A trip tip in Berlin! Do you like social and board games? Since 2014 there’s a very interesting shop to visit there while avoiding big corporations… We’re sure that you should check it out someday.

Brettspielgeschäft.Berlin

Tired of playing the same board games again and again? Who never felt like that? What if somebody had told you that there’s a place with more than 3.000 different board game options to be bought…? At Brettspielgeschäft.Berlin you will find that huge variety. Within their 200 m², we can even find more than 1.000 options in english (great way to learn languages, by playing).

Following the tradition of board games in integrating and engaging people together, their store workers give advices and tips in several languages! Whether in German, English or Spanish, there is not space for confusion or doubts in what to purchase. However, they do have a lot a space as their shop is about 150 m². Where would all the numbers fit in otherwise?…

What is your favorite genre? Their sortiment is very diversified: child games, dice games, travel games, strategy games, role-playing games, many other themes for board games, etc. For all ages! They focus on two main groups: complex strategy games and games for children from 3 to 7 years old. If you purchase online, the delivery costs are free starting from € 49,01 orders.

Please, go to their website to get more information such as address and what is currently available to be ordered online.

We checked briefly thei their online shop and it’s huge. They also offer many different filtering options to help you browse their products! Check it out and have some fun. There are categories based on age, product, language…

Even though they are a not so old store, they offer advices in purchasing products, something which is becoming more and more rare today. Between the “old times” toy stores and the newest ones, click here to understand it better. One sample of them, which doesn’t exist anymore: here.

Did you like this tip? Is it in your to-do list already? Let us know when are you planing to go there or the last time you have been there… By sending this post to someone who would love to find it out you help them and us at the same time.

The post Brettspielgeschäft Berlin: Local Alternatives to Shop Better first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

Let’s go to another trip? This time we may even go back in time! There’s a cute and quite unique store to visit in Berlin, which we recommend you to come by for local shopping while avoiding big corporations. Older than 70 years old, this store has been selling special items… Did you go there before? Keep on reading to find out more.

Heinsohn Spielwaren

Where to find special toys in a world full of trends and seasonal consumption, have you ever wondered? Perhaps you asked yourself at least once, if one could find something special, which not everyone is currently tired of seeing. Maybe you thought: what would the toys bought by parents decades ago look like?

Started on year 1951, Heinsohn Spielwaren focus has been on collector pieces since then. Countless treasures (toys) were presented and offered at the store. The store front passed to the owner’s children, so many years went by and yet there they stand.

Variety is also not a problem: model cars, locomotives, teddys, building sets, dolls, baby toys, etc. We’re certain that there is something for everyone! Collectors, babies, children and even parents! If you purchase online, the delivery costs are free starting from 30€ orders.

Please, go to their website to get more information such as address and what is currently available to be ordered online.

Several unique options are offered on their online shop. Due to the limited editions, some items may never come back. Feel free to try it out and have some fun.

The majority of their articles are offered in-person at their store; packed full with many items, just like the “old times” toy stores, click here to understand it better. One sample of them, which doesn’t exist anymore: here.

A view of the front, just in case, so we don’t miss it when walking by.

When are you planing to visit there? Have you been there already? Please help us by sending this post to someone who would love to find it out too…

The post Heinsohn Spielwaren : Local Alternatives to Shop Better first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

Another day, another trip! What about visiting a local toy shop in München? Today’s recommendation for local shopping while avoiding big corporations has existed for a long time… Maybe you have even been there before? Without further speculations, let’s dive into it.

Kunst und Spiel

Focusing on sustainability and going on a path as far from toxic and cheap materials as possible, Kunst und Spiel sells exclusively german brands. On the other hand, they are very cautious to not sell anything containing plasticizers to customers.

Following a tradition, they cultivate the same values since their opening, on 1956, in München-Schwabing. It’s been a long time and they have not only always provided a special service but also constantly investing on and developing it. Currently the shop has 3 floors and many different spaces. They offer: custom advice, in-store product try-it before purchasing, several playground corners, birthday basket, creativity section, reading room and more!

