New York City — WHP Global (WHP), parent company of Toys”R”Us®, has signed a long term license agreement with leading global retailer WHSmith as the exclusive shop-in-shop partner for Toys”R”Us in the United Kingdom. WHSmith will have the exclusive license for Toys”R”Us shop-in-shops in its High Street stores, including opening 30 new shops this summer.
Following the successful launch of Toys”R”Us shop-in-shops in select WHSmith stores last year, this partnership is part of WHP Global’s mission to expand the presence of Toys”R”Us across the UK retail landscape.
“We’ve got off to a great start with the introduction of Toys”R”Us shops within WHSmith locations,” says Stanley Silverstein, chief commercial officer at WHP Global. “We are thrilled to strengthen our relationship with WHSmith and expand the reach of Toys”R”Us to more locations across the UK. This aligns perfectly with our overarching strategy to grow the Toys”R”Us brand in the UK through diverse channels including flagship stores, e-commerce and travel retail, ensuring accessibility and convenience for the next generation of Toys”R”Us kids.”
“Our customers have been delighted by the launch of Toys”R”Us in WHSmith stores, so we are excited to have signed a new exclusive agreement which extends our partnership with the brand,” says Sean Toal, managing director at WHSmith High Street.
New store locations and opening dates will be released in the coming weeks.
For more than 70 years, Toys”R”Us has been a global leader in the toy category. The brand has more than 1,400 stores in 31 countries. For more information, visit www.toysrus.com.
WHP Global is a leading New York-based firm that acquires global consumer brands and invests in high-growth distribution channels including digital commerce platforms and global expansion. For more information, visit www.whp-global.com.
WHSmith is a leading global travel retailer with more than 1,700 stores across 32 countries worldwide. The company has a growing international business with over 640 stores primarily across the world’s leading airports, including over 320 stores in North America, incorporating leading specialty retail brands Marshall Retail Group and InMotion.
WHSmith’s High Street business comprises over 500 stores across the UK. For more information, visit www.WHSmith.co.uk.
SOURCE: WHP Global; Toys”R”Us