Enjoy Now | Pay Later
Introducing two new easy ways to pay at checkout - Afterpay and Paypal Pay in 4, allowing you to split your payment and enjoy your purchases sooner.
We’re always looking for ways we can help our customers, so this week we are delighted to be able to announce that we’ve introduced not one, but two easy ways to pay!
From today customers have two new added payment options at checkout:
AfterPay for all purchases
Paypal Pay in 4 for all purchases over $30.
Choose the option that’s right for you and split your payment, interest free, allowing you to enjoy your purchases sooner.
Pretty handy in the lead up to Christmas, so what are you waiting for? Start stocking up now!
Afterpay a new convenient way to pay. You'll pay your first instalment at the time of purchase, and the remainder every two weeks.
PayPal Pay in 4 allows you to make interest-free payments with PayPal Pay in 4.
Christmas Gifts | The Gift of Giving and Kindness
The gifts that give the most long term joy are those that have memories attached. The gifts that can entice a feeling are those gifts that keep on giving.
Many of our gifts sold at Christmas time, are those that spark joy. It is this feeling of joy that we look for with all of our gifts, and what we seek to create at this special time of the year.
This Christmas the most sought after gift from Santa for most kids is probably an Xbox, PlayStation, laptop, smart watch, or IPhone. The gifts that give the most long term joy however, are those that have memories attached. The gifts that can entice a feeling are those gifts that keep on giving.
Many of our gifts sold at Christmas time, are those that spark joy. It is this feeling of joy that we look for with all of our gifts, and what we seek to create at this special time of the year.
The greatest gifts are not wrapped in paper, they are wrapped in love.
We asked our 4 and 5 year old kids what they thought Christmas was all about and they replied reflectively, “We get gifts if you’re good, and give gifts to people if they’re good” , and “We get presents from Santa!”, and while technically they are correct, this is only the material side of Christmas. It is up to us as parents to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas.
Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.
Let’s have a closer look into the true spirit of giving.
There is a classic short story about two people, who each sacrificed their most loved possessions to be able to afford the perfect gift to give each other. The wife cut and sold her gorgeous long hair to buy her husband a platinum chain for his watch. In return, he sold his most loved watch to buy his wife a beautiful set of combs for her gorgeous long hair. Their love for each other, far outweighed what the other viewed as their most treasured possession.
The thought and love between these two people is just one example of what the true gift of giving is - to give without expectation of self-gain, to give with love in your heart.
Fun Fact: People who are thoughtful and generous towards other people are shown to be less depressed, anxious and feel more connected to the community around them.
Giving is not a logical action but rather one of emotion. It is the thought of the gift that brings a smile to your own face as well as the person you give the gift to. These gifts don’t have to be bought, they can be handmade, the gift of time spent with someone who needs some company, doing some volunteer work to benefit other people, placing a gift under the giving tree for someone less fortunate or donating to our struggling farmers and their families at a time that they need our support.
It’s not about how much we give, but how much love we put into giving – Mother Teresa
There are many ways that you can give that do not require any money to be spent. You can give a compliment, a handpicked flower, a nice note left for someone. One of the most powerful gifts you can give to someone, is a smile. The little gifts of love and kindness can make someone’s day and lift their spirits, and this in return will lift your own spirit.
No-one has ever become poor by giving – Anne Frank
Giving gifts is important for human interaction; it can help define relationships, strengthen bonds with friends, colleagues and family and is a way that you can show your gratitude for the people you care about and let them know how important they are to you.
Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have - Jim Rohn
Gift giving is more than just giving a gift; it is a demonstration of your feelings.
One of the most popular, most loved holiday stories which demonstrates the gift of giving is A Christmas Carol , which follows the character Ebenezer Scrooge through his losses as a result of his greed and the lessons that he finally learns from three unlikely visitors who each take him on a journey outside his comfort zone, and finally to the true meaning of Christmas.
Scrooge drives away his love Belle as she cannot stand to stay with him because she has fallen to second priority in his life – after his love and need for money. One night, Scrooge receives three visitors during his sleep …
The first visitor Scrooge encounters is the ghost of Christmas past to take Scrooge on a look back to Christmases past. By the end of their look back on Scrooges life he becomes filled with sadness and regret and learns that the simple things in life like friendships, love and laughter hold great value and learning. This visit begins Scrooge’s transformation.
The Ghost of Christmas Present next appears to Scrooge and takes him to his employee’s house where Scrooge watches the poor, but happy family celebrate their Christmas, despite the hardships of poor health, and a lack of possessions. Although the family is poor, they are far happier than Scrooge because they have the love of their family and friends.
