Top 25 Retailers
A behind-the-numbers look at the winners and losers among the nation's largest toy, game and children's entertainment retailers
By Dana French -- Playthings, 11/1/2007
Despite bankruptcies and buyouts, broken contracts and the ever-present spectre of age compression in the toy business, America's Top 25 retailers of playthings managed to overcome many obstacles on their way to registering $31.6 billion in toy sales last year, an increase of 4.9 percent over 2005's $30.2 billion performance. That's the finding of Playthings's latest ranking of the largest players in the children's entertainment retailing industry, a segment that sold traditional toys and games, video and computer games and consoles, bicycles and other fun-filled products through 39,080 door fronts in 2006, up a net 1,628 doors from 37,452 in 2005.
The top threeAmong the top three retailers on our list, little changed but the relative distances between them.
Ranked as the No. 1 toy retailer since 2000, Wal-Mart, Bentonville, Ark., garnered toy sales of $10.75 billion in 2006, a net increase of $780 million over 2005's $9.8 billion tally of playthings sales. The world's largest retailer accounts for more than a third of our Top 25's total toy and video game sales.
Wayne, N.J.-based Toys “R” Us held on to the No. 2 spot last year, with 2006 sales of $5.7 billion, down 8.4 percent from $6.2 billion in 2005. TRU's figures include sales from brick-and-mortar stores and online sales from Toysrus.com, reflecting a corporate organizational and reporting change during the third quarter of 2006. After closing 85 under-performing stores last year, cleaning up its remaining units, and severing its ties to Amazon.com, TRU these days is banking on providing customers with more exclusives and always having the hottest items in stock.
Grapevine, Texas-based video game retailer GameStop—the list's No. 3 retailer since 2005, when it overcame Target for the bronze position—pulled in 2006 sales of $4.3 billion, an increase of 15.6 percent from its 2005 sales of $3.7 billion. Helping to fuel growth at the electronic entertainment specialist was a net 175 new store locations last year.
In comparing 2006 versus 2005 among the top three, Wal-Mart continues to pull away from TRU, while GameStop continues to close the gap between it and TRU. There was a whopping difference of $5 billion between Wal-Mart and TRU in 2006, compared with a $3.7 billion gap in 2005. Only $1.5 billion separated TRU from GameStop in 2006, versus $2.6 billion in 2005.
Growth leadersOf all the retailers on this year's list, Army & Air Force Exchange Service (No. 14) recorded the largest sales growth percentage last year, growing its toy business 20.7 percent to $286 million in 2006 from $237 million in 2005. Dallas-based AAFES sells toys through more than 150 stores worldwide, catalogs and the Internet.
St. Louis-based Build-A-Bear Workshop grew its sales by 19.5 percent from 2005 to 2006. That impressive sales gain moved the specialist up two spots to No. 10. It opened 29 new stores in the U.S. during 2006 and plans to open 37 new North American stores this year, including its first in Alaska, Montana and Puerto Rico.
Minneapolis-based Target increased its playthings sales by $400 million last year. The discount giant's 2006 toy sales were $3.45 billion, an increase of 13.1 percent from $3.05 billion in 2005, helped by an ever-growing assortment of high margin specialty toys. Target has held onto the No. 4 position for the past two years.
When measuring growth by doors, five retailers opened a net of 100 or more stores last year: No. 17 Walgreen topped the chart with 485 stores, followed by No. 19 Family Dollar with 317 new stores, No. 18 Dollar General with 300 new stores, No. 3 GameStop with 175 new stores and No. 1 Wal-Mart with 142 new stores.
By channelThe entertainment/electronic specialist channel, comprised of No. 3 GameStop, No. 5 Best Buy and No. 8 Circuit City, registered the fastest sales growth of any channel—14.8 percent. The three companies, continuing to ride the video game boom, together opened a net 278 stores in 2006 to end the year with 5,275 doors.
No. 1 Wal-Mart and No. 4 Target are the undisputed leaders of the discount department store channel. Discounters on the list sold $16.7 billion worth of playthings in 2006, up 7.9 percent from 2005 sales of $15.5 billion. They sold toys through 22,808 doors last year.
As a channel, toy and related children's product specialty stores garnered $7.2 billion in 2006 sales and comprised 22.9 percent of the Top 25. Specialty stores Build-A-Bear (No. 10) and Babies “R” Us (No. 25) experienced double-digit growth, while playthings sales for No. 9 American Girl were flat. Both KB Toys (No. 7) and Toys “R” Us (No. 2) had sales declines.
