Ri Happy Brinquedos, stylised as RI HAPPY, is the largest toy
retailer
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is the sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesal ...
in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
.
History
Ri Happy was founded in
1988
1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...
by pediatrician Ricardo Sayon, his wife Juanita Sayon, and business administrator Roberto Saba. The name "Ri Happy" derives from "Ri", short for Ricardo, and the English word "happy".
It had 196 stores as of May 2019.
In 2012 the
private equity
Private equity (PE) is stock in a private company that does not offer stock to the general public; instead it is offered to specialized investment funds and limited partnerships that take an active role in the management and structuring of the co ...
fund
The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group Inc. is an American multinational company with operations in private equity, alternative asset management and financial services. As of 2023, the company had $426 billion of assets under management.
Carlyle specializes in ...
fund acquired an 85% stake in the company, assuming majority control.
As part of the acquisition, Héctor Núñez became CEO. In the same year, Ri Happy purchased competitor PBKids.
In 2020, , previously CEO of , became the new CEO.
In the toy and game industry, Ri Happy is the retailer most admired by customers, according to the IBEVAR award.
Ri Happy Baby
In 2013, Ri Happy entered into the baby products sector, opening Ri Happy Baby (stylised as RI HAPPY Baby), a specialised retailer for children under three years old.
See also
Portal: Brazil
*
Toy store
A toy store or toy shop is a type of retail business specializing in selling toys; usually ones marketed towards children.
History
The first toy store was founded in 1760 by William Hamley in London, under the name of "Noah's Ark", later re ...
References
External links
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Toy retailers
Retail companies of Brazil
1988 establishments in Brazil
Retail companies established in 1988
The Carlyle Group companies
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