All Hamleys articles
Hamleys is an upmarket toy retailer with a quintessentially British brand image that operates around 90 stores worldwide. It is the oldest and largest toy shop in the world, founded in 1760 by William Hamley. Its flagship seven-storey shop on London’s Regent Street (where it’s been since 1881) is famous the world over, attracting 5 million tourists every year. Currently owned by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, Hamleys aims to expand internationally and target profitable new markets.
-
Prospect AnalysisHamleys (People)
Former Debenhams international boss David Smith joined as chief executive in January 2020 but left abruptly in August 2020.
-
Prospect AnalysisHamleys (Strategy)
As a premium toy retailer, Hamleys prides itself on its customer service and it is continuing to create engaging store environments that principally target children.
-
Prospect AnalysisTechnology strategy at Hamleys
Hamleys is a latecomer to multichannel retailing, giving it plenty of opportunity to develop both its presence online and its digital capabilities in store. Its online sales account for only a small proportion of the total figure, and competitors such as The Entertainer and Argos have bypassed it with their much stronger multichannel propositions.
-
Prospect AnalysisHamleys (SWOT)
Hamleys’ Regent Street flagship is a destination store that benefits from a high footfall and attracts a large number of tourists with its British heritage.
-
Prospect AnalysisHamleys (Overview)
Hamleys is an upmarket toy retailer with a quintessentially British brand image that operates nearly 200 stores worldwide and just under 20 in the UK.
-
Prospect AnalysisStores at Hamleys
Hamleys trades through around 20 stores in the UK which span formats such as its Regent Street flagship, airport outlets and department concessions. The toy specialist has closed a significant number of locations in order to improve its profitability.
-
Prospect AnalysisHamleys (Financials)
Hamleys owner Reliance Brand Holdings reported total revenues of £56.7m in the year ending December 2022 (FY2022). As footfall recovered post-pandemic, its UK subsidiary – Hamleys of London – saw sales jump 68% to £50.8m in FY2022, its best performance in some years.
-
Prospect AnalysisEcommerce at Hamleys
The Hamleys brand is synonymous with London’s Regent Street, which has been home to the flagship store since 1881. It offers a unique in-store experience, but to date has struggled to determine what to do online.
-
Prospect AnalysisCustomer and marketing at Hamleys
Hamleys targets toy shoppers across all ages and genders but its core market is young children to late teens with its principal buyers being parents. Hamleys aims to provide a gender-neutral shopping experience, for instance by not using signage to distinguish between toys that are typically for boys and girls.
-
Prospect AnalysisSupply chain at Hamleys
Hamleys’ UK store network is served by a single 81,000 sq ft distribution centre in Royston, Hertfordshire, whilst its overseas franchise distribution is outsourced to supply chain management partner Kuehne + Nagel at the Yantian Bonded Logistics Park in China since 2003.
-
Prospect AnalysisHamleys (Outlook)
Hamleys UK revenues recovered in the latest financial year, now higher than pre-pandemic as tourists returned to London with pandemic restrictions having lifted. Owners Reliance Retail had promised that Hamleys would “toy retailing reference point in the world, whatever that takes.”
-
NewsHamleys chief executive to step down after seven months
Hamleys chief executive David Smith will step down from his role in August, after just seven months with the business.
-
NewsHamleys hires former Debenhams exec as new boss
Hamleys has appointed former Debenhams and The Body Shop executive David Smith as its new chief executive.
-
NewsHamleys sold to Indian franchise partner
Hamleys has been snapped up by Indian titan Reliance Industries in a £70m deal.
-
NewsIndian giant Reliance Retail circles Hamleys
Indian retail titan Reliance Retail is reportedly in late-stage talks with Hamleys to acquire the toy retailer.
-
NewsHamleys boss exits, replaced by ex-HoF finance chief
Hamleys boss Ralph Cunningham has abruptly departed the retailer and has been replaced by former House of Fraser finance chief Yong Shen.
-
GalleryStore Gallery: The best Christmas window displays
Although Christmas has lost its shine for many retailers this year, shop windows have kept their sparkle. Here are some of the high street highlights.
-
NewsHamleys plunges to £12m loss as sales fall
Hamleys has swung to a full-year loss in what chief executive Ralph Cunningham described as “one of the most challenging years in UK retail history”.
-
AnalysisAnalysis: Does the CVA need a restructure of its own?
It was an unprecedented step – and one that consequently sent tremors pulsing through the retail and property industries.
-
