Buy “Made In America” This Holiday Season
Posted by Steve | Filed under Uncategorized
Dear Friends,
I hope this message finds you and your family in good health. We all cannot avoid the constant barrage of the negative news about the economy. It’s in the newspapers, magazines and radio. It’s reality—we’ve been in a full-blown recession for over a year. Sadly, most of the retail doom and gloom has been focused on the Big Box retailers. Their numbers are down, but those pale in comparison to the hurt this down economy has put on small independent stores.
I’ve talked to many businesses across the board and nearly all are experiencing a very serious downturn thus far this holiday season. In some cases, we’re talking 40+ percent decreases in sales from last year (which, by the way, for most was a down year from the previous year, 2007.) For these independent stores, the holiday season represents 25% of their annual sales - the holiday season is a “make it or break it” scenario.
Compound this with increasing cost of goods, skyrocketing utility rates, rent hikes, taxes and well … you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the negative consequences. So why am I sending this email? It is more than a gentle, subliminal reminder … It’s a plea! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT RETAILER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. I fear many will not survive the winter. We talk about where we live and why we choose certain neighborhoods. We talk about what we value and sometimes we don’t put a price on what it means to us. What about customer service? What about product knowledge? I could go on …
Remember that it is many of your local merchants who donate to or sponsor events with organizations that you are familiar with. Studies show a large percentage of dollars stay in a community when you BUY LOCAL vs. leaving the state with an online or big box purchase.
Sadly, if a local store closes, it not only becomes an empty storefront (in this economy, they’re not lining up to rent spaces) but the trickle down from this loss affects many—the local accountant, lawyer, insurance broker and printer to name a few. So you really know many who are or would be affected by the closing of a local “Mom and Pop”. So, PLEASE during this holiday season … try to spread the “Good Gospel” … support your local bookstore, record shop, boutique, hardware store, coffee shop, and toy store. Shop at the galleries and support local artists.
Go out and support the small music clubs that hire local musicians. Eat at independent restaurants. Put the word out on the street. Forward this email. Tell your neighbors, friends and coworkers. Teach your kids about the importance of supporting local businesses. It’s all about education and awareness. Buy multiple gift certificates in small amounts to give away this holiday season …
Be The Change | Think Globally … Shop Locally
Steve Presser
Owner
Big Fun on Coventry
Tags: Christmas, Economy, Holdays, Made In America, Made In The USA
Playboy Names Big Fun “Coolest Store”
Posted by Steve | Filed under Press, Site News
Yes you read that correctly, that Playboy Magazine that you just read for the articles, named Big Fun one of the 20 coolest stores in all of America. We could about how great we think our store is, but instead why don’t we let the A-List editors at Playboy do it for us:
The goofy nostalgia at this jam-packed vintage toy bazaar is infectious. Whether you’re in search of a gag gift like Chinese finger traps or a device that catapults plastic nuns, or you’re a serious collector on the hunt for vintage Transformers toys or Pee Wee Herman trading cards, Big Fun’s got it all. Bonus points for the endless G.I. Joe tchotckes and old Intellivision game consoles. And don’t miss the Elvis shrine.
Oh, and with all the new and exciting stuff that is happening at Big Fun did we forget to mention we just opened a second store Big Fun Cleveland 11512 Clifton Blvd. Stop by and say hi!
Tags: # # America's Coolest Stores, Big Fun Cleveland, Big Fun Toy Store, Coolest Store, Playboy, Playboy Magazine
Cool Cleveland Interviews Steve Presser
Posted by Steve | Filed under Music, Video
Tags: 70 Lewis, Big Cool Cats Music Festival, Cain Park Evans Amphitheatre, Cats On Holiday, Cool Cleveland, I-Tal, Interview, Jack DiAlesandro, Jon Mosey, Magpies, Mifune, Mo' Mojo, Music, Steve Presser, Video
Our Transformer Section Of Big Fun
Posted by Steve | Filed under Transformers
Tags: Big Fun Toy Store, Transformers
Announcing Big Cool Cats Music Festival
Posted by Steve | Filed under Big Cool Cats Music Festival, Music, Promotions
We are pleased to announce the first-ever Big Cool Cats Music Festival on June 20th (Noon until 11PM) at the Cain Park Evans Amphitheatre. Acts playing on multiple stages include I-Tal, Mifune, Magpies, Mo’ Mojo, Cats On Holiday, 70 Lewis, 70 Lewis, Jack DiAlesandro, and Jon Mosey.
