Talking Shop

Talking Shop Shopping around

Indie retailers share what’s selling, how they are managing stock levels at the moment and how they expect the rest of the year to pan out.

Carol Green - J & J Wilson Toymaster, Bude

This year, we are adopting a new approach; while we continue to stock classic product ranges, which we mainly get from Toymaster, we are also bringing in product lines that are currently trending and relevant. For example, as we are based in a tourist area, many of our customers own camper vans and come into the store looking for fast-paced, compact games that are travel-friendly, often packaged in tins. Incorporating these types of games into our offering has been a success, leading to significant sales. There’s been a rise in popularity for certain games by companies such as Big Potato trending on TikTok; we’ve also brought these in, and they’ve become very popular amongst our clientele.

We also keep up with highly anticipated movie releases, bringing in small sections of new product to see how they will perform. For instance, we've brought in various Stitch products, including figurines, and have updated our window displays with a Stitch theme to coincide with the new and highly anticipated Lilo & Stitch live-action movie.

Reacting to the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve focused on increasing our selection of affordable, pocket-money items that little ones can pick up and play with. We’ve brought in more toys and games that are £10 and under, offering these alongside our more expensive ranges means we have a broader range of options at different price points to cater to most consumers.

Reacting to the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve focused on increasing our selection of affordable, pocket-money items that little ones can pick up and play with. We’ve brought in more toys and games that are £10 and under, offering these alongside our more expensive ranges means we have a broader range of options at different price points to cater to most consumers.

We are always on the lookout for new launches to enhance our store; recently, we’ve added Gibsons’ new puzzles to our offering. We focus on offering high-quality puzzles from reputable companies like Gibsons and Ravensburger. The same applies to Sylvanian Families – it sells well all year round, and as a toy that gets passed from generation to generation, high quality is important.

I expect to see continued strong sales from Pokémon. The trading card game has been so successful that we even had to implement a rule limiting purchases to one per person. This was necessary because people were buying multiple cards and reselling them online, but we took steps to make sure that our local collectors were able to get some, by releasing our stock slowly. I’m sure that Pokémon is going to continue performing well throughout the summer, with each new launch expected to boost sales. The new additions to Brainstorm’s StikBot range have also been selling very well. I find it a very clever product that encourages children to be creative and make their own movies, providing them with a break away from video games and phones, which goes down well with parents.

Looking ahead, we consider the Toymaster autumn regional show the ideal opportunity to find and purchase our Christmas stock. We also talk to the kids who visit our store during the summer, as they tell us what’s trending; this complements our own research and helps with our selections for the Christmas season. Current trends and upcoming film releases also help us decide what we should be bringing in for Christmas – alongside evergreen classics like Brio tracks and train sets, and classic family games, which are always popular during the festive season.

We haven't personally been affected by the tariff situation yet - we received most of our deliveries before Easter and currently are only making small top-ups. We haven't experienced any delays so far, but I anticipate we may eventually see some knock-on effects, including potential delays with future deliveries. We are balancing our search for newness with an element of caution and limiting the quantity of orders due to ongoing uncertainty. We prefer to purchase products in smaller quantities and assess their performance; it’s more efficient to reorder as needed than to be left with excess stock.

Krishna Yadlapalli - Booghe Toys, Birmingham

At Booghe Toys, we have started to experience some impact from the ongoing tariff situation in the US. While the effects have not been drastic so far, there is a definite sense of uncertainty and pressure, particularly in the supply chain, with delays on deliveries and cost fluctuations. Certain lines are taking longer to arrive, and in some cases, reorders have come through at noticeably higher prices. As a toy and collectibles retailer, we rely on timely deliveries to keep up with trends, so we are monitoring the situation closely and planning further ahead - where possible.

Despite the challenges, we are feeling cautiously optimistic about the second half of the year. We have taken this time to reassess our product offering and focus more on categories that have shown steady demand. The categories that have shown steady demand for us recently include collectibles, pocket money toys, stationery and outdoor play. These areas continue to perform consistently well thanks to their broad appeal, strong gifting potential and accessibility in terms of price point.

We are also investing in digital, refining our online presence and continually improving our customer experience. While footfall has fluctuated, customer loyalty has remained strong, and that gives us confidence moving forward. We plan to stay agile, respond to customer needs quickly and continue building a community around our brand.

We usually start placing our Christmas orders by late summer, and this year will be no exception, though we are being slightly more cautious with quantities and supplier selection due to the uncertainty around tariffs and freight. Our main focus is on core products that we know perform well during peak season, particularly collectibles and toys tied to strong licences, as well as impulse-friendly lines for gifting. Like many retailers, we are trying to avoid overstocking while also ensuring we are not caught short, it’s a delicate balance. Tariffs and manufacturing disruptions are certainly influencing how much risk retailers are willing to take.

We are seeing growing interest in sustainable and ethically produced ranges; consumers are much more conscious of where and how products are made, and lines that combine good design with transparency around sourcing are selling especially well. Bio Play from Left Field Toys is a good example of this, as sustainable, creative play gains momentum.

Pokémon trading cards continue to be a massive hit, driving strong repeat custom and excitement around new releases, and Sylvanian Families also continues to sell well. Scooters and bikes from MV Sports are a popular choice amongst our customers – outdoor play has picked up strongly as we move into the warmer months.

So far this year, pocket money lines and small collectibles have performed particularly well – they’re fun items that offer great value and appeal to a broad age range. I Love Bunnies Figurines from Topps is a charming range of collectibles that’s in high demand.

We are keeping a close eye on upcoming movie releases, especially titles like the Disney Lilo & Stitch live action, Elio (Pixar) and How to Train Your Dragon, which we expect to generate strong demand for licensed merchandise. Looking ahead, there’s Frozen 3. These kinds of launches can really boost retail momentum, and we are looking forward to introducing themed products around those releases.