Strategic Marks, a specialist company that buys defunct brands, is bringing back KB Toys, and have announced plans to open up to 1,000 pop-up stores by the holiday shopping season 2018.
“My assumption is that there’s about half a billion dollars worth of toys that have been produced for Toys “R” Us with no place to go,” said Strategic Marks president Ellia Kassoff, in a phone interview with CNNMoney. “That’s a big, big void that we’re hoping to fill up.”
Kassoff said he’s been in contact with Hasbro Inc. (HAS)and Mattel, Inc. (MAT) and up to 200 smaller toy suppliers who are looking for new brick and mortar retailers. He said he plans to take advantage of a glut of toy manufacturers that have inventory but no place to sell it.
After the holiday shopping season ends, Kassoff will decide which of the pop-up stores will become permanent, based on their performance and whether he can negotiate a lease.
