International Toy Firm Upcoming Minds Appoints Import Services For UK Expansion
Danish toy company Upcoming Minds has appointed Import Services as its logistics partner for the company’s launch into the British market.
The UK expansion will see Upcoming Minds import its fun and cool scooters, a fast growing range of Do-It-Yourself products, toys and board games for onward supply to a range of retailers.
Import Services is now offering Upcoming Minds a complete port-centric service from UK customs clearance to bonded warehousing, order fulfilment and distribution throughout the UK.
Set up in 2010, Upcoming Minds has been successful in Scandinavia and the Benelux countries and said the UK was a natural move as part of its overall expansion in Northern Europe.
“Coming to UK completes the northern European territory and at the same time means we can integrate Continental European distribution, via Import Services in Southampton,’’ said CEO Claus Drastrup from Upcoming Minds.
He said the company was looking for a first class logistics partner and Import Services fits the bill perfectly.
“We view Import Services as a port-centric logistics specialist, with particular skills in handling high volume order processing, pre-retailing and distribution of consumer products to retailers and direct to homes in the UK and across Continental Europe,’’ said Claus.
“Import Services consolidates outbound pallet deliveries via back-haul deliveries to all major and multiple retailers which Upcoming Minds supplies and Import Services has established close relationships with retailers to enable successful booking and delivery schedules.’’
Mike Thomas Client Services Director at Import Services said: “Upcoming Minds already supplies mainland Europe but was looking for an experienced logistics partner with experience in the toy market to help establish the company in the UK.’’
He said Upcoming Minds joins the Import Services’ portfolio of toy companies which also includes K’NEX, Flair GP, Melissa & Doug, Toymaster, Jakks Pacific, Clementoni, Famosa, IMC, Winning Moves, F4K, Carte Blanche and Epoch.
“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.
