

The Content&Calm Cot Canopy had a fantastic show at Harrogate.  "Our stand in Hall Q was busy from the start - we couldn't be more delighted!" commented Solvej Biddle, creator and brainchild behind this must-have product.  "Lots of new orders, lots of excitement - and with the product arriving at the beginning of May, great timing too."

The Harrogate Fair gave us a great opportunity to launch our latest product, the Tidy Box^TM.  The Tidy Box^TM is a stylish design for the living room, helping you keep your kids' books tidy and always close to hand.  It complements our award winning range of children's bookcases, and our bedside shelf, the Bunk Bed Buddy^TM.

Bottle Buddy is a unique electronic baby formula dispensing product which accurately counts a predetermined amount of powdered baby formula into a bottle.

Once again the Infantino range received a fantastic response at the Harrogate Nursery Fair, with customers old & new praising the range for its combination of quality, choice, style, value-for-money and great packaging. Show favourites included the innovative Travel Bed, which can be set up in under 5 seconds to provide an instant nap bed for baby wherever Mum happens to be and then folds away again just as quickly; the new 3-position TripleComfortRider baby carrier with memory foam padded shoulder straps, breathemesh fabric and lumbar support offering superb comfort and growing up with baby from 8-36lbs (3.6-16.4kg).

Once again, what a great show for Hippychick!  It was great to see customers both existing and new showing such enthusiasm for the range.  In particular there was great interest in a couple of new products on display. 

The Cheeky Rascals stand was busy with the successful launch of loads of exciting new products. Playgro had real impact with bright colours, fun designs and excellent merchandising potential. The bendy ball and chewy stacking cups from "My First" range received phenomenal demand. Ideal for generating impulse buys, Playgro offers retailers a fast-selling, popular range that looks great and has educational and developmental benefits.

"Education. Education. Education" - when in 1997 Tony Blair made this now famous statement central to his election manifesto, the nation was gripped - things really were going to get better. No matter how you voted then, or plan to do so now for that matter, it can't be denied that in just three words it was clear to us all that without solid foundations being laid early in childhood, society has no chance.

How long have you been established?

I set up Tiny Tots over 30 years ago from my back bedroom. Today we are the oldest shop in the South and are very good at what we do - you won't beat us for service.

What is the Bowen Technique?

The Bowen Technique is a gentle hands-on therapy that enables the body to work at optimum health.  Rolling type moves are made with the thumbs and fingers on muscles, tendons ligaments and fascia bringing tension release through connective tissue and the nervous system, restoring the body's natural healing ability.  It promotes pain relief, recovery of energy and functionality to the body.

In research released by Mintel in October last year, it was found that the Baby and Nursery Equipment market had grown by a fifth between 2003 and 2008 to reach £639 million. Over a third of the market is accounted for by sales of baby carriages, including prams, pushchairs, buggies and travel systems, it said. What's more, where products were more likely to be seen by others, fashion was found to be more of a focus, with consumers taking inspiration from celebrities. "Consequently, many mums are increasingly prepared to pay premium prices for those products that they feel deliver the best possible care and image for themselves and their babies," the report suggested.

Launched at the beginning of 2009, the Tippitoes Green Max Viz Stroller has been exceptionally successful, selling well through the company's retail partners, who are taking on more orders due to popular demand. This month, a new shade will be added to the range, providing parents with maximum visibility and maximum choice. The Orange colourway will be equally bright - ideal for the coming spring and summer months.

Hauck showcase the new Apollo 4 All in One - Suitable from birth this unique set encompasses everything parents desire. 

CONCORD showed its most inspirational collection ever this year's Harrogate Baby & Child Fair and it showed on the order books - which were fuller than ever!

The NEW Solo Reverse has two different seating positions need not mean two different pushchairs! The NEW compact Solo Reverse pushchair from Jane allows your child's travel outlook to be easily altered, making for a smooth journey whether looking at you or facing forwards. The Solo Reverse is available in 3 colours and is compatible with Jane Strata infant car seat, Capazo Pro Auto Carrycot and Matrix car seat. Once removed from the vehicle, simply clip either on to the chassis of the Solo Reverse Pushchair for a comprehensive travel system.

The VIGOUR 2009 pushchair allows parents to effortlessly lift out the detachable infant carrier and safely place it into the car thanks to the innovative Click ‘n' Go system. This model is compatible with the all Britax infant carriers, including the lay-flat BABY-SAFE SLEEPER. Once your baby is in the car the pushchair is easily folded away with a quick-release folding action and collapses into a flat, compact package.

Chicco's top of the range, Trio For Me Travel system, suitable from birth to 3 years of age, with contemporary styling and innovative features. The travel system includes a carrycot that clips easily to the stroller chassis to create a practical pram from birth - 6months and the group 0+ Auto-Fix car seat.

Maclaren's best-selling and award-winning Techno XLR Travel System now comes with a luxurious soft carrycot that fits simply onto the Buggy. Providing a completely lie flat position facing Mum, the soft cot gives the perfect position for those first few tender months.

According to So Organic, 60% of what you apply to the skin can be absorbed. Parents and retailers are working hard to address concerns about potentially harmful ingredients, by selecting products for their shop and bathroom shelves more carefully. Babies are especially sensitive to allergies caused by synthetic fragrance and most baby products contain parabens, synthetic fragrance and mineral oil, which are harmful to the skin. Using organic products limits the amount of toxic chemicals your baby or toddler is exposed to.

Bambino Merino's 100% pure merino and cotton range of clothing includes sleep and body suits, pyjamas and a luxurious one-size sleeping bag. Coming soon to the collection produced entirely from merino's natural breathable fibres, is a range of baby wraps (swaddle), cute double knot hats for newborns, merino tops and a longer length sleeping bag for toddlers.  

Award winning baby wipes manufacturer, Clearly Herbal previewed its latest product at the Harrogate Nursery Fair - a new organic, flushable wipe. The gentle formulation with aloe vera and tea tree remains; but this will be one of the first wipes on the market to use a newly developed dispersible material called Viloft.

One of the leading baby care manufacturers, NUK, is the first brand in the UK to re-launch its product range free of Bisphenol A (BPA).

According to Toys on a Timeline at the V&A Museum of Childhood, by the mid 1950's - as the nation recovered from the effects of war - demand for toys was increasing and so was production. Come the 1960's it was a huge industry and soon there were debates about the educational value of toys and how toy makers could encourage learning through play.

Britain's best loved bear is adored in the nursery and little ones can now enjoy lots of Paddington fun thanks to the cute and cuddly new collection from character specialists Rainbow Designs.

Infantino were delighted at the incredible response to the new toys showcased at the recent Harrogate Nursery Fair. Customers old & new loved the new activity plush characters; rattles; teethers; and soft clutch toys - many of which feature link rings for easy attachment to car seats and strollers.

The continued success of the award winning Chicco Baby Steps Activity Walker makes it a must for any serious pre-school range. A young child can stand on its own two feet and take its first steps confidently and safely - to the sound of music. As the walker begins to move, a melody plays. When baby stops so does the tune, so the more baby walks, the more the melody plays, encouraging it to keep toddling.

Playgro Pre-school toys are perfect learning tools that help baby reach full potential, while being fun, entertaining and safe.

Jo Jingles, the UK's leading provider of fun music, singing and movement classes for babies and young children has launched a new range of lively musical products including a fun and interactive musical DVD and 2 themed CDs to enable children to get musical in the home or nursery.

PINTOY, by John Crane Ltd, knows that tiny tots love to be on the move, so their new additions will feed that need for speed!