Hawkin's Bazaar in Receivership

[vernon]

I'm saddened by the report that Hawkin's Bazaar has gone into receivership.

The company received many orders from our household over the past 10-12 years as they had many of the unusual but simple toys and trinkets that kept me entertained in the sixties.

Those unfamiliar with Hawkin's Bazaar might well have bough items supplied by the parent company Tobar who supplied many gift shops with their toys.

I'm not an expert in retailing but I think that the company over expanded. It was a mail order only company and wholesaler and expanded to sixty five retail stores. I hope that it survives in some form for the future.

 

[upsidedown]

I'd never heard of them until they opened a shop at the Merry Hill centre. The rents there are eye-wateringly expensive and they have another in the Bull Ring in Brum. You've got to sell a lot of comedy mugs to pay for that.

 

[Maz]

I'd never even heard of them until today's news that they'd gone bust.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

I'm saddened by the report that Hawkin's Bazaar has gone into receivership.

The company received many orders from our household over the past 10-12 years as they had many of the unusual but simple toys and trinkets that kept me entertained in the sixties.

Those unfamiliar with Hawkin's Bazaar might well have bough items supplied by the parent company Tobar who supplied many gift shops with their toys.

I'm not an expert in retailing but I think that the company over expanded. It was a mail order only company and wholesaler and expanded to sixty five retail stores. I hope that it survives in some form for the future.

I would have thought their biggest problem would have been that their sales would have been the very last in a long list of non essential purchaes,and hence the first to go.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

We had a lot of stuff from them as well. Some of it was traditional shite quality though!

We used it a fair bit too until the nearest one to us closed down - it had all the old shite we used to get as kids.

 

[vernon]

We used it a fair bit too until the nearest one to us closed down - it had all the old shite we used to get as kids.

It might have been old shite but it was just as entertaining for my brats as it was for me at their age.

I quite fancied some of their tin plate stuff. I just might place an order before they go totally tits up.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It might have been old shite...

Old shite in the nicest possible way - I like the stuff!

 

[Arch]

That is sad. My nephews had several stocking fillers from Hawkins this year - the wind up dinosaurs provided loads of entertainment.

I agree that they might have over expanded - they seemed to go from no shops to lots very quickly.

 

[ufkacbln]

I would have thought their biggest problem would have been that their sales would have been the very last in a long list of non essential purchaes,and hence the first to go.

Not sure ...

As with Arch, this is a placewe always go for those small gifts and stocking fillers

Also we have organised many fund raising stalls for the Scouts using their wares,

Racing wind-up snails / mice / frogs/ Grannies etc, with an entry and a prize for the winner is always popular and the Cubs used to wait to see what we were going to race at the next event

 

[summerdays]

I first came across Tobar years ago when having to buy the gifts for Santa's Grotto at school etc. I even bought something from them the day before the announcement. The toys were often simple and old fashioned but still raised a smile because of their simplicity. Hopefully they will be able to remain in a more limited way.

 

[vernon]

I first came across Tobar years ago when having to buy the gifts for Santa's Grotto at school etc. I even bought something from them the day before the announcement. The toys were often simple and old fashioned but still raised a smile because of their simplicity. Hopefully they will be able to remain in a more limited way.

Back to basics and mail order only hopefully. I think that they outgrew their market.