Benefits of Membership

“Further details about Member Benefits can be found in the Members’ section, click here to log in if you are a member. To apply for membership click here.”

• VITAL……… DTS Distributor Takeback Scheme for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

We all now recognize the “crossed out Wheelie Bin symbol” but retailers carry the cost. To ensure you meet all the requirements sign up now to the most cost effective scheme available to Members until December 2009. Join by end of April 2007 to maximize your gains.

• New…… e-Learning

Everyone knows the advantage of well trained staff and to help you gain that advantage, The Association has joined with Upskill People Limited to provide Members with access to retail focussed e-Learning courses. The courses are leading edge and developed in-conjunction with real world major retailers, the modules are interactive and split into bite size chunks to be fitted in around the busy day. Being e-Learning courses, they are a very flexible learning medium, competitively priced and proven to have a real business impact.

• New…… DIY websites and online shops

The Toy Retailers Association also links you to the DIY website and online shop software company, UniTechnology who offer members a 20% reduction on all its website and e-commerce software and services.

For most businesses, a web presence is a key part of the sales team. Now you can create and manage your very own online presence with UniTrader or UniWebsite. UniTechnology’s software really is very easy to use and best of all you can download it and try it before you have to pay a penny, just to make sure it’s the right solution for your business.

Advice, information and news

The professionally staffed Association office helps members with a variety of enquiries. There is a member-only section being developed on this website, which will assist members seeking specific information, help or advice.

Legal helpline

An advice service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Credit Card Scheme

The Association has joined with HSBC to provide members with a beneficial credit card processing package, specifically tailored to suit the independent retailer. Further details can be found in the Members’ section.

 Toy Safety

Up-to-date advice and information on all aspects of toy safety and new regulations is available from the Association’s Safety Consultant, who is also on hand to visit members and offer a more personal service. The Association also works closely with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Safety Unit and Trading Standards officers across the country.

Insurance

The Association offers members an excellent shop insurance policy that could save £££s.

Legislation

We keep members up-to-date about legislation and other relevant news from both the UK and European Government and Standards bodies. We are also invited to make members views known to Government.

The Lion Mark Retailers Scheme

Members benefit from a scheme which has proved a major contributor to the reduction of complaints and prosecutions involving toy safety. The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) developed the Lion Mark to be displayed on products of the highest safety standards. The Association has produced a strict Code of Practice for members which, when used in conjunction with regular safety advice and activity, allows them to display the symbol as an Approved Lion Mark Retailer. This is also supported by a ‘Shop where you see this sign’ campaign each year.

Media activity

The Association has developed a programme of continuous activity with newspapers, magazines, radio television and the electronic media, keeping journalists informed about trade, safety and consumer news.

Every year, around the beginning of October, the Association organises a one-day media event in London to announce the top 60 toys for Christmas to the press.
It is a highly regarded event and one, which is attended by hundreds of media - press, TV and radio and generates huge coverage for the toy industry in the run-up to Christmas.

The top toy list is generated by our expert retail panel based on the very latest information available and is regarded as the definitive list for Christmas. For recent top lists see the Dream Toys page.

Supporting information and posters distributed exclusively to members on the day of the show enables them to set Christmas trading off with a bang and gain professional media coverage at local level across the country

Association Newsletter

The world changes quickly and news moves fast! The Associations bi-monthly newsletter keeps members up-to-date with industry news.