online toy shop

[niagra]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about setting up an online toy shop. Being the Father of two small boys has really got me into toys (not that I wasn't already!!) and the possibility of running a business from home really appeals to me.

I had planned on selling Lego, Brio, Playmobil and that sort of thing. The problem I am having is how to get hold of stock. I have been in contact with the following and none of them are interested:

Lego - need to be selling online on your own website for two years before they will sell retail
Brio - still waiting for a reply
Playmobil - won't sell to trade unless you have a "bricks and mortar" shop
Bigjigs (Brio type) - won't sell to trade unless you have a "bricks and mortar" shop

Is this the case with most things selling online or are there other products that will sell to internet only businesses? Is there any other way to get stock? I had assumed that buying stock from the manufacturer was the best/cheapest way of doing things.

Thanks,
Dario

[fisicx]

If you just think about the companies you contacted. Not only are thay international but they already have a stong online and offline presence. What possible incentive is there for them to go into business with you?

What you have done is the equivalent of contacting Tesco and asking them for stock to sell in your own online store that will be in direct competition with theirs!

[SillyJokes]

I think they get a bit tired of new online enterprised who end up flogging off stock cheap on eBay and undermining the value of the brand.

There an absolute horde of folks who have just had kids who decide to set up a little business selling toys and it just isn't a quick way to make money because of the flood of competition.

We sell soft toys on My Favourite Animals and I'm very glad it isn't my only business because although it is picking up there is no way it makes enough money to pay anyone even half decent wage.

[niagra]

ok, that makes sense. But where can I actually get hold of stock? I have googled wholesalers and the like but all you get are directories that ask you to pay up front for information. How do I know which are reputable and which ones are just trying to rip me off?

[fisicx]

What stock?

You are going to get anything out of the major brands so you are going to be left flogging high volume cheap rubbish of low volume specialist toys. Unless of course you head off down the dropshipping/franchise road.

As to reputation, google the name of the wholesaler and see if they crop up in the forums.

However, I still think your chances of success are about zero unless you sell something really unique or have a USP that is jaw dropping.

You are hoping to do what zillions of others are already doing so your chances of survival are pretty close to 0%. It's not nothing to do with your enthusiasm or drive, it's simply because there is already a huge amount of competition.

[SillyJokes]

To find suppliers go to trade fairs.

It is a bit late in the year for these because most retailers will have put in their Christmas orders months ago. The trade fairs start in January.

You might even be able to find industry magazine publications, although I don't know which ones are applicable. But seriously. talk to Hedgehog about the difficulty in selling toys.

[MH1]

Toy fair is in january.

[steviemac]

don't waste any further time on this idea, the other posters are correct in all they say. Those are huge companies you are contacting, they aren't interested in some little website start-up lost in cyberspace.

They have all they require in online sales 'outlets' They don't need you at all. If you had decided to do this in 1999, you would have had a good head start, as it is, you are one of hundreds of little toy retail websites that start up (and fail) every month around the world.

My suggestion is look for small foreign toy companies with a difference who need exposure. Go to alibaba and look for unusual toys, but forget about the big boys.

[niagra]

My suggestion is look for small foreign toy companies with a difference who need exposure. Go to alibaba and look for unusual toys, but forget about the big boys.

Thanks for this, I will look into it.

Dario

[sirearl]

Massive competition in this area,every bugger on the planet seems to have kids.:|

Might be better to find a small manufacturer and deal direct.

Earl

[SocialMediaUncovered]

Have you considered buying stock from car boot sales / second hand retailers or buying stock from small newspaper ad's and then selling on your website?

This could prove to be profitable and turn a hobby into a business, after all I think a lot of parents who have grown up children have a stack of lego in their loft or cellar.

As long as you sell for more than you buy you'll turn a small hobby into profit - maybe even set up an ebay shop first and see how it goes.

[niagra]

I've been buying from car boots for a while and selling on eBay and also clearing out our house of toys that aren't used any more. I also have a wanted ad in the local papers asking for unwanted toys etc.

Whilst I plan to continue with selling second hand as it is quite profitable, there is a lack of stock out there which has prompted me to think about getting new stock in to sell from my own website. I also guess that having my own website will give me more of a sense of "having my own business" and eBay will be another tool to sell second hand stuff.