The third ghost is that of Christmas Future. This ghost takes Scrooge on a journey of misery, sadness and loneliness, and shows Scrooge the only future he will have if he does not change his miserly ways.
Scrooge then wakes up in his bedroom and vows to live by the lessons that he has learnt from the three ghosts. He immediately starts doing right by the people he has wronged, and immediately feels the joy in his heart that this brings, leading him to want to spread this joy through further acts of kindness to all around him.
Fun Fact: The word Scrooge started as the name for a character in A Christmas Carol and now it is a word that is commonly used in everyday language as a word for someone who is selfish and does not like giving or parting with any money.
The festive season is so much more than parties and material gift giving. With just one act of kindness you can inspire others to go out and plant seeds of happiness along their way.
This Christmas, be kind. Give with your heart, and may your Christmas be filled with the true meaning of this beautiful time, warming your heart all year long.
#FestiveForagingMossVale
https://www.thevintagetoybox.com.au/blog/moss-vale-festive-foraging-2019
Our Classic Toy Shop | Take a Peek Inside our Toy Box
Just as we close up the Moss Vale store to spend more time with our family, we wanted to capture the essence of one of the most rewarding adventures that we’ve been on.
We have been very lucky to have the awesome Emma working for us here at The Vintage Toy Box in our Moss Vale toy store - she has been a breath of fresh air, a trusted and much valued employee, a window dresser extraordinaire, and now a great friend. Just before we close up the Moss Vale store in a couple of weeks to spend more time with our family, we wanted to capture Emma’s experience of sharing one of the most rewarding adventures that we’ve been on. Thank you Emma for being such a fabulous member of our toy store family - we couldn’t have done it without you!! Over to you Emma …
“Goodbye #UpperArgyle” by Emma Stuart
When I first applied for the job at The Vintage Toy Box I never imagined that working here would be so much fun. I mean, I knew working in a toy shop would be fun, but the vibe and energy that comes from the shop is way better than an average run-of-the-mill generic toy shop. There’s something really special about The Vintage Toy Box. The shop has been such a great place to work, the atmosphere and being around toys made my day – everyday. Not many people get to work in a place that they love to work in, nor do they get to have as much fun as I did as they work.
What made it more fun was the people. Customers, people just popping in to say hello, the local kids running in for their lollies after school, the local businesses that support each other, and of course my boss, Saskia (edit: Emma had to say that!).
I am so lucky to have had this experience. Saskia is such an awesome boss lady (edit: and again!). She accepted my areas for development and pushed me to the full potential of my strengths. She has helped me build my confidence and encouraged my creative side, which has expanded so much since I started working at The Vintage Toy Box.
Saskia asked me to put together a little write up about my favourite experiences working in the shop. It was so very hard to choose just a few, but here goes ….
I loved working on the window displays because not only did it showcase some of the awesome toys waiting just inside the door, but I loved watching people walking by, stopping to have a look and walking off with a smile. I’ve often wondered what triggered those smiles, was it a memory from their childhood? Maybe they played that hopscotch game at school; ran around the backyard with Spud Guns with their siblings; they could have had a toy robot similar to the one staring back at them through the window or maybe they played that board game with their family on family game night. It didn’t matter the reason behind the smile, it was just nice to know that just a peek through the window was enough to make someone smile.
I really enjoyed doing research and learning about the history of toys. How they used to be made and played with in the past is so intriguing to me. It is fascinating seeing through the decades how the toys have changed and what became popular based on the world changing, during and after war time and the difference new technology impacted the sale of toys and changed the way they were made.
Another personal favourite thing of mine about the shop is the stories that people would tell while they were shopping. Whether it was a story about begging their parents for a wind-up tin plane and how happy they were to open one up on Christmas morning, how they’ve treasured it over the decades and how it still sits on their shelf, or how they used to save the bone out of a lamb hock after a Sunday night roast and after they collected them up over a few weeks they would have enough to play Jacks with them. Stories about how they used to make knitting dolls out of old sewing bobbins and nails, or sitting down with a sibling or parent to draw and cut out outfits for paper dolls. Eagerly waiting outside the back shed door for their father to put the finishing touches on their wagon so it was ready to race with the kids down the road. It is so interesting to hear of the way toys used to be made by families who couldn’t afford to go to the shop and by the latest toys. I also enjoyed hearing the friendly bickering between family members as they reminisce about playing and there was always one cheeky cheater … who still denies it!
One day I was sitting at the front counter doing some history of toys research and I had Fleetwood Mac up full volume through the speaker, singing along as I worked and a nice lady worked in. I awkwardly laughed with embarrassment as I rushed to turn down the volume, she just laughed and said ‘turn it back up, I love Fleetwood Mac!’ so up went the volume and she sang as she shopped; it was great!
