Hamleys Share Discussion Threads

[trader horne] 17/4/2002 00:16

my guess budget is rumoured not to hit consumer spending plus big retailers (Debenhams &c) have announced good results, so market conclusion today is that retail spending boom will continue unabated. I was in at 99 and looking for 180+

[obarmoth] 16/4/2002 10:55

Alright then, what's going on here? Chart was strong enough already, but now it's broken upwards out of the upward trend..... ?

Weren't there rumours about a bid for Hamley's some time back?

[trader horne] 03/11/2001 00:55

This undervalued beauty has been in the doldrums for ages.
Filled my boots last week. Suddenly today a few buys of 5000, each one racking up the price 2p a time. Total 16% rise this morning. Let's hope it continues.

[adek] 31/10/2001 20:30

Are there any known links to Hornby(HRN), since Hornby have done very well this year with a new CEO?

I also understand that they have some rights to Harry Potter stuff.

Toys seem to be tops!!

Fed up with that Playstation - what yer really wanna ave is a scalelectric and railway track and trains!!!

[dee3] 31/10/2001 20:14

any views on this on the run up to christmas???/

[niggle] 26/7/2001 17:12

I would have expected more of a reaction.......

[pdm] 26/7/2001 08:07

trading statement below, very impressive, like for like sales up 18% so far this year.




TRADING STATEMENT
------------------

In the 16 weeks to 20th July 2001, group like for like sales at Hamleys,
including Hamleys Direct, were 19% above last year. This increase consisted
of an 18% growth in store sales and 86% growth in sales via Hamleys Direct.
These strong figures reflect the continuing impact of last year's refit and
improvements to range and service. The comparable period last year was
impacted, to some degree, by the store refurbishment activity and this year's
results will reflect the rent review on Regent Street. Nonetheless, we view
the year with confidence.

The Toystack stores are in the process of being converted to the Bear Factory
format and sales comparisons with the prior year are not therefore meaningful.
This conversion programme is on schedule to be completed by the end of August.
The Bear Factory stores opened to date have made a positive start.


Enquiries:
----------

Simon Burke, Chairman Hamleys 020 7479 7316
Melissa McVeigh Brunswick 020 7404 5959

[niggle] 10/7/2001 00:14

Any further thoughts on this one, it seems to be losing ground and retesting its lows

[miked500] 09/7/2001 13:58

worth buying at these levels. agm end of this month. yield 5.8 pe 8.9.

[miked500] 07/6/2001 14:19

would think this will get some attention from the sunday press. be interesting to see ic rating.

[alwaysuk] 07/6/2001 10:52

Congratulations GJ you spotted a winner with this one :-)

[gerard j] 07/6/2001 08:42

Going up.
Join in.
Short term target 148-150p.

[gerard j] 07/6/2001 07:49

BUY recommendations on most of the morning papers.

[gerard j] 07/6/2001 07:48

BUY (Medium-Long term) in most of the morning papers.

[niggle] 06/6/2001 22:40

Great but just read the interlink thread!!

ITF

Cheers
niggle

[gerard j] 06/6/2001 22:27

Hamleys: 'To buy or not to buy?' -That is the question!
well... I bought mid-May after Phoenix increased their holdings.

[bilbo] 06/6/2001 22:24

...and nice to see a thread and bb'ers on this badly mauled share. Nothing to add, just glad for the company.

[niggle] 06/6/2001 22:04

nice rise today

[gerard j] 06/6/2001 11:12

Interview just released:

