The first Brilliant Sky Toys & Books? was founded in 2002 in Lansing, Michigan with the singular goal of being the finest upscale specialty toy store in America.
Based on the belief that the right playthings give children a gateway to physical, emotional and cognitive development Brilliant Sky Toys & Books provides the highest quality products in an atmosphere that is both active and interactive. Its unique aesthetic approach is vibrant yet warm, exciting yet comforting and exploratory yet safe. From rich colors and woods to low sightlines and custom fixtures the Brilliant Sky sensory experience is unlike any other.Now based in Brentwood, Tennessee and featuring more than 10,000 high-quality specialty products, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is truly the place where everyone can find their way to play.
Last year, I reviewed Brilliant Sky Toys & Books after visiting the store on a whim. I fell in love with one of our two local stores without the franchise owner, Lori, even knowing I would be there. This year, I scheduled a visit not to one, but both local stores and I have to say, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is the hands down, best toy store anywhere. There are currently just 15 locations around the country, but with the goal of being the finest specialty toy store in America, I think their rate of growth is perfect. There’s no over-expanding or lessening their products or values to compete with big box chain stores.
In Cary, North Carolina the Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is connected on one side to another store in a small business section of the area. It’s pretty assuming from the outside just how large of a store it really is. The front side walk area is large enough for fun games and treats during the warmer month and the windows remind me of a fire station house, big, inviting, and perfect for letting in copious amounts of natural light!
When you first walk into a Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, you’re greeted warmly by a store employee usually behind the counter. But this isn’t just any counter, it’s a wooden house, almost like a command center in the middle of the store. This is where you’ll check out, have your gifts wrapped, and more. It’s clever and a lot more inviting not just for parents, but for kids too. My little guy is on the path to independence and loves to “pay” for his toys on his “own”. Although he wasn’t buying a toy this trip, he had no problem walking right up and looking around.
- It was while I was scooping out this surrounding area that Lori told me all about the amazing sessions and in-store events they hold in our Cary, NC store.
With a warm and friendly environment where children are encouraged to be, unlike some stores who snub their noses at loud, active children, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books offers Preschool Crafts that includes a take home craft based off a story that’s read and a snack! The Cary, NC location is also offering some of the following in-store events:
- 11/11/13 – Three different 1.5 hour long Paint-n-Play Sessions that includes snack and an item (like the canvas featuring an ornament in the above picture) to paint and take home.
- 11/13/13 – Clay Rice Silhouette Artist
- 11/09/13 – PJ Party for the Holidays (free) Bring the kids in their holiday pajamas for some fun
- 12/17/13 – Adult Shopping starts at 8p.m. Parents can shop without kids in the store, perfect for grabbing last minute holiday items without sneaking them around prying eyes!
- Rainbow Loom Classes for all types
- And much, much more!
As stores and locations are different, give your local store a call, e-mail, or even Facebook shout out to see what fun in-store events they’ll be doing! Lori even told me they will soon be offering private shopping by appointment and launching a Birthday Club type plan for the kids! What a wonderful way to keep a ‘mom and pop’ type atmosphere while still catering to the needs of your clients! You can even call ahead and have a toy picked, wrapped for free, and brought out to your car if you’re running late for a birthday party or other event. Now that’s real service!
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| If I were only 8 again! A whole DIY beauty section featuring lip gloss, spa bubbles, & body spray. |
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| This isn’t even half of what the story has to offer! |
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| Shot from back corner of the store. Missing about half the store. |
The store itself is just breath taking on your first walk in for the first or even hundredth time. I was there for two hours and I’m absolutely positive I missed at least a quarter of what’s in there, if not more. Brilliant Sky Toys and Books is sectioned off by type of toy/children’s item and brand instead of by gender, which I just adore. Nothing drives me crazier than the pink and blue gender walls at the big box stores. Yes, I have a preschool aged boy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t play kitchen or like dolls and the same goes for girls. I can imagine a daughter of mine in a frilly princess dress smashing trucks with the best of them. All imaginative play is good play and shouldn’t be based off of gender. Okay, I’m a little passionate about the subject, but Lori made a great point while we walked the store: By having things based by type and brand, it’s easier to find a toy in the same line that your child would like. No more searching different aisles and wasting your time. From Melissa & Doug, to Hape, and Gund, to Green Toys and everything in between, there is the widest variety of brands and toys I’ve ever seen under one roof. From birth up to mom, there is something for everyone, including diaper bags or the ever popular Rainbow Looms with free personalization.
What I also liked about meeting Lori was how she kept facing (straightening out the store) as we walked around. She told me that “mess means fun” and that a child had to have been through looking at the different toys or playing and that’s what a toy store is all about. She even got down to Sonshine’s level to show him some toys and to play with him. It’s always wonderful to meet someone who truly loves their job. Not only does Lori love her job, but she creates an environment where her employees, most of whom are high school aged, love to work. It’s definitely a community based store, where the employees each have a notebook where they write down what they’ve done, such as trouble shooting a problem, promoting deals and events on their own, or how they handled setting up an event on their own. It’s a wonderful tool for the younger employees to use during college and/or interviewing for their first big job! Even though most shoppers don’t know this about the store, it makes Brilliant Sky Toys & Books one of the most unique places to work!
Asides from a great community based disposition and thousands of toys to choose from, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books also gives a shout out to certain each year with their Brilliance Award. The toys are hand picked for the Holiday Season and this year, 11 different toys made the list! Prices start at $14.99 and go upwards to $84.99 so you’ll be sure to find something that fits into your holiday spending budget! The toys are:
- Gobblet Gobblers (ages 5+)
- Snap Circuits Sounds (ages 8+)
- Little Chubbies Gift Set (ages 1+)
- Calico Critters Adventure Treehouse (ages 3+)
- Magnetic World Map (ages 7+)
- Deluxe Magic Set (ages 8+)
- Melissa & Doug Switch & Spin Magnetic Gear Board (ages 2+)
- Skwish Classic (ages 0+)
- Doinkit Darts (ages 6+)
- Lego Brickmaster Lego City (ages 5+)
- Melissa & Doug Large Standing Easel (ages 3+)
My hands down favorite thing about Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is the free wrapping they offer. You can have them wrap gifts for birthdays or the holidays and I took Lori up on her offer to wrap the few things I got for Sonshine. With his birthday soon and Christmas not long after, the need to not wrap a few items will save my fingers and a bit of my sanity! Each type of paper is colorful and comes with matching ribbon and looks way better than any wrapping I could do! It’s the little touches like wrapping and in-store events that truly make Brilliant Sky Toys & Books one of a kind. I can’t wait to bring friends and family who have never been to the store and see their reactions to the wall-to-wall shelves filled with amazing toys, books, and games. It’s not often when you get to witness a person becoming a life long fan of something!
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I received a sample product for this review. All opinions expressed are my own and/or families. Take it or leave it. Click here to view the whole disclosure policy.