The sortiment is very diversified: ball tracks, dolls, plushies, building blocks, board games, books, wood toys, etc. For all ages! Babies, toddlers, children and even adults! If you purchase online, the delivery costs are free starting from 50€ orders.

Please, go to their website to get more information such as address and what is currently available to be ordered online.

Their online shop is huge. Many different products, very nicely organized! Feel free to try it out and have some fun. There are categories based on age, product, hobby…

Between the “old times” toy stores and the newest ones, click here to understand it better. One sample of them, which doesn’t exist anymore: here.

Did you visit this shop already? If so, how was it? If not, when are you planing to go there? Please share it with us and help us by sending this post to someone who would love to find it out…

The post Kunst und Spiel : Local Alternatives to Shop Better first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

Do you have a free day? You will certainly enjoy spending many hours inside today’s recommendation for shopping local while avoiding big corportations. Have you ever got lost indoors? Well, if you forget to pay attention at the directions you turn, while exploring the shop due to the huge variety of products, you may manage to get lost at the Spielzeug-Paradies Wagner. One of the biggest toy shops old fashioned style still existing in Germany.

Spielzeug-Paradies Wagner

Since 1983 and already beginning with the great area of 100 m², Spielzeug-Paradies Wagner has been bringing many options for toys. Meanwhile, it grew 10 times and its total area is 1000m², distributed over 2 floors.

Located in Bochum, their mission focuses on inspiring their customers through good advice, large variety, high-quality at affordable prices and local economy support. Let’s not forget… It is one of the last large family-run toy stores in NRW, maintaining the tradition of real stationary trade.

Between models and other toys, their variety really shows off with the many available product types such as: dolls, puzzles, books, audio, cars, plushies, adventure, outdoor, saison, etc. They offer free delivery costs starting from 50€ orders.

Please, go to their website to get more information such as address and what is currently available to be ordered online.

Yes, they have an online shop too! Feel free to check and have fun. It is very nicely organized by categories as well as departments (Toys, Models, Trains). 

Between the “old times” toy stores and the newest ones, click here to understand it better. One sample of them, which doesn’t exist anymore: here.

Tell us, did you go there already? If so, how was it? If not, when are you planing to go there? Please share it with us and help us by sending this post to someone who would love to discover it.

The post Spielzeug-Paradies Wagner : Local Alternatives to Shop Better first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

It may also be assumed that a now world-famous company adopted this interlocking concept and achieved far greater and long-term success with it. Their patent was filed in Copenhagen in 1958. It is also fairly certain that another company from the UK, founded in 1997 under the name Best-Lock, learned about Mr. Page’s patents, which, after many court decisions, made it possible for them to establish themselves on the building block market, and nowadays even more companies. However, it must be admitted that since then the boundaries between the monopolist, which has been working in peace for many years, and the newcomers, which can no longer be bitten off, are still being defined in detail by the courts.

1944: Initial Hilary Page patent, earlier design (granted 1947)

The Long Timeline of Plagiarism

What always underlies all disputes is unauthorized copying. The word plagiarism is now on everyone’s lips. Molds of terminal blocks are pirated, for example, but construction plans are also copied. There is patent protection for certain functions of clamp building blocks, i.e. not its shape, but its intended use. You will notice that sounds like a complex matter. On the positive side, so far no child has been convicted for using their own creativity to create something that has already been patented.

Of course, plagiarism is already an issue with the big competitors, especially since massive sums of money are involved. On the one hand, for example, a European manufacturer pays for the rights on Star Wars to the current copyright holder Disney, on the other hand, its own development costs and sales shortfall. There was a good example of a Chinese company dedicated to the Star Wars product series, where you can hardly distinguish what comes from which manufacturer, if not different logos and details in the outer packaging would allow conclusions. I don’t think we need something like that in Europe, do we?

