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Just Kidding Around Is a Wonderful Toy Store in Montclair, NJ |
There
really is no need to lament the closing of ToysRUs stores. What did we shop there for anyway? The toys advertised on TV that the kids and
grandkids asked for. Frankly it is much
more efficient these days to do that online whether you go to Amazon, ToysRUs,
Walmart or Target. Do we still need and
want toy stores? Of course! But not for
what was on the shelves at ToysRUs. In
recent year I have been at ToysRUs only occasionally – usually to shop with my
grandson for something special. They did
have a large well stocked LEGO section – our usual destination - which we could could spend a day and a fortune
at. But I always found the cavernous
store fairly empty for its size and wondered about its viability. Most of the toys were those seen on TV and
easily ordered online. Why would anyone
make a physical trip here anyway. The
browsing seemed tedious rather than fun.
Toy
stores can be fun and wondrous and full of toys that a child would like and you
would like them to have. And guess what –
they do exist. They may be 10% the size
of an average ToysRUs but you probably are much more likely to walk out a happy
customer. There are independent toy
stores all over the country, frequently on “Main Street, USA.” Not only in big
cities. Hopefully they are about to be re-discovered.
Every
year I see small companies at Toy Fair – and I write about them – with wonderful
toys for kids that are available in independent toy stores but not at the large
big box retailers. I also see the
retailers in serious discussions with these company representatives learning
all they can about the products and deciding which ones will be attractive to
their clientele. You really can find
wonderful toys in these small stores that never were in ToyRUs. Check them out here are 12 reasons why.
An Independent Toy Store Near You May Offer:
· Wonderful
toys you would not otherwise know about if you didn’t visit
· Free gift
wrapping
· Personalization
– Free or small charge
· Extensive
educational toy lines
· Toys
designed for children with special needs
· Book
readings and signings
· Craft
events
· Play
areas
· Well
informed staff
· Green
toys
· No
checkout lines
· No exhausted
overstimulated kids by your side
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