In all, five retailers on the ranking experienced toy sales drops from the previous year: No. 7 KB Toys, down a whopping 27.6 percent; No. 22 Sears, down 8.8 percent; No. 2 Toys “R” Us, down 8.4 percent; No. 6 Kmart, down 2.3 percent; and No. 21 ShopKo, down 1.2 percent.
| Discount department stores | 53% |
| Toy/kid specialists | 23% |
| Entertainment/electronics specialists | 19% |
| Other* | 3% |
| Department stores | 1% |
| Warehouse membership clubs | 1% |
| *Includes Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Michaels Stores, Walgreen and QVC. Source: Playthings Market Research |
|
| Top 25 | 4.9% |
| Entertainment/electronics specialists | 14.8% |
| Other* | 9.9% |
| Discount department stores | 7.9% |
| Warehouse membership clubs | 7.2% |
| Department stores | 0.9% |
| Toy/kids specialists | -8.1% |
| *Other includes Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Michaels Stores, Walgreen and QVC. Source: Playthings Market Research |
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| Rank, Company, Headquarters | Estimated 2006 playthings sales in millions $ | Estimated 2005 playthings sales in millions $ | % change 2005 to 2006 | 2006 playthings stores | 2005 playthings stores |
| 1 Wal-Mart Bentonville, Ark. | $10,750 | $9,970 | 7.8% | 3,331 | 3,189 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Jan. 31. Sales and store counts are for U.S. Wal-Mart stores only and online at Walmart.com. Excludes sales from Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club's (see No. 16). Opened 15 and closed two discount stores in 2006 and opened 276 supercenters, including 147 discount store conversions to supercenters. Planned to open between 190 and 200 supercenters in 2007. Comp sales rose 2 percent last year. The sporting goods and toy categories accounted for 5 percent of sales in both 2006 and 2005. Total 2006 sales were $226.3 billion, up 7.8 percent from $209.9 billion in 2005. For the second quarter ended July 31, net sales were $59 billion, up 6.5 percent from $55.4 billion in the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 2 Toys "R" Us Wayne, N.J. | $5,725 | $6,250R | -8.4% | 586 | 671 |
| Privately held, fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Sales and store counts are for U.S. Toys "R" Us stores and sales of Toysrus.com. Figures exclude Babies "R" Us (see No. 25). Parent company Toys "R" Us Inc. was taken private in 2005 when it was purchased by an investment group consisting of affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Robert & Co., Bain Capital Partners LLC and Vornado Realty Trust. Closed 85 underperforming stores last year and de-cluttered and spruced up remaining stores. Stores range in size from 30,000 to 45,000 square feet of selling space and offer between 8,000 and 10,000 products. Opened a 25,000-square-foot temporary location in October 2007 in New York City's NoHo neighborhood for 2007 holiday shoppers. Comp store sales increased 0.6 percent in 2006, the division's first comparable store sales increase in six years. Total 2006 sales were $5.9 billion, down 8.4 percent from $6.4 billion in 2005. | |||||
| 3 GameStop Grapevine, Texas | $4,270 | $3,695 | 15.6% | 3,799 | 3,624 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Operates stores primarily under the names GameStop and EB Games in the United States, Australia, Canada and Europe. Also operates websites—Gamestop.com and Ebgames.com—and publishes Game Informer, a video game magazine. Sales and store counts are for the U.S. only, including stores in Guam and Puerto Rico. Stores, averaging about 1,500 square feet, carry a balanced mix of new and used video game hardware, software and accessories, and PC entertainment software. Intends to rebrand the remaining EB stores to the GameStop brand within the next 12 to 18 months. Expects to open 500 to 550 new stores worldwide in 2007. Total 2006 worldwide sales were $5.32 billion, up 21.1 percent from total pro forma 2005 sales of $4.39 billion. For the second quarter ended Aug. 4, total worldwide sales were $1.34 billion, up 38.9 percent from $963.3 million for the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 4 Target Minneapolis | $3,450 | $3,050 | 13.1% | 1,488 | 1,397 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Opened 94 Target stores and 19 SuperTargets in 2006 and closed 22 stores, including 18 relocations in the same trading areas. Plans 100 new Target stores, including 30 to 35 SuperTargets, in 2007. Also sells toys online at Target.com. The electronics/entertainment/sporting goods/toys categories accounted for 23 percent of total sales in 2006 and 2005. Sales in these categories were $13.3 billion in 2006, up 12.9 percent from $11.8 billion in 2005. Comp store sales increased 4.8 percent in 2006. Total 2006 sales were $57.9 billion, up 12.9 percent from $51.3 billion in 2005. For the third quarter ended August 4, sales increased 9.5 percent to $14.6 billion from $13.3 billion in 2006. | |||||
