Toys R Us Canada Launches 'Toybox' concept

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by AzT, Nov 19, 2018.

  1. AzT

    AzT Moderator News Staff TFW2005 Supporter

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    Toys "R" Us Canada uses Guelph to launch re-branded 'Toybox' concept - GuelphToday.com

    Toys R Us rebrands as Toybox in Canada | Toy World Magazine
     
  2. TFXProtector

    TFXProtector TFW2005 Supporter

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    Hmm. I see what she's saying about not needing megastores across the country, and honestly, the US probably could've worked better with such an idea, but it makes me wonder if there's more going on that we're not seeing.

    If it is as she says it is, I wish them luck and hopefully, it'll work out.

    Maybe the name/brand is just too damaged and everyone's trying to get away from it as much as possible.
     
  3. G.B. Blackrock

    G.B. Blackrock Autobot Ally

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    The two headlines (one at the top, the other at the bottom) of the OP confuse me. The first suggests that TRU Canada is trying something new in addition to the 82 TRU stores still there. The latter suggests that TRU is rebranding and that those 82 stores will soon no longer be called TRU at all. The article doesn't really preclude this from being the case, but I'm not seeing that as what's going on, so why the headline?
     
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  4. General Tekno

    General Tekno Lugnut Supremor & Arkivist

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    Yeah, reading the article/looking at the images this feels more like a sub-brand.
     
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  5. Lazerwave

    Lazerwave My Most Prized Treasure

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    As long as there is a large toy store franchise in CANADA, that's fine.
     
  6. RodimusZero

    RodimusZero Steezin fo no Reason

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    Melanie!!

    Bring them to the US!!! I promise we'll keep Donald muzzled and on a leash!!
     
  7. Runamuck86

    Runamuck86 Well-Known Member

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    We need these in Englandshire 
     
  8. OriginalFire

    OriginalFire Well-Known Member

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    I live right near Guelph, so this is cool.
     
  9. primalxconvoy

    primalxconvoy Banned

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    This is what I think Costco and Ikea should be doing, too. Opening up "portal" shops in shopping centres, with furniture, a small cafe and smaller items for sale (food, lamps, utensils, etc) for the general public to experience. This would be more viable for Ikea, but one can dream!
     
  10. Max Tower

    Max Tower Well-Known Member

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    That was why I could never find the Playskool stuff as it got shoved in with the Fisher Price and other under 5's toys and wasn't with the Transformers or whatever. Meaning I forgot more than once to even look for it when in a store.

    But yeas smaller stores is a good idea - they can reduce the space they gave to giant lego sets, Bicycles, and other shelfspace hogs. As well as perhaps remove a lot of the bay stuff completely (as it was not profitable).
     
  11. Shizuka

    Shizuka Optimus Prime's Scriptor

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    At least in the UK IKEA has smaller stores where there is a limited showroom and you can only order and collect items (called an Order and Collection Point). Additionally, they're opening small planning studios that specialize in designing kitchens and bedrooms. Plus there is a new flagship store opening next year. With a place like IKEA, unless you have the whole range available there is little difference in having a catalogue and simply ordering from the website.
     
  12. jtkv

    jtkv New Member

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    Not really a new idea... They had Toys R Us Express (around Toronto, Canada anyways) many years ago, where it\'s a smaller store in a strip mall, with select merchandise.
    But they didn\'t last long...
     
     
  13. User_124141

    User_124141 Well-Known Member

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    yes i can finally have more chances getting Transformers!
     
  14. primalxconvoy

    primalxconvoy Banned

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    I don't think we can order from the website with Ikea? Also, in Japan, where I live, I'm sure there are people not interested in buying large items of furniture but might be interested in the food items and smaller home items that Ikea sells. This would be more interesting for those that rent semi-furnished flats or who live in small homes, etc, or who don't have a car. It might entice people to come to the larger shops and/or the brand.
     
  15. metalwar2010

    metalwar2010 Well-Known Member

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    Ebay:
    I'm not sure if this will work in the US because of so much push to fill in the TRU void this past year both by HTS offering more products in their store and other places like Amazon. Don't forget the Wal-Mart vs Amazon vs Target wars every Xmas season via price wars. In any other market that doesn't involve the US, I'm sure this will do fine.
     
  16. AutobotAvalanche

    AutobotAvalanche Number One in Boogieland

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    You're funny.
     
  17. ZapRowsdower

    ZapRowsdower Selling oddities in a shack. In the woods.

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    But it's not all price wars: sometimes it's the convenience of not having to drive 20-30 miles to the nearest box store. Or getting the items in the mall, where you're already shopping for other Xmas gifts.

    Plus, with proper product demonstrations (something TRU had wanted to do for a loooooong time), you can convert more potential into actual sales.

    AND, it's all about the execution. A few years back, I went to the TF exhibit in a museum in Indianapolis. They had some toys out for demo purposes... and they chose Warrior Class STEELJAW as their demo toy! :banghead:  If you've ever owned that toy, you know it's one of the more difficult ones to convert. And this is what they had out for non-TF fans? I'm guessing they grabbed whatever shelf-warmer they could find at the local store ("wait, TF distribution and stocking is a problem??"). :rolleyes2 

    All of that said, for TRU to ever survive, it has to evolve. Toward the end, TRU was selling grocery items (or planned to). I think they should consider selling more electronics or any hot holiday items (even robes or socks, if those sell). A stand-alone toy store is destined to fail, imo. Parents just don't buy toys like they did in the 80s/90s. Times have changed. It's all health food and wellness and hippy junk now! :sly: 
     
  18. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    Thank you! That's exactly what I was trying to figure out myself. It sounds like they're doing pop-up stores called Toybox...but the larger stand alones are still going to be called ToysRUs?
     
  19. WishfulThinking

    WishfulThinking The world has moved on...we've always said.

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    A second thought. I know the U.S. company IP holders are trying to make bank on international use of the name. I wouldn't be surprised if the primary reason for avoiding the TRU name is to avoid potential royalties for using the ToysRUs branding.
     
  20. metalwar2010

    metalwar2010 Well-Known Member

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    I don't disagree but if you shopped online, the prices for TRU products were over priced, same in the stores. TRU never had a chance against the other stores I mentioned, even today. Certainly the location is key but that goes without saying for any business. I also agree they should've diversified. I mean Target, Walmart, Menard's, Home Depot, etc all have. I never thought to find one day outside of candy and soda a hardware store stocking pet food or grocery type items you would only find in a store that specialized in that.

    Regardless, now that they are gone in the US and HTS taking some slack for their financial reporting, intentional or not, its hard to say "I'm back" when everyone has moved on. You have to be very creative and go full force or your doomed to repeat what happened the last time. Sears and JCPenny and more I'm sure can be added here, all tried to copy other successful companies strategies and we all know how that's working out for them today. As you said, products they decide to carry is going to be just one part of that strategy.