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Summer is here, but are you enjoying your time in the garden? You’ve planted your borders and hanging baskets and dug out the old rusty BBQ and garden furniture. Then you do the typically British thing of complaining its too hot and spend most evenings sitting indoors sweltering, watching the TV………. Sound familiar?
Plum Products have put their heads together to come up with some imaginative ideas of how to get the most from traditional garden items.
Wooden Gazebos
Wooden Gazebos are gracefully crafted and not only make a beautiful focal point in the garden but can be used for so many purposes.
Enjoy an idyllic chill out zone
- Evoke your senses with relaxing scents by growing Jasmine or Lavender around your gazebo
- Lavish your gazebo with oversized bean bags, soft cushions and super soft, faux fur throws
- Interweave solar powered outdoor fairy lights through the lattice work of the gazebo to create a warming glow
- Download some soothing tunes to your iPod, grab a book or some magazines and a glass of wine and indulge in some quality ‘me’ time
Provide a sheltered play room for your children
- Line the floor of the gazebo with safety mats, a play mat or soft cushions
- Select your baby's favourite toys and place in the gazebo
- Enjoy quality play time with your baby, in the cool shade of the gazebo and out of the harmful sunrays
- Also ideal for creating camps for slightly older children
It’s barbecue time!
- Interweave multi-coloured solar powered outdoor fairy lights through the lattice work of the gazebo to create a party atmosphere
- Remove the seats from within the gazebo to make space for the barbecue, salad table and food chill box
- Light some citronella candles to deter insects
- Fill several buckets with water and ice to chill the beer
- Set up the iPod and speakers for some party tunes
- Now invite your mates round to enjoy a fun filled bbq party
Summerhouses
Wooden summerhouses not only add style and glamour to your garden but are ideal for the unpredictable British weather.
Al Fresco dining in style
- Decorate the internal roof of your summerhouse with Asian fabrics or sheer voile to create an idyllic setting
- Hang metal lanterns filled with scented candles from various points around the summerhouse
- Decorate the table with exotic flowers or rose petals
- Prepare the ice bucket for wine and champagne
- Kick off the soirée with a few Kir Royale cocktails in the garden or make a jug of Pimms topped with fruit and mint
- Serve platters of mixed meat from around the world such as Spanish Tapas or Greek Meze with pitta breads, olives, couscous and salad and enjoy the cool ambience of the summerhouse
For price busting deals on
gazebos
and
arbours,
click here, but hurry while stock lasts.
Barbecue weather has arrived! Time to wipe down your garden furniture, clean up your tongs and get out and buy a new barbecue. But with the array of barbecues out there which one should you pick? For the traditional barbecue flavour and aroma nothing beats a charcoal barbecue and you can't go wrong with the range of Adelaide® Slimline barbecues.
The Adelaide® barbecues are intelligently designed even if we do say so ourselves. Styled to fold flat when not in use, they can be easily manoeuvred and stored in sheds or garages where space is limited.
However open them up and you have a large multi-height cooking area which offers extra flexibility and control. The main grill can be used for cooking whilst the top shelf can be used for keeping cooked food warm, or for cooking more delicate food such as fish or prawns.
The range consists of the Adelaide® Party and Adelaide® Family with the multi-height cooking grills and the Adelaide® Compact for barbecuing on the go! The Adelaide® Compact has a single grill but is a portable barbecue with its own carry case, ideal for camping trips or picnics.
So invite your family and friends over, put on that apron and enjoy the barbecue weather whilst it lasts.
Interesting facts:
- Sturdy steel construction for extra durability
- Large cooking space for a number of people
- Folds flat to just 6cm thick
- Adelaide® Party Barbecue assembled size: L0.93 x W0.815 x H0.78m
- Adelaide® Family Barbecue assembled size: L0.60 x W0.58 x H0.70m
- Adelaide® Compact Barbecue assembled size: L0.46 x W0.30 x H0.35m
Spring has finally arrived; the sun is shining and the daffodils are blooming - time to be out in the garden and having fun. Continuing with our product showcase of our new and exciting 2010 product range; this week's focus is the Suricate play centre. Our in-house design team have really gone to town with this product with plenty of play features to keep children entertained for hours.
