????What kind of toy shop do you like????

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Ok its another one of my daft research threads. I have been looking at more premises for a toy shop and I have found a quite cheap but large shop.

Thing is what can I do in addition to the current pocket money toys I already do? Loads of room and I am hoping to split rent and responsibility with my friend.

Ideas so far, rent side room to friend for dog grooming.

We could do craft sessions for kids, my freind and myself are both nursery nurses. (tempt mums with free coffee). Mums I have spoke to like the idea of the pottery painting places but have found the one in the town to be very unfreindly and unhelpful as well as expensive.

We could offer kids craft parties either with or without food. Could do other themes as well as crafts.

Difficult to think about what other people would want. I am asking as many mums as I can what they think is lacking in the High Street in terms of kids and toys. At the moment there are no science/discovery type shops like Natural World. Some have suggested a kid/ family freindly cafe but I don't think the place I am looking at would get consent for that.

Rent and rates would be about £200 a week am I kidding myself?

Thanks Nooka, I agree about finding birthday presents especially for school friends. It seems easy to find lots of toys for under fives but for 6+ it is quite limited especially for boys.

I think for party food good old favourites of sandwiches, mini sausages, fairy cakes would be the kind of the the tea room could do. I would probably work out a few options and price ranges.

Glad you like the idea of come and try crafts and stuff, I want it to be set up so parents can sit down and join in, not lined up along the back wall or browsing uncomfortably killing time while kids do activities.

I know staffing will be vital and good service is a big thing for me I hate it when assistants can't smile or seem to hate kids, why the hell are they working in a toy shop. I would look for staff with some kind of childcare experience, they will have to be enthusiastic and creative but thats a long way off yet. For now it will be me and my friend both ex nursery nurses with crafty tendencies.