Talking at Spring Fair, owner and founder of natural parenting company MuslinZ Caroline Taylor has issued a plea to smaller retailers, asking them to consider working with smaller suppliers and manufacturers.
Caroline, who is showing in Hall 5 at the NEC this year, has been inspired by the Nursery Trade Facebook page to ask independent retailers to consider working with all suppliers, not just the larger, well-established brands.
“The Nursery Trade Facebook page often includes pleas from independent retailers for suppliers to consider working with them, but I wanted to highlight that it goes both ways – smaller suppliers need that support as well,” said Caroline.
There are often pleas on the social media platform for suppliers to work with and help support the independent retail trade.
“The site is incredibly helpful and it’s so interesting to see what people are saying about how business is for them; what’s good, what’s bad and what they need to happen to keep growing their business.”
She continued: “Ultimately, the more that everybody talks and integrates, the more positive that will be for the whole trade. As suppliers, we have a really valuable opportunity to learn what our retailers need and how we can support them. But by the same token, those retailers need to understand that suppliers face issues as well.”
Caroline went on to point out the benefits of working with smaller suppliers, such as flexibility, bespoke services and dedicated marketing support.
“As a small supplier we can be more attuned to our retailers’ needs and go the extra mile for them,” she explained. “We can offer different product mix, different packaging… We also use social media to direct consumers to our stockists – letting them know where they can find stock and which retailers have exclusive prints.”
MuslinZ has already created a number of bespoke lines for its partners, including a print for Little Poppets and a collaboration with children’s lifestyle and gift brand Not Before Tea.
