Toys R Us could be making a comeback...

[cadence4u]

Toys R Us could be making a comeback as former executive plans a new venture by the holiday season
*Toys R Us is planning to re-emerge by the 2019 holiday season 
* A former Toys R Us executive is now CEO of a company called Tru Kids Brand
*He and his team are exploring options of freestanding stores and e-commerce
*Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and liquidated its businesses last year 

Toys R Us fans in the US should see the iconic brand re-emerge in some form by this holiday season.

Richard Barry, a former Toys R Us executive and now CEO of the new company called Tru Kids Brands, told The Associated Press he and his team are still working on the details, but they're exploring various options including freestanding stores and shops within existing stores.

He says that e-commerce will play a key role.

Toys R Us, buckling under competition from Amazon and several billions of dollars of debt, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in September 2017 and then liquidated its businesses last year in the U.S. as well as several other regions including the United Kingdom.

In October, a group of investors won an auction for Toys R Us assets, believing they would do better by potentially reviving the toy chain, rather than selling it off for parts.

Starting January 20, Barry and several other former Toys R Us executives founded Tru Kids and are now managing the Toys R Us, Babies R Us and Geoffrey brands.

Toys R Us generated $3 billion in global retail sales in 2018.

Tru Kids estimates that 40 percent to 50 percent of Toys R Us market share is still up for grabs despite many retailers like Walmart and Target expanding their toy aisles.

'These brands are beloved by customers,' said Barry.

He noted that the company will focus on experiences in the physical stores, which could be about 10,000 square feet.

The original Toys R Us stores were roughly about 40,000 square feet.

Barry said he and his team have been reaching out to toy makers and have received strong support.

But he acknowledged that many had been burned by the Toys R Us liquidation.

Tru Kids, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, about a 20 minute drive from Wayne, New Jersey, where Toys R Us was based, will work with licensing partners to open 70 stores this year in Asia, India and Europe. Outside the U.S., Toys R Us continues to operate about 800 stores.   

[surveygrabber]

They closed many of their stores down. We will wait and see if they do make a comeback.

[dsosnowski06]

Would love to see this.  Went to Walmart the other day for birthday gift for a 3 year old and I don't think they restock the shelves from Christmas.  Had a hard time finding that was age appropriate.

[Ebony77]

[sdenimandlace1]

I would love to see a e store to order on line for the kids gifts.

[Nancy5]

Would love to see them come back.  Bought a lot from them

[countrygirl12]

They closed many of their stores down. We will wait and see if they do make a comeback.

They closed ALL of their stores down.

[countrygirl12]

I think we are going to see more and more of only being able to get things online.  That is fine if you have somebody at your home all the time that can receive your packages.  I would about rather do that anyway.

More and more companies are moving toward automation and need less and less people to do jobs.  It is good for the company I guess but bad for people who need an income.

[ancmetro]

    I hope Toys R Us comes back soon with a new look and different marketing strategies.

[elvisdo]

I heard of this. I also heard they might change to name to something along the lines of Geoffrey's Toy House or something like that.

[pkrahmer]

I hope they are able to come back. it was a great store. They mentioned a larger online presence which is ok too.
wait and see. hope for the best.

[bretay]

they closed the one here...dont see them coming back here..unless they find a different location...they were too close to walmart..

[judylucas]

I've never  shopped there and have no little tots anymore

[snuggleycutejc]

I read the chain was going to be within a store. I heard on the news that if they have their own building, it will be a small area called a toy shop. lol ok that will be cool.

[bremer51]

I will look forward to this.  I had many happy hours taking little family members shopping at ToysRUs.