Climb up to the play deck via the rock wall with multi-coloured hand and foot grips, and then try and contain your excitement with your choice of sliding down the 8t wave slide or via the fireman's pole! Then bundle into the sand pit and join in with friends to build the best sand castle ever. If that isn't enough you still have 2 swings and a funky trapeze swing to show off your somersaults.
As you would expect from Plum all our play centres go through stringent quality testing and come with manufacturers warranty to give you peace of mind. We only use premium FSC certified timber, however it is recommended to treat your play centre each year to keep it in tip top condition.
Playtime has never been so much fun!
Interesting facts:
- Swings use soft feel ropes and heavy duty blow moulded seats for extra strength
- Quadrant roof is made from heavy gauge shower proof fabric for extra durability
- Comfortable hand grips for added convenience and safety
- Easy to assemble in approx 6 hours with 2 adults
- Recommended age 3-12 years
- Deck dimensions: L0.88 x W0.95 x H1.22m
- Assembled size: L4.52 x W3.62 x H3.08m
Plum Products Ltd is pleased to announce that Trevor Allen has recently been appointed as Product Manager for the Surrey based company.
With previous roles in Sales and Product Management for Wynnster Outdoor Leisure, Trevor brings with him 18 years experience in the Camping and Outdoor Leisure Trade.
Trevor will be managing the Garden and Barbecue product categories; as well as Weboo Shoes, which Plum has recently secured exclusive distribution rights for in the UK, Eire, Australia & New Zealand. Trevor joins Kathryn Morton, Product Manager for the Play product category. Their combined experience will ensure Plum's innovative and exciting new product development plans for 2011 and beyond are successfully brought to fruition.
Commenting on his new appointment Trevor said:
“Plum Products has a fantastic product portfolio and I am delighted to be joining the team. Plum has strong product development plans for the next couple of years and I'm very excited by the challenge."
Peter Balcombe, Managing Director added:
"We are really excited to have Trevor on board. He has a wealth of experience in the leisure industry and will play a key role in continuing the growth of our business in to major international markets."
As spring approaches, this week's product showcase focuses on our exciting new range of portable barbecues. They are ideal for family days out to the beach, for picnics with friends or for camping trips, and are constructed from sturdy steel for extra durability. Keep an eye on our product pages for launch dates.
Brisbane® Compact Barbecue
Designed to be used as a table top barbeque* or as a portable the Brisbane® Compact really is the perfect combination. Invite your friends and family round, place the barbecue directly on the patio table and let everyone join in the fun of barbecuing. The barbecue is designed so that the heat of the coal is not directed downwards into the base. Alternatively load the barbecue with charcoal, click and lock the lid and carry easily to wherever you want to go. *Check surface is heat resistant before lighting.
Wagga Wagga Barbecues
The Wagga Wagga portable grill is designed for barbecuing on the go! Ingenious space saving design - the legs fold around the frame and the ash pan concertinas to fold flat; creating a barbecue that folds away in seconds to fit in a convenient carry bag. Lightweight to be carried wherever you go, yet big enough to cook for a number of people. The range consists of three sizes for optimum portability.
Darwin Barbecues
The Darwin barbecues put the fun back into barbecuing. A masterful design in a briefcase style which opens out to reveal its own ash pan with a fuel grid to maximise airflow. The food grill can be adjusted to two levels for extra flexibility and control and the case sides act as a handy windshield. Lightweight and supplied with convenient carry handle; the range consists of two sizes for optimum portability.
