Smyths
{{Short description|Irish multinational toy shop chain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Smyths
| logo = Smyths logo.svg
| logo_caption = The current logo, in use since 2006
| image = Smyths Toys superstore, Leckwith, Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 5541225.jpg
| image_caption = A Smyths shop in Cardiff
| type = Private
| predecessor =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1986|12|23|df=yes}}
Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland
| founders = {{plainlist|
- Tony Smyth
- Padraig Smyth
- Liam Smyth
- Thomas "Tommy" Smyth
}}
| owner = Smyth family {{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/meet-the-smyths-the-mayo-family-turning-toy-retailing-into-child-s-play-1.2898022|title=Meet the Smyths, the Mayo family turning toy retailing into child's play|newspaper=The Irish Times |publisher=}}
| num_locations = 304+ shops
| revenue_year = 2023
| hq_location_city = Galway
| hq_location_country = Ireland
| area_served = {{plainlist|
}}
| industry = Retail
| products = Toys
Video games
| homepage = {{URL|smythstoys.com}}
}}
Smyths is an Irish multinational chain provider of children's toys, games and entertainment products with over 297 shops throughout western and central Europe. The business is owned by the Smyth family.{{cite web |last1=Kehoe |first1=Ian |title=The march of Smyths Toys: Rewinding the week that was |url=https://thecurrency.news/articles/134263/the-march-of-smyths-toys-rtes-new-strategy-and-manufacturing-a-problem-rewinding-the-week-that-was/ |website=The Currency |access-date=21 December 2023 |date=19 November 2023}}
The company is headquartered in Galway, with other offices in Belfast and London.
The group's turnover reached €1.465 billion in pandemic-hit 2020 with the majority of sales coming from the UK market while in 2023 the group turnover exceeded €2 billion.{{cite news |title=Toy giant Smyths sees group turnover hit €1.46bn |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/toy-giant-smyths-sees-group-turnover-hit-1-46bn-1.4761077 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=31 October 2022 |language=en}}
History
Smyths started out as a family newsagent on Main Street, Claremorris, County Mayo in 1935 before branching out into toys in 1986.https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/ireland-news/beloved-irish-shop-closing-after-8837444{{Cite web|url=http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/Smyths-Toys-Unlimited-Company-119138|title=Smyths Toys Unlimited Company {{!}} Irish Legal & Business Services Company & Director Check|last=|first=|date=|website=Solocheck|language=en-IE|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=6 June 2017}} The original newsagent's shop in Claremorris remained in business under the Smyth's brand until late 2023.https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/ireland-news/beloved-irish-shop-closing-after-8837444
The company is run by three brothers, Tony, Padraig and Thomas Smyth. A fourth brother and director, Liam, died in July 2023.{{Cite web |title=Liam Smyth obituary: Founder of Smyths Toys and proud Mayo man |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2023/08/05/liam-smyth-obituary-founder-of-smyths-toys-and-proud-mayo-man/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} Smyths is the UK and Ireland's largest toy retailer."[http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/3609262.Toy_maga_store_for_Rayleigh_Weir/ Toy mega store for Rayleigh Weir]", Essex Echo, 13 September 2008
= Expansion to central Europe =
On 24 April 2018, Smyths acquired Toys "R" Us shops in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/smyths-toys-to-buy-toys-r-us-in-germany-austria-and-switzerland-1.3469969|title=Smyths Toys to buy Toys R Us in Germany, Austria and Switzerland|newspaper=Irish Times|date=21 April 2018|accessdate=23 April 2018}} In 2019, all the remaining shops in those countries were rebranded to Smyths.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stonewars.de/news/toysrus-wird-zu-smyths-toys/|title=ToysRUs wird zu Smyth Toys: Die ersten Filialen tragen neue Namen|last=Kurth|first=Luke|date=12 January 2019|website=Stone Wars|language=de-DE|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=27 June 2019}}
In July 2022, Smyths acquired French toy chain {{ill|PicWicToys|fr}} in France out of receivership, taking over 41 shops, 2 warehouses and a head office.{{cite web | url=https://toyworldmag.co.uk/breaking-news-smyths-toys-acquires-picwic-toys/ | title=Smyths Toys acquires PicWic Toys | date=6 July 2022 }}{{cite web |title=Smyths acquires PicWic Toys as it expands into France |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/smyths-acquires-picwic-toys-as-it-expands-into-france-41841101.html |website=independent |date=15 July 2022 |access-date=17 November 2022 |language=en}}
Shops and subsidiaries
| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="display: inline-table"
|+Smyths shops by country |
| Country
! Number |
|---|
| Republic of Ireland
|21 |
| Northern Ireland
|7 |
| England
|104 |
| Wales
|7 |
| Scotland
|10 |
| Germany
|74 |
| France
|49 |
| Austria
|17 |
| Switzerland
|11 |
| Netherlands
| 4 |
| class="sortbottom"
| Totals | 304 |
In total as of April 2025, Smyths operates over 304 shops across 7 countries: 21 shops in Ireland, 7 in Northern Ireland, 104 in England, 7 in Wales, 10 in Scotland,{{cite web |title=Store Finder & Opening Hours |url=https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/store-finder |website=Smyths Toys |access-date=27 November 2024}} 74 in Germany,{{Cite web |title=Store Finden |url=https://www.smythstoys.com/de/de-de/store-finden}} 16 in Austria,{{cite web |title=Marktsuche |url=https://www.smythstoys.com/at/de-at/store-finder}} 11 in Switzerland,{{cite web |title=Marktsuche |url=https://www.smythstoys.com/ch/de-ch/store-finder}} 49 in France{{Cite web |title=Trouver Un Magasin |url=https://www.smythstoys.com/fr/fr-fr/trouver-un-magasin}} and 4 in the Netherlands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/smyths-toys-uk-sales-top-halfbillion-mark-for-first-time-37322480.html|title=Smyths Toys' UK sales top half-billion mark for first time|last=Deegan|first=Gordon|date=17 September 2018|website=Irish Independent|language=en-IE|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=27 June 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06051517|title=SMYTHS TOYS UK LIMITED - Overview|last=|first=|date=|website=Companies House|language=en-GB|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=27 June 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Anita |date=2023-01-19 |title=Breaking News: Smyths confirms store expansion in The Netherlands |url=https://toyworldmag.co.uk/breaking-news-smyths-confirms-store-expansion-in-the-netherlands/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Toy World Magazine {{!}} The business magazine with a passion for toys |language=en-GB}}