– by Christie Hall –
A future Sidney politician might currently be in high-stakes negotiations for the purchase of a new LEGO set at Buddies Toys. After 25 years in business, sisters Jane Powell and Carol van Adrichem of Buddies Toys have watched several generations of children grow up and return to the store with their own children.
On April 1st, 1989 Jane and Carol opened the doors of a small toy shop on Beacon Avenue in Sidney. Twenty-five years later, with a significant expansion of the Sidney store and the 1996 addition of a shop in Estevan Village, Buddies Toys continues to provide a selection of high quality toys, along with stellar small town customer service.
The store concept originated from Jane and Carol’s desire to be self-employed. They wanted to control their hours and be closer to home. Carol had recently moved back to the area after running a dental clinic in Sechelt, and Jane was a child and youth care worker at a Victoria psychiatric unit. Both had young children. After months of research and business planning, they decided that what Sidney needed was a toy store.
“We had no experience, little money, and not much stock!” says Jane. The two women sacrificed time with their families and worked most Saturdays. However, Jane and Carol’s children enjoyed certain benefits, like first dibs on stickers in an era when every child’s goal was to fill their album with the most and the best. With their moms trading shifts at the store, the younger generation enjoyed lots of time together with cousins. Jane’s daughter Lauren, part of the current Buddies Toys management team, remembers the kids all playing in the store window until bedtime while their moms got the store ready for its grand opening. Lauren’s own children are now enjoying a similar experience.
The toy industry has changed in 25 years, as customers become savvier about their choices. Licensed brands are now out of the reach of independent retailers, but that is part of what makes the Buddies Toys experience a special one. “There is a strong specialty market,” says Jane, “and a new generation of parents who don’t want the commercial products for their kids.”
Jane Powell believes firmly that independent business is at the heart of a great community, and watching the kids of the community grow up in the store has brought the sisters a lot of joy and laughter. From tiny shoplifters, to wet pants at the train play table, to the occasional full meltdown, owning a toy store is an interesting glimpse into the future. As Jane likes to say: “Some of Sidney’s nicest people were once carried out of here crying.” Maybe you were one of them!
Jane, Carol, Lauren and the entire Buddies Toys team invite you to join them for birthday celebrations in the coming weeks. Please visit www.buddiestoys.ca for details.
