The LeapPad2 has become the number one pre-school tablet and number one toy in the UK.
and having fun. We are also working to bring new additions to our award- winning toy and reading lines.
Do you think your previous life working at Toys R Us has helped in any way now that you are on the supplier side of the fence? I feel very fortunate to have worked on ‘both sides of the street.’ A deep understanding of how major retailers operate is priceless for any manufacturer/supplier.
coupled with our educational and engaging content, is a global phenomenon that continued to experience strong momentum as we headed into the holiday season this year. In addition to LeapPad2, our Tag Reading System range, My Pal Scout, the Touch Magic range and LeapsterGS, have also proven to be popular among children and parents.
What kind of feedback are you getting from retail on LeapPad2 – both in the UK and the US? The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many of the major retailers telling the world that the LeapPad2 is a top- selling product of 2012. Our retail partners also love the fact that they can sell lots of profitable content and accessories to LeapPad families.
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Looking further ahead, what do you think is the future for LeapPad? Where can it go next? Children are going to be playing with tablets for a long time to come. It’s our job to make sure we extend and refresh the LeapPad so it continues to be the number one choice around the world. We will also continue to create fun, educational tablet content that changes children’s lives.
Do you think we have seen the best of the kids tablet boom – how do you think this space will evolve? I believe the children’s tablet market has significant growth ahead of it. With new children being born every year and consumers’ desire to have the newest technology, the children’s tablet market is going to continue to grow at a rapid pace.
LeapPad aside for one moment, what else can we expect to see from LeapFrog in 2013? We have lots of cool new stuff planned for 2013 and 2014. We will continue to expand our range of content partners to offer ever more games and apps that keep children learning
How important have apps become for LeapFrog? How will you look to grow this area in 2013? Making cool, kid-tough hardware is just one component of a great child tablet experience. The content is where true life- changing learning begins. Apps are becoming increasingly important to our tablet and gaming businesses. They allow us to extend our selection and deliver new and varied learning experiences in a convenient way that consumers have come to expect. We will continue to develop apps in-house as well as look to expand our selection with strategic partnerships.
Could acquisitions be on the cards to help grow the business even further? Over the last couple of years we have been building a strong base of cash and in 2013, we will finance all of our operations with zero debt.
This strong cash position gives us the ability to respond quickly to any acquisition opportunities.
What are the main differences between the UK and US toy markets at the moment, in your opinion? What emerging trends do you see? Are they facing similar challenges in their retail environments and general conditions? The economic recession has had a greater impact on the UK than the US, and as a result it is a far tougher market. Traditionally, tough market conditions polarize consumer demand, with hot products selling out fast, and slower selling products getting left on shelves, resulting in end-of- year inventory problems. As UK retailers fight for customer traffic we are seeing significantly greater price competition, which has the potential to erode margins for everyone.
What are your main aims for 2013? What would you most like to have achieved by the end of the year? In 2013 we are going to continue to invest in creating revolutionary products that provide children with compelling and engaging entertainment, yet are filled with nutritional education. Millions of children around the world enjoy LeapFrog products every day and we are helping all of them achieve their potential.