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Neighborhood Toy Store Day
Helps Independent Retailers Shine
laytime was on at mom-and-pop toy shops everywhere. November 8 marked the fifth annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day (NTSD), an event started by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association to support locally owned toy retailers. Community members were encouraged to visit the independent toy stores in their midst, and in return, participating retailers hosted in-store arts and crafts, games, and other activities that appealed to families. In honor of NTSD, The Toy Book’s editorial assistant Deanna Atkins and associate editor Phil Guie interviewed owners of several neighborhood toy stores in their home communities. In their responses below, the store owners touched on their NTSD plans, the support they give and receive from their neighborhoods, the reasons why shopping at a locally owned toy store is a great experience, and more. stores, and I concentrate on products that are learning tools as well as for play, and on special needs products.
Specialty Toys & Gifts speaks to:
McGowan: Teich Toys & Books specializes in imaginative and engaging toys and gifts. Also, we put a strong emphasis on handmade, local, and small manufacturing, as well as products made in the U.S.
• Inna Trinidad, co-owner, Kaleidoscope in Brooklyn, N.Y. • Avi Kravitz, co-owner, Norman & Jules in Brooklyn, N.Y. • Patricia Porco, owner, Funni Business in Oyster Bay, N.Y. • Allison McGowan, owner, Teich Toys & Books in New York City What makes your toy store unique? Trinidad: Aside from carrying the best specialty and educational toys, we focus on community support through Friday Movie Nights, and, of course, our daily riddle. The Riddle of the Day is put out on an easel board, as well as on Facebook and Twitter every day. It has become a community staple as customers, pedestrians, kids, and adults make guessing the riddle part of their daily routine.
Can you tell us a little bit about the community that you serve? McGowan: We’re located in the heart of the West Village neighborhood of New York City, so our customers are locals and tourists alike. More and more families are settling down in the West Village and there is a need for this type of store to serve their needs. Our customers are looking for fun ways to engage with their kids, and we aim to provide an alternative to bleeping gadgets and plastic junk. We have board games, puzzles, and arts and crafts projects that encourage interaction and creativity. We sell toys that everyone can relate to, young and old, such as Silly Putty, juggling balls, and Slinky. The neighborhood has responded extremely positively. Every day, at least one person thanks us for opening!
Kravitz: Aside from carrying wellcrafted, imaginative toys made from sustainable materials, we’ve created an environment that makes it peaceful to be in a toy shop. We carefully curate the shop so that it is easier on the eyes—as opposed to many mass-market toy stores.
Porco: I purchase toys and gifts that are not found in large commercial retail toy
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
Teich Toys & Books
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Trinidad: Bay Ridge has grown into a melting pot serving a variety of big and small families. The majority of the community are middle-income working class people, who do their best to support local businesses. From time to time, we participate in fundraisers to help local not-for-profits drive awareness for their causes.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2015