ToysRUs is Back in Australia with new owners

[Dimi194]

https://www.toysrus.com.au/announcement-faq.html

Seems Hobby Warehouse have got the TRU IP in Australia and NZ, with a new online store opening next week... will be curious to see what happens, especially for TFs as the Hobby Warehouse main site has old TR stuff but little newer than that.
If they can nail down the specifics (none of those dumb random assortment things) and offer decent prices it'll be curious to see how it goes!

[Bladestorm]

More info here (https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/toys-r-us-set-to-reopen-in-australia-from-next-week/news-story/2507ac72922f32feac016d9c7de4af4b).

Be curious to see whether they'll offer the range of product and exclusives the stores did and what kind of pricing they'll have.

[XMan]

Pretty good news, and I apologise for being negative but I can't help but think of of all the employee's that were let go.

Especially in Canberra, I see a few now that have to do multiple jobs to get by, but a few have gained better employment, so that's cool.

Great to see it's not going to be Geoffreys or whatever The States were thinking of replacing TRU with.

[griffin]

(edited topic title a little)
Just noting that this is about an existing company in Australia who bought the rights to the name and logos from ToysRUs during the liquidation process (in which EVERYTHING was for sale, not just physical items), for use in Australia.
They do note on their site that they have nothing to do with the previous ToysRUs business, which also means that they are not related with any ToysRUs business in other countries (they are all separate entities now as well).
That being said, even though it is really early, and very little is so far known, I wouldn't be surprised if this new TRU business, or the multinational toy companies (like Hasbro & Mattel) try to get "global TRU exclusives" into this store just so that that stock gets released here (particularly if the Asian factories have been putting TRU exclusive stickers on the toys). In other words, we could see TRU exclusives at this business, but it doesn't mean TRU exclusives are guaranteed to appear here.
We certainly have precedent for it here though, like having US Target exclusive Movie toys appear here at our Target stores with the Target exclusive stickers on them - our Target isn't related to their Target, but it makes it easier for Hasbro to pitch them to our Target... just look at how difficult it has been for them to offload existing TRU exclusives that they are still stuck with from last year's collapse.

[griffin]

And yes, it should be good news if long-term, they open up a national chain of stores, to give us collectors more options and competition... as we have been running out of (price-competing) stores willing to take the larger Transformers toys.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I’ve been to a downsized TRU located in a shopping centre in Singapore so I wonder if they’ll consider going down that path.

[SMHFConvoy]

Sounds like it'll be a smaller boutique version, with these "experience centres" they're talking about.

It almost sounds like customers go in see the physical products, handle them but order them online, mind you I'm speculating. Wonder if they'll need a visual merchandiser?

[Ravagecat]

This is good news :)

I am happy to see a familiar logo re-appear in the market. Hoping the new owners will carry a good range of Transformers, offer competitive pricing and try to get some Transformer exclusives :cool:

[Bladestorm]

Hong Kong TRU have been testing out the "pop up store" model for a while, normally in conjunction with big displays for various franchises (including Transformers) as that tends to be the only way people there will make the effort to go to the obsure malls they tend to choose. It seems to have mixed success but doesn't do anywhere as well as their larger permanent stores.
ToysRUs Asia also have ToysRUsExpress which would be the "mini" store Ralph might have seen in Singapore.

I think the pop up store model might work here, however stock variety will be limited due to space/portability & storage. They might have to do some analytics on suburbs to figure out what toys will sell best in areas they decide to set up in if they truly want to target this as a successful model. A fixed store gives them a stronger foundation on which to no only offer a wider range of product but also run a "click and collect" model should they wish. It will be interesting to see how it pans out and evolves and whether it can reclaim the dominance the name once had with new owners.

[griffin]

Remember that when the old TRU was expanding in the year before their collapse, they were planning to set up small "express" stores, in the shells of the collapsed Masters stores. Maybe the new owners might be thinking about, as they would have made themselves aware of the entire history of the business before investing in the brand, as they would be burdened with its legacy even if it is a new entity.
Then again, it the age of Amazon and all of the small collector-focused online toy stores, they may just stay as an online business and maybe have the odd event-based pop-up like mentioned by Bladestorm in HK.

[KELPIE]

Good news I guess, however as far as online stores are concerned, the competition is already heavy.

I'll be interested if they are able to do something to push the pricing standard down but I doubt that's something they'll do.

