www.toynews-online.biz
No. 139 May 2013
Retail Licensing Pre-School Marketing
24 Toy Shop UK The directory asks indies what they think about the toy gender debate
33 Mr Moshi ToyNews meets Moshi Monsters creator Michael Acton Smith
41 Pre-School Power We round up the newest products for tots and our blogger talks first-time toys
Suppliers get tough on eBay’s rogue traders
by Dominic Sacco
DISTRIBUTORS are clamping down on unscrupulous eBay toy dealers who buy rare figures in bulk and resell at extortionate prices. Known as ‘scalpers’, these traders buy a store’s entire Skylanders stock before selling it online. Certain retailers reportedly search their own stock for limited edition toys (like the ‘flocked’ Skylanders, pictured)before selling them online, or in open packs, instead of allowing customers to find a rare toy in-store by chance. Now suppliers are taking action, with distributor Asobi just one firm which has changed its trading terms – refusing to take on web-only retailers unless they can prove eBay is not their main selling platform. “We do not want to
encourage back bedroom businesses happy to make
65 Toymaster ‘13 A look at some of the top suppliers and toys on show in Harrogate
Bedroom businesses are ‘killing’ trade “It’s harmful as it labels the toy industry as the bad guys,” says The Entertainer
manager Anne-Marie Noon. “It’s up to the collector if they want to cash in or build the ultimate collection.” The Entertainer’s buying
£2,361.58 RRP: £29.97
a few pounds as this kills our main customers’ businesses,” said Asobi owner Thierry Bourret. “To be honest very few
retailers open our blind Sonny Angel packs; those who do are removed from our list of customers.”
The current price for the product listing which ends on May 4th
Flair didn’t comment on
such retailers, but highlighted the positives of genuine consumers finding special Trash Pack toys. “The swapping and selling of rare figures on eBay is not an issue for us,” said boys toys marketing
director Stuart Grant recognises eBay and Amazon Marketplace are “great for dealers to sell overstocks” but admits “bad bedroom dealers ruin it for everyone else”. “[Higher online prices are] unfair to the consumer,” he said. “It’s harmful; it represents the toy industry as the bad guys and that’s not the case”. Amanda Alexander
from retailer Giddy Goat Toys commented: “A lot of suppliers don’t want us to sell on Amazon or eBay as this crazy discounting is damaging their brand.” Asobi called on Trading Standards to crack down on fake toys and part-time traders who don’t pay tax.
eBay Marketplaces
spokesperson Steven Heywood told ToyNews: “Shifts in the retail market are blending online and offline commerce and changing the way consumers shop; in turn this is spurring changes in the counterfeit trade. We work closely with law enforcement, assist authorities with their investigations and we allow rights owners to report counterfeits or copyright infringements.” Paul Jackson, MD of
distributor The In Thing, concluded: “More retailers are finding they can supplement their sales via eBay, but the morality of whether retailers decide to sell highly sought after products for higher than the normal RRP is a decision to be made by the retailer themselves.” Read our full eBay feature on page 26.
It’s a jungle out there, play your wild card!
view our complete range at
www.cartamundi.com become a fan at
www.facebook.com/CartamundiUK
Units 8 - 17 Sandhurst, Kings Road, Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 0QY. Tel: 01268 511522, Fax: 01268 513109 or e-mail
retail@cartamundi.co.uk
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