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At a glance, everything about children's corners, the latest news from IKC, and tips on adding play value to your organisation. Discover it below!

Kinderhoek bij Jumbo Klieverik voor de kleinste bezoekers

28 September 2023

The development of the customer experience at supermarket Jumbo Klieverik

In 2015, the Dutch supermarket chain C1000 made the big switch to Jumbo. Mirko Klieverik, the entrepreneur in charge of Jumbo Klieverik, also immediately moved his shop to more spacious premises during this drastic change. Setting up a new Jumbo shop is a careful process, with the head office providing a plan of what the shop should look like. Because there are many decisions to be made during a transition, the focus on the children unfortunately became a bit less of a priority. Every three years, Jumbo carries out a "reset" in its shops. This involves looking at how the shopping experience can be improved. Mirko, together with Dennis, the manager of Jumbo Klieverik, took a critical look at the shop during this reset to determine what improvements could be made. "If everyone says you have to go to the right, we first start reasoning whether this is really the best thing for our customer. If it is not then we will go in a different direction. You have to take the customer seriously, the customer is our focus." These changes considered not only the adults, but also the children. Play fun for the children was also one of the first concerns. Since there was only a small area of play fun in the shop, it was decided to create a larger play corner. This will allow parents to shop in peace while the children have fun in a safe environment. But the fathers have also been thought of! For them, Klieverik has expanded the range of special beers. So they can browse the large range of special beers in peace and quiet, while the kids play in the kids' corner. Besides these customer-oriented adjustments, some practical changes were also made. For instance, the wall tiles were given a new colour and the aisles were widened to provide an even more pleasant shopping experience. In line with this customer-oriented approach, Mirko also applied for a 2-hour parking zone from the city council. This, because there were increasingly frequent long-term parkers from the school next door. As a result, customers could no longer park their cars to do their shopping.   The search for a greater play area After a short online search, Mirko and Dennis ended up at IKC. To discuss the requirements and possibilities, our account manager Niels went to Hengelo (NL). The main points for the kids' corner were: different from the rest, interactive and the children must be able to play in it. The outside should have a quiet look and the inside should offer a lot of play value. It should also be possible to supervise the children. Niels also noted during the conversation that cars are an important thing for Mirko and Dennis. After all wishes were discussed, this was passed on to our design department and they created a unique design. The design consists of a real old school VW transporter in the familiar Jumbo colours and the Jumbo Klieverik logo on it. After sharing the design, Mirko and Dennis were immediately enthusiastic. All their wishes were perfectly incorporated into a recognisable design. The decision was immediately made unanimously: the play corner had to happen. The kids' corner is placed next to the fresh plaza. This central location makes the kids' corner easy to see from every aisle. Parents can let the children play in the play corner and still keep an eye on them. "Even though these meters cannot be used for merchandise, they allow us to serve entire families. The missing products do not outweigh the gain of returning customers and the longer stay in the shop." Says Dennis, the store manager of Jumbo Klieverik. "If you let floor planning set up the shop, it will be full of goods. As an entrepreneur, you have to be aware that space has to be made in the shop for Jumbo's future customers." As store manager, Dennis is the ambassador of the entire shopping experience for both the customer and the children who come along. He therefore believes that more attention should be given to children, even in other supermarkets. "As a shop is not made of elastic, space must be made for a positive customer experience. This is why Mirko Klieverik is investing in wider aisles and playtime for children; the customers of the future. This is always possible, but you have to want it. Every day, people play intensively in the kids' corner. Children would prefer to stay in the supermarket all day!" "The kids want to go to the supermarket with the yellow van!"   Mirko aims for the best service and extensive choice for his customers The supermarket business is always changing. Legislation is also causing supermarkets to have to change a lot. Think deposit on cans and small bottles, plastic banning and an extra tax on single use plastic items. The emergence of the self-scan checkout has also been a major adjustment. The self-scan checkout is not a saving, but a trend you have to join. Mirko, the entrepreneur behind Jumbo Klieverik, wants to sell only the best products. That is why the fresh kitchen is an important part of the shop. There are many fresh products and sandwiches to be had, everything is just a little bit extra. Extra healthy, extra cared for and an extra experience including the new kids' corner. In addition to this extensive fresh cuisine, they also stock the artisanal products of Gustaf pastry shop. Gustaf is the best pastry baker in the east, so they can also offer more local products. This allows Jumbo Klieverik to distinguish itself even more from other supermarkets and give customers a truly unique experience. See Jumbo Klieverik's portfolio here for an impression. Would you like more information on options for your business? Feel free to contact us. Contact  

