Good for the Kids » Shop Talk http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog Toys for children and Nuby sippy cups and replacement parts. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:33:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 All Melissa and Doug Toys and Crafts On Sale 50% Off http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/all-melissa-and-doug-toys-and-crafts-on-sale-50-off/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/all-melissa-and-doug-toys-and-crafts-on-sale-50-off/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:31:33 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=233 50% off all in-stock Melissa & Doug toys and crafts through the end of 2011, while supplies last.

Simple enough, right?

Melissa and Doug Drawing Coloring Pad Create-a-Face ON SALE $2.50

Melissa and Doug Baby Doll Mine to Love Juliana ON SALE $14.99

Melissa and Doug Magnetic Animals in a Box ON SALE $6.00

Melissa and Doug Sticker Collection - Fashion Dress Up Dolls ON SALE $2.50

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/all-melissa-and-doug-toys-and-crafts-on-sale-50-off/feed/ 0 Super Sweet September Sale http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/september-toy-sale/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/september-toy-sale/#comments Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:05:43 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=210 It’s only September. I KNOW.

But I’m already seeing the sales, discounts, and “MAKE THAT GIFT LIST” promotions for Christmas.

I KNOW.

Having a store that has toys for kids means I have to join in the retail game of “HOORAY IT’S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TIME, EVEN THOUGH IT’S SEPTEMBER!”

I’m not happy about it either, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t start putting out the sales.

Lucky you!

One of my girls’ favorite activities is coloring. Right now, I have in stock a variety of great coloring and drawing pads from Melissa & Doug. It’s a great gift for your own kids or relative kids or birthday kids or yourself if you’re the coloring type.

Create a Person Coloring Pad Quality Crayons Coloring Pad

To make the deal sweet, use coupon code SEPTEMBER20 for 20% off any order placed now through September 30th.

To make the deal even sweeter, share this discount with your blog readers, Twitter followers, and/or your Facebook friends, and I’ll send you a 25% off coupon to use through the end of September.

Leave a comment below letting me know where you shared this sale, and I’ll email your 25% off discount code directly to you.

Super sweet, eh?

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/september-toy-sale/feed/ 8 Sharing my personal story and asking for your help. http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/sharing-my-personal-story-and-asking-for-your-help/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/sharing-my-personal-story-and-asking-for-your-help/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:40:46 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=191 I’m going to admit, this is difficult to write.
(There’s a giveaway below, so stick with me, OK?)

On March 16th, I was interviewed for a news piece for ABC World News with Diane Sawyer about Middle Class families having financial struggles. You can read about it more on my personal blog, A Whole Lot of Nothing.

Way back in 2006, my husband and I decided it would be best for our family for me to stay home with our two young girls, 2 and 6 months old at the time. My teacher’s salary, even with the extra pay for having earned a Master’s Degree, was barely more than daycare costs for our two young girls. We still needed a few extra dollars a month to make ends meet, so I began selling maternity & baby clothes on eBay. I got the bug for selling after I started making extra cash on my own. I felt proud of the little accomplishments in sales I was making.

After having completed a few sales on eBay, I found I needed some Nuby replacement spouts for my girls’ sippy cups, and like anything else, I figured I could buy them on eBay. A few sellers had some spouts listed on eBay, and seeing as I was an up-and-coming entrepreneur, I found out where I, too, could buy and resell the spouts.

Really, it was a massive success. I found my online-selling niche in little silicone parts for sippy cups.

The next step was to start my own web store. I would be selling all of the Nuby spouts that the US distributor was selling out of their office, but didn’t have available online, nor were they advertising the availability of the spouts to consumers.

Total SCORE for me. Next up? World domination.

I started finding other products that were either hard-to-find or created by mom-owned small businesses. The business was growing every month, and I was spending more and more time doing something I could be proud of.

It was not unusual for the store to have 20+ orders a day. Less than 20 orders a day, and I was worried. Every month was better than the last.

My business was successful.

Until the Fall of 2008.

I was naïve to think I was immune because I was doing so well the 2 years previous. I was naïve to think that I could pay off the debt I had created that I was steadily paying down in my success.

I had been supporting small businesses, I was helping parents purchase products they needed at an affordable price, and I had a growing return-customer base.

