Pure Imagination - Home of the Toy Guyz

2011-11-17T10:19:00.004-05:00

Visit the Toy Guyz as they celebrate their HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE this weekend at Pure Imagination!

Friday, November 18th through Sunday, November 20th. Visit the Toy Guyz at their new location - 102 E. Bishop Street. Open from 10:00 - 7:00 on Friday and Saturday. 12:00 - 4:00 on Sunday.

What's Going On?

Enter to win the $100 Giraffe from Melissa & Doug. You have seen him for years outside, inside and all over the place at Pure Imagination. He has consistently been a best seller for us. Now you can win him!
Free Old World Ornament with the first 50 purchases of the weekend! Old World Ornaments are a wonderful addition to any Christmas tree.
Fun Toy and Craft Demonstrations for the kids and grown-ups! We will have a table set up for kids to play with some of our newest toys! You have to play before you purchase. Those are the rules.

On top of all that - We have all sorts of new toys for everyone to see. Shipments are arriving daily! And our usual "play stations" will be open with our Train Table, Cook's Kitchen, 3-Story Dollhouse and much more! So bring the kids in (or not, if you need to do some shopping) and experience a whole bunch of fun at Pure Imagination. 'Tis the Season!

Toy Guyz Picks For Really Fun Craft Kits For Fall!

2011-09-07T13:53:00.000-04:00

Well we are all moved into our new space! Pure Imagination is now located at 102 E. Bishop Street in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. We are so excited to have a bigger and better location. It's time to get into the swing of things so we thought it would be fun to select a few "Toy Guyz Approved" crafts kits for the Fall season. Here are just a few of the great craft kits we carry at Pure Imagination along with being customer favorites!

Magic Picture Maker - $19.95

The Magic Picture Maker is three activities in one! Trace magic stencils to reveal mystery pictures! Design with Dial-a-Pattern template! Make spiral art! Marker and paper included. Manufactured by Alex Toys. Ages 4+

Melissa & Doug Fashion Press - $12.95

Show off your design skills with an amazing tri-fold playboard featuring two models. Create fashions you and your friends might wear on the model in the neighborhood setting. Imagine the glamour when designing for the princess in her fairytale setting! 12 fabric swatches can create hundreds of designs! ...feel free to add your own! Dimensions: 11.25" x 10.25" x 1" Packaged. Ages 3+

Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Jewelry Box - $12.95

The Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Jewelry Box kit comes with everything you need to make a wonderful keepsake box to store your jewelry. Includes glitter glue, stickers and stick-on gems. Manufactured by Melissa & Doug. Ages 4+

Metal Pot Holder Loom - $11.95

Your kids will have fun just like you did when they make their own pot holders with this classic weaving loom. The set includes instructions, 150 loops, metal loom and hook. The loom measures 7 1/8 x 7 1/8 square. Manufactured by Schylling. Ages 4+

My First Sewing Kit - $27.95

My First Sewing Kit includes everything you need to start sewing right away! Comes with cool pre-cut patterns for quick and easy projects! 8 colors of embroidery floss, shapes to make felt animals and a notebook cover, stuffing, fabric, ric rac, needles, scissors, measuring tape, straight pins, thimble, pin cushion, buttons and a pom-pom strip. Carrying case measures 10'W x 7'H x 3.25'D. Learn to sew. It's so easy! Manufactured by Alex Toys. Ages 7+

Shrinky Dinks are a Toy Guyz favorite!

2011-06-01T13:54:00.004-04:00

The Toy Guyz wanted to show you this great video that features Shrinky Dinks from Alex Toys. These Shrinky Dinks sets are sold at Pure Imagination (www.PureImaginationToys.com) and customers love them! Shrinky Dinks were first invented in 1973 as a Cub Scout project. They later reached quite a bit of popularity in the 1980s. It's so cool they are still being sold for new generations to experience! For those of you who are not familiar with Shrinky Dinks - this video will show you how it all works. This is a great craft activity for kids and grown-ups alike. Enjoy!

This video is brought to you by AlexToysVideos on YouTube.

Check out the Toy Guyz YouTube Channel where we feature this video along with some other great toy demonstrations.

Sidewalk Sale Going On All Month Long!

2011-05-11T17:34:00.003-04:00

That's right folks! Our 50% Off Sidewalk Sale is going on all through the month of May. Weather permitting that is. So far so good!

You won't believe all of the great toys and gifts we are discounting at 50% Off. Each day there will be new items put on sale - so don't miss out on all these super deals! Stop by Pure Imagination and celebrate our "Big Move" with our "Big Sidewalk Sale".

The Toy Guyz Are Moving On Up!

2011-03-31T11:03:00.006-04:00

Dear Customers,
What's going on with Pure Imagination and the Toy Guyz?

Lots of crazy fun stuff!

Well...the Big News is...We Are Moving!

After 10 years of business and only 900 square feet of space, we are moving to a larger location up the street and around the corner. Pure Imagination will now be located right beside the Hofbrau Restaurant in the old Mike's Video building. Our new store will be almost double the size of our current location. We will also have parking right in front of the store. How great is that?

Pure Imagination's new location should be up and running by the end of Summer - if not sooner.
This move will help us provide and expand new product lines and services to our customers. We will have the space to do all kinds of activities for the kids and parents. Mr. Marc has been coming up with all kinds of ideas from Music Workshops to Spelling Bee Contests. We are so excited to finally have the room to do Craft Activities also.

More Big News...We Are Having A Moving Sale!

Pure Imagination's Moving Sale is going on now! 25% Off Storewide! Right in time for Easter! As things clear out and the weather warms up, we will also have a Sidewalk Sale. This will not only include Toys but Christmas Merchandise and some Gift Products. Merchandise on the Sidewalk Sale will be 50% Off! So take advantage! It's going to help make our move a lot easier.

Thanks to all of our wonderful customers - past, present and future! We only hope this expansion of Pure Imagination adds to Bellefonte and the community. Here's to another 10 years...

Thank you,
Rhett

The Toy Guyz Review the Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore

2011-03-22T16:06:00.007-04:00

The Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore is a really fun way to bring a little bit of nature into your home while teaching kids and grown-ups all about butterflies. A couple of years ago we tried one of these Butterfly Gardens at the toy store. It was really fascinating. After you purchase your Butterfly garden you send away for the butterflies which are really caterpillars at first. Within about three weeks they changed into chrysalides, and then they emerge as Painted Lady Butterflies. We had about four butterflies and they were all beautiful and healthy. The butterflies were fed a simple solution of sugar water. We observed that the butterflies seemed to get excited each time they were fed. This was the only time we saw an almost spastic fluttering from the butterflies. I guess they really liked that sugar water. Overall the experience was great! We learned so much about butterflies and their habits. Our customers were absolutely fascinated by the Butterfly Garden. After several days of observing these wonderful creatures we released them outside in the flower bed outside the store. They stayed around for awhile but eventually went on to explore their new world elsewhere.

If you have a kid that likes bugs, butterflies or science - we highly recommend the Butterfly Garden. It's a great way of teaching children about nature and the transitions that butterflies go through. This is a science kit that is definitely Toy Guyz approved!

A Brief History of the Magic 8 Ball

2011-03-15T13:14:00.006-04:00

Ask the Magic 8 Ball a "yes' or "no" question and there you have! It might not be the answer you are looking for but it's one of the most recognized classic toys of all time.

The Magic 8 Ball did not really exist in its current form until 1950. The functional component was invented by Albert C. Carter, who was inspired by a "spirit writing" device used by his mother, Mary, a successful Cincinnati clairvoyant and medium. She supposedly revealed the future for Sherlock Holmes creator and super-natural enthusiast Arthur Conan Doyle, among other celebrities.

