First up…our grand opening date is set! Become a fan now & find out now!

So, what’s the hold up? Well, originally, I was just going to turn around & start up online with a new website, when, of course, a opportunity I just couldn’t pass up came my way.

My local friends are pretty familiar with Swanky Babies. It’s a children’s clothing boutique that has really breathed some life into the small, boutique feel of downtown Kennewick this past year. Got to love small biz success! And with that success, Swanky Babies moved across the street from its previous location to a bigger store & expanded inventory to strollers, furniture, a great, high quality selection of kid gear.

So, what’s that have to do with me? Well, a nice, little storefront is vacant…and I’m moving in! What better opportunity than to place myself on the same block as a store I know I already like & send my friends to, right?

Now, no worries here. We aren’t competitors. We actually refer folks to each other already. Now, it will simply be a walk across the street to get to one another.

What’s this all mean? The paperwork is in the works now & should be all finalized this week. Keys on the 15th, and open…well, I’m shooting for October.

Our new location will carry the same great selection of local, US & European made toys we’ve always loved – plush animals, wooden trucks, baby teethers, arts & crafts.

What will be different is the space. Within the store, we will have a children’s play area open to keep the kids entertained while parents shop, plus a separate, affordable rental birthday party space for those fall & winter birthdays that always get stuck indoors.

So, I apologize for the hold up but hope you are as excited as I am by these new changes. Keep your eyes & ears open as the updates will be coming…and not so long between them from now on!

-Stacy, owner of Nico & Lily Toys. Woo hoo!

It’s been a great learning experience, these last 6 years, and one I hope Pam & I can look back upon and smile. Once all the paperwork is done, that is! But, change is inevitable…and a changin’ we are! Stay posted to www.nicoandzoe.com for updates as I, Stacy, open a new toy store, and Pam moves her handmade baby grabby pillows & other assorted fun to Etsy.

And, in our final week, we ask your help in clearing out our inventory. Though many of our best sellers have already gone, we still have some fabulously fun, green, and high quality toys to go. From now to June 30th, every toy order placed with us on the website or in person will be given 30% off in checkout, no matter the size of the order.

Just use the code – closing – in checkout.

Remember, all sales are final. Sale & business will end on Saturday, July 30 at midnight.

-Stacy & Pam, the owners & parents of Nico & Zoe.

Wooden Rainbow Stacker, at 30% is just $9.80.

Remember, this is a closing sale, and we will not be excepting returns (unless damage occurs in shipping).

Discount applies to everything, including clearance items.

Time to get shopping!

-Stacy.

Nico & Zoe, making funny faces.

Long before Zoe’s arrival, her mom Pam spent her time in the professional world of web design. As they always do, priorities changed, and thus the thoughts of what to give that little girl to play with became much more important. It was there that the first ideas for a toy store focused on high quality, uncommon, and safe toys began.

Playing Together in Downtown Seattle.

Skip forward. Zoe’s an 8-year-old 3rd grader. Nico has entered the picture, and he’s even got a 3-year-old little sister. And, once again, priorities are changing. Pam’s found herself focused on a design job & career path she enjoys, and she’s ready to return, and maybe a little more schooling while she’s at it.

What’s that mean? It means that it has been a thrilling adventure, Nico & Zoe Toys, but it’s time for us to call an end to this period of our lives. It’s time to close.

Now, don’t fret! First, we’re going to have a sensational sale on our entire site. That’s right, every toy will be on sale. Good time to stock up on the gifts you know parents & kids are gonna love. We’re working on it now, and hope to have that sale up & going by Friday a.m.

Lily's Arrival, Nico's has a little sister.

And, the second reason is sitting on my lap right now. Lily, Nico’s little sister, has got my priorities stuck right where Pam found herself 8 years ago, and they won’t be changing for a good, long while. So, while the store Nico & Zoe Toys may be closing, Nico, Lily & mom are going to be right back at it. All we ask is for a little patience while Pam & I wrap the paperwork necessary to close, first. Once completed, we’ll be offering the same well made, imaginative, green toys we’ve always loved around here, just with a little name change.

In the meantime, stay posted for our sale announcement, soon!

-Stacy, co-owner of Nico & Zoe Toys.

They'll always be friends, no matter the changes, our 3.

Orangic Flower Tee, on clearance for just $12.

Join Nico & Zoe Toys, along with several small, mom-owned, independent business owners as we promote & peddle our goods this Sunday at the Richland Red Lion from 2 to 6 p.m. We’ll have kids’ clothing, handmade bows, and toys & jewelry, skin care, and goodies for mom.

We’ll be bringing a selection of our one-of-kind artisan made toys, plus some great deals on clearance organic clothing, wooden toys, tutus & puzzles.

Look for our signs on George Washington Way, right past the parkway, on your right. See you there!

See here for more info & a map: http://www.tricitia.com/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=6329

And thus, at Nico & Zoe, we only carry plastic toys made in the European Union. The EU banned BPA in children’s products, and Canada followed suit.

Now who’s join the growing list? China & Malaysia. That’s right. China.

China’s Ministry of Health announced it plans to ban any BPA-containing baby bottles or other food and drink items for children. Malaysia’s ban will start next March.

Go USA? Better think again.

Read more about BPA & what’s being done to ban this chemical:
Washington Post
Mother Earth News

First step in this process is some cleaning, and this is where we need your help. See, one of our big changes is moving ourselves & toys to a new location. And, as fun as a new space can be, hauling all those wooden toys is not. That means that those wooden toys need to go.

So, from now to Tuesday, we’re giving everyone 25% off their toy purchase. If it’s in our showroom, it’s on sale. No minimum order. Time to get shopping! Online, use the code memorial11. Locals, you come down Sunday & Monday between the hours of 11 and 2.

See, change is good, for everyone!

Blocks on Wheels, too heavy to move, come buy it!

And, because we started this business on our own, without financing, we also find ourselves working outside of the business, Pam as a web designer & Stacy as a teacher. Of course, we bring our training to the store, but it also pulls our time away from the toy store, and thus limits how far we can really take this business.

So, we find ourselves in need. We need to get beyond just breaking even on bills, and really expanding our marketing, products, and time & energy to advertising. And, we need your help. Intuit is offering small business grants to help with expansion & hiring. Grants range from $5,000 up to $50,000, and for us, that is an enormous amount of assistance. Imagine, being able to pay ourselves, and thus, focus on our small business in a way we have never been able to. It truly would be a dream come true!

Thank you to those who have voted. And, if you have not, please take this opportunity to do so now.

http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/