There’s nothing like a fab contest with oodles of free, quality giveaways to get people’s attention! With that in mind Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS) is launching a brand new ‘WOWZA! Winning Wednesdays’ Contest as a lead into Neighbourhood Toy Store Day which will be celebrated across Canada on Saturday, November 10.

Beginning Wednesday, September 12, contestants can enter in-store and online each and every week. Approximately a dozen prizes will be drawn for on a weekly basis from September 12 to November 7. Click here for details of this week’s prizes. The grand finale will be a draw for an amazing collection of Manhattan Toy items, valued at approximately $800, on Saturday November 10, the same day retail members of NETS will host a variety of ‘fun-tastic’ in-store events in a nationwide celebration of independent business and independent toy retailers.

The significance of Neighbourhood Toy Store Day is to draw attention to the implications and importance of supporting local businesses. How businesses such as independent specialty toy stores enrich their communities is often overshadowed by the so-called convenience and discount prices offered by ‘big box’ stores.

“You really can’t compare the independent specialty toy retailer to the mass marketers,” said Dianne Mattice, owner of The Rocking Horse toy store in Owen Sound, ON and President of NETS.

“One is built on service and having to sustain a reputation for this and quality products on a day-by-day, sale-by-sale basis. The other is a product of big business. They don’t take a personal interest in whether the toys you buy from them are really the best choice of your child.”

Independent toy stores on the other hand are generally owned and operated by people who are parents and are not going to sell any toy, game or book that they would not bring into their own home.

These ‘on-of-a-kind’ businesses, such as neighbourhood toy stores, also enhance the community fabric, contributing significantly more to local charities than mass market stores, using local services such as accountants to run their business and preserving the distinct nature and charm that attracts tourism and additional businesses to a community.

Independent toy stores also add colour to the marketplace by carrying new and innovative products that mass market stores won’t consider until they become major brands.

On November 10, each of NETS retail members will open their doors to celebrate Neighbourhood Toy Store Day across Canada with individual in-store events to be enjoyed and remembered by current and new customers. As per last year’s celebration it will be a fun time for the whole family featuring everything from princess tea parties to pirate scavenger hunts. Until then NETS retailers expect their ‘WOWZA! Winning Wednesdays’ Contest to build ‘toy-riffic’ awareness of neighbourhood toys stores as an alternative shopping experience with significant benefits as consumers move into the holiday shopping season.