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Sussex's oldest toyseller closes branches
One of the oldest toysellers in the country could disappear from the High Street after managers said they were in negotiations over selling the company.
Gamleys, founded in Hove in 1919, has already closed five of its 17 stores in the South East, including three in Sussex.
Between 30 and 40 full and part-time workers have lost their jobs.
The decision to shut the Hove, Littlehampton, and Hastings stores was taken because of changes in the toy-selling market, the company said.
Charles Bradford, managing director of Gamleys, blamed increasing competition from bigger retailers, the increase in the number of people shopping on the internet and the waning popularity of traditional toys in favour of computer games.
He said the shops closed were "not contributing sufficiently to the business".
When asked by The Argus if Gamleys was planning further closures, Mr Bradford said he could not comment further because the management board was in talks with "an interested party" over selling the company.
He added: "We are currently in negotiations with an interested party for the business and I can't risk giving you any further information as it is a sensitive time for us and it might prejudice those negotiations."
Mr Bradford would not name the interested party.
Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said he was not surprised to hear of the shops had shut.
He said: "Gamleys has struggled for a number of years to so modernise and face up to the challenges of retail in the 21st century.
"I think we are seeing the start of a shake-out of retailers in the UK because of the difficult trading conditions."
Gavin Stewart, Hove town centre manager, said he was saddened to hear about the closure of the shop in Western Road, Hove.
But he added: "The economic situation in Brighton and Hove compares well to other parts of the country. Our vacancy rates are lower percentage-wise that they are across the UK.
"We are generally very positive about bringing new business into the city."
John Stevens, chairman of the Littlehampton Traders Partnership, was upset to lose a well-loved brand name that had been in the town since 1935.
He said: "It is obviously very disappointing as Gamleys is a long established company in the town.
"We are living through difficult commercial times at the moment and I'm not going to say it will be easy but there is no reason to think that a unit as good as that will not be taken up.
"When anyone loses their jobs there is some anxiety and they might not be able to find employment immediately because of the downturn in parts of the economy.
"But the supermarket chain Lidl has said it want to open a new store which would create about 40 new jobs so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"Littlehampton is still an up and coming area."
3:42pm Friday 16th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mark, Hove on 4:05pm Fri 16 May 08
Their unit in Churchill Square is also on the market with Stiles Harold Williams.
Argos is now the UK's largest retailer for toys!
Their unit in Churchill Square is also on the market with Stiles Harold Williams.
Argos is now the UK's largest retailer for toys!
Posted by: sm on 4:09pm Fri 16 May 08
I used to LOVE Gamleys as a kid.
Remember saving up my paper round money to go in and buy Scalextrix stuff from there.
and Lego.
shame.
I used to LOVE Gamleys as a kid.
Remember saving up my paper round money to go in and buy Scalextrix stuff from there.
and Lego.
shame.
Posted by: LB, Hove on 4:10pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote]But the supermarket chain Lidl has said it want to open a new store ...Littlehampton is still an up and coming area.[/quote]
If LIDL arriving is part of an upward trend you know you've got problems...
But the supermarket chain Lidl has said it want to open a new store ...Littlehampton is still an up and coming area.
If LIDL arriving is part of an upward trend you know you've got problems...
Posted by: The Guv, Brighton on 4:18pm Fri 16 May 08
"Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said he was not surprised to hear of the shops had shut."
Well thanks for your support Tony!!
"Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said he was not surprised to hear of the shops had shut."
Well thanks for your support Tony!!
Posted by: Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square on 4:33pm Fri 16 May 08
So many toys are simply a waste of money. A few months and they are off to the charity shops.
It is far better to give children a chess set.
So many toys are simply a waste of money. A few months and they are off to the charity shops.
It is far better to give children a chess set.
Posted by: LB, Hove on 4:36pm Fri 16 May 08
"It is far better to give children a chess set"
I agree, the trips to a&e with the under two's to get the pawns (I was goign to say bishops but that sounded to controversial) removed from their gullets fill those long daylight hours a treat FFS.
"It is far better to give children a chess set"
I agree, the trips to a&e with the under two's to get the pawns (I was goign to say bishops but that sounded to controversial) removed from their gullets fill those long daylight hours a treat FFS.
Posted by: tumble, weed on 4:54pm Fri 16 May 08
It is a shame to see the old gamleys go,but most of the stock had been in there since the doomsday book,and the poor ladies that worked in there barely knew what to do with themselves on the very rare occasion that they had an actual customer,they'd often scuttle off into the dark depths and hide,you could just see their terrified little eyes cowering from behind the dusty old boxes of toys.
