Source: The Nacelle Co./The Toy Book The Nacelle Co. charts a course for fun in an effort to support independent toy stores while extending the collectible experience. The studio behind Netflix The toys that made us and cross-platform A toy store near youhas officially launched the Toy Stores of theRead More →
A Derbion toy store will double in size by moving to a brand new store in the city’s mall. Toy Planet, which was just crowned Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (multi-store) at the 2021 Toy Industry Awards, will soon be moving from its current unit next to Starbucks onRead More →
A popular Burton toy store had reason to celebrate after being named the best in the country – and now bosses have revealed the secret to their success. Midco Toys in The Octagon Shopping Center won the 2021 Toy Industry Awards for Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (Multi-Store). OwnerRead More →
Bill Deakin, owner of Silly Billy’s Toy Shop, on Old Gate in Hebden Bridge, is closing the shop after a quarter of a century. He doesn’t have a closing date yet but plans to return to the career he had before opening the toy store, working in mental health. RegisterRead More →
Bill Deakin bids fond farewell and closes Silly Billy toy shop in Hebden Bridge Bill Deakin, owner of Silly Billy’s Toy Shop, on Old Gate, is closing after nearly 25 years in the town. He doesn’t have a closing date yet but plans to return to the career he hadRead More →
His eyes lighting up with messianic fervor, his silver hair falling over his shoulders, Richard X. Zawitz explained why the Tangle, the wearable, twisted toy he invented decades ago, is so much more than a simple whimsical and curvy toy. It is a manifestation of essential energy, a symbol ofRead More →
When we are looking for the best gift for our child, local toy stores come to the rescue. These independent toy stores even went out of their way during the pandemic (phone purchase, free delivery, curbside pickup) to keep customers happy. And now it’s our turn to support them moreRead More →
When I was young, parents who wanted to make sure their kids had the hottest toys of the year under their Christmas tree had to line up at Toys R Us or KB Toys. But over the past decade, toy store chains have all but disappeared, with KB Toys decidingRead More →
GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — Christmas seems to have come early at Toy Shelf, the small independent toy store in Grandville’s RiverTown Crossings mall. “Our weekends have been like Christmas weekends, so we’ve been really busy,” owner Shirley Moore said. That’s good news for businesses right now, but it could meanRead More →
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It’s the season to shop early and be prepared to compromise. That’s what Hamilton-area independent toy store owners are telling their customers ahead of another holiday season marked by yet another supply chain issues. “If you have one item in mind and this has to be the one, buy itRead More →
I Vintage toys overflow every available surface at Billy Galaxy. Credit: Ashley Anderson Kids and adults alike will have a blast at these fun Portland toy stores. Updated on October 22, 2021 2 minute read Emilie Prado Emilly Prado is an award-winning writer, journalist and consultant living in Portland. ReadRead More →
Published: 01:28 PM October 21, 2021 An independent toy shop owner in Suffolk has said he is “struggling with stock” in the run up to Christmas. Dan Lovett, boss of the Toy Box in Beccles, said: “Business has been good this year, but we are struggling with inventory. “Suppliers can’tRead More →
Tony Duffy from Duffys Toyworld Pic provided by Seamus Farrelly An independent toy store says it won’t suffer a shortage this Christmas as most of its stock comes from Europe. The 44-year-old owner of Duffy’s Toyworld says he is confident he will be able to stock his shelves and supplyRead More →
STEAM-inspired play, sustainability and pop culture licensing have become key themes among the winners of this year’s Independent Toy Awards, revealed this week by awards organizer Toy Shop UK. The 14th annual coveted awards, the ITA, was created to showcase what the country’s independent toy retail population considers to beRead More →
When Jonny Girson opened his boutique, The Learning Tree, in a Kansas City suburb in 1995, there were 25 independent toy stores in his area. Now there are five. In the St. Louis area, there are even fewer left. Bright Idea Toys in Ladue closed in April, a move announcedRead More →
The pandemic has upended millions of traditional holidays around the world, but one thing is still going as usual: children are making wish lists and hoping to find their favorite toys under the tree. Local independent toy store owners have stepped up throughout the pandemic to keep children entertained duringRead More →
Chris Reddick and her husband, Tim, own Toys in the Attic in Valparaiso. Independent local toy stores have sprung up in Northwest Indiana in the absence of a dominant corporate store chain. Valparaiso Toys in the Attic offers a variety of contemporary and retro toys and more. Buyers look forRead More →
About a quarter of Pufferbellies’ annual sales are between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when shoppers, she said, “come out of the woods” to buy Legos, snow globes, puzzles, playing cards, stuffed animals and other gifts for their family and friends. But Blanton, who runs the store with her mother and hasRead More →
On April 13, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she expects the Illinois stay-at-home order to extend until May. We understand the need to stay home in the hope that we can send our children to camp by July, but you will also need to find ways to keep them occupied.Read More →
This is a column by Kimberly Mosley, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). ASTRA is a not-for-profit organization serving over 1,800 independent retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives in the specialty toy industry. The views are those of the author. When Toys R Us announced its closure, generationsRead More →
Even though prices were slashed this week for the Creative Kidstuff sale, customers flocked to Hopkins-based independent toy store Kiddywampus intent on paying top dollar. “We’ve had customers say, ‘we shop here, we want you to stay in business’” Kiddywampus says owner Amy Saldanha. If a good comes from trustedRead More →
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Yes, it’s the first holiday season in 60 years without the iconic Toys R Us hypermarket for all things fun. The Toy Association says we’ll buy about 40% of our toys online, but we’re still craving the old-fashioned festive tradition of seeing those flashing, flashing toysRead More →
With Toys ‘R Us not an option this holiday season, many parents are turning to Amazon and places like Target and Walmart to do their toy shopping. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with these options. Can’t find the convenience of finding exactly what you want online, and whatRead More →
Stefanie Dunlop has high hopes for her Fingerlings. Cute robotic creatures that interact with their owners, these are this year’s white-hot Christmas toys, the Furbys and Hatchimals of 2017. On this weekday in Clearwater, Toys ‘R’ Us and Target had nothing in stock . But at its Learning Express storeRead More →