Leader - with Clare Turner

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Clare Turner

We’re on the home straight now in the run-up to Christmas, and the toy industry is pulling out all the stops Blue Diamond, reports that sales are off to a flying start, and she too is expecting a strong Christmas. But as BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson to deliver an unforgettable festive season for has pointed out, while retailers are putting in a children, after last year’s celebrations were gargantuan effort to ensure that gifts are ready scaled back by the pandemic. for Christmas, they continue to be dogged by

In early November, the Toy Retailers ongoing supply chain problems. Labour shortages Association issued 2021’s DreamToys: a tally are pushing up costs and creating some gaps on of the top 12 toys, regarded as the most the shelves. Nonetheless, she says, retailers are authoritative predictive list of what will be the prioritising Christmas essentials, and many have most sought-after gifts under the tree for little laid out their festive offerings a little earlier to ones this year. At the time, Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys selection committee and founder of The Entertainer toy chain, told “ Retailers have worked ensure everyone has time to buy treats before the big day. This is certainly the case for several toy retailers we interviewed for this me: “After lockdown last year, incredibly issue. Martin Blyth of Tickly Tapir held it’s going to be fantastic when we can all get together for a hard to get his Christmas preview event in late September and has been busy planning Christmas meal and have some shops and for the peak season ever since. Emma fun. That’s why I think we’ve got everything to play for. With 40% warehouses Scott of Birmingham Museums Trust started preparing for Christmas trading of the year’s annual turnover to prepared for in early autumn and launched after the take in the next seven and a half weeks, we’re ready for it and I Christmas October half-term, while our columnist Hazel McCarthy of Toy Corner has even think we’re going to have a really despite a made sure that “those last-minute things strong finish.” This positive attitude has been echoed by many of the toy retailers that I have spoken to over the past few weeks. And variety of challenges ” that complete a present” - add-ons such as sticky tape, giftwrap and labels - have been on display since the start of November, so her customers take note where to come when they need to buy with the latest ONS Retail Sales Index figures those items. showing that we’re moving in the right direction But as we go to press, a new priority has with a 0.7% year-on-year sales growth in emerged for retailers, with the government’s October, the outlook is definitely feeling more decision to re-introduce the compulsory wearing positive. According to the BRC (British Retail of face coverings in shops in England to help Consortium), footfall growth on UK streets stop the spread of the new Omicron variant of is the highest among major EU economies, Covid-19. Notices and signs advising customers to and this is clearly translating into consumer wear masks must be visible and staff are expected spend, while online sales remain well above to ‘remind’ customers to wear masks - but pre-pandemic levels as retailers ramp up their enforcement can only be carried out by police and delivery and click-and-collect services. local authorities.

With Halloween heavily curtailed by Covid Finally, I’d like to second these words from restrictions last year, this October showed BRC’s Helen: “Retailers have worked incredibly children’s costumes selling a treat as families hard to get shops and warehouses prepared for made the most of the occasion. And as Christmas despite a variety of challenges. While indie toy retailer Marion Super of Dazzle & there may be small changes in the way we shop, Inkspot notes in our Talking Retail section: we remain confident that everyone can get what “Being a fancy dress retailer too allows us they need for a fun Christmas this year.” to get a taste of what the ‘Christmas rush’ How was the festive trading experience for you may be like at the pre-Halloween rush. If and your business? I’d love you to get in touch Christmas trading is going to be anything like after the Yuletide break and share your story. You Halloween, then we are all in for a pleasant can connect with me via LinkedIn or email me surprise.” Meanwhile, Carla Ringer, children’s at clare@lemapublishing.co.uk. I look forward to toy and book buyer for garden centre group hearing from you.