Kinderhoek winkelcentrum woonboulevard

04 August 2023

How the kids' corner started at the store

Home Center started as a shop in the centre of Wolvega. In 1982, they moved to the industrial zone to expand. The market for furniture sales has now continued to develop many years later. One significant change was the rise of the web shop. As a result, the traditional retailer, has to be flexible in running its shop operation and pull out bigger stops to retain customers and attract new ones. At Home Center, the largest percentage of sales consists of custom-made furniture, this cannot be found in a webshop. Mr Kapenga also sees the furniture mall as a form of recreation, an experience that should leave a positive impression. Therefore, he is always trying to make it as relaxing and fun for customers as possible.   A wide range of products for every budget Home Center's target market is the northern part of the Netherlands with a 45-minute drive time. Because Home Center targets 95% of the population, there is a wide choice between €250 and €25,000.  This puts Home Center not in the lowest segment in terms of budget, but also not in the highest. To motivate this target group to get in their cars there is also free expert advice. The interior stylists give advice on colours, materials, furniture, layout and lighting, among other things.  'Shopping for furniture and furnishings is about emotion, this experience should always be positive'   Guest service and a complete experience for shoppers Visitors to Home Center are welcomed as guests. There is free parking with the possibility of charging electric cars and bicycles. This is made possible by the solar panels that make the premises energy-neutral. There is also a free cup of coffee for every guest and the kids' play area. Visitors to Home Center are welcomed as guests. There is free parking with the possibility of charging electric cars and bicycles. This is made possible by the solar panels that make the premises energy-neutral. There is also a free cup of coffee for every guest and the kids' play area. To make the visit even more worthwhile, they have a temporary promotion. During their "world trip", guests can pick up a "passport" at reception. At each shop, they can get a stamp and with a full passport, they have a chance to win a travel cheque worth €1500! A fun detail is that the receptionists wear real stewardess hats to complete the experience. That alone is motivation enough to pay a visit to this beautiful home decorating mall. To complete the experience, they have a special babysitting service for kids aged 3 and above. A babysitter is arranged during weekends, holidays and holidays. While parents can calmly choose a new interior or listen to the advice of the interior stylists, the children can play under supervision. This makes shopping for new furnishings even easier than at home on a webshop!     The development of the kids' play area The owner in 1982 had young children himself and, as a result, saw the importance of entertainment for children, and that is how it started. The first kids' corner in Home Center had a ball pit and an indoor race track with scooters with a coin system. This play area was suitable for children between 4 and 6 years old. In 1998, it was time to replace the race track scooters. Because the coin system still involved discussions between parents and children, Sikko Kapenga, the director of Home Center Wolvega, decided to redesign the kids' corner. Among other things, a cinema with 30 seats was added. There were also game consoles and a creativity corner. The age category was expanded to 4-12 years with this new kids' corner. With the rapid development of gaming computers, 20 years later, in 2018, it was decided to move and upgrade the kids' corner. The play area was moved to another area to allow the restaurant to grow as well. Sikko started looking for a partner to realise the new kids' corner and came to IKC. The requirements for the play area were discussed thoroughly with our account manager Niels Jellema. The main idea for the play corner was an innovative timeless kids' corner. One that can run independently with maintenance-free elements and easy-to-operate game consoles. Because the cinema is a great success, it naturally had to stay there. In close consultation, a unique concept was created by our design department. The overall picture was far beyond expectations! The decision was made right then and there to make the concept a reality.   How do visitors feel about the kids' corner? We get many compliments on the perfect facilities for the children. Even families and grandparents come with their children to play in the kids' village. While the children are having fun, they can enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry in the restaurant. Some children even came from the neighbourhood to play by themselves, but parents are required to come along. "Whether the kids' corner has an effect on staff productivity and well-being is difficult to measure. We really only see happy people and that's what we want."  Because the visitor to Home Center Wolvega is a guest who always deserves the best shopping experience, Sikko is always brainstorming how to give guests as much luxury and pampering as possible. Therefore, he will definitely recommend a kids' corner to other entrepreneurs in the industry, but only if the space allows it. Would you like more information on the possibilities? Feel free to contact us. Contact us  

Kinderspeelhoek wanddesign met spelcomputer

30 May 2023

Our newest addition: the Planet-Eco Software!

