With a plan now firmly in place for the reopening of non-essential retail, attentions have been able to return to making plans and looking forward to the rest of 2021. PreschoolNews.net spoke to nursery brand Ickle Bubba, whose main hope for the coming year is that ‘all nations pull through the pandemic as quickly as possible and we can get back to a bit of normality’.
“Partnerships with stockists and retailers are paramount to our success,” explains managing director Fran Vaughan. “We appreciate that many customers will be keen to see the product in-store and hope this demand will help the high street bounce back.”
“We are also keeping an eye on the progression of the trade agreement talks between the UK and Europe and will be ready to react accordingly,” he says. “We have registered in different European jurisdictions for VAT and compliance purposes but are trying to remain optimistic that any supply chain issues between the UK and Europe will be short-term.”
Ickle Bubba will continue to assess the European trading landscape in line with its expansion plans, but in the meantime, its website is a great tool for showcasing the brand, as are bricks-and-mortar stores.
“We take our retail relationships very seriously,” Fran continued, “and are committed to streamlining processes, as well as providing partners with both marketing and aftercare support.”
Fran also points out that parents are mindful of cost these days, for a number of reasons. “I think consumers are looking for greater value than a few years ago and perhaps this has been sensationalised by wider economic fears around Brexit and another recession. Parents are also more switched on to key promotional dates such as Black Friday and are tending to hold back at the risk of losing out on a saving.”
But he’s looking on the positive side: “Style and value are at the core of our offering and we’re seeing an increasing amount of repeat purchasers. We hope our continued commitment to offering affordable, stylish products will stand us in good stead for continued growth.”