So there you have it, a few of my favourite memories from working at The Vintage Toy Box and what is next for me? Well, I’ll still be around, in the background, still researching, writing, putting together social media posts and helping Saskia with community events and all the new exciting things that she has planned and of course – turning up Fleetwood Mac until the speaker beeps at full volume.
Until next time, Emma. x
If you want to show your appreciation for Emma, as much as we do, vote for us in the Australian Local Business Awards https://thebusinessawards.com.au/business/48911/The-Vintage-Toy-Box . Go on, it’ll make Emma’s day.
Our Toy Shop Values
Teach our kids today to be the adults of tomorrow so that we can all live in harmony.
We are guided by our values.
Awareness, Community, Compassion, Creativity.
To have awareness is the ability to know, perceive, feel and be conscious of things and people around you. It’s about tuning into feelings, emotions and reactions, and responding in an appropriate way to each situation.
Community means living as a collective group in harmony, sharing a common purpose and goal.
Strong communities have members who look out for each other and contribute towards the common good.
Communities hold each other up. It takes a village to raise a child. The more people work together as a community, the stronger they will collectively become.
Connection, Family, Contribution, Fulfillment.
Courage, Giving, Empathy, Humility.
Moral courage involves doing what is right by others, particularly when the potential risks may involve shame, opposition or their disapproval.
Courage is not about who we claim to be, but rather who we reveal ourselves to be through our words and actions. Actions speak louder than words.
Humility is the quality of being humble and realising that you are no more important than any other person. Those that are humble have little vanity or ego, but realise their own value in society.
Those that are humble put themselves on an equal footing to others around them, seeing too the value in them, and how much more we can be together.
Someone who spends their life taking care of or looking out for others shows humility, by working towards a greater good.
We are greater than ourselves.
To have empathy is the ability to connect with other peoples emotions, and imagine what someone else might be thinking or how they are feeling. It’s about understanding other people and acting with sensitivity towards them.
Empathy is to walk in someone else’s shoes, walk their path, and feel their pain. Empathy is to feel more than your own emotions and to be aware of more than your self.
Fairness, Integrity, Frugality, Kindness.
To demonstrate fairness is to think about how your actions may affect other people, and act accordingly. To be fair means to listen with an open mind, without discrimination, treating everyone as equal whilst remaining impartial. At The Vintage Toy Box we promote fairness as we believe every person is equal and should be treated the same.
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral and ethical principles that you choose to live and act by. It’s about doing the right thing by others and feeling comfortable that your actions led to something good. Integrity is about choosing to be a decent human being.
Kindness means doing something nice for someone else without expecting anything in return. Kindness is about being respectful and helping others without wanting someone to help you back. The act of being kind is not just being nice but showing empathy and understanding.
Harmony, Loyalty, Honesty, Questioning.
Living in harmony means to live peacefully with others, having an unspoken agreement to have different ideas and feelings and considering this before taking action which may upset the balance.
To show loyalty means you have a strong feeling of support towards someone, and will demonstrate this support to them, and if necessary defend them if required. True loyalty comes from the heart.
To be honest simply means being true to yourself and true to others.
It may be very hard to be honest at times as sometimes being honest can lead to consequences if you have done wrong. Being honest though shows integrity in wanting to right the wrong.
People appreciate honesty, it shows you can be trusted.
It’s always best to be as transparent as possible. There is strength in admitting our faults. We are after all only human.
It is important to question things around you. Questioning is the most simple and most effective way to learn. Brilliant thinkers never stop asking questions because they know it is the best way to receive a deeper insight. The more questions we ask, the more knowledge is gained.
Reliability, Sharing, Resilience, Strength.
Sharing is a vital life skill and our most basic form of human interaction and well-being. Sharing allows us to develop, and most importantly, keep friendships. When you share you get to experience the enjoyment together.
Sharing is caring.
To have resilience means you have the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or tough situations. It means that you have the ability to adapt well. To be resilient means you can 'bounce back'. What doesn’t knock you down, makes you stronger.
Gratitude, Respect, Tolerance, Truth.
Having respect for yourself and others is one of the most important qualities a person can have. Respect is a positive action or feeling towards someone or something that you consider important. You can show respect for others in simple ways like by using polite words, by using positive comments, playing fair and listening to what someone is saying to you, even if you do not agree.
To be tolerant means you have the ability and willingness to accept others.
Teaching children about tolerance is important. As they grow they will learn to accept people who are unlike them in a fair, objective way.
