The Second Dose: Why Bother?

Darryl and Daria Boyer started with just an aisle of toys in their auto tool shop. One aisle became two, and since then they have become one of Canada’s largest independent toy stores.

The Innovation Centre’s BTIF program has allowed the Boyers to upgrade their foundations and add a new computerized POS (Point of Sale) system to manage both their toy and tool inventory. With over 20,000 varieties of toys available through their store alone, their need for heftier equipment was met with the funding provided. “We needed a faster machine for both businesses, and by purchasing this new computer we saved money in the long run,” says Boyer.

Aside from their original warehouse, the company has a separate storefront on Bay Street to serve clients. Unlike usual chain stores, Toy Sense displays their entire inventory for customers in store, meaning everything they have is stored in-house and must be meticulously tracked. With the POS system, the Boyers can control online sales, storefront purchases, and ordering inventory. The toy store also began shipping to places such as Denmark, Australia, and Germany in the last year, increasing their e-commerce presence and computer load. As well, the company offers wholesale purchasing on their online portal, allowing mass quantities to be sold using the new POS.

“We’re really reflecting on how much we’ve grown. We’ve had renovations happening since 2018, and we used the money we saved for local contractors. Anything to help run the business, especially at a time like this, helps,” says Daria.

The owners applied to the BTIF program to enhance and upgrade their business processes with hardware and software sector, and were “walked through the process and given suggestions for approaching their issue,” says Darryl. Local businesses can find program information and how to apply on the Innovation Centre’s website, nwoinnovation.ca.