As a kid, the thought of having your own toy store meant freedom to play with any and every toy you could imagine, all day long.  That dream, in the mind of just about any kid, would be pure bliss.  Imagine the fun and thrill of having every toy you could ever want, within reach, at any given time.  While there may only be a few of us who turned that dream into reality, Matthew Purdy, the Owner of Toy Traders in Langley, is one of them.

This Yukon born man moved to BC to attend high school in Abbotsford and has been in business in Langley since 1995.  What started mainly as a toy trading business has now evolved into BC’s largest independent toy store.  As a former toy collector himself, Matthew is a great example of someone who enjoys what he does and who turned his passion for toys into a successful business.

The store is composed of three major elements and caters to a wide range of customer, from the wide-eyed little ones who go crazy with excitement to the not-so-little ones who still delight in nostalgic toys and collectible items.  Regardless of which one you are, it’s a magical place to be.

The first element of the store is it’s Trade Centre, which accepts toys and collectibles from customers.  Your trade-ins are valuated while you wait. The staff in the Trade Centre are knowledgeable on the current toy markets as well as recalls issued and will give you a fair value based on the toy’s condition and re-sell value.  Any amounts you earn for the trade-in is provided to you in Trader Bucks, which never expire and are tax-free.  They can be used on any item in the store, new or used (used items will have a green price sticker on them).

The second element of the store is its brand new toy section, which comprises 80% of the store.  Toy Traders carries brands such as Lego and Playmobil, Melissa & Doug and Calico Critters, and many, many more.  They also carry the entire line of Schleich’s hand-painted animals and Smurfs and boasts popular items such as Angry Birds and Vamplets.

The last element of the store is for the collectors.  Collectible items, from new to nostalgic, are widespread from GI Joe to Transformers, DC and Marvel Comics, as well as movie collectibles for Star Wars, Terminator and more.  If you’re a collector and you haven’t been to Toy Traders yet, you are missing out!  They are Canada’s largest collectible store.

If the toy selection isn’t enough to intrigue you, you will be blown away by the displays in and around the store.  These dioramas (or models representing a scene with 3-D characters) are detailed, full scale and intensely creative. From life size figures to re-enacted scenes from popular cartoons and movies, you’ll need to take your time to take it all in.  And guess who’s responsible for these?  Not a movie production crew.  Matthew and his staff.

Toy Traders does their “leg work” in checking other flyer and sale prices, and displays comparative pricing on their shelves.  They have weekly specials and new items coming in often, which you can learn of through their newsletter.  Their well-informed staff take pride in their work, are great with kids and look forward to making your visit an enjoyable one.  Just prepare yourself.  When you walk in, someone will go bananas with delight, and it might not be your kids.

Toy Traders is gifting two of our readers $50 Trader Bucks each! Please leave a note below to be entered to win. Winners will be chosen at random on December 16, 2011. 

For an extra chance to win, please post the following on Twitter: “I entered to win $50 to @toytraders from @FVPulse – you should enter, too! http://ow.ly/7W8MZ”

Toy Traders
www.toytraders.ca
19888 Langley Bypass, Langley
Ring: 604.532.9516 

Owner Glenda Cox opened Glenda’s Christmas Cottage 22 years ago at her husband’s suggestion. She had so many Christmas decorations he told her she should open a store at Christmas. Glenda says she didn’t think the store would survive and spent the first year operating out of one room while spending most of her time outside. After a few years, the store was expanded. Now, the cottage takes up an entire shed in the yard and Glenda has seven workers helping her manage the store. Even her granddaughters help out.

So how does she choose what she sells? Glenda goes to a variety of trade shows, including in Seattle and Toronto, and chooses items she thinks people will like. In her travels during the rest of the year, she looks for unique items to sell.

“I don’t sell crafts, that’s about the only thing I don’t sell,” Glenda says. “There are so many craft fairs out here that people can sell at. So I stay away from those. I also don’t sell wrapping paper. But I sell just about everything else that’s about Christmas.” That includes ornaments, gifts, decorations, gourmet foods, candles, potpourri, keepsakes, snowmen, Department 56 Dickens’ Village series, Byers’ Choice handcrafted carolers, jewelry, and dancing Santa hats.

