Smyths
 The current logo, in use since 2006 | |
 A Smyths shop in Newport, Wales, United Kingdom | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Predecessor | Toys "R" Us (Switzerland, Germany and Austria) |
| Founded | 23 December 1986 Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , Ireland |
Number of locations | c.275 stores |
Area served | |
| Products | Toys Video games |
| Revenue | c €2 billion |
| Owner | Smyth family[1] |
| Website | smythstoys |
Smyths Toys Superstores is an Irish multinational chain provider of children's toys and entertainment products with over 275 shops throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Netherlands. The business is owned by the Smyth family.[2]
The company is headquartered in Lyrr Building 1 in the Mervue Business Park, Galway, Ireland; it has additional offices in Belfast and London.
The group's turnover reached €1.465 billion in pandemic-hit 2020 with the majority of sales coming from the UK market.[3]
History
[edit]Before Smyths became a toy store it was a newsagent.
The company is run by three brothers, Tony, Padraig and Thomas Smyth. A fourth brother and director, Liam, died in July 2023.[4] The company was founded in Claremorris, County Mayo on 23 December 1986.[5] Smyths is Ireland's largest toy retailer.[6]
Expansion to central Europe
[edit]On 24 April 2018, Smyths acquired Toys "R" Us stores in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.[7] In 2019, all the stores in those countries were rebranded to Smyths.[8]
In July 2022, Smyths acquired French toy chain PicWicToys in France out of receivership, taking over 41 stores, 2 warehouses and a head office.[9]
Licensed brands
[edit]Stores and subsidiaries
[edit]| Country | Number of stores |
|---|---|
| England, Scotland and Wales | 108 |
| Switzerland | 11 |
| Austria | 17 |
| Germany | 67 |
| France | 41 |
| Northern Ireland | 7 |
| Republic of Ireland | 21 |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| Totals | 275 |
In total, Smyths operates over 272 stores across 6 countries: 21 stores in Ireland, 117 in the United Kingdom,[12] 68 in Germany,[13] 16 in Austria,[14] 10 in Switzerland[15] and 41 in France. Smyths Toys UK Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.[16][17]
In 2023, Smyths confirmed it would expand into the Netherlands for the first time with new stores.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Meet the Smyths, the Mayo family turning toy retailing into child's play". The Irish Times.
- ^ Kehoe, Ian (19 November 2023). "The march of Smyths Toys: Rewinding the week that was". The Currency. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Toy giant Smyths sees group turnover hit €1.46bn". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Liam Smyth obituary: Founder of Smyths Toys and proud Mayo man". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Smyths Toys Unlimited Company | Irish Legal & Business Services Company & Director Check". Solocheck. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ "Toy mega store for Rayleigh Weir", Essex Echo, 13 September 2008
- ^ "Smyths Toys to buy Toys R Us in Germany, Austria and Switzerland". Irish Times. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ Kurth, Luke (12 January 2019). "ToysRUs wird zu Smyth Toys: Die ersten Filialen tragen neue Namen". Stone Wars (in German). Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ "Smyths Toys acquires PicWic Toys". 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Smyths acquires PicWic Toys as it expands into France". independent. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Smyths official website
- ^ "Smyths Toys sees UK profits soar 70pc - Independent.ie". 20 September 2017.
- ^ "Marktsuche".
- ^ "Marktsuche".
- ^ "Marktsuche".
- ^ Deegan, Gordon (17 September 2018). "Smyths Toys' UK sales top half-billion mark for first time". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ "SMYTHS TOYS UK LIMITED - Overview". Companies House. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ "Breaking News: Smyths confirms store expansion in The Netherlands". Toy World Magazine | The business magazine with a passion for toys. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.