The Washington Post has a story about how some toy industry experts are suggesting that as Toys R Us goes out of business, leaving fewer physical stores from which to peddle their wares, toymakers ought to target grocery stores “and their customers prone to impulse purchases with fidgety kids in tow.”
Tim Hall, CEO of the analytics startup Simporter and a former Hasbro executive, tells the Post,“There’s opportunity for both the toy companies and for the supermarkets to figure out new ways to do that. It’ll take a little bit of creativity.”
And Steve Pasierb, president/CEO of the trade group The Toy Association, points out that despite its issues, Toys R Us has been “a very significant place” for the toy business. “That business isn’t going away. That business is going to move.”
Tim Hall, CEO of the analytics startup Simporter and a former Hasbro executive, tells the Post,“There’s opportunity for both the toy companies and for the supermarkets to figure out new ways to do that. It’ll take a little bit of creativity.”
And Steve Pasierb, president/CEO of the trade group The Toy Association, points out that despite its issues, Toys R Us has been “a very significant place” for the toy business. “That business isn’t going away. That business is going to move.”
- KC's View:
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I would suggest that the business already has moved. Which is why Toys R Us is going belly-up. These toy industry execs are looking for any old port in a storm, and supermarkets seem convenient.
I also would suggest that most supermarkets should avoid such an initiative like the plague. They will be better off if they focus more aggressively and effectively on food, as opposed to other stuff that they can get elsewhere. They won’t be well served if they start carrying items that don’t differentiate them.
As a consumer, I know this. When my kids were little, I avoided taking them to Toys R Us because a) I hated going there, and b) bringing kids rarely made the experience better. If my supermarket decided to start carrying toys, I’d either have to change supermarkets or avoid taking my kids there.
