NEW ORLEANS – What began as a quarterly toy subscription service in 2012 has grown into a thriving brick-and-mortar business – Little Pnuts Toy Shoppe, a whimsical haven of eco-friendly toys and games geared towards customers of all ages and abilities.
The shop is currently situated on Harrison Avenue in Lakeview, but in early 2019, it will move to a new, nearby location that will accommodate a larger selection of innovative playthings, STEM classes for kids, murder mystery parties, story times and other activities, along with an event room for customizable birthday celebrations.
“We're tripling in size. We've just outgrown this store,” said Melissa Beese, the owner and founder of Little Pnuts Toy Shoppe. “Our toys used to only go through eight or nine. Now we're going all the way up to fifteen, plus.”
Little Pnuts sells games for adults, like “What do you Meme?” where players must match internet meme cards to a caption, and the “Fake News Breaking Game” that challenges competitors to come up with outlandish headlines. Beese will also host adult game nights and Sip and Paints, so guests can enjoy a glass of wine while an art instructor teaches them how to sketch and paint.
“Parents want to get together with their friends and have fun after a long day of dealing with the kids,” she said.
Beese developed the concept for Little Pnuts because she felt there was a need for eco-friendly toys that stir children’s imaginations and help them hit developmental milestones, rather than flashy trinkets that fail to challenge kids.
Her search for these types of toys began when her son was born four months premature.
She only came across them while she was visiting family in Germany, so she would purchase the toys while there and bring them back home; local friends wanted to know where to find them.
Inspired by subscription services that were popular at the time, and a trip to The Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse), Beese launched a quarterly toy delivery service that focused on educational toys made from natural materials.
DailyCandy, a website with a newsletter sharing “information of what's new, what's happening, and what's cool in the baby world,” helped spread the word. Beese’s business quickly acquired a following, and a demand for more toys – often from friends in New Orleans.
To accommodate local clients and the growing toy stock that was “occupying” her family’s home, Beese turned her delivery service into a cozy locale filled with colorful toy displays, embellished with fairy lights.
“It's been very warmly received by the city,” said Beese, adding that Little Pnuts attracts customers from all over the Greater New Orleans area, and even Baton Rouge. “People are constantly saying: ‘We can't find these toys anywhere.’”
As a certified play expert, Beese connects clients to gadgets that cater to their needs and abilities. She recently helped a mother find appropriate sensory toys for her autistic child. She also helped a parent who’s daughter “won’t play with toys.”
“We specified exactly what age group she was in, and where her milestones were. I sent her home with three toys to try. She came back the next day in tears and said, ‘Oh my god, my child is playing with the toys.’,” Beese recalled. “You have to know that the developmental milestones of your child are going to be different from other children, but you also need to give them the ability to figure it out for themselves. You can't dictate if they're smart or not.”
Parents also stop by the shop, grumbling about their kids’ reliance on technology. She directs them to technological games that involve interaction with the entire family.
Beese says her store is also unique because most of the toys she carries are not available on Amazon.com. It also helps that she’s based in New Orleans, a city where residents proudly support local small businesses.
“I have customers who ask: ‘Hey, do you carry this? I'd rather call and find out if you carry it before I go to Amazon,’” she says. “That customer loyalty, that we are loyal to New Orleans-based businesses versus a corporate entity, is also a huge factor.”
Beese promotes Little Pnuts as a fun destination for both kids and adults through television commercials, newsletters, and social media. And prospective customers have taken notice.
“You don't just stop at the toy store,” said Beese. “We’re now a toy store, an event location, and a place where people can get birthday party supplies. We’re going to become a one-stop-shop.”
By Suzanne Pfefferle Tafur, Biz New Orleans associate news editor
