Pavlov guides full rebranding of DreamLand

With over 90 experience stores where families can discover, play and lose track of time, DreamLand is the toy retail leader in the BeNeLux.

But this success story started with a complex puzzle. In October 2023, ToyChamp made two major acquisitions in quick succession: the well-known DreamLand chain from Colruyt, followed by stores from the bankrupt Fun retailer. Suddenly, they were managing 92 stores, each carrying the DNA of its former brand. Three different identities. Three corporate cultures. Three ways of doing things.

Challenge

The Limburg-based Nolmans family, who run ToyChamp, knew the operational integration would be challenging enough. But they also understood something crucial: merging warehouses and systems is one thing. Merging brands and winning hearts? That's where the real work begins. 

Traditional retail faces constant pressure from online competitors, yet toy stores still thrive when they offer something special: inspiration, experience, tangible joy. The question was: how do you preserve that magic while unifying everything under one roof?

Pavlov’s Tailored Approach & Solutions

Pavlov started with listening, not assumptions. They surveyed 11,000 consumers across Belgium and the Netherlands, ran a pan-European competitive analysis and conducted focus groups to validate the insights. Real data from real people.

Working in co-creation with ToyChamp, they explored seven strategic scenarios. The winner? Relaunch DreamLand as the singular brand and retire the others. Bold, but backed by evidence.

They built the entire brand universe around four core values: stimulating, inspiring, connecting, and nearby. They created new visuals and a mascot, mapped the customer journey and defined the experience for each touchpoint.

Finally, they ran workshops with employees from all three companies to co-create a shared brand culture. Because the best strategy means nothing if your people don't believe it.

Impact & Result

DreamLand now feels more than ever like a unified brand, not a corporate merger. Families experience the same inspiring atmosphere across all stores, regardless of their legacy. The rebrand gave the organisation a common language and direction.

Want to dive deeper into this project? Read the full case study on Pavlov's website.

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