Our H&S Toy Co. Story

By Heather Austin

H&S Toy Co. started in August, when we took our first boot-sale stall with a selection of squishies and Hot Wheels.

Before we started the business, we decided to have a big clear-out at home and sell some of our unwanted things. We then decided that instead of just spending the money, we would put it towards starting something of our own. We had around £200 to invest.

My partner Sam has always had a passion for Hot Wheels, so this was something he really wanted to build around. I’ve always loved toys and anything sensory, and being a mum to George, who is autistic, I wanted to be able to provide sensory, squishy and fidget products that children could enjoy.

That’s where the idea for H&S Toy Co. came from.

I still remember our first boot sale. I was honestly so nervous and it was really nerve-racking putting ourselves and our little business out there for the first time. We had no idea how people would react or whether anyone would even buy anything!

Our glitter dumplings and cubes quickly became some of our favourites, and seeing people actually getting excited about our products made all those nerves worthwhile.

Since that first boot sale, we’ve learnt so much. We’ve learnt what our customers like, what products to bring, how to display our stock and, most importantly, how much we enjoy meeting people and growing H&S Toy Co.

We’ve already celebrated some really exciting milestones, including reaching £500 in total sales and then £1,000 in total sales. For a business that started with around £200, these milestones have been something we’re incredibly proud of.

We’ve also taken the next step and started booking proper events. Our upcoming Halloween event is something we’re really excited about, but one of our biggest achievements so far is securing a place at the Stowmarket Christmas event. For us, that’s a huge step from where we started.

Building a business around family life

Running a business with two young children isn’t always easy.

We take both children with us to boot sales, which can be hard with the early mornings, setting everything up and trying to keep the children happy while serving customers. But we’re determined to make it work for our little family.

We want our children to see us working hard, chasing our dreams and building something of our own. It can be chaotic at times, but it’s also something we’re really proud to be doing together.

We’ve also been working hard on our social media and building our online community, including our VIP Facebook group and our H&S Toy Co. Rep Team.

For us, it’s not just about selling toys. We want to build a friendly little community around H&S Toy Co. and become a business that families recognise when they see us at events.

Looking towards the future

Looking ahead, our biggest goal is to attend as many events as we possibly can, get the H&S Toy Co. name seen by more families across Suffolk and continue building our reputation as a local toy business.

We want to keep growing our online platforms, keep bringing in exciting new products and, particularly, expand our range of SEN, sensory and fidget products.

We’re still very much at the beginning of our journey, but when we look back at starting with around £200 and being terrified at our first boot sale, we’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come.

H&S Toy Co. really is our little family business, and we’re determined to keep growing it together.