Sears stuck its toe back into the toy business on Tuesday, with 20 stores clearing space for kids to interact with the latest best-sellers and nostalgic throwbacks like tin tops. The retailer hopes the toy departments will fill a void left by the demise of mall specialty stores such as KB Toys.
“That’s what we’re hearing more and more from our core consumer, that they would like to buy (toys) in the mall,” said Julia Fitzgerald, chief marketing officer for Sears’ toy business. Fitzgerald said Sears will carry toys made by Hasbro Inc (HAS.N) and Mattel Inc (MAT.N) as well as Leapfrog Enterprises Inc (LF.N), which makes educational toys, and Schylling, a maker of retro products such as tin jack-in-the-boxes. [FULL ARTICLE]
I'm surprised this wasn't on the news yet. I got a flyer in today's Sunday newspaper advertising the fact along with a $5 off coupon with purchase of $20 required.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,3847162.story
I wonder how the prices will be since KMart technically owns Sears.
Those Sears catalogs were awesome when I was a kid. I remember looking through them and selecting a bunch of stuff I wanted. If this succeeds for them, I hope the catalog returns.
Same here. Some of my favorite Christmas seasons involved sitting at the kitchen table with the catalogue, pen in hand.
Hopefully the pricing will be comparable to K-Mart or better still, on par with Wal-Mart.
But this is awesome...I just hope prices are good.
My childhood Christmas' were all about the Sears and JC Penny catalogs, I can still remember getting the special Sears exclusive Cantina set from Star Wars with the small version of Snaggletooth.
Like the rest of you, the Sears Wishbook was part of my life in so many ways. I would usually get it in September, and study it until December to let mom know what I wanted. The most notable things I remember were some Sears Exclusive Dreadnok vehicles, which I'm pretty sure I did get. Thanks for the link; it is teh awesum.
Only 3 states are getting Sears toy stores?
I'd like to place an order from the 1985 catalog.....I'll take a Soundwave for $16.99!
Hopefully the pricing will be comparable to K-Mart or better still, on par with Wal-Mart.
I did the same thing, one year I ranked the stuff I wanted but my mother didn't get the stuff I had a "2" beside - she thought I wanted two of those items, LOL!
People like to shop for toys in a mall? For real? Imagine THAT!
I remember the catalogs too as a kid lol.
I gotta say, this is a pretty sweet idea. Interesting for those collectors who work there too.
Since when was a toy store a BAD idea? It's when you hire IDIOTS to run it that everything goes to sh*t...
... and just imagine what kind of busines you'll do come holiday time.
On another note, has the nursery section completely taken over Toys R Us yet?
I just got the 2009 Sears Wish book yesterday. Sears Canada never stopped Catalogues.
... and just imagine what kind of busines you'll do come holiday time.*snip*
Anyone have an idea as to how long before this "experiment" will take to trickle down to all the Sears stores?
The idiots in charge, man... the idiots in charge...
I'm confused?
The sears here in PA area have been putting
up a toy dept every X-mas season.
Sears worked with KB for the first few years,
and switched to k-mart after they merged.
Their selection is ok, but they only have a couple of aisles.
Prices are usually decent.
The sears here in PA area have been putting
up a toy dept every X-mas season.
Sears worked with KB for the first few years,
and switched to k-mart after they merged.
Their selection is ok, but they only have a couple of aisles.
Prices are usually decent.
Well the one fully featured Sears store (IE it isn't just electronic and furniture) here has a permanent toy section.
The Sears here does the 2 aisle holiday thing. Would love it if they did the permanent section deal. Not alot of places to hunt here in the Shoals since TRU left so a new place would be a welcome sight.
Thanks for spreading the news.
I wonder which 3 New York City area Sears stores will be getting this toy section?
Full Thread: Toys return to Sears!
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