Boasting over 150 members Toymaster strives to ensure every member works together to get the best out of their business. Robert Hutchins catches up with MD Ian Edmunds on building relationships with the licensing industry, the buying group’s anticipated May Show and why social media is a key focus for the brand.
Read More »Adventure Island: Tourmaline Studio talks new toys-to-life project, Oniri Islands
Having recently passed its Kickstarter goal of $30,000, we sat down with the team behind the game, to find out what makes this game so interesting.
Read More »Going stratospheric: Thames & Kosmos details its latest board game successes
Now that the Escape the Room trend is bigger than ever in the UK, it makes sense that Thames & Kosmos is tapping into this theme with its own line of Exit Games. Jade Burke catches up with the firm’s sales director, Jo Drage, to chat about the company’s new partnership with Acer and it’s plans to adapt a book into a board game.
Read More »Muro creator on why crowdfunding ’empowers inventors to get ideas off the ground’
The brainchild of Jeremy Bond and his brother, Muro was designed as a busy board for his son, which will soon be making its debut on crowdfunding site, Kickstarter. Here, Bond reveals how Muro will help develop motor skills and why indie stores will be the ideal retailer.
Read More »Retail guru Mary Portas on why the High Street most definitely isn’t dying
As Mary Portas gears up for her keynote speech at this year's Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, Jade Burke catches up with her to find out why a personal service will make indies stand out this year and how interaction with customers is key.
Read More »Click and connect: Engino’s Costas Sisamos on the growth of STEM toys and the firm’s international expansion plans
Boasting an extensive line of STEM and construction toys, it’s no wonder Engino is recognised as a serious player in the toy space. Jade Burke catches up with owner and MD Costas Sisamos about the firm’s increasing presence worldwide, its expectations for upcoming pre-school range Qboidz and why STEM products are on the up.
Read More »Gamemaster: Esdevium’s Steve Buckmaster on the company’s phenomenal year
2016 has proved to be a terrific year for Esdevium Games, with Pokémon sales soaring thanks to the Pokémon Go phenomenon. Steve Buckmaster, MD of Esdevium Games speaks to Jade Burke about the growth in tabletop gaming, the effect of the Brexit vote and what the firm has in store at next month’s London Toy Fair.
Read More »Need for speed: Rubik’s Cube speedcuber Laurence Livsey on how he cracked the cube
Following the 11th annual Rubik’s UK Championships last weekend, what’s it like to be a speedcuber in amongst all the action? Jade Burke catches up with John Adams’ Laurence Livsey, who is a speedcuber with a current solve time of 6.97 seconds under his belt, to see which events he took part in and how he solved the mystery of the Rubik’s.
Read More »Indie Profile: The Toy Box
Having first opened its doors in 2007, The Toy Box is celebrating its ninth birthday this year. Here, the retailer’s directors - Sharon and Mark Horsman - talk to Jade Burke about their hopes to expand its new Kids Clothing Agency, the battle against dropping footfall and why they believe Teeny TYs will be this year’s sell-out toy.
Read More »Accentuate’s Graeme Fraser-Bell on going global, teaming with Levi Roots and a potential Junior edition
After securing funding last year on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Accentuate is marking its year’s success with a new social media campaign for fans to win Argos gift vouchers. Jade Burke catches up with Accentuate co-creator, Graeme Fraser-Bell.
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