Tis the Season to be Jolly

Don we now our bright apparel...

L'Asticot

Christmas greetings from the Bubble and Speak team. 

Thank you for reading! 
We'll see you in the New Year!

Paris' Christmas Windows

By Julie Peiffer, Modenfantine

Let it snow? Well this isn't going to happen this Christmas in the city of lights, but that doesn't mean you can't get into the festive spirit.

For over 50 years, a Parisian tradition is to take your little ones to Boulevard Haussmann and rue de Sevres while patiently waiting for Santa …

From Moscow to Venice, Karl Lagerfeld takes us on a Chanel journey with Printemps’ windows. Be dazzled by the small dolls, warm colours, iconic monuments and magical discoveries.

 

Printemps
64 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris

 

Created by ‘en vogue’ New York designer, Andrew Yang, Les Galeries Lafayette are having a rock’n’roll holiday.

Taking centrepiece is ‘The Koulistars’, a girl band of 5 soft muslin dolls with very distinctive personalities.

Les Galeries Lafayette 40, boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris

Finally, on the other side of La Seine, be inspired by  Le Bon Marché’s star-studded displays created by Loïc Prigent

Le Bon Marché, 24 Rue de Sèvres  75007 Paris

O Christmas Tree!

Currently standing tall on the ground floor of St Pancras International, is the world’s largest ever Lego Christmas tree.

Created by the UK’s only certified Lego professional, Duncan Titchmarsh, and his team at Bright Bricks, this masterpiece consists of approximately 400,000 individuals bricks.

If you're feeling clever, try and guess exactly how many bricks you think it took to build the tree. You could win a family ticket to Legoland Windsor Resort and one night in the Legoland Hotel!


To enter the competition, visit the Hamleys toy store in the station before the 24th December 2011.

You can see the tree until 2 January 2012!



St Pancras International Station
Euston Road
London
N1C 4QP

Indikidual Kids

Say hello to Indikidual, a unisex capsule collection for 3 months up to 4 years old!

The range allows for layering and encourages mixing and matching to create individual looks and styles.

All pieces are made using organic cotton and are designed to be practical yet fashionable.  

Indikidual will launch at Bubble London on 29 & 30 January 2012.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

This Christmas, Bubble London exhibitor Rockabye Baby are in high spirits celebrating the festive season and their new Autumn/Winter collection.

Just like the collection, the shoot is inspired by music and pop culture. These kids are born to rock!

Don't miss Rockabye Baby at Bubble London this 29 & 30 January 201. Business Design Centre, Islington.

The North Wind Doth Blow

Whatever the weather, Bubble London will keep the wildest winter at bay with a selection of the cosiest collections for autumn/winter 2012.

1. Mini A Ture, 2. Mini Rodini, 3. O'Neill, 4. Girl and a Mouse, 5. Toby Tiger, 6. L'Asticot, 7. Didriksons, 8. Molo Outerwear, 9. Name It, 10. Racoon

Interested in exhibiting at Bubble London, January 2012? Click here to ensure your brand is a success on the international retail scene this season.

Buyer registration for the show is now open - click here to make sure you receive your complimentary tickets.

Are you ready to Punch and Cuddle?

If you’re a regular visitor of Bubble London, you may recall Punch’n’Cuddle creating a big frenzy at the June 2009 show.

It’s taken years of hard work, stress and sweat for their designers, but they are now available online.

Congratulations to Brit and the rest of her team!

The Day We Caught the Train

Bubble London exhibitor Frugi and their railway children encourage you this Autumn ro wrap up warm, pack a suitcase with a picnic and join them to explore!

Our friends, Ellie in Wellies, Giraffe in a Scarf, and Wise Owl have been catching the train, the bus and even the tractor on a countryside adventure!

Frugi's colourful Autumnal collection is packed with new and exciting pieces. From printed cords to polka dot tights and leggings. We're excited to see the new range for boys and girls at the January show.

