Oli&Carol
The Chlorophyll Leaf Teether is a chewable baby teether made from natural rubber with chlorophyll pigment designed with an ergonomic shape for babies palette, soothing teething gums and approved by dentists. Introduce kids into nature and its gifts! PlanToys Stack this colourful Stacking Bear to its optimal height with the PlanToys Stacking Ring - Bear edition. Play with sizes, and colours and flip upside down to create a variety of patterns. Helps teach children about order. The stacking rod is bendable at the base for added safety. Produced from sustainable rubberwood of course. MOLUK The speilgut award winning Ulu is an elegantly curved play object with a sophisticated geometry that allows it to rock back and forth - but never roll away. The soft shape, made of elastic silicone rubber, is irresistibly tactile. Ulu serves as a grasping and teething toy for babies and, with its two eyes, Ulu becomes a cute little character in pretend play. Candylab Don’t be a neigh-sayer – there is a new cutie in town! Adding this mystical van to your collection is a no-brainer! Shop all the newness on our B2B Store www.littleconcepts.shop
The Material Their first discovery was natural rubber, a core raw material, a natural & biodegradable source that comes from Hevea Trees. Using an artisanal, slow production process, they launched with a couple of lines and were rewarded to discover their ethics and belief in sustainability resonated with eco-conscious minded parents.
The packaging used is FSC cardboard and is 99% plastic free, the company uses sea transport wherever possible. No holes needed in the production process is crucial for the safety and longevity of the teethers and bath toys as it means mould can’t build up. For cleaning all that’s needed is a damp cloth and warm soapy water.
"We at Candylab have a clear and enthusiastic mission: to make the absolute best wooden toy vehicles on the market. We're gearheads, designers, engineers, parents, and have all banded together to become toymakers, with an unflinching commitment to quality and customer satisfaction." When creating a new design of car Dragusin gets to the heart of the appeal, which is a vehicle that looks attractive and has personality. Once a car has these credentials the design is left very simple so that a child can imprint their own story. Candylab Designer Helder says; "It's finding that happy balance between something that is iconic while still being simple enough. That gives the product a certain longevity, because you're pulling from icons that are already established and have proved themselves to be long lasting. The design will last. It's already proven itself. So you have that foundation you can use that as a prototype." Materials & Packaging The lumber always comes from well-managed forests from North America, mostly Canada and is imported under close supervision. Occasionally they will source New Zealand Pine or Rubber Wood from various sources in Asia and these species are fast to extremely fast-growing (unlike oak, fir, etc. ) with a growth rate exceeding the harvest rate over a given territory. All the packaging is paper and cardboard that’s printed with non-toxic paints. Candylab say; "It is equal parts engineering and origami to make rigid boxes that can be shipped across the world. No one should need to use a sharp blade to free up a toy from a blister pack." Working collaboratively Not only do they have an office in New York, but they also have a base in Ningbo China. They’ve chosen to work with just a couple of small family-owned workshops who have been crafting wooden products for two generations. This way Candylab can ensure the quality and sustainability of their products. Collectors and kids For children the design is simple but the quality zooooms - wheels that glide smoothly as cars come down a track, paint that doesn’t chip and ranges that interconnect to expand their imagination. For parents the longevity of the heirloom toy is important especially where families want to reduce the amount of throw away plastic in the home. But seeing their children engaged and absorbed in a natural product with no ‘screen’ involved is crucial. For kidults and collectors the Candylab automobiles are sleek, nostalgic and true to their inspiration. They look great on a shelf in a minimalist modern studio or competing for retro space amongst memorabilia and vintage curiosities. The vehicles generate a very emotive response around the world with enthusiasts keen to add new designs to collections or replicate vehicles from their childhood. "We want to be the wooden toy company. There's a company that makes plastic bricks -- can you think of which company this is? Or wooden trains? Or affordable home furniture? When people do something well, you become known for that" Dragusin the owner of Candylab The ranges from littleCONCEPTS Candylab’s DNA combines a deep love for vintage cars, a simplistic approach to design, and extensive use of natural materials. Loved by children and collectors alike — there's something for everyone!We have three distinct lines of toys: CANDYCAR®, Americana™, and STAC™! STAC™ Our wooden carchitecture! STAC is our supporting line of buildings and structures for both the CANDYCAR® line. Santa Monica Food Shacks Lone Cactus Motel Parking Garage littleCONCEPTS are proud to have been the exclusive UK distributor for Candylab since 2018, to find out more and to stock Candylab in your store visit www.littleconcepts.co.uk
We always knew we carried great brands but it’s a good feeling when this is endorsed by our peers and the retail industry. The much respected Junior Design Awards gave out their rosettes last week and Oli&Carol, PlanToys and CandyLab were all winners.