| 5 Best Buy Eden Prairie, Minn. | $1,210 | $1,060 | 14.2% | 822 | 742 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended March 3. Sales and store counts are for U.S. units only. Also sells online at Bestbuy.com. In 2006, opened 96 new stores, acquired 145 stores and relocated 20 other stores. In 2007, expects to open about 90 new stores and relocate eight. Comp store sales gain in the entertainment software product group was due primarily to sales growth in video gaming, with the increased affordability of existing platforms, as well as the launches of Playstation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. Entertainment software, including video game hardware and software, as well as computer software, accounted for 19 percent of total sales for the past two years. Total domestic 2006 sales were $31.03 billion, up 13.3 percent from $27.38 billion in 2006. For the first quarter ended June 2, domestic sales were $6.7 billion, up 8.8 percent from $6.16 billion in the first quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 6 Kmart Hoffman Estates, Ill. | $1,080 | $1,105 | -2.3% | 1,388 | 1,416 |
| Part of publicly held Sears Holdings, fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Sales and store counts are for 1,333 discount Kmart stores and 55 supercenters in 2006. Also sells toys online at Kmart.com. Discount stores average 93,000 square feet and supercenters average 165,000 square feet. Closed 28 stores last year and remodeled approximately 200. Introduced an animated "spokes-character," Mr. Bluelight, in May, its first integrated marketing campaign since 2003. Comp sales declined 0.6 percent in 2006. Total 2006 sales were $18.6 billion, down 2.3 percent from $19.1 billion in 2005. Comp store sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 4 declined 3.8 percent. | |||||
| 7 KB Toys Pittsfield, Mass. | $525 | $725 | -27.6% | 570 | 640 |
| Privately held. Was purchased by Prentice Capital Management in August 2005, bringing KB out of bankruptcy protection. Currently operates stores in 45 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. Closed about 70 stores last year and renovated approximately 50 stores. Recently announced plans to shutter an additional 30 stores. Bills itself as the nation's largest mall-based specialty retailer. Operates under the banners of KB Toys, KB Toy Works and KB Toy Outlet. Under a long-term licensing agreement, Denver-based eToys Direct operates KB's online store. Named veteran retail executive Andrew Bailen as president and CEO in June. Total 2006 sales estimated at $525 million, down nearly 28 percent from $725 million in 2005. | |||||
| 8 Circuit City Richmond, Va. | $455 | $415 | 9.6% | 654 | 631 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Feb. 28. Sales and store counts are for U.S. units only. Also sells on the Web and via the telephone through call centers. In 2007, expects to open 60 to 65 superstores, of which 17 to 19 will be relocations. By the end of fiscal year, almost half of the store base will have been relocated/remodeled, or built under one of the "new" store formats introduced in 2001. Earlier this year launched a test that sells previously owned video games in select stores and online. Entertainment software, including game hardware and software, as well as PC software, accounted for 11 percent of 2006 sales. Comp store sales of video game products grew double digits in 2006. Total domestic 2006 sales were $11.86 billion, up 8.1 percent from $10.97 billion in 2005. For the first quarter ended May 31, domestic sales were $2.38 billion, down 4.4 percent from $2.49 billion in the first quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 9 American Girl Middleton, Wis. | $440 | $436 | 0.9% | 4 | 3 |
| Part of publicly held Mattel, fiscal year ended Dec. 31. Sales and store counts are for direct-to-consumer sales of American Girl merchandise only, expect for publications, which are sold through various retailers. Includes the American Girl brand as well as Just Like You, the historical collection and the Bitty Baby brand. Sells through catalogs and online at Americangirl.com, as well as through American Girl Place stores in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. Opened the L.A. store in April 2006. Also operates a retail outlet in Oshkosh, Wis. Launched the American Girl Boutique and Bistro, a new experimental retail concept in Atlanta, in August, with plans to also open one in Dallas. Total 2006 American Girl Brand sales were $440 million, up 0.9 percent from $436 million in 2005. For the second quarter ended June 30, sales for the American Girl Brands were $55.8 million, down 10 percent from the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 10 