9 minute read
Retail Talk retailers sharing from the shop floor
RETAIL OPINION Talking retail
Nicole Sweeney
Ann-Marie Edwards
Ann-Marie Edwards and Nicole Sweeney
Toys category managers The Very Group
Tell us a little about your shop
The Very Group operates multi-category digital retailer Very. We combine more than 2,000 big brands with our popular own brand collections and a range of flexible payment options to offer families the convenience, flexibility and value they need. What big-ticket items are selling well?
Family favourites like big-ticket Barbie and LEGO items have been winners for us this year, as well as Little Live Pets Mama Surprise, which is new in the market. Demand for high price pointed Pokemon trading card packs also remains strong.
What stocking filler items are doing well?
This Christmas, we have focused more than ever on creating a value proposition for our customers and the under £30 price point is proving very popular. Jiggly Pets Pups and Hot Wheels Colour Reveal are real favourites among our fun, low price point lines so far. Trading cards and stickers is a growing area, while classic family games such as Twister and Pop Up Pirate continue to perform well. Any surprises in either of these – if so why?
If you would like to take part in Toy Talk, we’d love to hear from you. Please email tim@lemapublishing.co.uk
TnP loves to hear your views. This month we look at what’s selling well in the lead-up to Christmas
Peter Allinson
Director Whirligig Toys Kent and Sussex
Tell us a little about your shop.
We are a specialist in things to make and do – creative toys that really engage children. We stock a wide range of arts and crafts, construction and model-making kits alongside great family games. Focused on the independent sector, we avoid big brands and film licences, looking for quality play experiences. We have been established for 10 years.
What big-ticket items are selling well?
We are more of a children’s gift shop than a big ticket shop, so the majority of our items cost between £10 and £20, with a few items hitting a top price of £40. We find this is just what our customers are looking for; a good supply of presents for their children and other families that they know. Our best-selling ‘big ticket items’ are our miniature house making kits (Robotime, distributed by Fountasia) – these appeal to older children and adults and are crafting kits that have astonishing detail. We work with a wonderful company that makes, in our opinion, the best quality models, which are really hard to get hold of. We have them made up in all our shops as display items and people are really fascinated by them.
What stocking filler items are doing well?
IQ games are our strongest sellers at the moment. The wonderful range from Smart Games has so much variety and, while we can’t finish any of them, children love the challenge that they present. Alongside this, our puzzle cubes and traditional wooden toys such as yo-yos continue to be popular. We have also seen a demand for highquality stationery products such as 3D notebooks and erasable pens; not expensive things, but ones that children will really treasure.
Any surprises in either of these – if so why?
Not really – it is what we are known for! We are seeing people buying lots of little presents this year, but making sure that everyone gets something, so we think our average item price may be lower, but our basket spend seems to be the same.
We love to see new, innovative toys doing well and driving excitement. Very customers respond well to newness and there has been no shortage of that this year from the likes of Character, Moose, Mattel and Lego. Tonies has been a phenomenal success and is a great example of innovation in the market. If Santa could grant you three wishes for your business what would they be?
No more rain! Rain has been the biggest impact this year – economic uncertainty is clearly a factor, but rain stops play on every occasion!
Owner Toytastik, Chepstow, South Wales
Tell us about your shop.
It’s an independent familyrun shop specialising in traditional toys and games; always on the lookout to introduce items that our customers may not have seen before.
Always keen to support the smaller toy supplier while maintaining solid trading relationships with the bigger guys! What big-ticket items are selling well?
Our highest selling big-ticket item would be Toniebox, which seems to be growing its appeal from year to year. Word has definitely spread!
In the £25 to £40 range, most definitely Smartian is a huge seller for us. What an absolutely fabulous toy; perfect for little hands but what we love most is that it is the perfect toy to engage older siblings/children with younger ones as everyone loves to play with this clever building system.
What about stocking fillers?
