Following the fantastic announcement of Silver Cross as top nursery brand in the annual UK Superbrands awards, The Sunday Telegraph ran a Superbrands suplement featuring all that is good in British trade, industry and manufacture.
The suplement extensively featured Silver Cross as a a talisman of UK industry, forging into global markets and leading the world in the field of nursery design. Top business writer Kevin Coyd wrote:
“A UK heritage can be an advantage in more niche markets, as shown by pram manufacturer Silver Cross - a brand that has seen remarkable growth in overseas markets and a leap of 126 places in the Superbrands top 500, from 227 to 101. It’s British pedigree could scarcely be more impressive. Silver Cross is the world’s oldest nursery brand and it’s prams have been relied upon by the Royal Family for more than a century. More recently, celebrity owners have ensured that the company’s products have become a fixture in glossy magazines.”
Kevin went on to quote Silver Cross chairman, Alan Halsall, who stated; “Internationally, brands with our sort of heritage produce a warm feeling among consumers. We’ve developed over a long period of time, and people have a high regard for British workmanship.”
The expansion of the Silver Cross brand into international markets was the subject of a nice story in The Sunday Times at the weekend. The piece, featured in the business section of the perennial broadsheet favourite, focused on the burgeoning relationship with Chinese distribution partner Goodbaby.
Along with pictures from the recent Balmoral Pram photo shoot in London, business commentator Matthew Goodman wrote about the new Silver Cross presence in China through Goodbaby’s Beijing store and how it is hoped that the country will become a key market for Silver Cross in the future.
The seventeenth of July saw the proud launch of the Silver Cross brand in China. The Shanghai Nursery Fair is China’s (and one of the world’s) largest events of it’s kind, attracting a wide spectrum of high profile buyers from across China. Silver Cross has teamed up with one of the most prestigious nursery and children’s product distributors: Goodbaby Group. Goodbaby have a range of Chinese nursery stores and currently hold exclusive distribution rights for the Nike Kids and Miniman Fashion ranges for China.
The event was a huge success, with the world’s oldest nursery brand attracting a new and excited Chinese audience. With China fast becoming one of the world’s superpowers, the blossoming middle classes are keen to embrace the cream of western quality and design. Mr Shen - International Brand Manager of Goodbaby commented; “We have had a wonderful reaction to Silver Cross products at the show and we’re confident that the brand will have a bright future in China.”
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Silver Cross has climbed an impressive 126 places to position number 101 on the prestigious Superbrands list ahead of such well known names as Pepsi, Orange and Walkers. Still the UK’s favorite nursery equipment brand, Silver Cross was the second highest Baby Brand after Pampers.
The Superbrand list is created through a robust and entirely independent selection process which seeks the opinions of experts and thousands of individuals administered by The Centre for Brand Analysis (TCBA) on behalf of the Superbrands organisation. Which is why we are so proud of the result!
Following on from the successful showcases in Hong Kong, Silver Cross Asia is further developing it’s in store experience with a brand new display in the high-profile Forum Shopping Mall in Singapore.
The showcase, which sits in the main entrance lobby of the enormous mall, features standing space for Silver Cross strollers and a multimedia screen playing Silver Cross videos throughout the day. The stand will be initially used to promote the stylish Dazzle Stroller (pictured above), with plans to use it for the launch of POP & Fizz in July/August time.
The Silver Cross Dazzle Stroller is the star of a new showcase window display at Planet Kids in New York City.
The display echoes Dazzle’s celebrity credentials, with the iconic British stroller taking centre stage in front of a horde of eager paparazzi, desperate to get the best shot! The addition of a red carpet underneath the Dazzles finishes off the glamorous scene nicely. The showcase is the first in a series of similar displays scheduled for New York kids boutiques over the next few months.
Sunday 18th May proved to be a great day for Silver Cross’ own Tamzin Hawkins (pictured above at the Christmas party!). Our fabric designer took to the streets of Manchester to take part in the Bupa Great Manchester Run.
