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In a surprising turn of events, Jellycat, the popular British soft toy company, has left independent shop owners feeling bewildered and abandoned after abruptly announcing that it will no longer supply them. Rumours, a gift shop in Whitby, has been a loyal distributor of Jellycat plush toys for over two decades, with the brand’s products accounting for a significant portion of the shop’s income. Joe Orrell, the manager of Rumours, was taken aback by an email from Jellycat informing him of the decision without providing any specific reasons for the termination of their supply relationship.
The disheartening news was not exclusive to Rumours, as owners and managers of four independent shops expressed their shock and disappointment over the sudden announcement from Jellycat. The company acknowledged that it had ceased supply to approximately 100 stores in the UK, citing the need to carefully review its relationships with certain shops. While expressing gratitude for past support, Jellycat assured that it still maintained partnerships with around 1,200 other independent stores.
Alison McCabe, the owner of Puddleducks in Diggle, near Oldham, recounted her dismay at being informed by Jellycat that they would no longer be supplying her store, despite nearly two decades of selling their toys. The confusing emails sent to affected stockists were generic in nature, lacking personalized addressing and failing to provide clear explanations for the sudden change in supply arrangements. The situation has left many feeling demoralized and questioning their status as distributors of Jellycat products.
Increasing concerns over the availability of Jellycat stock have been raised by shop owners in light of the company’s recent decisions. With a surge in demand and popularity of Jellycat toys, smaller independent stores have reported receiving dwindling and irregular stock shipments, leading to frustration from both owners and customers. The selective allocation of supplies, coupled with delayed and incomplete orders, has fueled speculations that Jellycat may be favoring larger retailers at the expense of independent shops
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