Applications are open for the 2025 Toy Retailer Awards, expanded with a range of new categories to recognise innovation and partnerships
The BTHA has opened entries for the 2025 Toy Retailer Awards, with an expanded range of categories introduced to recognise excellence in innovation, strategic partnerships, and outstanding retail performance.
Retailers can compete nationally in like-for-like categories and may submit entries in more than one category, where relevant. Self-nominations are permitted, together with nominations coming from a panel of nationwide industry experts.
To further support independent and smaller multiple retailers, the BTHA will continue to offer the option of including short supplier testimonials as part of the submission. These testimonials are intended to strengthen entries and provide additional context for the judging panel.
The category definitions are as follows:
New for 2025 – Outstanding Achievement
This category is for recognising the use of new innovations, rising stars, or those who have gone above and beyond.
New for 2025 – Partnership Award
This category is for outstanding supplier partnerships and collaborations across the industry, to also include excellent buyer/buying teams relationships with suppliers.
Independent Toy Retailer of the Year – single store
A category for an independent toy retailer with one store.
Independent Toy Retailer of the Year – multi store
A category for an independent toy retailer with more than one store (with no upper store limit).
Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year
This category is for multiple toy retailers to include both specialist and general multiples.
Toy Department of the Year
This new category is for garden centres or retailers with a toy aisle or department to include UK department stores.
Online Excellence
Companies can enter this category if their main business is through online sales OR if there are online toy sales which compliment main store retailing. This category will be judged on the toy offering of the website alone.
Best Overall Toy Retailer of the Year 2025 for UK and Ireland
Will be selected as overall winner from the winners of the other categories.
Entry into the Toy Retailer of the Year awards has been designed to be a straightforward online process. Retailers have the opportunity to support their submissions with relevant photos to enhance their application. To enter, simply visit: https://www.btha.co.uk/awards/toy-industry-awards/retailer-awards/
For enquiries about the Retailer of the Year Awards process or Toy Industry Awards event, please contact Matt Jones at the BTHA by email Matt@btha.co.uk.