Build-A-Bear Workshop Saint Louis | $410 | $343 | 19.5% | 220 | 191 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Dec. 30. Sales and store counts are for U.S. units only and exclude 13 stores in Canada and 38 stores in the U.K. and Ireland. Also sells online at Buildabear.com. Plans to open 37 new stores in the U.S. and Canada in fiscal 2007, including its first stores in Alaska, Montana and Puerto Rico. Opened a new distribution center in Groveport, Ohio, last October. Stores have eight bear-making stations where customers choose from more than 30 stuffed animal styles. Total 2006 sales, including sales from locations in Canada and the U.K., were $437.1 million, up 20.8 percent from $361.8 million in 2005. Net retail sales increased 6.6 percent to $99.1 million for the second quarter ended June 30, and same store sales in North America fell 9.4 percent during the period. | |||||
| 11 Meijer Grand Rapids, Mich. | $400 | $387 | 3.4% | 175 | 171 |
| Privately held. Is family-owned and operated and is recognized as the pioneer of the supercenter concept. Operates the majority of its stores in Michigan, with the balance in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. All stores are opened 24 hours a day and average 225,000 square feet. Opened five supercenters in 2006 and plans to open five in 2007 and seven in 2008. Currently operates 13 supercenters in Chicago area. Unveiled in October 2006 its new prescription drug program where any customer, regardless of insurance, can take prescriptions for certain antibiotics to any store and have them filled for free. The company's new "green" store in Allen Park, Mich., will carry energy-efficient fixtures, incorporate sustainable building components and feature indoor air-quality monitoring, qualifying it for LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, from the U.S. Green Building Council). Total 2006 sales estimated at $14.1 billion. | |||||
| 12 Costco Issaquah, Wash. | $335 | $305 | 9.8% | 371 | 346 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Sept. 3. Sales and store counts are for the trailing 12 months ended Feb. 18 and include only stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including its two Costco Home stores in Kirkland, Wash., and Tempe, Ariz. Also sells toys online at Costco.com. Its website is on track to generate online sales of $1.2 billion for fiscal 2007, an increase of 36.4 percent. Plans to open 35 new stores worldwide in 2007. Hardlines, including toys, comprised 20 percent of sales in 2006. Total 2006 trailing 12 month sales were $61.2 billion, up 12.1 percent from $54.6 billion in 2005. For the third quarter ended May 13, net sales increased 10 percent to $14.3 billion and comp store sales increased 7 percent. | |||||
| 13 Big Lots Columbus, Ohio | $292 | $288 | 1.4% | 1,375 | 1,401 |
| Publicly held, broadline closeout retailer. Fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Opened 11 stores last year and closed 37 stores. Purchased about 24 percent of its merchandise directly from overseas vendors in 2006, including 19 percent from vendors located in China. The seasonal and toys categories accounted for 17.7 percent of total sales in 2006, down from 18.7 percent in 2005. Comp store sales increased 4.6 percent last year. Total 2006 sales were $4.7 billion, up 7.1 percent from $4.4 billion in 2005. For the second quarter ended Aug. 4, sales increased 2.7 percent to $1.08 billion and comp store sales increased 5.2 percent. Operated 1,369 stores in 47 states at the end of the second quarter. | |||||
| 14 Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas | $286 | $237 | 20.7% | 153 | 153 |
| Revenues based on worldwide sales, excluding food, services and vending. Market areas include worldwide Army and Air Force military posts and bases serving active duty military personnel, guard and reservists, retirees and their families, some 7.3 million customers. Receives no funds from the Department of Defense. Has more than 150 main stores or shopping centers worldwide and in every state. Supplements storefronts with catalog and online sales. Total 2006 sales were $8.9 billion, up 8 percent from $8.3 billion in 2005. | |||||
| 15 Michaels Stores Irving, Texas | $243 | $238 | 2.1% | 863 | 829 |
| Fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Sales and store counts are for U.S. Michaels Stores only and do not include Michaels Stores in Canada, ReCollections stores, Aaron Brothers or Star Wholesale stores. Merged with affiliates of the private investment firms Bain Capital Partners, LLC and The Blackstone Group in October. Opened 43 stores in 2006, relocated seven and closed eight. Plans to open between 45-50 stores in 2007, close three, relocate between 8-11 and remodel 40 stores. Toys offered include wooden and plastic model kids and related supplies, kids' crafts, plush and paint-by number kits. Brands include Thomas the Tank Engine and Magnetix. Debuted Martha Stewart craft line in May. Total U.S. 2006 sales were $3.60 billion, up 4.3 percent from $3.45 billion in 2005. Sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 4 were $792.9 million, up 3 percent from $768.3 million in the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 16 Sam's Club Bentonville, Ark. | $218 | $211 | 3.3% | 579 | 567 |