Speaking of ornaments, Glenda’s carries virtually every type of ornament available, from ornaments for animal lovers to sports fanatics, and from purse and shoe designs to nutcrackers.  She also carries the traditional ornamental balls in a variety of colours and designs. You can even top off your tree with one of the many different angels she carries. There’s also no shortage of reindeer or Santa decorations.

In addition to the cottage, Glenda’s yard is decorated for Christmas, including hundreds of Christmas lights, carefully put out by Glenda’s elves. Just driving up to the cottage will put you in a cheerful, Christmas mood. The lights are turned on daily at 4:00 pm.

Every year, Glenda’s Christmas Cottage holds a cookie decorating day, where around 400 children come to the store and decorate Christmas cookies with Mrs. Claus and Santa. This year, approximately $400 was raised at the event and donated to the local food bank. Glenda’s also helped decorate the LIFE Recovery house.

Glenda’s Christmas Cottage is open from November 1 through December 23 yearly. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday 12-5.

We have a $25 gift certificate for one lucky reader to spend at Glenda’s Christmas Cottage! Please leave a note below to be entered to win. Winner will be chosen at random on December 13, 2011. 

Glenda’s Christmas Cottage
www.glendaschristmas.com 
4557 Mt. Lehman Road, Abbotsford
Ring: 604.856.4743 

In the Company of Friends celebrates its 9 year anniversary this December and is not only a family business, but a business full of support from friends.  Barbara St. Laurent, a married Mother of two grown children, originally bought the space from one of her daughters and expanded it into what it is today. Her background stems from over 30 years of retail experience and she has lived all over the world, now residing in Cloverdale.

Many years ago, Barbara’s friends started making crafts, a somewhat foreign concept to her at the time.  This not only became something that she loved to do, but also evolved into many, many years of craft show participation, a groundwork that would influence her confidence to purchase the retail space when the timing was right.  Needless to say, she hasn’t looked back.

The store has a vintage feel to it, but also hosts a room full of modern items for babies and kids.  You will find beautiful china, as well as home decor and gifts from brands like Midwest of Cannon Falls and Primitives by Kathy.  The store displays change frequently with the latest season of celebration (Halloween is in full effect) and they also re-paint the walls throughout the year, creating beautiful backgrounds for their decor.

As you shop in the store, you’ll enjoy music from the 1930’s and 1940’s and when you leave with your goodies in tow, they’ll be packaged to perfection in adorable gift bags, seasonal tissue paper and cutesy stickers.  Finding that perfect item and having it packaged like a beautiful gift, what a treat!

In the Company of Friends offers custom made gift baskets, staff gifts for companies and always has specialty packaging on site.  They host several fundraisers in the store throughout the year, offering a fun night out, draw baskets and gift with purchase rewards, with a portion of sales going to a specified charity.  They are involved in community events in the area, such as the Cloverdale Halloween Costume Parade and Santa’s Parade of Lights.

It’s clear when you visit this store that Barbara knows what she likes, loves what she does and is eager to help you find what you need.  If you’re lucky, you’ll also get the chance to meet her mother Doreen, who helps in the store and brings homemade shortbread cookies at Christmas time.  Be sure to visit the store closer to the Christmas season for unique ornaments and creative display inspiration. It is one of our favourite times to visit, though any holiday season is at treat at In the Company of Friends!

In the Company of Friends would love to gift one of our fabulous readers a gift basket of seasonal delights from their charming store! Please leave a note below to be entered to win. A winner will be chosen at random on October 24, 2011.

Congratulations to our winner, Tia. This contest is now closed.

In the Company of Friends
www.inthecompanyoffriends.ca
17582 56A Avenue, Surrey (Cloverdale)
Ring: 604.574.6221 

The moment you walk in, you will discover beautifully designed spaces, ranging in styles from Shabby Chic to Country Cottage.  The Passionate Home is a treasure trove of old mixed with new and has the feel of a flea market in some respects.  It’s as though all the best finds landed here, with affordable prices and a constantly rotating stock.

