‘Preschool is reasonably buoyant at the moment,’ says director Mike Coles.
The licensed preschool apparel sector remains one of the healthiest, with plenty of choice for both retailers and consumers.
But it’s not without its challenges – the Brexit vote and the subsequent currency devaluation, retailers being ever more cautious on stocking decisions and lack of shelf space to trial new lines are all concerns.
This week, we ask some of the sector’s key players for their views.
Today: Mike Coles, director, Cooneen
“Preschool grew as a category for Cooneen [in 2016]. Although this is a busy category, the classics – Peppa Pig, Thomas – still perform into those accounts we supply. However, great design is a significant part of this.
“2017 had a slow start while retail realigned itself in the wake of Brexit, however there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel and momentum is picking up. All of our Warner Bros. and Disney brands are performing extremely well, while emoji, Peppa, Minions and Thomas continue to deliver.
“The lack of investment in new preschool TV will cause problems over the coming years. Also, the obvious challenge, cost of goods will inevitably increase and consequently retail prices will have to go up.
“Preschool is reasonably buoyant at the moment, however, until the retail prices increase, there will be significant pressure on supplier and retail margins.”
This feature originally appeared in the March/April edition of Progressive Preschool. Click here to read the full publication.
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