| Fiscal year ended Jan. 31 for this division of publicly held Wal-Mart. Sales and store counts are for Sam's Club division only. Operates clubs in 48 states. Also sells online at Samsclub.com. Opened 15 new clubs last year and closed three. Clubs range between 72,000 and 190,000 square feet and average 132,000 square feet. Began softening its small business focus this year to reach more consumers. Began accepting MasterCard as a payment method in 2006. Sales of hard goods, including toys, were $9.6 billion in 2006, up 4.5 percent from $9.2 billion in 2005. Comp 2006 store sales increased 2.5 percent. Total 2006 sales were $41.6 billion, up 4.5 percent from $39.8 billion in 2005. Sales for the second quarter ended July 31 were $11.4 billion, up 8.6 percent from the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 17 Walgreen Deerfield, Ill. | $206 | $185 | 11.4% | 5,641 | 5,156 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Aug. 31. Sales and store counts are for the trailing 12 months ended Feb. 28. Sells through stores operating in 48 states and Puerto Rico, and online. Opened its first stores in West Virginia, Delaware and Maine last year. Opened its 12th distribution center, in Anderson, S.C., this summer to support its expansion in the Southeast. Ended its fiscal year in August with a net increase of 531 stores. This fiscal year expects to open 550 stores for a net gain of 475 stores. Toys offered include dolls, plush, board games, handheld electronic games, R/C, scooters, ride-ons, books and puzzles. General merchandise sales, including toys, accounted for 25 percent of sales for the past few years. Total trailing 12 month sales for 2006 were $50.99 billion, up 14.9 percent from $44.49 billion in 2005. For the third quarter ended May 31, total sales were $13.7 billion, up 12.5 percent from $12.18 billion in the third quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 18 Dollar General Goodlettsville, Tenn. | $193 | $180 | 7.2% | 8,229 | 7,929 |
| Fiscal year ended Feb 2. Was acquired by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in July. Opened 537 new stores last year, remodeled or relocated 64 and closed 237. Plans to open 300 new stores this year and remodel or relocate an additional 300. Will also close 400 underperforming stores by the end of fiscal 2007. Stores average 6,900 square feet of selling space. Seasonal merchandise, including toys, accounted for 16.4 percent of 2006 sales, up from 15.7 percent in 2005. Comp store sales increased 3.3 percent in 2006. Total 2006 sales were $9.2 billion, up 6.8 percent from $8.6 billion in 2005. | |||||
| 19 Family Dollar Matthews, N.C. | $190 | $160 | 18.8% | 6,319 | 6,002 |
| Publicly held, fiscal year ended Aug. 26. Sales and store counts are for the trailing 12 months ended Feb. 25. Opened 200 new stores featuring better fixtures and new signage in January and opened 400 new stores by end of August. Continued its "Treasure Hunt" merchandise program last year and focusing its merchandising efforts on food and apparel. Comp store sales increased 3.7 percent for fiscal 2006. Seasonal and electronics, including toys, accounted for 12.5 percent of fiscal 2006 sales, up from 12.5 percent fiscal 2005. Total 2006 trailing 12 month sales were $6.8 billion, up 10.5 percent from $6.2 billion in 2005. For the third quarter ended June 2 were $1.66 billion, up 5.4 percent from the third quarter of fiscal 2006. | |||||
| 20 Fred Meyer Portland, Ore. | $172 | $165 | 4.2% | 152 | 150 |
| Part of publicly held Kroger Co., fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Operated 128 Fred Meyer stores and 24 Marketplace stores at the end of 2006. Fred Meyer supercenters range in size from 66,000 square feet to 174,000 square feet, averaging 150,000 square feet. Stores offer one-stop stopping with more than 225,000 food and non-food products, including toys, consumer electronics, home furnishings, apparel and jewelry. Marketplace stores range in size from 80,000 to 105,000 square feet and offer full-service grocery and pharmacy departments, as well as toys, electronics and home goods. Has been scouting store sites in the Sacramento, Calif., area, which would be its first retail location in California in 11 years, since it closed its lone store in the state. Total 2006 sales estimated at $7.7 billion. | |||||
| 21 ShopKo Green Bay, Wis. | $168 | $170 | -1.2% | 351 | 351 |
