NEWS

Breaking News: Applications now open for 2021 Toy Retailer of the Year awards

Published on: 9th November 2021

The winners of the awards, which this year welcome a new category for omnichannel retailers, will be announced at the Toy Industry Awards Evening at London Toy Fair. 

The British Toy & Hobby Association, organisers of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, has announced that the 2021 retailer application process is now open.

Retailers can compete nationally in like-for-like categories and can apply in more than one category, if applicable. Self-nominations are permitted, together with nominations coming from a panel of nationwide industry experts. Retailers should click here to take part.

This year, entrants from independent and smaller multiple retailers will again be able to include short testimonials from their suppliers, intended to strengthen their entry and provide supplementary information for the the judges to consider when assessing the entry.

The category definitions are as follows:

  • Independent Toy Retailer Of The Year – Single Store

Open to independent toy retailers with just one store.

  • Independent Toy Retailer Of The Year – Multi Store

Open to independent toy retailers with more than one store (with no upper store limit), including UK department stores or independent multi store retailers with toy aisles.

  • Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year

Open to multiple toy retailers to include specialist and general multiples.

  • New for 2021 – Omnichannel Toy Retailer of the Year

A new category open to toy retailers with both an online and on-shelf offering.

  • Online Excellence

Companies can enter this category if their main business comes via online sales or if there are online toy sales which complement their main store retailing. This category will be judged on the toy offering of the website alone.

  • Best Overall Toy Retailer of the Year 2021 for UK & Ireland

Will be selected as overall winner from the winners of the other categories.

  • Judges Special Recognition Award

Judges have the ability to make a Special Recognition Award at their discretion after considering all entries. This is not a category for which retailers can actively submit an entry.


Entry into the Toy Retailer of the Year awards is straightforward online process. Retailers have the opportunity to support their applications with photos. To enter, click here.

The winners will be announced at the Toy Industry Awards evening in January, which provides the perfect opportunity to mix with industry colleagues, partners and employees at a key industry gathering during Toy Fair. The event will take place in Olympia’s Pillar Hall. Details of the event will be released shortly, along with ticket information.

For enquiries about the Toy Industry Awards event or the Retailer of the Year Awards process please contact Matt Jones, head of Digital & Services at the BTHA: Matt@btha.co.uk.

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