Don't miss Frugi at Bubble London on 29 & 30 January 2012.

Scandinavian Treats

Last Thursday, we stopped by Kidsen for seasonal drinks, Swedish nibbles and a browse through our favourite Scandinavian labels.

If you haven't finished your holiday shopping, head to Kidsen this Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

New brand on the block!

 

Launching at the January edition of Bubble London is Weasel and Stoat, a high fashion  range of contemporary clothing for girls and boys up to 9 years old.

Using British knitted jerseys, exquisite mohair or certified organic denim, we can't wait to discover the full Autumn/Winter 2012 collection entitled Branscombe.

Freckleface Strawberry

Not content with being a four time Academy Award nominated actress, Julianne Moore is also a New York Times bestselling children's author with her stories about a young girl, Freckleface Strawberry.

Recently, Julianne Moore was hosted by Tod’s Madison Avenue boutique for the signing of her third book in the series, “Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever”, which with the help of illustrations by dreamworks animator, LeUyen Pham, celebrates the importance of recognising and keeping a true friend.

Now the subject of a Broadway musical, Freckleface Strawberry helps kids to learn to love the skin they're in.

Freckleface Strawberry The Musical
MMAC THEATER
Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
248 West 60th Street
New York
NY 10023

Dear Father Christmas

By Laura Turner, CWB Magazine

As a young child, it would be around this time of year that I would start composing a letter to Father Christmas. I’d pen a little wish list in my neatest hand writing before leaving the note on the mantle piece with an obligatory carrot, sherry and mince pie.

But it wasn’t until recently, whilst buying Christmas gifts for young children of family and friends, that I got thinking about some of my own favourite Christmas presents as a child.

Many of my much-loved toys were good old fashioned Fisher Price favourites that are still popular today, together with typical 80s toy paraphernalia like My Little Pony, The Care Bears and Rainbow Bright. It is funny how, even after decades of time, you can still vividly remember the tiniest details of your favourite playthings – here are mine…

Fisher Price cash register

Rainbow Bright

 I adored anything to do with Rainbow Bright, especially a memory card game I had featuring all of the Rainbow Bright characters.

Care Bears

 I managed to build up a pretty impressive collection of these little, plastic Care Bear figures.

My Little Pony 

Fisher Price record player 

 I remember playing these records over and over again…how annoying.

Keypers

I loved this toy with its secret, lockable compartment.

 

 

Fisher Price roller skates

Discover the toys of tomorrow, including Fisher Price at Bubble London on 29 & 30 January 2012.

Playing it Cool

Don’t get left out in the cold next winter; pick up some serious attitude at Bubble London with a sassy selection of brand names for kids with style.

1. Molo Kids, 2. O'Neill, 3. Hadleigh London, 4. No Added Sugar, 5. Pippo, 6. Salty Dog, 7. Dandy Star, 8. Seven One Seven, 9. Pepe Jeans, 10. Silvian Heach, 11. Lemmi

Interested in exhibiting at Bubble London, January 2012? Click here to ensure your brand is a success on the international retail scene this season.

Buyer registration for the show is now open - click here to make sure you receive your complimentary tickets.

Best of British

The new issue of CWB magazine is out now!

For the Best of British edition, Laura Turner, editor in chief, discusses UK manufacturing and the support given by the UKFT.

The issue also rounds up news from the leading UK and overseas trade shows and what to expect from a/w 2012, including an  interview with Bubble London Event Director, Lindsay Hoyes.

CWB are now on Facebook and Twitter, make sure you 'like' and 'follow them'!

Joyeux Noel!

There are just 17 days to go until Christmas, but have you sorted your Christmas cards?
Fear not, you can still purchase some gorgeous hand-glittered Noel greeting cards from  Dandy Star!

The London-based brand will unveil loads more goodies at Bubble London on 29 & 30 January 2012.

