Toys R Us announces expansion in return to Scottish high streets

WH Smith opened the first Toys R Us concessions in June last year and has since expanded its partnership to 39 locations.

Toys R Us is set to make a significant comeback on the UK high street, with plans to open 37 new concessions within WH Smith stores by Christmas. This expansion builds on the existing partnership between the two retailers, which began in June last year with the opening of the first Toys R Us concessions in WH Smith stores.

The number of locations has since grown to 39, and with the new rollout, a total of 76 WH Smith stores will feature a Toys R Us concession by the end of the year. The first 23 locations have been announced, with the remaining sites to be revealed later this year, reports the Mirror.

Starting from September 28, three new Toys R Us shop-in-shops will open every week in the lead-up to Christmas, with Bexleyheath, Eastbourne, and Southampton among the first locations. Toys R Us initially launched in the UK in 1985 as the "world's first toy supermarket" but went into administration in 2018, resulting in the closure of all 100 UK stores.

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However, plans for a relaunch were announced in October 2022, followed by an exclusive deal with WH Smith. Sean Toal, WHSmith High Streets managing director, expressed jubilation over the revived presence of Toys R Us in the UK saying: "Nearly 40 years ago, Toys R Us first came to the UK, and we take great pride in being the steward of this much-loved brand in the UK.

"We've had queues around the block for many openings in the last year which tells you just how much people are loving seeing Toys R Us back again. But our job isn't done yet, and I'm pleased to be bringing the magic of Toys R Us to even more customers over the coming months ready for the best time of year Christmas! ".

On the joint venture initiated last year, Simon Cartey, UK commercial director at Toys R Us, remarked, "Our new Toys R Us shop-in-shops at WHSmith create the perfect home for Toys R Us as it returns to the UK high street shopping scene. With this collaboration, we are not only bringing back the beloved Toys R Us experience but also providing convenient access to a wide range of toys and games. Together, we hope to create a magical and joyful shopping destination for families across the country."

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The announcement comes in the wake of WH Smith reporting an impressive 7% leap in like-for-like revenue at its travel shops for the year ending August 31. This significant uptick has played a crucial role in bolstering the overall turnover by 5%.

The highly regarded newsagent, boasting 1,100 stores nationwide, attributes the robust performance of its travel division during the vital spring and summer period to the surge of "strong passenger numbers".

Toys R Us list of new stores

• Bath
• Leicester Gallowtree Gate
• Bexleyheath
• Newark
• Cardiff
• Newbury
• Carlisle
• Plymouth
• Chipping Norton
• Scarborough
• Coventry
• Southampton
• Dumfries
• Southport
• Dunfermline
• St Annes
• Eastbourne
• Truro
• Fareham
• Weymouth
• Havant
• Yeovil
• Kings Lynn

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