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The Retail Barometer

A regular column in which retailers and more tell us about the positive – and negative – things happening in stores around the country. All comments are provided anonymously, but verified and checked by us at TnP…

To have your contributions potentially included, email tim@lemapublishing.co.uk with what’s doing well and what’s doing not so well in stores, what’s making you happy, confident and optimistic for the future – and what’s giving you cause for concern…

Christmas

It happened. Eventually. As retailers noted, the big seasonal rush may have been later than normal, but, as one said, “we got there in the end”. Christmas Eve on a Saturday

Roy Wood’s Wizzard once boldly stated “I wish it could be Christmas every day”. But retailers would be more likely to say they wish it could be Christmas Eve on a Saturday every year, as the final rush for stocking fillers and even bigger presents carried right through until December 24… Year-end figures

Some retailers have told us of record weeks, and, as the year-end numbers were totted up, it was a “challenging” year, but growth could be achieved… Gifts with a purpose

One of the key winners for the final month, toys that actually had some kind of value, with the ongoing craft items, still not coming down off a pandemic high, and educational toys all performing well. “Things with ‘value’ or purpose [have done well], not just toys for toys’ sake. I think customers are justifying spending on items that are not frivolous or throwaway.” Supporting the indies…

Those that support the independent sector get the thumbs up, others who are more concerned with the multiples get the thumbs down. As one told us: “Suppliers need to understand the importance of supporting their local high street/independent stores, as a major supplier Character Options is very good at this. The reps visit stores, engage with the teams and gain feedback, they tailor offers and give marketing support. Others seem to be too focused on the multiples. They are spread too thinly in terms of staff, sometimes taking days to respond to a simple request. Implementing high carriage paid levels and dictating order processes which are not user friendly.” Spiralling costs

From postage to in-store overheads including everincreasing electricity, through to goods themselves – and everything else along the way – inflation is starting to become a way of life. Supply chain woes

Still an issue, most notably for independent stores. As one explained: “Often only parts of orders arrive, meaning we have incomplete or poor product stories in the shelves, making it hard to merchandise or build customers’ interest in a product before it arrives in store. I don’t want to advertise something as coming soon, as it may not arrive. Our LEGO advent calendars usually arrive in September for maximum pre advent sales, but this year didn’t arrive until November, leaving us only weeks to shift expensive seasonal stock.”

Toy Retailer of the Year finalists announced

The BTHA has unveiled the shortlist for its Toy Retailer of the Year Awards for 2022 ahead of the gongs being given out just before Toy Fair.

The winners from the shortlisted categories, as well as the coveted Overall Toy Retailer of the Year for 2022 and a raft of other BTHA awards, will be announced on Monday January 23, the eve of Toy Fair at London’s Olympia.

BTHA Chairman Graham Canning said: “Congratulations to all this year’s Toy Retailer of the Year finalists, all of whom have demonstrated outstanding commitment, creativity and excellent collaboration with suppliers over the past 12 months. They are all very deserving of our shortlist for 2022. We look forward to announcing this year’s winners during Toy Fair 2023 alongside the TRA (Toy Retailers Association) ,which will also announce the Toy and Supplier of the Year winners for 2022.”

The full shortlist is

Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (single store) Wigwam Toys, Brighton Toys N Tuck, Southend on Sea JJ Toys, Gerrards Cross Omnichannel Toy Retailer of the Year The Entertainer Smyths Argos

Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (multi store) MIDCO Toys Morleys Department Stores Toy Barnhaus Online Excellence Award VERY Amazon Argos

Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year The Entertainer SMF Toytown Smyths

University Games launches Forbidden Games strategy titles with Waterstones

University Games has announced the launch of the Kickstarter phenomenon, Forbidden Games, in the UK, with a range of four strategic games that are available exclusively from Waterstones.

Born from a Kickstarter campaign in 2018 and launched in the US, the Forbidden Games titles have gone from strength to strength in the strategic games market. The latest addition, Mosaic, which launched this autumn, exceeded its original Kickstarter goal by eight times. Now available in store and online from bookshop giant Waterstones are; Racoon Tycoon, a gateway game for strategic game players aged eight and over, as well as Mosaic, Lizard Wizard and Dungeon Party; challenging but accessible strategy games, that take approximately two hours to play and are suitable for ages 10 and over.

Richard Wells, managing director for University Games and the Lagoon Group, is thrilled to be introducing the Forbidden Games titles to the UK market. “The past three years have seen a huge growth in strategy games sales as consumers spend more time indoors and seek fun, athome entertainment. These strategy games are easy to learn, but offer a challenging games play, as well as encouraging creative thinking and extending play time, to keep the whole family entertained.’’