Anchor “stone palace”

The Roots of Stones

There are opinions that say that the inspiration of the clamping building blocks lies in the Anchor Stone Blocks, which have been produced again since 1995. The famous pedagogue Friedrich Fröbel provided children with geometric shapes through which they should develop their creativity. None others than the world-famous brothers Gustav and Otto Lilienthal invented and marketed the building blocks together with the construction kit in 1879. The building blocks hold themselves only due to their friction and gravity. Probably, like many other inventors, these brothers were ahead of their time. Due to lack of good marketing, they sold the idea to Friedrich Adolf Richter, who then patented it from 1882 and produced it in Thuringia with successful marketing. The production period of the Anchor Stone Blocks survived the two world wars until 1963. The today still expanding production counts as an award-winning educational toy.

At present, we tend to see the negative things that could have been done better in the age of industrialization that actually took place, from today’s perspective. We have become accustomed to the inventions from that era in everyday life. But the negative was due to the existing system of the time.

Today, progress in technology also makes it possible to produce finer structures, so that, for example, models such as the BR 650 diesel powered railcar can be faithfully reproduced, even in the format of building blocks.

Looking back, can you imagine how exciting the years of industrialisation had been?
Please feel free to leave your comments.
How do you see the issues about plagiarism?

The post Building Blocks & Construction Blocks first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

Interesting to see the rising amount of imports towards Christmas time. Having the lowest amount in February to June, starting to double until November. Considering that due to Christmas Days the December is shortened by about 20%, we can estimate that December is a strong month, too. The January is usually used to exchange the money presents and vouchers under the Christmas Tree into goods.

The IT.NRW investigated the costs for the toys compared with the total consumer prices in 2021. It can be seen that the consumer prices had risen in a continuous manner, probably because the consumption of daily products is more or less constant over time, too. But it is interesting to see the old known economic correlation between supply and demand when looking at the toy market. Did you also feel this year that the news about a potential lack of toys for Christmas was with a bit of drama? We will see in the coming months whether it was justified and really some areas of the sales racks became or remained empty. In my mind, we did not suffer from quantities, but we suffered from the purchase price point of view. The correlation between the two graphs shows that in the time of low sales the products got cheaper by about 4%, but just in time for Christmas shopping, there we are at a plus of 4%. So there was a dynamic of 8% over the year. Sure, also 2021 was due to the pandemic an irregular year. Nevertheless, within Christmas time, some shops probably achieved profit.

Also interesting to see, where the Bavarian imports of the toys came from. Almost ¾ of imports were from the EU, 17.6% from China and 5.3% from the UK. Czechia and Poland had been the biggest importers. If you have ever visited Malta, you may be surprised that 6.8%, so 129 Mill. € were imported from that little island. It is somehow owed to Playmobil, which has a facility over there. When you have that little figure of Playmobil in your hand, it is quite sure it traveled from Malta into your home.

Imports of toys to Bavaria 2020 by country in percent

The Christmas tree informs which kind of toys had been imported to Bavaria. Please, feel invited to check below, whether your favorite toys may be mainly imported or not.

Could you imagine that one of the smallest members of the EU has such a big share in toy exports?
Could you find your favorite toy in our Christmas tree?
Please feel free to leave your comments.

The post Toys for Bavaria, A Short Delineation first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

Looking for toys? What about some fine, local and wonderful toy stores? When you buy local, you support the local economy while avoiding big corportations. Today, we highlight one very special shop:

Fips Store

Following the concept of fun during shopping, the Fips Laden allows us to play with all its offered products available in store. Yes, you can play with them all inside their store, before purchasing anything and their variety is huge.

