Neighborhood Toy Store Day - Saturday, November 9th, 2013

5 Reasons to Shop at Your Local Toy Store By Mom's Lifesavers

We are so lucky to have several local toy stores in our area. We are shopping local now more than ever and purchasing toys is no different!

This Fall Mom's Lifesavers was invited to visit a local toy store and we learned a lot during our visit with the locally owned and operated small business. We will share with you what we learned!

Local Toy Store 411

#1 Locally run toy stores know their customers - Many have frequent buyer cards, special mailings and catalogs specific to them during the holiday season - they also offer birthday specials and customer appreciation days not to mention most have free gift wrapping!

#2 Ahead of the craze - These smaller stores have a pulse on the industry and many have products that are being tested out - those new products that you see in the parenting magazines - your local toy store will likely have them well before those big stores will! Our local toy store knew about Rainbow loom before the craze - they even offered lessons on how to use it - now they can barely keep them in stock!

#3 Customer Service - You will not find anyone at the big box stores that will hep you feel through 30 LEGO Mini Figure bags looking for the coveted one your child has their heart set on - not only does our local toy let us rummage through the display - they help out! Looking for the perfect gift for that child that is (insert age here) - your local store can tell you what is hot and what is not.

Local story by local author found at local toy store!

#4 Local products are on sale here. That's right, your local toy store likely carries locally made products as well. Local shops love to support local authors, crafters and artisans - chances are there is a local author that has a book at your local toy store or a hand made toy or clothing item - you won't know unless stop by and take a look.

#5 You want them there. Shopping at your local toy store ensures that they'll be there - they are part of our local community and the only way to keep them on our main streets is to support them.

Check out this new website about safe, creative and educational play for children here.

Looking for toys to spark your kids’ imaginations? Check out ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids 2013 list here.

For a tour of one of our local toy stores - Green Elephant Toys - check out our post here.

Here is a link to our review of a book by a local author - Charley by Donna Marie Seim, that yes, we found it at a local toy store.