The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: Leave a Whisper on March 19, 2018, 08:05:43 PM

Title: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 19, 2018, 08:05:43 PM: http://comicbook.com/2018/03/19/kb-toys-returning-message-to-toys-r-us-employees/

Well, I certainly didn't see this coming. :blink: Hopefully their high prices won't return.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: bright rabbit 1 on March 19, 2018, 10:54:45 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Taxel on March 19, 2018, 11:21:40 PM: :O That's the last thing I expected to happen! We're so excited!
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Taffeta on March 20, 2018, 05:08:43 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: MerryAnvil on March 20, 2018, 06:09:49 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: lolaandbean on March 20, 2018, 06:27:17 AM: Interesting. I used to work at KB Toys.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:00:50 AM: Quote from: dakotadarkhooves on March 20, 2018, 06:09:49 AM
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? :good:
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: MerryAnvil on March 20, 2018, 07:19:15 AM: Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:00:50 AM
Quote from: dakotadarkhooves on March 20, 2018, 06:09:49 AM
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? :good:

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
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 20, 2018, 08:39:13 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on March 20, 2018, 11:26:30 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: SaraMari on March 20, 2018, 03:23:07 PM: I just read this article

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/20/news/companies/kb-toys-toys-r-us/index.html (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
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:28:59 PM: Quote from: SaraMari on March 20, 2018, 03:23:07 PM
I just read this article

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/20/news/companies/kb-toys-toys-r-us/index.html (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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: banditpony on March 21, 2018, 01:36:33 AM: Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 20, 2018, 07:28:59 PM
Quote from: SaraMari on March 20, 2018, 03:23:07 PM
I just read this article

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/20/news/companies/kb-toys-toys-r-us/index.html (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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: tikibirds on March 21, 2018, 07:34:19 AM: I don't remember them being expensive.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: HelloGoodbye on March 21, 2018, 08:32:00 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on March 21, 2018, 08:50:28 AM: Quote from: tikibirds on March 21, 2018, 07:34:19 AM
I don't remember them being expensive.

Yeah I remember KB Toys as the "clearance" outlet for TRU... the prices were marked down, BUT they were higher than Walmart prices or the price that another retailer could offer. However, they were always finding older stock in warehouses as I clearly recall buying a TON of Sailormoon stuff there! WHYYYYY didn't I buy the Star Lockets and Wands, is still a question I beg myself. They are sick expensive now on the secondary market.... *ahem!* But they had a crazy wild selection of toys, unlike the TRU or Walmart which had the Newest TV Show or Cartoon-Related Toy on the shelf and nothing else....
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 02:00:12 PM: Hopefully they'll get a permanent location. If they don't and have exclusives, scalpers will use their evil teleportation powers and not leave anything for anyone else. Greedy turds!
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Taffeta on March 21, 2018, 02:04:56 PM: Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 02:00:12 PM
Hopefully they'll get a permanent location. If they don't and have exclusives, scalpers will use their evil teleportation powers and not leave anything for anyone else. Greedy turds!

I think it's time that there were no store exclusives. They just cause pain to track down and are a lottery of geography.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 02:11:59 PM: Quote from: Taffeta on March 21, 2018, 02:04:56 PM
Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 02:00:12 PM
Hopefully they'll get a permanent location. If they don't and have exclusives, scalpers will use their evil teleportation powers and not leave anything for anyone else. Greedy turds!

I think it's time that there were no store exclusives. They just cause pain to track down and are a lottery of geography.

I agree with you x Infinity.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Taffeta on March 21, 2018, 02:24:05 PM: Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 02:11:59 PM
Quote from: Taffeta on March 21, 2018, 02:04:56 PM
Quote from: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 02:00:12 PM
Hopefully they'll get a permanent location. If they don't and have exclusives, scalpers will use their evil teleportation powers and not leave anything for anyone else. Greedy turds!

I think it's time that there were no store exclusives. They just cause pain to track down and are a lottery of geography.

I agree with you x Infinity.

Yep. All ponies are for everyone. Period O.O.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Majesty on March 21, 2018, 04:44:31 PM: I remember seeing that on the news and I was excited. Of course the last time I went to KB Toys was when G3's were still out.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 21, 2018, 04:54:25 PM: Quote from: Majesty on March 21, 2018, 04:44:31 PM
I remember seeing that on the news and I was excited. Of course the last time I went to KB Toys was when G3's were still out.

Same.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: ringwraith10 on March 21, 2018, 09:04:37 PM: I went to KB Toys way more often as a kid than Toys R Us. I really have no memories of TRU but I definitely have memories of KB Toys. Probably because it was in the mall so I could go in there while my mom was shopping elsewhere or taking a break. I'm pretty excited about this!

Now if only they would bring back Zany Brainy. THAT was a good store.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: zombienixon on March 22, 2018, 08:25:31 PM: Quote from: lovesbabysquirmy on March 21, 2018, 08:50:28 AM
Quote from: tikibirds on March 21, 2018, 07:34:19 AM
I don't remember them being expensive.

Yeah I remember KB Toys as the "clearance" outlet for TRU... the prices were marked down, BUT they were higher than Walmart prices or the price that another retailer could offer.

I don't think mine was pricey, either. I actually found an old model car (a Testarossa, which dates it pretty well), that still had the price tag on it. Even counting for inflation, it was really cheap.

I think that's why most of my Pokemon cards came from there, because they were cheaper than anywhere else.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: achab1984 on March 24, 2018, 07:54:47 PM: I have never been to a KB Toys, I did have a few of the SR G3 ponies they had though. I would love to go into one of these if they come back to the states!
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 26, 2018, 10:13:41 AM: KB was always more expensive then our TrU.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: poniesthatsparkle on March 27, 2018, 09:54:46 AM: I don't believe I ever grew up with a KB toys in my area! If there was one, I know for sure I'd have gone at least once.

My parents rarely ever went to a toy store to buy toys, though. If they were picking out a gift for me, usually they'd just go to Walmart to get it and get their grocery shopping done in one place. I can only think of a few toys that they ever bought for me at Toys R Us, only because that was the only place we could find them. As much as I love Toys R Us, I rarely go there since the prices are always higher. I hope KB doesn't raise the prices, and that I can have the chance to go to one when they open.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on March 27, 2018, 01:58:20 PM: Interesting . . . I look forward to them returning.

That said, their prices were always inflated from what I remember. Definitely higher than what you'd find at Target or such. But, as a dedicated toy store they will be more likely to have toys by smaller companies that would never make it to the shelves at Target. So I will be very happy if they come back.
Title: Re: Return of KB Toys?
Post by: Leave a Whisper on March 30, 2018, 09:00:02 AM: What brands are you hoping they'll pick up?

The Bridge Direct Retro Toys
Schleich
Breyers (without tru I've lost easy access)
All of Hasbro's
Safari Ltd.
The Loyal Subjects
Kid Connection
Jakks Pacific
DC
Marvel