Child World

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Child World, Inc.



Former Type	Corporation
Fate	Liquidation


Founded
Defunct	1992
Location	Avon, Massachusetts
Industry	Retail
Products	Toys, electronics, board games, dolls, and video games.

Child World Stores, a wholly-owned division of Cole National Corporation, was once the second-largest toy retailer in the U.S. (behind the much-larger Toys "R" Us). Based in Avon, Massachusetts, Child World once boasted 182 stores and revenues of approximately $830 million annually.

Child World, sometimes called Children's Palace depending on location, is a defunct toy store chain founded in Avon, Massachusetts. Generally, and with some exceptions, the Child World brand was used East of the Mississippi, while the Children's Palace name prevailed in the West.^[1]

Into the early 1990s, Child World was led by then-President Peter Hayes. The chain was known for, largely, a 'warehouse' style of merchandising, with long aisles and so-called "over-stock" storage above selling-floor level shelves.

To counter declining sales, in 1989, the chain announced a new 29,000 sq. ft. store prototype designed to appeal to customers and real estate developers alike. The first store remodeled into the new prototype was in Framingham, Massachusetts, near the Shoppers World mall and key competitor, Toys "R" Us, just one block away. Initially, the prototype was well-received, with strong first-day openings, and good performance in the critical Christmas selling season. Owing partly to that success, Child World management announced that the new prototype would be used to renovate 11 existing sites, and new market expansion would be targeted in 1990, 1991 and 1992 using the new design.

But, as the chain's management set its sights on growth, executives at Cole National Corp. had increasing doubts about the company. In 1990 and 1991, the lack of a break-out 'must-have' toy (like Cabbage Patch Kids dolls several years earlier) the company suffered lackluster sales. Hayes and other top managers were removed in early 1990. Cole's subsequent decision to restrict access to capital left Child World unable to procure much-needed merchandise for the critical Fall/Winter selling season; it was also unable to pay creditors and its' suppliers. Following the company's resulting default, many vendors, including LEGO, refused orders from Child World. Empty store shelves, eventually, doomed the retailer.

1 Bankruptcy
2 Child World Trademarks
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Bankruptcy

In 1991, Child World began to close less successful retail locations. Child World filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 7, 1992.^[1] A merger was attempted with the Lionel Corporation, operators of Lionel Playworld, Lionel Kiddie City, and Lionel Toy Warehouse, in June 1992. Child World announced that if the merger was not complete by July 12, 1992, it would begin liquidating its inventory at 20% off retail prices. Child World said the merger was its only chance to continue operating, and if talks failed, liquidation would escalate into a going-out-of-business sale. On August 4, 1992, Child World announced that the merger with Lionel had failed, and all Child World stores closed within four to six weeks of this announcement.

[edit] Child World Trademarks

[edit] Stores

Child World was known largely for making its stores resemble castles, complete with turrets, battlements, and three half-circles (two small, one large) in the front door [1]. The corporate logo was written in a "refrigerator-magnet" like typeface. Actually, the storefront motifs came from the Children's Palace stores (est. 1967), a subsidiary of Kobacker Stores, Inc. which Child World acquired in 1977.

[edit] Mascot

The mascot for Child World was a cartoon panda bear named Peter Panda, often depicted wearing overalls with his name printed on them.

[edit] The Video Catalog

In 1990 Child World produced a video catalog in time for Christmas that year called "Video Toy Chest: A Toy Catalog on Videotape". This catalogue advertised the toys sold, with child actors talking about the toys, including Sega and Nintendo video game consoles and software. One of the child actors featured in the video was Lacey Chabert.