APPOINTMENTS Industry moves
This month, Re:creation strengthens its management team with two industry vets, Bigjigs bids a fond farewell to marketing co-ordinator George Poole and Marbel is our Team of the Month
TEAM OF THE MONTH
Who’s in the team? In the marketing team, we have Phil, Kris and Stacey. Customer services belongs to Lisa and finance consists of Hailey, Linsay and Claire. Meanwhile, our key accounts is made up of Sarah, Hannah and Sadie.
Out on the road we
have our lovely sales representatives Luke, Simon, Ash, Joe and Amanda.
What have been your biggest successes in the last year? The trade shows have been a massive success this year for us, with a record number of visitors and orders from the show. We still have two shows left for this year one of which we haven’t
exhibited at before, the GLEE show in September. After the success of last year we will be back at the Harrogate Home and Gift Show next month. These incremental orders have added to the already great start to the first half of the year and we hope this will continue to the end of the year.
What are you working on at the moment? We have been working on the development of Marbel’s new website which looks great. This is now up and running but we will continue to make a few tweaks to ensure its functionality is as designed. We are also due to launch our new autumn/ winter catalogue in July, so
MARBEL
we are busy making sure it looks spot on.
What’s the hardest part of the job? As a fast growing company, the hardest part is taking a step back from our day-to -day operations to appreciate how far we have come. The company grew from a small operation to one of the up and coming players in the UK toy industry today.
In the last 18 months we
have moved into our new office and showroom in Bodmin and also moved into a brand new lovely 22,500sq foot warehouse.
What’s the best part of working in the industry?
K’NEX Former Mattel and Tomy executive,
EILEEN THORNTON has joined the firm’s UK arm as its new head of marketing. Thornton boasts many
RE:CREATION The firm has strengthened its management team with a double hiring, appointing ex-Mattel executive JONATHAN KIRKLEY (pictured above, left) as its new marketing director. Meanwhile, former Spin Master and LEGO exec, STUART PICTON (above, right) has joined the firm to head up the newly acquired Magic Choc brand.
Bringing with him a wealth of experience
through his positions with Mattel and Hasbro, Kirkley will lead marketing initiatives across the Re:creation portfolio, working with brands including Crazy Cart, Razor and Zip Stix. Picton will help head up the development of the Magic Choc brand and grow sales internationally. MICHAEL LEHRTER,
chief executive of Re:creation Limited has welcomed the two newcomers to the firm.
years experience at senior level and joins the company from Weight Watchers where she spearheaded the rejuvenation of the business’ social media and digital strategies. In her new role, Thornton
will oversee all marketing initiatives including the roll out of the forthcoming 2,000 TVR K’Nex UK TV campaign. She will also manage the launch of the successful US K’Nexpert Search programme as well as oversee the development of the toy firm’s website. Thornton will report to the company’s UK MD, PAUL FOGARTY.
The best part of the job is getting our great products out into the market where they can be enjoyed by families and children for years to come. It’s also great to maintain the heritage brands that everyone knows and loves such as BRIO which has been around for 130 years this years.
Who is the team joker? Apparently this belongs to
BIGJIGS After two years with the wooden toy company,
GEORGE POOLE has stepped down from his position as marketing and PR co-ordinator in order to pursue new challenges and seek new opportunities. Poole will be replaced
with ALICE CHAGANIS who arrives at the firm boasting a wealth of experience, having worked as a marketing, PR and sales executive at grocery producer Windmill Organics. LIZ IRELAND, Bijigs’ company director has thanked Poole for his many contributions in moving the brand forwards and his keen enthusiasm over the past two years with the organisation. Ireland also welcomes his successor to her new role with the company.
the whole of the marketing team. There is never a quiet moment without some form of bickering and mickey taking in our team.
Who makes the best cuppa? I think that would have to be Linsay. She knows jus how long to leave the tea bag in the cup and the right amount of milk. However, she certainly does need to make more.
THE
ENTERTAINER The family run toy retailer
has welcomed its new marketing director. PHIL GEARY has joined the company and will now hold full board responsibility for The Entertainer’s marketing and online departments. Geary has joined the firm after ten years at Holland and Barrett, having held a variety of senior buying and marketing roles. He was instrumental in the drive to put together Holland and Barrett’s first TV campaign right up to the current Good Life campaign and the introduction of the Rewards for Life loyalty programme in 2011. He was most recently group marketing director for NBTY. GARY GRANT, founder and MD of The Entertainer has welcomed Geary to his new position.
12 July
www.toynews-online.biz
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