KB Toys Reveals New Details About Comeback Plan

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

KB Toys Reveals New Details About Comeback Plan

By Matthew Mueller, comicbook.com - May 12, 2018



KB Toys is hoping to fill a void this holiday season, and now they've revealed additional details on how they plan to make that happen.

KB Toys CEO Ellia Kassoff explained the company's approach during a presentation at PlayCon 2018, which will involve coming back to market in the form of pop-up stores. KB Toys will launch 300 to 400 pop up stores around the country during this year's holiday season, using them as a quick way to test the market without overcommitting money for permanent structures (via TFW2005).

The best performing stores among those will be reviewed in early 2019 for potential expansion. Kassoff also looked ahead, saying he hopes to eventually have around 600 to 800 eventual permanent stores in the next 3 to 4 years.

Kassoff revealed that Simon Property Group is one of many mall organizations that replied to the original LinkedIn post regarding KB Toys' comeback, and are now on board as investors. He also mentioned that KB Toys is not utilizing banks, outside investors, nor private equity this time around. Kassoff mentioned having the malls as investors is a big step towards making sure what happened to KB Toys' original incarnation and now Toys "R" Us doesn't happen again, and that meant no outside investment or venture capitalists.

It also bridges the gap between tenant and landlord and should make the relationship productive for both.

As for the stores themselves, Kassoff mentioned that the brand will be about 80% of what you remember, but with some notable tweaks targeted at collectors. Kassoff said several big collector groups reached out to him, saying they prefer to buy locally as opposed to online. Among the requests is a "Toy Nerd" in each store, someone who really knows toys and collectibles. Kassoff said, "Done, we're going to have that person who can help the collector". KB Toys also wants to have meet and greet sessions with toy designers and toy companies, and all of these elements will help keep traffic coming into the store during the non-holiday times of the year.

KB Toys has also heard feedback from parents, so certain stores will be what they call KB Experience stores, which will be larger format stores (the size of a Toys "R" Us). Those stores will possibly have a cafe area but will also have party rooms available, so parents can organize birthdays and other gatherings without having to do so in the middle of the store, which some Toys "R" Us locations had started to do.

He also mentioned that KB Toys will bring over teams from Toys "R" Us, teams that have plenty of experience in the toy industry.

[giantsfan2016]

It's a very interesting idea to say the least. I see you mention the possibility of them doing 2 sized stores with the "KB Experience" concept being the size of TRU. What about the regular sized stores? Are they going to be similarly sized to the old stores?

Now just an observation from Connecticut.

In Bristol the old KB Space is still empty and has been since they closed. It's 12,000 square feet. The landlord gutted the space. It's in the Bristol Commons, which is anchored by Price Chopper and Planet Fitness. There is also smaller spaces in that plaza available - an old Hallmark Store. It's 5,000 Square feet next to Planet Fitness. Either of these would be ideal for a KB location in Bristol.

Also in Bristol there is an old Joann's in the Bristol Farms Plaza. It's just under 10,000 square feet. They plaza is anchored by Hobby Lobby, Big Lots, and The Edge Fitness Club. I think this location is less than ideal for KB because Big Lots has a decent size toy department and the location is close to Walmart.

If they wanted to do a KB Experience in Bristol, there is an 55,000 Square Foot former Walmart Neighborhood Market adjacent to Price Chopper. Don't know if Walmart would allow KB lease the space.

In Southington there is no space large enough for a KB. Their old store in the ShopRite Plaza is a Buffalo Wild Wings and SmileRite Dental. The largest vacant retail space in Southington is two spaces that can be combined into one 3,900 square foot space next to Michael's off West Street (Route 229).

In Plainville their old space in the Plainville Commons is an 11,000 Square Foot Ulta Beauty. However there is a smaller 8,800 square foot space that used to be Imperial Buffet.

In Waterbury they could obviously do a KB Experience in the TRU Space at the Brass Mill Commons adjacent to The Brass Mill Mall. Or they could do a KB Experience in the old Sports Authority. That's not too far from the mall.

In Waterbury if they want to go in the Wolcott Street area, they can do a KB Experience in two side-by-side empty spots next to Planet Fitness on the corner of Lakewood Road and Wolcott Street. That space adds up to just over 37,000 square feet.  A riskier location could be in the former Goodwill or the empty space next to that for a regular sized KB. It's riskier because it's not a high visibility location.

Two locations in Watebury on Wolcott Street I would definitely rule out. For a regular size store rule out the plaza where Ollie's Bargain Basement is located. The space is a former daycare center. Too much work would have to be done on to the exterior. Also rule out the old Linen's and Things as a location for a KB Experience. While 35,000 square feet is a decent size, it would probably be considered suicide to go in that space with a large Walmart in that plaza.

[danfifepsu]

It's a very interesting idea to say the least. I see you mention the possibility of them doing 2 sized stores with the "KB Experience" concept being the size of TRU. What about the regular sized stores? Are they going to be similarly sized to the old stores?

Now just an observation from Connecticut.

