An Iconic American Toy Store Is Coming to Dublin This Year

Do you remember the iconic moment inwhere Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia jumpon the walk-on piano to play and Of course, you do.The scene is emblazoned in many a childhood memory thanks to the whimsicaltoy store in which it was set. With its giant stuffed animals, plush toys, robots, and remote control cars, itbecame a bucket-list visit for anyone who watched the 1980s hit.This October,FAO Schwarz will open inArnotts on Henry Street, the second location in Europe for the brand. The store will embody the 'Return to Wonder' theme which will see the6,000 sq ft retail spacefilled with toys, teddies,games, dolls, in-store experiences and - you guessed it -awalk-on piano.To celebrate the new arrival (just in time for Christmas might we add), we asked Childrens Buyer Jenny Erwin to catch us up on the latest toy trends.Personalisation and customisation are one of the biggest trends when it comes to toys and with the upcoming arrival, there will be loads of exciting opportunities for children to take home a toy that has been customised just for them.Whether it is picking a new doll from the doll adoption centre or having an in-store experience at the build-your-own race car station. Children love being involved in everything - it adds that personal touch and ensures their toy is different fromanyone else'sBoard games really had a moment last year and I think a big part of that is due to their interactive nature. We are seeing a big desire amongst parents for more interactiveoptions when it comes to play.With the weather picking up for the summer, parents like to get their children outdoors for some fun and fresh air so are pushing more active options, with giant-sized outdoor games becoming more and more popular.STEM will continue to get stronger in the market with families seeing this as a chance to get their little ones off of tablets and sitting together having fun as a family. In October we will have a Discovery area which in collaboration with the Discovery channel will have products that will provide opportunities to perform science experiments; learn about the planet; animals and space travel.It will bring a world of wonder: a toy shop that will appeal to both big and little kids. Not only will the product excite, the environment will be stimulating and fun. You can play your favourite tune on our giant piano: perform experiments in the Discovery area or build your own custom remote control car.