Toy Retailer of the Year Award

The 2011 Toy Retailers of the Year were announced at Toy Fair on 24th January 2012. The winners were:

Overall Toy Retailer of the Year
The Entertainer

Independent Toy Retailer of the Year
W J Daniel & Co

Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year
The Entertainer

Online Toy Retailer of the Year
The Entertainer

Toy Catalogue of the Year
Smyths

Toy Retailer (Grocer) of the Year
Tesco

Judges Special Recognition Award
Bentalls

During the London Toy Fair at the end of January each year, the toy trade celebrates the previous year’s achievements at a glittering awards ceremony and dinner attended by manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.

The Toy Retailers Association makes a series of category awards to the suppliers for the best performing toys, which culminates in the prestigious Toy of The Year award. The British Toy and Hobby Association which organises the event, returns the compliments by presenting awards to the best toy retailers.

The application process allows self-nomination although additional nominations are taken from a panel of nationwide industry experts. Retailers are judged on a variety of factors such as eye-catching window displays, presentation of stock, depth of ranges and knowledge of staff. Also important is a child-friendly atmosphere, play areas where children can be entertained whilst mum and dad do the shopping, and even on the ability of customers to easily wheel prams and pushchairs around the displays.