In Bristol the old KB Space is still empty and has been since they closed. It's 12,000 square feet. The landlord gutted the space. It's in the Bristol Commons, which is anchored by Price Chopper and Planet Fitness. There is also smaller spaces in that plaza available - an old Hallmark Store. It's 5,000 Square feet next to Planet Fitness. Either of these would be ideal for a KB location in Bristol.

Also in Bristol there is an old Joann's in the Bristol Farms Plaza. It's just under 10,000 square feet. They plaza is anchored by Hobby Lobby, Big Lots, and The Edge Fitness Club. I think this location is less than ideal for KB because Big Lots has a decent size toy department and the location is close to Walmart.

If they wanted to do a KB Experience in Bristol, there is an 55,000 Square Foot former Walmart Neighborhood Market adjacent to Price Chopper. Don't know if Walmart would allow KB lease the space.

In Southington there is no space large enough for a KB. Their old store in the ShopRite Plaza is a Buffalo Wild Wings and SmileRite Dental. The largest vacant retail space in Southington is two spaces that can be combined into one 3,900 square foot space next to Michael's off West Street (Route 229).

In Plainville their old space in the Plainville Commons is an 11,000 Square Foot Ulta Beauty. However there is a smaller 8,800 square foot space that used to be Imperial Buffet.

In Waterbury they could obviously do a KB Experience in the TRU Space at the Brass Mill Commons adjacent to The Brass Mill Mall. Or they could do a KB Experience in the old Sports Authority. That's not too far from the mall.

In Waterbury if they want to go in the Wolcott Street area, they can do a KB Experience in two side-by-side empty spots next to Planet Fitness on the corner of Lakewood Road and Wolcott Street. That space adds up to just over 37,000 square feet.  A riskier location could be in the former Goodwill or the empty space next to that for a regular sized KB. It's riskier because it's not a high visibility location.

Two locations in Watebury on Wolcott Street I would definitely rule out. For a regular size store rule out the plaza where Ollie's Bargain Basement is located. The space is a former daycare center. Too much work would have to be done on to the exterior. Also rule out the old Linen's and Things as a location for a KB Experience. While 35,000 square feet is a decent size, it would probably be considered suicide to go in that space with a large Walmart in that plaza.

and they will NEED to keep their PRICES DOWN too, as Toys r us got so expensive that was I Feel one of the things that contributed to its demise. What Kb toys plans to do in addition to selling Toys is what would have worked all along for Toys r us and when they thought of that it was too late. This all comes to show "stores come and go" and proves my point that there is a need for that kind of a store and not to blame Amazon.

KB EXperience wil most likely be in high profile shopping areas like Manchester Ct, West Hartford , Waterford, Milford.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

It's a very interesting idea to say the least. I see you mention the possibility of them doing 2 sized stores with the "KB Experience" concept being the size of TRU. What about the regular sized stores? Are they going to be similarly sized to the old stores?

Now just an observation from Connecticut.

In Bristol the old KB Space is still empty and has been since they closed. It's 12,000 square feet. The landlord gutted the space. It's in the Bristol Commons, which is anchored by Price Chopper and Planet Fitness. There is also smaller spaces in that plaza available - an old Hallmark Store. It's 5,000 Square feet next to Planet Fitness. Either of these would be ideal for a KB location in Bristol.

Also in Bristol there is an old Joann's in the Bristol Farms Plaza. It's just under 10,000 square feet. They plaza is anchored by Hobby Lobby, Big Lots, and The Edge Fitness Club. I think this location is less than ideal for KB because Big Lots has a decent size toy department and the location is close to Walmart.

If they wanted to do a KB Experience in Bristol, there is an 55,000 Square Foot former Walmart Neighborhood Market adjacent to Price Chopper. Don't know if Walmart would allow KB lease the space.

In Southington there is no space large enough for a KB. Their old store in the ShopRite Plaza is a Buffalo Wild Wings and SmileRite Dental. The largest vacant retail space in Southington is two spaces that can be combined into one 3,900 square foot space next to Michael's off West Street (Route 229).

In Plainville their old space in the Plainville Commons is an 11,000 Square Foot Ulta Beauty. However there is a smaller 8,800 square foot space that used to be Imperial Buffet.

In Waterbury they could obviously do a KB Experience in the TRU Space at the Brass Mill Commons adjacent to The Brass Mill Mall. Or they could do a KB Experience in the old Sports Authority. That's not too far from the mall.

In Waterbury if they want to go in the Wolcott Street area, they can do a KB Experience in two side-by-side empty spots next to Planet Fitness on the corner of Lakewood Road and Wolcott Street. That space adds up to just over 37,000 square feet.  A riskier location could be in the former Goodwill or the empty space next to that for a regular sized KB. It's riskier because it's not a high visibility location.

Two locations in Watebury on Wolcott Street I would definitely rule out. For a regular size store rule out the plaza where Ollie's Bargain Basement is located. The space is a former daycare center. Too much work would have to be done on to the exterior. Also rule out the old Linen's and Things as a location for a KB Experience. While 35,000 square feet is a decent size, it would probably be considered suicide to go in that space with a large Walmart in that plaza.

KB also has plans for smaller stores as well for shopping malls and strip malls. Simon Property Group has plans for KB to open stores in their malls.