The finalists for the retail categories in this year’s Progressive Preschool Awards have now been confirmed, revealing the stores which have excelled within the preschool sector over the last 12 months.
The finalists reflect the cross-category nature of the Preschool Awards, spanning a broad selection of retailers who have made an impact on the preschool industry over the past year, with a focus on toy, nursery, apparel, gift and other product.
Retailers were nominated from all over the UK in the months leading up to the judging, when a carefully selected retail validation panel – made up of a number of top-level executives from across the entire preschool spectrum – came together for a lively discussion, before voting on each category.
“The retail validation panel is always a fascinating process to oversee,” said publishing director Rob Willis, who chaired the panel (but did not have a casting vote), “but this year was particularly lively, with a number of strong opinions! It’s tough out there at the moment, so it’s a real pleasure to be able to recognise retailers that are going the extra mile.”
The winners will be revealed at the Progressive Preschool Awards ceremony on Thursday 8 November, 2018 at London’s Dorchester Hotel.
The Progressive Preschool Awards 2018 – Retail Finalists
Best Supermarket Retailer of Preschool Products
- Aldi
- Asda
- Lidl
- Morrisons
- Sainsbury’s
- Tesco
Best Multiple Retailer of Preschool Products
- The Entertainer
- JoJo Maman Bebe
- Kids Stuff Toys
- Mamas and Papas
- Mothercare
- Smyths Toys
Best Mixed Category Retailer of Preschool Products
- Argos
- B&M Stores
- Boots
- Marks & Spencer
- Home Bargains
- Wilko
Best Department Store Retailer of Preschool Products
- Bentalls of Kingston
- Debenhams
- Harrods
- Jarrold
- John Lewis
- Selfridges
Best Online Retailer of Preschool Products
- Amazon.co.uk
- Argos.co.uk
- Character.com
- Kidly.co.uk
- SmythsToys.com
- Very.co.uk
Best Preschool Retail Initiative
- The Entertainer for its Saturday morning quiet hour
- Mothercare for its Gift A Bundle scheme
- Natural Baby Shower for its new parenting destination The Hub
- Sainsbury’s for its The Very Hungry Caterpillar promotion
- Tesco for its infant My Little Pony launch campaign
- Toymaster for its dedicated preschool window
Best Independent Nursery Retailer
- Adorable Tots, Rochdale
- Baby & Co, Bristol
- Baby Lurve, Market Harborough
- Bump Start Baby Shop, Milton Keynes
- Huggle, London
- The Baby Barn Pram & Nursery Centre, Rugby
Best Independent Apparel Retailer
- Little Monsters of Eccleshall, Stafford
- Little Marshans, London
- Little Roos, Cambridge
- Park Life Kids, Winchester
- The Leveret, Amersham
- Treehouse Childrenswear, Edinburgh
Best Independent Toy Retailer
- Giddy Goat Toys, Didsbury
- Retford Toymaster, East Retford
- Starlings Toymaster, Dereham
- The Toy Box, Saffron Walden
- Toyville, Bristol
- Whirligig Toys, Tunbridge Wells
Best Independent Gift Retailer
- Armadillo Toys, Leeds
- My Small World Toy Store, Bath
- Piccola, Brentwood
- PJ & The Hare, Burgess Hill
- QT Toys & Games, Wandsworth
- The Nursery Shop, Abingdon On Thames
