|
SmartBabies History
1998-2001
In the early years, SmartBabies defined itself as a distribution
company in the educational toys market. Started with some brands
like Quercetti (still distributed today) much related with early
learning. Apart from its own sales people targeting retail
market, also defined a network of regional agents for schools
and kinder garden.
2002-2004
The company gave the first steps also in the licensing market,
distributing some brands related with Disney and Looney Tunes.
At the time achieved full country coverage with direct sales to
all Portuguese regions.
2005-2006
As the education market started to lose buying power and the
company become more specialized in high quality educational
toys, the retail market started to assume a bigger value and the
words "Quality Toys" have been added to the new SmartBabies
logo, as a compromise for the high quality standards and
materials. In 2006 opened a shop under the name "Dreamland" in
the Lisbon centre, selling only its own distributed brands.
2007
The company started to export for the Portuguese spoken
countries, like Angola and Brazil. Also has consolidated its
position in the Portuguese toy market as the main educational
toys distributor.
2008
This was the year of the biggest growth for the company. The
figurines market was on its best shape and SmartBabies was
distributing both Bullyland and Plastoy figurines, becoming the
biggest figurines distributor in Portugal and one of the biggest
in Europe. Also the quality educational toys increased their
demand this year. The company started a new business partnership
with Canal Panda, the most important children channel in
Portugal, leading the company to a higher position in the toy
company's ranking.
2009
This is the year of changes to SmartBabies. New challenges have
been defined by its managers, like a higher quality policy for
the services, a new business department for toy consulting, new
brands acquisition like Lilliputiens, the world
leaders in textile toys, launching a Customer Service
support line and new marketing strategies have been defined,
more aggressive and end customer oriented. |
