‘Tis the season to play outside. With the weather hot – at least half of the time – Mystery Shopper is hunting for an outdoor toy that two kids can play with…
JOJO MAMAN BÉBÉ
ALTHOUGH this retailer is predominantly a kids clothing shop, the chain is also a bona fide toy retailer as it has a healthy line- up of play product. Despite this, I didn’t have high hopes of finding any outdoor toys here, least not one that can be played by a pair of kids. As I look lost and wander around the shop, the woman on the counter kindly asks to help, so I give her the brief. While the task does seem to trump her at first, she makes a few good suggestions. The first is the ever-popular
Micro Scooter. My guide gives a brief, succinct explanation of what the product is, before detailing the various colours and the price. Moving on, I am introduced to Zoggs, which are floating toys
50 HIGH STREET, MARLOW
made for playing in the swimming or paddling pool. The lady may now be running out of steam, as she shows me Le Toy Van’s wooden London bus, which is not really an outdoor toy. However, it is a decent product backed by an assured sales pitch from a store clerk who is only trying to help me out.
The shop is impeccably laid out, with its pastel blue and white wooden interior lit by the warm glow of halogen lamps. This makes the dainty selection of kids clothing, which is interspersed with toys, look extra appealing.
Verdict: Polite and clued up sales patter made this an enjoyable shop.
4/5
FUN JUNCTION NEWLANDS STREET, HIGH WYCOMBE
At the other end of the shopping centre is Fun Junction, a smaller shop with an equally small outdoor section. So small, in fact, that I couldn't find it at first. Luckily the girl at the till is on hand to show me the teensy selection of outdoor wares, which are tucked away in a corner. Bat and ball games are again on the menu. I swear I’ve seen the same cricket set four times today. When I ask for an alternative, I am met with the shocking suggestion to try… wait for it… Tesco. “They might have a bigger outdoor range,” she concludes. After we have exhausted the outdoor section, I give the young store attendant a chance to redeem herself by asking if there is some other impressive, non-outdoor toy
she could suggest. She offers the Robotime Robotic Dinosaurs from Green Board Games, which does fit the bill, to her credit. While finishing my browse, I
realise it is deathly quiet. Perhaps this shop could do with a little music to liven things up?
I notice during my shop that a couple of customers enter and leave in double quick time. Maybe it’s something to do with the back room door being open and the staff kitchen visible. After receiving directions to
Tesco, I make my excuses and leave.
Verdict: For a small store, Fun Junction has a good selection, but is let down by a lack of atmosphere.
MARLOW TOYS
Marlow Toys is another Toymaster store. It’s located on the busy Marlow High Street, which is draped in bunting and looks every inch the picturesque British town. Marlow Toys wins the award for
2/5
the liveliest window display of the day, with banners for Barbie, Ninjago and Trash Pack looming attractively over artfully arranged selections of toys from each brand. Inside I also find a collection of neatly arranged toys. I breeze past the outdoor section and move towards the back end of the store which is home to a huge selection of games. I approach the counter and tell the man there what I’m after. He replies with just one
word: “Aerobi.”
33 HIGH STREET, MARLOW
The confidence and singularity of the suggestion indicates that he is serious about Aerobi. “Anything else?” I quiz, adding
that I’m looking for something unique which the kids might not have seen before.
He offers the Bubble Stomp
Rocket – a variation on the modern classic Stomp Rocket toy – which flies six metres into the air and produces hundreds of bubbles in the process. For a minute or two we discuss the merits of this new, bubble-enabled version versus its classic predecessor, before I make my excuses and leave.
Verdict: This is a well laid out shop that offers friendly customer service.