Tree Town Toys fills a market void in the toy industry, providing their product list in multiple different search queries, from age range to different skill sets required for games. From local to national business plans, this local company might have both figured out.
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One year ago this month, Hans and Tricia Masing took their online store, Brain Station, to the store front. Opening their first store, Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, they were looking to provide unique and interesting toys to the community. As new parents, they were driven by their own search for great toys for their children.
As automotive engineer (Tricia) and an IT guy (Hans), the two seem to be an odd couple in the toy industry. However, combing their quest for toys with Hans' IT experience proved fruitful and helped create their online store Brain Station. Filling a market void in the toy industry, Tree Town Toys and Brain Station provides their product list in multiple different search queries, from age range to different skill sets required for games. Want to develop hand eye coordination? They've got 243 toys for that. Toys for a 1-2 year olds? Choose from 53 different toys for them.
As all start up companies discover financing is one of the most difficult portions of the process. Hans and Tricia were no exception to this. Tricia notes the Michigan economy as a stumbling block. She notices a change in targeting perspective as one solution to their initial problems. Current perspectives are interested in national, not local business. Managing an online store for Tree Town Toys, which is very similar to their Brain Station store, must have helped to ease investors minds. While the store was only in Ann Arbor, their products are still being sold across the United States.
Beyond toys, Tree Town Toys provides the community with two other great assets. They are helping our economy by providing more jobs. Those interested in marketing, customer service, and toys should check out their careers page. Need a creative activity for your own children? Take a look at their events page.
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