Green Bean Studios reports record sales & new links

Green Bean Studios has reported record sales and expanded its national partnerships, with April and May becoming the strongest sales months in its history.

The Manchester-based children's learning business said the performance followed a year of work with literacy groups, public sector bodies and educators. Over the past 12 months, it has delivered projects with Wigan Council as part of World Book Day celebrations, agreed a partnership with the National Literacy Trust and made several appearances on the BBC to discuss literacy and creativity.

Founded in 2020 by Anita Frost, Green Bean Studios develops children's books, toys, games and other learning-focused entertainment products. Demand has been rising across the early years sector, schools, libraries, local authorities and literacy organisations.

The latest update suggests the business is seeking to scale through institutional relationships as well as direct commercial sales. It has also completed the Help to Grow management programme, designed to support smaller businesses as they plan expansion.

The combination of higher sales and broader partnerships comes as education-focused children's businesses face pressure to show their relevance in both classrooms and wider community settings. In this market, work with councils, literacy organisations and broadcasters can help build visibility beyond traditional retail channels.

Green Bean Studios has placed literacy and learning through play at the centre of its offer. Its Green Bean Collection, a children's book and toy range, became the company's first revenue stream and remains central to its commercial development.

The business has since broadened its output into educational toys and games. It has also moved into music and television development, releasing a demo of its first children's album and working on an animated children's TV series.

Partnership focus

Its recent work with Wigan Council formed part of local World Book Day activity, giving the business a public sector platform tied to reading promotion. The partnership with the National Literacy Trust adds another national organisation to its network at a time when literacy outcomes remain a major concern for schools and community groups.

Repeated appearances on the BBC have also raised the profile of the business and its founder. While broadcasters often feature smaller creative companies for their local and social impact, that exposure can also support commercial growth by introducing brands to parents, teachers and institutional buyers.

Green Bean Studios said it has been strengthening its position in what it describes as edutainment and learning experiences. That part of the market covers products that blend education with entertainment, particularly for younger children.

The sector has attracted growing interest from businesses seeking to serve both home learning and structured educational settings. Companies in this area often try to balance creative storytelling with evidence of educational value, while also managing the practical demands of product development, distribution and brand building.

Founder profile

Frost has become more visible alongside the company's expansion. She has spoken publicly about her business journey through The True North Conversations and has been featured in International Women's Day activity recognising female business leaders.

KPMG also continues to support the company's growth following success in a KPMG-led business awards programme. For smaller companies, backing from large professional services firms can help provide access to networks, mentoring and external credibility as they move into a new phase of development.

Green Bean Studios describes itself as a children's intellectual property entertainment production company focused on sustainability, outdoor learning and early years development. Its products are built around characters in the fictional setting of Adventure Dales, with the lead character, Green Bean, presented as an environmentally minded figure for young audiences.

That positioning places the company at the intersection of children's media, educational publishing and values-led consumer products. It also reflects a broader trend among early years brands to connect reading, play and environmental themes in ways that appeal to parents, schools and public bodies.

Frost said the company's recent performance reflected long-term investment choices rather than a short-term sales spike.

She said: "The past year has been about building strong foundations for sustainable growth. We've invested heavily in partnerships because we know that when organisations work together, they create greater opportunities for children, schools and communities. Seeing that strategy translate into record sales and new national collaborations has been incredibly rewarding. We're excited about what comes next and look forward to expanding our reach even further over the coming year."