Jul 22, 2008

Kidzsacks! Backpacks colored by your kids' imaginations!

kidzacsk After being in and around the toy business since 1978, I have had the opportunity over the years to see many, many unique products that are designed for kids.

While we have and always will carry toys and products from the bigger, well-known manufacturers, it is often the products from the smaller companies and individuals that are most inspiring to me.

I'm always impressed when I meet someone who has an idea and actually follows it through, and I'm even more impressed when that someone is a mom! As a mother myself, I know how all-consuming parenting can be, and it amazes me how some parents are able to manage it all, still have the energy to think of a great idea, and pursue the hard work that it takes to actually make that idea a reality!

Tina Hill has done just that with her Kidzsacks, and she continues to move forward, fine-tuning her product and her approach as she learns hands-on what it takes to develop and market a product.

Kidsacks: A fun idea!

Tina started off with all the right elements: A fun idea, a commitment to quality and thoughtful materials, and a great design sense.

Kidzsacks have been a wonderful addition to our store, especially as we grow our inventory of locally and USA made products. They not only are a great art activity for kids of all ages, but they are fun and practical, and won't get discarded after use like so many products these days.

Jul 16, 2008

Izzy's Ice Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream is our July Partner in Play!

G.Willikers! What a great summer for ice cream!

To celebrate this month's Partnership with Izzy's, we're having some fun!

Stop on in at Izzy's Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream (33 Bow St., Portsmouth NH) for a sweet refreshing dessert then stroll on up to G.Willikers! Toy Shop to check out our Izzy's Window Display: a "groovy" scene with 2 child- sized (literally the size of a child!) ice cream cones.

Lick off your lips and come on in for some hands-on fun!!!

Jul 04, 2008

Thank You Seacoast Science Center!

We'd like to thank the Seacoast Science Center for being our Partner in Play for the month of June!

From our "Under the Sea" Store front window, to our G.Willikers! After Hours Event and storytime at the Science Center, we had "Oceans of Fun"!

I especially loved reading Herman the Hermit Crab to an enthusiastic group of Science Center Campers and visitors. We sang a hermit crab song, pretended we were hermit crabs with our Bilibo Chair shells and saw live hermit crabs!

Jody Reading at the SSC!

We donated the Science Center a check for $50.00 which came from 10% of sales from their G.Willikers! After Hours, and $30.00 from our "save a bag" initiative. G.Willikers donates 10 cents to a local "green" fund whenever our customers choose not to take a plastic bag. That means that during the month of June together we saved 300 plastic bags from going into the environment! That's nothing to be "crabby" about!

This July we will be welcoming Izzy's Ice Cream shop as our next "Partner in Play!