[Tha_Phantom]

Good news I guess, however as far as online stores are concerned, the competition is already heavy.

Yep. Here are the Aussie online retailers I know of (I'm sure there are more).

Saviours toys
Robotoyz
Toybot Importz
The Little Toy Company
TF Spacebridge Collectables/Armoured Heaven
Bulletproof Villain
Omocha Cafe
Kathleen's Klutter
Toys and Beyond

[Bumblebee2000]

Site is up, going to look around some more but hopefully Transformers range gets better.

https://www.toysrus.com.au/search.php?keywords=transformers

EDIT: Was kinda looking at Strongarm and half of that short page is also out of stock. Cool.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Site is up, going to look around some more but hopefully Transformers range gets better.

https://www.toysrus.com.au/search.php?keywords=transformers

EDIT: Was kinda looking at Strongarm and half of that short page is also out of stock. Cool.

Seems mainly RID and Titans Return stuff, except for a couple of statuettes. Unless it picks up it seems like it may simply be an outlet to move old stock.

[Krayt]

Seems mainly RID and Titans Return stuff, except for a couple of statuettes. Unless it picks up it seems like it may simply be an outlet to move old stock.

It's just the stock from their HobbyWarehouse website under the TRU name....

Notice the counter with the number of toys available on the main page???? refresh the page and it goes back to where it started..... it's just a video to make you think they are setting more/better stuff up

[Krayt]

https://www.hobbywarehouse.com.au/search.php?keywords=transformers

https://www.toysrus.com.au/search.php?keywords=transformers

same same... but different...

[Golden Phoenix]

https://www.hobbywarehouse.com.au/search.php?keywords=transformers

https://www.toysrus.com.au/search.php?keywords=transformers

same same... but different...

Guess it's a bit like Dick Smith after Kogan bought it's website.

[griffin]

Not a big surprise really, as they were up front about being an existing business that has taken over the Trademarks for TRU, and they said that after the TRU website goes live, they would start to build the new business (but would obviously be starting out with their own existing stock). Maybe they needed to go live before the toy companies would start sending in a big surge of toy stock on credit, as the business may not have the cash flow to cover millions of dollars of stock yet.
Give it a few months to get set up first, and then we can critically evaluate where it is going, and its potential (for us TFs collectors).

[griffin]

It's interesting to see that they were basically "given the keys" to all of the old TRU internet sites, including the old social media pages that appear to have been kept alive, but cleansed. Even their website appears to be the old website, just updated.

[Dimi194]

It's interesting to see that they were basically "given the keys" to all of the old TRU internet sites, including the old social media pages that appear to have been kept alive, but cleansed. Even their website appears to be the old website, just updated.

I do remember the TRU social media still posting after it closed which was super weird, seems this was on the cards for some time.

[Omega Metro]

So there’s no chance a ‘real’ TRU will ever come back here now?:(

[KELPIE]

So there’s no chance a ‘real’ TRU will ever come back here now?:(

Maybe after World 4 Kids makes a comeback?

[Omega Metro]

Maybe after World 4 Kids makes a comeback?

Who?

[KELPIE]

Who?

Haha, it's a joke mate :)

World 4 Kids was a large toy chain started up by Myers to try and stop Toys R Us from expanding into Australia. They had a good crack at it lasting around 10 years but eventually failed.

https://youtu.be/8dc9cttz2mI

aand it looks like youtube tags don't work on this site :(

[Ralph Wiggum]

TRU liquidated their stock prior to closure, right down to the shop fittings so what we’re seeing now is another company selling their own stock under the TRU label. I don’t think we’ll see TRU in its original form, which will require millions in capital raising to start from scratch. No self-respecting financial institution is going to lend money for this type of endeavour, given today’s retail climate.

[Omega Metro]

Haha, it's a joke mate :)

World 4 Kids was a large toy chain started up by Myers to try and stop Toys R Us from expanding into Australia. They had a good crack at it lasting around 10 years but eventually failed.

https://youtu.be/8dc9cttz2mI

aand it looks like youtube tags don't work on this site :(

I know who they were. Just insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

[griffin]

Seeing the name "World 4 Kids" had me remembering Zigzag from the 90s... which I think was a name that Toyworld was using for a while (or a group of them, like Mr Toys group Toyworlds).