But the damage had been done. Consumer confidence immediately dropped as news reports increased about cutting back on personal spending. I didn’t even need to watch the news reports and see the statistics to know that people were holding on to their money much more closely than they had just the month before.

Yes, people were losing their jobs at an astonishing rate.
Yes, people were becoming more conscious of how they spent their money.
And yes, consumers stopped buying “extras” for themselves and their kids.

This happened seemingly overnight.

I can see the drop-off in my own business’ financial statements.

Where I once had the confidence to be a successful and responsible small business owner, that confidence was now replaced with mounting debt, skyrocketing interest rates, and the inability to help support my family.

Near failure.

I have had to drastically change how I market my business by basically slashing my prices, offering deep discounts, and depend on word-of-mouth marketing.

To be honest and fair, I’ve not treated my customers with the attention they deserve. It now takes me longer to ship orders out, I have shut off my business phone (partly because the hours of operation were not respected and I was receiving calls at 1am), and I am not as quick to answer customer emails.

I wish I could do better for my customers, but because the web store is not bringing in the money that it used to, I have had to take on other writing jobs to make extra money. That additional work has taken away from my store’s time, and it has left me playing catch-up with my customers and their needs. For that, I am deeply apologetic.

My sincere hope is that my customers (and potential customers) will see this article and understand that supporting small businesses, even in the smallest capacity, helps our economy. I, too, have not been doing my full part in supporting fellow small businesses, but when I can, I will.

I am making a concentrated effort to focus more on my customers.
I am selling off most of my inventory to focus on a smaller product line.
I am telling the world about my struggles.
I am hoping for a miracle.

My family and I are struggling.

We need help.
We don’t need handouts.
We need the powers of the internet to guide us and help us with my mom-owned, woman-owned, small internet-based retail business.

If you have a blog or a website, I would love to have my store’s badge up on your site (it’s over <—- there all coded and ready).
If you Twitter, please tell your followers about my store.
If you email (and I know you do), please subscribe to my newsletter (below).
If you feel you can, please tell your blog readers, friends, and family about my store.

The support I’ve received from my friends online so far has been overwhelming. People are calling me “brave” and “courageous” for coming out of the shadows of debt and sharing our story.

I’m not doing this for the attention.
I’m doing this because I am no different than so many of you.

My 3-second piece on the national news has given me an opening to be able to share our struggles and to ask for help.

Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support that has been extended already, and thank you to those of you considering extending a few minutes of your time, and possibly a few dollars, to help me and my business.

You are truly appreciated.
Thank you,
Angie

Subscribe to the newsletter:

_______________________________________________________________

Giveaway (because you stuck through all of that)

Leave a simple comment letting me know the name of your favorite item in the store.

I’ll pick a random winner from the comments left between now and Wednesday, March 24th, at 8:59pm EST to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Good for the Kids.

If you Twitter about the contest, leave a link to the tweet in the comments for an additional entry.

Two total comments allowed per person, per day.
(One out of the two comments must be a tweet.)

_______

Updated: Jill is our winner and has been contacted!

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/sharing-my-personal-story-and-asking-for-your-help/feed/ 103 My Small Business Gives a Big Discount http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/my-small-business-gives-a-big-discount/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/my-small-business-gives-a-big-discount/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:10:04 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=183 25% off coupon code below

First off, I want to extend a HUGE Thank You to all of my customers who ordered in January. After returning from vacation, then kids back to school, I ended the month with a nasty stomach flu that put me behind on shipping orders. I assure you, they are shipping this week!

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Why is this company talking in the first person? Aren’t companies supposed to be conglomerates of never-ending employees?”

Yeah, well, not this one. Good for the Kids is owned and operated solely by myself, making it a mom-owned company. Yup. One person does everything from home. Albeit a messy, kid-filled home, but a home nonetheless.

So, when I get sick, or one of my girls gets sick, packages unfortunately become delayed in shipping. For that, I apologize, and hope you understand that my family comes first, as does yours with you.

As my big huge THANK YOU for supporting a woman-owned small business, I’m extending a 25% off discount through the end of this week.

Small business sale item Small business selling play foodSmall business sells toys

Visit our Specials page for up-to-date sales and coupons.

Follow @goodforthekids on Twitter for updates on new items & Twitter-only discounts.

