Return of KB Toys?

[Leave a Whisper]

http://comicbook.com/2018/03/19/kb-toys-returning-message-to-toys-r-us-employees/


Well, I certainly didn't see this coming.  Hopefully their high prices won't return.

[bright rabbit 1]

So it's coming back to the U.S.A,  I wonder what's going to happen to the U.K stores. I hope someone will buy the U.K Toys r Us stores.

[Taxel]

:O That's the last thing I expected to happen! We're so excited!

[Taffeta]

It actually makes a lot of sense. If the US only had TRU as a designated toy store after KB closed then there's now a gap in the market.

In the UK, we have Smyths and Entertainer who are both doing ok as far as I am aware. There's not such a need to keep TRU which is probably part of the reason there hasn't been a buyer.

I don't think that the KB people in the US are buying TRU. They are opening KB again and want to hire some TRU staff because hey, why wouldn't you? It's a great PR move, and you get store employees who know about working with toys already. Win win all around if you ask me.

Great news for the staff from TRU though. I do wish that there was some equivalent for them here in the UK, as it's a lot of staff in this country who won't have a job soon.

[MerryAnvil]

I've been watching some interviews with the current owner of KB, Ellia Kassoff, and he seems like a really neat guy! He's brought back a bunch of other products and brands that were shelved, including his own family's brand. He seems to be researching the original reasons stores and brands go under first and then revitalizes them.

I'm super interested to see how he handles this, and so happy for all the TRU employees.

[lolaandbean]

Interesting. I used to work at KB Toys.

[Leave a Whisper]

I've been watching some interviews with the current owner of KB, Ellia Kassoff, and he seems like a really neat guy! He's brought back a bunch of other products and brands that were shelved, including his own family's brand. He seems to be researching the original reasons stores and brands go under first and then revitalizes them.

I'm super interested to see how he handles this, and so happy for all the TRU employees.

How wonderful! Where can we find these interviews Dakota?

[MerryAnvil]

I've been watching some interviews with the current owner of KB, Ellia Kassoff, and he seems like a really neat guy! He's brought back a bunch of other products and brands that were shelved, including his own family's brand. He seems to be researching the original reasons stores and brands go under first and then revitalizes them.

I'm super interested to see how he handles this, and so happy for all the TRU employees.

How wonderful! Where can we find these interviews Dakota?

There aren't any interviews for the KB Toys thing yet, but here's one from a year ago where he talks about the brands he's revitalized and such! Very interesting.

https://youtu.be/z9r88jSFLeE

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Interesting!  We have Mastermind Toys here in Canada so we already have a competitor and there is no "gap in the market" now that Chapters Indigo (the bookstore superbeast) carries a vast selection of toys from LEGO to Melissa and Doug to American Girl. 

[tailrustedtealeaf]

How interesting! I don't remember there being any KB toys in my area (at least not by the time I was collecting), but it'll be neat to see something new.

[SaraMari]

I just read this article

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/20/news/companies/kb-toys-toys-r-us/index.html

It states that KB plans to open pop up stores for the holiday season, then whichever are the most profitable might go on to be permanent

[Leave a Whisper]

I just read this article

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/20/news/companies/kb-toys-toys-r-us/index.html

It states that KB plans to open pop up stores for the holiday season, then whichever are the most profitable might go on to be permanent

Musta been planning this for a while then. Physical locations take time to set up.  Doubt they'll make it for Christmas.

[banditpony]

I just read this article

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/20/news/companies/kb-toys-toys-r-us/index.html

It states that KB plans to open pop up stores for the holiday season, then whichever are the most profitable might go on to be permanent

Musta been planning this for a while then. Physical locations take time to set up.  Doubt they'll make it for Christmas.

Opposite. He had been planning to make kb toys an online thing.

But with the announcement of TRU closing, it gives him the stock for a pop up. It'll be like the Halloween stores do it, I imagine.

[tikibirds]

I don't remember them being expensive.

[HelloGoodbye]

I always LOVED KB Toys as a kid so I'm excited to see it making a comeback.  Toys R Us was relatively far away so I only really got to go there when I was visiting my Grandma and Auntie and Uncle so I spent a lot more time at KB Toys since it was right in the local mall (though I loved Toys R Us, too, and going there always felt really special).  Most of my childhood ponies came from KB Toys, as well as Littlest Pet Shop and things like Neopets plushies.  I remember bringing my allowance there and buying Waterfire and thinking she was one of the most beautiful ponies I had ever seen.  I have a lot of good memories of the two KB Toys stores that were near here.  I hope we get one of those pop up shops in our area and also that it is successful enough to become a permanent addition.  I miss having a good toy store in the local mall (there is one but it doesn't carry the kind of things I like, it's mainly board games and such).  Our local mall is on the verge of failing though so I'm not sure many retailers would be wanting to come in though, unfortunately.