In business for over five years now, The Passionate Home is owned and run by Carrie Thachuk, a woman with a keen eye for vintage and flea market treasures.  Her strong eye for design has been something she has always had, along with a sense of passion and pride in her own home.

Although she had no previous retail experience before opening the store, Carrie had the desire to start her own business and often visited home decor stores that she felt were lacking.  Feeling confident that she could create a store that would allow her to share her passion with others, Carrie put her money where her mouth was and opened The Passionate Home.

Carrie easily sees the potential of turning something old into something new again.  She refurbishes many items herself, but also relies on a community of individuals who help her find unique pieces of furniture and antiques to bring into the store.  No only are these items environmentally friendly, but they promote a great rescue and re-use mentality.

The Passionate Home offers a number of personal services to their customers, including in-home decorating consultations and custom painting for your furniture.  There is also a “Wish Book” for customers to list specific items they may need help finding, since Carrie is always on the lookout.

The store has recently re-located to a space almost three times larger than the prior location and is only a short hop across the courtyard in McBurney Lane. The expanded space also allows for lots of room to wander through and discover local jewellery designers, original artwork and locally crafted creations.

The Passionate Home
www.thepassionatehome.com
20526B Fraser Hwy, Langley
Ring: 604.532.5931

We discovered Crush Clothing & Accessories a few years ago but have recently visited and fallen in love all over again! Just in time for a Spring wardrobe update!

Owner Alaina Cloke has some darn good fashion sense and her boutique is her playground to express that talent. Alaina worked at the boutique as a young woman just out of high school and purchased the business at the young age of 21! It was located in Semiahoo Mall and operated under a different name before it became Crush Clothing, but from the time she started this part time job, the whole industry fascinated her. Alaina would join the buyer on buying trips, would merchandise her own corner of the store and fell in love with helping women find their perfect outfits. Crush Clothing moved to Grandview Corners in South Surrey two years ago and continues to thrive in this busy new location.

Crush Clothing is most definitely a playground for ladies who love to shop. You will find designer brands such as ENTI Clothing, Michelle Roy Designs, Color, POL, Juicy Couture, Betsy Johnson, Tarina Tarantino, LA Idol, E.V.I.L., CC Skye and celebrity brands including Nicole Ritchie’s House of Harlow. 80 per cent of the lines found at Crush Clothing are exclusive to Alaina’s store; you won’t find them elsewhere in Western Canada.

The accessories collection at Crush Clothing is enough to keep any woman happy for quite some time. We were mesmerized by all of the rings, necklaces, clips, pins, headbands, bags and all kinds of sparkly dainties. Alaina also supports talented local designers such as Sweetpiece by Marjolyn. We love to see that!

Alaina contributes the success of her South Surrey boutique to being unique and to her dedication to being just ahead or just in line with media trends. She spends lots of time on the road, seeking out the newest trends and up-and-coming designers in Los Angeles. Once you visit, you’ll see the dedication by the fashionable displays and exclusive offerings.

Take a trip over to Grandview Corners and pop into Crush Clothing – it’s a girly paradise! Grandview Corners is a fantastic South Surrey shopping district featuring over 70 shops and services.

Alaina has generously offered one of our awesome readers a $200 gift certificate PLUS a fashionista must-have summer accessories prize pack – total value is $350! Please leave a note below to be entered to win. Winner will be announced June 10, 2011.

For a bonus entry, please post the following on Twitter: “I entered to win a $350 fashionista prize pack from @FVPulse & @ShopCrush http://ht.ly/55eza”.

Crush Clothing
www.crushclothing.ca
Grandview Corners
160th at 24th Avenue, Surrey
Ring: 604.531.8421

The Eco Floor Store opened on the Langley/Surrey border in January 2011 and it is a perfect fit for Owner Jared Kress. Jared and his family are committed to choosing healthier options where they are available. “There are way more eco-friendly options than people think,” explained Jared, “It’s a lot more than laminate and hardwood.” And it is – The Eco Floor Store carries certified asthma & allergy-friendly flooring, wool carpets, hand tufted rugs from India, recycled porcelain and certamic tiles, bamboo and cork flooring and 100% Canadian solid hardwood. They even carry leather flooring and snakeskin, too. Snakeskin floors! You have to see it to believe it.

