shotgunn
Jobber
from the land of NOD
Joined on: Jan 25, 2018 20:44:56 GMT -5
Posts: 31
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Post by shotgunn on Mar 19, 2018 15:42:04 GMT -5
the rise of a once great toy store
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wheeljack83
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 16, 2018 23:52:48 GMT -5
Posts: 1,353
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Post by wheeljack83 on Mar 19, 2018 16:51:58 GMT -5
It just doesn't seem to be a good time to own a brick and mortar retail toy store.
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bosox3
Superstar
Joined on: Feb 21, 2015 21:16:33 GMT -5
Posts: 506
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Post by bosox3 on Mar 19, 2018 18:54:55 GMT -5
They still need actual stores..people still like to get a look at the item before buying.. they would then go home and buy it cheaper...so the pricing needs to be in the same ballpark
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wheeljack83
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 16, 2018 23:52:48 GMT -5
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Post by wheeljack83 on Mar 19, 2018 20:29:05 GMT -5
That's definitely a benefit to still having physical stores. However, they still need to have a business model that will make them competitive with online retailers.
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,257
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Mar 19, 2018 20:32:41 GMT -5
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,257
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Mar 19, 2018 20:34:31 GMT -5
Patience, Blockbuster video killed Mom and pop video stores now, blockbuster is gone and some Mom and pop video stores are popping back up. I suspect toy stores will do the same. With the video store you can go browse and maybe you see Revenge of the Nerds and you pick it up on a whim. Streaming is more concise at yes but your selection is just based on what the streaming service has up which is usually just past hit movies while the video store lets you pick limited selection but you can pick out Time Rider if it is there Toy stores are the same I cannot get every toy I want from Wal Mart it target or even amazon. Toy companies will need that 12 month show room. I don’t collect spawn but they got a few sales from me over the years because I saw one of their figures at a toy store and picked it up. If I was just ordering online I would have never bought it and I would never have saw it at Wal Mart or Target. Family Video has chains all by me and are thriving.
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,257
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Mar 19, 2018 20:35:34 GMT -5
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Post by LA Times on Mar 19, 2018 20:35:43 GMT -5
Bain Capital is the...bane of toy stores and its customers.
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jfear
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Mar 13, 2018 14:43:55 GMT -5
Posts: 61
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Post by jfear on Mar 19, 2018 20:41:17 GMT -5
I'd love to see it happen, I scored many a deal at KB toys. It would help soften the blow of Toys R Us but I think in the beginning the business would be good but in the long run they will have to have a hell of a business plan to not end up in the same boat. My marketing classes have definitely gotten me worried about any physical stores making it.
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,257
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Mar 19, 2018 20:50:47 GMT -5
I'd love to see it happen, I scored many a deal at KB toys. It would help soften the blow of Toys R Us but I think in the beginning the business would be good but in the long run they will have to have a hell of a business plan to not end up in the same boat. My marketing classes have definitely gotten me worried about any physical stores making it. trus still sold 20% of the toy market. they would be thriving if not for bad biz management: "But its collapse has been especially acute, due to terrible mismanagement by private-equity firms. After Toys “R” Us was taken private by KKR, Bain, and Vornado in 2005, it took on a lot of debt, leaving the company with repayments that have crippled it in a period of declining sales. Toys “R” Us has spent more than $250 million annually to pay back $5 billion in long-term debt. These repayments became unsustainable once revenue started to decline consistently, as it has each year since 2012. That left one option: for the company to declare bankruptcy and renegotiate the terms of its debt" KB can start off fresh and also has no TRUS to compete with now. years ago when they closed every mall with a KB had a TRUS right outside as well. just hopin and tryin to be optimistic.
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Post by BadGirlRyleigh on Mar 19, 2018 22:13:45 GMT -5
KB was the GOAT. I can’t say that enough times. They closed because of the recession and the fact they were smaller than TRU who could take the hit (at that time). They’ll be pretty much the only one in town now and hopefully they’ll be able to do well if they come back
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Post by JCF on Mar 19, 2018 22:30:26 GMT -5
This is huge...
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Post by Nivro™ on Mar 19, 2018 22:31:46 GMT -5
I feel like KB Toys has been gone since my childhood....then I realize I bought JAKKS CS Brian Pillman & Jesse Ventura there....I guess it hasnt been gone as long as I thought.
Now if they bring back K&K toys as well as Showbiz Pizza too...Im going to quit work, move back in with my parents and just continue my childhood.
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ryan93
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Nov 10, 2012 23:53:23 GMT -5
Posts: 355
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Post by ryan93 on Mar 19, 2018 23:30:08 GMT -5
Hope this is a true. If so I want them to open back up in the mall near me. I miss going in there. Hopefully if they do they will sell WWE Figures and fill the exclusive void left by Toys R Us.
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Post by Crossfit Jesus on Mar 20, 2018 2:07:12 GMT -5
I barely started collecting when KB folded. I always wanted to go there and see what the hype was about
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Mar 20, 2018 4:46:36 GMT -5
I used to get all the toymakers big wcw rubber figs (like ljn) there. and usually at 3.99 each! thy always had good stock and lots of things on sale that i wanted.
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Post by bababooey on Mar 20, 2018 8:18:53 GMT -5
I’m all for toy stores, but I can’t help but feel like the business model just doesn’t work anymore. The operation costs alone would make it hard to survive, not to mention the already established competition.
Maybe if they keep the stores small like my local KB used to be, they may have a shot at surviving. When they used to be in business the one by me used to be the size of like a GameStop. In fact I think it may be a GameStop now.
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happygirl
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Nov 21, 2016 17:13:47 GMT -5
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Post by happygirl on Mar 20, 2018 11:12:55 GMT -5
It won’t be the death of the toy industry that people are claiming. Smaller companies will have a harder time, but the bigger companies will be fine.
I am skeptical over the KB news. The company waning to revive the brand, Strategic Marks, LLC, is not the most reliable player in any industry. They focus on trying to resurrect nostalgia brands and have been hit or miss, with most of their successes coming in the niche food industry. I’m wanting to be optimistic, but time will tell
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Post by Mongo Bears on Mar 20, 2018 11:42:12 GMT -5
KB was exclusively in malls in my area. Hunting figs in and out of the mall will be a pain in the ass so hopefully they get some non-mall locations around me.
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
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Post by ClassicFan2 on Mar 20, 2018 12:09:23 GMT -5
KB was exclusively in malls in my area. Hunting figs in and out of the mall will be a pain in the ass so hopefully they get some non-mall locations around me. there was usually an in/out door to the mall pretty close to the kb's by me. so id always park at that door and it was usually a shorter walk than walking to the back of target or walmart for figs. also i asked new owners in linedin about that and they said they will be opening stores in the newer outside stip centers as well.
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