UK-based specialist duty free distributor Whitehouse Travel Retail has developed its own range of children’s soft plush toys for the travel retail market and is placing a new focus on this sector – along with a special soft toys brochure for retailers containing a new seasonal selection.

The company has been selling specially licensed soft toys into travel retail for some years with Whitehouse Travel Retail Managing Partner Geoff Hutley confident there is room in the market for this new enhanced focus.

He said: “Many products are available already and others will be available for March (ready for Easter). We have now developed both a main catalogue and an Easter Offering catalogue and this kicks off the start of our seasonal ranges in travel retail.”

ROOM IN THE MARKET
He added: “There are really only a few players in the plush market in travel retail and there’s room for further specialist concepts to be developed to widen the market and the appeal to travellers. This is what we are going to be looking at this year.”

The company already has a broad selection of branded plush toys including Mr Men, Pingu, Bagpuss, SpongeBob SquarePants, Noddy and Penguins from the film Madagascar, but Hutley believes that by working with the brands directly this will create ‘a really strong, honed presence in duty-free’.

In addition to the previous selection, Whitehouse Travel Retail will also focus on licensed products and products to tie in with the upcoming Smurfs film. Size and suitability for the travel market are major factors being considered in the development of these ranges.

MAKING PARENTS’ LIVES EASIER
Alongside its plush development, Whitehouse Travel Retail has also taken on Little Jet Setter Travel Baby travel accessories, which include items to make parent’s lives easier when travelling with children.

The travel retail specialist distributor now has over 400 airline listings for its brands, including the highly successful Breo watches line. It has also created its own jewellery and gadget ranges especially for duty free, called Adorn and Gadget Republic respectively.