tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72253144252441362342012-01-26T21:45:48.367+01:00Toy Shop Blog - wooden toys and educational toys - childrens toys, baby toys, toddler toys and preschool toys that are all either ethically traded, sourced or made.Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-7911722214629933512009-10-05T18:00:00.000+02:002009-10-05T18:00:48.977+02:00

Toys to You says:  I am not a happy bunny right now.  Our site has been hacked by evil hackers and I can't anyone to actually take responsibility and help me to clean it up. You may well be thinking - surely the site is your responsibility you should be cleaning it up?  But I can't find any malicious code on the site and I've had a company search through it and neither can they.  This company,

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-71800423745992138612009-08-25T14:10:00.003+02:002009-08-25T14:16:56.894+02:00

Online sales have soared this summer with shoppers spending £4.2 billion online in July.This is a huge increase of 15.7 per cent more than was spent in June.The report, by IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index suggested that in the last six months consumers have been encouraged by new summer lines and heavy discounting and promotions.Fashion was one of the driving factors in the rise and online

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-69153722752694361362009-07-15T17:17:00.003+02:002009-07-15T17:25:05.652+02:00

A million pound inventor search is set to be launched in the UK.Fast growing toy company, Wow Stuff, together with Aardman's Wallace & Gromit and the IPO (formerly known as the Patent Office) will launch an innovative nationwide competition in the autumn. And the competition could turn the winner into a millionaire. Budding British inventors of all ages are being encouraged to put forward their

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-76332970287719398002009-06-08T14:45:00.005+02:002009-06-08T15:02:13.579+02:00

Toy maker Mattel is set to pay a $£2.3 million penalty for selling toys that broke the lead paint limit.The huge fine has been issued to world renowned toy maker Mattel for knowingly importing and selling up to the two million toys which violated a US federal lead paint limit.The fine represents the US Consumer Products Safety Commission's highest ever toy-related penalty.The Commission said as

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-64301061891049994902009-06-03T22:22:00.004+02:002009-06-03T22:30:43.551+02:00

Would you believe me if I told you that in this beautiful sunshine I'm sitting in the garden gift-wrapping thousands of Santa Grotto toys for Christmas?It's true - honest.As I said in an earlier blog I ordered thousands of wooden Santa grotto toys in April, some have already been wrapped by my hard working business partner/santa's little elf helper and the rest are being wrapped in my garden in

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-66104423053618382922009-05-06T14:43:00.006+02:002009-05-06T14:59:39.169+02:00

It's time for new toys at Toys to You and this month I'm pleased to announce the launch of The Wooly Family of Grannimals.A whole family of hand knitted woolly Grannimals make up the Wooly Family of soft toys.Grannimals are suitable from birth upwards and make perfect first friends for babies due to their natural manufacturing material - wool.Each Grannimal has it's own personality and

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-57251108240537841452009-04-30T14:31:00.007+02:002009-04-30T14:47:15.414+02:00

Argos owner Home Retail has announced a 24% drop in full-year profit. In it's latest results the group posted the annual profit downturn and warned weak consumer demand and a lower pound could lead to an even bigger fall this financial year. Their profit before tax and one-off items fell 24 per cent to £328m in the year ending February 28th.Home Retail also said it would raise prices, cut costs

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-79695916486265800322009-04-20T21:50:00.005+02:002009-04-20T22:03:44.765+02:00

It's only mid-April and I've already started choosing and ordering our selection of Santa grotto toys for Christmas.It really does feel weird to be ordering and planning Christmas so early in the year, but if I don't do it now we just end up run off our feet from October to mid-December.Last year we had planned it better than the year before and this year we should be at least a few steps ahead

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-22204375595319036162009-04-16T16:16:00.003+02:002009-04-16T16:25:00.295+02:00

Party plan toys that are eco-friendly, organic and Fairtrade.Would anybody be interested in being an agent selling these kinds of toys at parties? I've been researching the party plan market for the past few weeks and there's a number of different party plan companies, but none that I can see that are specialists in ethical childrens toys. Given the current economical climate and the need for

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-24809127748870823582009-04-06T22:57:00.003+02:002009-04-06T23:09:29.966+02:00

