In association with...
Gillian Cooper and Joe Gibbins manageress and assistant, Toys n Things,
ToyWorld_TalkingShop_Header2 19/12/12 12:57:11 - 1 - (Proce
Norma Jacob-Power and Richard Power
Cardiff Business is going very well at the moment. We have had above average increases in sales on last year; this is partly due to our decision to open the shop on Sundays, as well as recently redesigning our floor space, giving customers more space to move and browse which has had a very positive effect. We have also made efforts to increase our ranges of Lego and James Galt products, as we identified these as being very popular in the first half of the year, and they continue to be so. The nice weather we’ve enjoyed has helped bring in customers and boost our sales on seasonal items such as buckets, spades, paddling pools and sports equipment. Our comprehensive range of wooden and general Thomas the Tank has made us a destination shop. This is also the case for our huge range of jigsaw puzzles and games. Our next big push will be ‘back to school’ in August and from September onwards we will be mainly concentrating on Halloween and Christmas preparations. We are looking forward to attending the Autumn Fair in
September; it’s a great opportunity to source those key lines in preparation for the Christmas trade, which we have very high expectations for this year.
Neil Waite
owners, JP Toys Toymaster, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Business in general has been good both in the shop and on our website
mytoyshop.ie, and we have a growing number of followers on our Facebook page ToymasterGreystones. We had a good Easter and business has increased since the kids finished school, so we’re hoping July and August will continue that way. Pocket money and outdoor toys are selling well now with the current good weather, so hopefully that will continue! We stock Bigjigs, Kidkraft and Melissa & Doug wooden toys. In general wooden toys sell well for us, but not so much this time of year. From September on, this sector increases, particularly the larger wooden pieces such as train sets, dolls houses and kitchens for Christmas. Price point is an issue, though, and people still want good value for money, which Bigjigs and Melissa & Doug offer, but Kidkraft is a harder sell as they are a lot more expensive. Plush toys, particularly Ty Beanies and The Puppet Company’s puppets, sell extremely well for us. Both brands are at very good price points, and so make great birthday gifts or collectables. We don’t stock anything from the tech toys category, as it’s too competitive a market with very low margin. Because of the high retail price, customers spend time comparing prices in the larger multiples and online, which smaller independents can’t compete with.
captain, Captain Neil’s Toy Chest, Wellingborough If you asked me how business was going last week I would have said great! But this week it’s gone fairly quiet, so not so great; and this seems to be the trend at the moment, but overall I’m happy with how things are going. We’re still heading in the right direction, and I’m really looking forward to Christmas. Jigsaws are selling well for us at the moment, which might be because the sun can’t decide what it’s up to! Our art and craft offering is popular; I think that parents want to stimulate their children’s minds instead of being brainwashed by the TV and computers 24/7. And Man of Steel lines are moving well, and after taking my kids to see the film I can see why; it’s a fantastic film. I’ll be attending Autumn Fair this year; I’m going on the first day and I’m looking forward to festive fun ideas and meeting new people. We have a large choice of wooden toys. Old favourites such as the abacus, alphabet blocks and push-alongs all do really well, and I think the reason is that parents and grandparents trust these traditional toys; and plus we only stock the very best. For plush, Jellycat has proven to be a hit with my customers,
they are so soft. Ty Boos continue to be a favourite amongst boys and girls. And our large Paddington Bear is simply adorable... I think my wife loves him more than she loves me, though. We’re not stocking any tech toys yet; I haven’t had much request for them from my customers. We’ve got some of Ravensburger’s One Direction puzzles arriving shortly, but that’s about it. Again, we haven’t had much request for
them...thankfully, as I’m Rock ‘n’ Roll through and through!
If you would like to get involved with next month’s Talking Shop, please get in touch with Kayleigh: 01442 840 306, @KayleighConners
kayleigh@toyworldmag.co.uk
20 Toyworld
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