Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us is a chain of stores which sells toys and other products for children. They currently have over 1450 stores all over the world.

It was founded by Charles Lazarus in 1948, when it only sold baby furniture. In 1957, the first "Toy supermarket" was opened. In 1970, Toys "R" Us became a public company.

They have seperated their activities in divisions called 'Toys "R" Us USA', 'Toys "R" Us International', 'Kids "R" Us', 'Babies "R" Us', 'Imaginarium', and Toysrus.com.

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Source o' knowledge: Toysrus.com

Toys 'R' Us chains can all be found all over Britain. Infact there are 63 stores nationwide. The best thing about Toys 'R' Us in Britain is the tune on the advert, which they churn out every year around Christmas.

Lyrics:

There's a magical place, we're on our way there.
With toys in a million all under one roof.
It's called Toys 'R' Us.

(Insert voice over with their latest great offer)

There's millions says Geoffrey* all under one roof.
It's called Toys 'R' Us, Toys 'R' us, Toys 'R' us.

*Geoffrey is their company mascot. He is a giraffe

In 1997, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) found that Toys 'R' Us were guilty of illegally exerting pressure on manufacturers not to supply their toys to other, smaller retailers. As they are the largest toy retailer in the world, the manufactureres duly complied, vastly reducing comsumer choice. Just one of the many problems caused by allowing such huge companies to exist and make themselves larger by eating other, smaller, companies.
See also Wal-Mart.

viper281: Comet (British chain of electronics retailers) was always my mecca as a kid. Loads of games consoles, which my parents wouldn't buy for me (thank god). Many a happy afternoon was spent there. Sigh, those were the days :-).