The BTHA – organiser of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards – has confirmed that the 2024 retailer application process is now open.
Retailers can compete nationally in like-for-like categories and can apply in more than one category, if applicable. Self-nominations are permitted, together with nominations coming from a panel of nationwide industry experts.
Retailers interested in taking part should click on this link.
The BTHA will continue this year with the option for independent and smaller multiple retailers being able to include short testimonials from their suppliers. This is intended to strengthen an entry for the benefit of the retailer and the judges when assessing the entry.
The category definitions are as follows:
- Independent Toy Retailer of the Year – single store: for an independent toy retailer with one store.
- Independent Toy Retailer of the Year – multi store: for an independent toy retailer with more than one store (with no upper store limit).
- Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year: for multiple toy retailers to include specialist and general multiples.
- Omnichannel Toy Retailer of the Year: for toy retailers with both an online and on-shelf offering.
- Toy Department of the Year: this new category is for garden centres or retailers with a toy aisle or department to include UK department stores.
- Online Excellence: companies can enter this category if their main business is through online sales OR if there are online toy sales which complement main store retailing. This category will be judged on the toy offering of the website alone.
- Best Overall Toy Retailer of the Year 2024 UK & Ireland: this will be selected as overall winner from the winners of the other categories.
Judges also have the ability to make a Special Recognition Award at their discretion after considering all entries. This is not a category for which retailers can actively submit an entry.
Entry into the Toy Retailer of the Year awards has been designed to be a straightforward online process where retailers have the opportunity to support their applications should be supported with photos.
