Leader - with Clare Turner

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Clare Turner

Weatherwise, it was a pretty miserable May - the coldest for 25 years with rainfall 31% experiences of all the toy retailers featured in this issue apart from our guest columnist Hazel McCarthy, owner of Toy Corner in higher than average, according to the Galway. But at the time of writing our new Met Offi ce. What’s especially galling ‘Diary of a Toy Shop’ article, she was hugely for toy retailers is that last May was relieved to have just heard the news that click the sunniest on record and they were & collect was returning to the Republic of forced to close. Now they can reopen, Ireland from 10 May and she could reopen on it’s the weather that’s in hospital. 17 May – for the fi rst time in 2021.

But there is hope on the horizon. As Another independent retailer in this edition we go to press, forecasters are promising that our unusually wet and cold May will end on a drier and “ - Mapes of Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae - turned 75 on the very day that non-essential reopened in Scotland, so 26 April was a double warmer note over the bank celebration for joint owners Scott holiday weekend. and Deborah Ferris. As for online, our

And retail is on the road interview with Cas Paton, founder and to recovery too. The latest CEO of OnBuy.com, reveals that the ONS (Offi ce for National toys and games category is among Statistics) fi gures covering the strongest in his entire catalogue. the period from 4 April to In the meantime, while the boost in 1 May show that retail sales sales is a step in the right direction, volumes grew sharply with a high streets still have some way to

monthly increase of 9.2%. Of ” go. As KPMG UK Head of Retail Paul course, this was the period Martin recently pointed out, retailers when restrictions on ‘non- are delighted with the way reopening essential’ retail in England, Scotland has been greeted by consumers eager to and Wales were relaxed, allowing engage once more with physical shopping, physical stores to reopen from 12 and online sales have continued to grow April in England and Wales and from across most categories, but at a reduced rate 26 April in Scotland. This reopening as many consumers stepped away from their had a “profound effect” on the retail computers to head outside. sector, ONS said, with non-food stores He predicts that retailers face an interesting providing the largest contribution to few months as they assess the level at which the monthly growth. online shopping falls back - and warns that

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the full reopening of the hospitality sector will the British Retail Consortium, confi rms likely see a dilution in retail spend in favour of this. She said the ongoing easing of leisure, entertainment and hospitality. coronavirus restrictions has offered a Toy retailers will be hoping that with the long-awaited and very welcome boost increasing positive signs of the economy for thousands of retailers - and pent- improving, market conditions will offer scope up demand built up during lockdown to spark a big surge in consumer spending continues to be released. She added this summer. that online sales also continue to So, what’s been your trading experience, perform strongly, rewarding those as a toy retailer or supplier? I’d love you to retailers who invested in their online get in touch and share your story. You can and delivery operations during connect with me via LinkedIn or email me at the pandemic. clare@lemapublishing.co.uk. I look forward to

Her views are refl ected by the hearing from you!