With the holidays quickly approaching, we know that shopping is around the corner. More important than ever, this holiday season it really does matter where you shop; especially to struggling small business communities across the country. As a small business owner myself, I strongly support those independents or family-owned business which are struggling to keep their doors open under less than ideal economic times.
When you shop local, you invest in your community, in your neighbors, and in yourselves. Whether it is the local hardware, independent book store, family-owned restaurant, neighborhood barber shop . . . in this economic climate, the best return on investment is in local business. It is estimated that for every dollar you spend, twice as much will be reinvested in the community by a local store than a national store.
Working with independent toy stores across the country is my friend, Debbie Bookstaber. Through Debbie, I found out about Neighborhood Toy Store Day (website: www.neighborhoodtoystoreday.com or Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/astratoy ) on Saturday, November 13, which will highlight the importance of independent toy stores not only to children and their families – but to their local areas as well. Independent toy stores are important to their local communities and provide a resource for families. In Philadelphia, there is a large celebration planned on Saturday at the Please Touch Museum in honor of Neighborhood Toy Store Day.
Did you know that Tredyffrin has an independent toy store – yes, Lucky Duck Toys is our own neighborhood toy store. Lucky Duck Toys advertises that their “. . . goal is to provide toys that will challenge the minds of children, stimulate their imaginations and encourage them to be creative. We are always on the lookout for new and exciting products, and do our best to offer a wide range of interesting and awe-inspiring items.”
There are two Lucky Duck Toy stores, one in Wayne and the Tredyffrin store in Berwyn is located at 428 Swedesford Road near the PathMark grocery store. To celebrate Neighborhood Toy Store Day on Saturday, special activities are planned at the independent toy stores. If you are looking for a birthday or holiday gift for that special little person in your life . . . shop local and visit Lucky Duck Toys in Berwyn – they have 10,000 toys in stock!
Lucky Duck Toys: http://www.luckyducktoys.com/
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm. Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm, Sundays 12-4pm,
Location: 428 W. Swedesford Rd, Berwyn, PA
Tel: 610-695-6300
And don’t forget the toystore at Paoli Hardware: http://www.yelp.com/biz/paoli-hardware-center-paoli
How many of these local toy stores buy from local toy vendors /manufacturers? I had a very short stint with a local toy company and local stores were not willing to consider it….they want national accounts I guess?
Bev Michaels is right. The toy store on the second floor of Paoli Hardware is worth checking out. It feels like what a toy store must have been like in the 1930s. Lots of great toys that don’t require batteries or microchips.