A toy and hobby store has a wide range with a short shelf life: collectible series, seasonal products and demand that spikes at Christmas and other holidays. Which piece of which series has sold out, who has been promised the new pre-order items and whether online sales match shop stock are often impossible to follow. In the system we build, products are catalogued by series, age group and variant, and shop and online stock are managed from one source. Gift lists can be created and shared for children’s birthdays, and collectors can pre-order new series and earn loyalty points.
Problems toy stores face
- Running out of stock or overstocking in peak season
- Not knowing which piece is missing from a collectible series
- Online and in-store stock not matching
- Pre-orders tracked in a notebook
What the system includes
Variant stock
Product tracking by barcode, colour, series and pack.
Catalogue filters
Search by age group, category, brand and skill area.
Gift lists
Shareable wish lists for birthdays and special occasions.
Pre-orders
Deposits and arrival alerts for new series and limited items.
Loyalty programme
Points, birthday discounts and personalised campaign messages.
Online store sync
Web store and marketplace stock updated in step with the shop.
How it works day to day
- 1
Incoming products enter stock with their barcodes and variants.
- 2
Products appear on the shop shelf and in the online catalogue at the same time.
- 3
The customer buys in store or online and earns points.
- 4
When an item on a gift list is bought, the list updates.
- 5
At season end, sales velocity and remaining stock reports guide ordering.
Integrations
Off-the-shelf software or custom-built?
When off-the-shelf is enough
For a toy shop with one store and no online sales, ready-made retail programs are enough.
When custom software pays off
For businesses that sell in store and online, handle collectibles and take pre-orders, a custom system with stock sync and gift lists prevents lost sales.
How the budget is built
We launch the workflow that saves you the most time first, then add modules based on real usage. The full scope below is calculated with 20 screens and 11 modules; the final price follows a free discovery call and a written scope.
Maintenance and improvements (optional): €350 / month. Hosting, SMS, WhatsApp and app store fees are listed separately.
Frequently asked questions
Will our marketplace stock update automatically?
Stock and order sync is set up with marketplaces that offer an API, and an item sold in store comes off the listing.
How is a gift list shared?
A parent creates the list and sends the link to guests, and purchased items are marked on the list.
Can product data be uploaded in bulk?
Supplier product lists and images are imported with Excel.
Is any children’s data processed?
A gift list holds only the nickname and date chosen by the parent, and the parent’s explicit consent is obtained under GDPR.