Use coupon code feb3blog for 25% off your orders through Sunday, February 7th.

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/my-small-business-gives-a-big-discount/feed/ 1 Discount, Donation, & Under $10 Decorate-Your-Own Kid Crafts http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/discount-donation-under-10-decorate-your-own-kid-crafts/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/discount-donation-under-10-decorate-your-own-kid-crafts/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:43:30 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=150 To help with the earthquake devastation in Haiti as well as preemie babies here in the US, I am donating to EACH charity, 5% of sales that apply the coupon code* below.

During the winter months when the snow is piling outside and your kid’s fingers turn into fleshcicles, you tend to stay indoors in the warmth. Staying indoors with little kids means OH MY HECK, WHAT WILL I DO WITH THESE KIDS ALL DAY?

Good for the Kids is here to save your endless days of coloring books & watching Nemo on a loop!

Brand new in the store are the best Melissa & Doug All-in-One, Decorate-Your-Own crafts.

All are available under $10, which you’ll know, is crazy-cheap, but with the Melissa & Doug quality, is super awesome.

We’re stocked up on the best cups and bottles from Nuby:

Visit our Specials page for up-to-date sales and coupons.

Follow @goodforthekids on Twitter for updates on new items & Twitter-only discounts.

COUPON

10% off ALL orders placed through Sunday, January 24th
Promo code jan15blog

5% of sales will be donated to the RedCross
5% of sales will be donated to Friends of Maddie

We are committed to providing our customers with the best of what is good for your kids.

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/discount-donation-under-10-decorate-your-own-kid-crafts/feed/ 3 New Year, New Coupon Code http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/new-year-new-coupon-code/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/new-year-new-coupon-code/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:27:24 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=141

Back to reality.
Back to the routine. Back to the rigmarole of daily life. Back to houses without blinking lights and blow-up reindeer in the yard.

And please tell me I’m not the only one excited to have the kids back in school.

Back to normal means back into stocking up on what you need for your kiddos. Nuby spouts, baby bottles, sippy cups, and replacement parts for your kid’s cups.

We’re stocked up on the best cups and bottles from Nuby:

Did you run low on arts & crafts supplies over the holidays? Stock up with Melissa & Doug’s incredibly-valued, high-quality supplies:

Visit our Specials page for up-to-date sales and coupons.

Follow @goodforthekids on Twitter for updates on new items & Twitter-only discounts.

Bookmark and Share

COUPON
20% off ALL orders placed through Sunday, January 10th
Promo code jan4blog

We are committed to providing our customers with the best of what is good for your kids.

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/new-year-new-coupon-code/feed/ 1 Pick Your Goodness http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/pick-your-goodness/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/pick-your-goodness/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:13:47 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=85 I put a call out on Twitter to see what customers would prefer:

FREE shipping OR an awesome FREE gift

Since it was pretty much a 50/50 split on responses, YOU can pick your goodness!

Today through Sunday, July 12th, use either of the promo codes below when you place an order of $25 or more.

FREE SHIPPING (US orders only): shipjuly
OR
FREE GIFT (Melissa & Doug Doodle Pad and Crayons OR Ty Pluffie): giftjuly

Follow me on Twitter for all the updates on sales and giveaways. That is, if you’re awesome, and I know you are.

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/pick-your-goodness/feed/ 2 Win a Zoobie Pet! http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/win-a-zoobie-pet/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/win-a-zoobie-pet/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:22:03 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=80 Hello awesome friends! Thanks for stopping by. While you’re here, take the opportunity to check out the More-Than-Awesome 25% off sale. My favorite toys are now on sale for 25% off. Huge. Awesome. I know. (that’s 3 ‘awesomes’ in the 1st paragraph – i’ll refrain from more awesomes.)

I’m giving away a Zoobie Pet today to one LUCKY Twitterer or customer! Two ways to win:

1. Tweet about Good for the Kids and make sure to include a link to anything in the store AND include @goodforthekids in your tweet. Tweet multiple times for multiple entries. One Tweet per hour. (Twitter hint: don’t begin your tweet with @goodforthekids or only followers of you and me will see it.)

2. Complete a purchase* today and in the order comments section include ‘@goodforthekids’ to assure your entry.

That’s it! The contest will end today, July 7, at 10pm EST, so GET ON IT. One randomly chosen Twitterer or customer will be chosen to receive a Zoobie Pet (value: up to $32).

