Success in business is all about attitude and action.  To succeed, and to continue to succeed, you need to predict issues and prepare for them, that includes understanding the effect the economy is likely to have on your business. If you're concerned that demand for your products or services may decline, you should remember Darwin's theory of evolution. This tells us that; ‘It is not necessarily the physically strongest, or the most intelligent of the species that survives; it is the one that is the most adaptable to change.' That also applies to business, particularly when the climate the business operates in changes so rapidly.  

As little ones grow from tiny babies to toddlers, it's important to make sure that they are travelling in safety. Developments in child seat safety and the introduction of improved child seat legislation in 2006 have reinforced the importance of having the correct child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. However, replacing child seats as fast as children grow can prove confusing and costly.

Rude and greedy behaviour among adults is contributing to the epidemic of gang and knife crime among children according to Sir Alan Steer, the Government's top behaviour advisor.

Acid brights are set to break their usual summer limits this year as the nursery industry continues to utilise colour as a way of allowing parents to individualise their purchases, especially in the world of wheeled goods.

For her... this season it's got to be the mini-changing bag: either clutch-style (yes, really!) or in the altogether more practical buggy pannier. Pink Lining's new Storks and Bottom of the Garden ranges are sure to keep them ahead of the yummy mummy game - particularly the clutch-style changing mat, while Mamas & Papas (with the Saddle Bag) and OiOi are both offering bags that clip to stroller sides'. Anything that sets a mum apart from the rest of the parenting pack.

Dear Louise,

       'There's an awful lot of discussion about ISOfix car seats, but do you feel they are really that much better than the standard fit designs? Also could you explain what the most important points about fitting an Isofix model for a newborn baby, and also the larger Group 1 types seats for toddlers too please. Many thanks for your help'

In the last issue we looked at how to legally protect a product using different kinds of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and some common misconceptions about them. This month we steer you through the common pitfalls and help you avoid paying a very high price as a result

There is nothing more frustrating than spending many long evenings perfecting a new design which you know to be a ‘first' in the industry, only to see a very close, if not identical rip-off of the same product six months later with someone else's brand name on it.

Following the publication of the Which Child Seat report in June 2007, the BPA received a number of complaints from its members who considered parts of the report to be inaccurate and misleading for the consumer.  Two of the errors were corrected in the July issue but this didn't resolve all our concerns and requests for a clearer understanding of the tests conducted have to date gone unanswered. 

Throughout the festive season the vast majority of us will seek information and advice from the omnipresent Internet. When we look for presents most of us will identify and compare products even if we don't actually buy them online.  It is now part of our daily lives and has become a prime channel for communication and of course for sales. It was only a couple of years ago that I can remember the debate over Internet sales and the killing of the high street and of course now we have seen most nursery retailers incorporate this channel into the heart of their marketing and sales process.