When store owner Max Levinson was approached by Carter about stocking the device, he called in his brother-in-law Abe Bookman, a graduate of Ohio Mechanics Institute. In 1944, Carter filed patent for his device with a few business partners. Under the name Alabe Crafts, they marketed and sold the device as The Syco-Seer. Bookman later made improvements to the Syco-Seer and in 1948, it was encased in an iridescent crystal ball. The revamped product caught the attention of Chicago's Brunswick Billiards. In 1950 they commissioned Alabe Crafts to make a version in the form of a traditional black & white 8 Ball.

There are 20 answers inside a Magic 8 Ball and here they are:

As I see it, yes
It is certain
It is decidedly so
Most likely
Outlook good
Signs point to yes
Without a doubt
Yes
Yes – definitely
You may rely on it
Reply hazy, try again
Ask again later
Better not tell you now
Cannot predict now
Concentrate and ask again
Don't count on it
My reply is no
My sources say no
Outlook not so good
Very doubtful

You can buy the Magic 8 Ball $9.95 at Pure Imagination. It's a Toy Guyz favorite along with being a really cool classic toy for all ages.

25% OFF Storewide Sale at Pure Imagination!

2011-02-16T09:48:00.005-05:00

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 25% OFF Storewide Sale at Pure Imagination! This is our biggest sale of the year. Spread the word! We are also running this sale on our website at www.PureImaginationToys.com. Be sure to tell your family and friends! Sale ends Friday, February 25th, 2011.

The Toy Guyz Review the 48 Piece Marble Run by House of Marbles

2011-01-26T12:21:00.008-05:00

Through the years we have sold a few different Marble Runs at Pure Imagination. There are a lot of different takes on this popular construction toy. Most Marble Runs are usually made of plastic but there are a few on the market that are made of wood. Prices vary depending on the quality and amount of pieces included. Several months ago we discovered a company called House of Marbles. Can you guess what they specialize in? They do sell a diverse amount of toys but marbles do seem to be their specialty. We ordered the 49 Piece Marble Run in hopes of giving our customers a basic set that might be easier for younger children. A few months later we decided to find out for ourselves how this Marble Run compared to other sets we have carried in the past.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that the quality of this particular set was fantastic! Each piece was easy to snap into place and very sturdy. We have found that some Marble Runs look great but seem to knock over or fall apart easily. With the 49 Piece Marble Run from House of Marbles you really end up with a solid and sturdy construction toy. Each piece is bright and colorful adding to the overall effect of anything your imagination can construct. The packaging is very clever with a fun retro look which makes it such a nice gift to give. It sells for $34.95 and is worth every penny. Overall - We are pleased with the 49 Piece Marble Run and will continue to sell this toy as long as it is being made.

The Toy Guyz give the 49 Piece Marble Run by House of Marbles a 10 out of 10 star rating.

The Toy Guyz Make the Cover of State College Magazine!

2011-01-10T12:32:00.012-05:00

It was such an honor to make the cover of State College Magazine's December Issue last month. Each year Marc and I both have our share of publicity as owners of a toy store during the Christmas season. The top 2 questions we get asked every year are - "What's the hot new toy this year?" or "How are sales this season?". After State College magazine approached us about doing a piece on the toy store, we knew right away it was going to be a different type of article. In the end we were very pleased. The article gives a rare glimpse into our passion and vision for toys and business. I've always said "If you could look inside my head it would probably look like the inside of the store" - Classic books, kooky toys, things that teach and nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia! If you have ever been in our store you know there are little surprises around every corner. State College Magazine did a wonderful job at capturing the magic we have tried to provide for all age groups when they walk through our doors. Check out this wonderful article at www.StateCollegeMagazine.com.

Happy New Year -
Rhett

Thank You From The Toy Guyz

2010-11-29T15:46:00.012-05:00

First of all I have to say it's so nice to know that so many people still support local small businesses in our area. As a toy store - we know it's hard when you and your children are bombarded with ads telling you what the "hot" new toys are each year. You have probably come to know that most of the "must have" toys are "here today, gone tomorrow". We are so lucky here at Pure Imagination to provide toys, that for the most part, are consistent in their quality and educational value. Not to say, Toys R Us or Wal-Mart do not deliver from time to time. It's just we are different and our customers seem to recognize that. In a world of "big box" stores our customers often tell us they like us just the way we are...small. It also allows us to concentrate on customer service which seems to be the #1 most important aspect of any small business these days. Our customers want good service and we are happy to provide it.

We just celebrated our 10th Black Friday Weekend in business. We are very excited to tell you it was our biggest Black Friday Weekend ever! And on top of that - November's sales exceeded our expectations. It was a really good month. We hope and expect it will continue.

So from the Toy Guyz - we just wanted to say a big "Thank You" to all of our supporters and customers. As we go into our 10th year in business we want everyone to know we could not be happier. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa & Yuletide Tidings from the Toy Guyz!

Halloween Safety With The Toy Guyz!

2010-10-28T08:54:00.005-04:00

Halloween is a time for little ghosts and goblins and wacky trick or treat fun! It is important to remember your child's safety when celebrating this very fun holiday. We all know the basics but it's always good to have reminders. Make sure all the candy and goodies are safe before you let your child "go to town". That's one safety tip we have all grown up with and should pass down from generation to generation. Here are a few other basic tips to make this Halloween a little safer.

Carry a flashlight.
Walk, don't run.
Try to stay on sidewalks.
Obey traffic signs.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods
Carry only flexible swords, knifes and props.
Approach only houses that are lit.
Stay away and don't pet animals you don't know.

We hope everyone has a very happy Halloween and gets lots of good candy! Be safe.

- the Toy Guyz

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Giveaway!

2010-10-14T08:44:00.009-04:00

Find us on Facebook and enter to win this Melissa & Doug Self-Storing Fully Furnished Dollhouse valued at $149.99! Write a cool comment on our Facebook page or stop by the store and put your name in for the drawing. Winner will be selected randomly and announced Friday October 22nd. Good luck to everyone!

Description -
This fully-furnished, wonderfully-detailed Dollhouse is a super-fun gift for any kid! Includes 15 pieces of upholstered, hand-detailed furniture to inspire future interior decorators everywhere! Working doors and drawers make this Dollhouse a lifelike playtime experience! Cleanup is a snap with two built-in storage drawers. Ages 6+

Trunki Suitcases from Melissa & Doug have arrived at Pure Imagination! Check out this fun video.

2010-10-12T13:41:00.005-04:00

The Toy Guyz Review the Toy Accordion from Schylling Toys

2010-09-21T16:57:00.004-04:00

When we first opened up in 2001 we could not believe how popular musical toys were. I mentioned this to my mother and she said "Kids love music and sounds. If you don't give them a musical instrument to play with, they will make their own." She went on to tell me that when I was a toddler I used to drag out pots and pans and bang on them while she cooked dinner. I guess musical instruments would have been preferred with that being said. We have carried a variety of musical sets and individual instruments through the years but one musical toy really stands out. It's the Toy Accordion from Schylling Toys. We have one that we have on display at the store - for all to play. Kids and grown-ups alike are usually shocked by the quality sounds that comes out of this little Toy Accordion. It really sounds great. It's easy to experiment with and learn. Simply press the buttons and you are ready to go! Before you know it - you are making music. It even includes sheet music so you can learn some really fun songs. This Toy Accordion is very sturdy. Our accordion has been played with for over 2 years in the store and it looks as good as new. So if you know a child or a grown-up who happens to be in the market for a good quality accordion, we highly recommend this one.

The Toy Guyz give the Toy Accordion from Schylling Toys a 10 out of 10 star rating.

New Classic Games Arrive At Pure Imagination!

2010-07-19T13:28:00.015-04:00

New Classic Games just arrived at Pure Imagination from a toy company called Perisphere and Trylon. Who are Perisphere and Trylon? Well they seem to be a new company who really likes old games. Of course the Toy Guyz love old games so they were very excited when these new classic games came in this past week. The thing that is unique about these particular games is that each game looks like something you could have pulled from your grandparent's attic. The vintage presentation is wonderful. These are not games you want to hide away in a dark closet. You will want them out for everyone to see. Most of the games go back to the early to middle 1900s and appear to be based on old English games possibly popular in Britain decades ago. All of the games seem simple enough to play so younger children can enjoy these classics also.

