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After filing for bankruptcy, Toys R Us has announced that they may be going online only. This has many people wondering, what does this mean for the future of the company?
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Introduction
It’s official: Toys “R” Us is going online only.
The company filed for bankruptcy in September, and has been in flux ever since. In January, it announced it would be closing 180 stores around the world.
The move to an online-only operation is an acknowledgment of the current retail climate, where e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart are putting immense pressure on brick-and-mortar toy stores.
The History of Toys “R” Us
Toys “R” Us is a toy retailer that was founded in 1948. The company operates more than 850 stores in the United States and 870 international stores. In 2005, Toys “R” Us made the decision to go private and was purchased by an investment group that included Bain Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
In 2017, Toys “R” Us announced that it would be closing 150 stores due to increased competition from online retailers such as Amazon. In 2018, the company filed for bankruptcy protection and announced that it would be closing all of its stores.
The Decline of Toys “R” Us
In recent years, Toys “R” Us has been struggling to keep up with the competition. Many retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target, have been able to undercut Toys “R” Us on prices. In addition, these retailers have been able to offer a wider selection of toys and other products. As a result, Toys “R” Us has seen its market share decline sharply.
In an effort to turnaround its fortunes, Toys “R” Us has been investing heavily in its online presence. However, it appears that this may not be enough to save the company. In September 2017, Toys “R” Us announced that it was filing for bankruptcy protection. This means that the company is struggling to pay its debts and may have to shut down some of its stores.
It is not yet clear what the future holds for Toys “R” Us. However, it seems likely that the company will continue to struggle in the coming years.
The Rebirth of Toys “R” Us?
It’s been almost a year since Toys “R” Us closed its doors for good, but the retailer may be making a comeback. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company is in talks to relaunch its website as early as this summer.
Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy in September 2017 and liquidated its inventory in June 2018. But even though the brick-and-mortar stores are gone, the company still owns its intellectual property, including the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us brands.
Now, it looks like those assets could be put to use once again. Sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that Toys “R” Us is in talks with mega retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target about selling toys on their websites. The company is also reportedly considering relaunching its own website and opening pop-up stores during the holiday season.
It’s still unclear what exactly a relaunched Toys “R” Us would look like, but it’s possible that the company could focus on selling toys online instead of opening physical stores. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be the only retailer to make that shift in recent years. Sears, J.C. Penney, and Macy’s have all closed hundreds of stores in an effort to cut costs and boost sales online.
The Future of Toys “R” Us
As the future of Toys “R” Us remains uncertain, the toy retailer has announced that it is exploring the possibility of going online only.
In an effort to compete with Amazon and other online retailers, Toys “R” Us has been beefing up its online presence in recent years. The company has been working to make its website more shopper-friendly and has even started offering free shipping on orders over $29.
Now, it seems that the company is considering taking things a step further by ditching its brick-and-mortar locations entirely and becoming an online-only retailer.
While no final decision has been made, Toys “R” Us has hired a consultancy firm to help it evaluate the feasibility of such a move. If the company does decide to go ahead with it, the shift could take place as soon as this year.
The Impact of Toys “R” Us Going Online Only
After 70 years in business, Toys “R” Us has announced it will be closing all of its US locations. The company has been struggling to keep up with competitors like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. While it’s unclear what this means for the future of Toys “R” Us, one thing is certain: the toy industry will never be the same.
This is a devastating blow to the retail industry, and it’s likely that other toy stores will suffer as a result. It’s also a major loss for parents and children alike. Toys “R” Us was more than just a place to buy toys; it was a place where kids could go to explore and imagine. Children will no longer have that experience, and parents will have to find new ways to shop for their kids.
It’s still unclear what the future holds for Toys “R” Us, but one thing is certain: the retail landscape has changed forever.
The Pros and Cons of Toys “R” Us Going Online Only
On the one hand, going online only could be a great way for Toys “R” Us to save money. They would no longer have to pay for the maintenance of their brick-and-mortar locations, and they could potentially reach a wider audience by being available 24/7. However, there are also some drawbacks to this approach. First of all, it would be a big change for the company, and there would be a learning curve as they figured out how to run an online business effectively. Additionally, they would lose the personal touch that comes with interacting with customers in a physical store. Ultimately, it’s up to Toys “R” Us to decide what’s best for their company.
The Bottom Line
In February 2018, Toys “R” Us announced it would be going out of business and closing all of its U.S. stores. At the time, the company said it would continued to operate its stores in other countries and its e-commerce business.
Now, it appears that Toys “R” Us may be planning to relaunch its website as an online-only store. A recent job posting on the company’s website is seeking a web development manager to “lead the charge” in relaunching the Toys “R” Us website.
It’s not clear when the relaunched website could launch, or what it would feature. However, if Toys “R” Us does relaunch its website as an online store, it would likely be a blow to the many brick-and-mortar toy retailers that have already been struggling to compete with Amazon and other online retailers.
FAQ
1. Will Toys R Us close all of its stores?
2. How many Toys R Us stores are there?
3. What will happen to the Babies R Us brand?
4. Is there a timeline for the closure of Toys R Us stores?
5. What is the liquidation process for Toys R Us stores?
6. Are gift cards still being accepted at Toys R Us stores?
7. What are the store hours for the remaining Toys R Us locations?
8. How many employees does Toys R Us have?
9. What is the future of the company’s loyalty program, Geoffrey’s Birthday Club?
Additional Resources
– [An article from Bloomberg discussing the possible liquidation of Toys R Us](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-08/toys-r-us-is-said-to-weigh-closing-all-u-s-stores)
-[An article from The New York Times discussing the effect of Toys R Us on the toy industry](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/business/toys-r-us-bankruptcy.html)
