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'''Smyths''' is an [[Ireland|Irish]] multinational chain provider of children's [[toy]]s, games and entertainment products with over 297 stores throughout western and central [[Europe]]. The business is owned by the Smyth family.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kehoe |first1=Ian |title=The march of Smyths Toys: Rewinding the week that was |url=https://thecurrency.news/articles/134263/the-march-of-smyths-toys-rtes-new-strategy-and-manufacturing-a-problem-rewinding-the-week-that-was/ |website=The Currency |access-date=21 December 2023 |date=19 November 2023}}</ref>
'''Smyths Toys Superstores''' often simply known as '''Smyths''' is an [[Ireland|Irish]] multinational chain provider of children's [[toy]]s, games and entertainment products with over 297 stores throughout western and central [[Europe]]. The business is owned by the Smyth family.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kehoe |first1=Ian |title=The march of Smyths Toys: Rewinding the week that was |url=https://thecurrency.news/articles/134263/the-march-of-smyths-toys-rtes-new-strategy-and-manufacturing-a-problem-rewinding-the-week-that-was/ |website=The Currency |access-date=21 December 2023 |date=19 November 2023}}</ref>


The company is headquartered in [[Galway]], Ireland with other offices in [[Belfast]] and [[London]].
The company is headquartered in [[Galway]], Ireland with other offices in [[Belfast]] and [[London]].

Revision as of 03:56, 18 November 2024

Smyths Toys Superstores
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
PredecessorToys "R" Us (Switzerland, Germany and Austria)
Founded23 December 1986; 37 years ago (1986-12-23)
Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland
Founders
  • Tony Smyth
  • Padraig Smyth
  • Liam Smyth
  • Thomas "Tommy" Smyth
Headquarters,
Ireland
Number of locations
297+ stores
Area served
ProductsToys
Video games
Revenuec €2 billion
OwnerSmyth family [1]
Number of employees
3,386 (Smyths Toys UK Ltd)
Websitesmythstoys.com

Smyths Toys Superstores often simply known as Smyths is an Irish multinational chain provider of children's toys, games and entertainment products with over 297 stores throughout western and central Europe. The business is owned by the Smyth family.[2]

The company is headquartered in Galway, Ireland with other 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 while in 2023 the group turnover exceeded €2 billion.[3]

History

Smyths started out as a family newsagent in Claremorris, County Mayo before branching out into toys in 1986.[4]

The company is run by three brothers, Tony, Padraig and Thomas Smyth. A fourth brother and director, Liam, died in July 2023.[5] Smyths is the UK and Ireland's largest toy retailer.[6]

Expansion to central Europe

On 24 April 2018, Smyths acquired Toys "R" Us stores in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.[7] In 2019, all the remaining 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][10]

Stores and subsidiaries

Smyths stores by country
Country Number
of stores
England, Wales and Scotland 120
Northern Ireland 7
Republic of Ireland 21
Germany 72
France 45
Austria 17
Switzerland 11
Netherlands 4
Totals 297

In total as of November 2024, Smyths operates over 297 stores across 7 countries: 21 stores in Ireland, 7 in Northern Ireland, 120 in England, Wales and Scotland, 72 in Germany, 16 in Austria,[11] 10 in Switzerland[12], 45 in France and 4 in the Netherlands.[13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Smyths, the Mayo family turning toy retailing into child's play". The Irish Times.
  2. ^ Kehoe, Ian (19 November 2023). "The march of Smyths Toys: Rewinding the week that was". The Currency. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Toy giant Smyths sees group turnover hit €1.46bn". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Smyths Toys Unlimited Company | Irish Legal & Business Services Company & Director Check". Solocheck. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Liam Smyth obituary: Founder of Smyths Toys and proud Mayo man". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Toy mega store for Rayleigh Weir", Essex Echo, 13 September 2008
  7. ^ "Smyths Toys to buy Toys R Us in Germany, Austria and Switzerland". Irish Times. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  8. ^ Kurth, Luke (12 January 2019). "ToysRUs wird zu Smyth Toys: Die ersten Filialen tragen neue Namen". Stone Wars (in German). Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Smyths Toys acquires PicWic Toys". 6 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Smyths acquires PicWic Toys as it expands into France". independent. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Marktsuche".
  12. ^ "Marktsuche".
  13. ^ Deegan, Gordon (17 September 2018). "Smyths Toys' UK sales top half-billion mark for first time". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  14. ^ "SMYTHS TOYS UK LIMITED - Overview". Companies House. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  15. ^ Anita (19 January 2023). "Breaking News: Smyths confirms store expansion in The Netherlands". Toy World Magazine | The business magazine with a passion for toys. Retrieved 11 November 2024.