28/02/2025
After 10 amazing years running my small online toy shop, I've decided that the time is right to close it down. Not only have sales decreased significantly over the past year but my life and family are moving on too. My shop was a blessing to me when I opened it just over 10 years ago. It allowed me to stay at home with my then 3 and 5 year olds during their formative years and still feel like I had a job. The flexibility of being my own boss and setting my own hours was amazing and something I never took for granted. Covid brought a new challenge as I was so busy fulfilling orders as people were forced to shop online and from small, independent businesses. It showed me that it could be possible to make a decent living from my shop. However, once shops and larger online retailers opened back up, business dropped back and continues to drop. I partly blame this on cheaper, Chinese online shops and Amazon but also on the huge and affordable range of educational toys now available in the centre aisle of some shops. They buy in bulk and can sell their items for cheaper than I can get them at cost price. My children are now both in Secondary School and don't need multiple drop offs and collections every afternoon. I can work outside the home without having to get them minded. I took on a part time job just over a year ago and I've found it so fulfilling. It feels like everything is coming together so that this decision is easy.
I want to thank so, so many of you - for shopping with me, your emotional support, your business advice, your liking my posts, your telling friends about my shop and so much more. I couldn't have kept my shop open for 10 years without a lot of people.
Having said that, I've one last request for help. I have reduced all my remaining stock hugely but I need to get the word out there. I plan on closing my shop in just over a weeks time (8th March). Please like this post and if you are comfortable, please share it on your stories. Likewise, if you see more posts from me this week, please make an effort to like it (the more likes they get, the more Meta will keep it on other people's threads). Please tell friends and family members who have children about my sale, so they can grab a bargain and please take a look yourself (www.toysandgames.ie) and stock up on some bargains for future birthday presents, travel activities, occasional gifts and stocking fillers etc. If you are part of any parent groups or teacher groups, please share my news. I've lots of stock that I'd love to move before I close the shop.
Thanks again for all your support, kindness and business over the past 10 years
Xx Suzie
PS. My website has decided not to send out confirmation emails!!! If you place an order and you are doubting whether it went through, feel free to email me [email protected] to double check.
www.toysandgames.ie
