Don’t Miss Neighborhood Toy Store Day on November 12th!

Can you believe we are already in November and that Christmas is like six weeks away!  This year instead of doing all your shopping online or at the big mass retailers (Target, Walmart…), have you considered checking out your local neighborhood toy store?  You that that super cute toy store that you keep passing but maybe isn’t the most convenient.

Well a few weeks ago I got the chance to check out Building Blocks Toy Store in Chicago and I admit I felt like a kid again!  I could spend hours just looking at everything in the store and still not see everything.  Since the store is smaller than a big mass retailer, everything was jam-packed and only toys picked by the store owner were in there.  By shopping at a neighborhood toy store, like Building Blocks, you get expert advice and personalized attention.  So rather than going to lets say Toys R Us and getting some teenager to try to help you, you can ask an associate who is actually educated about their toys.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a sales associate help you pick out an age appropriate gift and not sell you a piece of junk!

Toys at specialty toy stores tend to focus on the features of play rather than the toy itself.  So they are geared to engage your children and have more play value.  They may not be the toys advertised on tv as “must-haves” but they tend to be higher quality and spark creativity since they are not based on specific characters.  I also want to add that I was surprised to find the prices at the neighborhood toy store to be pretty much the same as the bigger stores.  With knowledgeable staff and special services like gift-wrapping, you really can’t go wrong!

By shopping at your neighborhood toy store you are supporting your community.  Did you know that for each dollar you spend at independent businesses in your community, three or more times as much typically goes back into the local economy compared to a dollar spent at retailer owned by a chain?

We got to hear from the owner at Building Blocks and you could tell she cared about her store, her customers and her toys!  After visiting Building Blocks Toy Store I realize how much value there really is from those quaint little stores that I always think about popping into but never do, next time I will!

Well to give consumers a reason to get out there and visit their local neighborhood toy store, toy stores across the country will be celebrating the joy of play on November 12, 2011.

The festivities will highlight local talent and last years programs included crafts, entertainers, scavenger hunts and more!  Neighborhood Toy Store Day is to show that specialty toy retailers are more than just little stores, but a central part of the community.

VISIT:  Check out the Neighborhood Toy Store Day website to see stores in your area that are participating!  Then give them a call to find out what they have planned.

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is a no-profit association that provides leadership and resources in the specialty toy industry.  They include more than 1,300 members that are independent toy and children’s product retailers, specialty toy manufacturers, manufacturer’s representatives, industry affiliates and more.  They have come up with a leading toy list that represents the year’s top picks by independent toy store owners nationwide.

Here are a few of the 2011 Best Toys for Kids Winners:

• Fast Track by Blue Orange Games
• Shrinky Dinks Fairy Garden by Creativity for Kids
• Potholder Kit by Harrisville Designs
• Safety Pin Bracelets by Klutz
• Freestyle Spooner Board by Spooner Inc
• Tegu Blocks by Tegu
• Nanoblock by OhioArt/Kawada
• Remote Control Machines by Thames and Kosmos
• Pathwords by Thinkfun Inc.

To find more information on ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids visit www.astrabesttoysforkids.com

Mom and More Disclosure: I attended an event to learn about Neighborhood Toy Store Day and received complimentary products. Please see my Disclosure Policy.