With Halloween behind us, stores are ramping up for the Christmas shopping season with toys.
Sprout, a toy and clothing store, is bursting at the seams, especially in the section set aside for local artists, owner Joanna Tucker said.
Many of the toys are wooden and aimed at infants and toddlers. But Sprout also offers a variety of toys, gently used and new, sold on consignment.
“We get the best stuff in early on,” she said. But the shop’s inventory changes constantly.
Kroegers Ace Hardware recently added remote control cars, boats and planes, model rockets and Legos from Hobby Town to its line up. The store previously featured small metal John Deere toys.
“We were trying to expand our toy section. I thought it would be good to bring the Hobby Town stuff,” said Timothy Gaul, lawn and garden department manager, who also orders toys.
It’s tough for small businesses focused on crafts items such as remote control vehicles to make it in a small town, he said.
Kids Rock also expanded its offerings of toys about two weeks ago to appeal to elementary school children up to age 10 with educational toys, such as science kits, puzzles and art supplies.
“Toys take up quite a bit more of our store,” owner Tiffany Seely said.
She didn’t expand her toy section specifically for Christmas; instead she was trying to meet customer demand.
Kids Rock has always focused on infants, toddlers and expecting mothers, and it still carries those items.
Seely took out a wall in the back of the store to create more room for her handmade toys and clothes made by local vendors.
All of the work was completed over a single weekend, and she is planning a re-grand opening on Saturday to showcase the changes, she said.
Kids Rock hours have also expanded. The store is now open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
While some people may shop online or at big box stores for kids toys over the holidays, there are quite a few local options to consider, including seasonal bazaars, bookshops and candy stores, Tucker said.
Buying gently used toys can help budgets stretch a little further.
“One thing that we get so caught up in is everything has to be brand new. ... The kids aren’t necessarily thinking that,” Tucker said.
Gift cards to local stores can also make good gifts for older children, she said.
“They get to feel like they get to go shopping for themselves,” she said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
Kids Rock re-grand opening
Kids Rock will celebrate its expansion on Saturday 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Lisa Blue will perform songs from her new CD of lullaby songs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store also will have face painting from noon to 3 p.m.
