And I do not call Toys R us a toy shop!! Are there no toy shops any more? There are toy departments in bigger stores like John Lewis but are there any Toy shops?
I ask this because Carol from Canada very kindly sent me a photo of an American Girl shop window in Chicago , the window's are being re-done, so they were all covered up but just for a moment the cover was removed and Carol's grand daughter quickly snapped a photo, the covers were replaced so quick Carol's daughter did not have time to take one!
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Here is Carol's grand daughters photo. I am not big on American Girl dolls but I do love their accessories and how well they are linked to a doll .But I do LOVE dolls, so would love to be standing in front of this window and studying each doll and outfit and then walking to the next window to study that!
Well this got me thinking, maybe some of you out there know of Toy shops with windows of delight! So I'm hoping you will go and take a photo of the window and send it to me and then I can show each one on here on a YES TOY SHOPS DO STILL EXIST! Post.
It would be nice to have some more American girl shop windows, are there different design's in different parts of the US?
Hopefully some of those who pop into the blog will send us some photo's and some details about the shop and where it is.
So I'm looking forward to seeing some fantastic photo's of toy shop windows or Doll shops windows, if they exist and then they will all be shared on here for us all to see. It will be great to see how many countries we can get photo's from.
My email address is on the sales page. I will do the post towards the middle to end of September, so giving everyone time to visit their chosen shop and send photo's in plus tell us if they bought something after taking
their photo.
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I would like to thank Carol and her quick on the shutter grand daughter for this great photo.
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Great idea!
ReplyDeleteOriginally I went into teaching in 1972 to save up enough money to open a specialist toy shop of my own. Little did I know then that a teacher's salary would never even begin to start fund that dream.... so I stayed on teaching but later learnt that Galt Toys had at that time had been looking for someone to run a toy shop for them in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.... and it was from here that I bought MY very first Sasha, a Red Dress, in 1975.
IF I can manage to drive the 35 kilometres I hopefully know of a delightful little toy shop (if it is still in existence) that I used to visit on a regular basis when I needed to buy toys.
Thanks Kendal. I could see you running a toy shop! BUT how would anyone ever manage to buy a doll from you? You would be wanting to keep them all and only the rare one that you'd not bonded with would be allowed to leave!!
DeleteBut I know if would have been full of perfect Sasha sized item's and therefore a great place to buy!!
Maybe you can get your sister to take you to visit the toyshop if it's still there, I would love to see what you purchase , because it would be a shame to go all that way and not bring home a little something :)
Dee xx
I know of a couple of fairly local shops which have a toy section with a winodw display of toys, I will see what I can do about a photo or two. Of course we visited a fabulous traditional small but crammed toy shop in Waldkirch but I didn't take a photo of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you,DM and there are two!!
DeleteI cannot believe a lover of all things dolls etc and you did not take a photo of the crammed toy shop in Waldkirch!! lol but I know you were too busy checking out that window to even think about photo's!! Did you buy anything from there??
Dee xx
And there is The Entertainer and Hawkins Bazaar.
ReplyDeleteAre they more traditional toy shops or are they modern?
DeleteThe Entertainer was very like a trad toy shop, sadly the one fairly nearby has closed and Hawkins Bazaar always looked trad even in a modern shopping centre because it had a window display with trad toys, however disappointingly it has gone all modern by moving to a unit with no shop frontage to make a wider entrance so has lost its charm.
DeleteThe local shops I mentioned: one is mainly a craft shop with a dollshouse section, it has just moved to bigger premises off the high street and they haven't set up one of their many windows with a dollshouse display, which is a missed opportunity. The other shop is a gift shop and toy shop and the window in front of the toys usually has a great toy display but today has the mini railway but plenty of their gift rather than toy items, I did take photos but not worth sharing. My observations today showed that many shops are diversifying to try and prove attractive to as many ages as possible so don't always have the choice or the quality.
I'll have a go - there are 2 shops in Llandrindod Wells that both have about 50% of their trade devoted to toys.... but only those generic dolls, the 'disposable' cheap varieties that suit children who see toys as something to lay with for a day or two and then throw in a box or dump in a charity shop.
ReplyDeleteBut if you want to see a REAL, Britsh toy shop, run by a slightly scar Lady, who is very sweet and generous when you get to know her, look at the video on this link.
http://www.kentishtowner.co.uk/2014/03/31/video-kristin-baybars-little-place-gospel-oak/
I used to take the kids there years ago. SIGH! I want to be a Grandma so Ican go to play there again!
Jenni xx
That was meant to be aslightly scary lady' not one so frightening that she was covered in scars.... though Kristin might be rather terrifying at Hallowe'en.... and I know she would laugh at that!