The collapse of an ice bridge over the weekend, in the remote vastness of the Antarctic, was a moment of terrible significance. It matters much more than its size may immediately suggest. This 25-mile strip of ice is believed to underpin the enormous Wilkins ice shelf, one of ten Antarctic ice shelves that have been in place for 10,000 years, but which have shrunk or collapsed in the past

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-15781130464392998012009-03-31T00:03:00.004+02:002009-03-31T00:09:27.606+02:00

I realised today that I could make the www.toys-to-you.co.uk easier for customers to understand what toy is what in the realm of ethical.And so tonight, I've created the Toys to You scoring logos which let every customer know at a glance whether a toy is ethical, green, Fairtrade and/or educational.Every toy will (eventually) get a logo so customers can simply look at the toy and know what it

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-43199015177994263052009-03-27T16:59:00.007+01:002009-03-27T17:12:54.886+01:00

The Ecotricity Greenbird has smashed the world speed record.In the morning of 26th March 2009 on the 'dry' Lake Ivanpah, California, the Greenbird - driven by British engineer Richard Jenkins - smashed right through the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles.The Greenbird clocked 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h) , eclipsing the old, American held, record of 116 mph, set by Bob Schumacher in the

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-1599056645641385882009-03-25T15:21:00.007+01:002009-03-25T15:46:08.521+01:00

As anyone who reads this blog knows I've blogged on a bit about turning out the lights. If you're ever in a city at night look around you at all the office blocks with their lights on. Who are they left on for? The burglars so they can find the stuff they want to nick? Or so they don't get hurt tripping over waste bins in the dark while they're nicking stuff?I just don't understand why all these

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-35760710343107160282009-03-22T23:01:00.003+01:002009-03-22T23:11:01.321+01:00

I have just finished watching The Secret Millionaire with tears streaming down my face as always happens when I watch this fantastic TV show.In my opinion it's not just an entertainment show it's an educational tool, a heartwarming hour in front of the TV and a joyous celebration of helping those less fortunate.I knew that children lived in poverty in the UK, I was aware of the problems in inner

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-6041434395989187772009-03-18T15:27:00.006+01:002009-03-18T15:38:58.721+01:00

TV's counter terrorism agent, Jack Bauer, has gone green.The show which involves international air travel, car chases and generally blowing things up must leave quite a large carbon footprint. But it has just become the world's first carbon-neutral TV production!For the seventh series Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox, the products, claim to have cut carbon emissions associated with TV

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-25590689691837896052009-03-17T12:01:00.005+01:002009-03-17T12:08:42.271+01:00

I have signed up for the Race for Life in Brighton. If anyone would like to sponsor me (and I need all the sponsorship I can get!!) you can donate online by clicking the button below : Over the next few weeks I'll keep you updated on my training - or lack thereof if I'm honest.I'm not the most motivated of people when it comes to exercise. But I need to get fit and so I reckoned I needed a

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-22929822901345804792009-03-04T15:36:00.008+01:002009-03-04T15:49:38.393+01:00

A Channel 4 TV company is looking for British toy inventors for a new show.Renegade, wants the UK's best amateur inventors to create a toy for the tv show. And the shortlisted inventors will be followed from concept to prototype through to the big pitch.The series will be broadcast on Channel 4 and partner with a major retailer.Renegade are currently in talks with a number of large stores to find

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-43552415219538437512009-02-27T16:00:00.004+01:002009-02-27T16:03:12.094+01:00

I would just like to express my sympathies to the Cameron's at the loss of their son Ivan. A tragedy and so sad.My thoughts are with you all. May you find inner peace at this devastating time and may be blessings be on your souls.

