Smyths Explained
| Smyths Toys Superstores |
| Type: | Private |
| Predecessor: | Toys "R" Us (Switzerland, Germany and Austria) |
| Foundation: |
Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Founders: | - Tony Smyth
- Padraig Smyth
- Liam Smyth
- Thomas "Tommy" Smyth
|
| Owner: | Smyth family[1] |
| Num Locations: | c.275 stores |
| Revenue: | c €2 billion |
| Hq Location City: | Galway |
| Hq Location Country: | Ireland |
| Area Served: | |
| Industry: | Retail |
| Products: | Toys
Video games |
Smyths Toys Superstores is an Irish multinational chain provider of children's toys and entertainment products with over 275 shops throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Netherlands. The business is owned by the Smyth family.[2]
The company is headquartered in Lyrr Building 1 in the Mervue Business Park, Galway, Ireland; it has additional 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.[3]
History
Before Smyths became a toy store it was a newsagent.
The company is run by three brothers, Tony, Padraig and Thomas Smyth. A fourth brother and director, Liam, died in July 2023.[4] The company was founded in Claremorris, County Mayo on .[5] Smyths is 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 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]
Licensed brands
Stores and subsidiaries
Smyths stores by country in 2022| Country | Number
of stores |
|---|
| England, Scotland and Wales | 108 |
| Switzerland | 11 |
| Austria | 17 |
| Germany | 67 |
| France | 41 |
| Northern Ireland | 7 |
| Republic of Ireland | 21 |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| Totals | 275 | |
In total, Smyths operates over 272 stores across 6 countries: 21 stores in Ireland, 117 in the United Kingdom,
[12] 68 in Germany,
[13] 16 in Austria,
[14] 10 in Switzerland
[15] and 41 in France. Smyths Toys UK Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.
[16] [17] In 2023, Smyths confirmed it would expand into the Netherlands for the first time with new stores.[18]
Notes and References
- News: Meet the Smyths, the Mayo family turning toy retailing into child's play. .
- Web site: Kehoe . Ian . The march of Smyths Toys: Rewinding the week that was . The Currency . 21 December 2023 . 19 November 2023.
- News: Toy giant Smyths sees group turnover hit €1.46bn . The Irish Times . 31 October 2022 . en.
- Web site: Liam Smyth obituary: Founder of Smyths Toys and proud Mayo man . 2023-12-31 . The Irish Times . en.
- Web site: Smyths Toys Unlimited Company Irish Legal & Business Services Company & Director Check. Solocheck. en-IE. 6 June 2017.
- "Toy mega store for Rayleigh Weir", Essex Echo, 13 September 2008
- News: Smyths Toys to buy Toys R Us in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Irish Times. 21 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
- Web site: ToysRUs wird zu Smyth Toys: Die ersten Filialen tragen neue Namen. Kurth. Luke. 12 January 2019. Stone Wars. de-DE. 27 June 2019.
- Web site: Smyths Toys acquires PicWic Toys . 6 July 2022 .
- Web site: Smyths acquires PicWic Toys as it expands into France . independent . 15 July 2022 . 17 November 2022 . en.
- http://www.smythstoys.com Smyths official website
- Web site: Smyths Toys sees UK profits soar 70pc - Independent.ie. 20 September 2017 .
- Web site: Marktsuche .
- Web site: Marktsuche .
- Web site: Marktsuche .
- Web site: Smyths Toys' UK sales top half-billion mark for first time. Deegan. Gordon. 17 September 2018. Irish Independent. en-IE. 27 June 2019.
- Web site: SMYTHS TOYS UK LIMITED - Overview. Companies House. en-GB. 27 June 2019.
- Web site: Breaking News: Smyths confirms store expansion in The Netherlands . Toy World Magazine The business magazine with a passion for toys . 16 August 2023 . 19 January 2023.
