BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff
Macy’s Guam store will also feature Toys “R” Us along with other stores in the chain in 2022. The Macy’s site has already begun selling the brand’s products online.
But the Guam store typically makes generous room for toys on the second floor of its 45,000 square-foot menswear, home furnishings and children’s building for the holiday season.
The Guam Macy’s began offering both Christmas decorations in the third week of October and had toys instore for the season by the end of October.
Photo by Justin Green
Ryan F. Torres, store manager for Macy’s Guam said, “I’m pleased by the customer response with our assortment of toys and the offerings.” Customers have been ordering what may not be in the store and using the Macy’s App, he said. Macy’s does have a number of popular toys. For instance, Torres said, “We have the top Barbie.”
Macy’s has been managing supply chain challenges, he said. “We are okay. We continue to see our deliveries come through the next couple of months. We are happy with what we have available.”
As to customer patterns and footfall in the leadup to the heaviest part of the holiday season, Torres the store has seen tourists among its customers. He said local shoppers are already preparing for the season. “I’m seeing them shop earlier. I think they want to get ahead of it, before the rush.”
Toys “R” Us opened a 3,000 square foot Toys “R” Us Express store at Micronesia Mall in February 2013, according to Journal files. The brand went through a rocky history of ownerships and leaderships, and most recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2017, closing its U.S. stores.
“Toys R Us” continued to operate in some international locations. The Guam store closed in June 2018.
“Toys R Us” officially began using the name in 1957, though it was founded earlier as a baby goods and furniture store in Washington D.C. earlier. The brand launched Geoffrey the Giraffe as its mascot in 1969. WHP Global acquired a controlling interest in Tru Kids, the parent company of Toys “R” Us in March 2021.
The U.S. market size for the total toy industry for 2020 was approximately $32.6 billion, representing a 16.7% increase from 2019, according to The NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service.
Guam had a resident population of 59,388 young people under 15 years old at the beginning of 2021, according to Country Meters. mbj
