Best Years
Original By Design
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Contact details for major toy shops including Argos and Tescos

Courtesy of Toy News magazine please find below all the contact details of the major, multiple toy shops in the UK

So if you want to get your toys listed by the multiples heres the place to start

As a knitted and crochet toy wholesaler we only work with Independent retailers because we like them (and we hope they like us too!) so here are our top tips before you pick up the phone

  • Its a cliche, but its still true. Volume is vanity, profity is sanity. Make sure you know all the trading terms before you quote a price. Multiples have a habit of adding on various discounts for marketing, returns and payment which can erode your profit significantly. you can see an example here
  • Trade mark your design before you show it to anyone! We have had a few run ins on designs and our advice can be seen here
  • Know your legislation! Your toy needs to pass all EU and UK safety legislation. We have some advice on soft toy regulations here but  Trading Standards are a mine of information and always willing to help
  • A personal comment. The bigger the buying team the more complicated the process will be and the harder it will be for you. I'd start with the smaller teams where the decision making is more concentrated

 

Hamleys

UK stores:

11 (2 x flagship, 3 x Hamleys Toy Box, 5 x Hamleys Travel Stores, 1 x Hamleys Outlet)

Address:

188 - 196 Regent Street, London, W1B 5BT

Website: http://www.hamleys.com/

Contact number: 0871 704 1977

Meet the team:

Laura Olver – Head of buying

Claire Smith – Category manager

Natalie Rogerson – Category manager

Emma Toolan – Category manager

Lorna Bishop – Stock controller

 

Argos

UK stores: 700+

Address:

Argos Limited, 489-499 Avebury Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 2NW

Website: http://www.argos.co.uk/

Contact number: 0845 1240044

Meet the team:

Andrea Abbis – Trading manager for toys, nursery and entertainment

Caroline Jones – Product manager, Chad Valley

Sarah Hobson – Buyer, boys toys, construction and DVDs

Alison Harrison – Buyer, girls toys, science and arts & crafts

Yannis Vaharoglou – Buyer, infant and pre-school

Lindsay Rogers – Buyer, outdoor toys

Catherine Ross – Buyer, games and DVDs

Nick Allen – Merchandise manager, toys

 

Toys R Us

UK stores: 80

Address:

Mitre House, 160 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4DD

Website: http://www.toysrus.co.uk/

Contact number: 01628 414141

Meet the team:

Chris Ashton – Pre-school and educational toys buyer

Anna Waite – Boys and vehicles buyer

Evelyn Chiu – Games and puzzles buyer

 

Asda

UK stores: 381

Address:

Asda House, Southbank

Great Wilson Street Leeds LS11 5AD

Website: http://www.asda.co.uk/

Contact number: 0113 2435435

Meet the team:

Steph Strike – Toys category director

Mark Spowart – Head of toys

Richard Wall – Events and pocket money toys buyer

Ben Coates – Boys toys buyer

Gareth Willougby – Games and pre-school buyer

Tracey Brunton – Category marketing manager

 

The Entertainer

UK stores: 55

Address:

Boughton Business Park, Bell Lane, Little Chalfont, Bucks HP6 6GL

Website: http://www.thetoyshop.com/

Contact number: 01494 737000

Meet the team:

Gary Grant – Managing director

Stuart Grant – Buying director

Nick Hargreaves – Director of retail operations

Duncan Grant – Director of multichannel

Ashley Major – Finance director

Sue Dorkin – Director of supply chain

 

 

Debenhams

UK stores: 155

Address:

Toy Buying Office: 91 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0EF

Website: http://www.debenhams.com/

Contact number: 020 7408 6336

Meet the team:

James Ford – Buyer, toys (pictured)

Zoe Warran – Trainee assistant buyer, toys (pictured)

Caroline Knowles – Trainee assistant buyer, toys

Paul Schlagman – Merchandising manager, gift division

Serpil Howard – Junior merchandiser, toys

 

Tesco

UK stores: 2,545

Address:

New Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN8 9SL

Website: http://www.tesco.com/

Contact number: 01992 632222

Meet the team:

John Stanhope – Senior buying manager toys

Phil Markham – Senior merchandise planner

Suzanne Bates – Senior commercial manager, trade planning & Direct

Claire Costello – Category manager, technical toys & stationery

Nick Cooke – Buying manager boys, games, vehicles & construction

James Kelsey – Buyer vehicles & construction

Ravi Patel – Assistant Buyer vehicles & construction

Jon Ferdenzi – Assistant buyer, boys & games

Josie Giannattasio – Merchandise planner, boys & games

Luke James – Merchandise planner, vehicles & construction

Jess Carter – Assistant merchandise planner, boys & games

Mark Gibson – Assistant merchandise planner, boys & games

Catherine Hawkins – Buying manager, girls & craft

Lucy Alcock – Assistant buyer, girls

Kelly Tofts – Merchandise planner, girls

Laura Flavin – Technical manager, girls

Jane Mahony – Buying manager, outdoor & Halloween

Hannah Sussams – Assistant buyer, outdoor & Halloween

Neil Robinson – Merchandise planning manager, outdoor & Halloween

Tauseef Parkar – Assistant merchandise planner, outdoor & Halloween

Jack Bristow - Technical manager, outdoor & Halloween

Mark Whittle – Buying manager, pre-school

Anita Serradimigini – Buyer, pre-school & seasonal plush

Carmen Legget – Assistant buyer, pre-school

Claire Benabo – Merchandise planning manager, pre-school

Katie Alvis – Assistant merchandise planner, pre-school

Claire Stokes – Assistant merchandise planner, pre-school

Nikki Gilman – Technical manager, pre-school & plush

Alix Pitts – Trade planning manager

Michelle Webster – Trade planning manager

Carly McKnight – Trade planning manager

James Lawrence – Trade planning manager

 

WH Smith

UK stores: 570

Address:

WHSmith High Street, Greenbridge Road,

Swindon, SN3 3LD

Website: http://www.whsmith.co.uk/

Contact number: 01793 616161

Meet the team:

Liz Cooper – Buyer

Amy Maidment – Assistant buyer

Richard Faulkner – Merchandiser

Shirley Beadle – Trading controller

 

Selfridges

UK stores: 4

Address:

400 Oxford St. London. W1A 1AB

Website: http://www.selfridges.com/

Contact number: 0800 123400

Meet the team:

Lynne Crook – Buying manager, childrenswear & toys

Beth Clifton – Buyer, childrenswear & toys

Julie Hall – Assistant merchandiser, girlswear & toys

 

 

Hobbycraft

UK stores: 51

Address:

7 Enterprise Way, Aviation Park, Bournemouth Int’l Airport, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6HG

Website: http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/

Contact number: 01202 596100

Meet the team:

Rob Farnworth – Operations director

Chris Crombie – Chief executive

Dominic Hooley – Buying director

 

Play.com

Address:

Play.com, PO Box 192, Jersey, JE4 8RP

Website: http://www.play.com/

http://www.playtrade.com/

Contact number: 0845 800 1020

Meet the team:

Paul Sanders – Head of toys and gadgets

Joe McManus – Buyer

 

 

Modelzone

UK stores: 43

Address:

Commerce Way, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8TA

Website: http://www.modelzone.co.uk/

Contact number: 01903 765 496

Meet the team:

Graham Poole – Buyer

Gill Thomas – Head of marketing

Jane Evans – Merchandiser

 

HMV

UK stores: 280

Address:

HMV, Film House, 142 Wardour Street, London W1F 8LN

Website: http://www.hmv.com/

Contact number: 020 7432 2000

Meet the team:

Maxine Lister – Merchandiser manager

Melanie Armstrong – Head of music & impulse

Al Hunter – Advertising planner (games & toys)

 

Morrisons

UK stores: 438

Address:

Hilmore House, Gain Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD3 7DL

Website: http://www.morrisons.co.uk/

Contact number: 0845 611 5000

Meet the team:

Laura Clements – Toy buyer

 

 

TK Maxx

UK stores: 253

Address:

50 Clarendon Rd, Watford, Hertfordshire,

WD17 1TX

Website: http://www.tkmaxx.com/

Contact number: 01923 473561

Meet the team:

Beth Carey – Toy buyer

 

Toymaster

UK stores: 272

Address:

Victoria House, Newport Pagnell Road West, Northampton, NN4 7JJ

Website: http://www.toymaster.co.uk/

Contact number: 01604 674477

Meet the team:

Buying/Merchandising:

Paul Reader (Central office)

Ian Edmunds (Central office),

Andy Taylor (Toymaster at Ramsdens)

Ciaran Fitzpatrick (Banba Toymaster)

Gordon Walker (Conways Toymaster)

Steve Hogg (Hoggosaurus Toymaster).

Marketing:

Ian Edmunds (Central office)

Jo Skelton (Central office)

Chris Blatcher (The Ramsey Warehouse)

Ciaran Burns (C & H Burns)

Debbie Hartfield (Kids Stuff)

Elaine Stott (Conways Toymaster)

Sharon Eveson (Eveson Toys).