This new software is specially designed to make children environmentally aware. We are committed to sustainability and want to reflect this in our products. The Planet-Eco software is designed for children aged 4 and up and contains 12 educational games. We have redesigned some of our popular existing games and new games have been developed by our Game Designers. With this software, children can discover the positive impact environmental friendliness has on nature and learn to relate to it in a playful way.   A selection of the games Drive: Children learn about green energy by turning the motor. They generate energy to drive the elephant in the electric car. By turning the wheel faster and faster, they generate as much energy as possible. Recycle game: There is a lot of waste in the ocean! Children have to drag the waste to the right container to clean up the ocean. This game helps children to become aware of the importance of waste recycling and which piece of waste belongs in which container. As more waste is removed, the animals become happier. Memory: This popular game has been given a new look. The back of the cards features the recognisable recycle logo. The images children have to match are full of environmentally conscious elements. These include sheep in a meadow with windmills, a sad jellyfish because of waste in the ocean and a happy bear next to a young tree. View the product page here for an impression of the games >   Discover the possibilities! Contact us to discuss the possibilities for your company. Our Game Designers can customise the software to match your corporate identity by, for example, adding your logo or integrating your mascot. Contact  

trailer met educatieve spellen voor kinderen

16 February 2023

How Oman is introducing an environmentally conscious waste disposal system

Not all over the world waste disposal is as advanced as in the Netherlands, for example. Together with Expandable trailers, we had the opportunity to create a unique educational play concept. The unique trailers are designed as a mobile school with educational environmental awareness as its goal. In the trailer, children can learn about the importance of proper waste disposal and how it works in a fun and playful way. Children are the future, all the more important to educate them about nature. The trailer can be folded down to a quarter of its width to fit behind a truck, making it easily transportable. The trailer is mainly aimed at children aged 5 - 9 and it can hold up to 30 children at a time. There is plenty to do in the trailer, from wall puzzles and educational software to bead tables and sensory activities. Oman has invested in infrastructure and waste management in recent years to provide the country with a waste system similar to that of the western countries. To assist people, animals and the environment. With an annual average of 28.9 degrees, the temperatures in Oman have also been taken into account. By installing an air-conditioning system, the indoor temperature can be regulated, the windows are fitted with a sun-blocking film. This special foil already blocks the first heat caused by the sun. The trailer is constructed from recycled materials, which fit perfectly within the story.   The educational and environmental games Our designers have designed several wall games to go with the theme, to make children aware of the importance of waste separation. If they learn that waste belongs in the bin and not on the street, they can help make a success of waste disposal. Read the backstory of some of the wall games below. The first wall game has sliders with large and normal waste. The goal of the game is to take the waste to the right bin. The buttons are guided through the tracks and at the rotating wheel they can be sorted into the right bin. The idea of the following game is for children to learn to take the trash out of the village and throw it in the appropriate bins. Separating the waste keeps it away from the many wild animals living in the area. The waste bins are placed at the very bottom to highlight that they are not in the village. The children are also taught which objects belong in the recycling bin and which are edible for the animals. The background shows the environment, nature and animals. The buttons have different items, such as a cardboard box, grass and hay. The children are challenged to slide the buttons to the right place. See an image below with examples of the games mentioned above. Children are also taught how it works to have their own water supply in their homes. The round spinning game shows a house with a water tap. By turning the game, the water drops are transported from the clouds as rain to the water. This allows it to reach the house via nature and the water comes out of the tap. The water drops are purified in the national system and returned to nature through the pipes. This cycle can be repeated again and again by turning the play wheel.  The following rotating wall game shows children the life cycle of materials. How the basic material is brought to the factory, how it is led further and further through the process, the final product and back again to basic material.  Children can also playfully learn how to operate the bin and put the waste in it. This game teaches children the importance of closing the bins. This prevents larger animals from taking out the waste. The pens, the balls and the waste bin are magnetic. With one pen the bin can be opened, with the other pen the balls can be dragged into the bin. Afterwards, the container can also be closed in the same way. See an image with the 3 games mentioned here below.   A 65-inch screen has been installed in the cinema area, showing a film that demonstrates the importance of treating the environment well. The screen is placed on a special bracket that can be operated electrically. The screen can be placed lower to provide children with the opportunity to play educational games on the touchscreen as well. To use the room as a cinema, the screen is moved up and the film can be shown. Special benches have been placed for children to sit on during the film. These benches can also be used as storage and can be opened through the seat cushions. See an impression of the complete trailer in the portfolio >  