I wonder whats going to take its place? I saw some men working in there today,so maybe its already been decided?
It is a shame to see the old gamleys go,but most of the stock had been in there since the doomsday book,and the poor ladies that worked in there barely knew what to do with themselves on the very rare occasion that they had an actual customer,they'd often scuttle off into the dark depths and hide,you could just see their terrified little eyes cowering from behind the dusty old boxes of toys.
I wonder whats going to take its place? I saw some men working in there today,so maybe its already been decided?
Posted by: Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square on 4:54pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]LB[/bold] wrote:
"It is far better to give children a chess set"
I agree, the trips to a&e with the under two's to get the pawns (I was goign to say bishops but that sounded to controversial) removed from their gullets fill those long daylight hours a treat FFS.[/quote] Yes, they could also have a travelling set to occupy them during the long wait at a and e.
They are unlikely to swallow a pawn twice after that. A learning experience.
The slower ones could be content with draughts.
LB wrote:
"It is far better to give children a chess set"
I agree, the trips to a&e with the under two's to get the pawns (I was goign to say bishops but that sounded to controversial) removed from their gullets fill those long daylight hours a treat FFS.
Yes, they could also have a travelling set to occupy them during the long wait at a and e.
They are unlikely to swallow a pawn twice after that. A learning experience.
The slower ones could be content with draughts.
Posted by: ray, littlehampton on 5:22pm Fri 16 May 08
I USED TO SAVE UP FOR MY MECCANO TO BUY THERE IN THE FORTIES.SAD OR WHAT?LOVED THE SHOP.
I USED TO SAVE UP FOR MY MECCANO TO BUY THERE IN THE FORTIES.SAD OR WHAT?LOVED THE SHOP.
Posted by: Janey, Shoreham on 7:07pm Fri 16 May 08
Great shame to see the Hove store close. I used to love it as a kid as do both my boys now.
Tony Mergagh thinks they need to "modernise and face up to the challenges of retail in the 21st century", but I've used their web site lots of times and always had fantastic service!!
All in all very sad.
Great shame to see the Hove store close. I used to love it as a kid as do both my boys now.
Tony Mergagh thinks they need to "modernise and face up to the challenges of retail in the 21st century", but I've used their web site lots of times and always had fantastic service!!
All in all very sad.
Posted by: BIG PHIL, HOVE on 7:51pm Fri 16 May 08
SORRY TO SEE THE SHOP GO. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT OLD FASHIONED BUT THATS NO BAD THING.
SORRY TO SEE THE SHOP GO. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT OLD FASHIONED BUT THATS NO BAD THING.
Posted by: RJW, Portslade on 8:11pm Fri 16 May 08
Perhaps Gavin Stewart, Hove town centre manager, who said he was saddened to hear about the closure of the shop in Western Road, Hove.
should get out more then he would know that the shop is in CHURCH ROAD, HOVE.
Perhaps Gavin Stewart, Hove town centre manager, who said he was saddened to hear about the closure of the shop in Western Road, Hove.
should get out more then he would know that the shop is in CHURCH ROAD, HOVE.
Posted by: ted on 8:18pm Fri 16 May 08
a sad loss to a good store that has provided much childhood dreams but,they do need to lower prices,they shouldn't bow down to competition,they should try to copy and beat them not walk away from it.
a sad loss to a good store that has provided much childhood dreams but,they do need to lower prices,they shouldn't bow down to competition,they should try to copy and beat them not walk away from it.
Posted by: Yet Another Sue, No longer in Brighton on 8:26pm Fri 16 May 08
Great pity the Directors didn't take more care of the company passed down to them through the generations. My Mum used to take me and my siblings to the one in Bexhill and I took my own children too, to the Brighton shop, but tucking themselves right at the back of Churchill Square was a bad move and now they are paying the price. They should have stayed in or near the Imperial Arcade where they easily attracted many more customers than Beatties Toy Shop which was almost opposite Gamley's back door in Dyke Road. During school holidays and weekends at the old premises it was heaving with excited children and weary parents, but no-one even knows where it is these days. The closure has little to do with competition (they were "The Toyshop of The South") and more to do with lack of vision, drive, and imagination by those who own the Company.
Great pity the Directors didn't take more care of the company passed down to them through the generations. My Mum used to take me and my siblings to the one in Bexhill and I took my own children too, to the Brighton shop, but tucking themselves right at the back of Churchill Square was a bad move and now they are paying the price. They should have stayed in or near the Imperial Arcade where they easily attracted many more customers than Beatties Toy Shop which was almost opposite Gamley's back door in Dyke Road. During school holidays and weekends at the old premises it was heaving with excited children and weary parents, but no-one even knows where it is these days. The closure has little to do with competition (they were "The Toyshop of The South") and more to do with lack of vision, drive, and imagination by those who own the Company.