Notting Hill Late Night Shopping

The Notting Hill Festive Shopping Night is the first night dedicated to the area's boutiques. Combining fashion and lifestyle with a fun, festive shopping experience.

All participating boutiques, including Bubble London favourites ilovegorgeous and Petit Bateau, will be offering special pre-Christmas discounts, special offers, limited edition products and of course, festive treats

Enjoy mulled wine, sparkling drinks and Christmas food, with carol singers, street performers and much more!

While you're in the area, make sure you pick up the new 'Trellick Tower' bag for the Notting Hill Shopping Bag Company, designed by 10 year old Chanay from Middle Row School.

The bag is one of a series, produced by The Notting Hill Shopping Bag community project, which aims to reduce plastic bag use. Sold for £4 by shops and stalls across Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market, 10% of profits are donated to good causes.

Previous designs include Notting Hill’s coloured houses by an 11 year old from Colville Primary School, a map of the local area by a 10 year old from Bevington Primary School and a ‘cupcake’ design by X factor judge and Notting Hill resident Natalie Imbruglia. Future designs are in the pipeline from children at Oxford Gardens School and St Stephen’s School.

The Notting Hill Late Night Shopping Event

Thursday 8th December

6 - 9pm

Notting Hill

London

W11

Children's Short Story Competition

Perhaps one of the most memorable independent book shops in London, Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street makes book shopping into a magical experience. Browse literary classics and discover new authors within the mesmerising Edwardian galleries.

Along with the other branches in Chelsea, Holland Park, Cheapside, Hampstead and Belsize Park, it's almost impossible to visit the store and leave without having treated yourself to a little something.

With a great supply of children's books too and many readings from authors themselves, if you haven't visited, make sure it's one of your resolutions for the new year!

For any budding writers out there, Daunt Books have launched their Children's Short Story Competition, 2012.

Open to children 15 and under, the competition provides an amazing opportunity to put pen to paper and use your imagination.

A dream come true for the winners as they will become published writers, with Daunt Books creating a copy of the best stories to be sold in store.

The competition closes on Friday 23rd December.

Good luck!

Look Who's Talking

As well as presenting retailers with the best of the new autumn/winter collections, Bubble London has put together a fantastic seminar programme guaranteed to inform and inspire you to improve the potential of your business.

Trends, e-commerce, social media, buying, merchandising and cash flow are all topics covered by industry experts and form an invaluable programme available to all visitors over the two days of the show.

Sunday 29 January 2012 10.00 - 10.30 | The essential e-commerce guide for baby and children's store retailers Ray Buckler and Nick Pratt from Sitemakers, a leading provider of e-commerce website solutions. 12.00 - 12.30 | How to use Google and social media to increase your online sales Warren Knight - social media expert and founder of Gloople, the UK's first 'social sharing' e-commerce platform. 14.00 - 14.30 | Children's Runway Roadmap for autumn/winter 2012/13 - Enchanted Tomorrow Nicole Yee from Stylesight, the industry-leading global content and technology provider for professionals in the style, fashion and design sectors. 16.00 - 16.30 | Cash is king Antony Welfare from The Retail Inspector, a retail consultancy which helps independent retailers grow profitably. Monday 30 January 2012 11.00 - 11.30 | The essential e-commerce guide for baby and children's store retailers Ray Buckler and Nick Pratt from Sitemakers, a leading provider of e-commerce website solutions. 14.00 - 14.30 | How to use Google and social media to increase your online sales Warren Knight - social media expert and founder of Gloople, the UK's first 'social sharing' e-commerce platform. 16.00 - 16.30 | Buy and merchandise for your customers. Anna Brown from The Retail Inspector, a retail consultancy which helps independent retailers to grow profitably. Seminars are free of charge to Bubble London visitors and take place in the Seminar Theatre located on the Gallery Level of the venue. Don't miss these inspiring talks - full details of all seminars, exhibitors and exhibition events are available on bubblelondon.com