It’s a magical place where your childhood dreams have just gone to die.
Toys R Us has gone into liquidation and it’s company-wide closing down sale begins across the nation’s stores today, as shoppers mourn the great loss.
It’s the store, without which, Toy Story would’ve flopped as the least relatable film in history:
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So, today, March 22, the biggest ever in-store kids’ toy store sale starts and it’s nowhere near as joyous an occasion as it sounds, even though discounts of up to 25 per cent are available on all products – including all big brand and Babies R Us products.
These hallowed aisles will be of commodification and consumption will be nothing more than a reminder of our own greedy childhood desires in a matter of time.
Barbie and Action Man will mourn, Lego Deathstars will go unbuilt, the Furbies will cry out for a new home and Care Bears will give up caring. If you’re into the humanisation of inanimate objects, that is.
Simon Thomas, joint administrator and partner at Moorfields Advisory Limited, told MEN:
We’ve introduced heavy discounts across the entire Toys R Us store portfolio today.
Customers are encouraged to take advantage of these special offers as soon as possible, whilst stock levels are generally high.
Customers may find that the more popular brands begin to sell-out over the coming days.
Joseph Malfitano, one of the Toys R Us bankruptcy advisors who works for liquidation specialists Malfitano Partners, called this unprecedented sale ‘probably the largest retail liquidation in the country’s history’.
Toys R Us executives hoped to avoid this measure when they filed for bankruptcy, arguing for a Chapter 7 ruling rather than having to liquidate its assets if they filed for Chapter 11.
In the US, where it all began in 1957, 144 stores began the liquidation process in February, but the remaining 700 stores make up one of the largest retail closures ever seen.
Over the pond in Britain, the closure plan puts 3,000 jobs at risk. Evidently, kids toys and capitalism just don’t go together like Buzz and Woody.
Yet, Toys R Us was every kid and collector’s dream, and you can see why:
Gift cards and vouchers will be honoured whilst the stores continue to trade but no further cards or vouchers are being sold.
Deposits paid by customers under the retailer’s Take Time To Pay agreements towards larger purchases will be honoured provided that the outstanding balance is paid and the goods are collected by March 11, 2018.
…As kids deserve the best, because they’re awesome:
Call your mum, get in the mini van and go stock up on all the toys you weren’t allowed as a child – because you weren’t spoilt rotten – with your own hard-earned adult money.
All online transactions have been suspended, so a family day out it’ll have to be.
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A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.