Also available are great options for mouldings, concrete countertops, flexible slate and granite for back splashes and other wall applications, wood flooring glue with no VOCs, environmentally friendly cleaning products and lots more. The store is spacious and comfortable, with a play area for kids, coffee for the big kids and organic chocolate treats for visitors.

Your perception of eco-friendly flooring is likely that it’s expensive, right? That was our perception, absolutely. The Eco Floor Store’s tagline is ‘You Don’t Have to Pay More For an Eco Friendly Floor’ and they hold true to that. In fact, they offer a .99 cent laminate as an entry-level flooring option.

If you are doing some renovations, building a home or office or just looking for new ideas for ‘some day’, check out The Eco Floor Store. We think Jared is onto something big. And did we mention the organic chocolate treats for visitors?

The Eco Floor Store
www.thatecostore.com
203 – 5511 192nd Street, Surrey
Ring: 604.576.4400

Elemental Canine in Cloverdale has a fabulous commitment to providing healthy options for pets. A veterinarian assistant for several years, owner Lisa Robinson commits herself to helping people find healthy food and treat options for their fur babies. The Cloverdale pet boutique carries raw food (human quality ingredients) and healthy kibble options. Lisa says a lot of her time is spent counseling visitors on the right raw protein types for their dogs, or how to create balanced home-cooked meals. And it’s true: every time we visit, there is a constant stream of people coming in for just that!

Elemental Canine is fun. The bright store is pet-friendly, provided they are well behaved and leashed. The store doggy, Ruby, will greet you all with a sniff and a snort. You will find great products and accessories such as Thundershirt, custom crate covers, hypo-allergenic shampoos, toothbrushes with natural toothpaste, eco-friendly pet waste bags, fluffy pet beds, Cesar Milan training aids and stylish harnesses. Custom cakes, even for dogs with allergies, are available for order as well. Fun!

Once a month a local homeopathic veterinarian hosts seminars at Elemental Canine, sharing alternative therapies and discussions on all things around raising a healthy, happy pet. Contact the boutique for seminar topics and times.

It’s nice to see a place close to home that is so committed to providing healthy options for our furry companions. If you have a question about pet nutrition or you’re looking for unique pet accessories, we highly recommend a visit to Elemental Canine.

Elemental Canine
www.elementalcanine.com
3 –  5723 176th Street, Surrey
Ring: 604.575.2614

Nicole Garza is a mother of two. As all mothers know, laundry and motherhood go hand in hand. Frustrated at the constant laundering of stained bibs, Nicole put her mind to creating a new kind of bib. Something durable, stain resistant and easy to clean. Nicole and her husband got to work on this new concept, and the original leather Mally Bibs were born.

Mally Bibs are available in two sizes: baby size (6 months – 3 years) and toddler size (1 year – 4 years). The durable leather makes the bibs so easy to clean. Just wipe ‘em off and they are good as new. The magnetic closures make for easy storage options in between uses. Many of the folks we have gifted these to simply stick them to the fridge in between uses! Super convenient.

One of the cutest features of these unique leather bibs is the fact that they can be personalized. On one side you’ll find the adorable designs such as the caterpillar, cupcake or peeking panda. On the other side you will find a pocket with the munchkin’s name! There are so many adorable designs but for those of you who really want to personalize your gifts, check out their custom bib studio. Fun!

Mally Designs also creates leather change purses, art cards, passport holders and bookmarks, all with their signature fun designs.

Online shopping makes purchasing a Mally Bib super easy. However, if you’d like to check them out in person you can visit their factory outlet store in Abbotsford. Until December 23rd they are open Monday – Friday, 10AM – 4PM. Visit before December 23rd and bring a non-perishable food donation for the Abbotsford Food Bank. You will receive $5 off your purchase, which will be donated along with an additional $5, to the food bank. Excellent!