When you shop at Zigzag, the smile's in the bag... :p

[KELPIE]

I'm sure there's a TRU thread in the global section, however I couldn't find it. That said, it fits nicely here as an FYI:

Toys 'R' Us, Back From the Dead, Will Open U.S. Stores in 2019

Maybe American kids will only have to live through one Christmas without Toys 'R' Us.

About a year after shuttering U.S. operations, the remnant of the defunct toy chain is set to return this holiday season by opening about a half dozen U.S. stores and an e-commerce site, according to people familiar with the matter.

Richard Barry, a former Toys 'R' Us executive who is now CEO of new entity Tru Kids Inc., has been pitching his vision to reincarnate the chain to toymakers, including at an industry conference this week, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren't public.

The stores are slated to be about 10,000-square feet, roughly a third of the size of the brand?s big-box outlets that closed last year, the people said. The locations will also have more experiences, like play areas. The startup costs could be minimized with a consignment inventory model in which toymakers ship goods but don't get paid until consumers buy them, some of the people said.

A spokeswoman for Tru Kids said the company wasn't ready to publicly share details on its U.S. strategy.

New Rivals
It remains to be seen how much of a boost the retailer's comeback will provide the toy industry, including giants such as Hasbro Inc. and Mattel Inc. The original Toys 'R' Us, the only national toy chain, left a huge hole when it went under. It had been generating about $7 billion in sales a year in the U.S. through more than 700 locations, including the Babies 'R' Us brand.

Walmart Inc., Target Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. have swooped in to fill the void. They have all expanded toy assortments and marketing, including a printed toy catalog from Amazon. Other non-traditional chains jumped into the category, including grocery stores and Party City Holdco Inc.

There is also a question of how many toymakers will do business with the new Toys 'R' Us after many lost money when the former company announced liquidation in March 2018, just months after filing for bankruptcy.

MGA on Board
MGA Entertainment Inc., one of the best-performing toymakers in the world, is already on board to sell at the re-imagined Toys 'R' Us shops, said Chief Executive Officer Isaac Larian, who said he has been pitched the plan. His company's properties include Little Tikes, L.O.L. Surprise! and Bratz dolls.

"This market needs a self-standing toy store, that's for sure," Larian said in an interview. "We will sell them inventory."

During the chain?s bankruptcy, lenders led by Solus Alternative Asset Management and Angelo Gordon took control of the company's assets. After results didn't improve, they opted to shutter operations in the U.S. Units in Australia and other regions also closed, with divisions in Asia and Canada acquired by new owners.

This group tried to sell the intellectual property, but opted to keep it to garner a better return. As owners of the intellectual property, they have been collecting licensing and other fees from the units still operating and selling them private-label goods. The lenders then formed Tru Kids with the goal of reviving the brand in the U.S. and other regions it exited. It has since hired several industry veterans and signed a deal to bring Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us back to Australia through a partner.

Source (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-21/toys-r-us-back-from-the-dead-will-open-u-s-stores-in-2019)

[G1Optimal]

Haha, it's a joke mate :)

World 4 Kids was a large toy chain started up by Myers to try and stop Toys R Us from expanding into Australia. They had a good crack at it lasting around 10 years but eventually failed.

https://youtu.be/8dc9cttz2mI

aand it looks like youtube tags don't work on this site :(


https://youtu.be/8dc9cttz2mI

Actually it was known as coles myers at the time it is now coles group (which is owned by westfarmers ) becuase they sold myers

[KELPIE]

embedded youtube

At the time of my posting, youtube tags didn't work :p

[griffin]

The new ToysRUs in America is opening up a couple of "retail showrooms" (http://www.toyhobbyretailer.com.au/news/could-this-be-a-glimpse-into-the-toys-r-us-experience-centres-set-to-open-in-australia) (Chicago & Atlanta), which to me sounds like interactive play centres, that basically promotes what they will be selling online... but might have two regular stores opening up soon as well (Texas & New Jersey).
With the new ToysRUs in Australia remaining as an online business for now, the interactive showrooms could be a format we might see here, if they don't want the expense and effort of opening up actual stores in Australia (particularly as Toymate are expanding into the void they left behind).

[reillyd]

I just got a newsletter about the online store. But the stock is pretty hit and miss, and can't see too many ordering from it online

[i_amtrunks]

TrU Aus has the Bluey plush toys on preorder this week. If they keep stuff like that up, they?ll make all the money and be highly profitable in no time. No physical stores and cheap shipping with a good online presence and pricing will make them more sales that overpriced floorspace and kiddy pester power ever would!