 

Toymaster is a buying group for independent toy retailers with a USP of “Helping Our Members Trade More Profitably”. Toymaster trades as a mutuality and is 100 per cent owned by its members.

Members of Toymaster can retain their independence while having access to all the benefits of being part of a larger group.

 

Firebox.com

Address:

Firebox.com

5 Ardwell Road

London SW2 4RT

Website: http://www.firebox.com/

Contact number: 0844 9221010

Meet the team:

Ben Fowler – Head of buying and merchandising

Paul Zimmerman – MD

Michael Acton Smith – Co-Founder

Tom Boardman – Co-Founder and technical director

Steve Law – Operations director

Alison Sakai – Financial controller

 

Sainsbury's

UK stores: 872

Address: Sainsbury's Support Centre, 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT

Website: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/

Contact number: 02476 439 100

Meet the team:

Kate Briggs – Senior buyer

Sunny Walia – Buyer, pre-school, nursery, games and puzzles

Rebecca Rathbone – Buying assistant, pre-school, nursery/games and puzzles

Lauren Bennett – Buyer, boys and construction

Gemma Gaston – Buying assistant, boys and construction

Zaharaa Sheik – Buyer, girls and creative

Sarah Ritmeyer – Buying assistant, girls and creative

Dean Mumford – Senior merchandising planner

Louise Allison – Merchandising planner

Steven Goss – Technologist

 

John Lewis

UK stores: 33

Address:

John Lewis Partnership, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1BX

Website: http://www.johnlewis.com/

Contact number: 020 7828 1000

Meet the team:

Elaine Whiteman – Toy & book buyer

Michelle McGuire & Rachael Stacey – Assistant buyers

Ellen Jarvis & Sarah Batty – Buying administrators

Alan Wright – Toy and book merchandiser

Ben Archer – Assistant merchandiser

Joanne Kyriakides, Michael Dumas, Russell Woolley – Mechandise administrators

 

Mothercare/Early Learning Centre

UK stores: 387

Address:

Cherry Tree Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 6SH

Website: http://www.mothercare.com/

Contact number: 01923 241000

Meet the team:

Jo Ledsham – Divisional director

Tom Cackett – Head of merchandising

Tom Folliot – Buyer, action and adventure (boys toys)

Claire Donovan – Buyer, puzzles, games and character

Kate Harper – Buyer, baby and toddler

Stacy Hunt – Buyer, sports and outdoor

Claire Loxley – Senior buyer, Lets Pretend (girls toys)

Liz Waller – Senior buyer, Mothercare toys and ELC baby and toddler

Sara Watts – Senior merchandiser, boys and girls toys

Nichola Fisken – Senior merchandiser, Mothercare toys and ELC baby and toddler toys

Mario Luzi – Senior merchandiser, sports and outdoor

Gareth Thorn – Merchandiser, action and adventure (boys toys)

Hayley Young – Merchandiser, Lets Pretend (girls toys)

 

AIS/Play-room

UK stores: 158

Address:

Cranmore Park, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 9LF

Website: http://www.cranmorepark.co.uk/

Contact number: 0121 713 4487

Meet the team:

Joyce Daly – Controller

Miles Penhallow – Manager

Charlotte Roberts – Administration

 

Associated Independent Stores (AIS) launched its own toy buying group in June 2008.

Play-room currently has 76 members with 158 outlets. Any toy retailer meeting the required standards, can apply to join Play-room, it is not necessary to be a member of AIS.

Play-room offers a comprehensive range of services including a fob import programme, access to clearance, broadsheet and window-to-shelf marketing all of which are available to members via http://www.play-roommembers.net/.

 

Smyths

UK stores: 40

Address:

2nd Floor Block 2, Galway Financial Services Centre, Moneenageisha Road, Galway, Ireland

Website: http://www.smythstoys.com/

Contact number: +353 91 743600

Meet the team:

Anne-Marie Gerrett – Head buyer

Peter Strange – Head buyer, pre-school

 

Amazon

Address:

Patriot Court, 1-9 The Grove, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 1QP

Website: http://www.amazon.co.uk/

Contact number: 0800 496 1081

Meet the team:

Ulrike Wingenter – Toys category manager

Rhian Munday – Senior toy buyer

Colin Ball – Senior instock manager

Andrew Smithers – Instock Manager

Serena Banga – Administration and product set-up

Ryan Hurney – Site merchandiser

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