Hawkin's Bazaar

Hawkin's Bazaar was a British novelty-gift and toy retail brand associated with the Tobar business. It began in 1973 as a specialist mail-order toy company founded by Sid Templer in Suffolk. The original company name, TOBAR, was formed from the first parts of the names of Templer's sons, Toby and Barnaby; Tobar subsequently remained the name of the wider parent business. In 1976, the mail-order operation moved into a disused public house formerly known as the Hawk Inn and adopted the name Hawkin's & Co. The word Bazaar was added later, helping establish the distinctive Hawkin's Bazaar identity. The business concentrated on unusual, entertaining and conversation-starting merchandise rather than conventional mainstream toys. Its range included novelty gifts, gadgets, curiosities, toys and seasonal products intended to appeal to children, families and adults. This positioning gave the retailer a broad, occasion-led proposition: customers could shop for birthday presents, stocking fillers, Christmas gifts or inexpensive impulse purchases. The company described its offer through enduring themes such as unusual gifts and products associated with Father Christmas. In 1989, operational control passed from Sid Templer to his son Toby. Around the same period, the business moved to Elm House, a former farm at St Margaret South Elmham, and opened its first retail shop in Salisbury. During the 1990s, Hawkin's Bazaar expanded beyond mail order by opening shops around the United Kingdom and beginning to sell into European markets. Websites were launched in 1998, and the company continued to combine physical retail with catalogues and e-commerce. The online operation was later updated and relaunched in August 2012. The group expanded its infrastructure and brand portfolio during the 2000s. In 2007 it moved to a facility in Worlingham reported as costing £10 million and introduced the Stocking Fillers sub-brand. The business later separated its warehouse and head-office functions: the warehouse moved to Eye, Suffolk, while the head office moved to Norwich in 2013. That year marked the company's fortieth anniversary. The wider Tobar organization also developed international capabilities, including a French wholesale branch, operations connected with Scandinavia and a showroom in Hong Kong. Hawkin's Bazaar experienced two administrations and several ownership changes. On 23 January 2012, Hawkin's Bazaar and the Tobar Group were acquired from administration by Primary Capital through a management buy-out. The retailer continued trading and had 27 United Kingdom stores by December 2012. In December 2015, the company underwent another management buy-out backed by the private-equity firm Merino. Under that ownership, the wider group acquired Bluw Limited in 2016, H Grossman in 2018 and Kit for Kids in 2019. The company entered administration again on 23 January 2020. Its 18 remaining shops closed on 3 February 2020. H Grossman acquired the Hawkin's Bazaar brand from the administrators, and the brand continued alongside Stocking Fillers and Tobar under ownership associated with Merino Industries and Mark Colley. On 22 November 2021, Menkind acquired Hawkin's Bazaar and Stocking Fillers from H Grossman for an undisclosed sum. Menkind absorbed the two businesses, and the Hawkin's Bazaar brand was reported as no longer existing as an independent brand by 2024.

Hawkin's Bazaar originated in 1973 as a niche mail-order toy company founded by Sid Templer. The enterprise was initially called TOBAR, a name derived from the first parts of Templer's sons' forenames. In 1976, after moving into a former public house called the Hawk Inn, the company adopted Hawkin's & Co as its operating name; Bazaar was subsequently added. The business developed a reputation for unusual, entertaining and affordable merchandise rather than standardized toy lines. In 1989, Toby Templer took over the running of the company from his father. The business moved to Elm House, a former farm at St Margaret South Elmham, and opened its first shop in Salisbury. During the 1990s it expanded its United Kingdom retail presence, began selling in European markets and developed the combination of mail order, stores and wholesale activity that characterized the brand. Websites were launched in 1998, while the online platform was relaunched in August 2012. The company expanded its physical and commercial infrastructure during the 2000s. In 2007 it moved to a reported £10 million facility in Worlingham and launched Stocking Fillers as a sub-brand. By the early 2010s, the warehouse and head office had been separated, with the warehouse moving to Eye in Suffolk and the head office moving to Norwich in 2013. The same year represented the company's fortieth year in business. The broader Tobar group also established a French wholesale branch in 2010 and maintained international connections in Scandinavia and Hong Kong. Financial and ownership pressure led to a series of restructurings. On 23 January 2012, Primary Capital acquired Hawkin's Bazaar and the Tobar Group from administration through a management buy-out. The chain continued operating and had 27 stores in the United Kingdom by December 2012. A further management buy-out, backed by Merino, took place in December 2015. Merino-associated ownership expanded the wider group through acquisitions including Bluw Limited in 2016, H Grossman in March 2018 and Kit for Kids in March 2019. Hawkin's Bazaar subsequently entered administration for a second time on 23 January 2020, with Tom Straw and Simon Thomas appointed joint administrators. The remaining 18 shops closed on 3 February. H Grossman acquired the brand from administration, after which it continued under the wider Tobar and Merino-associated structure. On 22 November 2021, Menkind acquired Hawkin's Bazaar and Stocking Fillers from H Grossman. Menkind absorbed the businesses, and Hawkin's Bazaar was no longer reported as an independent operating brand by 2024.

