Retail Arbitrage – Smyths

Welcome back to the Retail Arbitrage Series! This week we’re diving into Smyths Toys Superstores, widely considered the best toy store for sourcing RA leads. Why? Because it’s solely focused on toys, and toys are one of the highest return categories in arbitrage. Smyths is an absolute money printer in Q4, but make no mistake, profitable leads can be found here all year round.

One of the best things about Smyths is that it’s not limited to in store sourcing. You can also incorporate click and collect and online orders into your strategy. This means you can double up on profits by stacking online arbitrage and retail arbitrage methods together. If you find a great deal, you can also visit multiple stores across the country to stock up. Smyths should 100% be in your permanent RA rotation.

About Smyths & How It Works

Smyths runs sectional discounts and brand specific promotions throughout the year. These deals usually appear on the Smyths website, and are also featured on deal sourcing platforms like Arbisource or posted in RA groups.

For example, during Q4 last year, there was an incredible Crayola sale, it was listed online and instore, making it some perfect click and collect leads that scaled across multiple branches.

The layout of Smyths can feel overwhelming at first. Stores typically include:

• A female toy section
• A male toy section
• A baby/toddler section with large products like buggies, bikes, and playhouses
• A electronics section

That’s why it’s smart to start your trip with a click and collect order, you go in with purpose, and then scan around from there.

Where to Find Clearance

Unlike some stores, Smyths doesn’t have a dedicated clearance section. Instead, the sales are spread across different branded areas in the store. There’s no central clearance shelf, you’ll find the discounts wherever a brand promotion is running.

To maximise efficiency:

• Look for branded sale signs (e.g. “20% off all Barbie”)
• Don’t just scan the yellow sticker deals, scan the entire section

When a sale is running on a brand, the whole section may be discounted, not just a few items. So it’s always worth going deep into those categories.

Where to Find Profitable Items

Start your Smyths sourcing online. Use your OA tools or sourcing software to:

• Find discounted products
• Check stock across local stores
• Set up click and collect orders before visiting

Once you’ve ordered, build your route around those pickups. This guarantees some profit on every trip.

Watch for:

• Brand-wide sales (e.g. 25% off Barbie or 3 for 2 on Playmobil)
• Hidden discounted lines that don’t always show up on the homepage

Over Q4, this is where Smyths becomes a powerhouse:

• Sales on Lego, Barbie, Playmobil, Star Wars, Nerf, Gujitsu, Paw Patrol, and more are common
• Smyths tends to keep good levels of stock, so replenishing is easier

Even out of Q4, you can find profitable lines in collectible toys, toddler gear, and baby products, especially if you monitor price drop groups and stock checkers.

Best Time of Year for Smyths

If toys are your niche, Smyths is a year round opportunity. But here’s how the seasons break down:

• January – August: Steady leads in collectible toys, brand sales, and electronic/games. Online deals and discontinued items are the main focus here.
• September – December (Q4): This is where Smyths explodes with opportunity, Toy sales skyrocket, Sales run on major brands, You can make the bulk of your Q4 profit from this one store alone.

If you’re full-time RA and serious about toys, Smyths should be in your sourcing loop multiple times per week, both in-store and online.

Smyths Hacks

• Online First: Start with OA, build a click & collect list, then base your trip around guaranteed profit.
• Product Limits: Smyths limit you to 3 units per product online, but in-store purchases are usually unrestricted. Some stores are stricter than others though, so learn how each local branch operates.
• Manager Vibes: Some staff are super helpful and even alert you to upcoming sales, while others hate the likes of us! Always be polite and respectful to gauge the vibe before pushing for bigger buys.
• Multi-Store Coverage: If you find a hot product, visit 3–4 stores in a day. The same deals usually run across all locations.
• Scan the Section, Not Just the one item: If one product in a brand is on sale, check the entire range. Deals often apply to multiple lines.

Pros & Cons of Smyths

Pros

• Huge toy selection and top brands
• Stock often available both online and in-store
• Great integration of OA and RA methods
• Most stores in retail parks with good parking
• Sales are consistent and trackable via their site

Cons

• Online orders limited to 3 units
• Some store staff can be strict or unhelpful
• Stores can be overwhelming and packed, especially on weekends