Much more information, including band bios and videos, contests, you name it is location at the Big Cool Cats web site.
For a limited time, we are offering 2-4-1 offer on tickets for the Big Cool Cats Music Festival. Just click here and enter the discount code “BCC50″ when checking out.
Tags: 70 Lewis, Big Cool Cats Music Festival, Cain Park Evans Amphitheatre, Cats On Holiday, I-Tal, Jack DiAlesandro, Jon Mosey, Magpies, Mifune, Mo' Mojo, Music
Tacky vs. Cheesy: East Meats West
Posted by Steve | Filed under Promotions
Tags: Big Fun Toy Store, Promotion, Tacky vs. Cheesy: East Meats West
Giant Midwest Mecca of Nerditude
Posted by Steve | Filed under GI Joe, He-Man, Star Trek, Star Wars, Transformers
Wired.com profiles a man after our own hearts here at Big Fun, Kevin Stark of Pauls Valley, OK. Stark is an action figure collector and comic book artist. Has been almost all his life. In 2000, Stark convinced the Pauls Valley City Council that the town needed a tourist attraction and a museum should be it, an action figure museum.
In 2005, when the Action Figure Museum finally opened its doors it became one of largest displays in the world, along with a Batman shrine, a superhero changing room and enough Transformers, G.I. Joes and He-Man figures to fill a grown man’s bedroom in his mom’s basement. The museum may seem a little out of place among Pauls Valley’s other businesses: a gun store, a couple of gas stations, an insurance company or two, but what the heck Stark got his own action figure museum.
Tags: Action Figure Museum, GI Joe, Kevin Stark, Oklahoma, Pauls Valley
Green Is The New Red For Valentines Day
Posted by Steve | Filed under Charity, Promotions
Big Fun has teamed up with Dunecraft, a local plant producing company, to sell the perfect gift for Valentines Day. This is a bean plant, when watered, it will sprout and sport a live bean that says “I LOVE YOU”. Totally green …. totally cool and totally reasonably priced at $4.99. Click here to download the article in the Plain Dealer for even more information.
And, as they say, they’re selling like hotcakes at Big Fun. People are buying them for their husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, partners and lovers …. parents and grandparents are buying them for their kids and grandkids. Surprisingly, many, many folks are buying five or six of these I LOVE YOU BEANS at a time.
Be original . . . Be thoughtful . . . Believe in the bean . . .
Only $4.99 at BIG FUN.
You’ll be supporting two local businesses when you buy this clever item.
It’s all about The Bean!
And …. while you’re thinking of supporting local endeavors, please consider helping Heights Emergency Food Center (HEFC). Last week, I stopped by there to drop off over $300.00 in cash and nearly 150 pounds of food that was donated by community members at the Coventry Obama Inauguration party.
While at HEFC, I saw many people, too many people, waiting to receive donated food because they couldn’t afford to feed themselves or their families. Nobody should go hungry. These are some really tough economic times. Couple that with the highest utility rates due to seasonal heating and we have many who are suffering. Yes, these are our neighbors. HEFC volunteers informed me that donations have dropped off and supplies are very low - the same storage cupboards that were full to the brim before Christmas, are now nearly bare.
So what am I asking? Please go to your cupboards and grab a bag full of canned and/or dry goods. Or stop by your local grocery store and pick up some extra items to share. If you can’t afford to give groceries or a cash donation, then please give of your time and volunteer. You’ll be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of people to volunteer with. Stop by or give them a call …. I’m sure that they will be happy to hear from you.
