Cornwall Toy Retailer Sees Sales Growth After Joining Temu

A Cornwall-based toy retailer has seen business boom after joining Temu’s online marketplace, with daily orders soaring more than 40% within a single quarter.

From Decline to Demand

Facing falling toy sales across the UK, Mark Crowhurst, who runs Mcslots with his wife and daughters, turned to Temu in April. Within 48 hours of listing a small selection of products, orders began to roll in. Three months later, Temu accounted for half of Mcslots’ total sales.

“Temu is the saviour of our business,” said Mark. “Without it, we would have had a tough summer.”

The family-run company, which has been trading for 12 years, specialises in model cars and action figures for both kids and collectors. But like many in the industry, Mcslots had been hit hard by a national downturn, with UK toy sales down 3.7% in 2024 compared with the previous year.

From Asda to Action Figures

Mark’s journey into toy retail began while he was working at Asda. What started as an online store selling various paraphernalia turned into a dedicated toy business when a friend asked him to help move a collection of die-cast cars from the once-iconic Corgi Toys brand.

The success of that niche gave rise to Mcslots, which now carries around 3,900 products and sells to customers in the UK and beyond, including Australia and Japan. However, recent economic uncertainty had caused sales to slow across most online platforms.

A Turning Point on Temu

The decision to list on Temu, a newer platform with around 13 million monthly users in the UK, marked a major shift for the business. Mark said Temu’s level of seller support made a real difference.

He recalled a time when a customer commented that a product’s sizing description was unclear. The Temu manager responsible for Mcslots’ account quickly stepped in to refine the listing and make it easier for shoppers to understand.

“I think the main thing is Temu is listening, and is trying to make things work,” said Mark.

From Test to Success

One of Mcslots’ top sellers, a $21 Ecto-1 model from the Ghostbusters franchise, sold more on Temu in six weeks than across all other platforms in the previous year, clearing out inventory in multiple markets.

Initially, less than 10% of Mcslots’ product catalogue was listed on Temu. Encouraged by strong sales, Mark is now working to upload the remaining stock and expand through Temu’s global network.

The company expects to close this year with a 33% increase in revenue over last year’s £317,000.

“I can’t wait for Christmas,” said Mark.