BY ERIK J. MARTIN, CTW FEATURES
Toy Shopping in 2020 How to shop for kids’ gifts now that big-box toy stores are extinct
T
oys ‘R Us has packed up and left town. KB Toys is kaput. FAO Schwarz is DOA. How do adults shop for popular children’s gifts now that the big box toy store is defunct? Don’t panic, say the experts. Virtually every toy made today is available via online merchants. Some brick-and-mortar chains carry a decent selection of goodies for youngsters. And, contrary to popular belief, smaller independent toy retailers are still in business — although their presence is limited to certain markets and you may not know they exist because of the costs and challenges to compete in a cutthroat retailing environment. 38
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“Big-box toy stores like Toys ‘R Us disappeared mainly because of the cheap prices and good toy selections offered by competitors like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay,” says Hassan Alnassir, founder/owner of Premium Joy, a Walnut, California-based toy company. “Not having physical toy stores around doesn’t necessarily make it tricky for people to purchase kids’ gifts and toys, however. You can easily find a variety of toys through the Internet nowadays without leaving your home. And some brickand-mortar chains offer a great selection of toys, including Target and Walmart.”
Minnesota, is proud to still be in business after 21 years.
Dan Marshall, co-owner of Mischief Toy Store, a brick-and-mortar retailer in St. Paul,
“The benefit of visiting a store versus shopping online is that you can speak in
“Many locally owned independent stores like ours are still going strong. Curated and thoughtful local shops are appreciated by consumers because they offer advice, service, and the joy of discovery that websites can’t match,” says Marshall. Kristin Morency Goldman, a spokesperson for The Toy Association in New York City, a trade association for the U.S. toy industry, agrees.
November 2020
