Leader - with Clare Turner

LEADER

At the heart of retail

Also by Lema Publishing

TableWare

INTERNATIONAL

TableWare

INTERNATIONAL

AWARDS

OF EXCELLENCE

Ji

Clare Turner

As I write this, it is exactly two years ago to the day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson first addressed the Toy retailers have undoubtedly faced unprecedented challenges over the past two years. In the words of John Bentley, operations nation about coronavirus, describing it as manager of Howleys Toymaster, which operates the biggest threat this country had faced four stores across Dorset and Devon and is a for decades and advising us to stay at home finalist in the Independent Toy Retailer of the Year during the pandemic. (multi store) category of the 2021 Toy Retailer of

Fast forward 24 months, and while the Year Awards (organised by the Toy Retailers Covid (as we now call it) is still with us, Association): “It’s been tough – no one has ever the government has relaxed domestic experienced in their lifetime the lockdowns we’ve restrictions in England. While the laws have had. The worst possible scenario for any shop loosened, the pandemic has not gone yet, owner is to have his doors closed; you don’t want and it’s certainly not forgotten. to stop people coming in your door. But at the ‘Let’s keep life moving’ is the rallying cry - and the toy industry has certainly listened. Since January, we’ve all welcomed “ same time, challenges bring out the best in us. We were already successful, but we had to think outside the box.” Similarly, fellow finalist Bhav Patel, the return of trade shows, from who is the managing director of the fiveLondon Toy Fair and Spring Fair strong south-eastern specialist chain to Top Drawer, and there’s more Toy Galaxy, recalls that the period was to come with the INDX Toys & “somewhat of a rollercoaster” but now

Nursery Show (formerly The ” “customer confidence is definitely there Independent Toy & Gift Show) and improving, so we are hoping there next month and The Toymaster are no further variants that can halt or show in May. hamper the slowly growing momentum’’. You can

The relief at getting back to ‘physical’ read more of John and Bhav’s views in my Retailer business was palpable at the exhibitions I’ve Interviews with them in this edition. visited so far. Everyone I spoke to agreed that Looking back, Bhav says a key challenge he meeting face-to-face and seeing the hottest faced was the inability to see products upfront. toys and games for 2022 in the flesh is an “Having to deal with previews and orders experience that just can’t be replicated in the electronically does place strain on the process; virtual world, and there was a real sense of I feel it’s harder to grasp the key attributes of optimism for the months ahead. a product when making a buying decision,” he

And as TnP went to press, more positive told me. news was announced by Springboard. Which brings us back to the trade show scene… Following the severe impact of Storms Dudley But for those of you who can’t wait to see more and Eunice, the retail expert reported a strong new-season product in person, check out our bounce back in footfall of 11.1% across all UK features on games & puzzles and pocket money retail destinations in the week beginning toys & collectables in this issue. February 21 compared with the week before when it dropped by -3.8%. Happy reading!

Let’s keep life moving’ is the rallying cry - and the toy industry has certainly listened