LONDON (AFX) - Simon Burke, executive chairman of Hamleys PLC, the world
famous toy store that ended a three month search to find a buyer in February,
said he is now content for the retailer to remain a publicly quoted company.
Speaking in an interview with AFX News after Hamleys reported a sharp rise
in year to March 2001 profits, Burke said: "We're very happy carrying on as we
are. We're producing good figures now. There's every reason why the shares
should increase in value and that's not a bad place to be."
He said being a PLC is "not a problem" for Hamleys, despite its small size.
"It's where I think we can deliver best value to shareholders by getting
more results like this in and getting the share price up. That's my job and I'm
very happy to go on doing it in that way."
Last November Hamleys retained Close Brothers to assist it in exploring a
sale of the business after talks earlier in the year with Charterhouse
Development Capital came to nought. In February Hamleys said although it had
received interest from several parties no worthwhile offers were made.
"I felt it was important to explore those options in terms of shareholder
value. If there was someone out there who was going to pay a significant premium
to the current share price for the business it was important for us to flush
that out," said Burke. "We've been through that exercise, there isn't anyone of
that kind."
For the year to March 31 2001 Hamleys reported a pretax profit of 3.9 mln
stg, up from just 27,000 stg last time, on turnover of 45.7 mln stg, compared to
51.8 mln in the 14 months to March 25 2000.
Like-for-like sales were up 4.2 pct at the flagship Regent Street store and
0.4 pct at Toystack. Second half like-for-like sales at Regent Street were up
7.7 pct.
Regent Street margins increased 1.6 pct due to better product mix and lower
shrinkage. The dividend was maintained at 7.3 pence.
Hamleys said it has made an "encouraging" start to the new year. Burke
declined to give a sales figure as one will be given at the July AGM. He
conceded that lower tourist numbers in London due to foot and mouth had impacted
tourist footfall, but said the effect was more than compensated for by "very
strong" domestic growth.
Hamleys said in February it would convert 12 of its 16 Toystack stores to
the retailer's bespoke soft toy concept Bear Factory. Four Bear Factories opened
during the year and have met expectations, generating a contribution of 0.2 mln
stg.
Burke anticipates a further 10 pct cut in overhead costs in the current year
through cheaper warehouse servicing of Bear Factory compared to Toystack and
improved systems.
The chairman's strategy is to make Hamleys a multi-channel business. Last
year a Hamleys catalogue was launched and its website was re-launched. The two
businesses form Hamleys Direct, with sales forecast to exceed 1 mln stg in the
first full year of operation.
"One of the strongest things influencing customers to shop with us are
childhood memories. People having been to the store 20, 30 years ago,
remembering an absolutely magical experience, wanting to come back, have a real
affection for the brand and would like to shop with us. I think a lot of that
can work by remote means," he explained.
Hamleys carries 22,000 lines -- 17,000 more than its closest UK competitor.
"So there are very compelling reasons why people might want to shop with us
despite the fact that they are not actually experiencing the store."
At 10.28 am Hamleys shares were up 6-1/2 pence at 130.

Watch tomorrow morning papers for BUY recommendations.

[gerard j] 06/6/2001 11:12

Interview just released:

LONDON (AFX) - Simon Burke, executive chairman of Hamleys PLC, the world
famous toy store that ended a three month search to find a buyer in February,
said he is now content for the retailer to remain a publicly quoted company.
Speaking in an interview with AFX News after Hamleys reported a sharp rise
in year to March 2001 profits, Burke said: "We're very happy carrying on as we
are. We're producing good figures now. There's every reason why the shares
should increase in value and that's not a bad place to be."
He said being a PLC is "not a problem" for Hamleys, despite its small size.
"It's where I think we can deliver best value to shareholders by getting
more results like this in and getting the share price up. That's my job and I'm
very happy to go on doing it in that way."
Last November Hamleys retained Close Brothers to assist it in exploring a
sale of the business after talks earlier in the year with Charterhouse
Development Capital came to nought. In February Hamleys said although it had
received interest from several parties no worthwhile offers were made.
"I felt it was important to explore those options in terms of shareholder
value. If there was someone out there who was going to pay a significant premium
to the current share price for the business it was important for us to flush
that out," said Burke. "We've been through that exercise, there isn't anyone of
that kind."
For the year to March 31 2001 Hamleys reported a pretax profit of 3.9 mln
stg, up from just 27,000 stg last time, on turnover of 45.7 mln stg, compared to
51.8 mln in the 14 months to March 25 2000.
Like-for-like sales were up 4.2 pct at the flagship Regent Street store and
0.4 pct at Toystack. Second half like-for-like sales at Regent Street were up
7.7 pct.
Regent Street margins increased 1.6 pct due to better product mix and lower
shrinkage. The dividend was maintained at 7.3 pence.
Hamleys said it has made an "encouraging" start to the new year. Burke
declined to give a sales figure as one will be given at the July AGM. He
conceded that lower tourist numbers in London due to foot and mouth had impacted
tourist footfall, but said the effect was more than compensated for by "very
strong" domestic growth.
Hamleys said in February it would convert 12 of its 16 Toystack stores to
the retailer's bespoke soft toy concept Bear Factory. Four Bear Factories opened
during the year and have met expectations, generating a contribution of 0.2 mln
stg.
Burke anticipates a further 10 pct cut in overhead costs in the current year
through cheaper warehouse servicing of Bear Factory compared to Toystack and
improved systems.
The chairman's strategy is to make Hamleys a multi-channel business. Last
year a Hamleys catalogue was launched and its website was re-launched. The two
businesses form Hamleys Direct, with sales forecast to exceed 1 mln stg in the
first full year of operation.
"One of the strongest things influencing customers to shop with us are
childhood memories. People having been to the store 20, 30 years ago,
remembering an absolutely magical experience, wanting to come back, have a real
affection for the brand and would like to shop with us. I think a lot of that
can work by remote means," he explained.
Hamleys carries 22,000 lines -- 17,000 more than its closest UK competitor.
"So there are very compelling reasons why people might want to shop with us
despite the fact that they are not actually experiencing the store."
At 10.28 am Hamleys shares were up 6-1/2 pence at 130.

