Smyths
Encyclopedia
Smyths is an Irish
toy
superstore chain founded c.1987, and the largest toy retailer in Ireland, claiming to have 60% of the €320M market. It is a family-run company, with four Smyth brothers (Anthony, Padraig, Liam and Thomas) running the business. In the year ending March 2006, Smyths employed 692 staff, had sales totalling €184M, and had profits of €6.2M, down from €11.7M the previous year. Ten years earlier, the company had just four stores and sales of €20 million.
Smyths operates 20 stores in the Republic of Ireland
, 6 in Northern Ireland
and a further 11 in England
. The company is expanding heavily not just in Ireland but also in the UK
.
Smyths recently opened its first Welsh
store in Cardiff
at the Capital Retail Park, part of the new Cardiff City stadium
development in the Leckwith area of the city, with another "giant" store due to open in mid-September at Rayleigh Weir in Essex, England.
Smyths sell a wide range of toys for all ages of children, and also sell a wide range of electronic equipment such as computer games and consoles.
After the opening of the store in Cardiff two new stores have opened in Sheffield in South Yorkshire and in Birmingham in the West Midlands. 2010 will see the further expansion in to the British retail sector.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
superstore chain founded c.1987, and the largest toy retailer in Ireland, claiming to have 60% of the €320M market. It is a family-run company, with four Smyth brothers (Anthony, Padraig, Liam and Thomas) running the business. In the year ending March 2006, Smyths employed 692 staff, had sales totalling €184M, and had profits of €6.2M, down from €11.7M the previous year. Ten years earlier, the company had just four stores and sales of €20 million.
Smyths operates 20 stores in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, 6 in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and a further 11 in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The company is expanding heavily not just in Ireland but also in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Smyths recently opened its first Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
store in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
at the Capital Retail Park, part of the new Cardiff City stadium
New Cardiff City stadium
The Cardiff City Stadium is a 26,828 all-seated sports stadium and concert venue in the Leckwith area of the capital, Cardiff, which is the home of Cardiff City Football Club who previously played at Ninian Park. The stadium is managed by Cardiff City Stadium Ltd., which is owned by Cardiff City...
development in the Leckwith area of the city, with another "giant" store due to open in mid-September at Rayleigh Weir in Essex, England.
Smyths sell a wide range of toys for all ages of children, and also sell a wide range of electronic equipment such as computer games and consoles.
After the opening of the store in Cardiff two new stores have opened in Sheffield in South Yorkshire and in Birmingham in the West Midlands. 2010 will see the further expansion in to the British retail sector.
External links
- Irish website
- Irish Toy Store Kids Toys
- UK website