Nicole, you are one creative woman! We love the story of Mally Bibs and will forever be proud of the fact that this super cool product was ‘born’ in Abbotsford.

Mally Designs
www.mallybibs.com
3-2303 Windsor Street, Abbotsford
Ring: 778.880.0555

Owner Anna Ludwinowski and her husband David purchased the Essential Packaging wholesale business in 1995. Their business was with corporate clients who were ordering custom-print packaging, ribbons and other specialty packaging (a division of their company that is still booming today). Crafters caught wind of this great local business and started to make requests, although they would need only a few pieces at a time. Anna recalls selling pieces from half opened boxes under their desks for a couple of years, until it became clear it was time to open up a storefront.

A little over 12 years ago they opened the store in its current location in Cloverdale. Anna explained to us how much the store has grown, saying customer and staff input has really determined what they carry. Their selection is HUGE but if there’s something in particular you are seeking, they will help you find it.

Brides-to-be will want to visit Essential Packaging to see Envelopments and Invites A La Carte. Choose from a variety of colours, designs – find your perfect invitations, save the date cards, menus, placecards and more!

Make Santa’s elves jealous this year with the most fabulously wrapped holiday gifts! Even if you don’t think you can muster up enough creativity to channel your inner Martha, Essential Packaging will still make your gifts (and you!) look amazing. Their creative staff are full of fantastic ideas to help wrap up your holiday, birthday, anniversary, corporate event or anytime gifts.

We absolutely love this shop, which is one of the reasons why we asked Essential Packaging to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas in the Fraser Valley promotion. All of the donated gifts have been wrapped by their creative team. Enter to win – you’ll love your winnings for the packaging alone!

Essential Packaging Store
www.essentialpackagingstore.com
103-17665 66A Avenue, Surrey
Ring: 604.576.6671

Imagine a store filled with delectable chocolates, brightly coloured confectionary and candies both you and your parents would remember from childhood. That store? It’s in Fort Langley. It’s called Into Chocolate and you need to pay it a visit!

Into Chocolate Specialty Sweets is paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth. Take a trip down memory lane as you discover Thrills, Charleston Chews, Pez, Whirly Pops and so many different candy varieties from your childhood. Enjoy many varieties of imported sweets and chocolates from Great Britain, Australia, Germany and other countries. Try some Crick-ettes by Hotlix or perhaps chocolate covered insects are more your style?

There literally is something for everyone at Into Chocolate including sugar-free confections and gluten free treats. Brides to be can order wedding favours and holiday shoppers will delight at the unique sweet stocking stuffers available here. You will also find here the largest selection of Rogers Chocolates outside of Vancouver!

One fun thing to experience at this Fort Langley candy store is the Create Your Own Collection chocolate selection. Several boards are available and customers can choose from the fresh chocolate display. Hazelnut praline, chai spice, real fruit gelees – you will certainly enjoy their dainty, yummy chocolates. If you enjoy a good drink now and then, check out the Shotz liquer-filled chocolates. They have everything from scotch to cosmopolitans.

Delaine Willms co-owns Into Chocolate with her husband. Since purchasing this store in 2009 she has enjoyed the fascinating world of candy! Delaine says the buying for the store is very fun and watching people’s reactions to what they find at Into Chocolate is so rewarding. We agree – how much fun would it be to buy that much candy?! Every time we visit, a customer can be heard saying ‘ooohhhh, I love these’ or ‘I haven’t seen these in years!’. It’s really fun to browse all the corners of this darling candy shop to see what is in stock.

So go on, take a trip to Fort Langley this holiday season and act like a real kid in a candy store. We have a $10 gift certificate for one of you to take along. Choose your own chocolate adventure sweets are just $1 each so this $10 could buy you quite a sugar high! Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. Winner will be announced December 6, 2010.

Into Chocolates
www.intochocolate.ca
C9217 Glover Road, Fort Langley
Ring: 604.882.7317