By: Kathleen A. Titchener

Toys 'R' Us Incorporated is a large retail chain that produces children's toys and games worldwide. Toys 'R' Us Inc. operates approximately 700 stores in the US and about 600 stores in 29 different countries. Overall, they operate about 1,500 stores worldwide with 113,000 employees. Toys 'R' Us averages a yearly revenue of 11.1 billion dollars, and in 2003 the total revenue was 11.566 billion dollars.

Toys 'R' Us was founded by Charles Lazarus in Washington D.C. during the post-war baby boom era in 1948, the headquarters is now located in Wayne, New Jersey; a suburb of New York City, the president of Toys "R' Us is John Barbour. Mr. Barbour became president of Toys 'R' Us in August 2004 he also has 20 years of executive experience in the toy business. It was initially started as a baby furniture retailer, but later was receiving requests for baby toys as well as more "grown up" toys. That is how the popular children's toy store became what it is today. On January 9, 2006 Toys 'R' Us announced that there would be 75 stores in the U.S. closing, most of them being closed sometime during the spring and 12 more Babies 'R' Us stores would be closing as well.

There are many other "R' Us" chains that are owned by Toys 'R' Us Incorporated, one of the biggest and well known being Babies 'R' Us which is a chain dedicated solely to Babies. Geoffrey's Toys 'R' Us is an "R' Us" chain that is all directed towards the mascot of Toys 'R' Us, Geoffrey the Giraffe. Geoffrey's Toys 'R' Us has all mascot toys, clothing, and juvenile toys and games all in one location as well as a Studio G activity center. Geoffrey the Giraffe was introduced as the mascot in the 60's and his name was introduced in the 70's. The theme song for Toys 'R' Us:

"I don't wanna grow up
I'm a Toys 'R' Us kid.
There's a million toys at Toys 'R' Us
That I can play with!
From bikes to trains to video games
It's the biggest toy store that there is.
I don't wanna grow up because if I did
I couldn't be a Toys 'R' Us kid!"

In the song the line 'From bikes to trains to video games' was changed to 'From bikes to trains, all kinds of games' in the early 80's due to the video gaming market had crashed. Shortly after that, the successful Nintendo Entertainment System had talked Toys 'R' Us into going back to their original song.

Toys 'R' Us is also involved in charities. The Toys 'R' Us Children's Fund was established in 1992 it raises money for charities in the US that are truly dedicated to meeting the needs of children. It supports 2 major charity programs; Kid's Playroom Program and the Children's Literacy Program. Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us helped with the relief efforts after hurricane Katrina. Both together filled 6 semi tractor-trailers full of toys and baby supplies, which then were sent to the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana, the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and shelters in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Dallas, Texas. Along with all the toys and baby supplies that were sent Toys 'R' Us Inc. pledged a 1.0 million dollar donation to the long-term relief of the areas drastically affected by hurricane Katrina.

Toys 'R' Us is a huge success of it's own, seeing as how it started as a small baby furniture store and has produced much more than it began with. Having 1,500 stores worldwide, raising money for charities, and supporting the needs of children and babies all over the world during times of struggle and turmoil. Toys 'R' Us Inc. has come along way since the early days, and from the looks of it, it will keep on being very successful in the years to come.