With less than a week to go until Harrogate International Nursery Fair, preschoolnews.net chats to Luke Burns, general manager of Cybex UK and Ireland about the company’s plans for the show.
Preschoolnews.net: Will Harrogate be your first ‘live’ trade show since Covid? If so, what are you most looking forward to about getting together with the preschool industry again?
“Yes, it will, Harrogate is set to be our first show since 2019 and we couldn’t be more excited. We hosted some great digital events throughout the pandemic, but we can’t wait to see our customers, peers and industry friends all in one place again.”
Have you been running virtual showcases during the lockdowns, and if so, will you be continuing to use these as a tool?
“It’s always difficult when you can’t see customers face to face at shows or events. However, we were delighted to be able to host a retailer event at the beginning of September showcasing our Platinum and Gold collections as well as our exciting new launches.
“Lockdown gave our sales and marketing team the chance to think outside the box and come up with creative ideas to connect in different ways with each of them. Virtual events allowed us to listen to our customer’s needs and provide them with up-to-date news and information on Cybex products during the pandemic.
“Yes absolutely, we’ll be continuing our virtual training events – as an addition to our in-store visits and training facilitated by our team. Virtual events offer another touch point for retailers to learn more about our products. The pandemic has reminded us that customers’ time in store is precious and the virtual training adds another layer of accessibility, enabling store staff to attend in their own time and enhance their product training.”
What can visitors expect to see on your stand?
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Cybex stand, it’s good to be back in Harrogate. Visitors will have the chance to see the wider Cybex range of car seats and innovative pushchairs and strollers from our Platinum and Gold ranges. Our recently launched sports collection will also be on display.”
Will you be launching anything new at the show?
“We’ll be launching our exciting new Platinum wheels collections and accessories for 2022, but most of all we’re thrilled that visitors will have their first glimpse of our revolutionary new car seat. We know they will love our next step in car seat innovation.”
Are there any show offers to be had for retailers?
“Yes, visitors will be able to benefit from dedicated Harrogate Nursery Fair offers which they can hear more about in their appointment. We look forward to welcoming everybody to Cybex Harrogate.”
What are the best and worst things about the Harrogate International Nursery Show?
“The best thing about the Harrogate show would have to be getting to see all our peers, colleagues and industry friends. The worst thing would be waiting so long for the show to happen.”
What plans are in the pipeline for your company for the rest of the year?
“We have got the Baby Show in our calendar for 2021, where we’ll be showcasing a great range of Cybex pushchairs and we’re also excited to have some new launches in the pipeline, so be sure to watch this space.”
And how has the last year been for you?
“The last year has been really challenging for everyone but we have continued to develop new products and we can’t wait to share these with the trade at Harrogate.”