Tolerance is about being patient, having understanding, and accepting ideas, beliefs and opinions in a respectful way.
The world would be a very dull place if we were all the same.
Being truthful allows us to grow and mature and allows others to put their trust in you. When people trust each other they grow together and can conquer anything. Trust is important for society and for forming social bonds.
Teach our kids today to be the adults of tomorrow.
New Traditional Toy Shop Opens in Moss Vale, Southern Highlands NSW
We’ve officially launched our gorgeously fun and funky bricks and mortar store, down in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands.
We’ve officially launched our gorgeously fun and funky bricks and mortar store, down in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands.
We’ve set up shop in the heart of the region, Moss Vale, just a short distance away from the historic town of Berrima and the popular tourist destination of Bowral.
We have something for everyone in our amazing treasure trove of goodies. We have toys and games galore, and have partnered with our other family business, Motique, purveyor of gifts and games for the discerning gentlemen in your lives.
So, roll up, roll in, and step back in time as we take you on a trip down memory lane.
Our beautiful mural is courtesy of the fabulous Paul Settecasse. Design by the equally fabulous Angela Settecasse of Angela Farrell Words • Ideas • Designs.
School Holidays | Bear Hunts and Pooh Sticks
School holidays can often be a time of great panic and trepidation; what to do; where to go; will we have to re-mortgage the house to pay for it all?? This holiday we decided to remove all the thought processes, and get back to nature ... we went camping!
School holidays can often be a time of great panic and trepidation; what to do; where to go; will we have to re-mortgage the house to pay for it all?? This holiday we decided to remove all the thought processes, and get back to nature ... we went camping!
For those of you who have never been camping with kids, this task on its own may seem mammoth and insurmountable ... but the reality is, all the kids actually need is a tent, a sleeping bag, some food and a water supply; and all you'll need is a never ending supply of wine, a comfy chair, and a good book. Sound more appealing?
There's nothing better than a few days in the bush to wash away the stresses of everyday life, and get back to basics. Granted, setting up camp is sure to bring on a sweat, (and an argument or two), but once your simple abode is standing firm, the wine is poured, the snacks are out; then the adventure begins!
There's no better way to explore your surroundings than going on a family bear hunt; you're going to catch a big one for sure! The kids will love tip-toeing through the bush (stick to the trail path!), listening out for every little sound that might indicate a great big hungry bear is lurking nearby. Be sure to warn passers-by of the bears up ahead; you'll be surprised how many random strangers join in. Everybody loves a good story (especially when there is a distinct possibility of a gruesome outcome!).
Take a picnic and stretch it out; be sure to look out for "treasures" along the way; a stick; a feather; a stone; a leaf ... everything is treasure when you put your imagination hat on. These special collectibles will also come in mighty handy when you stumble across a stream, particularly one which has a troll bridge; because these 'treasures" magically transform into wondrous pooh sticks on this bridge, ready to win the race!
Pooh sticks, you may well ask. Yes, pooh sticks, the most captivating game in the wild. Who's stick will get to the other side first? Who will be hailed the pooh-stick champion? Guaranteed to take even the most steadfast stickler back in time to a less-complicated childhood.
Identify as many birds, trees, leaves, insects as you can; taking back to base camp any particularly interesting finds - the kids can draw them later, whilst you relax with that good book and a glass of vino. Not too many though, or you may be hearing bears in the woods all night!
Cool toys from back in the day!
Here at the Vintage Toy Box, we think that one of the coolest things about our toys is the fact that as well as being fun and taking you back to your childhood, you can also share them with your own kids and grandkids and let them see how cool the toys were back in the day! Do you look back fondly at the times you spent playing with great toys as a child? If so, you will certainly be inspired to find similarly terrific toys and games for your own kids or grandkids.
Here at the Vintage Toy Box, we think that one of the coolest things about our toys is the fact that as well as being fun and taking you back to your childhood, you can also share them with your own kids and grandkids and let them see how cool the toys were back in the day! Do you look back fondly at the times you spent playing with great toys as a child? If so, you will certainly be inspired to find similarly terrific toys and games for your own kids or grandkids.
Well just for fun, today we are looking at some of the fun toys we offer which would be awesome to introduce to a kid of today.
The first toy we want to talk about is the awesome Slip N Slide Water Slide Toy. Such a simple concept that provides hours and hours of fun on a hot summers day. Our version is based on the variety from the 60’s which is really cool. You will get a kick out of telling the kids and grandkids how this was a big deal back in the day. It is a lot of fun to watch the kids run and slide down this and if you are feeling brave enough, you can have a go yourself!
