Clare Turner talks to Ann-Marie Edwards, category manager – girls toys & preschool toys at The Very Group, recent winner of the BTHA Toy Retailer of the Year Online Excellence Award  

How did you feel when you heard the news of your win? 

I felt so proud. It’s the third year we’ve won the Online Excellence Award. Like all retailers, a lot of hard work goes into delivering the toys that our customers love, so it’s great recognition for our business and all who have been involved over the last year.

Tell us a bit about The Very Group. 

The Very Group operates Very.co.uk. We have 4.4 million UK customers and an annual revenue of £2.15 billion. We sell items across categories including fashion, electrical, home and, of course, toys, gifts and beauty. 

We’re a multicategory retailer, but we’ve placed strategic focus on toys because we know how important the category is to our customers, who are predominantly families”

Ann-Marie Edwards, category manager – girls toys & preschool toys at The Very Group

How would you describe your range? 

It’s customer-focused, offering the biggest brands and the best products across toys and gaming. 

We support the moments that matter for the families who shop with us. Our team focuses on new emerging trends and works closely with our supplier base to deliver newness and value.

What’s selling well? 

LEGO, Barbie and Hot Wheels are our big classic properties, but we have had massive success with
new launches of collectible products such as Squishmallows, Pokémon, and Miniverse. 

Our family games and arts & crafts ranges also continue to go from strength to strength, as we see
these products trending into the kidult space.

What sets you apart from other online retailers of toys?

We’re a multicategory retailer, but we’ve placed strategic focus on toys because we know how important the category is to our customers, who are predominantly families. 

We work tirelessly to deliver the right assortment. This, alongside an increasingly simple online experience and our flexible ways to pay, gives us a compelling offer.