DeleteThanks Jenni. Two Shops ! what a bonus!! I just went and looked at the video of Kristin Baybars shop, such a wonderland, I may have to make a visit. I hope it's still going strong.
DeleteI could not find it from your link but searched for www.gospeloak.co.uk and it's on the second page.Wonderful, thanks for sharing.
Dee xx
She was still there last year but is just a little crazy! She doesn't always open the door if she'shaving an off day, though children are always welcome - but she'll happily tell them to go if she thinks them rude, spoilt or over demanding. If she takes a shine to you, it can be difficult to leave, too! My kids adored her and used to save their pocket money up as she has little things that are not available elsewhere - those little bits and pieces kids and their dolls and bears adore. Jake's bear always had a Christmas stocking with little Kristin bits wrapped up by Santa Jake - he viewed Kristin as his personal North Pole elf, who produced toys for teddies so he could deliver them.
DeleteMm it would be a long way to go only for her to be in a bad mood and not let me in!! I'm sure if she knew what a doll lover and lover of all things mystical she'd want to chat but do I look like that?
DeleteHer shop could also be quite dangerous on the pocket!! as I am sure there would be lot's of little bits and bobs I would just have to take home with me!!
I will have to consider what to do!!
D xx
I am guessing they are re-doing the shop window at the AGD shops in the USA because they've revamped their historical doll line, with a new title for the collection which reminds me of a song from Frozen (not a movie which I like much, though my girls do). See http://nevergrowupdollguide.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/some-thoughts-on-beforever.html for an American view on this revamp
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info and link I will go and have a look and see what's happening
DeleteDee x
Very interesting especially as she is a collector and therefore knows about the dolls.
DeleteHere in Spain there are still lots of toy shops and they feature a whole range of different things. A lot of them these days are filled with modern dolls and toys such as Barbie and those skinny jointed dolls, Monster High or something! But often you will find a selection of more traditional dolls made by Spanish doll companies and they come as babies, toddlers or small child size. They have lovely, really well made outfits which are just like what a lot of Spanish children wear too. They don't usually have window displays of them though, they're usually inside once you start to look around. I suppose the windows reflect the more modern tastes of the children and want to encourage them to come inside. I did once find a lovely old fashioned doll store, back in 2005, in the middle of Malaga. It was really small inside but crammed full of dolls, such as Paola Reina and Mariquita Perez dolls. My husband bought me a Mariquita Perez boy, Jaunito I think he is, and I still have him, in fact he is still in his box as I actually don't like the dolls face although love his clothes. I am constantly on the look out for Spanish made dolls here because there are several companies in a town called Olin, which sadly is quite a way from me or I'd go there....but fewer and fewer of the stores are carrying these dolls now.
ReplyDeleteI know of a doll shop in the UK that I've found here on line, but for the life of me I can't think of the name right now. I think it's in Leicestershire. If I find it, I'll add it here.
Big hugs Sharon xx
That's good that there are still proper toy shops in Spain, even if they are no longer traditional toys in the forefront. I would love to have a photo of a Spanish toy shop window to put in with the post when I do it! So hopefully next time you are passing one can you take a photo please?
DeleteAnd if you fancy nipping in and taking one of all the Spanish dolls displayed i 'd love to see that, not having been to Spain to see them for myself!
Sounds like the dolls are good value and still in fashion.
hugs Dee xx
And, if my memory serves me right, Sharon, a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER and MUCH BETTER QUALITY thn in the UK. My two used to take an empty suitcase with them and skimp on clothes so they could bring home lovely dolls and vast quantities of Playmobile Play People stuff! Hannah adored the fact that her pocket money would buy a doll and several outfits for the price she'd pay just for a lesser quality doll here. Mind you, Jake is still paying for the Playmobile stuff, those galleons and farm sets and about 500 people and animals take up a lot of space in his expensive lock-up in London, waiting for the next, and increasingly unlikely, generation...
ReplyDeleteDo you know the names of any of the companies in Olin? I'm not keen on Mariquita Perez Jaunito and Mariquita dolls because they are still producing them with the 50s sculpt and in shiny vinyl and they are pricey compared with most dolls in Spain., but I do have a cute and very child-friendly Model Girl by Mariquita P. She was bought for little people to play with and dress when they visited as she has so many outfits - another pocket-money toy, Spanish style! Now, all the little people are big, but I can't quite bring myself to part with her....According to my mother, that's so Jenni, who is one day going to be found buried under an avalanche of dolls and bears.
Surely a nice way to go, covered by beloved dolls and bears, than an avalanche of old newspapers and rubbish!! :)
Delete