Toys"R"Us® Announces 2014 Thanksgiving Weekend Hours And New "Black Friday Made Easy" Initiatives

WAYNE, N.J., Nov. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Toys"R"Us^® today announced that its stores nationwide will open at 5pm on Thursday, November 27^*, the same time as last year. Stores will remain open through 11pm on Friday, November 28, offering hot doorbusters and deals on the season's most sought-after playthings, which will be released in the coming weeks. Beginning Thanksgiving Weekend and continuing through Christmas Eve, Toys"R"Us will introduce a range of convenient in-store and digital services based on consumer insights and designed to make holiday toy shopping easy and stress-free. From a store navigator specialist – aptly named the Toys"R"Us G.P.S. (Guru for Play Stuff) – and new easy-to-navigate aisle signage, to digital store-specific maps, daily toy shipments and a dedicated Express Lane at checkout, Toys"R"Us is committed to providing customers with a holiday shopping experience made easy.

"All year long, we have been acutely focused on conducting consumer research, listening to what our customers want, and making incremental improvements to enhance their online and in-store shopping experience at Toys"R"Us," said Joe Venezia, Senior Vice President, Store Operations, Toys"R"Us, U.S. "Starting with the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season on Thanksgiving Weekend, as eager shoppers head to stores with detailed lists in hand – based on kids' scribbled notes to Santa – our toy experts will be at the ready to remove the guesswork and ensure they find the toy, deal, service or special offer to help them check off every gift with ease. Plus, with our strong in-stock position on must-have playthings, new speedy checkout options and more, we're dedicated to making holiday toy shopping easy from the minute our customers walk through the door, to the moment they ring up at the register, this Black Friday and beyond."

Introducing Toys"R"Us G.P.S. Navigators Armed with Answers 
On navigational duty at the front of Toys"R"Us stores beginning on Thanksgiving, and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the remainder of the holiday season during peak traffic periods, customers can depend on trusted guidance from the Toys"R"Us G.P.S. (Guru for Play Stuff). Easily identified by their red shirts bearing "G.P.S.," the friendly and experienced toy aficionados taking on this new, dedicated role will be on a mission to provide busy holiday shoppers with expert advice on everything from hot toys and top deals to time-saving services and incentive programs.

Digital Store Maps Pinpoint Location of Must-Have Toys and Big Savings FAST 
Also available to help holiday shoppers in their quest for the toys their kids wish for, such as Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa, Skylanders Trap Team and LEGO Fusion, Toys"R"Us is introducing digital store-specific maps, as well as physical versions. Customers can use their smartphone to scan a QR code on a navigational store layout sign at the entrance to access a mobile-optimized map, allowing them to search for products by name and pinpoint their in-aisle location. Plus, from Monday, November 24 until Monday, December 1, customers can utilize the digital store navigation to find the specific Thanksgiving Weekend deals, discounts and doorbusters they're looking for, making it easier than ever to snap up extra savings at Toys"R"Us.

These new navigational services, coupled with the company's improved, easy-to-read overhead banners and directional signage throughout aisles, will truly help shoppers who are on a mission to cross off all the items on their lists in one easy stop.

Two Items or Less? All-New Dedicated Express Lane and More Ensures Speedy Checkout  Committed to providing an enjoyable customer experience from entrance to exit, Toys"R"Us is implementing speedy checkout enhancements designed to further reduce standard checkout times at its stores this holiday season. Just in time for the Black Friday crowds, Toys"R"Us stores will feature a new Express Lane for gift-givers purchasing two items or less^**. Other enhancements include technology that allows employees to identify shoppers with jam-packed carts, scan all the items in their order while waiting in line and provide them with a barcode to present to the cashier for a single-swipe checkout.

#BlackFridayMadeEasy for Online and Mobile Shoppers, Too  
Those who choose to shop Thanksgiving Weekend deals from home or while on-the-go can receive the same reliable assistance as customers in stores with live chat capabilities as they browse Toysrus.com in search of great gifts. Through this online service option, shoppers can ask questions and receive guidance from the company's toy experts in real time. Online shoppers can also take advantage of the company's new Gift Finder to narrow their search by a child's age and interests, as well as current promotions.

This season, the company also introduced FREE online layaway, in addition to its in-store layaway offer, waiving the $5 service fee generally associated. Now, customers can create layaway orders at Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, make payments in-store or online, and choose to pick up their order in a local store or have it delivered to their home. Plus, with everyday free shipping for online orders of $49 or more and the option to buy online and pick up in store^**, shopping at Toys"R"Us whenever, however and wherever customers choose has never been more appealing. 

Expert Advice from THE Toy Aficionados that Only a Specialty Retailer Can Provide  
Gift-givers on the hunt for the latest and greatest gifts for kids, plus time-honored classics, need look no further than Toys"R"Us this season. With hot toys in stock, daily product shipments to stores and the broadest assortment of playthings, including hundreds of items that can't be found anywhere else, holiday shoppers can find just what they're looking for in one easy stop at Toys"R"Us.

For high-resolution photos related to #BlackFridayMadeEasy, as well as images and b-roll of holiday hot toys, visit the Toys"R"Us Holiday Press Room

For a high-resolution PDF of the #BlackFridayMadeEasy infographic, click here

*Toys"R"Us stores nationwide will open at 5pm on Thursday, November 27, except for stores in Paramus, NJ, which will open on Friday, November 28 at 7am, and select stores in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico, which will have varying store open times. All store hours can be found online at www.Toysrus.com/BlackFridayStoreHours.

**Visit Toysrus.com/FreeShipping and Toysrus.com/Pickup for full details on the respective programs. 

About Toys"R"Us , Inc.
Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 876 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 725 international stores and over 200 licensed stores in 36 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys"R"Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com. Follow Toys"R"Us, Babies"R"Us and FAO Schwarz on Facebook at Facebook.com/Toysrus, Facebook.com/Babiesrus and Facebook.com/FAO and on Twitter at Twitter.com/Toysrus and Twitter.com/Babiesrus.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.

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