By Joanna Hurley

Hampshire Representative for Tish Tash Toys

Tish Tash Toys offers a wonderful collection of children’s toys and gifts which are available from independent agents across the UK. I am very proud to say that I have recently become a party plan agent for Tish Tash Toys. Why did I choose Tish Tash Toys? One of my main motivators was simply that I believed in the products they offered. Tish Tash Toys has put together a carefully handpicked range of distinctive, high quality and educational toys, different to those purchased along most high street.

So far I am really enjoying this sales role. I was looking for a challenge that would allow me to continue to be a full time mum at home with my children George (5) and Sophie (2). I was not prepared to go back into employment until they are both at school full time. I don’t want to miss them growing up or not be there when they need me. This new business venture has enabled me to kill two birds with one stone, satisfying my need to work as well as being a full time Mum to my two children. So far I have had a couple of parties and had stalls at one pre-school and one infant school fete. I have really enjoyed doing something different that can involve my children.

The philosophy at Tish Tash Toys is not only to ensure products are safe but also to choose toys, where possible, that benefit our environment in both their materials and production. Therefore many toys that they offer are made from wood, the range is fantastic from wooden rattles and teether chains for babies through to creative wood blocks and cubes, lacing bugs, beads wooden puzzles and sorting games.

They also stock wooden push and pull along toys and larger items such as rocking horses, dolls houses, pirate ships, castles, toddler bikes and scooters, farm sets and mini wooden kitchens and accessories. Plus party bag gifts including wooden watches, whistles, pencil sharpeners, spinning tops and bracelets. Not only is wood beautiful and hard wearing it also offers environmental benefits compared to plastic and many other materials. The wooden range of toys offered by Tish Tash Toys come from manufacturers such as John Crane, Pintoy, Wood Like to Play, Bigjigs, Orange Tree, Marbel (toy distributor) and Alsuna. I’ve put together a bit more about each supplier below.

John Crane bases its toys on a stringent criteria of high quality, value for money, innovation and safety – with design flair. Representing brands such as Pintoy, they have played a part in the growing resurgence in the popularity of quality wooden toys, offering unique collections, which are full of both play value and encourage educational development. Their wooden toys, games, gifts and children’s furniture in their exclusive Pintoy and Pin Furniture ranges are made from Rubber wood, which is harvested from replenishable forests when the Rubber trees have finally reached the end of their natural cycle. Pintoy is also proud to have obtained the environmental Thai Green Label award. I personally love the wooden teaching clock my 2 year old enjoys building towers with the numbers and my 5 year old uses it to help him understand the clock and learn to tell the time. I also love the solid wood play high chair from Pintoy that doesn’t fall down or collapse just when your little one is about to give her baby its dinner. I have been looking for a stable and robust one for ages after trying two different plastic ones that even my daughter has rejected.

Wood Like To Play specialise in the design and manufacturing of quality handcrafted wooden toys that are both educational and fun. Elephant Row is one of their simple and fun number puzzles that helps young children count to ten with the added bonus of looking great on the playroom or nursery shelf. Wood like to Play are committed to the development and distribution of open-ended educational toys to help inspire imaginations, stimulate young minds, and nurture a sense of discovery. They are equally committed to producing high-quality toys using only materials and processes that show respect for our planet and all the people and creatures upon it.

At Le Toy Van they design, manufacture & distribute original painted wooden toys. Ranges include: Fairyland, dolls house, mini-world, traditional toys, farms, pirate adventure, fantasy, castles & EDIX modular medieval village inspiring imaginative play. I recommend their First Dream house (dolls house) with its pretty pink exterior, opening windows shutters and doors and also includes a fully furnished and decorated interior .

Orange Tree Toys are known for their beautifully crafted, brightly coloured and hand painted (using safe, non-toxic paint) wooden toys that make stunning additions to any toy box. Their traditional jewellery, spinning tops, push-ups, pull-alongs are eternally popular and their educational puzzles are simply ‘must have’ items for creating an environment that combines learning and fun. My son George played with his push along lady-bird for hours it has probably been on more outings than any other toys, up to the shops, through garden centres, parks even on holiday, my daughter Sophie has now taken it over so it may now see the rest of the world!!! Their wooden play jewellery is also delightful and a perfect gift for any little girl who enjoys dressing up and making herself look pretty and their chunky brightly coloured wood puzzles are great starting puzzle for children over 12 months.

Cornwall-based toy distributor, Marbel specialises in classic toys made from traditional materials. The firm was set up five years ago by husband and wife team Christoph and Rebecca Bettin, who started the company after spending several years working in Munich, Germany, for American multinational General Electric. During their time overseas the couple noticed that traditional toys like wooden trains were still popular with parents and children, and saw an opportunity to bring the idea back to the UK.

Christoph said: “In an increasingly electronic world our toys offer something to parents that is more traditional and allows greater interaction for young children. Our toys are visually stimulating and tactile, great fun and are of excellent quality. Above all we ensure our products are able to spark children’s imagination and provide excellent playtime value.” Marbel specialises in bringing a range of classic, traditional, innovative and educational toys to the UK market. Distributing popular brands such as Plan Toys and I’M Toy, which are produced from sustainable and preservative free rubber wood. I love their 7 in 1 activity centre with easel made by I’m Toy which includes a clock, abacas, a geometric sorting labyrinth, an alphabet set, whiteboard and chalkboard and an easel with paper roll holder. Just the thing to keep children busy on those rainy indoor days. They also offer a fabulous rubber wood cookery serving set that is a perfectly formed mini version of the real thing.

Alsuna is a toy retail and wholesale company. Throughout the year they make monetary, toy and gift donations to charities, and also contribute to help educate the children of the workers in the factories where the products they sell are made. Tatiri toys and gifts are designed in Italy and the Quadrilla and Woody Click toys are designed in Germany. Even though the products are not manufactured in Europe the factories operate to the highest of European standards. All their products are tested to European standards and where appropriate are CE marked. Their products represent traditional values and are made to a very high standard using vibrant colours. The wood used in the manufacture of their toys is mostly sourced from renewable resources. I like their dinosaur/ ballerina and rocket tooth timers which are great motivators for getting children’s teeth cleaned properly at bedtime. They also make elasticated wooden play watches with movable hands in designs to suit both boys and girls.

The Tish Tash Toy Catalogue displays a fantastic and wonderful range of babies and children toys from all of these established and reputable manufacturers at competitive prices. Each item in the catalogue has been handpicked to provide a wide choice of quality toys and gifts, many of which are wooden. With this increasing emphasis from some of the above toy manufacturers on environmentally friendly bio degradable and sustainable wood products I must say I am proud to be a sales representative for these toys.

You can see the full range of toys at www.tishtashtoys.com

Find out more about becoming a representative at www.tishtashtoys.com/agents or look at www.partyplantogether.co.uk if you want more information on other jobs for party planners. Party Plan Together is THE UK website for all direct sellers and mlm representatives.