&P 500. However, the only Monopoly that Toys "R" Us holds these days is on its shelves. The Paramus, New Jersey-based company is still one of the world's largest toy retailers, but it has lost its #1 US position to Wal-Mart. The company's more than 1,500 stores (under the Toys "R" Us, Kids "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, and Imaginarium names) sell toys, sporting goods, books, furniture, computer software, and children's apparel. To improve its lagging position in the toy retail game, Toys "R" Us is cutting inventory significantly in order to emphasize top-selling and proprietary items; it is also redesigning many of its stores (to eliminate the warehouse feel) and making a concerted effort to improve customer service. To complicate matters, the company's toysrus.com unit partnered with Amazon.com to sell toys (and baby products) on a combined Web site. The deal allows Toys "R" Us to close three distribution centers, and it saves millions on Web site design and maintenance. However it also must split any profits in an enterprise in which profitability has proven exceedingly difficult. Selected Products & OperationsSome figures may not add up due to rounding. 2001 Sales $ mil. % of totalToys"R"Us (US) 7,073 62Toys"R"Us (International & Japan) 2,149 19Babies"R"Us 1,310 12Kids"R"Us 620 5Toysrus.com 180 2Total 11,332 100Store ChainsToys "R" Us (toys, games, books, sporting goods, electronics, furniture)Babies "R" Us (infant care products, car seats and strollers, furniture, toys)Kids "R" Us (children's appare...
