Transcription of Anita Demetropoulos for the show Summer Fare #45
Dr. Lisa: As part of today’s Dr. Lisa Radio Hour and Podcast Summer Fare show, we have with us Anita Demetropoulos who began a toy store in my own hometown of Yarmouth called Island Treasure Toys 10 years ago this year so she’s quite well versed in summer play and now has a second store in Freeport. Thank you, Anita for coming in and speaking with us.
Anita: You’re welcome. Thank you for having me.
Dr. Lisa: I’ve been in both of your stores and there is a heavy emphasis on hands on, doing things that are tactile and really being involved in play. Why was that so important to you?
Anita: I think it’s important for children to use their imaginations while playing. I think that being able to just put everything aside and just go out there and create whatever comes to mind is really important so we buy toys that encourage them to do that. Stay away from electronics, battery operated toys and our focus is on imaginative play and being creative.
Dr. Lisa: You’re a mother yourself.
Anita: I am. I have four daughters.
Dr. Lisa: Did this enter into your decision to have a store of this type?
Anita: That’s correct. My youngest daughter is now 13 so when she was three years old, we decided to start our own business. We were having a hard time finding really simple basic toys even things like wooden blocks. Everything was plastic. Everything was electronic. You push a button and it talks back to you. It just all started out of our home. We decided to start an online business.
Dr. Lisa: What are some of the big sellers this summer?
Anita: It’s hard to explain on radio. OgoSport is this really big round disc that has, I think you’ve seen those discs, has a little compression area in the center so that it’s almost like playing a volleyball and you toss this little Koosh ball looking ball back and forth. It’s a lot of fun and every day we sell them.
Dr. Lisa: is this specific to an age group or do different aged kids like different types of toys?
Anita: This particular toy is appealing to five on up. I have a daughter who is 21 and she’s like, “Oh, we need to have this at home.” I think it appeals to all ages.
Dr. Lisa: What other toys are for younger kids do you have available that are something that kids could use and are great outdoors?
Anita: One of the things that I really love is the Zipline and as long as you have two large trees that you can attach it to, children as young as four, again, can get on the Zipline and pretend they’re flying, pretend they’re superheroes. It’s all in the imagination but flying through the air, having your feet off the ground is a thrilling experience for children.
Dr. Lisa: You have the Ogo that you described. You have the Zipline. I was in the store and there were adults in there who were kind of basically big kids. What types of things do they seem to gravitate towards?
Anita: Exactly. Hula hoops, good old fashioned hula hoops. I have two suppliers. Both of them are from Maine. They’re hand made in Maine. The hula hoop appeals to a lot of women. It’s a great way to do exercise. It’s nice core strengthening. My daughter, Amelia and I, we both use our hula hoops.
I would say the newest item that’s come out that the men like, again, hard to describe, a football that looks gray but when you wear these special glasses, there’s a little laser light and if you turn it to red, your ball will be red. It will glow. If you have the green, it will go out in green and that way you can play at night. I think that dads are really, they’ve been buying a lot of those for the kids saying it’s for the kids but we all know they’re going to play with them.
Dr. Lisa: How about kites? Do people still fly kites?
Anita: Yes. We have lots of kites. People love to buy them and go to the beach and fly their kites.
Dr. Lisa: First of all, I know that your store has been very successful despite the economic downturn. Now, it’s so successful you’ve moved from one location to another location and you’ve doubled yourselves in size. Do you think there’s something about toys that helps you put a maintained hope in the face of maybe not so ideal circumstances like a downturn in the economy?
Anita: I would agree with that. Many people during this time turn to games, puzzles, those types of activities that they could still do in their home as an activity with the family. Have game nights. I spend a lot of time choosing games because it’s really important. I feel it’s important for everyone to get together of all ages and to be able to sit down and play games from cards to strategy games to dice games and again, the puzzles.
Dr. Lisa: What you’re describing really it’s a toy store. We think of toys and children but you’re describing really toys as a family tool, as a way to get everybody together doing something that’s not video based.
Anita: That’s correct. We believe in play. We play with the toys. Our employees play with the toys. We’re happy to open up anything and show our customers. It is a family event. This is not about buying something and sticking your child in the corner with a toy.
Genevieve: You also have a lot of craft and drawing supplies for the more perhaps introspective child who doesn’t necessarily want to go out and throw a football. You do cater to them as well. What are some of those?
Anita: One of the things that we have coming in shortly, it’s this new line called Red Box and I’m so excited about it. They are craft kits that contain all the wood and the screws and nails and hammer and everything that you need, even some paint to create your own toolbox, go-karts with wheels that kids can’t get on the go-cart and being able to create something from your own hands makes children feel very satisfied. It’s so nice to be able to see a bunch of materials just fitting there and you put it together and then you get to play with it or ride on it. It’s a very satisfying feeling for a child just like sewing. My daughter is now sewing. You just have material and boom, now you have a skirt. It makes them feel really good.
Dr. Lisa: I’ve met your husband Jimmy and I’ve met I think two of your daughters maybe. Has this contributed to the strength of your family having two toy stores in Yarmouth and Freeport?
Anita: Absolutely. We still play games. They still come to the store and take things off the shelf to bring home. When Gabriel was away at college, she just graduated from college, when she went to school, she would come home on her break and take games back up to school to play with her friends. That felt really good to think that here are these kids who are 19, 20, 21 years old and playing with a game from Island Treasure Toys.
We recently brought home a water balloon toy where it pumps up your balloon for you. Do you remember when you’d stick a water balloon on the hose and they always break because the hose is too big. This is the perfect size. Amelia was 13 and she had a ball. Her sisters were coming with their boyfriends and she got those water balloons all ready to throw at them and get them wet so we’re still playing with toys.
Dr. Lisa: You seem to sort of increase the size of your family because from what I can tell, the people who come to work for you, they like it so much that they keep coming back to work for you again. Is that right?
Anita: This is true. We are one big family. I have many employees that keep coming back. Another gentleman I’m thinking of is Pebe and he just graduated from college and sure enough, he wanted to come back. I know that he’ll find his way and leave us eventually but it is definitely thrilling to have him come back.
Dr. Lisa: How do people find out more about your store?
Anita: We are located on Route 1 in Yarmouth and we also have our store on 20 Bow Street in Freeport. You can visit us online. We have a website, islandtreasuretoys.com. We do stay really active with our Facebook and Twitter so there’s many ways to reach us. When you come to the store, you can talk to anybody. Everyone is very well versed in the product and happy to help you.
Dr. Lisa: Good. Any other thoughts on Summer Fare, anything else you would like to share with our listeners?
Anita: I think just getting outdoors with your kids. It’s kind of strange probably coming from a toy store owner but I always say less is best. Honestly, mud pies and beach balls really are it. The toys are great and they will encourage a lot of creative play but really children just need time to be.
Dr. Lisa: We’ve been talking with Anita Demetropoulos of Island Treasure Toys in Yarmouth and Freeport. We thank you for coming in and having a conversation about summer fare with us.
Anita: Thank you for having me. I appreciate the time to come in and talk to you.