Adelaide® Compact Slimline Barbecue
The Adelaide® Compact Slimline Barbecue is intelligently designed for the space-conscious consumer. Styled to fold flat when not in use, so can be easily stored in sheds where space is limited. This barbecue has a large cooking area making it ideal for home use as well as on the go.
As spring approaches Plum Products has a number of new and exciting products ready to launch this year. Our in-house design team have really focused on play value and feature rich products with the design of our 2010 range. Each week we will be producing a product showcase for the new 2010 range, to give you an exciting flavour of what is to come prior to launch.
The nautical themed Swashbuckler has been created to captivate children’s imaginations and encourage role play and make believe. The play centre includes fabric hull with peep port holes, ladder to play deck and 6ft wave slide, comfortable hand grips, pirate flag, ships wheel and swing. The Swashbuckler is packed with exciting play features yet it uses a small footprint in the garden. The heavy gauge shower proof fabric is not only very durable but in the vibrant red and yellow colour scheme it enhances the nautical theme.
Our in-house design team are very proud of the Swashbuckler play centre and we hope your kids have as much fun playing on it as the design team had creating it!
Interesting Facts
- Easy to assemble in approximately 4 hours with 2 adults
- Recommended age 3-12 years
- Deck dimensions: L0.90 x W0.50 x H1.00m
- Assembled size: L3.01 x W3.31 x H2.55m
Check out the Swashbuckler Play Centre and also view it in 3D!
As the daffodils struggle to get through and we see the last of the snowy weather, its time to get out in the garden while the sun is shining.
So with half term fast approaching it is time to do a quick maintenance check on all your play equipment. Wooden play centres, swing sets and sand pits are very resilient to hard weather however some simple maintenance checks will help the longevity of the product. Plum is here to help and have put together some top tips for checking and maintaining your product:
- Use a soft brush to brush down all the wood
- Check any metal fixtures for moisture and clean with a dry cloth and tighten if necessary
- Clean any plastics like the swing seat and slide with kitchen wipes or a damp cloth with light detergent
- Check the sand in the sand pit for any sharp objects or impurities and replace if necessary
- Use a soft brush or a damp cloth in a gentle sweeping action over any fabrics to remove dirt
- Check the integrity of the rope for climbing ropes and cargo nets
- Make sure any climbing ramps are swept thoroughly if they have become slippery
- If you didn’t apply a wood treatment or preserver at the end of last summer we strongly recommend applying it before half term to protect the wood and increase its longevity. Continue to do this on an annual basis
For trampolines some simple maintenance checks should also be completed. Follow our top tips below for checking and maintaining your trampoline:
- Check the springs for over-extension and that there aren’t any springs missing. Replacement springs are available from our spares store
- Clean the jumping mat with a soft cloth, check for any holes or tears and if necessary replace the jumping mat
- Clean the safety pads with a soft cloth, these can also be replaced if the pads are looking a bit tired
- Check the integrity of the trampoline enclosure net and look out for any tears from falling twigs and replace the enclosure net if necessary
Now these simple steps have been followed you can allow your children to play in the garden during half term with peace of mind; knowing that all the equipment has been checked and well maintained. So let them run off all their energy and allow you time to relax and unwind.
If any spares are required they can be purchased from our spares store and whilst on the website why not check out our special offers page and our exciting new products for 2010. Alternatively spares can be ordered by phone on 0844 880 5302. Our customer services team are trained to answer any questions should you have any and look forward to being of service to you.
Plum Products will be exhibiting at the 2010 International Toy Fair in Nuremberg Germany on 4-9th February 2010. We will be exhibiting our exciting new range of outdoor play equipment in Hall 8 Stand E-17, please come and visit us.
The International Toy Fair is the world’s leading fair for toys, hobby and leisure-time articles. The fair, which is open exclusively to the specialist trade, is the perfect communication and order platform for both national and international manufacturers as well as specialist traders and buyers from around the globe.
Plum Products will be launching its exciting new range for 2010 including new play centres, swing sets and much more.
