Hippychick are proud to announce an exclusive partnership for the UK with beautiful puzzle, playball and creative art brand Crocodile Creek from the USA. Although the brand is well known to many, the post Brexit costs associated with distribution from Belgium were unsustainable and Hippychick are delighted to have been approached to add such a strong brand to their range and be able to offer prices across the board that are 18 – 25% lower than 2022 which is unheard of in the current climate. MOQ’s are only £199, delivery will be from stock here in the UK and should be within 48 hours.
Many toys may go in and out of fashion but one that’s really stood the test of the time, for three centuries in fact, is the good old jigsaw puzzle. The earliest known jigsaw puzzle dates back to 1760 when John Spilsbury, an engraver in England, mounted a world map to a sheet of hardwood and used a hand saw to cut around country boundaries. Today, 1.8billion jigsaw puzzles are sold in the USA annually and the value of the jigsaw market in the UK in 2021 reached a whopping £100 million.
Puzzles have maintained their popularity for good reason. They are loved by parents and educators alike due to their ability to offer healthy developmental benefits for children. Piecing together parts to make a whole may seem like a simple concept, but puzzles can also teach children several skills – concentration, spatial awareness, shape recognition, hand eye coordination, decision-making and problem solving to name but a few. And, of course, they are good old fashioned fun to complete, too.
It’s for all these reasons that Hippychick is excited to launch its first ever puzzle collection – Crocodile Creek – a range of expertly crafted, beautifully illustrated puzzles with pieces sized to suit all age groups and themes designed to encourage young minds to take an active interest in the world around them.
Collection highlights include:
The Day at the Museum puzzle collection that comprises five x 48 piece wooden puzzles and spans five different natural history themes – aquariums, botanical gardens, dinosaurs, farms and zoos.
My First Puzzle Case comprises three x puzzles with the option to make 6, 9 or 12 piece puzzles in colourful animal designs – Dinosaurs, Jungle and Barnyard. Each is presented in a beautiful carry case that snaps shut to keep the pieces safely together which makes them an ideal travelling companion for ages 3 years +.
The NASA themed puzzles presented in a tin come in a range of vivid designs that will spark children’s interest in our planet. Themes include the Earth, the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter plus a tin that combines all of these themes in one. A 200 piece set offers children aged 5 years + a beautifully designed insight into the solar system.
In addition to the puzzles, Hippychick will also be introducing Crocodile Creek’s popular collection of Play Balls. Available in 4, 5 and 7 inch diameters, these balls are printed in a range of vibrant, themed designs from dinosaurs to unicorns to space rockets. Made from a tough durable rubber and leather combination they are built to withstand the demands of active children and can be thrown, kicked and bounced to their heart’s content.
Hippychick joint MD Jeremy Minchin says “This is one of the most exciting new launches we have ever done, there is a fantastic feel good, can-do attitude from the brand and they have gone above and beyond on every front to enable a swift and supported launch. Reaction from retailers at Top Drawer recently was super enthusiastic with all those who have stocked the brand previously thrilled to see it back and delivering better prices and value for everyone. Lots of new business was written and several major retailers and attraction centres have it firmly in their plans for 2023 – now we need to get the stock here as quick as possible. The quality, design, fully FSC certified accreditation and wonderful depth of the range are all massive plus points for everyone who has seen it thus far.”
Steve Brown, Sales Director at Crocodile Creek comments, “Since Brexit we have been unable to fully capitalise on the fantastic retailer support that is out there for Crocodile Creek. With Hippychick now representing us, a wave of enthusiasm and momentum is giving everyone associated with the brand a sense of excitement. In the short space of time since the beginning of 2023, we have been approached regarding significant new opportunities and received great feedback from existing retailers who are thrilled with the improved pricing and service – sometimes you just know that the right steps have been taken and we are all really energised and upbeat about the coming months and years.”
For further information about Crocodile Creek contact the Hippychick team – sales@hippychick.com – 01278 434440