• 2021

  Acquisition by Menkind

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  Menkind acquired Hawkin's Bazaar and Stocking Fillers and absorbed them into its business.

• 2020

  Second administration and store closures

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  The company entered administration and closed its 18 remaining stores.

• 2012

  First administration and restructuring

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  Primary Capital acquired the business from administration through a management buy-out; the company continued trading and had 27 UK stores by December.

• 2007

  New facility and Stocking Fillers sub-brand

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  The business moved to a major Worlingham facility and launched Stocking Fillers.

• 1998

  Websites launched

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  The company launched websites as its mail-order and physical-retail model expanded.

• 1989

  Toby Templer takes over operations

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  Toby Templer succeeded his father in running the company, which also moved to Elm House and opened its first retail shop in Salisbury.

• 1976

  Hawkin's & Co name adopted

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  After moving into a former Hawk Inn premises, the company adopted Hawkin's & Co; the Bazaar wording was added later.

• 1973

  TOBAR founded as a mail-order toy company

  [1]Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org

  Sid Templer founded the business in Suffolk as a specialist mail-order toy company under the name TOBAR.

A specialist, value-oriented novelty retailer offering unusual toys, gifts, gadgets and curiosities through mail order, e-commerce and high-street shops. Its proposition emphasized discovery, amusement and affordable gifting for multiple ages and occasions.

• Gifts · 1973

  Novelty gifts

  The core range consisted of unusual and amusing gifts designed for birthdays, Christmas, seasonal occasions and impulse purchases. Products were selected for novelty, accessibility and broad appeal across children and adults rather than for a single specialist demographic.

• Toys · 1973

  Toys and games

  Toys and games formed the foundation of the original mail-order business. The assortment focused on distinctive, entertaining and often inexpensive products that could be sold through catalogues, stores and the company's online channels.

• Novelty merchandise

  Gadgets and curiosities

  Hawkin's Bazaar differentiated itself with gadgets, curiosities and out-of-the-ordinary merchandise. These products supported the retailer's discovery-led shopping experience and helped distinguish it from conventional toy and gift shops.

• Sub-brand · 2007

  Stocking Fillers

  Stocking Fillers was introduced as a sub-brand in 2007, concentrating on small, affordable gift items associated particularly with Christmas and low-value seasonal purchasing.

• 2013Fortieth-anniversary communications

  United Kingdom

  Anniversary communications emphasized the company's forty years of supplying unusual gifts and retained its long-running Christmas and Father Christmas associations.

  Outcome. The anniversary reinforced the continuity between the original mail-order business and the later store and online formats.

  Source

• 2021

  Menkind acquisition and absorptionM&A

  Background

  After H Grossman acquired the brand from administration, Menkind purchased Hawkin's Bazaar and Stocking Fillers on 22 November 2021.

  Action taken

  Menkind acquired both brands for an undisclosed sum and absorbed them into its business.

  Aftermath

  Hawkin's Bazaar ceased to exist as an independent brand by 2024.

  Source

• 2020

  Store estate closure following administrationStrategy

  Background

  The company entered administration for a second time on 23 January 2020.

  Action taken

  All 18 remaining Hawkin's Bazaar locations closed on 3 February 2020.

  Aftermath

  The brand was acquired from administration by H Grossman and continued within the wider Tobar-related structure rather than as the former standalone store chain.

  Source

• 2015

  Merino-backed management buy-outM&A

  Background

  The company underwent another ownership transition in December 2015.

  Action taken

  A management buy-out was completed with support from private-equity firm Merino.

  Aftermath

  The wider group pursued acquisitions in toys, gifts and educational products.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquisition from administration by Primary CapitalM&A

  Background

  Hawkin's Bazaar and the Tobar Group entered a restructuring process and were acquired from administration on 23 January 2012.

  Action taken

  Primary Capital completed a management buy-out and kept the business trading.

  Aftermath

  The company continued operating and reported 27 UK stores by December 2012.

  Source

1. 1Hawkin's Bazaaren.wikipedia.org