Following on from reports last year, WH Smith has confirmed that nine of its stores will host Toys R Us concessions this summer.
Toys R Us disappeared from the UK in 2018 after it fell into administration and all of its 100 stores were closed. Toys R Us ANZ Limited then secured a licence agreement to run digital and physical retail commerce for the brand in the UK, having restarted the business in Australia. The new brand owner launched an online store in the UK towards the end of last year.
The first Toys R Us concession opening will take place on 10 June at WH Smith’s store at Monks Cross Retail Park in York, and will be followed by launches in Canterbury, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Cwmbran, Oxford, Poole, Reading and Solihull throughout the summer.
They will feature a range of products from toy brands, including Barbie, Bluey, Fisher Price, Hot Wheels, LEGO, Marvel, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Playmobil, and Star Wars.
Sean Toal, Managing Director of WH Smith High Street, said: “At WH Smith, we’re always exploring new opportunities to launch exciting, new product ranges to our customers on the high street, and our partnership with Toys R Us certainly does this.
“The brand has long been known for its exceptional range of toys and games and complements our existing offer well. Across each of the nine locations, we have a great team of colleagues who look forward to welcoming many new and existing customers over the coming weeks and showcasing the new store layout and, not forgetting, Geoffrey the Giraffe!”
Simon Cartey, UK Commercial Director at Toys R Us, added: “Our new Toys R Us shop-in-shops at WH Smith create the perfect home for Toys R Us as it returns to the UK high street shopping scene. With this collaboration, we are not only bringing back the beloved Toys R Us experience but also providing convenient access to a wide range of toys and games.”
