In this month’s Talking Shop, Toy World asked indies how Easter sales held up this year, what’s selling and what they are tipping for success over the summer months.

We caught up with Rachael Sankey of Harold’s Toy Store, Church Stretton; Karen Sasse of J & J Wilson Toymaster, Bude; Dee Mellor of Salter Street Toys & Models, Stafford and, of course, Mark Buschhaus and Stephen Barnes from Toy Barnhaus.

At Harold’s Toy Store, the team has just celebrated its first birthday. “It has been a huge learning curve at times, especially working out what to stock and what our customers want,” says owner Rachael Sankey. “But the Easter holidays have been incredibly busy – much busier than last year when we first opened.”

Rachael has found Lego, Pokémon and Nerf blasters to be popular, as well as ranges from Hippychick and Brio. She is looking to expand the arts & crafts section of the shop, an area which is flourishing.

In Bude, J & J Wilson Toymaster also enjoyed a busy Easter, thanks to its prime tourist location. It’s the Star Wars lines from Lego that are selling here, as well as L.O.L. Surprise! and Bratz dolls from MGA, and Tiny Tears from John Adams.

Visiting families like to buy smaller games which they can take back to their campsites and holiday homes,” explains Karen Sasse, with lines from VR Distribution selling particularly well, alongside Sequence from Goliath and Uno from Mattel.

Karen also told us she’s excited for The Little Mermaid and Barbie movies, as well as the return of the original Loom Bands from Bandai.

Dee Mellor of Salter Street Toys & Models is seeing success with ranges such as Super Mario, Turtles and Care Bears. Indie favourite Eugy from Brainstorm is also going down a storm, with Dee extending her range to cater for returning customers.

At Toy Barnhaus, Mark Buschhaus and Stephen Barnes have enjoyed a good first quarter of the year, where “trade has held up better than expected.” Their stores have seen huge demand for the new Pokémon release, Scarlet & Violet, as well as Monster High Dolls and Classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The chain is also expecting great things from The Little Mermaid movie, Super Mario and Disney 100, which is currently popular with the Capsules from KAP Toys.

Everyone is looking forward to the Toymaster Show, which Mark and Stephen describe as ‘without doubt our favourite show of the year.’

“It really is a fantastic event at which to meet up with the rest of the independent toy trade and suppliers,” they add. “And we can’t wait.”

To read the full Talking Shop feature, which appeared in the May edition of Toy World, click here.