Farm Life remains one of the firm’s most popular pre-school themes; children can play with the animals, humans and accessories as single pieces or collect them to build a play world. This year has seen Schleich add a farmer and his wife, plus new animals including Shropshire sheep, as well as breeds from the South American Andes such as a family of Alpacas complete with a stallion, mare and foal. Icelandic ponies have also been added to the paddock, along with the Camargue horses, the Haflinger foal and the Tennessee Walker. Further additions to the range in September will include a Motorbike and a new Pick-up Truck.
ORCHARD TOYS
Recent highlights for Orchard Toys have included the Giant Road jigsaw and Football Game. Although the products target audience
Sammy’s Sea Patrol is new to Wow’s Emergency and Rescue line. The rescue patrol car has been designed with a push button to operate the pull-cord life ring and also the spinning watch tower. There are also removable boy and girl rescue figures.
Also new is Ryan’s Road Trip, a push-along truck which comes with a camping trailer and tent, removable figures and a camp fire. Farm Buddy Benny, meanwhile, is a push-along farm quad bike which comes with a farm buddy farmer and sheep dog.
ranges from 18 months to 12 years, its core line is for kids aged three to six, with the jigsaws starting at 18 months and the majority of the games being for three year olds plus. There are a couple of games designed for children of two plus: Red Dog, Blue Dog and Old MacDonald Lotto. All Orchard Toys’ products are designed and manufactured in the UK from 100 per cent recycled board, with the firm recently taking on more packing staff than it has ever had before, to cope with demand.
UNIVERSITY GAMES 03334 050120 MV SPORTS
MV’s pre-school wheeled offering is underpinned by the double act of Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam, which both consistently deliver strong sales for the company. MV has also boosted its range this
year with new feature driven scooters, trikes and ride-ons, while also adding Mike the Knight to its portfolio. For girls, MV has Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, while it also has high hopes for its underwater themed range of Octonauts wheeled toys. Rastamouse and Raa Raa the Noisy Lion are new
additions to the licensed line-up. Finally, MV’s outdoor
Following the success of the Gruffalo Word Rhyming Game, University Games will launch the Gruffalo Hide and Seek Mini Game to its line. The board game aims to help children with number and counter recognition. The firm is also introducing the Gruffalo Felt Play Board and the Gruffalo Magnetic Adventures. Also available from University Games is The Very Hungry Caterpillar Felt Play
MAY 2012
Board and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Magnetic Adventures. The latter includes 31 magnetic pieces and features four backgrounds, including a night time scene. Finally, the successful introduction
last year of two games from Crayola – Doodle Match and Colour Mix-a-Roo – further strengthens the company’s portfolio.
play range, Hedstrom, includes a full range for pre- schoolers starting from a Folding Toddler Swing – which features an easy clean UV resistant fabric seat – through to a 2-in-1 swing, which converts from a toddler swing into a junior swing to suit a growing child.
0121 748 8000 01953 859525/30
Figures coming in for the end of 2011/2012 are also showing an encouraging increase in export sales, according to the firm.