IKC gaat naar EuroShop in Dusseldorf

25 January 2023

IKC goes to EuroShop Trade Fair 2023 in Düsseldorf

EuroShop 2023 Düsseldorf is the largest trade fair for the global Retail industry. New trends and innovative developments are extensively represented in the 5-day trade fair. Make a note of these dates in your agenda, because IKC will also be there this year. From 26 February to 2 March 2023, you can find us in hall 10, stand F62. Be inspired by our latest and innovative products. Are you coming too? Our advisers will be waiting for you in our beautiful and unique stand.   What IKC can do for the retail industry Customer experience is becoming increasingly important. A kids' play corner is an excellent example of creating a higher customer experience. When children can play happily, their parents have time to learn more about your offer, or advice. Our goal is to create a child-friendly environment within every organisation, so we can make the world a better place for children. This perspective also has benefits for you as a business owner. For example, competitive advantage, parents are more likely to go to a business where children can also have fun. Or a greater spend, as parents have longer to explore. Today's playing children are your customers of the future. We can add play value from 1m2, for play fun without losing much floor space.  Curious about what we can do for you? Contact us for more information.   Want to schedule a trade fair appointment with one of our representatives? You can! Fill in our contact form with the date you are attending and we will contact you as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Contactform Take a look at our Retail sector page full of advantages of a kids' play corner!

speelelementen en speelhoeken van ikc

06 January 2023

Top five favourite products 2022

It is also thanks to you, our partners and customers, that we were able to make many children happy with play fun in the past year. Children all over the world can play carefree with the IKC play elements. We have made a top 5 of the best-selling products from our product categories, check them out below!   These are the 2022 favourites:   1. Forex wall decoration In addition to our play elements, we also offer various wall decorations to complete the play space. Our design team brings every idea to life and can create any wall design for you, allowing children to get totally immersed in their world of imagination. You can also choose from one of our sample designs. Our Forex wall decoration is printed with quality photos and prints. The non-reflective material ensures beautiful results, regardless of the light in the room. Our wall decoration is made of light but durable Forex (PVC foam). This material is easy to clean. The Forex wall decoration is also used with our interactive play walls. The Activity Wall is an example, this is an agility game for all ages. Interactive buttons are placed on the wall, they have to be pressed as quickly as possible when they light up. For the competitive touch, the score is tracked. Check out the interactive walls that stimulate exercise.     2. Delta 17 inch The Delta 17-inch interactive play system has been a popular product for many years. When space is limited, this is an excellent solution for high quality fun. Today, this play system with interactive touch screen can be found in thousands of locations worldwide. The game console can easily be placed on the wall or on a play system and is energy-efficient with a consumption of 0.018 kWh per day (based on a standby time of 9 hours). The Delta 17-inch is supplied as standard with our Arctic adventures software for children aged 4 - 8+ and contains 14 fun and educational games. Of course, it is also possible to choose another software option. Fun fact: 70% of the sold game consoles have the customer's logo integrated to perfectly match the corporate identity.     3. Beadstree Table The Beadstree Table is a beads table often placed in waiting areas in healthcare facilities. As children play with the beads and guide them along the shaped wires, they playfully stimulate fine motor skills. The beads table is made of FSC-certified wood and is finished with an antibacterial varnish. This makes the table easy to clean and requires little maintenance. A lot of play value on a 1m2, without loose parts that can get lost. Fun fact: The design of the Beadstree Table is based on the tree part of its name: the tabletop is designed in the shape of a tree. This is even more visible from the top.   4. Wall game Into the woods Our sorting games are the most popular in the play panels category. They are educational, teach children to make connections and help improve fine motor skills. The buttons are moved by sliding and turning along in the wheel. The Into the woods is a sorting game, where children have to take the animals back to their homes. Playfully, children learn about nature and where the animals live. Fun fact: There are only 7 different colours in this fun wall game and it is still a colourful looking one.   5. Softplay Birch Our Soft play collection consists of several soft handmade play cushions made of high-quality and strong PU leather. They can be used to sit on, climb over or to pile up. Children's imagination is something magical and the Softplay elements allow them to let their imagination run wild. The Softplay Birch is a creative addition to our Arctic collection. The birch tree, also featured in Into the Woods, is incorporated into a seat cushion here. As if a disc has been sawn out of the birch tree, complete with rings. For our round seat cushions, we also developed a Softplay stool with practical handles. The cushion can be placed in here to create an even longer lifespan for the Softplay, as a solid and easily movable chair. Fun fact: Each of these Softplays are hand-sewn and carefully stuffed in our factory.   Also check out our portfolio for an impression of our products and play areas. Are you interested in our products or do you have any questions? Please feel free to contact us, our advisers will be happy to help. Contact    