| Privately held. Taken private by investment firm Sun Capital Partners in December 2005. Sales and store counts are for 135 ShopKo stores in 13 Midwest and Northwest states and 216 Pamida stores in 15 Midwest, Pacific, Northwest and Western Mountain states. Figures exclude three ShopKo Express Rx stores in Wisconsin. ShopKo spun the Pamida chain off in March. ShopKo stores average over 90,000 square feet. ShopKo closed two stores in Peoria, Ill., and one in Eugene, Ore., in January. Broke ground in May on an 80,000-square-foot store in metro Green Bay, Wis., its first new store in six years. Total 2006 sales estimated at $2.2 billion. | |||||
| 22 Sears Hoffman Estates, Ill. | $165 | $181 | -8.8% | 935 | 924 |
| Fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Part of publicly held Sears Holdings Corp. Sales and store counts are for 861 full line stores and 74 Sears Essentials/Grand stores at fiscal year end. Also sells toys and video games online at Sears.com and through catalogs. Merged with Kmart (ranked separately, see No. 6) to form one company in March 2005. Debuted Internet lounges in two full line stores and 13 Sears Grand stores last year. Sears domestic comp store sales declined 6.1 percent last year. Total 2006 sales were $29.2 billion, down 2.9 percent from $30 billion in 2005. For the second quarter ended August 4, domestic comp store sales declined 4.3 percent. | |||||
| 23 QVC West Chester, Pa. | $163 | $157 | 3.8% | 7 | 7 |
| Part of publicly held Liberty Media Corp., fiscal year ended Dec. 31. Markets and sells a wide variety of consumer products through televised shopping programs on the QVC networks; online; and at its flagship store at Minnesota's Mall of America, its Studio Store located at QVC headquarters and its five Outlet stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida. QVC aired 24 hours a day to 90.7 million U.S. households in 2006. Toys offered included action figures, dolls, trains, electronic learning aids, handheld video games, arts and crafts products, models, puzzles, books, plush, R/C toys and construction toys. The home category, including toys, accounted for about 44 percent of U.S. net revenues in 2006, down from 45 percent in 2005 due to the continued shift in the mix from home products to apparel and accessories. Total domestic 2006 sales were $4.98 billion, up 7.4 percent from $4.64 billion in 2005. For the second quarter ended June 30, domestic sales were $1.18 billion, up 4 percent from $1.14 billion in the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 24 Kohl's Menomonee Falls, Wis. | $155 | $136 | 14.0% | 817 | 732 |
| Fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Opened 85 new stores, including its entry into the Northwest region with four stores in both the Seattle and Portland, Ore., markets. Plans to open 110 to 115 new stores this fiscal year, including entry into Idaho and Wyoming, the company's 46th and 47th states of operation. Among the categories of toys Kohl's offers through its stores and website are action figures, arts and crafts products, blocks, building toys, books, video games, bikes, scooters, handheld games, interactive games, and cars/trucks. Beginning this November, Fisher-Price's (Not So) Scary Monsters toys will launch exclusively at all Kohl's stores. Children's sales, including toys, accounted for 12.9 percent of total sales in 2006. Total 2006 sales were $15.54 billion, up 16 percent from $13.4 billion in 2005. For the second quarter ended Aug. 4, sales were $3.6 billion, up 8.7 percent from $3.3 billion in the second quarter of 2006. | |||||
| 25 Babies "R" Us Wayne, N.J. | $130 | $117 | 11.1% | 251 | 230 |
| Division of privately held Toys "R" Us, fiscal year ended Feb. 3. Sales and store counts are for Babies "R" Us. Also sells online. Parent company Toys "R" Us was taken private in 2005 when it was purchased by an investment group consisting of affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Bain Capital Partners LLC and Vornado Realty Trust. Stores average 35,000 square feet. Opened its first Manhattan location in Union Square in 2005. The accelerated growth of the Babies "R" Us division is part of the company's overall strategic plan. Carries infant and toddler toys. Brands include Baby Einstein, Bright Starts and Chicco. Comp store sales increased 4.8 percent in 2006. Total 2006 sales were $2.4 billion, up 13.8 percent from $2.1 billion in 2005. | |||||
| NS = No stores R = Revised from updated information All playthings sales information, except for publicly held companies that break out line-of-business sales for toys, are Playthings Market Research estimates. All data for calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2006, fiscal year end or trailing 12 months closest to date. Source: Playthings Market Research 2007 |
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