Popular Peggity’s Toys celebrates 25th anniversary

PEGGITY’S TOYS SPOKESPERSON Peggity’s Toys now trading under the Toy Kingdom name is celebrating an auspicious 25th year since the original Peggity’s store was opened. In 1988 Brenda Barnes decided to the move from wholesale into retail and opened the first Peggity’s in Sea Point.

This store later moved to the V&A Waterfront in 1996 where it has become an institution for locals and a popular destination for tourists.

In 2000 the current CEO, David Tredinnick took over the company. He brought with him extensive retail experience, especially in terms of finance and buying.

He was soon joined by business partner Vaughn Stroebel whose wide-ranging retail operations experience proved to be a perfect complimentary fit. robots, Nintendo games, puzzles, interactive educational toys and child-size electronic Caterpillar trucks. Boasting one of the most impressive selections of toys in the southern hemisphere under one roof, Toy Kingdom is a true children’s paradise.”

This business model emphasises genuine value over price. It has proven a formula for success.

Peggity’s opened an additional store in Tygervalley in 2004, as well as a Pastimes, it’s speciality hobbyist store at the V&A Waterfront. Another Pastimes was launched in 2005 in the Willowbridge shopping centre. In 2007 the first Toy Kingdom store was introduced at the V&A Waterfront, followed by a Toy Kingdom in Canal Walk in 2010. Tygervalley received its own Toy Kingdom in 2012. This year a Toy Kingdom @play store was launched in Cavendish shopping centre. This year also sees the launch of the first Toy Kingdom outside our borders, with a store opening in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

With a selection of more than 15000 product lines, it aims to meet the needs of every discerning cus- tomer. CEO Tredinnick is a passionate buyer and his finely-honed skill for identifying and sourcing the best products have been proven time and again.

Often Toy Kingdom will be the only local stockist of highly sought-after items.

The brand’s renown has spread far and wide with the original store in the V&A Waterfront having welcomed over the years a veritable who’s who of international celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Katie Holmes and her daughter Suri, Nicholas Cage, Michael Jackson and Victoria Beckham, to name but a few.

These highlights and continuous growth have come despite major challenges. The past 25 years have seen multiple economic recessions and upheaval. Competition in the marketplace has also increased significantly.

However, the company managed to succeed in the face of these challenges by staying true to its core values, namely great customer service and well-trained staff with extensive product knowledge, as well as offering an unrivalled range of quality toys.

The staff at Peggity’s pride themselves on the fact that if their store doesn’t carry something a customer is seeking, they will go out of their way to source it. It responds more quickly to requests for specific products than larger toy stores, and oversees a wider variety of exclusive product lines.

Looking towards the future, there are plans to increase its domestic footprint, starting with Johannesburg, as well as spreading into the rest of Africa. In addition it also intends to further enhance its fantastic online offering for both retail and wholesale clients.

The Toy Kingdom @play concept stores will also be expanded into various areas. These smaller stores retain the core values of the brand in smaller outlets. So the full range of play areas, demos and interactive customer experiences have been retained, as well as shelves stocking the Top 100 toys at any given time. Customers can still order other toys to be delivered to the store, or alternatively – for a small delivery fee – to their homes. Just in time for the Festive Season there are a number of specials running at the moment. The stores in Cavendish and the newly-refurbished V&A Waterfront store are both running opening specials. And then across all stores a wide range of specials apply during the festive season. Visit the Peggity’s Toys store for your own copy of the festive season catalogue featuring all these specials, as well as an opportunity to win a prize.

A royalty card programme is offered. Sign up in-store or online to qualify for points and rewards.

For more information on Peggity’s call the Head Office at 021 385 06 85 or reach the Peggity’s store at 021 4196873. Alternatively visit www.toykingdom.co.za. Be sure to visit your nearest store to enter a world of enchantment and joy for children of all ages.