Tech Brew Ride Home (BNS) The Story Of Toys R Us
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Dec 26, 2025 Explore the captivating rise and fall of Toys R Us, starting from its humble beginnings in a basement. Discover how Charles Lazarus revolutionized the toy industry by treating toys as consumables. Learn about the chain's explosive growth with innovative branding, like Jeffrey the giraffe, and the iconic jingle. Delve into the challenges they faced from discount rivals and missteps in the digital age. Uncover the brand's legacy and ongoing revival efforts amidst nostalgia and shifting retail landscapes.
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Humble Basement Beginnings
- Charles Lazarus started a small baby-furniture shop under his father's bike store and pivoted after parents kept returning for toys.
- He realized toys were consumables you could sell repeatedly and expanded into supermarket-style toy stores.
Toys As Supermarket Model
- Lazarus treated toys like groceries: self-service aisles, warehouse displays, and bulk buying.
- That supermarket model scaled selection and price over atmosphere, creating the category-killer playbook.
Early Data-Driven Retail
- Lazarus built early computerized inventory systems that reported daily sales back to headquarters.
- That data-driven approach let Toys R Us squeeze suppliers and optimize assortments nationwide.