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-38777084894683629182009-02-17T21:47:00.012+01:002009-02-17T22:40:02.042+01:00

I've just come back from a fantastic freezing cold holiday in Finnish Lapland and what a holiday it was.I don't ski so I wasn't there for the skiing I was instead there for the snow and atmosphere and to take pictures of the snow!I can't begin to describe how truly beautiful and magical it was. We flew direct from Gatwick to Kaussamo in northern Finland just 60kms from the arctic circle in just 3

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-89079247888664513502009-02-04T15:47:00.003+01:002009-02-04T15:59:13.522+01:00

Hamleys owner in "Chapter 11"After struggling with huge debts the Icelandic owner of Hamleys world famous toy shop has applied for bankrupty protection.Icelandic owner, the Baugur Group, blamed the moved on Landsbanki, the Icelandic band that was nationalised late last year. And it said the Chapter 11 move would protect its assets as well as the interests of its creditors."The board of the

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-82456354440381824832009-01-28T22:49:00.005+01:002009-01-28T23:13:14.552+01:00

I was at Toy Fair at Excel today, the trade fair for the toy industry and I got talking a wonderful woman from Barnardos.Barnardos is the chosen charity of Toy Fair, apparently.Did you know that Barnardos don't have any homes anymore? I had no idea. I thought they were the same as they've always been - a provider of homes for orphans or children who need a place to stay for whatever reason.But

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-57359508018928881242009-01-26T15:27:00.004+01:002009-01-26T15:32:55.090+01:00

You can now become a Facebook fan of Toys to You and get a few special fan updates a year, but we promise not too many. Our Facebook updates will tell you about our exclusive Facebook fan offers including special offers only for Facebook fans, sales and new toy lines added.If you'd like to become a Facebook fan of Toys to You visit us here and click on Become a Fan. Become a Fan of Toys to You

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-9796356474663877062009-01-26T15:10:00.003+01:002009-01-26T15:26:47.957+01:00

Could India be the leader in protecting children from the dangers of poorly made and poor quality control of toys?Trailblazing India has banned imports of several types of toys from China for six months in the public interest, a government statement announced on Friday.The president of India's Toy Association, Raj Kumar, said the ban would severely hit imports of Chinese toys, but Indian

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-48284813840677322262009-01-24T15:13:00.006+01:002009-01-24T15:28:23.937+01:00

CAN THE LAST TO LEAVE TURN THE LIGHTS OUT PLEASEIn 2007 I had the great pleasure of going to a networking meeting in the BT Tower/Post Office Tower in London. After the very interesting talks we were taken by lift (the fastest life I've ever been in and quite terrifying actually!) to the top of the tower where we enjoyed some nibbles and wine together with some excellent conservation and great

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-43053297721548158222009-01-23T17:56:00.006+01:002009-01-23T18:12:57.178+01:00

Official figures confirm retail downturnAs the UK officially enters recession, retail sales figures released on Friday confirmed a tough December for retailers. The figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the total value of sales fell 0.8 per cent compared with December 2007. After several months of unexpectedly strong official retail sales figures, a sharp drop from

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-49048120885202673072009-01-23T00:09:00.003+01:002009-01-23T00:17:54.940+01:00

It's Food Intolerance Week this week and this is a 'week' very close to my heart.I'm intolerant to wheat and have been for the past few years. Before I became intolerant I couldn't cook, the kids and I survived on meals that came out of tins, jars or the freezer, albeit with veg at every meal!But if you're allergic to any foodstuffs you suddenly go to the supermarket for a good read, as you

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-54361078605212597882009-01-21T00:19:00.003+01:002009-01-21T00:31:23.113+01:00

Hi all,I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!Christmas in the Toys to You household, as you can imagine, is quite a quiet affair as we're all too exhausted to make much of an effort.It doesn't help that both my children's birthdays are in December too!! By the time Christmas actually comes round I'm fed up wrapping presents, what with all the Santa Grotto toys I've

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-1420663277597068592008-12-11T23:58:00.005+01:002008-12-12T00:11:14.939+01:00

I am finally wrapping the last Santa Grotto toy order!! It's for only 600 toys so I'll have it done by Saturday, thank goodness!It's been a long and hard 3 months of heavy wooden toy filled box lifting, stock taking, stock replenishing, answering telephones, replying to voicemails, handling emails all while still trying to gift wrap all the Santa Grotto toy orders we had flying in the door.I'm

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-38947361648075915842008-12-03T21:13:00.017+01:002008-12-03T21:51:13.310+01:00

