Website: www.prezzybox.com

Prezzybox was founded in 2000 by Zak Edwards as he set out to create a gift site with a “raft of tasty products and features” and in the last 8 years the site has gone from strength to strength. Their ethos is to sell “a great range of goodies, with a fun and friendly approach”, so let’s check out if their range and service lives up to the claims.

Range
There’s no denying that the range on Prezzybox is impressive. From beanbags to personalised champagne its easy to find something for everyone present wise, but we’re picky at Toy Hype – we need games! And they’ve got boatloads. Board games, scooters, dvd games, puzzles and craft kits are just a few of the categories. There are certainly plenty to choose from.

Usability
Overall it’s an easy website to use. The site has been designed to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. It’s not the ideal set up for browsing, but it certainly makes it quick to find something when you’re on a mission! There are 3 separate menus at top of the site, and a choice of methods to browse (by who you’re buying for, by price etc.) on the left hand side. There’s also a Gift Wizard which has a much better interface than most I’ve seen. It narrows the list as you select your choices and lets you know how many results your search will return before you submit it, meaning you won’t get an irritating ‘no results match your search’ page. If you are really stuck, there’s a best sellers list on home page so you can see what other people have bought before you.

Registration and Checkout
It’s just 2 clicks from selecting your item to getting to the checkout, and all the choices are on a single page so there’s no need to register. Very simple, straightforward, and with the Thawte seal of approval it’s nice and secure. It gives the impression of a large, professional company and that’s just what you want when you hand your details over.

Delivery
No matter what you order – UK mainland delivery is £3.95, and for £2 extra you can upgrade that to the next working day ‘express service’. There are no international delivery options…but let’s be selfish and say that doesn’t matter in ToyHype land!

Location
The company is stationed in Warwickshire and their contact page has lots of choices to make sure that your query goes directly to the right department.

Overall
The celebrity news reel that runs across the screen as I shopped didn’t seem to fit in with the overall feel of the site, and there were some products that I didn’t think should sit alongside the ‘gadgets’ and ‘fun things’, (and that would frankly make a prudish girl blush…) but these are picky points. The range is just as impressive as they boast. The mix of products means there’s something for everyone, even the non-toy-fanatic, and I’d have no problems in buying from Prezzybox, or recommending anyone else to do so.

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Toyhype don’t just review toys, the kind people also take a look at the websites and stores that sell them. The next lucky store to come under our scrutiny is Hawkin’s Bazaar, an out of the ordinary toy store selling fabulously unusual gifts, gadgets and toys.

You can read the full review here or visit Hawkin’s Bazaar, and let us know what you think.

If you run a website and would like us to review it, contact us through our online form, here.

Website: www.hawkin.com

With slogans such as “Purveyor of oddities to the nation” and “because life’s too serious”, it’s quite clear that Hawkin’s Bazaar is not just another toy shop – in fact they tell you exactly that on their home page.  So with 45 outlets around the country, and a website the size of a small country – let’s look at what makes them so successful…

Range
The website claims that the kind people at Hawkins source “out-of-the-ordinary” products to offer all sorts of unusual toys, gifts and gadgets to suit a range of ages. The categories didn’t help me too much in finding out the kinds of toys that they sell, with names like “Fascinating Thingamajigs” and “Wonderful Weirdness”, but digging a little deeper I found everything from Dominos and spudguns to Snoopy Snocone makers.  There is everything from classic wooden toys for babies to fantastically unusual products for adults.  In fact it’s taken me around 2 hours to get this far in the review as I can’t stop looking through the categories…oh! a practical joke section, I could be here a while.

Usability
I’ve already mentioned the left hand menu, which is easy enough to work your way through once you understand what the crazy-named categories do.  There is also a brilliant present finder on the right hand side for those looking for inspiration.  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t trick it and it always came back with something useful.  There are also ‘Top 11 items’ and best seller lists, banner ads for popular categories and quick search facilities on the home page. At the bottom of the product info pages, they offer ‘People who bought this didn’t buy these!’ suggestions rather than related products, which is far more refreshing than the usual method.

Registration and Checkout
From product page to checkout is just 2 clicks. Hawkins Bazaar requires you to register with them to complete your order, but this simply requires a password along with your usual delivery details so it shouldn’t put you off. The store accepts most credit and debit cards and lets you tell them you’re really, really sure before ordering – which is always appreciated in online buying.

Delivery
It’s easy to choose which delivery option you want during the order  – either standard delivery for £3.95, or next day for £5.95, or if the order is over £30, delivery is free.  The delivery information page claims that they’ll send worldwide – but for obvious reasons I couldn’t test their claim.

Location
The store headquarters are in Suffolk but they have stores across England, Wales and Scotland.

Overall
The sheer amount of products on www.hawkins.com is impressive to say the least.  I’d prefer an easier navigation system to make sure I got to see all of the toys and games that relate to my search – but the fun category names and layout are in keeping with the company’s overall wacky theme.  Despite this minor niggle, it’s hard to find a bad thing to say about the site as it made me smile endlessly while I searched for toys from my youth, and new games for my….less youth.  I can honestly recommend this store and I’ll definitely be using it for my Christmas shopping this year.

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Toyhype don’t just review toys, the kind people also take a look at the websites and stores that sell them. The first to come under our scrutiny is Cuddly Kingdom, a soft toy store specialising in Nici products.

You can read the full review here or visit Cuddly Kingdom, and let us know what you think.

If you run a website and would like us to review it, contact us through our online form, here.

Website: www.cuddlykingdom.com

Cuddly Kingdom has become one of the UK’s leading online soft toy retailer, despite only being around since 2005. Achieving so much in such a short time already hints at this site’s ease-of-use and the quality of the stock. In this review we find out if it’s true.

Range

The website offers some of the biggest cuddly toy brands on the market, including the famous Nici gifts and toys. They also stock Gund, Jellycat, Trudi and Kaloo. If you don’t know the brands you’ll certainly know the characters – Paddington bear, Seasame street friends, Miffy, Beatrix Potter and more. There are also classic cuddlies from teddy bears to snails, as well as stationary, hot water bottles and slippers.

Usability

Menus on the left and across the top give quick access to the different categories. There are also banners and quick links to the most popular ranges and characters. Combined with the accurate search facility, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.

Registration and Checkout

From product page to checkout is 3 clicks. Cuddly Kingdom requires you to register to complete your order, but this simply requires a password along with your usual delivery details so it shouldn’t put you off. The store accepts cheques, credit and debit cards through Protx. There is plenty of information on the site regarding security and data protection, and detailed contact information. Customer Service gave fast, accurate replies to all of my awkward questions.

Delivery

Standard delivery and next day options are available, with a flat rate for all orders, including the oversized toys.

Location

The store is based in sunny Scotland but offers European and International shipping.

Overall

I really have nothing but good things to say about Cuddly Kingdom. The only negative points I can come up with are picky and pointless, and it’s not often I get to say that about a website! The range is impressive and delivery was fast. The overall appearance of the site is constantly updated so that the latest toys are easy to spot, and the newsletters are worth signing up to. They highlight offers and interesting new arrivals rather than pushing the big names all the time. I have no hesitation in recommending this store.

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