The Story
Our story spans back a total of 34 years!
Read the full journey of Janet and John below...
The Founder
Janet and John Kiddies Rides was founded in 1987 by John Turner. With a background in both the children's amusement industry and as a HGV driver, John recognised an opportunity to bring family entertainment to the high street.
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He saw the potential for children's rides to enhance the customer experience, leading to the creation of Janet and John Kiddies Rides, a company dedicated to enriching public spaces with fun and engaging attractions for children.
The Idea
From the very beginning, Janet and John Kiddies Rides was a true family enterprise. John's father, Allen, his wife Janet, along with other family members played an integral role in the company's early development.
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The company was established with a singular focus on children's rides, and the first ride purchased was the Whittaker’s Puff the Magic Dragon, marking the beginning of our commitment to providing high-quality, engaging attractions for young audiences.
The Machine Journey
For many years, the core focus of Janet and John Kiddies Rides was on children's rides, although our portfolio also expanded to include arcade machines, pool tables, novelty vending machines, and bear cranes. During this time, we supplied shops and stores with both kiddie rides and vending machines.
Throughout the 1990s, Janet and John Kiddies Rides established a strong presence across the North East, providing children’s rides to shopping centres, garden centres, play centres, and leisure facilities. As the decade progressed, our machine portfolio expanded, and we embraced technological advancements. Significant investments were made, particularly with the introduction of the first Postman Pat ride.
The 1990s saw numerous innovations in the industry, with rides ranging in size from the Ranch Coogan to Fireman Sam. At this time, rides evolved from accepting 20p coins to incorporating multi-coin mechanisms, initially priced at 30p and gradually increasing over the years to the current £1 per ride.
During this period, vending machines were still in their early stages, offering low-cost products. Janet and John Kiddies Rides provided customers with egg vending machines, bear cranes, and 20p capsule machines that dispensed items such as bubble gum and toy trolls, continuing to add value to the customer experience.
The Tomy Network Years
1999 - 2011
This year marked a pivotal moment in the company's evolution with the importation of the first Tomy Yujin Slim Boy machine. This advanced vending machine was a significant improvement over any previous models introduced to the UK market.
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The Slim Boy allowed operators to display individual products, enabling the sale of four different 50mm capsule products from a single machine. With each pod capable of holding up to 150 capsules, the Slim Boy boasted a total capacity of 600 capsules, quickly establishing itself as the leading capsule vending machine in the market.
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This innovation led to Janet and John Kiddies Rides becoming a franchisee within the Tomy vending network. Starting with a small number of sites in the North West of England, the company rapidly expanded, acquiring other operators and growing its presence. By the time Tomy exited the UK market in 2011, Janet and John Kiddies Rides had established itself as the largest operator of Tomy Gacha vending machines in the country, with over 300 locations within the network.
The Millennium
The introduction of the Tomy vending machine marked a significant shift in direction for the company, driven by growing demand from both clients and customers for these machines and their products. Throughout the 1990s, children were becoming increasingly brand-conscious, much like with children's rides, where generic models were gradually being replaced by attractions based on popular TV shows and movie characters.
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However, it was not as simple as placing any product in the machines and expecting sales to increase. Similar to children's rides, vending machines required careful selection of products to align with customer preferences. For every Postman Pat-themed product, there was a Batmobile, highlighting the importance of staying current with trends.
The company quickly adapted its approach by sourcing the latest products and ensuring a balance—maintaining enough stock to drive sales without overloading machines with items that could soon be outdated, ensuring relevance and maximizing revenue for our clients.
The Next Generation
2007
John’s eldest son, John Jnr, joined the business in January 2007 after graduating from university. Having gained valuable experience helping out during holidays, John Jnr developed a strong passion for business and decided to pursue this interest within the family enterprise.
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In 2019, he graduated with an MA in Strategic Leadership and Management, becoming the company’s first apprentice.
John Jnr continues to play an integral role in the business, working to implement strategic changes that align with his father’s vision, while enhancing the vending experience for both customers and clients.
Becoming a Ltd. Company
2013
After over 25 years of successful trading, 2013 marked the official transition of Janet and John Kiddies Rides to Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd. Within the industry, however, the company continues to be fondly known as Janet and John.
The Penny Press joins the family
2017
The Penny Press operates under the umbrella of Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd. Established 20 years ago, The Penny Press shares the same core values, making it a natural fit within the Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd family.
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The Directors of Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd remain dedicated to enhancing the product offering and further developing the brand in the years ahead.
Investment in the latest technology
2020
Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd remains committed to its mission of enhancing the customer experience. As contactless payment systems have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, the company has made the strategic decision to invest in advanced technology across both its brands to eliminate barriers for customers and further improve their experience.
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Significant investments have been made across the company’s portfolio, with a focus on driving increased revenue for clients by upgrading to the latest products. Our most recent investment includes the modernisation of our Penny Press machines and the rollout of contactless payment technology across both the Janet and John and Penny Press brands.
Post Covid
2022
Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd have continued to strive towards its mission by improving the customer experience. Customers have become accustomed to using contactless payment systems over the last few years and Janet and John Kiddies Rides Ltd has decided it will invest in technology across both its brands to reduce the barriers to customers and improve the customer experience.
New equipment has been invested in throughout the company’s estate with the aim to generate the clients more revenue by improving the customer experience with the latest products. The latest investment is the upgrading of our Penny Press machines and the rollout of contactless payment technology between both our Janet and John and Penny Press brands.