AN INDEPENDENT city educational toy shop with a special section for left-handed people is on the shortlist of retailers in the running to be named Britain’s Best Small Shop of 2018.
Wise Owl Toys opened 24 years ago initially as a ‘Left Handed’ shop but for the last 19 years its has traded as a traditional, educational toy shop. Children visit the shop for specialist handwriting help as well as for different, inspiring and fun toys with an educational bias.
The Best Small Shops competition, managed by the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) sponsored by booost, the new loyalty, gift and promotions app for independent retailers and their customers, celebrates the commitment and creativity of independent retailers on the UK’s High Streets and the central role they play in their local communities. The winner will be announced at an event at the Houses of Parliament on November 13.
“On the ‘Left-handed’ side, we have co-authored three ‘Left Hand Writing Skills’ books and host handwriting workshops alongside a local publisher. We offer one to one handwriting help for left-handed children whenever they visit the shop,” said owner Mark Stewart.
“On the ‘Wise Owl Toys’ side, we have games and other products out for children and adults to play with. We love to demonstrate and play games with our customers and have been the biggest seller in the whole UK of the game
‘Dobble’ for three years running. We also run free activities for children in the Summer holidays called ‘Wise Owl Wednesdays.’
Mark Walmsley, chairman of the Independent Retailers Confederation, said: “Despite all of the bad headlines and the high-profile closures of larger stores, we firmly believe that specialist independent retailers can thrive in this climate by delivering a truly unique retail experience.”
“The Best Small Shops competition enables us celebrate this unique industry, the passion, service, flexibility and knowledge of independent shop owners offer and show customers what makes independent retailers so special.”
