Owners Gez and Helen Gourley announced the news on Toy Hub’s Facebook page.
The popular independent retailer Toy Hub is set to close after more than 10 years in business. In a post on Facebook, which was met with an outpouring of emotion from the local community, owners Gez and Helen thanked their loyal customers for their support over the years, and expressed their gratitude for all the good times they’ve experienced.
“It is with a huge mixed bag of emotion that we announce the closure of #ToyHub,” the post reads. “As many of you will know, it’s been a 10 year roller coaster of fun, frivolity and generally being #awesome, but all good things must come to an end. The Toy Hub family would like to thank each and every one of you who has supported our venture. We’d love to invite you to share your memories with us as we leave Dunblane High Street and have included some of our favourite pictures in this post to help remind you of our journey. We plan to close on Saturday 14th December and hope you can join us for our farewell party.”
Speaking to Toy World, Helen explained the reasons behind the decision. “Our son is soon off to uni, and we had to acknowledge that we can’t provide the education and support he deserves while keeping the shop open; we needed more stability – and more income. Gez has found alternative employment very quickly (which he puts down to his fabulous customer service skills!) and I have a full time role at Edinburgh airport. As far as we are concerned, we did everything right – we had a great website, an active social media presence, great customers and fantastic relationships with Toymaster and other Toymaster members. Retail is changing, however, and the time is right to call it a day. We’re leaving the industry with so many fond memories to enjoy; we can’t thank our toy market colleagues enough.”
Helen was also keen to highlight the sterling efforts of Tracy McVey and her kids, who have overseen the running of Toy Hub while she and Gez have been at their respective jobs. Tracy, whom Helen says has been an ‘absolute star’ who they ‘could not have coped without’, commented on the Facebook post: “Gez and Helen, Jake and Zoe I have absolutely LOVED working with you guys!!! Thank you for letting me join your Toy Hub Team. The high street won’t be the same without you. Here’s to the marvellous new adventures awaiting you all in 2020.”
Toy Hub’s last day in business will be 14th December, when Father Christmas will be on hand to meet the retailer’s loyal customers and spread a little Christmas cheer. And as with all closing down sales, everything must go – locals are urged to pay a visit and support the shop as much as possible during its final weeks of trading. Raffle tickets are also available for some unique money-can’t-buy prize bundles.
Toy World would like to wish Gez and Helen all the very best for the future and extends its thanks for their valued input to the magazine over the years.
