Kokomo Toys & Collectibles unique community staple
KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - In just three years, Kokomo Toys & Collectibles has developed itself into a community staple. On Geek Street, in the heart of downtown, the playhouse of vintage action figures and collectables offers nostalgia to adult collectors and new adventures to youth.
Owned by Amber and Todd Jordan, Kokomo Toys has provided unique items for nearly 10 years - long before moving into its downtown location.
The couple began selling collectibles out of a warehouse on the city's north end. It was a small shop, and the location wasn't great for walking traffic, Amber Jordan said.
"So when we decided to expand our location, there was really no other place we wanted to be other than downtown," she added.
In 2014, Kokomo Toys & Collectibles opened on Geek Street. Nestled between Comics Cubed and Goblin Games, Kokomo Toys completes the trifecta of geekdom.
Garnering regional attraction, people come from all over the Midwest to take a look at the toy shop's inventory.
It houses vintage action figures from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, as well as popular items such as Transformers, G.I. Joe, He-Man and of course, Star Wars.
"Star Wars is a big one because it's pretty much timeless," Amber said.
Their collection of action figures come with the appropriate play sets and vehicles, but the variety of toys doesn't stop at high-end collectibles. The long aisles are filled with everything from stuffed animals to popular toys of today.
The inventory is extensive, so much so that Amber isn't able to provide a definitive number because the stock is always changing. And that is because they not only sell collectibles, but also buy them.
"We get a lot of support from the community," Amber said. "(And) a lot of support from other collectors."
And with that support, the Jordans have always aimed to build a toy store they themselves would want to shop at, since they happened to be collectors.
"We collected the things that we like, which were action figures," Amber said about starting the business back in 2008.
It was a hobby at first, because both had their own extensive collections. Then they realized with the combined growth of both collections, it was time get rid of some. So they started to sell them.
Amber had been collecting since she was a kid. Her favorite was He-Man and She-Rah action figures, and she loved My Little Pony.
Looking back, she realizes how male-dominated her favorite hobby was and still is, but notes that there has been significant growth and interest from women and girls.
"The market is predominantly male, but there is a surprising number of female customers and we've only seen a growth in that," Amber said.
For anyone one interested, boy or girl, in exploring the world of toy collectibles, Amber offers some advice.
"Buy what you like; don't worry about anything else," she said. "It doesn't matter how much it costs or if you're worried about the value of it later. Don't collect for the monetary value of it, collect for the fun of it."
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Source: Kokomo Tribune, http://bit.ly/2jZtJHq
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Information from: Kokomo Tribune, http://www.ktonline.com