Posted by: peggy, henfield on 9:01pm Fri 16 May 08
I find it hard to identift with the previous comments. The old Gamleys in Imperial Arcade was completely inappropriate for Mum's with buggies because of the stairs, and Imperial Arcade is far from a pleasant place to shop. The new shop in the Square is far better and close to other child orientated stores such as Early Learning and Mothercare.
I think the closure has more to do with the excessive power of the supermarkets stealing sales from independant shops in many sectors. We will soon be a nation with very little choice of where we can shop.
I find it hard to identift with the previous comments. The old Gamleys in Imperial Arcade was completely inappropriate for Mum's with buggies because of the stairs, and Imperial Arcade is far from a pleasant place to shop. The new shop in the Square is far better and close to other child orientated stores such as Early Learning and Mothercare.
I think the closure has more to do with the excessive power of the supermarkets stealing sales from independant shops in many sectors. We will soon be a nation with very little choice of where we can shop.
Posted by: Kezza, Hove, hove on 9:11pm Fri 16 May 08
How sad it is to see
not only part of my childhood gone, but aso that of my (now grown up) children's
gone for good. How many countless children will have looked into Hove Gamley's window in that time!
How sad it is to see
not only part of my childhood gone, but aso that of my (now grown up) children's
gone for good. How many countless children will have looked into Hove Gamley's window in that time!
Posted by: sally, brighton on 9:12pm Fri 16 May 08
It's not just the shops that closing, they closing the warehouses in july. it is poor management
It's not just the shops that closing, they closing the warehouses in july. it is poor management
Posted by: Paul, Brighton Seafront on 12:43am Sat 17 May 08
[quote][bold]sally[/bold] wrote:
It's not just the shops that closing, they closing the warehouses in july. it is poor management[/quote] Rubbish. It is a sign of the times. They can't compete with supermarkets who break into different markets every other week and internet shops that offer the same product at a fraction of the cost.
Very sad to see Gamleys go. I used to bombard my parents until they would take me to the Hove branch. Buying a new set of miniature army men each week or dinky cars or lego.
Sad times.
I look forward to seeing a new Tesco Express in its place.
sally wrote:
It's not just the shops that closing, they closing the warehouses in july. it is poor management
Rubbish. It is a sign of the times. They can't compete with supermarkets who break into different markets every other week and internet shops that offer the same product at a fraction of the cost.
Very sad to see Gamleys go. I used to bombard my parents until they would take me to the Hove branch. Buying a new set of miniature army men each week or dinky cars or lego.
Sad times.
I look forward to seeing a new Tesco Express in its place.
Posted by: Joe B, Brighton on 4:55am Sat 17 May 08
Hands up who brought something in Gamleys over the years since you were a kid? Hands up who hasn't been in a Gamleys for years?
Gamleys moving to Churchill Square was the first mistake.
2nd mistake. Gamleys Churchill Square looks like a Mothercare toyshop and caters more for toddlers and not a older/wider range of child and adult.
3rd mistake. They failed to identify a changing market and tied themselves to a old fashioned 'Grace Brothers' style of shop, This is why Hanningtons and the Co-Op London Road Brighton closed.
Failure to modernise and know your market and extremely poor management decisions at the top has led to staff in all these establishments losing their jobs! If these 'industry leaders are an example of our future, the god help us!
Hands up who brought something in Gamleys over the years since you were a kid? Hands up who hasn't been in a Gamleys for years?
Gamleys moving to Churchill Square was the first mistake.
2nd mistake. Gamleys Churchill Square looks like a Mothercare toyshop and caters more for toddlers and not a older/wider range of child and adult.
3rd mistake. They failed to identify a changing market and tied themselves to a old fashioned 'Grace Brothers' style of shop, This is why Hanningtons and the Co-Op London Road Brighton closed.
Failure to modernise and know your market and extremely poor management decisions at the top has led to staff in all these establishments losing their jobs! If these 'industry leaders are an example of our future, the god help us!
