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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Sam Barker

Toys R Us is returning to the UK high street after deal with WH Smith

Toys R US could be returning to UK high streets after signing a deal to open counters in WH Smith stores.

The much-loved toy retailer closed its doors in the UK for the final time in 2018, though it continues to trade in other countries.

Toys R Us will be launching a UK website to let shoppers choose from 14,000 toys in time for Christmas.

But next year the toyshop could be opening physical outlets in branches of WH Smith.

Toys R Us said it has signed a deal to open nine in-store concessions in the first six months of 2023.

Toys R Us closed all its US and UK stores in 2018 (Andrew Davies)

This will be a trial scheme, and will last for at least a year.

The Toys R Us counters will sell toys, games and products aimed at families and children, according to stock exchange documents.

Toys R Us has not yet revealed where the counters will be located.

The trial will also focus only on Toys R Us - not its sister firm, Babies R Us.

If the trial works, Toys R Us and WH Smith could extend it by five or 10 years.

The new Toys R Us website has free delivery on all orders over £20 and next-day delivery on all orders placed before 6pm.

The website says: "We're back! We can't wait to develop and grow with you and your loved ones, over the coming weeks, months and years!"

Categories of toys sold on the website include LEGO and construction, dolls, vehicles and remote control, teddy bears, puzzles, arts and crafts.

Toys R Us chief executive Louis Mittoni, said: "Toys R Us and Babies R Us are much-loved brands in the UK, and our teams have described this as 'returning home', not just a relaunch."

Toys R Us launched in the UK in 1985, when it emerged as the 'world's first toy supermarket'.

However, in 2017 the US parent company filed for bankruptcy after debts reached more than £3.5billion.

A year later, the iconic toy chain collapsed, closing all of its 100 UK branches and triggering thousands of redundancies.

Last year, owner WHP Global signed an agreement with Toys 'R' Us Australia to lead the brand's revival in the UK.

WHP Global had previously acquired a controlling interest in Tru Kids, the parent company of the Toys £ Us and Babies R Us brands.

Yehuda Shmidman, the chairman of WHP Global and Toys R Us, previously said: "Toys R Us today is a vibrant business with over 900 stores and e-commerce sites across 25-plus countries generating over US$2 billion a year in sales and growing, especially with the new launches underway for both the US and UK markets."

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