Independent retailers speak to Sam Giltrow about their plans for the all-important Easter trading period and beyond.

The evenings are getting lighter, the trees are turning green, and the Easter holidays are now in full swing bringing a welcome boost to many, not least independent retailers hoping to benefit from the school break.

As the Easter excitement builds, Chris Blatcher, of JAC Stores on the Isle of Man tells us of his plans to drive footfall by distributing the Toymaster Spring/Summer catalogue, which contains a number of great offers including a Lego promotion on the front cover.

“We will also be offering 3-for-2 on Squishville Blind Eggs from Jazwares – a line which lends itself perfectly to Easter and should drive good volumes,” he says.

Last year, JAC Stores also boosted customer numbers with a successful event promoting Eugy, from Brainstorm, and he is planning to replicate the event in one of the stores this year.

He tells us that JAC Stores is thinking ahead to the summer and is excited for the new Turtles from Character alongside the launch of the new movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

In another tourist hot-spot, Ian Bailey, of Bailey’s Toymaster in Gorey, Co Wexford, Ireland, says his shop has enjoyed a busy start to the year and sales have been up so far compared to 2022. The biggest sales increase has been in Lego, especially the new launches in January and March.

Bailey’s will be running some extra offers and giveaways for the school holidays and, ahead of the summer, Ian has been looking at new outdoor and wheeled toy suppliers to complement the existing range.

“We are feeling positive about the year ahead and hope to have a busy summer,” he tells Sam.

After having the worst possible start to the new year, when the ceiling collapsed in her shop, Kids Stuff in Wells, Somerset, Sarah Borastero explains how the team has turned a negative into a positive and is using the rebuilding work to restructure the shop and refresh stock.

“This gives us the opportunity to diversify a bit and bring some different suppliers in,” she says.

The shop celebrates its 25th birthday this year and Sarah and the team are planning a celebratory competition in April, along with Easter giveaways and promotions.

The Talking Shop feature also hears from Toy Barnhaus and how Easter sales are proving better than expected, helped by several days of teacher strikes.

Click here to read the full Talking Shop article in our April issue of Toy World.