The health crisis and the nursery business
The coronacrisis has caused a dramatic change in our industry. Now the BCMI members report about the current business situation resulting from the coronavirus infection in various countries. Read here in a new series of articles on how industry, retailers and consumers have been affected by the pandemic.
Part 4: Sweden
The member magazine Lek & Babyrevyn applied to Camilla Eklöf, Wonderful Times Group, distributor of toys and baby products
How are nursery producers/distributors in your country doing right now?
„Not many of our suppliers are producing in Sweden, but the ones who do are in the plastic industry and it seems they are doing well in terms of sales. The fact that staff is at home due to coronavirus restrictions is affecting the time of delivery with some extra weeks but demands on their products has not diminished. Other distributors are having a tough time if they do not have the same wide product portfolio as we.”
How has the behavior of consumers of baby products changed?
„Not a lot of shopping at the retailer’s: the buying pattern has moved away from the physical shop and into the web. The first weeks of coronavirus affected all the baby business since many people were cautious in spending money, perhaps afraid of losing jobs: it caused a much more careful shopping pattern. We sold a lot of care and hygiene, which are the always needed basic products. After some time passed, boredom took over and shopping was the thing to do when being at home.”
What could replace trade exhibitions in our industry this year?
„Web based meeting points, creating a virtual marketplace with news and offers. The branch organization creating a web-based exhibition where us members rent a space to offer what we should have offered live.”