[sussexrob]

A couple of years ago i attempted a adult site *groan* and silly jokes slated me for doing what the rest of the world is doing and it would fail, and it did lol

Took a step back and did something niche, working wonders now

Unless you aim at a particular area, with profit marjins quite low on toys it will be hard to make a profit or at least make the effort not worth what it could be if in a an area with more money

Good luck though, if the drive is there then a few comments here wont make you stop. They helped me and it annoyed me at the time, but they were right :)

Rob

[Barnie]

its very late in the year now to be buying from the big companies

also if you intend on buying from these companies you will need massive MOQ's


low key manufactures are quite though now as they prepare new lines ect, why not look into some factories and see whats coming off the production line

i bought a few model helicopters cheap last year :D

[sirearl]

i bought a few model helicopters cheap last year :D

Did they fly out the door.?

I know,I know.I'll get me coat.:redface::redface::redface:

Earl

[boho]

Both of these directories are free http://www.thewholesaler.co.uk/ which is very good and http://www.thewholesaledirectory.co.uk/ which has some suppliers such of Tobar who I have dealt with.

You need to consider carefully your budget and find something more niche, take the time now to think about the site and build that - if its the route you wish to go - using as cheap a means as possible without it looking unprofessional, so a hosted ecommerce provider such as someone like Quikshop on this forum (www.internetretailer.biz (http://www.internetretailer.biz)) could be a way to go.

The toy/tradefairs are the place to speak directly to the suppliers/manufacturers, with Spring Fair at the NEC being quite a good one, you're looking at Jan/Feb now really for these, but it takes a while to get a site set up, ready and ranking anyway, so its not a bad time of year to start the legwork and have a decent site ready for doing the proper stocking in the new year.

However, you can start contacting some now, take a look through the exhibitors list for the 2008 toy fair and look at their websites, products etc and start making contact with some of them http://www.toyfair.co.uk/2008/exhibitors_list_2008.php, look at what reassurances you can give them - such as a commitment to upholding their minimum order requirements, proforma invoices for the first few orders, commitment to upholding any of their RRP requirements and not undercutting the rpices of their products online.

Look for suitable accreditations for the industry itself and memberships of relevant associations, so you can prove you are dedicated and not some fly by night onliner.

There are plenty of suppliers who will deal with online retailers, but always some who push the bricks only model, you need to be confident and stand your ground (not agressively) and question their reticence, give them reassurances and also back your position up with the growth figures for online retail versus the declining high street sales...in short you have to make them want you as a retailer of theirs.

[niagra]

Thanks for that, makes a good starting point for my continuing research. I also like the idea of looking at some smaller manufacturers

[cjd]

Please don't do this - you can not possibly make a business selling branded toys on line.

To have any chance at all, you need to find something unique and a marketing angle that gets you noticed - but I realy think you should forget about it.

[boho]

Please don't do this - you can not possibly make a business selling branded toys on line.

To have any chance at all, you need to find something unique and a marketing angle that gets you noticed - but I realy think you should forget about it.

Not big brands no, but smaller brands it is possible, there are several toyshops hosted by Internet Retailer (the same as me) and they all have businesses which they operate successfully.

You have to have a niche yes, and you need to build things gradually and not take silly risks but I think its incorrect to say its not possible. Just dont expect to sell high street branded products like lego, barbie, duplo etc because the competition is too fierce.

[niagra]

very nice chess sets, I'm the only one who can play in our house unfortunately!

Many thanks for all the advice, will have a serious think about how and if to progress.

Dario

[faze3]

Definitely go for the trade fair route - you'll come away with arms full of catalogues and some good ideas.
I've pm'd you one to get you started :-)
Alan.

[toystoyou]

Hi
Have you considered setting up a Toy Recycling website?
We sell kids toys and also advise parents on the best way to recycle unwanted toys. More than 4 million unwanted (not broken) toys are put in our landfills each year and that figure is expected to grow year on year. Charity shops often don't want toys cos they have so much.
You could take over that market, get toys donated to you or buy them really cheaply and sell them on to make a profit.
If I had time I would do it.
You'd have to work out the logistics of getting the unwanted toys to you, perhaps you could get a good rate with a courier who could pick up and ship for you.
If you did your SEO well on your site you could be No 1 on Google for 'Toy Recycling', at the minute my site is No. 1 and I've only got one page dedicated to this. And we get loads of emails from parents who want to know if we actually recycle the toys.
It's worth a thought, as the toy industry is a very very competitive market as we found out and you really need a niche and those are quite hard to find.
If you need any more info please PM me.
Julie

[Page]

Recycled toys that you sell on!

Bear in mind the legal aspects on safety - sad but true.

[eren]

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