Sometimes, building your brand means pairing up.
When you’re in the business of doing a specific thing very well, partnering with symbiotic talent can result in a win-win situation.
Right now, a toy maker is in search of such an alliance with a seller who knows how to make money on handmade toys.
TOYMAKER ISO RETAIL SELLER
This toymaker is an elderly gentleman and a generational craftsman who makes all his toys out of reclaimed wood. One of the most captivating aspects of his builds is that all the moving parts work.
Wheels roll, levers lift, and doors open.
His toys aren’t static showpieces; they are meant to be played with.
A century ago, such toys might have been common. Today, they are a dying breed because no one makes them anymore.
Well, almost no one.
THE OFFER
This craftsman can make the toys—including custom designs—and sell them to you at fixed, small-town prices. You can then mark them up as the market allows and sell them customers he can’t reach, due to age and other restrictions.
“What do the toys look like?” you ask.
Let’s take a look.
This is what you see when you walk into his remote shop.
You’ll notice that he has plenty to sell, but this is a good time to point out that he has enough inventory in storage to fill this shop 3X over.
Also, to get a sense of scale, take a moment to note of the semi trucks off to the right in the picture. Sizes of toys vary, but I would estimate that most of them average between 4″ to 7″ tall.
Keeping that in mind, here’s a closer look at a few of his designs.
His selection of construction toys are fun because, as mentioned before, everything that you want to play with does what it’s supposed to do. Levers lift, diggers dig, and wheels roll.
Take this dump truck, for example:
Or this carriage that sits on elastics that make the coach sway as it moves.
And if you’re wondering if the carriage door opens…
… yes, it does. All you need is a size-appropriate horse and you are on your way!
He’s got planes.
He’s got trains.
He’s got automobiles
He’s even got aircraft carriers.
But my favorite might be his semi trucks.
No joke, if I owned a semi company that gave out honors for drivers that hit benchmarks of excellence, I would buy him out, varnish them up, and put custom metallic placards on them.
Talk about an award everyone would actually want to get that might get passed down to future generations. It would be a killer way to build your brand.
There’s more I could show, but you get the idea: There’s a toymaker who lives 90 minutes from anywhere who reclaims wood and fashions it into old-school toys you really don’t find very often anymore.
On top of that, if you have a design you want, he’ll make it for you. Like this toy rifle a customer wanted:
Complete with crosshairs in the site:
He’s a man with skills looking for a partner who can take him to market.
Are you that partner? If so, contact me.
Are you not his partner, but know someone who might be? If so, share this post.
A few answers to FAQs:
SELLING POINTS
All toys:
- are handmade
- use reclaimed wood
- 100% Made in the USA
- have moving/functioning parts
- are easily marked up from wholesale prices
CHALLENGES
- Partner lives in a remote location
- Partner has no internet communication
- You will likely want to handpick inventory if you are a stickler when it comes to variations in quality
Want to know more and find out if there is a profitable work relationship in your future?
Follow and DM me (Sheralyn) on Instagram or Twitter, and let’s get a conversation started.