On Saturday, November 12, The Toy Box will join hundreds of locally owned stores across the country to celebrate the seventh national Neighborhood Toy Store Day, an annual celebration in which independent toy shops kick off the holiday season with special events to introduce consumers to the benefits of shopping local. The Toy Box will offer fun, child-friendly activities such as free samples, cookies, surprise discounts with purchase at the register!

Specialty toy store owners are the real experts when it comes to choosing toys for kids, said Kimberly Mosley, president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local toy shopping and creative open-ended playtime for children. “These store owners spend time with kids day in and day out. They understand the value of play, and what types of toys will truly engage children.”

As a result, neighborhood toy stores offer a carefully curated product selection and provide trusted recommendations on quality toys that offer good value. Because they needn’t adhere to a national sales plan like major chains, they can customize their offerings to specific community needs. And because they source products from both big-brand manufacturers and small, entrepreneurial companies, they introduce children to a world of toys that, often, can’t be found elsewhere.

“Local stores also make holiday toy shopping easier, by offering a personalized approach and customer service that contrasts with the experience of shopping large retailers,“ said Nancy Buechner, owner or The Toy Box, 20 First Street. Our staff is friendly and knowledgeable about our local customers needs.

In addition, shopping locally supports the community by creating jobs and preserving neighborhoods. Compared to chain stores, independent local businesses put a significantly larger share of revenue back into the local economy in the form of taxes, salaries and more. They also support environmental sustainability, by helping to maintain vibrant, walkable town centers, essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

For more information on Neighborhood Toy Store day, visit ASTRA at http://www.astratoy.org/ntsd