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Contact details for major toy shops including Argos and TescosCourtesy 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
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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