A big thanks to the judges at Junior Magazine for recognising the effort our brands put in to ensure their eco products have integrity coupled with stand out design. It is the key factor littleCONCEPTS look for when selecting a company to work with and it’s good to know we’ve chosen the right partners.
The Beginning... In 1981, seven university graduates came together with a shared desire to infuse the world with positivity. Vitool Viraponsavan, one of the strongest voices of the group, went on to establish PlanToys and has been inspiring children and families worldwide ever since. To this day, PlanToys operates with the belief that it’s their job to help educate and inspire society to prioritise environmental preservation, child safety and development. By raising children who are self-aware, environmentally-conscious and imaginative, it’s their hope that they will become individuals who understand the value of life, cherish nature, connection and play. The PlanToys mission is defined by their Sustainable Way; Sustainable Material: They ensure the use of sustainable natural resources and create minimum to zero waste throughout their production process. Sustainable Manufacturing: They manufacture children’s toys with love using eco-friendly processes in every step of production. Sustainable Mind: They strive to give back to society and their community through special environmental and educational campaigns that help make the world a better place for everyone. What sets them apart most from other brands is their attention to detail. • Their craftspeople are experts in woodworking- creating unique toy designs that can't be found anywhere else! • Simple designs make their toys classic, durable and timeless. • They use non-toxic, water-based dyes and premium-grade materials that don’t harm the environment. The Life and After Life of a Rubber Tree Plan Toys have never cut down a single tree for production! When rubber trees no longer produce latex, they are typically cut down and burned. But this is where Plan step in and use the timber for toy production, a practice they have followed for over 42 years. Rubberwood is primarily biodegradable. Although it would take many years for a wooden toy to decompose, it is the natural process! They use non-toxic dyes and zero chemicals to minimise the environmental impact of a toy. However, tiny parts in some of the toys are made from metal or plastic in order to ensure a toy's durability. These pieces are not biodegradable. The company continue to research new low impact materials to reduce their reliance on these small components. The Carbon Footprint of Each Toy PlanToys is currently the only toy manufacturer to calculate the carbon footprint of each product and share it on their packaging! By reducing the amount of greenhouse gas produced during toy production they hold themselves accountable and set a standard for environmentally-friendly manufacturing practices. Manufacturing, Sourcing and Staff PlanToys try to use alternative clean energy as often as possible. Solid biomass (like surplus wood pieces from production) is burned to produce a bio-fuel that produces the heat used in PlanWood creation (a process that uses the Rubberwood sawdust to make a new material). They also use solar energy and food waste from the factory to produce biogas, a renewable energy used for cooking in their canteen. 73% of the materials used to produce the toys are taken from a 30-kilometer radius of the factory in Southern Thailand's province of Trang thus supporting the local economy. Employees are also looked after through the availability of a credit union and a cooperative shop. Wider social projects funded by PlanToys include libraries and a nature theme park. Three Ways to Play PlanToys live the ethos of sustainable play and believe it has an enormous role in our development: Play helps children to grow emotionally, physically and cognitively. Play encourages social cohesion, fairness and sharing. Play that nurtures a relationship with our wider world and environment encourages us all to live in a more eco-friendly and positive way. Learning Through Play on a Larger Scale In 2021 PlanToys owner, Vitool Viraponsavan took his passion for creative play and education even further and the Forest of Play in Trang Province was launched. This is a 64,000 sqm adventure play park built entirely from reclaimed and upcycled materials sourced from the local area. In particular steel and concrete used in manufacturing has been deployed to build structures and tiles & pipes from hospitals are used in the bathrooms. The theme of the project is to connect children and their families with nature through interactive play and discovery. The concept of extinction, pollution and care for the earth’s resources is shared with visitors and school trips from Bangkok are also laid on.
