Zodiac Toy Shops

[ziksby]

For 15 years from 1971 to 1986 I worked for Zodiac Toys, first as an area manager and then as retail operations director. By 1986 when I left following a takeover we had 85 UK branches. I've just been working on a website dedicated to Zodiac. Its a work in progress at the moment.
If you're interested its at www.freewebs.com/zodiactoys

[sixtyten]

Wow! I practically lived in my local Zodiac (Croydon branch) in the mid 70's

Thanks for the link

[sixtyten]

Looking through the site now.. memories flooding back
Its so ingrained in my mind, I could still draw the old logo and I'd not seen it since the 70's

[ziksby]

I'm pleased to have brought back some happy memories for you. I've had a load of stuff in a box for 20 years, so I thought I'd share it.
Croydon was our busiest shop in the 70s, even in the 80s when we were opening much larger units Croydon still held its own. 1985 sales grossed £600,000 .. I guess you remember it was a bit of a squeeze at the best of times. Toys are pretty bulky (all cardboard and fresh air) so it was a job to keep the shelves full at Christmas ... they had deliveries every day.
I'll try and include info about everyshop eventually. I think I put the old and new Croydon shopfronts in the photo album.

[Heather74]

Excellent Saved link so I can keep checking back.

[sixtyten]

Site has a pic of Rainbow Brite dolls, stating that they were Zodiacs own brand??
I thought Mattel made them?

[ziksby]

Well spotted Daz, not very 'Brite' of me, was it? Put it down to one of my frequent 'senior moments'. I will correct the error asap.

[sixtyten]

[rossobantam]

nice video clip of adverts in your site..cheers!

spotted 'Nick Cotton' in the last advert

and (at the start of the Cadburys Roses ad, on the sofa) the girl from the checkout till in Depeche Modes' video for 'See You' ..my fav DM song

(I never forget a - pretty - face )

[sixtyten]

I assume this is from the Pocket Money Toys range
?