The wooden toy firm is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year by detailing plans to take on the South American, Indian and Chinese markets, as well as continue the success of Petilou next year and beyond.
Pre-school specialist Le Toy Van is confident of another year of growth as the Anglo-Franco wooden toy firm eyes further global expansion, despite current concerns over the strength of the Euro.
Popular across Europe for its collection of traditional wooden toys for younger age ranges, Le Toy Van is celebrating its 20th anniversary in style this year as it details plans to take its collections to the South American, Indian and Chinese markets.
The company already works with numerous retailers and distributors from around the world, reaching the likes of Sweden, Croatia, Germany and Canada.
Thanks to growing relationships with global educational suppliers and independent retailers, the firm is keen to take the business to new audiences.
The plans emerge following the successful launch of Le Toy Van’s latest pre-school collection of wooden lines. Called Petilou, the range aims to ‘encourage imaginative and social play as well as social development among babies and toddlers.’
The collection has already been met with a positive international response, and the firm reports that many buyers placed orders for the collection of nature- themed wooden toys before seeing the finished product as launched at this year’s Harrogate Home and Gift Show.
“Our expectations are that the Petilou range will find its way into the hearts and shops of the UK gift and toy market with eager anticipation for its expansion,” Le Toy Van’s marketing manager, Marie Bureau, told ToyNews.
“UK independent retailers already love it and we will be launching new lines to further expand the collection of toys for 2016 and beyond.
“We are expecting to see a good turnover across the entire Le Toy Van portfolio this year, even with the Euro being weak at the moment, and so far we have seen growth with educational suppliers and independent retailers.
“We are now embarking on our plans for further global growth, as we are constantly expanding and reaching new markets. At the moment we are looking at new markets in South America, India and China.”
In celebration of Le Toy Van’s 20th anniversary towards the end of last month, the UK company with strong French roots treated distributors and some of its closest retailers to a London Bus Tour and evening event.
Now, following the success it has seen over the last two decades, the company has its sights firmly on growing prosperity over the next two decades.
“We know that we are still the babies of the toy industry compared to some of the others, who are now celebrating their 50th or even 80th anniversaries,” Bureau continued.
“But for us, 20 years is a great big step and we are very proud to be there and be strong in the market with amazing new products each year.
“We will definitely still be here in 20 years time and we look forward to celebrating Le Toy Van’s 40th birthday, too.”