As for stocking fillers, well it has to be Eugy. We can’t get enough of these little craft sets from Brainstorm; they sell not only as stocking fillers for kids but also for big kids too! Also, Needoh from Bigjigs is proving very popular as an extra little gift as is PlayinChoc, which I would highly recommend to any retailer out there; a little chocolate treat that is dairy, gluten and nut free with a lovely little plastic-free model to make. Plus Plus again is a great stocking filler, which has been a big part of our offer for many years. Any surprises in either of these – if so, why?
No surprises of what is selling well, we pride ourselves on listening to our customer base and learning from them so very rarely have an item that doesn't sell. Some things may be slower than others but truly there’s nothing in our shop that I wish we hadn’t bought in. If Santa could grant you three wishes for your business, what would they be?
If Santa could grant three wishes for our business it would be as simple as three words, affordability, growth and sustainability, We hope that despite the doom and gloom, our customers will always find our products affordable and good value, that we will continue to grow our customer base and in turn sales, and that we continue to offer products that are sustainable and do not damage our planet.
Debra Maloney
Senior manager
Austins Department Store Newton Abbot, Devon Tell us a little about your shop. We’re an independent traditional toy store with a fantastic selection of toys. What big-ticket items are selling well? LEGO, Hot Wheels, Sylvanian Families. What stocking filler items are doing well? Squishmallows, anything squishy, pocket money toys.
SALES REPRESENTATIVE REQUIRED FOR SCOTLAND & NORTHERN ENGLAND
Role: Sales Representative/Account Manager Area: Scotland, Northern England, NI Salary: Basic £33k, OTE £10k, company car
The Business
Juratoys is a French group that has been designing and distributing games and toys for over 50 years. Its brands are recognised for their design, quality of materials used, and educational values, which contribute to children’s development. Juratoys manages over 1,400 references under its brands and pursues an intense innovation policy. The group relies on an international distribution network and is represented by commercial subsidiaries in several countries including the UK.
Juratoys UK
Established in 2014, Juratoys UK has driven growth in the UK market since its inception. The brands include Janod, Lilliputiens, Kaloo and Lalaboom.
Janod is the leading wooden toy brand in France and is fast becoming the most talked about wooden toy brand in the UK. Our “PLAY DIFFERENT” slogan captures how we feel about play. Kaloo is a French love story made of softness and cuddles. For more than 20 years the Kaloo brand has been specializing in soft toys and bedding accessories.
Lillipuitens was created in 1995 by two friends, the brand has embarked on a quest to create the very best soft toys……Mission accomplished! Lalaboom is an award winning brand. A colourful collection of 5 in 1 educational beads to help with children’s development needs through the early stages of learning.
Role & Responsibilities
Be part of a dynamic sales operation in the UK selling the portfolio of brands within Scotland, Northern England and Norther Ireland region.
The brands have already been established in the UK market with a proven rate of sale, you will pick up a portfolio of existing accounts as well as developing your own new accounts. The customer base will include; toy shops, garden centres, gift shops, book stores, nursery goods outlets, childrenswear boutiques and internet retailers, to suit the different brands.
You will be provided with samples and an extensive promotional support programme to help you achieve your goals.
The role will be field based, while office hours are 9 to 5, due to the nature of the role you may be expected to work additional hours as required to complete the role.
The role will report to the UK Commercial Director.
The UK office is based in Chiswick, London. Sales meetings are held here on a quarterly basis.
The work
Your key tasks as a Sales Representative / Account Manager would include: • Making appointments to meet new and existing customers • Understanding your customers’ needs • Making presentations to promote new products and special deals • Agreeing sales, prices, contracts and payments • Advising customers about delivery schedules and after-sales service • Keeping in contact with existing customers in person and by telephone • Recording orders and sending details to the sales office • Watching your competitors and the products they are offering • Achieving sales targets • Reporting sales trends to the business
The person
We are looking for a sales representative that can bring energy, enthusiasm and a can do attitude to the role.
They will be an excellent communicator with the ability to deal with a broad range of customers. They also need to be confident and resilient with the ability to negotiate and persuade customers when faced with rejections.
Preferably with some experience and contacts in the retail sectors that we are targeting. You may be from a Gift or Toy background (not exclusively) but the most important element is the determination to succeed.
Please email your application to neil. montgomery@juratoys.co.uk