nieuw spel bij IKC shocking spiral! behendigheidsspel voor alle leeftijden

23 December 2022

NEW AND CHALLENGING GAME

In 2013, the idea of designing the spiral game was born. The first drawings were made and this planted the seed of the idea. This idea remained on the idea shelf for a long time and, 7 years later, in 2020, it emerged in the innovation plan for that year. After this, we actively started designing, elaborating and making the game and technical aspects sustainable. The idea of a spiral game was born to create fun not only for children, but also for teenagers, parents, grandparents. Bring out the child in yourself at any age. Take on the challenge with each other, or with yourself and improve the high score! Those who think they have nerves of steel and a steady hand, or want to teach children self-control, patience and agility; be the first to use this brand new game for fun! In March 2022, we already posted an announcement of this new product via a sneak peek news release. Over the past few months, we have finalised the design, optimised the special effects and intensively tested the game. This has caused a lot of fun and hilarity among our colleagues, as well as some competition! All these factors added up to this beautiful model of the Shocking Spiral. See below an impression from the first drawing of the design to the final result.   For more information and a video about the product, please refer to the product page. Are you interested in this game? If please feel free to contact us, our advisers will be happy to help. Contact   

themahoek in de kinderopvang voor meer beleving

21 April 2022

Create extra experience at the kindergarten with a kids' corner

From interplay and circle time to simply trying things out, childcare can provide countless tools with which children can discover their own strengths and build their own self-confidence. In this blog, we give you some suggestions on how the nursery can add that extra bit of experience and be a place where the children feel at home.   Observe how plants and animals grow  A classic example is the fishbowl with frogspawn. Children can see and learn up close how frogspawn grows into tadpoles and finally into frogs. Afterwards, they can release the frogs back into the pond. This activity provides fun and an educational process that children will look forward to with curiosity! Or plant a seed with the children and watch together how it grows each time. Children also learn that plants need water and sunlight to grow.   Playing together at the day care centre play area  To make friends easily and to get to know the other children better, joint activities are the best way to create company. Children can play together in the children's corner and at the same time improve their motor skills with wall games, building blocks or with a beads table. To make a circle discussion even more fun and exciting, place an imaginative floor sticker like at childcare centre 't Parelbosch to create a special place to sit around. Like a witch's cauldron, for example. To complete the experience, activities can also be organised in a corresponding theme. Use holidays or create your own special days with a theme - possibly inspired by the children themselves!     Experience and imaginative environment in a themed play area Wallcoverings with imaginative prints. Imagine yourself in a jungle setting, at the beach, or on a farm! The possibilities are endless. Children have a vivid imagination, which they can stimulate by playing in a themed play corner, where the theme runs throughout the room. Activities can be organised around the theme, such as making handicrafts or learning more about certain topics. For example, about the farm: which animals live there, what do they look like and what sound do they make? Go out and explore!     Sensory games and tactile elements Childcare is not only a nice and cosy place where children can make friends and do all kinds of fun activities. The childcare centre also supports children in their development. Sensory elements are very important. Children learn by exploring and this stimulates their sensory development. Children, especially babies, learn by using all their senses. Therefore, it is important that children are given the space to explore their surroundings and to further develop their motor skills and senses. Structures such as sand or grass often feel strange to children at first. However, children usually calm down by digging and moulding in the sand. For many children, water is also very popular. Splashing around and watching the water run through everything. Add sand and water together and you suddenly have the popular mud! A child covered in sand and mud will most likely have had a great day. Introduce children to different kinds of materials and structures. Think of a wall game, a sensory house with different structures that children can discover. Feel, discover and learn!    

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