81–90 of 276 posts
Take the same building, reduce the space dedicated to toy sales, open up a series of indoor playgrounds and gymnasiums. Heck maybe carve out a daycare facility. Maybe some sort of toy lab for kids to try before they buy. Refocus the concept on being a real place for kids to grow and I think you'd see customers coming in the door again.
http://badlandsplayspace.com
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tactile act of playing with something that couldn't be fully replicated online. You're absolutely right. The result usually is though that the kid finds a toy they like then puts in on their Birthday/Christmas wishlist from where the Santa buys from Amazon. I like to think I never do this, but if the price is…
> I like to think I never do this, but if the price is much higher even I have a limit. Really? You rationalize going to a brick and mortar international franchise simply because it is physical, instead of going to an online international franchise? Thats the biggest stretch of "buy local" that I've ever been exposed to.
Though this may have something to do with Amazon (and retail generally trending online), it does appear that the big culprit here were Bain Capital (and its partners) who took it private in 2005 via leverage buyout and ladened Toys r Us balance sheet with untenable debt from thereon. Apparently, they were paying $500M in interests alone per year vs. reinvesting capital in growth of their offline stores or online reta…
> a lot of smaller toy retailers (both online and offline) will spring up to take Toys r Us' space Why would anything take its space? It's still a highly valuable brand, that I'm sure the next owner(s) will want to leverage to the fullest.
Is this true? I don't really connect the brand with value anymore. I think that legacy was firmly in the 1980s-1990s. There's some value there, but I doubt it is highly valuable.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Toy stores are a _great_ example of opportunity for brick and mortar. Just like book stores, they operate in a space where curation, discovery and the physical experience adds real value. The town I grew up in has a great independent toy store, and I make it a point to shop there every time we're in town. Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tact…
>Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tactile act of playing with something that couldn't be fully replicated online. You're absolutely right. The result usually is though that the kid finds a toy they like then puts in on their Birthday/Christmas wishlist from where the Santa buys from Amazon. I like to think I never do this, but if the price is…
Take the same building, reduce the space dedicated to toy sales, open up a series of indoor playgrounds and gymnasiums. Heck maybe carve out a daycare facility. Maybe some sort of toy lab for kids to try before they buy. Refocus the concept on being a real place for kids to grow and I think you'd see customers coming in the door again.
A place to try before you buy on amazon.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do we really want our kids to enjoy fluorescent-lit warehouses full of cheap crap that will be thrown away a couple months after it's bought?
Yes we do. Because right now the only thing kids want to do is click buttons on a computer.
Though this may have something to do with Amazon (and retail generally trending online), it does appear that the big culprit here were Bain Capital (and its partners) who took it private in 2005 via leverage buyout and ladened Toys r Us balance sheet with untenable debt from thereon. Apparently, they were paying $500M in interests alone per year vs. reinvesting capital in growth of their offline stores or online reta…
Obligatory Colbert video.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tactile act of playing with something that couldn't be fully replicated online. You're absolutely right. The result usually is though that the kid finds a toy they like then puts in on their Birthday/Christmas wishlist from where the Santa buys from Amazon. I like to think I never do this, but if the price is…
> I like to think I never do this, but if the price is much higher even I have a limit. Really? You rationalize going to a brick and mortar international franchise simply because it is physical, instead of going to an online international franchise? Thats the biggest stretch of "buy local" that I've ever been exposed to.
If you consume this and then buy on Amazon, Amazon is effectively unloading the marginal costs of running show floors to the brick-and-mortar stores.
Though this may have something to do with Amazon (and retail generally trending online), it does appear that the big culprit here were Bain Capital (and its partners) who took it private in 2005 via leverage buyout and ladened Toys r Us balance sheet with untenable debt from thereon. Apparently, they were paying $500M in interests alone per year vs. reinvesting capital in growth of their offline stores or online reta…
1. Take out a giant loan and use it to buy a company by offering slightly more than it's worth.
2. Transfer the loan to the company's books.
3. You now own a company and it didn't cost you anything! You get to be the CEO or sit on the board. And take nice fat bonuses.
4. The company now has to pay off the loan it used to buy itself from operating revenues. So you regrettably have to announce layoffs and closures.
5. Eventually the once-great limping company is killed off, enters bankruptcy, and the company is liquidated to pay off your original loan
What I don't understand is how it is legal or why investors/banks go for it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Toy stores are a _great_ example of opportunity for brick and mortar. Just like book stores, they operate in a space where curation, discovery and the physical experience adds real value. The town I grew up in has a great independent toy store, and I make it a point to shop there every time we're in town. Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tact…
>Every time I find something unique that I would have never looked for on Amazon, and often I'm hooked by the tactile act of playing with something that couldn't be fully replicated online. You're absolutely right. The result usually is though that the kid finds a toy they like then puts in on their Birthday/Christmas wishlist from where the Santa buys from Amazon. I like to think I never do this, but if the price is…
Well, it's also that when you walk in there looking for a present for the kids birthday party you are about to take your child to attend, you end up buying something there, and possibly even paying them to wrap it for you. I'm not sure I've ever ordered a present online for a friend of one of my kids. I have enough trouble remember the party is that day and getting there on time, much less ordering ahead of time.