Here are the details:
HEIGHTS EMERGENCY FOOD CENTER
Disciples Christian Church (formerly Euclid Avenue Church)
3663 Mayfield Rd., Clev. Hts. (across from Severance Center)
Phone: 216-381-0707
Hours of operation (for dropping off donations):
Tuesdays 9:00-11:30 AM
Thursdays 9:00-2:30 PM
Fridays 9:00-11:30 AM
The Center is also open the last two Thursday evenings of each month from 5:30-7:30 PM
If you can’t make it over to HEFC during those hours, you are welcome to drop off food at my store.
Think Globally …. Act Locally …. Thanks for listening and reading.
Tags: Dunecraft, Food Drive, HEFC, Heights Emergency Food Center, I Love You Beans, Valentines Day
Buy “Made In America” This Holiday Season
Posted by Steve | Filed under Site News
Well …. It’s the Sunday before Christmas and all through the streets, not a creature was stirring …. not even a customer. This is not poetry or haiku …. it’s reality.
At Big Fun, we’ve had some decent “rushes”, but not the crowds that we are used to at this time of year. Friends in other cities have shared the same stories. There is still hope. People are starting to think twice about where they shop and who they want to support. Please continue to spread the word and we all will be better for it.
Now for something completely different …. I always wanted to say that! This is something related. At Big Fun, we have thousands of different items. During a lull (damn those) I decided to do a “study”, not a random sampling. Although not professional, it was a pretty thorough examination of all “labeled” items in my store to see how many were actually still made in the good old USA. While you’re thinking of this number, I have excluded books, stickers, trading cards, magnets and shirts. 13 Items …. THIRTEEN is not a lucky number.
I actually stretched the number because for those who may be interested which toys they are:
- Wooly Willy and Hairdoo Harriet. Wooly Willy is toy where you take metal shavings and place “hair” over the bald guy’s head. Yes …. I’ve tried it. Hairdoo Harriet is Willy’s folically-challenged sister. The same company also makes Basket-Bounce and Home Run in the US.
- Slinky and Slinky Jr. created in 1945 are still a big favorite at Big Fun.
- Nose Flutes and Humazoos made locally in Cleveland.
- Super Snow (and I’m not talking about the stuff at Boston Mills) is also made in our dear city of Cleveland.
- Silly Putty, formally called Nutty Putty, was originally used in Army Rockets until scientist A. Lazo dropped a sample on the floor and it bounced.
- Gyroscopes are still made in the states.
- Jacks, the “good” metal ones—and there is a difference, are made in southern Ohio.
And finally, my favorite:
- WHOOPS the best fake vomit on the market is made by hand, individually (like snowflakes—no two alike) in Chicago.
There are some other items that are labeled “made in the USA”, but also say—”bag made in China.”
I don’t know about you, but this really upsets me. I’m not a politician, a scientist or an economist. I am an American and would love to sell MADE IN USA products. I welcome your feedback and better yet, find me some Big Fun-worthy cool toys made here in our country.
If you want to buy Made in the USA products or better yet, made locally by very talented artists, please stop by the HEIGHTS ARTS GALLERY at 2173 Lee Rd. (next to the wonderful Cedar Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights. 216-371-3457
If I don’t see you . . . Have A Healthy Happy New Year . . . 2009 can’t get here fast enough.
All the Best,
Tags: Christmas, Economy, Holdays, Made In America, Made In The USA
Superman Cutout Pic From Metropolis, IL
Posted by Steve | Filed under Comics, Customers, Pictures
One of our regular customers was trekking across the midwest and couldn’t help but pull off at an exit when they saw a sign for Metropolis, IL the hometown of Superman. They snap this pic at a diner/gas station.
Tags: Comic Books, IL, Metropolis, Superman