Please come and visit us in Hall 8, stand E-17.
For more information on the International Toy Fair please visit:
http://www.nurembergtoyfair.com
Plum Products is pleased to announce the opening in early January 2010 of a new showroom in Hong Kong. Plum already has a substantial indoor and outdoor display in Hangzhou, China whereas this, though smaller, is conveniently located in the Tsim Sha Tsui business district of Kowloon. A further attraction to buyers is that this is a new shared venture with H Grossman and Casdon Toys who also have complimentary and dynamic product ranges for international visitors.
Over the last 12 months Plum has increased the size of it’s major account and international sales team and now offers a number of varied supply chain options to it’s customers. The company has also recently established an operation in Australia and has already gained it’s first listings in the market.
Commenting on the opening of the new showroom, Chairman Jonathan Schaffer, now based in Australia said “Plum has achieved considerable success in recent years in the UK with it’s market leading ranges of children’s play and activity centres, barbecue and garden ranges but our trade in the northern hemisphere has always been very seasonal and weather dependent. We have realised that there are not many companies in the world who are able to design and build such high quality mass produced items. Accordingly we are now selling to the world. By opening a showroom in Hong Kong, we will have a base in Asia where we will be able to show off our ranges to customers from the many international markets who are frequently travelling in the region.”
On opening the new showroom Plum will preview most of their new 2010 product launches including play items, their market leading patented trampolines and a number of new and exclusively designed barbecues. Plum’s UK based Managing Director Peter Balcombe said “In today’s competitive international market place customers are looking not only for first class product but also a complete supply chain solution. In recent years Plum has invested heavily in product design, UK logistics and IT infrastructure and the addition of a Hong Kong showroom is the next stage in being able to build on the process. I would like to invite all our current and prospective customers to pay us a visit when they are in Asia. Initially we will open to coincide with the Hong Kong Toy Fair but the showroom will then be open all year round. Together with our partners at Grossman and Casdon, this will be a productive, yet relaxing stopover.
For further information please contact:
Peter Balcombe
Plum Products Ltd
72 High Street
Horsell
Woking
Surrey
GU21 4SZ
Hong Kong Showroom - Address details:
Rm 1105
Tower 2, South Seas Centre
75 Mody Road
TST East
Kowloon
Hong Kong SAR
3D image views are now available for most of our Play Centre range. You can now zoom and rotate an item by going to the product detail page and clicking on the ">> Click here to view this item in 3D!<<" link that is positioned underneath the main product image. A new window will open, allowing you to rotate the product by dragging the image from left to right or vise versa. You can zoom in on the product by moving the zoom scroll bar up or down.
We hope you enjoy viewing our 3D images and we are confident that they will help you to better understand the design, features and details of our Play Centres.
Towards the end of 2008 Plum teamed up with St Catherines School, Bramley to donate netballs and training gear to school children in Ghana.
Louise Schaffer, daughter of Plum Products Chairman, Jonathan Schaffer was spending time on her gap year in Ghana coaching netball to school children. She noticed the children had very little sports equipment but had plenty of enthusiasm. Notably she had 4 netballs and two cones only.
Her emails back home read;
"....Over the next 2 weeks I’m coaching 58 kids everyday, from 5 different schools around Accra.. its so hectic, I love it.
Taking the bag of netballs with me on the tro-tros (local transport).. to and from the compound is and experience too.....Going through passes at the moment and they pick it up so quickly..the talent here is huge, would love to stay out longer. The girls were waiting and came running out to me today shouting 'Louisa,Louisa watch my chest passes' followed shortly by 'eishhh.
I like your hair'.. between shoot offs and dance offs they're the cutest bunch of kids."
