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Tesco reveals top toys for Christmas The Entertainer launches its biggest-ever Santa’s Grotto The Entertainer has teamed up with Mattel to deliver its biggest-ever Santa’s grotto experience this Christmas. After the success of last year’s virtual experience, the toy chain received feedback that this format was much preferred by families - compared with meeting in person - and has therefore once again partnered with the toy giant to bring Christmas cheer to families and nurseries across the UK. Groups will be invited to Santa’s grotto digitally and given a virtual tour of his North Pole home. This will include the kitchen where Mrs Claus will be preparing for Santa’s voyage, the workshop to say hello to the elves and the letter-sorting room, topped off with a face-to-face meeting with the big man himself.
From late November, competition winners and children chosen by charity partners will have the opportunity to speak to Santa one-on-one, learn about his life in the North Pole and tell him what they hope to see under their Christmas tree this year. The Entertainer and Mattel will help host more than 90 groups at the North Pole. At least 45 will be part of the Salvation Army’s Enabled project: a group of nurseries that support children and their carers living with disabilities as well as Salvation Army supported preschools, foster carers, and childminders. Children will be invited to win a visit in store, through The Entertainer’s Letters to Santa initiative and at www. thetoyshop.com/santasgrotto.
Increased family play time created by lockdown will help influence the most popular toys this Christmas. That’s the view of toy buyers at Tesco, who have picked their top 10 toys to give parents a helping hand when it comes to making present choices. Tesco category manager for toys, nursery and sport Anne Borrett said: “Lockdown created a unique scenario, with many parents and children able to spend more time than ever together, and this has brought about a huge ongoing demand for kidult toys: trusted brands that bring joy to grown-ups as much as their kids.” Tesco’s top 10 picks are: LEGO Darth Vader Helmet, Paw Patrol Marshall Transforming City Fire Truck, Squishmallows, Kindi Kids Baby Pearl, Rainbow High Fashion Closet, Pictionary Air, Jiggly Pets – Tan Tan The Orangutan, LEGO Heartlake City Shopping Mall, Jurassic World Stomp N’ Escape Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Instaglam On-The-Go Trolley.
MGA & Zapf
showcase new lines in Hamleys window takeover
World’s smallest Primark opens at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham
Birmingham can boast that it’s home to the world’s largest Primark store, but now it has another claim to fame, as LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham has opened the doors to the world’s smallest Primark. The LEGO model, which is situated within the attraction’s Miniland display, is a replica of the five-floor 160,000sq foot branch of Primark. Built from 2,988 LEGO bricks, it features a replica of the store’s interior and exterior, including 203 items of clothing, 12 mannequins, four escalators, two tills and even miniature LEGO figures of some of the actual Primark colleagues. Amy Langham, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham’s general manager, said: “Our new Primark store is just the latest addition to our magnificent Miniland at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, which celebrates all the iconic Birmingham landmarks in a smaller form.”
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MGA UK & Ireland recently unveiled some of its leading new lines for A/W with a window takeover of Hamleys flagship store in central London. With products and scenes from brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!, Rainbow High, Na! Na! Na! Surprise and Baby Annabell, the window was billed as ‘the most magical yet, capturing the imagination of passers-by and all of the store’s little (and big) shoppers’. Sam Wilson, MGA UK marketing director, said: “We have some incredible lines this season in the MGA and Zapf portfolio and wanted to celebrate them in true style, with a takeover of Hamleys iconic windows. The creative display showcased some of the best and most exciting products and themes.” Meanwhile, real estate company Landsec has announced the entrance of two toy retailers at Westgate shopping centre in Oxford city centre: Hamleys and MINISO. The 2,745sq ft branch of Hamleys houses a selection of games, puzzles, and arts & crafts, from brands such as LEGO, Barbie and Playmobil. MINISO is the Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand’s fifth UK store, and first in the region. Spanning 2,600sq ft, the unit offers a full range of lifestyle and toy products. MINISO is renowned for its collaboration with global brands such as Marvel, Cartoon Network, and Disney.
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