Green Toys are Way Cool!

When you ship as many packages as we do, you tend to notice the packaging.  There are about a billion toys out there and, consequently, a billion packages.  Some of the packages are as cool as the toys!  Okay, not really.  But, I digress.

I was noticing the packaging on the Green Toys that we sell.  I like how it is clean, sharp and simple.  Here is a bit of info from their website:

Green Toys environmental mission even extends to our packaging. We strive to minimize packaging, and all of our boxes use as little material as possible. All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, they are really easy to open for those little fingers just itching to get at the toys!!

The toys themselves are super earth friendly:

We use recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating our toys. Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from every day. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. For you plastic geeks, the plastic material we use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.

Go check out their website for more information.  They even use the word "plethora!"

Only 26 days until Christmas!

Famous Faces? Anyone?

Hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Sunday, especially after such a crazy weekend of shopping!

I was thinking about a conversation I had with a lovely lady, who came into the store this weekend.  She was telling us how she used to manage a small toy store in Connecticut, some 30 years ago, or so.  We had a great time "talking shop."  She mentioned that Paul Newman shopped in her store from time to time.  I thought that that was both cool and interesting.  I wonder if anyone famous will come and shop in our store?  I hear Kelly Clarkson sometimes shops locally.  That would be neat.

Do you know anyone famous?  Are you famous?  Come on by!

Only 27 days until Christmas!

Shipping Saturday!

The "fun" of having an online store, as well as a physical store is the variety of things to be done!  Today was a full day of filling orders at the Mansfield Toy store and then a fun filled evening of filling orders from the web store.  Boy am I beat!

Only 29 days until Christmas!

Black Friday? Maybe Red and Green!

Well Black Friday came and went, and it was so much fun.  Yes, it was a bit of work, too.  But, Black Friday at Town Square Toys wasn't like Black Friday is at other stores - from what I hear.  Customers were pleasant and genial all the day long.  We heard great stories of shopping experiences that started at midnight and others that started at all hours of the morning.  We were, of course, not open until 8AM and so we didn't have any of that insanity. 

But, as I sit here and ponder the name, Black Friday, I am thinking that it is not truly apropos, at least for Town Square Toys.  I mean, Christmas was in full effect so it could have just as easily been called Red and Green Friday.  Watching the sky turn beautiful colors as the sun set might tempt one to call it a Golden Friday or a Pink Friday.  Once we plugged in our Christmas lights around the store, it could be called a White Friday.  I am sure, if I continued, that I could come up with other colors as well, but I won't.  Let's just say it was a very Happy Friday.  (I am not sure what color "Happy" is; maybe it is a combination of colors - maybe plaid?  Nah!)

Only 30 days until Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  We have so much to be thankful for!  The blessings of God are truly humbling!  We hope you had a wonderful day!

In the Virtual News, the Real World News to Follow

I know that I mentioned last week that Steph and Amy were going to be interviewed in the paper.  Well, it happened!  Woo Hoo!  The Mansfield News-Mirror came by, asked some questions, took some pictures and, voila, we are in the paper.  Read a great article about an awesome toys store, right here.

Steph and Amy don't like the limelight, like Russ and I do, but they did a fabulous job.  The actual paper is coming out tomorrow, I think.  I could be wrong.  But, I will definitely get a copy, like I did when they were in the Dallas Morning News last year.  Check that out, too, if you want.

Only 32 days until Christmas!

A Giant Giraffe

Someone bought a giraffe today.  "A giraffe," you ask?  Why yes, a giraffe.  I know that you are thinking two things. 1) Is Town Square Toys doubling as a zoo now?  2)  How can you sell a giraffe on Monday?  You're closed!

Well, we are not partnering with a zoo, but we have a veritable zoo of animals at Town Square Toys!  You should just check out some of the creatures we carry from Melissa and Doug, Folkmanis, Douglas, and Gund!  Some of our animals are small and cuddly.  Some of our animals are large and cuddly.  Some are ginormous!  This giraffe is almost 5 feet tall!  Crazy.

And, to answer your query about Mondays.  Whilst Town Square Toys, in Mansfield, is closed on Monday, Town Square Toys on the web is open 24/7, for all your toys shopping needs!

Only 33 days until Christmas!

Friday is a Fun Day Anyway

Friday is just a great day.  Am I right?  Now, add the fact that we get to sell toys and help make Christmas dreams come true.  Well, it is hard for Fridays to get much better!

I was able to add some friends to our alligator and shark.  If you come by the store, you will see the shark when you first come in.  Now he has another, smaller, shark, a sailfish and a whale.  The alligator has two smaller alligators to hang out with.  One is Jeepers Peepers, by Gund,  and the other is Chompers, by Douglas.

Only 36 days until Christmas!

In the News

The Mansfield paper came by to interview Steph and Amy and do a write up for Town Square Toys! How cool is that? I hope it is a good article. I am sure it will be. Hopefully more people will find out about us, here in Mansfield. Once it comes out, I will send you a link.

We are open later on Thursdays for those who get off work later and need to shop. Also, Holiday hours will soon be upon us and we will be open later more often. We are trying to help everyone make Christmas dreams come true! Come by and see us!

Only 37 days until Christmas!

Frosted Pink end to the day

Steph went by and got some cupcakes from Frosted Pink yesterday. They were a great ending to the day. I know I have mentioned Frosted Pink before, but I would like to do so again. Their cupcakes are awesome!

We had some chocolate and red velvet and pumpkin and some sort of cappuccino chocolate chip. Amy says that the cappuccino chocolate chip is the best one they make. I am not so sure.

So, if you are local to Mansfield, come by and see us and then go get some cupcakes at Frosted Pink on Main street. You can also follow them on facebook!

Only 38 days until Christmas!

Facebook Fan Drive Winner!

Forgot to mention yesterday that we had a winner in our Facebook Fan drive. Go to our Facebook page and find out who it was! Thank you to everyone who suggested our page! We have over 300 fans now. Let's go for 400!

Only 39 days until Christmas!

Christmas Music

I have to say that I look forward to this day every year; our local radio station, 103.7 KVIL begins playing Christmas music during the holiday season - it began today. Now people have strong opinions as to when Christmas music needs to begin. Some say now is too soon and others say it is never too soon. Personally, my Pandora station has been cranking out the old Yuletide tunes for the last few months.

I love Christmas for so many reasons. The main reason, of course, is the birth of Christ, the Lord and Saviour of the world. But, I also love Christmas for all of the memories and happy times in recalls to me. I love the thoughts of snow filled lanes, branches glazed with ice, warm fireplaces, hot cocoa, warm cider, ribbon candy, candy canes, bundled up children playing until their cheeks are red, coffee brewing and Grandma and Grandpa's house, etc. You get the idea. The whole time of year is wonderful.

Now, it is taking on a whole new meaning with our toy store. I joke about helping to make Christmas dreams come true, with Town Square Toys, but we get to see it when the little kids wander around our store in wonderment, finding the toys that they just "have to have" for Christmas. I love hearing parents say, "I'll be back, alone," to get this or that. It is great. We have always had a hand in Christmas wishes online, but it is a true joy to see the little faces and happy smiles.

Only 40 days until Christmas!

The Pink Room

I thought I would show you a couple of pictures of the Pink Room.

 

If you go down the book hallway, you will see it shimmering there at the end of the hall.

 

Once you actually get in the room, you are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of pinkness and girly stuff.  This is a fraction of the awesomeness.

 

 



More ridiculously wonderful cuteness.

Only 44 day until Christmas!

Scratch and Sniff

Someone bought some Grape Scratch and Sniff stickers today. Boy, those sure bring back memories; both of Scratch and Sniff stickers and stickers in general. I remember as a kid when stickers would be all the rage and then fall out of vogue, and then come back again with a vengeance. Of course, we have all kinds of stickers at Town Square Toys. You can come by and find your very own favorite Scratch and Sniff scent. Or, get some really cool stickers to give to someone you love.

Don't forget the facebook friend drive! Get a latch on to that $50 gift certificate!


Only 45 days until Christmas!

Tuesday and Facebook Friend Drive

Tuesday was a good day! We had customers online and in the store. Shipping toys out is a lot of work, but it is worth it; helping Christmas dreams come true.

Maybe I am a bit idealistic? I'm okay with that. But, on to other things.

A big thing we are doing, you can read about on our facebook page, namely it is a facebook friend drive:

$50 GIFT CERTIFICATE GIVE AWAY!! Suggest our page to 20 or more friends, then enter your name (along with the number of people you referred us to) in the comments section under this post and your name will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to our store. *Submissions accepted from now until Monday, November 15th at 5pm.

Be a part of this fun way to tell everyone about Town Square Toys, and win a gift certificate to boot! Fun!

Only 46 days until Christmas!

Reflections on the Soft Opening of Town Square Toys

What a fun filled day of wonderment! So many people; so many toys; so little time. It was a great opening day. Saturday dawned bright and clear, all full of excitement for the new toy store in town. We took a lot of pictures. I will get some posted soon.

Many friends came to browse and shop. Thank you to all who were able to come by! Customers trickled in all day. There were busy times and slow times, but the busy times outweighed the slow times. We have a dance studion nearby and when class let out, we were very busy for a bit.

Girls, as a rule, adored the pink room. Little girls loved to play on the Calico Critters Table. Little Boys loved to play on the Thomas the Tank Engine Table. Bigger kids liked to try out the Ezy Roller and the Plasmacar in the front. Everyone seemed to want to make the paratrooper fly.

Tonja, from Frosted Pink, stopped by after we closed and brought us some cupcakes! She is the best, and so are her cupcakes!

I think we were all pleasantly exhausted by the end of the day. So much still to do. Can't wait until tomorrow.

Only 47 days until Christmas!

Town Square Toys in Mansfield, Texas

There is a new toy store in town! That's right, Town Square Toys has gone local. (Not: Loco!) We are officially opening our toy store in Mansfield, Texas. Our location in 215 N. Walnut Creek, Mansfield, Tx 76063. Swing by if you have a moment to check out the coolest toy store in Mansfield!

I know you may be wondering if this means the end of townsquaretoys.com. Let me put your fears to rest! We are synergizing our two stores! We will have both the online toy store and the brick and mortar store open this holiday season. This allows us to offer you, the consumer, some great options; you can order online and pick up in store, you can find the toy you love and have it shipped to wherever you want, or you can just use the online store like an online store and the physical store like a physical store. It is up to you!

So, come by and see us! And, have a great day! By the way, only 49 days until Christmas!

Rebooting the Blog

Well, we recently opened a brick and mortar toy store in Mansfield, Texas (more on that later). So, the blog is going to get something of a reboot. Rather than just focus on the toys that we sell, it will also talk a great deal about our new store. I hope everyone is okay with this. I mean, if they can reboot the Incredible Hulk, why not?