Buyers and executives from ten chains sign up, including TRU, Tesco, Toymaster and more.
ToyNews has brought together some of the biggest names in toy retail to form a new panel of industry experts.
We’ve set up our own Retail Advisory Board, consisting of toy buyers, directors and execs from retailers across the UK.
So far ten retailers are on board, with more set to join over the coming months.
The Entertainer’s buying director Stuart Grant has signed up, as have Argos’ trading manager for toys, nursery, kids and Baby World Andrea Abbis, and Toymaster’s marketing and operations director Ian Edmunds. Toys R Us UK’s marketing director Mike Coogan and merchandise director Fiona Murray-Young have also joined.
From the grocers, there’s Tesco’s toys category manager John Stanhope, Asda’s category director for toys and sports Stephanie Strike, Sainsbury’s senior toys buyer Tom Folliot and Morrisons’ Marc Dean.
Harrods’ director of home David Miller and Firebox product manager Ben Redhead are on board, too.
Morrisons' toy buyer Marc Dean told ToyNews: “I'm really pleased to be joining the panel. Toys are a growing part of Morrisons’ business and are a great fit for our customers.
"It’s a category that will develop significant growth for us over the next few years so I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to discuss the key industry issues during this time."
ToyNews will regularly contact each retailer for their opinions on the latest toy industry trends, issues and stories to help strengthen its news coverage further.
