The Entertainer Bets on Craig Inglis—Because the Toy Business Still Thinks 'Brand' Is a Magic Word
Here we go again: another legacy retailer, another desperate play for relevance by hiring a ‘top marketer.’ This week, The Entertainer’s parent company, Teal Group, handed the keys to its entire marketing kingdom to Craig Inglis—yes, the same ex-John Lewis marketer who made Christmas TV spots into a national blood sport. Inglis is now the czar overseeing customer, licensing, branding, and every other buzzword Teal Group can slap on its toy brands.
If you think this signals a radical reset, dream on. The toy business is addicted to nostalgia and brand fluff, and The Entertainer’s boardroom is no exception. Teal Group still acts like it’s 2013, when a clever campaign could paper over the fact that your e-commerce was held together by string and wishful thinking. Newsflash: this is autumn 2026, and parents are buying gifts via voice search or letting TikTok unboxing clips decide for them.
You want receipts? Look at the state of The Entertainer’s online experience last week: clunky category pages, still running on a platform that spits out bloated HTML, while Google’s AI-powered Shopping results eat brick-and-mortar brands alive. But sure, let’s put all our chips on ‘brand storytelling.’ Maybe a nice licensing deal with Peppa Pig will save you from the existential threat of Amazon’s one-hour delivery.
Inglis has talent—no question. But if Teal Group thinks a high-profile CMO can solve its core problems, they’re living in the past. The real fix? Stop treating ‘marketing’ as a synonym for ‘distraction.’ Invest in brutal site speed audits, streamline your PDPs, and rebuild your data layer so you’re not flying blind every Black Friday. That’s the homework nobody in a boardroom wants to hear, but in this market, it’s the only way you get to keep playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Craig Inglis and what is his new role at The Entertainer?
Craig Inglis, known for his work on John Lewis’s Christmas TV campaigns, has been appointed as head of marketing at The Entertainer’s parent company, Teal Group, in autumn 2026.
Why is The Entertainer hiring Craig Inglis?
The Entertainer hired Craig Inglis to revamp its marketing and oversee customer, licensing, and branding efforts.
What problems does the article highlight about The Entertainer’s online experience?
The article criticizes The Entertainer’s outdated online experience, including clunky category pages and a platform that produces bloated HTML.
Does the article think hiring a top marketer will fix The Entertainer’s issues?
No, the article argues that hiring a high-profile CMO like Craig Inglis will not solve The Entertainer’s deeper digital and e-commerce problems.
What solutions does the article suggest for The Entertainer’s challenges?
The article suggests investing in site speed audits, streamlining product detail pages, and rebuilding the data layer instead of relying solely on brand storytelling.
