Featured Retailer: Treeblocks
November 3, 2009 by Brenda
Filed under Babies & Toddlers, Family, Featured Posts, Featured Retailers
Who are you and what is your position?
My name is Jeremy Freeman and I am the owner and director of Treeblocks. (www.treeblocks.co.uk)
The reason for starting the company?
The inspiration for an ethical toy shop Treeblocks came about when I discovered the Treeblocks own brand building blocks and treehouses whilst visiting the USA. The unique feel of these blocks grabbed my kids’ attention immediately, and really stirred my imagination. Once home I found them impossible to source in the UK, so I decided to become a main distributor of the products and we have very close contact with the factory that handcraft them. The Treeblocks building blocks are still a constant source of fun and education at home.
How long have you been in business?
I bought the business two years ago and have since expanded our range to include a carefully hand-picked selection of other wonderful and inspirational wooden toys that are educational whilst also being fun. Plus I really wanted to focus on greener more natural and even traditional toys to counter the growing mass of cheap, disposable plastic toys available from high street stores.
Tell us about your products?
Our most popular range is our own-label Treeblocks natural wooden building blocks and treehouses. Children love playing with these beautiful, natural, wooden pieces to create unique and individual structures. As each piece still has the original tree bark attached, they have a very natural and ‘unfinished’ feel, and as a result Treeblocks products also improve awareness of the origins of these wooden products and encourage further interest in nature, trees and the outdoors.
We work hard to source new toys and games that are unusual and uncommon, and not widely available from other retail outlets, and of course we try to ensure that all products are as green and ethical as possible, using trusted suppliers with great eco-credentials. Most of our toys are suitable from 6 months to 6 years.
What is your favourite green luxury item?
I’m not sure it’s classed as luxury – but I use Ecover products whenever and wherever possible, due to their commitment to minimising the impact of their products on the environment. A hot shower using their citrus shower gel is close to luxury!
What is your top green tip?
Don’t just recycle (ie: throw stuff away in the correct bins for councils to collect), but re-use items, packaging, glass jars, bottles & storage containers wherever possible in your home and at work. Mass recycling also requires huge energy consumption & therefore has a carbon footprint of its own.
What do you do to relax?
Being surrounded by various toys at the workplace is always fun! Treeblocks really cares about the products and services we offer. You can’t take things too seriously, and you really must try to have fun and enjoy your work – as it consumes so much of our time! Spending time with my family (wife and two kids) – ideally outdoors is cheap, fun and never dull!
Related posts:
- TGF Likes…Treeblocks Natural Building Blocks
- Hot News! Treeblocks launch a new product range in time for Xmas
- Featured Retailer: Clementine Toys
- Featured Retailer: Extinct Design
- Featured Retailer: Organico
Sign up to the TGF daily feeds on Twitter, Facebook, RSS or our weekly/monthly updates.
