9 INDUSTRY NEWS Industry news Latest news from the craft industry INSIDE OUT TOYS BRINGS SANTORO’S BANGOBERRY TO INDEPENDENT RETAILERS ACROSS THE UK SANTORO is excited to announce a new distribution partnership with Inside Out Toys, which will bring the company’s playful Bangoberry brand to independent retailers throughout the UK. Since its launch, Bangoberry has been capturing hearts with its cheerful cast of collectible characters across a colourful product range inspired by life on the tropical ‘Bingo Bango’ Island. Perfectly positioned within the booming Kidult and cute kawaii trend, Bangoberry delivers a highly giftable collection of novelty stationery, character accessories and everyday products with instant shelf appeal. Building on another major retail trend for charm-based customisation, Bangoberry adds a collectible twist to the personalisation trend, with its ‘Bangobob’ charms – each carrying its own secret meaning for fans to discover, trade and collect. The partnership with Inside Out Toys comes after SANTORO’s recent US partnership with Toysmith and also marks an important step in the brand’s UK growth. The new collaboration will make Bangoberry more readily available to the distributor’s large customer base that spans independent gift shops, toy retailers, garden centres, museums, zoos, and visitor attractions nationwide. “Bangoberry is a bright and characterful range that fits perfectly with the types of retailers we work with,” said Julian Garner, Managing Director at Inside Out Toys. “The playful design, tactile materials and strong pocket-money products make it an easy addition for gift retailers, particularly those serving families and children. We’re excited to introduce the brand to our customers and believe it will quickly become a popular impulse range in-store.” Tara Strickland, Head of Design at SANTORO, also added that, “We’re delighted to be bringing additional momentum to Bangoberry in the UK with Inside Out Toys! The brand has such distinctively playful spirit and it has been incredibly exciting to see it grow in popularity across other territories. We believe it has all the right ingredients to capture the imagination of UK customers too, and we can’t wait to see more families discover the fun!” Retailers attending this year’s Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival in Harrogate will also have the opportunity to discover Bangoberry in person. While SANTORO will not be exhibiting at the event, the full range will be showcased by Inside Out Toys, allowing visitors to explore the collection and discuss stocking opportunities directly with the team. Bangoberry stock is now available through Inside Out Toys, with display-led starter packages available to help retailers launch the range successfully in-store. Knitting trio merge Cygnet Yarns are to join the James C Brett & Wendy Wools family, bringing together three trusted names in the knitting and crochet community. This merger represents an exciting new chapter, combining the strengths, expertise, and heritage of three brands. Katie Stephenson says, “Our shared commitment remains unchanged: to provide you with high-quality yarns, inspiring collections, and the excellent service you have come to expect. For our customers, it’s business as usual. You can continue to enjoy your favourite yarns, patterns, and colour ranges while we work to bring you an even broader selection of products and exciting new developments in the future. We’re committed to making this transition as smooth as possible, with as little disruption to orders or customer service. Our teams are working closely together to ensure you continue to receive the same reliable support and quality you know and trust.” The Cygnet brand will leave its longstanding home in Bradford and relocate to the newly extended, James C Brett warehousing in Bingley, where the two brands will operate as one from August 1st 2026. Wendy Wools will continue to operate from its ancestral home in Guiseley, just as it has for decades. Katie adds, “We would like to thank you for your continued loyalty and support. We are excited about what the future holds and look forward to sharing this journey with you.”
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