Pure Imagination has 6 different games in-stock from this company at this time - Amazing Robot, Ludo, Laripino, Hopla, Magnetic Fishing and Grand Prix Board Game.

For more Classic Games visit www.PureImaginationToys.com .

The Toy Guyz Top Picks For Cool Travel Toys!

2010-06-30T17:15:00.008-04:00

Are we there yet?

The Toy Guyz know that it's that time of year when families travel together and you might as well make the most of it. A new toy always makes a long trip a little more exciting. Think of it like having your very own backseat babysitter. Here are a few great travel toys for keeping the kids entertained on those long road trips.

Miss Weather Colorforms $9.95
Flip To Win Hangman $12.95
Find It Games $19.95
Rubik's Cube $11.95
Magnetic Animal Habitats Set $19.95
Four Children's Card Games $11.95
Cover Your Tracks Game $16.95
License Plate Game $19.95

Taggies Baby Toys Are The Best!

2010-05-24T11:37:00.005-04:00

If you are not familiar with the Taggies Baby Toys then you are really missing out. Started by two moms who met at their toddlers’ playgroup, Taggies are based on the idea that babies and kids love to rub satin edges and tags. Combine that with everything from toddler blankets to colorful plush animals and you have a wonderful interactive toy for the youngest consumer. Taggies enhance early childhood growth by providing tactile and visually stimulating features that both soothe and entertain. At Pure Imagination babies and toddlers respond wonderfully to Taggies products. There's just something about those satin tags that kids just love! Not to mention, the top quality production and design of each piece is plain to see. The Toy Guyz have carried the Mary Meyer Taggies line since 2005 and have been very pleased with customer feedback on this great product line. They also carry a few selections of Taggies books for toddlers. The books range from board books to plush books and include those wonderful satin tags for a more tactile reading experience. To see the current selection of Taggies toys at Pure Imagination visit the Baby & Toddler section at www.PureImaginationToys.com or stop by the store.

Since we have never met a Taggies we didn't like...The Toy Guyz give Taggies a 10 out of 10 star rating for their Quality Production and Quality Design!

Little Golden Books On Sale at Pure Imagination!

2010-05-13T14:00:00.011-04:00

Little Golden Books are a wonderful addition to any child's library. Disney's Alice In Wonderland and 101 Dalmatians are the newest Little Golden Books to arrive at Pure Imagination! We are also running a sale that will last through the end of the month on all of our Little Golden Books. Reg. Price $3.99 - Our Price $3.50 for a limited time. Little Golden Books make wonderful gifts for about any age. Some of our customers put together their own favorites and give them as baby shower gifts. We all grew up with them so you know how special these books are. The illustrations and stories are timeless. Check out our selection of Little Golden Books at Pure Imagination.

Fun In Bellefonte On Saturday!

2010-05-03T16:27:00.010-04:00

Tempest Studios presented Journey 2010 "A Perfectly Particularly Preposterous Party" this past Saturday all around downtown Bellefonte. We were honored to have some of the wonderful characters visit Pure Imagination. The event was really fun! Kids and parents seemed to really enjoy themselves. Here are a few pictures that we were able to get. Cynthia Mazzant (pictured above in sunglasses) organized this event. She is super cool! If you would like to find out more about Tempest Studios visit their website at www.tempeststudios.org.

Melissa & Doug's New Doll Line Delivers! A Toy Guyz Perspective.

2010-04-29T17:29:00.007-04:00

I have to be honest. I was not sold on the new dolls from Melissa & Doug at first. At the beginning of the year when Melissa & Doug released their new catalog my first reaction when I saw these wide-eyed wonders was -"What is this?!!". I did not get it. Melissa & Doug have been known for such wonderful wooden toys. This seemed to be such a big detour from what they had produced in years past. After talking with my Melissa & Doug rep I decided to place an order despite my reservations. She convinced me that these would be a great fit for my store. She also pointed out that the prices for these high-quality dolls would have moms everywhere feeling a little better about their investment. Little girls and their dolls can get expensive at times.

We have carried different doll lines from time to time through the years. Some were expensive - some were not. Some dolls were higher quality - some upon arrival looked like you could have won them at a carnival. To be completely honest, dolls just aren't my thing. We recently received our first shipment of dolls from Melissa and Doug. I have to admit, they looked great. They were also packaged very nicely in clever purple gift boxes that read "Mine To Love". These guys don't miss a trick, do they?

The real test would be my little customers. Well guess what? My little customers love these dolls! You would have thought these were the first dolls we ever carried in the store. Melissa & Doug have produced 8 different dolls that have their own unique look and personalities. I could not be happier with the response we have had and sales have been great! I realized soon after we got the Melissa & Doug dolls that it's not just about finding the right doll that you can sell in your toy store. It's not about carrying the most expensive dolls either. It's about the smile on the face of a child - when you know they have just made a new friend.

Check out our selection of Melissa & Doug Dolls at Pure Imagination.

-Rhett

Mark Your Calendar - 2 Great Events This Weekend!

2010-04-27T14:53:00.016-04:00

Tempest Studios presents Journey 2010 "A Perfectly Particularly Preposterous Party" - Saturday, May 1st at 12:30pm, 1:00pm and 1:30pm.

Journey into the Fairy Tale Kingdom - Become a pirate, a prince, a princess, a parrot or any other character in your wildest imagination as you journey through Bellefonte. Meet fairy-tale characters, learn lines, sing songs, play an instrument, make a prop or costume - all in preparation for the Prince's Perfectly Particularly Preposterous Party at Talleyrand Park at 3pm! Admission Free - For All Ages. All Journeys begin at Tempest Studios, 106 W. Bishop Street in Downtown Bellefonte. Call 814-353-0748 for more information.

State College Friends School Fun Fair - Saturday, May 1st, 10am-3pm
State College Friends School - 1900 University Drive, State College, PA

* Crafts & Games* Live Music* Silent Auction* Bake Sale* Pony Rides* Food* Awesome Petting Zoo* Bounce House* Fire Truck Bucket Rides ... and more! 1900 University Drive, State College PA.

You can purchase a day pass for $12 that includes one time in the bounce house, a pony ride, one craft, and unlimited game playing. Or you can choose to pay for individual activities as you do them. Most activities cost one dollar. Benefiting State College Friends School Scholarship Fund.

Mark Your Calendar - Kids Events and Family Friendly Activities In and Around Bellefonte This Week!

2010-04-14T12:58:00.010-04:00

There is so much going on in the area this weekend that the Toy Guyz thought it would be best to put it in their blog. Lots of cool activities for kids and families - so here goes!

Downtown Bellefonte Daffodil Game on Saturday April 17th from 10:00AM - 3:30PM. Explore Downtown Bellefonte by matching up stores with secret numbers. Daffodil Game sheets are available at most downtown businesses. Win a gift basket worth over $200 of gift certificates and goodies from local Bellefonte merchants. Look for yellow balloons to find participating businesses. Drawing will be held at 4:00 Saturday afternoon at the Bellefonte YMCA.

Exploration Day 2010 at the Bryce Jordan Center. This event will take place Saturday April 17th from 10:00AM - 3:00PM. Enjoy hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering and math that will surely inspire children and adults alike! Please see their website for more information. http://www.explorationday.psu.edu

YMCA Healthy Kids Day - Friday, April 16th from 5:30PM - 9:00PM at the Bellefonte Branch and Saturday April 17th 10:00AM - 2:15PM at the State College Branch. Fun and Free Activities for the whole family! For more information check with your local YMCA or go to http://www.ymcaofcentrecounty.org/

The Toy Guyz Review Rocket Balloons by Toysmith

2010-04-08T16:39:00.005-04:00

This past Easter Sunday the Toy Guyz spent time with family and friends and discovered that Rocket Balloons are a great activity for all ages. We just discovered Rocket Balloons a couple of years ago after several customers had requested that we get them in at Pure Imagination. They have been selling extremely well all year round so this Easter we decided to try them out ourselves for an afternoon activity with the family. Well guess what? Now we know why they are such a big hit with our customers. Who knew a long balloon that makes funny sounds and zips around like a crazy rocket could be so much fun!

