Ask Toy Tech

Toy Tech - The ToysPeriod Blog: Q and A, Guides, How To's and News, Covering LEGO, Model Railroading and Gadgets

An Environmentally Aware Toy Business: One Customer's Take

The Greening of Business
(A ToysPeriod Customer Eco-Evaluation)

This space, normally reserved for some aspect of toys or to celebrate a person or place, is being given over this week to me, a long time customer of ToysPeriod, to talk about a subject that is on the minds of millions throughout the world. That is, the Greening of Business.

By the Greening of Business, I mean the manner in which businesses are changing their ways of satisfying public demand. Not only are businesses continuing to respond to the needs of their clients, but many, if not yet the majority, are also doing their utmost to satisfy the modest requirements of Earth, as our small planet continues to faithfully provide its inhabitants, human and non-human alike, with the environment we need to flourish.

I especially want to discuss in this space how ToysPeriod has honored its commitment to ecological sustainability over and above the well known scholarships it sponsors every year for students majoring in eco-business. (For those who are unfamiliar with eco-business, briefly those are business college majors aimed at producing educated leaders, both commercial and social, who will, after graduation, make ongoing decisions with both the health of the Earth and future generations in mind.)

First, before I present you with specific information about ToysPeriod, let me clear up a question you may be asking yourself relative to my status with ToysPeriod. I am not a paid employee, therefore I have the freedom to say most anything I wish on this site short of fully trashing ToysPeriod, its products and services. So, please understand, I haven't been coached by ToysPeriod as I compose this essay. I suspect though that they understand my admiration for ToysPeriod's ecologically sensitive and intelligent methods of doing business.

Please also understand that I 'get it' that we can't stop living in order to save the planet, and, given the state of technology, we shouldn't have to freeze in winter or bake in summer to save the Earth, as some who I meet at rallies would have us believe. In other words, my brand of eco-responsibility definitely falls on the side of making human beings comfortable as they attempt to get through this life.

With that said, let's look at ToysPeriod closely, and why I believe ToysPeriod to be a terrific business model to follow regardless of industry.

Starting with the most basic processes that ToysPeriod has adopted to clean pre-owned products, such as vintage Lego sets, I discovered that the cleaning process ToysPeriod uses is of the natural, biodegradable variety. Not only that, but the cleaners are chosen with an eye toward restoring much of the original brilliance innate to the plastics of the time period from which the sets originate. The pre-owned Lego sets I saw emerging from the ToysPeriod benches appeared newer and brighter than toys I saw just sixty minutes later by comparison in a big box store I visited for the express purpose of comparing products.

Over and above that, it is amazing how carefully packaged ToysPeriod products are, shipped in biodegradable materials wherever possible. Artificial materials are shunned in favor of brand new packaging made from post-consumer-content recycled paper products. Not only is each package specifically designed to protect pre-owned goods whose own manufacturer's box has long since disappeared, brand new boxes are used, many of them of the custom variety, designed on the spot using special cutting implements. The sets a ToysPeriod customer receives are packed in such a way so as to survive the rigors of shipping with flying colors (green, of course).

In addition to the packaging, the very nature of ToysPeriod's business is to forestall the use of new energy to manufacture additional plastics, since ToysPeriod is returning to circulation products manufactured many years ago.

In addition, model railroad layout building is also a specialty of ToysPeriod. I mention this not only to emphasize the terrific expertise ToysPeriod has with regard to the technical aspects of scale building, but also to pat model railroaders on the back.

It goes without saying (let me say it anyway) people who are avid model train layout designers and builders are not out laying rubber on the roads, burning gasoline or greeting oil tankers at the docks. The same can be said of vintage Lego set collectors, designers and builders.

The very nature of these hobbies are sober, solid, and creative. They are also activities that teach children and adults alike how to build, how to use imagination in ways that benefit all areas of a life, from being handy with tools to bringing cheer into almost any situation.

Design challenges, even artistic inspirations and aspirations are well within the purviews of the hobbies represented and encouraged by ToysPeriod.

Also, the 'spirit' of the products being offered are clean and wholesome, lending themselves to the positive personal growth of an individual which in turn adds to the wholesomeness of the community at large.

I am still fascinated every time I speak with the folks who founded ToysPeriod in terms of the clean life they lead, and how concerned they are to make sure every product sold by ToysPeriod meets the very highest standards in the most conscientiously imaginative way. The products delivered to clients by ToysPeriod reflect a certain sense of joy and caring that is seemingly innate to the mission of the business.

As a ToysPeriod customer myself, I know I have truly enjoyed the finest purchase and consultive experiences when dealing with ToysPeriod "Toy Techs." I have never had to deal with a person representing ToysPeriod who hadn't himself or herself done the most complex kind of collecting, modeling and layout building.

Any topic from eco-friendly glues to wood cuts to reduce waste are all well within the expertise of ToysPeriod.

In terms of quality control, I'm sure I do not have to say at this point that I have seen ToysPeriod Toy Techs discard Lego pieces for minor cracks that I couldn't see. I have personally viewed them go through elaborate preparations to make pre-owned flags and sails as pristine as possible, given that some of them were originally manufactured in the 80's. They weren't doing it as show either. The cleaning, pressing and packaging processes had obviously been in place long before my poor soul entered the building.

Well, enough of this. You can see by the words I am using that ToysPeriod didn't have to worry about my giving them a punch in the commercial nose.

In my experience, they are not only doing the community a great service, but also, when people become collectors of Lego, or model train layout builders, or involve themselves with any of the other opportunities for fun ToysPeriod offers, their energy footprints will drop dramatically, simply by the nature of their involvement.

In this day and age, where personal attention and knowledgeable service seem at times like experiences on the wane, ToysPeriod is at the top of their game in those areas.

Finally, if a customer has a suggestion, or recommendation, ToysPeriod is always ready to listen.

From my perspective, ToysPeriod lives up to its motto, Always First, Always Mint.

The mint leaf couldn't be a more appropriate symbol to end this essay. Note the beautiful GREEN MINT leaves.

Monday, 8:10 pm | January 25th, 2010

Comments

Emeric on Sunday, 3:13 am | January 31st, 2010

It is so refreshing that a company as forward-looking as ToysPeriod can be as equally eco-friendly. Needless to say, the beautiful green mint leaves equates to this article. I have been a LEGO fan for as long as I can remember. My cousin used to collect these toys when we were kids and he has a whole corner in his room to display his collection. I just wish that more companies would involve themselves in endeavors like these. It is always a good thing to give back to our environment. After all, this is our only home.

Turning Winds on Sunday, 9:44 pm | January 31st, 2010

It sounds like ToysPeriod is a great company. It is wonderful to see a kid's toy provider advocating for a greener environment. I envision that ToysPeriod will be successful and make many children happy enjoying their toys. I for one hope that you continue to offer innovative toys that will make us one with mother nature.

Martin on Wednesday, 1:32 pm | February 3rd, 2010

This ToysPeriod sounds like a wonderful and forward looking company.. I firmly believe that the company will be very successful as this market will grow as the consumer demands this type of Eco product.

Good luck to them.

Martin

Dr. Ask on Monday, 2:19 pm | February 22nd, 2010

Even toys cares about our environment what more if we humans care about it? I hope your company will enlighten us to love and respect our environment.