How would you define the term ‘wholesaler’?

A supplier to retailers of a comprehensive range of reputable brands, innovative and pioneering products guided by trends, functionality and consumer desirability. The concept is to consolidate a retailer’s purchases saving extensive time on research, meetings with various suppliers and facilitates cash flow.

Back in 2007, Solvej Biddle, 37, gave up her high flying career in the City as one of the UK's leading advertising lawyers to develop her idea of the Cot Canopy, a product she thought of four years earlier when she had her first child.

Swatting up on the company en route to London, I was suitably impressed by WOW's credentials as a UK toy manufacturer. Owned by Nadim Ednan-Laperouse this global company remains committed to innovation, design and quality in the pre school area, refusing point blank to deal with multiple and discount retailers that ‘pile it high and sell it cheap' to the detriment of the brand. Having long championed the efforts of the independent toy retailer, WOW wants to do exactly the same in our sector, hence my visit to its brand new West End base.

As a man working in a company almost exclusively with women, in an industry sector that by its nature exists solely to serve women, this often presents people with an easy question when they meet me for the first time:

What is a man doing being the managing director of a breast pump company?

NI: Who needs PR?

A: In a word, everyone! You don't have to have all-singing, all-dancing, expensive PR campaigns. What's important is ensuring your brand is out there, is being talked about, and is as well thought of as you think it should be. It is the easiest way to boost your profile, create a buzz and attract new customers.

My television and radio tell me that we live in "interesting" times and I wouldn't argue with them.  I am hugely entertained as I watch the spectacle of our political classes scrambling over one another in a bid to be the first to self destruct in High Definition.

Here, MD Roger Cheetham, exclusively tells Nursery Industry readers about the wave of new changes being embraced within his business, and explains why he believes it is important to have a good online presence, especially during times of economic hardship and changes in consumer behaviour.

How it all started

Our story started back in the year 2000 when our first son Sam wouldn't sleep at night, which as most parents would probably know, is enough to send any sane person completely barmy! Then we were given a baby sleep bag by our Austrian sister-in-law and a miracle occurred: he slept through the night without wriggling out of his covers. We simply had to tell UK parents about our revelation so we came up with the idea of the Grobag Baby Sleep Bag.

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.

The news is so doom-and-gloom-laden these days that even the most dedicated media junkies seem to be losing heart.  But is it as bad as it seems?  Do those of us in the nursery industry need to join in the national orgy of misery or do we work in a sector that's naturally recession-proof?