Small Town Toy Retailer CRUSHING It with Tami Staker
Manage episode 291011905 series 2889285
I have known Tami Staker for years, and you’re going to love this real and honest look into the toy retail business. A toy store owner who drops the F-bomb every now and then? Yes, and now you’ve been warned. For 12 years, Tami has run Whimzy in Albert Lea, Minnesota as a part-time business owner, while also working as a full-time employee of a Fortune 500 company.
When she first purchased the store, it was branded as a party store, but the market was saturated. I mean, who wants to buy napkins at a specialty store when they can just pick them up at Walmart? She realized that the party store was not working for the town of 18,000, so she pivoted into something she loved.
It’s hard to walk out of a toy store unhappy, and that’s the whole vibe that Tami embraces. Did the pandemic affect her business? Um, yes. Like a lot of small retailers, she had to get creative last year. But she was able to dig down deep and deliver the most EPIC Santa Claus experience for her town. Seriously, you’re going to love how she served her community with fun during a crazy year. Her store’s more than a toy shop; it’s become a destination for families.
Not only is Tami generous with her time today, but she’s also offering a copy of Brendon Burchard’s latest book for the first person to leave a comment. And while you’re at it, give me a shout-out if you need a Clubhouse invite! I’ve got a few invitations available for listeners. Check out Whimzy online, and if you see something you can’t live without, she does ship! Do a little virtual shopping and wine drinking with us.
What's Inside:
- Is it even possible for small toy stores to compete with Amazon? Tami says, “Yes!”, and you’ll love how she differentiates herself from the online retailer.
- Since a toy store is a non-essential business, Tami’s had to get creative over the last year to stay current and relevant during this crazy pandemic season.
- When Tami rebranded, that is when she finally felt that the store reflect her true vision.
- Spying on other stores and scoping out their cool new products is a super-secret side benefit of running a toy store.
Mentioned in this Episode:
@CrystalunCorked on Instagram
@CrystalUncorked on Tiktok
CrystalUncorked.com
Crystal Uncorked YouTube Channel
Tessellae Old Vines GSM
Berry Vine Cooler
See the Full Show Notes Here
100 episódios