The last few weeks of running the shop have been pretty exciting for me and Kari: new products were added, Design Mom hosted a Brimful giveaway, and many trips to the post office to send off orders. As we anticipate a busy six weeks ahead, we just want to thank you again for all the support you've shown Brimful in its first few months. We know you have many places to shop for baby toys, so it's pretty special that you chose our little shop!
As Brimful gains a larger audience and more web attention, we've also received more inquires about our products and where we source them from. One particular question struck me as one that would be relevant to share here on the blog.
A customer recently wrote us asking if we carry any products made in China.
"Many wonderful things are manufactured there, but I try to limit my purchases." she wrote.
Here is Kari's response:
Thanks for your inquiry into our products sources. I'm happy to share that information with you.
We currently only carry 4 products (links below) that are produced, in small batches, in China.
I can assure you we would not have carried them had the quality not been exceptional.
Mojo Monkey | Moogly Lion | Snorfy Giraffe | Soft Puzzle Blocks
Finding fun toys for little ones is easy.
Finding fun toys that are well-made is also relatively easy.
Finding fun toys that are well-made and truly unique is not so easy.
Kari and I spend a lot of time researching products for Brimful. We purposely avoid any brand that has already saturated the market. That means if a product can easily be found at the many lovely independent toy shops across this country, it most likely does not make the cut for Brimful. I cannot tell you how many times we wanted to carry something and had to say no because we really wanted to offer you products that were from lesser-known brands, owned by small business owners like ourselves.
The other aspect of how we choose our products is how well made it is. Just because a toy is made out of wood doesn't mean it's high quality! A few weeks before Brimful launched, Kari and I sent back an entire shipment of stackers because the quality was abysmal. Yes, they were wooden, and cute, and very popular, but we knew they would not hold up after a few months of play. The paint would flake, the wood would chip...and you guessed it, they were mass-produced in China. That being said though, there are toys that are made in small batches in Asia, that are of good caliber. The stitching is strong, the fabric is above standard, and the product will hold up after years of loving upon. Those are the kinds of toys we love and whether they are made here in the US or overseas, we want that kind of quality at Brimful.
We have so much fun finding new things and dreaming about what you might fall in love with for your little ones. Remember that we are mothers of little children too! So if you have a question about how suitable a product might be or how it will wear over time, please ask us. We are here for you.
xoxo,
Annie
