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Kb Toys

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Words 955
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KB Toys’
July 1, 2010

Abstract Why did KB Toys fail? KB Toys was offering toys at a discounted price like consumers where looking for but was that enough? KB Toys did restructures as well as took help from investment companies which brought a profit for a short time. While all of this was a quick fix the revenue never stayed constant but continued to drop. The store stayed in the original idea but never moved forward with the changes of times. Toys where out dated and there was lack of organization.

KB Toys’
KB Toys started out as a candy wholesaler in 1922 (KB Toys, nd).Toys was not what the Kaufman Brothers, KB, where looking for however when a debt could not be paid by a client Kaufman Brothers inherited a wholesale toy company during the 1940s (KB Toys, nd). KB Toys changed their name a few times through out the company’s life span. Kay-Bee Toy & Hobby Stores was the first name to take life and sale items at discount prices. By 1977 the store had changed focus to just toys and it was such a big success the name was changed to Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby Shops, Inc. (KB Toys, nd). In 1981 the company is purchased by Melville Corporation and is a division known as Kay-Bee Toy Stores (KB Toys, nd). By 1996 the chains of stores are sold to Consolidated Stores Corporation (KB Toys, nd). Once Consolidated bought Kay-Bee the image of the company needed to be enhanced, thus the KB logo was created (KB Toys, nd).
KB toys had a great idea with providing toys at a discounted price. This idea kept KB Toys in business for 86 years (The Washington Times, December 12, 2008). Wal-Mart also had the same idea to provide toys for a discount price, because of Wal-Marts buying power KB Toys was not able to compete and decided to close the doors in 2008 (The Washington Times, December 12, 2008). Prior to calling in quits KB Toys tried their best to compete with sales however these still did not bring in the business. According to The Washington Times KB Toys said its debt is “directly attributable to a sudden and sharp decline in consumer sales” because of the tanking of the economy (The Washington Times, December 12, 2008).
KB Toys was a very unique store with bright colors to draw the crowed in as well as the lower priced toys up front in eye view from the passer buys of the mall. KB Toys Chairman and CEO Ann Iverson was also unique, or some would say daring, in her decisions for KB Toys. In 1994 Iverson removed all realistic toy guns from the stores (--). KB Toys also in 1993 removed Sega product Night Trap because of the violence, this despite the close relationship KB Toys had with Sega of America (--). Game sales was one of KB Toys money makers so by removing a game that was in high demand caused loss of sales (---), this as well if marketed correctly could have raised sales by creating a store that cares what our kids of America are playing with.
With the latest recession customers are looking for the best deal. While KB Toys was started by offering toys, current and discontinued, at a discounted price they where unable to stay marketable with Wal-Mart and Toys R Us having more buying power. Consumers are looking for a good quality product for a good price as well as easy access of the store. KB Toys was located in malls, KB Toys customers, a majority of them, where mall shoppers. Toys R Us has independent locations while Wal-Mart offers one stop shopping.
While KB Toys was losing sales the company tried restructure, however KB Toys kept the same idea. While other stores where making it easier for customers to buy Current and new products KB Toys stayed with toys being discontinued. KB Toys was sticking with their original idea of discount toys but neglected to listen to the customer. While KB Toys CEO’s where taking the stance of non violent toys, other stores where offering these toys as there was a demand for them.
Jennifer Lance of Echo Childs Play wrote (February 9, 2009):
KB blamed the difficult economy for the filing, but toy industry experts said wrong decisions by the retailer hastened its demise. It had shifted its focus to mall-based stores, saddling itself with high rents just as shopping-center traffic was dropping; it stopped selling video-game consoles; and it moved its merchandise mix away from hot toys and toward closeouts.
KB Toys did not listen to the consumer but to the original idea of the store in the early 1900’s. To lead the company into the future the toys need to be of the future.

References
Jennifer Lance. (2009, 9/February). Economic Recession Litter: KB Toys Closes Store Leaving Rubbish on the Streets. Retrieved Juli 1, 2010, from ECO CHILDS: http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/09/economic-recession-litter-kb-toys-closes-store-leaving-rubbish-on-the-streets/http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/09/economic-recession-litter-kb-toys-closes-store-leaving-rubbish-on-the-streets/.
KB Toys. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/KB-Toys-Company-History.htmlhttp://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/KB-Toys-Company-History.html.
The Washington Post. (2008, 12,December). KB TOys oinslist of failed retailers. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/12/kb-toys-joins-list-of-failed-retailers/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/12/kb-toys-joins-list-of-failed-retailers/.
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