The rocket balloons were a big hit and actually kind of addictive. The Toy Guyz and everyone present blew up these Rocket Balloons over and over again for almost an hour and a half. Each time these fast flying balloons did something different so it was quite entertaining. We did loose several a long the way. A few popped and a few landed in trees and on top of the house. Even with a few mishaps, everyone had a blast with the Rocket Balloons. We currently sell two different sets of Rocket Balloons at Pure Imagination. One set is the Rocket Balloons With Pump Set $5.00 which includes 20 Balloons with a small air pump. The other set is the Rocket Balloons Refill Pack $4.00 which includes 21 Balloons and straws to blow air into your balloon. The Rocket Balloons Refill Pack is best if you have more than 4 people launching the balloons since it has a number of straws in it. This is an activity that can be done inside but we suggest enjoying Rocket Balloons outside to get the full effect.

So if there is anyone out there that has never experienced the fun of Rocket Balloons we highly recommend you see about getting your hands on some. They are a perfect group activity for all ages.

The Toy Guyz give Rocket Balloons a 10 out of 10 star rating just because we had so much fun playing with them!

New IWAKO Mini Erasers At Pure Imagination!

2010-03-26T14:03:00.008-04:00

The Toy Guyz really like IWAKO Mini Erasers but the kids just love them! We just got in some new styles this week. If you are not familiar with these tiny mini delights you have got to stop by Pure Imagination and see our selection. Each eraser is truly unique and sells for .99 cents each. We have a wide variety of styles including the New Animal Collection, Fast Food, Deserts, Ice Cream, Penguins and more!

Here are 9 facts on the IWAKO Mini Erasers -

1- Recyclable. 2- Non-toxic lead-free safe materials. 3- Non-PVC releases no toxic fume. 4- Energy saving production. 5- Recycled paper packaging. 6- 100% Made in Japan in clean environmental friendly factories. 7- Meet all international standards in safety and environmental care. 8- Take apart educational puzzle designs. 9- Small parts, not for children under 8 years of age.

So stop by Pure Imagination and see our selection of "very cool" erasers. They are Toy Guyz Approved so start your collection today!

The Toy Guyz Review the Melissa & Doug Parking Garage

2010-03-24T14:49:00.004-04:00

The Melissa & Doug Parking Garage is a wonderful quality toy that kids will play with for hours. It stands about 17" high and 16" wide. It's a good size but it's not big enough to take up too much room. It includes a hand-operated elevator which is "super cool" for getting your cars where they need to be. There is also a gas station, car wash and a toll booth with attendant. All of these pieces are wooden. This set also includes two wooden cars. The Melissa & Doug Parking Garage is easy to assemble and very sturdy. Our only complaint is that the wooden cars that come with the Parking Garage are pretty boring. I'm sure the kids will pull out every other car from the toy box to try out with this toy but with that being said, the Melissa & Doug Parking Garage is really quite fantastic.

The Toy Guyz give the Melissa & Doug Parking Garage a 9 out of 10 star rating.

So What Do The Toy Guyz Have In Store For This Year?

2010-01-14T18:02:00.008-05:00

So What Do The Toy Guyz Have In Store For This Year? That's a good question!
We opened Pure Imagination in 2001 and could not even imagine at that time, going into 2010. Our little toy store has been running strong for over 8 years. In that time we have seen many changes in retail, the power of the internet and overall changes in the way our customers spend their money. The toy biz is an interesting place to be these days. When all is said and done at the end of the day we can at least say we are still having fun...most of the time.

In the last couple of weeks we have been getting in all of the new toy and gift catalogs. It's like Christmas all over again for us here at Pure Imagination! As a child I looked so forward to department store catalogs to arrive so I could circle all the things that I wanted Santa to bring me. The only difference now is that I can play Santa and have a little more buying power than I did as a child. I love shopping for my customers and this looks like it might turn out to be wonderful year of imaginative and exciting toys for kids of all ages.

So what can you expect from the Toy Guyz and Pure Imagination this year-

The coolest toys around!
New products arriving daily!
Lower prices than other specialty toy stores!
Special Surprise Sales from time to time. It's good to join our Facebook page, Twitter page or Website for stuff like that.
Fun and Friendly Customer Service!
Great programs like our Children's Layaway Plan. We do it for grown-ups also.
Exclusives on Melissa & Doug Toys. We have friends in high places.
The best of the best in hard-to-find Classic Toys! Of course!

Have a Wonderful 2010 and remember... "Little surprises around every corner but nothing dangerous." - Willy Wonka

Happy New Year
--Rhett

Great Shipping Rates At Pure Imagination's Website!

2009-11-25T08:44:00.003-05:00

The Toy Guyz are proud to offer some of the best shipping rates around on their website! $5 Shipping on any size order to any destination in the United States! Free Shipping on orders over $75. Just go to www.PureImaginationToys.com or www.ToyGuyz.com and enjoy good deals on shipping. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Toy Guyz Top 10 Best Seller List

2009-11-23T14:13:00.004-05:00

Okay so here is the Toy Guyz Top 10 Best Seller List so far for this season. This list has been compiled based on in-store sales only. These are the hot items that people can not seem to get enough of when they walk into Pure Imagination. So here it is! Drum roll please!

10 - Monster Feet
9 - Jishaku Game
8 - Toy Accordion
7 - Build It Big
6 - Volcano Kit
5 - Ice Cream Parlor Set
4 - Mythbusters Science Kits
3 - Doctor's Bag
2 - Melissa & Doug Craft Kits & Art Supplies
1 - Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set

All of these great items can be found at www.PureImaginationToys.com or ToyGuyz.com. If you find an item "Out of Stock" simply sign up for our stock notification request. Our website will send you an e-mail to you as soon as we get the item back in.

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

New Holiday Catalog!

2009-10-28T10:54:00.003-04:00

The Toy Guyz are very excited about the new holiday catalog that just came out yesterday. It features a ton of great toys from the Melissa & Doug company. You can see all of these great Melissa & Doug toys at www.PureImaginationToys.com or Toy Guyz.com. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by the store and pick up a copy. Anyone who orders from our website gets a copy of the new catalog also! To our local customers, the new catalog will be featured in the Centre Daily Times newspaper on Sunday November 8th. Everyone here at Pure Imagination is very excited about the upcoming holiday season and this just adds to that excitement!

It's Business as Usual For the Toy Guyz

2009-09-23T18:44:00.008-04:00

It seems another Summer has come and gone. We hope that everyone had a great time while the weather was warm because it looks like it could be cooling down a little very soon.

This is one of the Toy Guyz favorite times of the year . We are excited to order lots of new toys and re-stock on all of our past favorites as we gear up for the holiday season. September can be very busy for us behind-the-scenes here at Pure Imagination. Last week we had numerous meetings with toy reps in anticipation of a busy Fall season. We saw great new toys, games, puzzles and books we just had to have. Shipments have been coming in every single day of the week. It's really quite exciting to see Pure Imagination transform itself into something spectacular. This year we are hoping for the best holiday season ever! Despite the "doom and gloom" you hear about on the television, the Toy Guyz believe things will be fine this year. We are just going to treat each day as "Business As Usual". It's worked well for us so far...so wish us luck!

Don't forget to check out our website frequently. The Toy Guyz are also on Facebook, Twitter and the Toy Guyz Blog here. We will be posting lots of new toy reviews each week so you don't want to miss out!

Expect the unexpected from the Toy Guyz this season!

www.ToyGuyz.com or
www.PureImaginationToys.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59535761563
http://twitter.com/ToyGuyz

Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair This Weekend!