Posted by: ted, in bed,with my laptop on 6:15am Sat 17 May 08
[quote][bold]Joe B[/bold] wrote:
Hands up who brought something in Gamleys over the years since you were a kid? Hands up who hasn't been in a Gamleys for years? Gamleys moving to Churchill Square was the first mistake. 2nd mistake. Gamleys Churchill Square looks like a Mothercare toyshop and caters more for toddlers and not a older/wider range of child and adult. 3rd mistake. They failed to identify a changing market and tied themselves to a old fashioned 'Grace Brothers' style of shop, This is why Hanningtons and the Co-Op London Road Brighton closed. Failure to modernise and know your market and extremely poor management decisions at the top has led to staff in all these establishments losing their jobs! If these 'industry leaders are an example of our future, the god help us! [/quote] i totally agree,i loved Gamleys,my first james bond aston martin came from there,but they didn't even try to compete with other retailers and when your shopping for xmas or birthdays for your children and on a budget then the superstores win hands down,we now walk into gamleys and out again with nothing because of the higher price of the equivalent in other stores
Joe B wrote:
Hands up who brought something in Gamleys over the years since you were a kid? Hands up who hasn't been in a Gamleys for years? Gamleys moving to Churchill Square was the first mistake. 2nd mistake. Gamleys Churchill Square looks like a Mothercare toyshop and caters more for toddlers and not a older/wider range of child and adult. 3rd mistake. They failed to identify a changing market and tied themselves to a old fashioned 'Grace Brothers' style of shop, This is why Hanningtons and the Co-Op London Road Brighton closed. Failure to modernise and know your market and extremely poor management decisions at the top has led to staff in all these establishments losing their jobs! If these 'industry leaders are an example of our future, the god help us!
i totally agree,i loved Gamleys,my first james bond aston martin came from there,but they didn't even try to compete with other retailers and when your shopping for xmas or birthdays for your children and on a budget then the superstores win hands down,we now walk into gamleys and out again with nothing because of the higher price of the equivalent in other stores
Posted by: jim on 8:46am Sat 17 May 08
[quote][bold]The Guv[/bold] wrote:
"Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said he was not surprised to hear of the shops had shut." Well thanks for your support Tony!! [/quote] who is this person who pays him? he dosnt speak for me and the people I employ just another job for the boys
The Guv wrote:
"Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said he was not surprised to hear of the shops had shut." Well thanks for your support Tony!!
who is this person who pays him? he dosnt speak for me and the people I employ just another job for the boys
Posted by: TOBI, brighton on 10:53am Sat 17 May 08
[quote][bold]Flat Foot Soozie[/bold] wrote:
So many toys are simply a waste of money. A few months and they are off to the charity shops. It is far better to give children a chess set.[/quote] JUST AS I THOUGHT A MEAN PERSON,WELL MAYBE THEY MAY MAKE IT INTO A INTERNET CAFE
Flat Foot Soozie wrote:
So many toys are simply a waste of money. A few months and they are off to the charity shops. It is far better to give children a chess set.
JUST AS I THOUGHT A MEAN PERSON,WELL MAYBE THEY MAY MAKE IT INTO A INTERNET CAFE
Posted by: Lawrence, Cheddar on 1:11pm Sat 17 May 08
Very sad, so many happy childhood memories of the Littlehampton shop in the 50s & 60s, and its quirky layout only added to the appeal.
Very sad, so many happy childhood memories of the Littlehampton shop in the 50s & 60s, and its quirky layout only added to the appeal.
Posted by: madamtwoswords, BRIGHTON on 1:32pm Sat 17 May 08
MMMMMMmmm... TOYS
Posted by: madamtwoswords, BRIGHTON on 1:34pm Sat 17 May 08
MMMMMMmmm... TOYS
Posted by: Jill, Hull on 2:10pm Sat 17 May 08
Very sad to see the closure of Gamleys.Many happy times spent in the Arcade as a kid,and then with my own kids.I suppose supermarkets have undercut them
Very sad to see the closure of Gamleys.Many happy times spent in the Arcade as a kid,and then with my own kids.I suppose supermarkets have undercut them
Posted by: Rev Ponge, brighton on 8:53pm Sat 17 May 08
If they changed and sold guns and knives, they would still be in business.
If they changed and sold guns and knives, they would still be in business.
Posted by: Emma Hopkins, Maidstone on 9:17pm Wed 21 May 08
As i come from Maidstone,we have a Gamleys here.Its safe at the moment but they dont no whether they will be still here at christmas.As Maidstone is 1 of the bigger branches,they have alot of customers asking when they are closing & saying its a shame they are going.They are the only proper toy shops in kent.If gamleys does close down,alot of people will miss them.Without realising it.
As i come from Maidstone,we have a Gamleys here.Its safe at the moment but they dont no whether they will be still here at christmas.As Maidstone is 1 of the bigger branches,they have alot of customers asking when they are closing & saying its a shame they are going.They are the only proper toy shops in kent.If gamleys does close down,alot of people will miss them.Without realising it.
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