Next up we have something that is secretly super cool, cheap and will prove to be highly entertaining. The Magic Drawing Slate is the perfect example of an old school vintage style toy, which at first glance many kids will turn their noses up at. Let’s face it, compared to the iPhone; it is a hard sell. But our Magic Drawing Slate has a ton of retro charm and looks like it was transported right out of the 1960’s. All kids are hooked after they do their first drawing. It’s a magical travelling toy that just keeps on giving.
How can you not love the graphics on the box for this retro inspired Tiddly Winks? Now here is a game that even the grumpiest techno addicted kid will have an awesome time with. While the whole style is clearly inspired by games of the 60’s, Tiddly Winks is such a fun, competitive and skill based game that after a couple of turns any kid will be hooked. Not bad for a game that is over 200 years old.
That is just a small sample of the great toys and games we have here at The Vintage Toy Box. Just about everyone can remember their favourite toys growing up. If you wish to pass that type of joy onto other children in your life, shopping with us will certainly help you on that journey. If you are looking for a toy or game that is not just going to be fun to play, but also lets you share something from your past with your kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, then you really can’t go wrong with something from The Vintage Toy Box.
The Ever-Lasting Appeal of Retro Toys
We are living in a world where electronics and technology are present everywhere around us. Our kids are used to playing electronic games, watching TV and using the Internet, iPads and iPhones. Despite this however, kids and parents alike still love retro toys.
We are living in a world where electronics and technology are present everywhere around us. Our kids are used to playing electronic games, watching TV and using the Internet, iPads and iPhones. Despite this however, kids and parents alike still love retro toys.
Parents love these toys because they invigorate some of their best childhood memories, and take them on a warm, fuzzy trip down memory lane. Children love them because of their simplistic design and delightful appeal. If you are still not sure what makes retro toys attractive, keep reading because we will list a few good reasons why your kids should have at least one retro toy in their toy box.
Retro toys come with an ageless charm that has captivated children for generations. They hold a timeless appeal that guarantees that the toys will be loved not only by your kids but also by your grandchildren too and in some cases, their grandkids after that.
Retro toys are more durable compared to most modern toys. They are usually made from high-quality wood or tin, unlike modern toys that are made of cheap plastic that ends up being thrown away after a few uses. When kids are using these hardy toys, you can be rest assured that they will last for a long time no matter how heavy their use is. In fact, they are designed with durability in mind. Many modern toy makers, such as Artiwood, Djeco and Londji now also make their toys, games and puzzles with this durability in mind, producing beautiful toys, built to last, and designed to be handed down to the next generation.
In the past, toy manufacturers have paid special attention to the packaging, knowing that the outer appearance of toys is incredibly important to buyers and to children. Packaging lures children and buyers in, and catches the eye. Nothing beats a colourful, retro present in a bright, big box. Imagine watching a child’s face light up when they receive a gift with such beautiful packaging. The colorful packaging will bring a huge smile to little faces everywhere.
As mentioned previously, today’s children often spend countless hours playing video games or watching TV. Retro toys support the mastering of certain old-fashioned skills that cannot be learned by watching a screen. For example, there are toys that can help kids to learn to build, learn to sew, learn to cook. Etch-a-sketch toys are good for developing drawing skills. There are gardening toys, toys for creating shelters, toys for using the imagination, putting on a show, and most importantly, toys for developing people skills.
The creative play that retro toys encourage stimulates the imagination, way beyond screen time. By playing with retro toys children can unleash their creativity, something that modern toys don’t allow for in the same way. Creative skills are incredibly important. Buying a few retro toys to add to their toy collection is one of the simplest and most convenient ways to do encourage creativity and imaginative play.
Traditional Toys from The Vintage Toy Box
We want boys and girls to enjoy their toys,
With festive times filled with oodles of joy,
So this year give them delights in their socks,
And get your toys at The Vintage Toy Box!
We have gifts all children will love,
Inside our magnificent treasure trove,
We have so many aisles to come and explore,
With toys and games and so much more.
With so many different kinds of toys,
For little girls and little boys,
From circus to rockets and dinosaurs too,
Oh that would be a hullabaloo!
It's the spirit of Christmas we all desire,
A sense of nostalgia that takes us higher,
Traditional toys are the kind to buy;
So come on in and give them a try.
When we compare gifts of our modern day,
With simple toys that are fun to play,
You'll see they last longer than most toys now,
Developing more creativity than time will allow.
We want boys and girls to enjoy their toys,
With festive times filled with oodles of joy,
So this year give them delights in their socks,
And get your toys at The Vintage Toy Box!
