A popular toy store which closed in the UK five years ago is set to return to the high street. Toys R Us has signed an agreement with national chain WH Smith which will see it trading once again in stores across the country.
According to The Mirror it will not only operate from a website but from next year it could also be in a number of high street locations. It reported that the retailer has signed a deal to open nine in-store concessions.
The store's new website is already up and running - with a welcome banner proclaiming "We're back". It has around 14,000 toys available which shoppers can buy ahead of Christmas,
However, those hoping to be able to get their festive shopping done in the stores where they can brows the latest toys and games will be unlucky this year. It is reported that the stores are not opening until next year.
The store has said its deal with WH Smith will see stores back on the high street in the first six months of 2023. It will be run on a trial basis and will last at least a year.
People will be able to pick up toys, games and other family products at the counters according to stock exchange documents. It has not been revealed where the stores will be located.
If successful the trial could be extended by five or 10 years. It will only focus on Toys R Us, not the chain's sister firm Babys R Us.
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 all the favourites such as 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 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 toy chain closed all of its 100 UK branches. Thousands of staff lost their jobs as a result of the closures.
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 under way for both the US and UK markets."
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