Watch tomorrow morning papers for BUY recommendations.

[gerard j] 06/6/2001 11:11

Interview just released:

LONDON (AFX) - Simon Burke, executive chairman of Hamleys PLC, the world
famous toy store that ended a three month search to find a buyer in February,
said he is now content for the retailer to remain a publicly quoted company.
Speaking in an interview with AFX News after Hamleys reported a sharp rise
in year to March 2001 profits, Burke said: "We're very happy carrying on as we
are. We're producing good figures now. There's every reason why the shares
should increase in value and that's not a bad place to be."
He said being a PLC is "not a problem" for Hamleys, despite its small size.
"It's where I think we can deliver best value to shareholders by getting
more results like this in and getting the share price up. That's my job and I'm
very happy to go on doing it in that way."
Last November Hamleys retained Close Brothers to assist it in exploring a
sale of the business after talks earlier in the year with Charterhouse
Development Capital came to nought. In February Hamleys said although it had
received interest from several parties no worthwhile offers were made.
"I felt it was important to explore those options in terms of shareholder
value. If there was someone out there who was going to pay a significant premium
to the current share price for the business it was important for us to flush
that out," said Burke. "We've been through that exercise, there isn't anyone of
that kind."
For the year to March 31 2001 Hamleys reported a pretax profit of 3.9 mln
stg, up from just 27,000 stg last time, on turnover of 45.7 mln stg, compared to
51.8 mln in the 14 months to March 25 2000.
Like-for-like sales were up 4.2 pct at the flagship Regent Street store and
0.4 pct at Toystack. Second half like-for-like sales at Regent Street were up
7.7 pct.
Regent Street margins increased 1.6 pct due to better product mix and lower
shrinkage. The dividend was maintained at 7.3 pence.
Hamleys said it has made an "encouraging" start to the new year. Burke
declined to give a sales figure as one will be given at the July AGM. He
conceded that lower tourist numbers in London due to foot and mouth had impacted
tourist footfall, but said the effect was more than compensated for by "very
strong" domestic growth.
Hamleys said in February it would convert 12 of its 16 Toystack stores to
the retailer's bespoke soft toy concept Bear Factory. Four Bear Factories opened
during the year and have met expectations, generating a contribution of 0.2 mln
stg.
Burke anticipates a further 10 pct cut in overhead costs in the current year
through cheaper warehouse servicing of Bear Factory compared to Toystack and
improved systems.
The chairman's strategy is to make Hamleys a multi-channel business. Last
year a Hamleys catalogue was launched and its website was re-launched. The two
businesses form Hamleys Direct, with sales forecast to exceed 1 mln stg in the
first full year of operation.
"One of the strongest things influencing customers to shop with us are
childhood memories. People having been to the store 20, 30 years ago,
remembering an absolutely magical experience, wanting to come back, have a real
affection for the brand and would like to shop with us. I think a lot of that
can work by remote means," he explained.
Hamleys carries 22,000 lines -- 17,000 more than its closest UK competitor.
"So there are very compelling reasons why people might want to shop with us
despite the fact that they are not actually experiencing the store."
At 10.28 am Hamleys shares were up 6-1/2 pence at 130.'

Watch tomorrow morning papers for BUY recommendations.