Santa’s little helpers

Toy supplies could run low this Christmas - but there are a rising number of specialist toy shops to search in

PARENTS may be shopping early to make sure they bag everything on their child’s Christmas list - but at least there are plenty of toy shops to search in. A shortage of lorry drivers and materials, at the same time as transport delays and sharp spikes in demand have led to empty spaces on supermarket shelves and in many other stores.

But while ongoing supply chain issues mean many families are worried children may not be able to unwrap the gifts they really wanted on Christmas morning, official figures show there are more specialist shops selling toys and games than at any time in the last 10 years.

As Toys R Us announces a relaunch of shops and online sales in the UK, figures from the UK Business Count show there are already 1,645 specialist toy and game shops in England and Wales.

That is a 12% increase on the 1,470 stores in 2020 and the highest number of specialist toy and game stores in the last 10 years.

In fact, the number of toy and game shops has consistently increased every year since 2014, with the exception of 2019 - the year after Toys R Us collapsed into administration.

But last month WHP Global - the parent company of Toys R Us and Babies R Us - announced it had signed a long-term licence agreement for Toys R Us ANZ to run digital and physical stores in the UK.

That means next Christmas there is likely to be even more toy shops for parents and children to seek out the must-have toys of 2022.

Meanwhile the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) has announced its top 12 DreamToys for this year.

It says film and TV have driven the popularity of many of the items making its selection of this year’s must-have toys, with products linked to Star Wars, Pokemon, Jurassic World and Paw Patrol all making the list.

But there are some perennial favourites included such as Barbie, Hot Wheels and LOL Dolls.

And of course Lego - a favourite ever since it first appeared under Christmas trees in 1947 - makes the list, with the latest generation of builders keen to make Boba Fett’s Starship from the Star Wars franchise.

Gary Grant, chair of the DreamToys selection committee, said: “This year’s DreamToys list is an exciting blend of evergreen favourites and the year’s biggest brands that we believe will be the most sought after under the Christmas tree this festive season.

“Toys have played such a vital role in family life over the past two years and this Christmas will be no exception.

“That’s why the industry is working to overcome supply chain challenges to ensure there will be toys on shelves throughout the festive period.”