The retailer’s General Manager Maurice Doyle talks Toymaster, adapting to change, and regular visits from WWE superstar Sheamus
Banba Toymaster has come a long way since opening as a second-hand bookshop in 1945. Today, the Dublin institution spans two floors and 12,000sq ft of toys and games – and was named Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (single store) at this year’s TIAs.
General Manager Maurice Doyle, whose start in toy retail back in the mid-80s was a happy accident, is proud of how the shop has evolved while staying true to its independent spirit.
“Who would have thought that a local toy shop in Dublin City Centre would be selling toys to Norway, Finland, Croatia and other parts of the world?” he said.
“I recall being in the shop with just a couple of fellow staff answering calls from customers who would buy items over the phone. We would take their credit card numbers and the items would be handed out to them from behind closed doors. Ciaran and I would then pack our vehicles and personally deliver parcels around Dublin in the afternoons.
“Oh, how things have changed. Our website now accounts for about 20 per cent of our sales and business is growing year-on-year, with parcels sent across Europe and further afield.”
Read the full interview below:
