THE PUPPET COMPANY EXPANDS ITS COMMERCIAL TEAM WITH STRATEGIC APPOINTMENT The Puppet Company, the family-run world leader in puppets and soft toys is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Sales Manager, as the brand welcomes Nicola Mawby to its team. With a strong passion for the toy and gift industry, Nicola has worked with several leading brands during her 20+ year career. In her most recent role as National Account Manager at Warmies, Nicola established a wealth of knowledge and nurtured a number of long-lasting relationships with key contacts at both independent and multiple retail accounts, making her the perfect candidate. Speaking about her new role, Nicola said: “I have admired The Puppet Company for many years, so joining the team is a real coup for me. It’s a lovely business with great brand recognition and two fantastic brands – The Puppet Company and Wilberry Toys. “I just love the products, their wonderful story, and the founders’ passion which truly shines through. With some fantastic licenses including Elmer, Paddington and The Natural History Museum, as well as their support of causes like The Brain Tumour Charity, it’s just such a special brand to work for. I am so looking forward to selling products that bring pure joy to customers. There’s huge potential for growth and I’m eager to play a part in the next stage of the journey” www.thepuppetcompany.com SANTORO TAKES HOME THE HENRY COLE CLASSIC AWARD In a truly momentous achievement, Santoro has announced its first win at the 2025 Henries Awards, taking home the prestigious Henry Cole Classic Award for its iconic Swing Cards collection. Celebrated worldwide as one of the most innovative and recognisable collections in the greetings industry, Swing Cards have been mesmerising fans for three decades – and this award marks a fitting and emotional close to the range’s milestone 30th anniversary, after accumulating five additional accolades already throughout the year, including a Louie Award and Gift of the Year Award. The Henry Cole Classic Award honours designs with enduring charm and commercial success, and few ranges embody this better than Santoro’s Swing Cards. Combining artistry, imagination, and cutting-edge paper engineering, the collection has redefined what a greeting card can be, ultimately transforming each design into a delightful 3D keepsake that “swings” to life when opened. “What a wonderful way to close our 30th anniversary year!” said Lucio Santoro, CEO. “When we first launched Swing Cards, I couldn’t have imagined that 30 years on we’d still be innovating, inspiring, and being recognised for our staying power. Winning our first ever Henries – and for the Henry Cole Classic, no less – feels like a full-circle moment. It’s a celebration not only of where we’ve come from, but of the creative spirit that continues to drive us forward.” As Santoro continues to push the boundaries of design and storytelling through its award-winning paper engineering, the Henries recognition stands as a testament to the company’s creative legacy and unwavering commitment to excellence. www.santoro-london.com THE TROPHY CABINET CONTINUES TO GROW AT SMART TOYS AND GAMES The team at Smart Toys and Games are celebrating, as SmartGames adds more award wins to its evergrowing collection. This October, SmartGames was delighted to have been recognised in the Right Start Awards, receiving an amazing two accreditations including: Right Start Awards 2025 SmartGames – Counting Sheep: the compact, one player puzzle game that is well-rounded, sheepishly fun and sure to baa-ffle minds! *Highly Commended in Games & Puzzles SmartGames – Hide & Seek: the adaption of the fairy tale classic ‘Wolf and the Seven Young Goats’ in epic game format will captivate young minds as they enjoy hours of fun educational play! *Gold in Games & Puzzles These recent award wins are a real coup for SmartGames, who have already been recognised for multiple awards this year. Now in its eighth year, the Right Start Awards aim to recognise the toys that offer true value for money. All the award-winning toys, books and nursery items have been road-tested by parents and children at home and carefully selected as winners based on if they are long-lasting, durable, appealing and help save the planet - Smart Toys and Games are thrilled both Counting Sheep and Hide & Seek have been recognised. Commenting on the recent award wins, Karen Clarke, UK Brand Director at Smart Toys and Games said: “We are thrilled to be recognised by this highly anticipated and trusted award platform. Receiving the news that we have been awarded two top spots in the Games & Puzzles category at the Right Start Awards, especially as both of the games are new for 2025 is fantastic!” The winning products have been published online https://www.rightstartonline.co.uk/product-guide/2025 and are featured in the printed issue of the Right Start Awards Guide 2025, which are available to all Tumble Tots members from this week. INDUSTRY NEWS 9
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