August 14, 2013 // Franchising.com // WAYNE, NJ – Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced its global store growth for 2013, with the planned opening of more than 100 stores, including new locations, the relocation and conversion of 14 stores to the Side-by-Side format, and 22 new licensed stores. These new stores are located throughout 21 of the 36 countries and jurisdictions in which Toys"R"Us, Inc. currently has a presence through its wholly owned and licensed businesses, and represent the net addition of over 900,000 square feet of retail space to the company’s store portfolio.
The company’s most significant expansion plans for 2013 are in China, where it has already begun operating several of 22 brand-new stores scheduled to open this year. Expanding its business in China has been a priority for Toys"R"Us, Inc., and follows the launch of an e-commerce site and the opening of its first stores in Beijing last year. By the end of the year, the company plans to operate 51 stores in 27 cities throughout China. In October 2011, Toys"R"Us, Inc. acquired the majority stake in its business in Greater China and Southeast Asia from Fung Retailing. With this agreement, the existing Toys"R"Us licensed operations in this region became 70 percent majority owned and controlled by Toys"R"Us, Inc. and 30 percent owned by Fung Retailing.
The second largest area of growth for the company is the United States, where 19 new, converted or relocated stores are planned to open, including nine new Toys"R"Us Outlet stores – the largest number in a single year since it began opening these smaller format stores in 2010 – bringing the total number to 25 outlet locations nationwide.
“Toys"R"Us is recognized globally as THE authority on toys and baby products and we’re pleased to continue growing our store base to make our brand more accessible to parents and kids throughout the world,” said Antonio Urcelay, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Toys"R"Us, Inc. “This expansion demonstrates our ongoing commitment to our long-term strategy – advancing our business in international markets with high growth potential and the continued integration of our toy and juvenile products businesses by combining Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us together under one roof.”
Since embarking on its integrated store strategy in 2006, the company has converted approximately 25 percent of its wholly owned global store base to a format that brings the company’s toy and juvenile product offerings together to provide a one-stop shopping experience for parents and caregivers alike. The Side-by-Side format, which originated with Toys"R"Us, Canada, is now present in 15 global markets. Through the execution of its integrated store strategy, Toys"R"Us, Inc. has updated many of its existing locations by renovating the stores’ interiors and exteriors, while bringing both trusted brands under one roof. Concurrently, it has also allowed the company to relocate older stores in select markets to new sites in the current center of retail activity in those areas.
New store sizes vary by country and range from 3,000-60,000 square feet. Below is the full list of new, relocated and converted store locations scheduled to open this year.
Wholly owned markets:
United States:
Ten new, converted or relocated Side-by-Side stores:
Nine new Toys“R”Us Outlet locations:
Canada: Six new Side-by-Side stores:
China: 22 new Toys“R”Us stores, including:
France: Two new Toys“R”Us stores:
Germany: One new Toys“R”Us store, and two relocated stores:
Hong Kong: Two new Babies“R”Us stores:
Japan: Ten new, relocated or converted Side-by-Side stores:
Malaysia: Four new Toys“R”Us stores:
Poland: Four new Toys“R”Us stores:
Spain: One new Toys“R”Us store:
Taiwan: Three new or relocated Toys“R”Us stores:
Thailand: Three new Toys“R”Us stores:
United Kingdom: One new Toys“R”Us store:
Licensed markets:
Denmark: One new Toys“R”Us store:
Egypt: One new Toys“R”Us store:
Israel: Two new Toys“R”Us stores:
Norway: Two new Toys“R”Us stores:
Philippines: Four new Toys“R”Us stores:
Saudi Arabia: Two new Toys“R”Us stores, plus one converted to the Side-by-Side format:
South Africa: Three new Toys“R”Us stores:
South Korea: Seven new Toys“R”Us stores:
All statements that are not historical facts in this press release, including statements about our beliefs or expectations including, but not limited to, store growth expansion, are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, among others, the seasonality of our business, competition in the retail industry, changes in our product distribution mix and distribution channels, general economic factors in the United States and other countries in which we conduct our business, consumer spending patterns, our ability to implement our strategy, the availability of adequate financing, access to trade credit, changes in consumer preferences, changes in employment legislation, our dependence on key vendors for our merchandise, political and other developments associated with our international operations, costs of goods that we sell, labor costs, transportation costs, domestic and international events affecting the delivery of toys and other products to our stores, product safety issues including product recalls, the existence of adverse litigation, changes in laws that impact our business, our substantial level of indebtedness and related debt-service obligations, restrictions imposed by covenants in our debt agreements and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in our reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which reports and documents should be read in conjunction with this press release). In addition, we typically earn a disproportionate part of our annual operating earnings in the fourth quarter as a result of seasonal buying patterns and these buying patterns are difficult to forecast with certainty. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements in light of subsequent events or developments unless required by the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from anticipated results or outcomes discussed in forward-looking statements.
Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 877 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 660 international stores and over 165 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys"R"Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.
SOURCE: Toys"R"Us
Katie Reczek
Katie.Reczek@toysrus.com
(973) 617-4381
Jennifer Albano
Jennifer.Albano@toysrus.com
(973) 617-5632
Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer.