American Toy Firm K’NEX Appoints Import Services For UK Expansion
K’NEX, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love, has appointed Import Services as its logistics partner in the UK.
One of the world’s most popular lines of children’s construction toys, K’ NEX building sets are designed to let children build and create models by connecting together specially designed building parts.
This established US company distributes to more than 30 countries worldwide. Products include construction sets to build everything from the K’NEX theme-park roller coasters, to licenced building sets such as, The Beatles Yellow Submarine and Super Mario sets.
“Over the past several years, K’NEX has grown by leaps and bounds in the United States,” said Michael Araten, president and CEO of K’NEX Brands. “In addition to popular core K’NEX product, we have introduced many successful licences that are also popular worldwide. As we monitored activity in our international markets, I became increasingly confident that the success measures instituted by our outstanding U.S. sales and marketing team could encourage growth in other countries, too. We are excited to open our doors, work hand-in-hand with consumers and retailers in the UK and continue the growth of K’NEX Brands,” said Michael.
Import Services is the port-centric retail logistics company for the UK handling products for a number of leading toy companies including, Flair GP, Melissa & Doug and Toymaster.
Client services director Mike Thomas said: “K’NEX recognises the supply chain benefits of port-centric logistics and joins our forward thinking portfolio of toy companies.
We are delighted K’NEX has chosen Import Services as logistics partner, to underpin UK expansion plans.
“Supply chain time-lines are shrinking and this, combined with retailers ordering smaller quantities more frequently, means our container port logistics services are now key to gaining a necessary business edge,’’ said Mike.
Operating from Southampton container port and linking intelligent networks of supply chain services with global real time information, Import Services provides the optimum route to market in the new world of multi-channel retailing for the toy trade.
