Page 26 - Toy & Hobbby Retailer Magazine Nov-Dec 2018
P. 26

HEADLINE MAKERS
YEAR IN REVIEW
EXPERIENCED-BASED STORES THE FUTURE OF TOY RETAIL
In the wake of TRU closing, Toy & Hobby Retailer turned to the experts to see what the future of toy retailing might look like. Kim Do, IBISWorld senior industry analyst said that retailers have to focus more on experiences rather than goods and create a store that is inviting to entice parents and children out of the home.
KMART AUS LAUNCHES
NEW TOY LINE
Kmart Australia launched a new wooden toys line in June which included a vanity set, BBQ, cleaning trolley and wooden food items. The range was relatively low cost, with the larger items priced at $39.
CENTA IP TO REPRESENT POCKET.WATCH IN AUSTRALIA Global licensing firm Centa IP signed on to represent US kids media company Pocket. watch in Australia and New Zealand. Pocket. watch – an innovative children’s entertainment company that works with kid YouTube stars such as RyanToysReview and EvanTubeHD – then went on to announce an entire toy line for RyanToysReview which is expected to arrive in Australia in November/December.
TOYMATE TACKLES TRU
GIFT CARD POLICY
Aussie toy retailer, Toymate, took up an opportunity to bring former Toys R Us Australia (TRUA) customers into its store, offering consumers a 20 per cent discount and free gift when they presented their expired TRUA gift card. After TRUA entered administration, McGrathNicol administrators introduced new policies regarding gift cards. The TRUA gift cards were made valid until 05 July and customers had to spend an additional equal amount to what was on the card to use it. Toymate ran its offer until 05 August.
DAVID JONES: “THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE”
THE LITTLE SHOP OF COLLECTIBLES
Toy & Hobby Retailer looked further into the Coles Little Shop campaign to try to uncover what it was about the toys that had the country so obsessed. Editor, Imogen Bailey, cited popular toy crazes such as collectibles, the ‘surprise’ element and exclusive items, as well as the human brain’s reaction to ‘cute’ things and brand familiarity, as reasons why the toys proved so popular.
JULY/AUGUST 2018
ON THE COVER: WINNING MOVES
JULY / AUGUST 2018 PRINT POST APPROVED 100005334
www.toyhobbyretailer.com.au
SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2018
ON THE COVER: BRITZ MARKETING AUSTRALASIA
www.toyhobbyretailer.com.au
Cover.indd 1
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 PRINT POST APPROVED 100005334
24/08/18 10:53 AM
HASBRO ACQUIRES
POWER RANGERS
Hasbro acquired the Power Rangers entertainment and merchandising franchises from Saban Entertainment for US$522 million in cash and stock, in May. The deal also included other Saban brands including My
Pet Monster, Popples, Julius Jr, Luna Petunia and Treehouse Detectives. The first set of Power Rangers products from Hasbro will
be available in 2019.
Department store, David Jones, teamed up with The Walt Disney Company (ANZ) to bring an entire Disney themed floor to consumers. The floor – located on level nine at the Elizabeth St store in Sydney – features Disney, Star Wars and Marvel brands, and offers customers a unique place to shop, play and explore. The latest toys, games, puzzles, apparel, footwear and books are available on the floor, and will be updated regularly to coincide with the latest Disney releases. The floor opened in November.
MATTEL TO CUT 2200 JOBS
Major toy company, Mattel, released its Q2 earnings in August, reporting that not only were net sales down 14 per cent for the period, but that it will be slashing 2200 jobs. The
job cuts represent 22 per cent of its global non-manufacturing workforce. Mattel also announced that it will sell manufacturing sites in Mexico.
HERE’S WHY CUSTOMERS AREN’T COMING IN
According to Monash University research,
65 per cent of Australian consumers prefer shopping in a bricks-and-mortar store, while only 18 per cent prefer shopping online. However, some retailers are failing to take advantage of the resurgence of traditional shopping and are instead driving customers away. According to Dr Rebecca Dare, the managing director of the Australian Consumer Retail and Services (ACRS) research unit, retailers need to ensure that the basics – such
as stock storage, merchandising and customer service – in the store are right.
GEOFFREY LLC: “BACK
FROM VACATION.”
Geoffrey LLC, the Toys R Us (TRU) intellectual property holding company, cancelled the upcoming auction for the TRU IP, despite fielding several bids for the assets. The business instead allowed secured lenders – including Solus Alternative Asset Management and Angelo Gordon & Co. – to acquire nearly all of the TRU IP and house brands the TRU business had. Executive vice president of global merchandising at Geoffrey LLC, Richard Barry, told The Toy Book, that the new company is, “in discussions with very
26 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018
Cover.indd 1 5/07/18 3:55 PM


































































































   24   25   26   27   28