In sunny and dry conditions Tamzin, running for this year’s Silver Cross charity, the Meningitis Trust, managed to complete the ten kilometre course in a sensational time of 53m32s, finishing in a fine 7,397th position out of 31,000 entries! Well done Tamzin!!!
This year’s Fast Track 100 awards ceremony proved to be a happy occasion for Silver Cross, with the pram manufacturer picking up the prestigeous international award for excellence
The event was hosted by larger-than-life Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson at his Oxforshire home and the guest of honour was Conservative leader, David Cameron. The Tory politician challenged British entrepreneurs to use their dynamism, creativity and ingenuity to help create a better Britain, stating; “Business is not just good for creating jobs and wealth, but it is a positive force for creating a good society.”
As the event progressed, attention turned to the 7 awards to be presented for excellence in categories such as technology, management and green credentials. The international award, sponsored by HSBC acknowledges outstanding growth and expansion into international markets. Wayne Bowser, HSBC deputy head of commercial banking was on hand to announce Silver Cross as the winner of the top award and present a commemorative plaque to a delighted Silver Cross Chairman, Alan Halsall. The picture above shows Mr Bowser (left) presenting Alan Halsall with the accolade.
Some other companies to win Fast Track awards were drinks manufacturer innocent, who won best use of technology… Gü Chocolate Puds, who won best emerging brand and Travel Republic, who won fastest growing company.
Following new legislation to be introduced in Australia on July the first, Silver Cross is set to introduce a red foot brake pedal to the Australian Dazzle stroller to comply with the new law (see above).
The new safety standards are being introduced to make footbrakes more visible following accidents involving prams rolling away. In addition to the foot brake, strollers will also be fitted with tether straps to remind parents to apply the brightly-hued brakes when stopping.
Silver Cross head of design, Phil Taylor stated; “The Australian Dazzle’s brake is now fire engine red to draw attention to the fixed-link mechanism. At Silver Cross, safety, attention to detail and quality are always our prime concerns.”
You can read more about the story in The Sydney Morning Herald
As the stylish Silver Cross Dazzle Stroller’s global appeal grows week by week; more and more major distributors are getting excited about the chic British design, with Toys R Us Asia being the latest.
The massive international toy company, with their subsidiary Babies R Us, have created a fabulous shop front showcase for the Dazzle in their Ocean Terminal store, Hong Kong (see above). The showcase marks a radical change in shop front display for Toys R Us in Asia, as it is their first purely fashion-themed showcase not featuring toys ever to be displayed in far Eastern Toys R Us stores. With other similar showcases planned, the Silver Cross Dazzle Stroller looks set to gather still more momentum in global markets.
Silver Cross Australia launched today (Tuesday 19 February 2008) during an exclusive Melbourne event attended by celebrities, designers and the world’s press.
Silver Cross Chairman, Alan Halsall was on hand to make a special presentation to multiple Olympic medallist and Australian swimming legend Michael Klim and his beautiful wife, Balinese princess Lindy Rama. The celebrity couple, who attended the event with their daughter Stella, are expecting their second child in mid-2008. They were absolutely delighted with their Silver Cross Balmoral pram in Onyx Black. As the latest Silver Cross country, Australia will be responsible for new product distribution in Oz and NZ, starting with the stylish and innovative Dazzle stroller.
On Tuesday 13 November Silver Cross held a special preview of its latest model, Dazzle at Estella - one of New York City’s chic children’s boutiques.
The store was jam packed all day with editors, mothers, mothers-to-be and even general consumers who stopped inside as a result of the fantastic window display to see what this unique, modern stroller is all about. From the Dazzle’s clean, sleek lines to its eye-catching color combinations and practical functionality, it is sure to be a hit! Event attendees couldn’t wait for their chance to push it around the store and try out its simple, single-handed folding system.