littleCONCEPTS are proud to have been the exlusive UK distributor for PlanToys since 2016, to find out more and to stock PlanToys in your store visit www.littleconcepts.co.uk
The natural rubber toy and teether company Oli&Carol have teamed up with BigStuffed and 3 of their bestselling designs have been created as water toys. These cool marine creatures have been designed with no holes so they are bacteria-free and safe for playtime. Walter the Whale, Sharon the Crab and Orlando Octopus combine the magic of both brands and maintain Oli&Carol’s commitment to using sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Perfect splash companions! To have a play with these new designs come and see us at: With Easter 2023 just around the corner, we thought we would share a quick reference to all our brands beautiful Easter themed images:
PlanToys - https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1VKBCdo8SkJ7XOy5zUEtzKJKeuEafmXDf Candylab - https://candylab.pixieset.com/candycarholidayimagery/easterspring/ MOLUK - www.dropbox.com/sh/qkwf8zewr9ap3mi/AABOh_5jjtK7VKYhYtBj4i6da?dl=0 Oli&Carol - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h830ig2a0fj3mv4/AABb7ePQTThDjPlmgo8DvBd3a/ (garden collection) Mr&Mrs Tin - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a8hEb2aBlwJgy4ImQZKykhNecTQoAgsM UK based distributor littleCONCEPTS and the Spanish children’s brand Oli&Carol have announced a new and exclusive distribution partnership from July 1st 2022. Oli&Carol is a young company from Barcelona specialised in designing cool natural toys for modern parents and their kids. The creative souls behind the brand are Olimpia and Carolina Román Canals, two sisters who started the company 5 years ago when they were only 21 and 16 years old. Olimpia and Carolina are continuously innovating, designing and expanding the brand around the world. Oli&Carol has a worldwide presence in more than 80 countries. Olimpia states that “Since the beginning of Oli&Carol, we wanted to act for the benefit of society. To do so, we are constantly transmitting important messages and taking actions to help our planet. We believe in taking care of the environment offering natural sustainable products that follow an artisanal handmade process” Both founders are truly focused on creating a better environment for all, with Cristina adding “Our goal is to create a better and safer world to live in. We create 100% natural and bacteria-free toys; our products soon become a must for parents.”. Since day one, the Oli&Carol mission has been to create products with low environmental impact and raise awareness within our communities of the importance of conscious products. All Oli&Carol products are produced from 100% natural and safe material, 99% of the packaging is completely plastic-free and Oli&Carol have committed to eliminate that 1% by the end of 2022, and 100% of the toys are biodegradable at end of use. Further to this, the company is committed to educate children and their families through play. The "More Than Toys" initiative aims to transmit important messages into society. Learning, educating and raising awareness through play, is one of the main premises and philosophy of the creators of Oli&Carol. In addition, 2% of profits are donated to different associations. Such as ‘Coral Gardeners’, a non-profit organization focused on protecting, restoring and raising awareness on the importance of coral reefs, whose role is crucial for the marine ecosystems. The beautiful Oli&Carol range consists of over 50 natural rubber teethers, bath toys and textile products. A new collaboration with Scottish textile and product designer Donna Wilson saw the launch of three brand new teethers in 2022, that are sure to become best-sellers. UK Retailers are able to pre-order from littleCONCEPTS, via the distributors B2B platform www.littleconcepts.shop. littleCONCEPTS are excited to be showing the range at the upcoming trade fairs, starting with Home & Gift (Stand: DP1-A103) in July and then Top Drawer (Stand: T39) in September. Copenhagen based Fabelab have just launched a gorgeous range of Picnic and Back to School items. Comprised of lunchboxes, tableware, water bottles and backpacks - there is everything you need to get your picnic packed and taken to the beach this summer! Designed in a subtle range of colours, the items are produced from environmentally conscious materials, such as this beautiful 2 layer lunchbox & thermos flask.
The Fabelab ‘Lunchbox’ in 2 layer is produced in 100% organic PLA. PLA - Biobased Plastic is our new favorite material. PLA is made from renewable fibers extracted from crops like corn, wheat, and sweet potatoes. It performs much like traditional plastic, but with the crucial benefit of being 100% compostable in commercial compost facilities. The material is fantastic because it is versatile, compostable, and the best of all, not derived from petroleum. We have opened up pre-orders for the range on our brand new B2B platform - with stock dropping at the end of June 2022. |