2009-08-11T18:00:00.004-04:00

The Toy Guyz are excited about the Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair in downtown Bellefonte this coming weekend. The Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair is held each August and includes over 100 artists and crafters, family entertainment, good food and children's activities. It's a fun time for all! Customers keep everyone busy at Pure Imagination Toy Store but that's the way we like it. Come and visit the Toy Guyz as they will be demonstrating some of their newest toys along with some of their old-fashioned favorites.

Friday August 14th - 10:00 - 8:00
Saturday August 15th - 10:00 - 5:00

The Toy Guyz Review the Superhero Starter Kit by KLUTZ

2009-08-11T17:42:00.004-04:00

The Superhero Starter Kit is not only one of our best sellers at Pure Imagination Toy Store but one of the best received products we carry. Parents and kids love this one! It's a pretty simple concept. The Superhero Starter Kit has all the basics needed to encourage active children to be their very own superheroes. It's a book that comes with a velcro-strapped, shiny Red Cape. It also provide masks, wrist shields and three pages of snazzy stickers so kids can accessorize their newly super selves. Plus you’ll be able to read up on many tips and tricks on how to be the best superhero ever. The Superhero Starter Kit sells for $14.95 and really packs a punch for the price!

The Toy Guyz give The Superhero Starter Kit 10 out of 10 star rating.

The Toy Guyz Review the 3-D Mirascope

2009-06-29T12:09:00.010-04:00

The Toy Guyz are finally going to sit down and review one of our best-selling science toys. It's the 3-D Mirascope by the DaMert/Toysmith company and boy is it fun. Create holograms that seem to be completely real and solid. It's a simple little toy but very cool! Most customers, after discovering this one, will buy not one but two.

How does it work? The 3-D Mirascope consists of two parabolic mirrors that are facing each other. The top mirror has a hole in the center where the hologram effect takes place. By setting an object in the bottom parabolic mirror it suddenly is projected as a solid object in the opening of the top mirror. You won't believe your eyes. It looks like you can touch it but it's not there. The 3-D Mirascope set comes with mirascope and frog. The fun starts when you try to find other objects to place in the parabolic mirrors. The Toy Guyz like to put a penny in there so when the kids try to grab the penny their fingers go right through it. The 3-D Mirascope appeals to the kids as well as grown-ups and it's at great price! Only $5.95!

The Toy Guyz give the 3-D Mirascope a 10 out of 10 star rating.

Bellefonte Cruise This Weekend!

2009-06-19T07:49:00.003-04:00

The Toy Guyz love the Bellefonte Cruise so stop on by Pure Imagination if you make it to this really fun event!

This two day event is scheduled for June 19th and 20th, 2009. On June 19th, the streets will be open from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the public to "CRUISE" downtown Bellefonte -- just like it used to be!!!! Following this cruise, from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., there will be a "SOCK HOP" on the Diamond in Bellefonte featuring "J.P. Rocks" from Centre County with sound being provided by G. P. Audio.

Saturday Car, Truck, Motorcycle Show Information

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Location: Downtown Bellefonte, PA.
Set up will begin at 7:00 am.
Registration will be from 7 a.m. - 12 noon
Live entertainment from noon until 2 p.m. with the band
"Your Dads Friends." Sound provided by G P Audio
Live entertainment from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. with the band
"Los Troublemakers." Sound provided by G P Audio
First 500 registrants will receive a dash plaque.
Vehicles will be on display until 5 p.m.
Cruise Parking Staff will direct the parking of the show entrants. As soon as your vehicle is parked, Parking Staff will give you (the driver) a card that indicates the Zone where you are parked.
You MUST have your Zone Card, proof of current insurance and current vehicle registration with you to register your vehicle for the show.

Get Your Tickets For Peter Pan The Musical at Pure Imagination!

2009-06-16T14:29:00.002-04:00

Get your tickets for Peter Pan The Musical at Pure Imagination this week! Kennedy Dance Centre is performing the Broadway hit Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, at 7:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, at 1:30pm. The Performances will be held at the State College Area High School North Auditorium. The Toy Guyz are personal friends of Kennedy Dance Centre so they only thought it fitting to help and sell tickets for this wonderful event. You can also get tickets in State College at Webster’s Bookstore Café South Allen & West Arron Drive, State College.

Ticket prices: $12 adults; $8 students & seniors available at the door the day of performance or call 814-234-7498 for advance sales. See you at the show!

The Toy Guyz love the Cover Your Tracks Game by Think Fun.

2009-06-10T08:24:00.004-04:00

The Toy Guyz have been selling Cover Your Tracks at Pure Imagination for over a year now but were reminded recently what a great game this is. It's a little addicting once you get going with it. It's a pretty simple concept also but gets more difficult as you go along. First, kids select one of 20 challenge cards. Each card has foot tracks pictured on the terrain. Place all four pieces on the game tray to cover the foot tracks on the card. The pieces must fit inside the tray like a puzzle. Sound easy? It's not. The game play does get more challenging with each card. Players will put their spatial development skills to the test with each challenge. It's a lot of fun! Kids can play this one by themselves or with a friend of family member.

The Toy Guyz give Cover Your Tracks by Think Fun a 10 out of 10 star rating.

Need Toys? Take 15% Off In-Store or Online!

2009-06-08T19:20:00.005-04:00

The Toy Guyz are offering an extra 15% Off to our customers when you shop with us in the month of June. Just stop by Pure Imagination Toy Store and mention this promotion or shop with us online at www.ToyGuyz.com or www.PureImaginationToys.com. Enter coupon code "purefun15" at the checkout if you shop the website. Remember we only charge $5 shipping for any size order to any destination in the United States when you order online.

Have fun!
The Toy Guyz,
Rhett and Marc

The Toy Guyz Review the Grill Set by Melissa & Doug

2009-05-26T19:33:00.004-04:00

The Toy Guyz just went to a wonderful cookout yesterday for Memorial Day. We thought it would only be fitting to review the Grill Set by Melissa & Doug in honor of all great cookouts that we hope everyone will experience this Summer.

One of the great things about the Grill Set by Melissa & Doug is that it appeals a little more to the boys because Dads are typically in charge of the grilling duties. No offense to all of the great grillin' Moms out there. It's fun to watch your kid try to be a "grill master" with this wonderful set. It's designed very well with the wooden box as the base with printed coals on the inside. A clear plastic sheet that looks like the top of the grill easily slides in over the top of the base giving it a 3-D grill effect. Your little chef can create three kabobs by loading the skewers with shrimp, mushrooms, meat, onions, tomatoes and pepper peices. All of the peices are wooden. The Grill Set also comes with a wooden knife and tongs. The Toy Guyz only have one issue with the Grill Set. The wooden skewers are basically two wooden sticks. Please make sure that children do not run with the skewers or put them in their mouth. Other than that it's just a great play food set. It's also a great travel toy because everything fits in the box. Take the Grill Set by Melissa & Doug to your next picnic and watch the kids grill up their own fun!

The Toy Guyz give the Grill Set by Melissa & Doug a 8 out of 10 star rating.

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum at Pure Imagination!

2009-05-03T12:25:00.006-04:00

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum came to visit Pure Imagination this past weekend! Here are a few photos of the Alice In Wonderland performers in front of Pure Imagination. Everyone had such a great time and the Toy Guyz thought the event was wonderful. Our compliments to Tempest Studios who put on great performances all over downtown Bellefonte.

The Toy Guyz Review Wii Fit!

2009-04-30T14:25:00.006-04:00

So why are the Toy Guyz reviewing an electronic toy/game/entertainment product when they don't even carry it at their own store? Simply...they don't want anyone to miss out on this great product.

"Welcome to the Future."
This tag line is something I keep on thinking about when I step up on the amazing Wii Balance Board and get ready for a Wii Fit workout. It's truly amazing what Nintendo created with Wii Fit.

