I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys “R” Us Kid

I was sad.  I heard the news.  It could not be real.  My childhood.  My Christmas lists. 

To borrow from “A Christmas Story”, I didn't say "Fudge."  I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word.  Toys “R” Us is CLOSED?  The memories, the Saturday trips, packed earmuff-to-earmuff, jostled in wonderment before a golden, tinkling display of mechanized, or motorized or electronic toys!

“I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys “R” Us Kid...they’re the biggest toy store there is...”

The dream of “The Toy Store” for many of us has just faded.  Sure NYC has FAO Schwartz, London has Hamleys and the Lego Store, Paris has Si Tu Veux, Tokyo has Kiddyland, and our own Minnesota has Lark Toys.  But the Toys “R” Us superstore, the McDonald’s of toy stores that became a dream factory for kids nationwide said in a U.S Bankruptcy Court filing earlier today that it “must liquidate, a move that will likely lead to the closure of all its stores and sale of remaining merchandise.”  Tears.  Play doh, footballs, Risk, BMX bikes and the piece de resistance - electric slot cars.  No more.  No more.  

The truth is that while Toys “R” Us kids made the store great, Toys “R” Us grandkids aren’t shopping there anymore. Instead, they’re shopping online — and when they do, it’s for electronics, not games, dolls and big wheels.  Kids love toys.  If you have any doubts about that, just take a child into a toy store.  They will probably find a number of things that they feel they just can’t live without.

Do you remember your favorite toy growing up?  It didn´t matter whether it was a Barbie doll, GI Joe, Rock ‘em Sock ‘em robots, Monopoly, Legos, Easy-Bake oven, a stuffed bear or a paint set.  That was your favorite toy and you loved it more than anything else in this world. 

Where am I going, you ask?  

Well... it is about change.  Blockbuster, Cassette tapes, VCRs, chalkboards - pick one.  If we do not continuously adapt, we will be passed by.  We need to stay current, understand trends.  Adopt.  

This applies to our personal life, our professional life, the companies we work for, the industries we are in.  Our world, our businesses are rapidly evolving and disrupting digitally.  While this type of change can bring uncertainty, remember, change is our life (how many cell phones have you owned in the last ten years?). So the next time someone is unhappy with change - ask them to accompany you to Toys “R” Us.

Thanks for the memories.  

Together. We. Win.

Dave Harmon
People Division
“Kindness is Currency”
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidharmonhr

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