Family business Plum Products leapt into action and teamed up with her former school, St Catherines to airfreight the children 2 boxes of netballs, bags, socks and t-shirts. The next email home from Louise said it all;
" Just wanted to let you know that the boxes arrived yesterday night (Monday).. was very exciting. Felt like christmas and birthday rolled in to one. The stuff is absolutely awesome! The amount of stuff both Plum and St Catherines sent over is incredible.. so many netballs and shirts! thank you SO SO much for organising that for me.. the kids will love it! "
Chairman and proud father, Jonathan Schaffer comments;
"We at Plum are delighted to support another worthy cause and to help extend outdoor sport to more children where ever they are in the world. I am so proud of the time and effort Louise gave to do this coaching too and it was a pleasure to help out."
On the 28th to the 31st of January 2009, Plum Products will be exhibiting its exciting new range of outdoor play equipment at the 2009 London Toy Fair at the Excel.
We will be unveiling the new ‘Bison’, a substantial wooden outdoor play centre that simply shouts ‘big fun’ and ‘exceptional value for money’. We will also be displaying our colourful new range of 6’ trampolines with enclosures, a new playhouse and our popular range of games tables.
Please come and visit us at Stand No. SK 19.
You can register at: http://www.toyfair.co.uk
We will also be exhibiting at the 2009 Nuremberg Toy Fair in Germany, from the 5th to the 10th of February 2009 at Hall 8 Stand E – 17. Please come and join us there!
Friday 26th September saw Plum Products taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning run by Macmillan Cancer Support. The event coincided with Plum's 'dress down' day, as
the staff at Head Office all donated to the charity and enjoyed coffee and cakes supplied by Plum Products. Plum then doubled the donation for the worthwhile cause.
The money raised will help fund more Macmillan nurses and health professionals to help people with cancer and their families.
Thanks to all that took part!
Plum products exhibited at GLEE at the NEC this year. The exhibition was an enormous success, as Plum unveiled their new and exciting range of unique barbecues, gazebos and play equipment for 2009!
New products included the Adelaide slimline barbecue; a large, ultra sleek style barbecue that folds away to just 6cm thick!
Next there is the Arbourcue; A new approach to modern barbecuing, with the barbecue being built into an arbour-like structure that protects the cook and the food from the weather, plus providing a grand centerpiece to any garden. The arbourcue comes in a variety of styles and is available as gas or charcoal.
New Gazebos included the Thurso; a giant 3m x 3m trellised canopy, suitable for using a bbq under. Plum will also be offering plinths with their main range of gazebos for 2009.
A huge new range of outdoor play sets were also unveiled, ranging from the Steenbuck; a small play centre that encourages imaginative play for the under 6 year olds, to the mighty Wildebeest; a huge play centre aimed at older children, featuring 3 separate play decks. This set is the largest that Plum has ever produced and is set to fill a gap in the market.
The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) annual awards took place on the 17th July at a spectacular event at the NEC’s Hilton Metropole. Plum Products were delighted that the Spider Monkey® swing set successfully earned a prestigious GIMA award in the Outdoor Living category.
The Spider Monkey® wooden play centre, made from FSC timber, was the first play product designed in-house by Plum Products’ designer Anil Naphray. Anil joined Plum in 2007 and has designed play centres specifically with the UK garden in mind, maximising the amount of play in a confined space.
The large covered play deck is accessed by a rock wall and has a roll down door and windows, along with a large canopy for extra protection. Zoom down the wavy slide to the sand pit beneath the deck, or clamber over the cargo net. There is a play tent, which is great for imaginative play, a swing, tyre swing and 2 seat glider.
The Spider Monkey® is available now and retails at around £699.99
The new Plum Products website was also entered into the category “Best Supplier’s Information Website” and won a finalist position. The website, designed in-house by Plum’s website administrator David Potts, allows trade customers to order online, view account details and transactions, view product details, download instructions, search products by name or code, view special offers and promotions and much more!
Jonathan Schaffer, Managing Director, commented “We are absolutely thrilled with the results of this year’s GIMA awards. We have used the knowledge and expertise of our in-house team to produce an amazing product ideal for UK gardens.
