TNG RETAIL SERVICES BLOG

The impact of COVID-19 and the ongoing economic and public struggles leaves the Country feeling divided and unsure of where we will all end up.  Many of us are left wondering, how do we proceed?

With the  demise of Toys R Us, there is has been a void left for the toy shopper. It is an opportunity for retailers, new to this product category, looking to play in this space and perhaps, leverage their customer base. Whether for impulse buys or planned purchases, toys could help you drive store traffic and increase sales.

If you're thinking of adding toys to your mix, whether in a small way, or you want to revamp your store to add a dedicated toy section, consider your customer shopping path along with the display and placement strategies unique to your retail environment. Alternatively, you may just want to capitalize on that prime toy-shopping time and set up a seasonal toy section. Regardless, TNG Retail will maximize your efforts by executing on your vision. Our reset teams can get you in the game, and if necessary, regular merchandisers can ensure replenishment throughout the season.  

Leveraging the hottest, trending now, and seasonal toys that your customers desire is definitely filling a temporary marketplace void. Brick and mortar stores have an opportunity to capitalize on this now, however, wait too long and that void may be filled by new shopping habits.

For more insights check out this article on LinkedIn: "Where Have All the Toys Gone"

Every retailer knows that times are tough right now. It can seem unrelenting with an onslaught of new issues every day. With one part of the puzzle in hand, another seems to falter in a constant battle to remain relevant and thriving. The pinch is real.

A recent article outlines the wildcard nature of the supply chain as the integral link for retail success. It starts the discussion with: “…as much as grocers continue to invest in building a better shopping experience, consumers still think of a trip to the grocery store as a chore”^1. If that is the case, then consumers will continue to look for alternatives to cut out just one more ‘chore’ in their already busy lives. If we look at retailers that are doing “better than” some of the others, are there patterns? Does the excitement of discovery and treasure hunt in a Costco make the shopping experience better for the shopper? If so, how does grocery incorporate more of that element into their stores? It could be that they customize more, experiment more with different products or try to localize products. It could be how they present that product to shoppers. The store within a store is gaining ground. Retailer operations along with limited distribution space often don’t make this an easy task, however.

Questions you should be asking when shopping for a company to merchandise your product at store-level.

1. Is the company customer-centric?