Commotion Q1 round up 2024
We began the year at the International Toy fair in Nuremberg 2024 which provided five exciting fun-filled days of customer meetings, as well as many new contacts made. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet face to face, collect valuable feedback, answer any questions you may have and show you in person our new and flagship, best-selling tickit toys.
We were delighted to hear how immersive our visitors found our stand layout. From a long centre platform with combined sets of imaginary play items to our purpose-built dark den, everyone loved meeting at our stand to explore our range.
Our dark den allowed visitors to see first-hand the sensory properties of the Light Panels and the Sensory Mood Lights and to gain a hands-on understanding of the educational benefits they bring to a setting. Within our dark den we were able to feature products that can also be used as stand-alone items, such as our Discovery Dividers. These fit perfectly with the Sensory Mood Discovery Table, and if combined with our Sensory Mood Discovery Play Mats you can create a captivating, focused play area to really ignite the imagination. However, these beautiful, solid wooden dividers can be used on the floor or a table to provide a fantastic base for small world play in any space! Showcasing these products in two very different settings allowed us to show our visitors just how versatile and robust our resources are, and how much use and value for money a child, nursery or school would receive from owning them.
We believe it is important to provide educational resources that are adaptable and hard-wearing, assuring our customers that they are getting the best value for money.
We were pleased to receive such positive feedback around our new for 2024 products such as our Woodland Trail Treehouse, Translucent Counters, animal-themed Wooden Picture Blocks, Sensory Mood Play Cube, Gem Cubes and Balance Board. The main points being the longevity of the products and excellent price point.
The importance of using eco-friendly and sustainable resources was crucial to many of our customers, and this is an area we too are prioritising. At Commotion we are passionate about minimising our environmental impact and using sustainable and eco-friendly packaging is very important to us. Find out more here.
The beginning of February also saw the Commotion team exhibit at the Nursery World Show. This exciting event brings together educators, practitioners and industry experts, providing a platform for showcasing cutting-edge practices, products, and ideas that shape the future of early childhood education. Our team were on hand to showcase our latest products and meet likeminded professionals, who advocate learning through play and are passionate about resources that inspire this as much as we are.
Our tickit Wooden Picture Blocks, such as our Lifecycle Tiles, Minibeast Blocks and Animal Match Tiles were very popular. The real photographic images that these products feature allow children to gain a true understanding of the topic areas and as they are printed on chunky natural wood, they can be used for years and are appealing to handle.
The tickit Sensory Mood Discovery Table and complementary products drew a lot of attention at this event. Our Discovery range is growing this year providing extended play opportunities, both with and without the Sensory Mood Discovery Table. All products within our Discovery Range have been designed by us to promote collaborative and creative play, ideal for any early years setting.
Gem Cubes remain a popular choice for early years professionals due to the captivating and sensory elements they offer. Adults and children are equally drawn to them as they feel, sound and look fascinating. Their superior quality is hard to beat and they provide a lasting investment for any setting.
Similarly, our tickit Sensory Reflective Range was highly sought after, with early years professionals welcoming the sensory play invitations they offer, while being naturally anti-bacterial and safe from birth.
Sensory and small world play was a key area of learning and focus amongst visitors, along with language development and understanding emotions. Nursery managers are still acutely aware of the implications COVID lockdowns have had on children and are eager to find resources that support development amongst these areas of learning.
Our final event of Q1 was the Childcare and Education Show in London. This event is dedicated to showcasing the latest innovations, trends, and developments in the field of early childhood education and care and provides an invaluable opportunity for professionals and stakeholders in the childcare and education sectors to network, collaborate, and stay abreast of the latest trends and research findings.
It was wonderful to have so many visitors to our stand, we met early years professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and settings and many of our chief toy-testers themselves on the Saturday. It was a joy to see children engaging with the toys on our stand and fascinating to watch them explore and combine the different product ranges.
We were delighted to meet several forest school leaders who regularly purchase our tickit wooden small world play sets, such as Wooden Animal Friends and Wooden Sea Animals, to be used to ignite conversations around animal habitats through immersive play set-ups.
The demand for natural wooden resources, especially in child-minding settings, highlighted a growing preference for aesthetically pleasing, natural and versatile products when your home is your workplace. Our tickit Wooden Discovery Dividers and open-ended items like the tickit Wooden Treasures gained significant interest, offering endless possibilities for creating stimulating play environments even in limited spaces.
Our tickit Easy Hold range was very popular with SEND teachers and professionals with the Glitter and Glow Panels being a particular favourite because of the calming effect they provide and it was interesting to be made aware that our Colour Panels help children who are struggling to read.
To conclude, Q1 has been a busy and rewarding time at Commotion HQ. We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with our customers and end-users. Your feedback continues to help and inspire us as we remain dedicated to providing innovative products that foster learning through play, enriching the early years experience for all.
