This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
4 NEWS


“There’s still growth in High Street retail...”


by Lewis Tyler So says Toymaster, which has identified key toy opportunities in towns in the UK…


THERE IS room for more toy shops on the UK High Street – that’s according to Toymaster’s operations director Ian Edmunds (pictured). Speaking ahead of the Toymaster May show in Harrogate, Edmunds told ToyNews: “Rents have fallen and in a lot of towns there are gaps. So there are opportunities out there, as long as it’s well thought out. “It’s all about costs, there has to


be a re-alignment of what it costs to trade on the High Street. Your biggest bill after your staff is always going to be your rent – councils


aren’t going to move on rates so it’s got to be rents.” Toymaster can help members make sure they aren’t paying over the odds on leases, using its network to calculate the rates to pay in different towns.


“If they want to use us as an information point to see what other members are paying, where we’ve got that information, we will provide it,” added Edmunds. “What we’ve also got is a lot of information historically on what turnover has come from those towns, so we can point people in the right direction.” Toymaster now has 180 members and 300 stores in the UK and Ireland and Edmunds sees room for expansion, if toy shop owners can be shrewd with the figures. Turn to page 39 to read our full Toymaster preview coverage, with comments from indies and industry execs.


xxx


Mega Bloks unveils new


Princess line MEGA BLOKS has created a new range for girls aged one and up. The Mega Bloks Lil’ Princess line is due in July and will include play-sets, characters with sparkling tiaras and wings, blocks and pets. Each Lil’ Princess has her own individual theme. Once the character is placed on top of her pony, or any Mega Bloks prong, her sparkling tiara magically appears. Other features include removable sparkling wings. Larger play-sets include the Sparkling Tower, the Magic Carriage, the 3-Storey Enchanted Princess Castle and the Twinkle Castle.


Mega Bloks: 01844 350033


MAY 2012


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100