The official social media channels for Toys R Us Australia are alive with new content for the first time since the prior version closed after entering voluntary administration in 2018, with TFW2005 member Fasttrack alerting us to what we hope will be exciting news for collectors: Hobby Warehouse scored the license to bring the Toys R Us brand back to Australia – and debut it in New Zealand – starting online next week.
While Hasbro is one of the worldwide toy companies with whom this version of Toys R Us will be working, Transformers is not among the specific brands listed. For the support of our fellow collectors finding product, we sincerely hope that Transformers will eventually be available online and in stores through this new entity.
[Commercial advisor Kevin] Moore said: “Previously, the Toys“R”Us® and Babies“R”Us® business model in Australia was focused primarily on large physical retail stores which had high fixed costs and extended periods of relatively low sales due to seasonal factors. Going forward, the business model for Australia and New Zealand will be online focused, with smaller and fewer physical ‘experience centres’ that allow children and their families and friends to see and touch our products.”
Tru Kids Executive Vice President of Global Licensing & General Counsel, James Young, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Hobby Warehouse to bring Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us back to Australia and to launch in New Zealand. Louis Mittoni and his team have a strong digital vision and understand both the heritage of our iconic brands and how to evolve the shopping experience for the modern consumer. This is an exciting milestone for our company as we continue to grow Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us around the world.”
Could this all be a preview of the Tru Kids Brands strategy within the U.S. and other markets? Scan the FAQ and press release details here, then sound off on the 2005 boards!
RKillian
At best.
Hoffman
This couldn't be further from the truth. Toy margins are generally only 20-30%, which is fairly low for retail goods.
JomasterII
Update – they're on eBay now.
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Still hawking HobbyWarehouse's current overpriced hellish stock.
galvatran
Or maybe it’s the current stock by Hobby Warehouse.
G1 Cassette Hunter
It's likely all that TRU was given as options to purchase for stock – left over end runs – from vendors that were willing to take a risk vs. the burned vendors that won't front credit & are likely requiring cash terms only.
Nevermore
Huh.
Toys R Us | Search Results
Hero Masters? Combiner Wars? Titans Return? Robots in Disguise? The Last Knight? What is this? Some sort of unloading of old unsold stock?
Autobot Burnout
Well, yes, but that's because Bain Capital basically fucked TRU over by leveraging some insane debt somehow, so it was in constant debt to the point it had no money to devote to actually improving itself.
G1 Cassette Hunter
I hope its just a currency difference. But, something looks vaguely familiar to the old TRU pricing structure here…those that love TRU – enjoy it. I just feel bad for those that feel obligated to pay such a higher price for things…when it comes down to it, its just another web site on the internet selling toys available on many others. IMHO – may the best price win!
HunterGreen2005
The margins on toys in general is insane. Like, a $10 toy sold, $7-8 goes to the store. TRU was ran poorly.
AzT
Site is now live: Toys R Us Australia – The World's Greatest Toy Store and We Are Back!
Autobot Burnout
Then you dont understand what is different between TRU and stores like Walmart.
TRU priced high because toys were the only thing it sold. The store had to make money obviously.
Walmart, Target, etc. Can price at MSRP or lower because they aren't reliant exclusively on toy sales. If anything, they are loss leaders because they make boatloads of money from wholesale food purchases and so can cover a reduced income from toys.
galvatran
This must be the storm before the calm.
AzT
Toys"R"Us Australia on Instagram: “There’s less than 2 days left on the countdown at http://www.toysrus.com.au Get Ready to Explore!”
ReadyParzivalOne
i really hope they eventually do make it back to the USA I've missed toys r us so much
ReadyParzivalOne
ya i don't get why it was so hard to price like everyone else it made no sense
Fasttrack
Jeez, that sounds pretty bad.
If that’s the kind of prices they end up charging through their online Toy R Us store. I don’t see them sticking around too long
JomasterII
This is terrible. Hobby Warehouse price gouges to HELL and back, even more than TRU did… unless you think that $25.99 is an acceptable price to buy Legends class Groove at.
BeeOtch217
Toys R' Us!!!???
metalwar2010
Only if they can get their pricing in line and better compete with likes of the other stores. Fingers crossed for now.
Autobot Burnout
Fantastic.