LEADER Clare Turner
S At the heart of retail Also by Lema Publishing
TableWare INTERNATIONAL
presence has been more critical than ever o, the end is in sight. At the time as people have had to have a virtual rather of going to press, Prime Minister than physical relationship with their favourite Boris Johnson unveiled his plan toy shops. to pilot our way out of unlocking Some toy traders who hadn’t really got lockdown. The road back to normality to grips with ecommerce moved quickly was going to be driven by data but to switch to sell online by investing in apparently we are now being guided by dates - with all restrictions due to be web stores, introducing click and collect services and doing local deliveries or postal lifted by June 21. orders - and they have seen growth in their Our end-consumers - children businesses as a result. take priority of course. Schools Others took it a step further. As our Retail will reopen on 8 March, which is Interview with eBay in this issue shows, many great news for everyone. Remote bricks-and-mortar retailers took learning is all very well, plunge into this channel in but millions of kids have The high street the 2020. Toy Barnhaus is a case been homeschooling for has been in in point: the eight-strong chain weeks and it’s been a big took its shops online through adjustment for them and enforced eBay and the move has really their parents. Youngsters hibernation but paid off. The company shipped have sacrificed so much in the government more than 150 parcels in their this pandemic and we all want them back at school, has now chartered first weekend and saw online sales take over its historical meeting their teachers and a route out. For bricks-and-mortar sales at key playing with and seeing toy retailers, it’s moments like Christmas. Now their friends again. Non-essential retail shops still several weeks Toy Barnhaus says integrating eBay store into its core will take longer to reopen away - but at least the business plan is front of mind - but at least we can now the uncertainty is as it looks to the future when count the days off our stores are reopened. calendars until 12 April. over and there’s So, the wait is nearly over This timing has come as a light at the end and I’m sure every toy retailer blow to many bricks-andof the tunnel is raring to go - and feels mortar toy businesses that very relieved to have a date were feeling the strain even in the diary to pull up the shutters. In the before the Covid crisis and then words of our Talking Retail contributor Jayne lost out on the all-important festive Rees of Eve’s Toy Shop in Llandeilo, South period. Now Easter will be another Wales: “I’m so looking forward to it! Not only missed opportunity. financially - I miss the chaos that comes with But they will no doubt understand and respect the government’s cautious running a toy shop, and I miss the kids and our customers.” approach, because no one wants to The high street has been in enforced go back into lockdown again. Having hibernation but the government has now shown huge resilience throughout the pandemic, toy retailers will be prepared chartered a route out. For retailers, it’s still several weeks away - but at least the to weather this storm for a little longer uncertainty is over and there’s light at the if it means they can safely trade with end of the tunnel. their shop doors open – although it Now the focus is on the Spring Budget. goes without saying that all their safety Let’s hope the Chancellor continues to protocols are already in place, with protect businesses, livelihoods and jobs protective screens, face shields, hand as we look to recover from more than a year sanitiser stations and social distancing of disruption. signage just waiting to be dusted off. I would love for you to get in touch with me As TnP has reported in past issues, and share your thoughts. You can link up during the three lockdowns many toy with me via LinkedIn or email me at clare@ businesses ensured they maintained lemapublishing.co.uk. I look forward to engagement with their customers hearing from you! via email and social media. An online
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