Why this toy wholesaler is optimistic about Xmas

IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) have just announced their 100 Hotshops list

It will come as no surprise that Amazon are still No 1 and 2nd and 3rd place are taken by Argos and Tesco but what interested us was the entry of Etsy (www.etsy.com)  at No 53.

To put this in perspective this beats retailers such as Mothercare, O2 and Carphonewarehouse.

Etsy styles itself as the World's Handmade Marketplace and facilitates sales from very small companies directly to the consumer. Its the exact opposite of large multinational companies selling products in huge quantities based mainly on price.

Theres no doubt that 2011 has been tough for retailers but Etsy definitely represents a new way of retailing - individual and sometimes personalised products made with flair and sold at a fair price by small producers.

As a wholesaler we feel that our ranges, especially the Pebble crochet and knitted toys, fit this model which is why they have been so successful. Yes, they are fairtrade, but people buy them because they are well designed and well made and are not the normal run of the mill product you will find in supermarkets.

So while we are not trying to pretend that Xmas 2011 is all going to be plain sailing we do think that there is potential to succeed and prosper. We think that when money is tight people will chose gifts carefully rather than going for volume, and will be looking for well designed, individual and fairly priced items

So please come and see all our gorgeous toys at the Autumn Fair NEC or Top Drawer Olympia and see why we are so optimistic about Xmas.