As we're all still reeling from the recession that's hit our country with the force of a tornado I can only imagine there a few parents out there who'd like to be able to have an affordable Christmas this year.And who is Christmas for? It's for the kids. And so who do we spend all the money on at Christmas? Yes, the kids.What do families want the most this Christmas? Children's toys that offer

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-59796719956906181292008-11-28T10:16:00.003+01:002008-11-28T10:32:28.986+01:00

Sorry I haven't been writing for a couple of weeks I've been so incredibly busy with Santa Grotto toys.It's so taken off this year I can't quite believe it!We've had orders from huge charities, fancy posh hotels, large multinational companies and lots of lovely PTA's across the whole country.And for the first time we've had to take on a member of staff!!Oh my god, that was so scary. Obviously

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-53910444582837169422008-11-12T22:41:00.005+01:002008-11-12T22:57:08.799+01:00

A supermarket giant has teamed up with school children to compile a Christmas wish list that they plan to send you (ie parents).Asda, got together with children of Hugh Gaitskell School in Leeds. The kids spent the afternoon testing a selection of toys on sale at the supermarket and now the children's favourites are being used as an email campaign to the supermarket giant's customers.The email

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-81997306158892885982008-11-12T22:11:00.006+01:002008-11-12T22:41:09.784+01:00

Yet another survey on the recession claims that UK consumers intend to spend the same at Christmas as they did last year!The study carried out by Deloitte and published today (Wed) claims that only 24 per cent of people who responded said they will spend less and 19 per cent said they plan to spend more than last year despite the economic downturn.According to Deloitte's 14th annual Christmas

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-4310877155927250532008-11-04T19:27:00.008+01:002008-11-12T22:40:28.751+01:00

As the world dissolves into financial chaos, with families losing their homes and rising household bills crippling those who still have roofs over their heads, one electronic toy company has announced a huge profit increase.Leapfrog, makers of Leappad electronic learn to read books and Leapster handheld games console for preschoolers have announced net sales of $194.6 million for the 3rd quarter

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-70433700925406219452008-11-03T19:45:00.005+01:002008-11-03T20:04:35.005+01:00

Toy sales won't slump this Christmas despite the credit crunch a new study has revealed.The study claims that toys are less likely to suffer a decline in sales than the vast majority of other retail categories with just 29 per cent of consumers cutting back on buying toys in direct response to the credit crisis.The study, commissioned by the Newspaper Society, showed consumers are least likely to

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-45601124623711011582008-11-03T19:29:00.005+01:002008-11-03T19:42:56.630+01:00

An 8ft Lego man mysteriously washed up on a Brighton beach last week and Lego know nothing about it apparently!There are many differing rumours and theories on from whence he came from - he floated from Legoland in Denmark to he fell off a ship.But I believe, and I imagine many others will agree despite Lego's denials, that is a mega publicity stunt to raise the company's profile in the year of

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-27045798822297976142008-10-23T22:43:00.003+02:002008-10-23T23:04:29.096+02:00

Just a short, advertising sort of blog today...sorry but it's got to be done!Santa Grotto organisers the UK-over have just 24 hours to benefit from our fantastic 5% early order discount. Toys to You, santa grotto toy specialists, are offering the 5% early order discount until midnight on Friday 24th October.Our santa grotto toys are eco-friendly wooden toys that hark back to a gentler age of

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-36744578308502585652008-10-20T20:11:00.015+02:002008-10-20T21:04:37.028+02:00

As we approach yet another Christmas of, hopefully less indulgence than previous years, it's worth taking a moment to consider the unbelievable amounts of unwanted toys thrown onto landfills every year.More than 13 million unwanted (that's unwanted not broken) toys ended up in our dustbins and landfill sites last year and they expect much, much more next year. And more than 40 million toys are

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7225314425244136234.post-82856308055349282882008-10-17T22:29:00.008+02:002008-10-17T22:35:19.797+02:00

Despite credit crunch fears parents will still spend their hard earned cash on Christmas gifts for their kids a new study has revealed. The survey has revealed that although they will continue to spend cash on Christmas parents will be more selective with their purchases. Games consoles, licensed toys and celebrity endorsed gifts will fall by the wayside as parents choose educational and creative

Mayfield Village Centrenoreply@blogger.com0