I am a newbie when it comes to the Wii Entertainment System since I have had main unit less than a year. I was impressed from the beginning with the plain and simple fact that the games get you to move your body. The Wii Fit really gets you to move that body even more and the activities cover so much ground it's entertaining along with being almost addictive. The activities are broken down into 4 categories.

Strength Training: Put your strength to the test with muscle-toning exercises like Single Leg Extension, Sideways Leg Lift, Arm and Leg Lift, Single-Arm Stand, Torso Twists, Rowing Squat, Single Leg Twist, Lunge, Push-Up and Side Plank, Jackknife, Plank and Tricep Extension. Challenges include Push-Up Challenge, Plank Challenge and Jackknife Challenge.
Aerobics: Get your heart pumping with fun, interactive Aerobic exercises like Hula Hoop, Basic Step, Basic Run, Super Hula Hoop, Advanced Step, 2-P Run, Rhythm Boxing, Free Step and Free Run.
Yoga: Work on your balance and flexibility with Yoga poses and activities like Deep Breathing, Half-Moon, Dance, Cobra, Bridge, Spinal Twist, Shoulder Stand, Warrior, Tree, Sun Salutation, Standing Knee, Palm Tree, Chair, Triangle and Downward-Facing Dog.
Balance Games: Get into the action with fun, balanced-based games like Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, Ski Jump, Table Tilt, Tightrope Walk, Balance Bubble, Penguin Slide, Snowboard Slalom and Lotus Focus.

There is more to it than just that. Before you jump into doing exercises and activities, you’ll start by creating a profile. This is done by choosing your own Mii (to represent your Wii alter ego), you will enter your height and age information, and then do a few quick tests that will serve as a baseline for your new Wii fitness regimen. Yes, that's the scary part but ended up being very motivational for myself. You can check your daily progress, set goals, check your Wii Fit Age, and even enter exercise time you've done outside of Wii Fit. The Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the use of your BMI reading, testing your center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests. My Wii Fit Age was several years older than my real age so the "reality check" of it all really hit a nerve. Like I said, it's motivational.

In the end my love and excitement for the Wii Fit has only grown in less than a week. I have been working out with the Wii Fit everyday. Marc, the other Toy Guy, has also been enjoying the benefits of having the Wii Fit. It seem to be getting competitive around here.

With all that being said, the Wii Fit is definitely "Toy Guyz Approved". It's great for kids and grown-ups. If it got us moving, it's nothing short of a miracle. If you have not gotten one yet, treat yourself!

--Rhett

Pure Imagination and Baby Toys Are a Great Combination!

2009-04-23T13:19:00.008-04:00

The Toy Guyz at Pure Imagination have picked out some really great Baby Toys this season. The Mary Meyer Taggies collection, Melissa & Doug First Play toys and some great selections from International Playthings are the Toy Guyz top picks this year. Check out the wondeful things they have found in their Baby & Toddler Toys section of their website. New Baby Toys are coming in daily!

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Collection Now At Pure Imagination!

2009-04-08T18:21:00.003-04:00

The Toy Guyz are very excited about the brand new Sunny Patch products by Melissa & Doug. All kinds of fun stuff just in time for Spring! There are kids sun hats, flip flops, sunglasses and buckets, rain coats, rain boots, umbrellas, kickballs, garden totes, flip flops, butterfly hopscotch and much more!

These items are not on the website yet so come by Pure Imagination and see them in person. Super cute fun stuff by one of our favorite companies and just in time for Easter!

Puss In Boots (Little Golden Book) Is Now At Pure Imagination!

2009-04-06T17:17:00.008-04:00

Okay, as you all know we love Little Golden Books! Well, the Random House Publishing company just released an "oldie but goody" to the public and we are really excited. The story goes that Puss in Boots is a clever cat who won't settle for having a poor master. He dupes a giant out of his grand castle, claims the surrounding land as his master's land and plays match maker with the king's daughter. Did I say that Puss was clever?

Puss in Boots (Little Golden Book) is written by Kathryn Jackson who wrote hundreds of stories for Golden Books, many of which were co-authored with her husband, Byron, including The Saggy Baggy Elephant; Pirates, Ships, and Sailors; and Tawny Scrawny Lion.

J. P. Miller illustrated Puss in Boots (Little Golden Book) along with the bestselling Little Golden Book The Little Red Hen.

We are so happy to have this classic Little Golden Book avaiable at Pure Imagination and we hope that new generations will come to love Puss In Boots as much as we do. This is a Toy Guyz favorite!

2009-03-28T08:21:00.006-04:00

Pure Imagination and the Toy Guyz are now on Facebook. We just launched this week and are very excited about the possibilities. It's just another fun way to communicate to customers and fans. Check it out! All you have to do is search "Toy Guyz" and we should come up.

Fun Science Kits At Pure Imagination Toys!

2009-03-05T17:20:00.008-05:00

If you have a young scientist in the making or a curious kid who likes to know how things work, then check out some of the latest Science Kits at Pure Imagination. The Toy Guyz have picked out some really cool and affordable Science Kits for kids of all ages. Kids can learn about biology, chemistry, astronomy and more! Most Science Kits are $20.00 and under. Provide your child with a fun educational experience that won't break the bank. What's better than that? Have fun...from the Toy Guyz!

The Toy Guyz Are Back!

2009-03-04T21:22:00.005-05:00

The Toy Guyz are back! We took a little hiatus from blogging in the last couple of months but hope to keep up on things a little better now. That means more toy reviews, blogs on child safety (watch out!) and all the updates about Pure Imagination Toys that one person can take. There is a lot to cover but we promise to keep up on things better. With that in mind, we want to take this opportunity to tell you that we are making a lot of changes to our website, www.PureImaginationToys.com along with major changes in our store. Our goal this year, for our customers, is to make birthday and holiday shopping for kids of all ages easy, affordable and fun for grown-ups and kids alike. "$20 and Under" is our new philosophy at Pure Imagination. It's as simple as that. Our goal is to provide quality toys at the lowest prices. Please check our website out at www.PureImaginationToys.com or ToyGuyz.com and if you are in the area, stop by the store. You won't be disappointed. Until next time...

--Rhett

Black Friday Weekend Is Almost Here!

2008-11-25T15:17:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I last wrote. Online sales have been keeping us really busy here at Pure Imagination. The Toy Guyz have been getting in lots of new toys and just trying to keep up with the holidays approaching so fast.

Pure Imagination will be running sales on Black Friday Weekend. Take an extra 10% off the total amount of any purchases! This includes items already on sale also. We are hoping to be extra busy that weekend and the remainder of the season. Don't forget you can fill out a Wish List in our store or online. Visit www.ToyGuyz.com or www.PureImaginationToys.com.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Rhett

Have A Safe and Fun Halloween from the Toy Guyz!

2008-10-27T16:59:00.003-04:00

We just wanted to wish everyone out there a safe and fun Halloween. A lot of communities are not having trick or treat night on the actual Friday date so there will probably goblins at your doors about every night this week depending on where you live. Have fun kids and parents educate your children on Halloween safety. Here are a few tips to make this Halloween a little safer.

Carry a flashlight.
Walk, don't run.
Try to stay on sidewalks.
Obey traffic signs.
Stay in familiar neighborhoods
Carry only flexible swords, knifes and props.
Approach only houses that are lit.
Stay away and don't pet animals you don't know.

Happy Halloween from the Toy Guyz and the staff at Pure Imagination!

The Bellefonte Museum and Pure Imagination present Timeless Toys Exhibit.