*Purchase is not necessary to win. See entry method #1.

Have a question? Leave it in the comment section below. COMMENTS BELOW WILL NOT COUNT AS AN ENTRY.

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/win-a-zoobie-pet/feed/ 3 More Than Amazing 25%-Off Sale & Fantabulous Giveaway http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/more-than-amazing-25-off-sale-fantabulous-giveaway/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/more-than-amazing-25-off-sale-fantabulous-giveaway/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:15:58 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=76 ZoobieIt’s amazing.
It’s incredible.
It’s fantabulous.
It’s ridiculously cute. ——>
And you are benefitting.

All Melissa & Doug toys as well as all Zoobie Pets stuffed animals are now on sale for 25% off.

Told you. FANTABULOUS.

Most Melissa & Doug items and all of the Zoobie Pets will not be re-stocked after they sell out. Stock up now, people. Stock. Up. NOW.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the giant sale and get your attention, Good for the Kids is giving away a $75 gift certificate. (That’s a load of toys. HUGE.)

How to enter:

Leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item from Good for the Kids.

Increase your chances by

  • Twittering about the discount and/or giveaway from your own Twitter account.
  • Following @goodforthekids on Twitter – I follow back.
  • Subscribe to our RSS Feed.
  • Blogging about this discount and/or giveaway with a link back to here on your own blog.
  • Promoting the discount and/or giveaway on any other social media (you can use the bookmarklets at the bottom of the post)

  • Posting our banner on your blog

    • 25% off at Good for the Kids

Leave the direct link (or permalink) in the comments below as your entry, and you can enter more than once, twice, or ten times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc., NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

Giveaway open to everyone. Those crazy Canadians included!

Don’t wait to make your purchase until after you find out if you’re a winner. Should you win the giveaway, and you make a purchase between now and the end of the giveaway, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $75!

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Friday, July 3rd. The winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

]]> http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/more-than-amazing-25-off-sale-fantabulous-giveaway/feed/ 218 Giveaway for both YOU and your kids + a 30%-off coupon http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/giveaway-for-both-you-and-your-kids-a-30-off-coupon/ http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/giveaway-for-both-you-and-your-kids-a-30-off-coupon/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:39:58 +0000 Angie http://www.goodforthekids.com/blog/?p=73 We’re all sorts of family-time busy this month; moreso than most.

I’m not sure what that has to do with a huge discount offer or a giveaway. Just thought I’d share.

DISCOUNT
Our biggest discount offer EVER (in our LONG 2-1/2 year history) is going on now through April 15th.

30% off all orders of $15 or more

Yup. 30% off: coupon code april6blog
My accountant may not be happy about this one.

GIVEAWAY
To go along with our biggest discount offer EVER, we’re having a fabulous giveaway. So fabulous, in fact, that one lucky entrant will win something for her kids and something for herself.

Heck-to-the-yeah!

As our big winner, you will win your child’s choice of a Melissa & Doug Role Play Dress-Up Costume set (value $39.99) and your choice of a customized self-inking stamper (value $39.99). That’s a total prize value of $80!

For the Kids

Role Play CostumeRole Play Costume

For You

Customized Stamper Customized Stamper

How to enter:

Leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item from Good for the Kids.

Increase your chances by

  • Twittering about the discount and/or giveaway from your own Twitter account. Please include the hashtag #gftk in your tweet.
  • Following us on Twitter – I follow back.
  • Subscribe to our RSS Feed.
  • Blogging about this discount and/or giveaway with a link back to here on your own blog.
  • Promoting the discount and/or giveaway on any other social media (ie. StumbleUpon, Facebook, Kirtsy, etc.
  • Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Leave the direct link (or permalink) in the comments below as your entry, and you can enter more than once, twice, or ten times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc., NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

US and Canadian entrants only, please.

Don’t wait to make your purchase until after you find out if you’re a winner. Should you win the giveaway, and you make a purchase between now and the end of the giveaway, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $80! GO NOW and use that 30% off coupon code!

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 15th. The winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

WINNER:
Naomi – http://superdumbsupervillain.blogspot.com/ I like the mocobabies Sign Language Flash Cards! Congratulations! Please check your email for your winning information.

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