Retail Gazette Loves: Smyths Toys celebrates Barbie’s 60th anniversary

Barbie turned 60 over the weekend and Smyths Toys celebrated the world-renowned doll’s anniversary by hosting a “You Can Be Anything” event to inspire children and young women.

The two-day event took place last weekend on March 9-10.

Young children who attended received face paintings, as well as free goody bags that included a Chelsea doll and a copy of the Barbie magazine.

A vast amount of people – 3000 – attended the event which took place in eight different locations across the UK, including at Smyths’ superstore in Staples Corner.

Smyths also provided a parent and child play and learn area which gave families a chance to come together and enjoy the event, as well as take photos to mark the occasion.

In addition, the first 100 attendees who purchased a Barbie product to the value of £9.99 received a free photo frame.

When Barbie launched 60 years ago, it wasn’t the greatest era for young girls and women – so the “You Can Be Anything” event was a way of expressing freedom and inspiring them to be more assertive despite Barbie’s traditional audience.

“Celebrating Barbie’s 60th anniversary, this is an amazing milestone and an inspiring message to send out to young children for their future and that they can be anything,” Smyths Toys joint head of marketing Sinead Byrne said.

Barbie UK senior brand manager Julie Jackson said: “Barbie is the ultimate girl empowerment brand and we couldn’t be more excited to show girls that ‘You Can Be Anything’ at Staples Corner this for this special anniversary.”

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