2008-10-16T17:48:00.006-04:00

Hi Guys,
You don't want to miss this one! The Toy Guyz have put together a wonderful toy exhibit along with the Bellefonte Museum for the holiday season. We are really excited about this because it not only features our reproduction toys but authentic toys that span several decades. This is the real deal for kids and grown-ups alike! Please stop by and enjoy these wonderful toys and let the Bellefonte Museum know what a wonderful job they are doing!
--Rhett

Exhibition: Timeless Toys

In partnership with Pure Imagination toy store
Exhibit dates: November 8^th through December 31^st

Special Victorian Christmas Open House
Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14^th, 10 to 6 pm

Free “Come meet Santa” party from 3 to 6 pm,
Music, Treats, and Santa,
Sunday, December 14^th

Holiday Exhibition: Timeless Toys

They don’t make them like they used to, but they still make many of them!! Timeless toys, retro games and unforgettable experiences come back to life at the holiday exhibit at the Bellefonte Museum for Centre County. The show provides happy memories to parents and grandparents and new adventures in play for children!

What will you see? Exceptional toys loaned by local collectors will be on exhibition including antique and classic cars, dolls trains, boats as well as new reproductions of classics. Classic Playhouses, furniture, stuffed animals, cars, metal robots and classic board games will all be included. Some of the toys are still made in the USA and even a few in Pennsylvania like Tiddley Winks, Jacks, pick-up-sticks, yo-yo’s and classic sport peg games in a metal boxes by Channel Craft Company, Charleroi, PA. Log Building Sets by Roy Toy of Maine are the ORIGINAL Lincoln Logs and are still made by the same company. The Holgate Company of Bradford, PA has been making toys in PA since the early 1800’s! And Golden Books are printed in the USA. Crayolas are still made in PA!

Guest Curators: The Toy Guyz, Rhett Ashley Walsh & Marc Tressler, own "Pure Imagination." They have been toy collectors since childhood and found the business a way to maintain time and energy in their life-long interest. They especially like classic and retro toys and sell reproductions in their store.

Further Information: Pat House, 949 413 5440 or prhouse3@yahoo.com,
Private events welcome.

The Toy Guyz Have Found A Really Great Halloween Pop-Up Book!

2008-10-16T17:23:00.009-04:00

From Publishers Weekly
In this light bite of spine- tingling fare created by Sendak, Yorinks (Hey, Al) and Reinhart (Encyclopedia Prehistorica)-sort of a dark twist on Are You My Mother?-a mischievous boy addresses the title question to some unmaternal characters. Sendak's quintessential black-haired boy (with a strong resemblance to Mickey), wearing blue PJs and a red cap, wanders into a haunted house and naively calls, "Mommy?" Stylized, softened characters from Nosferatu and Lon Chaney creature features unfold in 3-D to menace the child, but the boy might as well be saying, "Trick or treat?", because he pulls pranks on everyone. A tall Frankenstein's monster gets ready to stomp on him; in a gatefold at the right-hand side of the spread, the disarming toddler jerks the bolts from the startled monster's neck. On a brick roof, the boy surprises a werewolf and a green goblin; the gatefold reveals the boy yanking down the Wolf Man's jeans to reveal silly boxer shorts, while the goblin giggles. In Reinhart's neatest engineering feat-a spinning dowel-and-string contraption-the not-so-harmless boy spins the white wrappings off an Egyptian "mummy." The title is the book's only word until the conclusion, when the Bride of Frankenstein at last replies to the child's question. Although the illustrious creators' do not appear until the back cover, readers cannot miss Sendak's signature graphic style. These gags are not too serious, but the suspenseful setups pointedly suggest humor's power over fear.

Be sure to stop by Pure Imagination and get your copy of Mommy? or order it from our website at www.PureImaginationToys.com.

Georello 3D Gear Tech Gets Reviewed by the Toy Guyz

2008-07-14T14:10:00.004-04:00

It took the Toy Guyz a long time to get the Georello 3D Gear Tech set in at Pure Imagination Toy Store. We want to take this opportunity to apologize to all of our customers and the manufacturer of this great toy because it's worth every penny! We have been without a good "gear" toy for over a year at Pure Imagination because we felt the sets might be getting too large and too expensive for our customers. We were wrong and want to tell you all about the Georella 3D Gear Tech set.

Last week we took the time one afternoon to sit down and really play around with this 200+ piece set. There are so many cool features, parts and gears that you can construct about anything. The Georello 3D Gear Tech set features pillars, 6-way axles, connectors, extenders, interlocking plates, and meshing gears. The exclusive Univeral Joints allow for greater freedom during construction. 3D Gear Tech also includes a new "chain" and an "elastic belt" to transmit rotary motion to distant gears. Everything comes in a box with a handle for take-along play. The recommended age is for Age 6+ and that's about right with all of the different pieces. It also takes a little time to put a good "gear creation" together. That's a good thing! The price for this incredible set is $39.95.

Georello 3D Gear Tech gets a 10 out of 10 star rating from the Toy Guyz.

Pure Imagination's Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzle Sale!

2008-06-30T14:24:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone!
It's been some time since I have written on the Toy Guyz blog because we have been so busy at the store and online. Right now Pure Imagination is having a wonderful promotion featuring all of the Melissa & Doug floor puzzles. Buy any 2 floor puzzles and you get 1 free! The sale is limited to in-store purchases only. We have not figured out how to do something like that on our website yet. Try to get in and take advantage of the sale. We will be adding new puzzle selections to our website soon as Melissa & Doug have come out with a bunch of new floor puzzles just in the last month.

Hope to see you soon!

--Rhett

Little Golden Books Are Now Back In Stock!

2008-05-21T16:37:00.004-04:00

Little Golden Books are now back in stock at Pure Imagination. We are so happy to offer over 45 Little Golden Books from years gone by. These great books are only $2.99 each. They are hardcover editions and Made In The Unites States. Really cool! These make great gifts for a variety of ages. Check them out at www.PureImaginationToys.com.

The Toy Guyz Take On Webkinz

2008-05-17T14:37:00.013-04:00

Pure Imagination was one of the first stores in our area to get Webkinz back in the Spring of 2005. I tried a Webkinz out with one of my employees and we both thought the website was really fun and educational. There were lots of fun games to play and I personally liked the site as it taught kids how to earn and save money. They retailed for about $10 at the time which I thought was a great price for a plush animal and access to such a neat interactive website.

Webkinz did not fly off the shelves at first. In fact, they did not fly at all for quite some time. I was not in any position to sit around and wait for this line to "take off" so I decided to try them out on our website, www.PureImaginationToys.com. The response was pretty good but we were one of the very first stores to sell Webkinz online at that time. Within 5 months I sold my entire stock along with another nearby store who was fed up with them also. I was ready to count my profits and run but the sales were pretty good online. I re-ordered a few more times over the next year and just sold them on our website.

In December of 2006 I did start getting some requests for Webkinz in the store finally. We started doing a brisk business with them and then I sold out. I placed some orders and then the craziest thing happened. Webkinz seemed to vanish off the face of the earth! Our rep told us several times, "I don't know why you are not getting them. They should be there soon". We called the GANZ company directly and started getting different stories depending on who we talked with. My rep had the best stories though. There were so many fibs told I can not even recollect them all.

It took us almost 4 months before we received our next shipment of Webkinz. Two major holidays had passed without Webkinz and hysteria had been created. Mission Accomplished! GANZ finally got their wish and we were selling Webkinz like crazy. "Crazy" being the greatest understatement of the year. What followed was one of the most horrific displays of company integrity I had ever seen.

GANZ, from the beginning, had promised that no "Big Box" stores would get the Webkinz. We started to notice larger chain stores selling Webkinz as soon as they got popular. When I confronted my GANZ rep with this information she would make up more excuses. She went as far as to tell us that Target had gotten them on the black market and that GANZ was going to sue them.

GANZ raised the price on Webkinz eventually and started coming out with trading cards, clothing, body sprays, jewelry and other crazy stuff that kids didn't really need. They also created a "Contract" for Webkinz retailers. GANZ wanted us to sign this "contract" stating we would sell so much "Everyday" product in order to get our Webkinz orders in. "Everyday" product is what GANZ calls their very large catalog of candles, plush, bath products, home decor, toys and about anything else they could push on retailers. This contract was sent out to every shop in the nation that carried Webkinz except for the bigger chain stores. The contract also had all kinds of stipulations, incentives and strange requests for Webkinz retailers. We did not sign the contract. In fact, we decided to go in a totally different direction with the GANZ company.

