By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Business name: Learning Express Toys
Address: 50 East Main St., Westborough
Owner: Tina Jacobson
Contact Information:? 508-898-0076
http://westborough.learningexpress-toys.com
What does your store specialize in?
“We have a different variety of toys than in the mass market stores. They are exclusive to specialty toy stores,” said Tina Jacobson, who bought the Learning Express Toys Westborough store last March. “We are geared to ages newborn to about 12 years old.”
What services do you offer?
“We do free gift-wrapping year-round. We offer a birthday registry. Kids can come in, pick out their gifts and put them in a box, then people from their party can buy out of that box,” Jacobson said.
“Personalization is a specialty. We have a whole section of products we can put names or initials on, such as lap desks, storage boxes, totes, piggybanks.
“We try to make the store fun. There's a play area for kids so the moms, dads or grandparents can shop. If you need help finding a gift, our staff will be happy to help with age- and gender-appropriate items.”
As the holiday season approaches, can you suggest new toys for different ages?
“For babies, Tranquil Turtles light up like a night light and provide a soothing sound. For toddlers, the Y Bike can be used as a walker or a rider. Tots Art Start Kit provides arts and crafts designed for little hands, starting at 12 months. For older toddlers, we have wooden blocks, and Magna-Tiles building sets, which are highly recommended by teachers.
“We carry Playmobil toys, including a new line, Future Planet playsets.
“In outdoor toys, Spooner Boards, which are made in California, are a precursor to skateboards, and kids 5 and up can do tricks on them.
“For little girls, there's a new, exclusive Duct Tape Jewelry kit. Duct Tape was our most popular kit last year, and they'se come out with a jewelry kit. With a friendship bracelet maker called Loopdedoo, girls can make bracelets of different patterns and thicknesses with embroidery floss on a machine cranked by hand.
“Boys like construction toys and science kits. We have two new Scientific Explorer kits, Wacky Weird Weather and Amusement Park Science. Snap Circuits has a new version with lights.
“And there's always Elf on the Shelf, a book with an elf toy that the child adopts and names and a related DVD. The elf does mischievous things at night, and the child never knows where the elf will be in the morning after it reports to Santa overnight. And we have an exclusive Shrinky Dink Elf on the Shelf kit.
“For adults or teens on your list, Boogie Boards are one of our top items. It's great for car travel or shopping lists or memo boards. You write on it, then hit a button to clear it.”
What are your holiday plans?
“We'se having a 20-percent-off storewide sale Thanksgiving week, Monday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 25. We will have Christmas and Hanukkah paper available for free gift-wrapping.
“Right now, our hours are Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will be expanding those hours somewhat in mid-November.”