The website is a valuable tool for our trade customers, as it saves time. A lot of the information that our customers usually call our trade line for can now be found just a click away.”
Plum Products is proud of the fact that all wooden products designed in-house are made to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and all our packaging shows the certified FSC logo.
By purchasing products with FSC certification, you are supporting the growth of responsible forest management worldwide. The FSC logo indicates that the wood used to make the product comes from a forest which has been independently evaluated as being well managed according to strict environmental, social and economic standards.
2008 sets to be a historic year for Plum Products Ltd, based in Woking, Surrey. Plum Products is renowned within the leisure industry for quality and value, across four divisions Play, Garden, Barbecue and Sport. A brand re-launch, including a modern looking logo, exciting new packaging and thrilling new products ensures Plum is ready for summer 2008.
This year, Plum Products are celebrating 20 years! With this amount of experience, the company knows what works within the industry and probably has the widest range of products across Europe. This year brings the launch of new play centres and garden structures that have been designed in-house, specifically with the UK market in mind. Consumers are now treating their gardens as “The Outside Room” and Plum understands the products need to be aesthetically pleasing.
Plum Products has also been awarded the prestigious accreditation “Investors in People”. The company’s staff have worked hard to help achieve the award, which Managing Director Jonathan Schaffer is extremely proud of: “Plum Products has a fantastic working environment both at the Head office in Horsell and the Distribution Centre in Lincoln. Every member of staff is given good quality training when required, providing recognition and development. This also gives better communication and job satisfaction along with pride of being part of a successful organisation.”
With the 20th anniversary, brand re-launch, new products and the prestigious Investors in People award, 2008 will be a year to remember for Plum Products.
Plum Products have launched a new addition to its range of trampolines with the 6 foot model (1.83m diameter), supplied with full height safety enclosure. This trampoline is ideal for the younger jumper (age 3+), and smaller gardens!
All the features and the same degree of sturdiness found in Plum’s extensive range of Family Trampolines are included. It also has a fully sprung galvanised frame that gives a better performance than many other 6 foot trampolines, which are usually made from elastics.
With all of the Plum Products range, safety is paramount. This new model comes complete with an easy to assemble full height safety net enclosure, made with galvanised tubes. Thick foam pads cover the trampoline rails providing extra cushioning and the jumping mat is made from heavy duty polypropylene for durability.
At a retail price of around £139.99 for both trampoline and enclosure, this 6’ model is the smallest outdoor trampoline available from Plum. The latest addition brings the number of trampolines in the Plum Products portfolio to 15, the largest being 15’ (4.57m). With a range of trampoline accessories too, Plum Products has everything for your jumping needs!
Welcome to the new Plum Products website that has been designed in-house by website administrator David Potts. Launched in June 2008, the new site will bring benefits to both trade and the general public.
This is the most efficient way for you to place your order as it is linked to the Plum Products SAP order processing system. You are also able to view your account details and transactions online, along with viewing product details and searching new products by name or code. Instructions and the Plum Products brochure can be downloaded, as well. Jonathan Schaffer, Managing Director, commenting on the launch is convinced that the major benefit lies with the on-line ordering system:
“We are using the very latest in order processing and warehouse technology and it represents a major investment by the company. Orders placed online will go straight to our distribution centre, automatic order acknowledgements will be issued, followed by confirmation of despatch. It’s a very efficient system which gives benefits to both ourselves and our customers. Plum Products is one of only two companies in the whole of the UK linking the website through our SAP back office system into our Radio Beacon warehouse management system.”
The general public are also able to benefit from the site. There is a factory shop that allows people to buy spares and accessories for their products to keep them up to date. Warranty details can be registered online too, making the overall experience easier.
Plum Products will be continually reviewing and improving the website, and are very keen to hear your feedback. If you feel there is something we can do to the site to improve your visit please let us know!
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