Toytown is one of the largest independent toy and nursery retailers in Northern Ireland and the UK.About Us - Toytown Stores
''toytownstores.com'' With 33 stores throughout

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

and the UK and the independent toy retail chain was founded in Belfast in 1979.

Stores

*: 33

About

Managing Director Alan Simpson opened his first Toytown store on Castlereagh Road, Belfast in 1979. The family-run company later moved its operations to Newtownards where it remains today.

Operations

Toytown currently employs over 200 staff and operates 33 stores in total, 10 in

(including a Babyworld store) and 23 in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. Some Toytown stores boast nursery departments under the 'Babyworld at Toytown' banner and stock a wide range of prams, pushchairs, cots and other goods. The company is still expanding over the UK and

, with the 33rd store having opened at The Gyle, Edinburgh in June 2021.

History

After 22 years of trading in Northern Ireland, Toytown expanded into the UK mainland in 2001, opening up in a few ex Beatties of London stores. In 2006 it opened its first concession store, followed by a first outlet branch in 2007. In 2008 Toytown, due to the growth of their concession business, began to open stores within department stores throughout the UK. In 2013 and 2016 Toytown won the

British Association of Toy Retailers The Toy Retailers Association (formerly British Association of Toy Retailers) is a trade association that represents its members in the UK & Ireland. It promotes the role of the toy retailer and the value of toys to the consumer. It represents ab ...

Toy Shop Of The Year award in the specialist multiple category (up to 30 branches) and in both 2014 and 2015 they were shortlisted in the same category. More success followed in 2017 when Toytown swept the board, winning both Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (over 25 stores) and the coveted Overall Toy Retailer of the year. In 2018, they were further shortlisted for the Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year award (2–29 stores). In 2020, Toytown were finalists in the Progressive Preschool Awards 'Best Multiple Retailer of Preschool Products' category. 2020 has seen the company continue with an ambitious expansion campaign, opening 5 new stores and launching a new website www.toytownstores.com. 2021 saw a further 2 stores opening - Merry Hill, Dudley and Gyle, Edinburgh. Toytown were a founding member of AIS Play-Room.

References

External links

* {{official, https://toytown.uk.com/
Toy News Interview

Toy Retailer Of The Year 2014

Alan Simpson AIS Toy Committee
Companies based in Belfast Retail companies established in 1979 1979 establishments in Northern Ireland Toy retailers of Ireland Toy retailers of the United Kingdom