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Game Over For Toys R Us: Chain Going Out Of Business
npr ^

Posted on 03/14/2018 4:58:16 PM PDT by Java4Jay

The chain — whose history traces back to a post-World War II baby furniture store — has spent many decades as the country's largest dedicated toy emporium. Today's parents are the millennial generation who grew up with the Internet and approach purchasing decisions and time they spend with children differently from baby boomers. Generally, foot traffic is falling at brick-and-mortar stores. And children are playing differently than they used to decades ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bankruptcy; retail; theend; toys; toysrus
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To: Java4Jay

Now all the wee ones need can be found at the smartphone store.


41 posted on 03/14/2018 6:02:44 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust Sessions. The Great Awakening is at hand...MAGA!)
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To: Java4Jay

Now all the wee ones need can be found at the smartphone store.


42 posted on 03/14/2018 6:03:21 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust Sessions. The Great Awakening is at hand...MAGA!)
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To: Java4Jay

Must be run by a bunch of democrats.


43 posted on 03/14/2018 6:12:20 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: All

A joke I heard in the 80s:

A group of black investors bought
Toys R Us and will change the name to
We Is Toys.


44 posted on 03/14/2018 6:16:03 PM PDT by Terry Mross (Liver spots And blood thinners..)
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To: shelterguy; Java4Jay
Modern kid playing without Mom ever having set foot in Toys-R-Us:


45 posted on 03/14/2018 6:17:44 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: SoCal Pubbie

Every company is competing against Amazon.

I worked for a big data company that had powerful technology to provide incredible analytics telling companies how their web sites were performing and how their mobile apps were performing. The best retailers are adapting quickly, but maybe not quickly enough to save them. Once the brick and mortar “DNA” is in your e-staff blood, it is hard to get it out.


46 posted on 03/14/2018 6:22:25 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Blue Jays

Five bucks, yeah not worth it. But 50 or a 100? Worth it.


47 posted on 03/14/2018 6:28:04 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Java4Jay

This is kind of sad. Sometimes it’s just nice to look at what you’re buying, rather than an online picture.


48 posted on 03/14/2018 6:30:28 PM PDT by GnuThere
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To: Vigilanteman

Most the pity.

However, if I may offer the following without offense:

My parents were very similar in that they falsely believed they had to entice my daughters to visit them by offering “toys / clothing bribes” despite my insistence that those things were not necessary. My parents ignored my advice until my daughters reached their early teens, after which my daughters preferred a trip to beach. a mountain hike, a fishing trip, or a weekend camping in the motorhome, sitting outside by a campfire listening to stories of my parents’ childhood or just simply playing card games like whist, hearts, spades, dumb bunny, etc.

I suggest you stop thinking you need to bribe them with gifts and instead offer them the things that you enjoyed as a child which you reminisce about and miss most in life. Believe it or not, those are the important things in life and even children need fond memories beyond a new toy, video game, dress, or latest gizmo.

Just a suggestion.


49 posted on 03/14/2018 6:31:47 PM PDT by Liberal Anti Venom (Freedom exists not to do what you like, but having the right to do what you ought. ~John Paul II~)
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To: mylife

“I always told the wife, he’ll have more fun with the box.”

that’s true with most cat toys as well ...


50 posted on 03/14/2018 6:36:59 PM PDT by catnipman ( Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

I remember Children’s Bargain Town in the Midwest with their mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe. They were one of the chains that were eventually merged into the final Toys R Us.


51 posted on 03/14/2018 6:42:21 PM PDT by RightGeek (FUBO and the donkey you rode in on)
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To: Java4Jay

Having been a professional mother and toy buyer for 40 years, I can say that I never liked TRU, and seldom shopped there.

Dirty, unorganized stores, exorbitant prices, terrible checkouts, terrible employees.

I’m surprised they lasted this long.


52 posted on 03/14/2018 6:46:56 PM PDT by CaptainPhilFan
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To: mylife
Best Store ever for a kid of my generation?

Western Auto

Nailed it!

53 posted on 03/14/2018 6:48:58 PM PDT by 2111USMC (Aim Small Miss Small)
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To: RightGeek

Yes, I also remember Geoffrey the Giraffe.

Well, the retailing landscape continues to shift, doesn’t it?

Somebody told me, that in about 10 years, there will be about six companies that control 90+% of retailing. And that Amazon would be the biggest retailer of all, even eclipsing Wal Mart in the years ahead.


54 posted on 03/14/2018 6:49:20 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Terry Mross

The variant of that I saw was We B Toys, with a backwards B.


55 posted on 03/14/2018 6:52:05 PM PDT by kosciusko51
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Petrie Stores

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/22/business/company-news-petrie-stores-plans-deal-in-toys-shares.html


56 posted on 03/14/2018 6:54:01 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Q is Barron Trump, time-traveling back from the future, to help his dad fight the deep state.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

That’s a separate issue. Leveraged buyouts enrich the investors by bleeding the company, while the retailer is saddled with debt that sales cannot possibly service. Then BK washes away the debt, or the company liquidates. In either case the investors make a killing.


57 posted on 03/14/2018 6:58:11 PM PDT by SoCal Pubbie
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To: cherry

“and kids have way too many toys.....”

IMO, that’s part of the “better parenting” thing that’s been going on since WWII. Each generation wants it better for their kids thinking they are doing them a favor by actually spoiling them.

It got the hippies going in the 60’s and we are currently dealing with brainless snowflakes.


58 posted on 03/14/2018 7:03:50 PM PDT by redfreedom
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To: mylife
"I always told the wife, he’ll have more fun with the box."

Wife would make a Fort out of the Big boxes (Wash Machine, Refrigerator etc.) The girl's (three of them) would play week's with them. We would cut out windows, door's. They would spend hour's upon hour's. But then again we did live in the middle of NO-WHERE'S-VILLE.

59 posted on 03/14/2018 7:07:19 PM PDT by Stanwood_Dave ("Testilying." Cop's lie, only while testifying, as taught in their respected Police Academy(s).)
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To: Gay State Conservative
I hate to break it to you, but if you have any business to conclude with Sears, I would recommend concluding it quickly this year.

If their bonds haven't been reduced to junk level status yet, they soon will be.

I suspect that if Sears can survive this summer, they'll probably try to make one last splash for Christmas, and then fold up.

60 posted on 03/14/2018 7:19:16 PM PDT by dbehsman (Attention liberals and liberaltarians, Judgment Day is coming. You've earned it!)
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