In the Fall of 2007 we canceled all of our Webkinz orders along with any other orders we had pending with GANZ. On November 21st we sold our last Webkinz. At that time, there were over 20 stores (big and small) in our area alone. As a result of GANZ's business practices, many retailers have since phased out of the Webkinz. Unfortunately, kids don't understand these things, nor should they.

The GANZ company has been under harsh criticism from parents and retailers in the last year. There are a number of pending lawsuits being filed against the company. The overall popularity of Webkinz seems to be waining also. It's a shame because the Webkinz should have been a positive experience for everyone involved. It's just another example of what happens when companies get too big, too fast and way too greedy.

--Rhett

Webkinz get a 7 out of 10 star rating from the Toy Guyz.
GANZ gets a 0 out of 10 star rating from the Toy Guyz.

UglyDolls Have Arrived!

2008-04-30T14:29:00.004-04:00

The UglyDolls have arrived at Pure Imagination. The award-winning UglyDolls are plush characters that are available in a variety of styles and personalities. Each character inspires creativity while reminding us that we are all unique in our own special way. The UglyDolls can be bought at our store and will be up on our website soon. Visit www.ToyGuyz.com or www.PureImaginationToys.com to get your very own UglyDoll!

Toy Guyz Review the Ice Cream Parlor Set by Melissa & Doug

2008-04-29T11:32:00.002-04:00

The Ice Cream Parlor Set by Melissa & Doug is one of our favorite new toys here at Pure Imagination. Kids love it and parents think it's super cool! You can stack and scoop a variety of flavors with unique magnetic pieces designed to hold everything together. The Ice Cream Parlor Set is packaged very nicely and includes four flavors of ice cream along with two magnetic cones and two magnetic ice cream scoopers. It's for Ages 3+. Parents seem to like the cute storage box because it makes such a nice gift. Kids love the magnetic aspect of ice cream play and picking out flavors and colors. The Ice Cream Parlor Set is a quality toy from the Melissa & Doug company and we are more than happy to review it here. The Ice Cream Parlor Set by Melissa & Doug gets a 10 out of 10 star rating from the Toy Guyz.

Toy Guyz Review the Critter Carnival by Insect Lore

2008-04-16T16:04:00.006-04:00

The Critter Carnival by Insect Lore just came in today at Pure Imagination. Of course, the Toy Guyz had to open one up immediately and check it out. We give it an A+ for originality. Inside the Critter Carnival is a slide, swing, maze, tightrope, Ferris wheel and teeter totter. There is a magnifier at the top of the plastic dome so you can see things really close. It's a super cute observation habitat for about any small insect. We were most impressed with how sensitive the different rides were in motion. Smaller bugs are pretty lightweight so we thought that you might actually catch some movement with the little attractions if they decided to check them out. The overall construction is done pretty well. The Toy Guyz had only one concern. The plastic dome does come off a little more easily than expected. Make sure to tell kids to be careful with the dome piece. You don't want bugs escaping the Critter Carnival when there are so many fun things to do inside. So what's the verdict? The Critter Carnival by Insect Lore gets a 9 out of 10 star rating from the Toy Guyz.

Toy Guyz Review the Pound and Roll Tower by Melissa & Doug

2008-04-15T17:40:00.008-04:00

The Melissa & Doug toy company have done something great by taking a basic wooden toy and taking it to the next step. The Pound and Roll Tower comes with four brightly colored balls and a mallet. Children can push the balls down the openings with their hands or pound them with the mallet. Each ball rolls down each level and then rolls out an opening at the bottom. You can play color matching games with the balls as the sides of the tower match the colors of the balls. The Pound and Roll Tower is for Ages 2+ which makes this a wonderful "Early Learning" toy. The one thing that impressed us the most about the Pound and Roll Tower is that kids play with it for more than 5 minutes. The Toy Guyz have seen this first hand along with the overall quality of this product so we just had to let you know about it. The Pound and Roll Tower from Melissa & Doug gets a 10 out of 10 star rating from the Toy Guyz.

We have gone eeBoo Crazy here at Pure Imagination!

2008-04-08T10:53:00.006-04:00

If you are not familiar with the wonderful company eeBoo, get acquainted! They are one of our best selling companies here at Pure Imagination. Their stuff is always super cute but the best thing about this line is you can never go wrong when giving it as a gift. eeBoo produces simple games with the most gorgeous illustrations you have ever seen. They take games like your basic matching, dominoes and spinner games and make them extra special and that's why they make such unique gifts. Check them out at www.PureImaginationToys.com. Just about everything from the eeB00 company is "Toy Guyz" recommended so enjoy finding the perfect gift from this wonderful company.

Pure Imagination's Top Selling Toys For March!

2008-03-29T16:10:00.005-04:00

Customers ask us all the time what our top selling toys are here at Pure Imagination. The Easter holiday allowed us to really look into that this year so here are our top 10 best sellers in March.

Please note: This list does not include any of our book selections which are always very good sellers at Pure Imagination.

Wooden Cutting Fruit by Melissa & Doug $19.95
Screwball Scramble by TOMY/International Playthings $19.95
Deluxe Art Easel by Melissa & Doug $59.95
Rocket Balloons With Pump by Schylling $7.95
3-D Mirascope by Toysmith $5.95
My First Airplane Kit by Scientific Explorer $19.95
Pound and Roll Tower by Melissa & Doug $19.95
Nature World Dinosaur Playset by Simba Toys $29.95
Bring Along Thomas Set by International Playthings $11.95
Foam Gliders by KLUTZ $9.95

Woke Up To Snow This Morning

2008-03-22T15:16:00.003-04:00

Wow! You would not know that we were heading into Spring with what we woke up to this morning. About 4 inches of very fluffy snow. We just got in new kites and windwheels at the store. These products probably won't be as popular as they could have been for Easter...considering our weather right now.

Don't forget...the Garman Opera House Theatre is doing a production called "Follow The Yellow Brick Road" the first weekend of April. It will have all of your favorite characters from the Wizard of Oz. You can get tickets at our store. I will post more details very soon.

--Rhett

What's In Your Easter Basket?

2008-03-17T19:30:00.006-04:00

Lots of little toys for the Easter Basket can be found at our store right now. Not to mention we have everything on sale on our website this month. That's what we call an "Online Exclusive". It's set up to encourage more online shopping even though we love to see you face to face. We were told today that the Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32 Piece Set would be in any day now. We have people waiting for these and I have been told they have been very difficult to find lately. Our daycare accounts love this toy! Check out the website or stop by the store if you are interested!

Great Day At The Store! Easter Is Coming!

2008-03-08T17:17:00.005-05:00

Thanks to all of our customers for a very busy Saturday! It seems there were a lot of birthdays and everyone was buying for Easter. That's fine with us! Remember Easter this year is on March 23rd so stop buy and visit us at the store or check out the website to get some ideas.

New Simba Play Sets Are Here!

2008-03-06T14:39:00.008-05:00

We just got in some new Simba Play Sets in at the store. I should have the new sets up on the website within the next few days. You can check out some of the other sets on our Pretend Play Sets page of the website. These are really great play sets. Some customers have compared them to Playmobil but the two companies are very different. Simba goes for a more realistic look while Playmobile puts out play sets that are "super cute" and cool. Both companies are great. Simba is a little less costly so our customers like that.

Until next time-
--Rhett

Blogging Can Be Fun!

2008-03-05T16:27:00.002-05:00

As we expand our business even more we were told that we should try blogging. I thought it would be a great way for us to communicate with our customers out there along with giving us another venue for toy reviews. At this point I am still learning so let's see what happens. Check back often and check out our website at www.PureImaginationToys.com. You never know what we will find next!

--Rhett