Their store located in Lüneburg has 3 floors filled with toys of all kinds and for all ages, even for adults to have a great shopping experience for themselves. From indoor to outdoor options, storytelling, science, puppet dolls, etc. It doesn’t stop there, miscellaneous items are also offered, such as music instruments, party accessories, books, …

Sowing creativity while providing quality and allowing you to try it before buying it right away is something not disseminated so often today. Some of the great manufacturers they work with are: Lutz Mauder, Living Puppets, HABA, Jellycat, etc.

Please, go to their website to get more information such as address and what is currently available to be ordered online.

Yes, you can order your toys online through their website as well, where you can find many categories and even gift-cards. Shipment is currently free with orders valued at 40 euros or more. However, we really recommend to go at least once to their in-person store to feel the great atmosphere.

We will not dig deeper into the evolution of stores hereby but yes, there is a huge difference between the “old times” toy stores and the new ones. Material for another series, which we started here already.

Have you visited or heard of this shop before? We would love to know your experience, please share it with us and help us by sending this post to someone you care about.

The post Fips : Local Alternatives to Shop Better first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

Anyway, back then it was always special for me to go shopping with my parents in the big city next door, or I would go downtown with my grandpa during a visit to my grandparents from that neighboring city. There at Corn Market 7 was the center of bliss, Roskothen, a walk-in huge department store full of toys and nothing but toys. From full-scale baby dolls for the very young to the still famous Steiff items and many more specialized products for the older and adult children. I am sure it is fair to say that all the toys for sale were here ready for the curious hands and eyes on 900 square meters. There were salesmen who spent their whole professional life there, so there were always satisfactory solutions. Since my parents often had to do their shopping, there was not always time to visit Roskothen. You had to think in advance what you wanted to look at, because to stroll through the store with its six floors was simply too big.

_{© https://www.frechdachs.de/}

At Christmas time, not surprisingly, the store was also full of customers. One needed patience in this time, until one of the many salesmen had time for one. So on the days when there was not enough time to enter the store, it remained with the enchanting view in the many shop windows of the corner building. It was so natural at that time to look at the artistic works of the trained window decorators. And they had a lot to do, because on the first floor there were six large shop windows to design, and on the second floor another eight for the larger toys that could be admired from the sidewalk above. Just now at Christmas time, the shopping streets were decorated with many light scenes, every year there was a motto for the light pictures. And so the brightly lit shop windows matched the Essen Light Weeks.

As it probably happens to many, there comes a time in life when new toys become uninteresting. Completely different interests come to the fore. But then comes with many again the phase, the reviving interest in toys. With me it was in such a way that in the meantime this world changed, the large toy shops were gone, an irretrievable loss, such Christmas, no longer experienceable, only in the memories. Today I see young people going into today’s toy stores, and I imagine I can take them for a moment into my old world….

Have you ever heard about that store? Or do you know some equivalent? What is your experience? Please feel free to leave your comments.

The post Kornmarkt 7, 43 Essen : Toy stores from the past first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.

In this series, we highlight the benefits of supporting the local economy while bringing you shops which will make you want to buy there. Don’t worry… for sure, they will be way better than Amazon.

Zauberbaum24.de

The so called “Dresden’s most beautiful Toy Store” and one of the winners of the 2021 campagne “Germany searches the favorite store” is located in Dresden. Zauberbaum mainly works with and offers products from German producers. 

They offer educational and learning toys, wooden toys, slides, scooters, running wheels, a huge board game collection, etc. There are options for both small and big explorers and discoverers, as well as for different budget sizes.

Some of the brands they work with are: ERZI, Selecta, HABA, NIC, Grimm´s, KRAUL, Hapé, PinToy, Spielstabil, Schleich, Papo, Götz, Lutz Mauder.

Please, go to their website to get more information such as address and what is currently available to be ordered online.

Have you visited this shop before? We would love to hear about it, please let us know in the comments and help us by sharing this post with someone you care about.

The post Zauberbaum24.de : Local Alternatives to Shop Better first appeared on Product Cluster Blog.