Article · January 1, 2024

Toy Retail: Redefining a Future of Play - Chute Gerdeman

As we bid adieu to Toys “R” Us, it’s time for the store to step up and stimulate creativity and imagination. Can retail come out and play?

Toy Retail: Redefining a Future of Play [vc_row bg_type=”hosted_video” bg_image=”26250″ color_overlay=”dark” opacity_overlay=”40″ padding_top_multiplier=”” padding_bottom_multiplier=”3x” separator_bottom_color=”” bg_video_mp4=”https://www.chutegerdeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/opt-ToyHeader.mov.mp4″ bg_video_webm=”https://www.chutegerdeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/opt-ToyHeader.mov.webmhd.webm” bg_video_ogv=”https://www.chutegerdeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/opt-ToyHeader.mov.oggtheora.ogv”][vc_column column_custom_position=”yes” position_top=”3x” column_fullheight=”fullheight” heading_color=”light” font_color=”#ffffff”][movedo_empty_space][movedo_title heading_tag=”h1″ heading=”h1″ increase_heading=”200″ increase_heading_reset=”tablet-sm” custom_font_family=”custom-font-1″ align=”center”]Can Retail Come Out and Play?[/movedo_title][movedo_title heading=”h5″ increase_heading=”140″ align=”center”]Redefining the Toy Experience[/movedo_title][movedo_empty_space][movedo_social social_email=”yes” social_facebook=”yes” social_twitter=”yes” social_linkedin=”yes” social_reddit=”yes” icon_size=”small” icon_color=”grey” align=”center”][movedo_empty_space][movedo_icon align=”center” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-angle-down” icon_color=”white”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”image” bg_image=”26192″ bg_image_size=”responsive” padding_top_multiplier=”3x” padding_bottom_multiplier=”3x” columns_gap=”10″][vc_column column_effect=”vertical-parallax” column_effect_limit=”none” column_effect_invert=”true” column_custom_position=”yes” position_top=”6x” position_left=”minus-1x” width=”1/6″][movedo_single_image image=”26149″ align=”left”][/vc_column][vc_column column_custom_position=”yes” position_top=”1x” width=”2/3″ font_color=”#000000″][movedo_empty_space][vc_column_text]What if Woody and Buzz never escaped Sid Phillips? What if Princess Fiona became evil Lord Farquaad’s bride after all? What if Marlin and Dory never found Nemo?

What if Charlie Bucket lost his golden ticket? Or, what if the world became a place without play? It’s an invaluable part of life for kids of all ages, and as we bid adieu to Toys “R” Us, it’s time for the store to step up and stimulate creativity and imagination.[/vc_column_text][movedo_empty_space][movedo_title heading=”h4″ increase_heading=”120″ custom_font_family=”custom-font-1″]Can retail come out and play?[/movedo_title][movedo_empty_space height_multiplier=”custom” height=”12px”][vc_column_text animation=”grve-fade-in-up” animation_delay=”150″]How kids play today is a far cry from what many of us are accustomed to.

It’s easy to understand why tablets have become popular with young children. They are simple to navigate, provide unlimited entertainment, and offer a personalized experience they can control. It’s become their safety blanket and friend.

Often times, children are teaching adults how to use their own electronic devices. In return, it’s up to us to make sure they know what it really means to play. Not with a phone or tablet, but laughing with a friend, creating a world of imagination with a collection of toys, riding freely on a bike–all in pure kid fashion.

We believe in building a unique experience where children and parents can come together to play, find the perfect toy, and create memories together is achievable in this new retail world. Current store operations are doomed if they aren’t making a revolutionary change to counteract the digital take over. Just having product in the store isn’t going to cut it.

Amazon already has that.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_effect=”vertical-parallax” column_effect_limit=”none” column_effect_invert=”true” column_custom_position=”yes” position_top=”5x” position_left=”3x” position_right=”minus-2x” width=”1/6″][movedo_single_image image=”26151″ align=”right”][/vc_column][vc_column column_effect=”vertical-parallax” column_effect_limit=”none” column_effect_invert=”true” column_custom_position=”yes” position_top=”minus-2x”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][movedo_single_image image=”26148″ align=”right”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row section_full_height=”fullheight” bg_type=”color” padding_bottom_multiplier=”3x” columns_gap=”50″ bg_color=”#292a29″][vc_column column_custom_position=”yes” heading_color=”light” font_color=”#ffffff” css=”.vc_custom_1528400677323{padding-right: 20px !important;}”][movedo_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”26271″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][movedo_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][movedo_title heading=”h1″ increase_heading=”140″ custom_font_family=”custom-font-1″ align=”center”]The 7 Evolutions for the Future of Play[/movedo_title][movedo_empty_space height_multiplier=”custom” height=”12px”][vc_column_text]According to The NPD Group the global toy industry last year was the largest it has ever been in the history of the industry. Of course, it’s no longer business as usual, but kids are still screaming to play! Retail must evolve at the same rate as the changing patterns in how kids play.

No longer can retailers simply put items on a shelf and expect a parent or child to be interested. It’s about the story, the interaction, the inspiration, and awe. Combined with an engaging and transparent background, retailers will have a winning combination.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][movedo_empty_space height_multiplier=”3x”][vc_column_text] 1.

Level Up [/vc_column_text][movedo_empty_space height_multiplier=”3x”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=”image” bg_image=”26213″ bg_image_type=”fixed” bg_image_size=”responsive” padding_top_multiplier=”6x” padding_bottom_multiplier=”5x” section_id=”freakout”][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][movedo_title heading=”h1″ increase_heading=”180″ custom_font_family=”custom-font-1″ animation=”grve-fade-in-left”]1. Operation Freak Out[/movedo_title][vc_column_text animation=”grve-fade-in-up”]Computers, phones, and video games are taking up an insurmountable time of kids’ daily activities. Kids study it, are excited about it, and can’t get enough.

Parents are finding themselves challenged to create that balance between on-screen and offline and get kids back outside. It’s our job to create moments at retail that pull kids out of this online black hole.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row heading_color=”light” bg_type=”color” padding_top_multiplier=”4x” padding_bottom_multiplier=”4x” separator_bottom_color=”#000000″ font_color=”#ffffff” bg_color=”#000000″][vc_column][movedo_title increase_heading=”140″ custom_font_family=”custom-font-2″]What if stores focused on excitement, rather than products?[/movedo_title][vc_column_text]We want to celebrate the “freak out factor.” The experience needs to be new, exciting, and connected to what young minds gravitate to. Incorporating, action and retail in a hands-on, collaborative environment.

One mention of going and there’s a guarantee freak out among young fans. There’s a tremendous opportunity for brands to create outdoor spaces with educational activities and experiments to keep the little ones engaged. Relevant brand partnerships integrated in the activity space, like Little Tikes tools for a garden, get kids using the product in a real life way.