September
9/7 PurseNality Night benefiting SafeHomes Domestic Violence Center
9/21 /September Third Thursday Tailgate Party—Open until 8 pm!
October
10/19 October Third Thursday-Fall In Love With Downtown—Open until 8 pm!
Remember to vote for our ScareKIDS in the Downtown North Augusta scarecrow contest!
10/27-10/28 Jack Lantern Jubilee in Downtown North Augusta—Open until 8 pm
November
11/2 Sip & Stroll Downtown
11/16 November Third Thursday Shop Small—Open until 8 pm!
11/23 Closed Happy Thanksgiving!
11/24 Black Friday
11/25 Shop Small Saturday
11/28 Cocoa and Cookie Crawl and tree lighting
Remember to vote for our tree in the Downtown North Augusta Christmas tree decorating contest!
December
12/9 Tinseltown Forest in Downtown North Augusta
12/10 Photos with Santa and Letter Writing
12/10 North Augusta Christmas Parade
12 Days of Christmas (12/8-19)
12/21 December Third Thursday Christmas Cheer —Open until 8 pm!
12/25 and 12/26 Closed Merry Christmas!
Remember you can rent out the store any Sunday for your own private party or private shopping experience! Give us a call or email for more information!
]]>Orange Otter Toy Store will host the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce to cut the ribbon in celebration of their first year in business. Located in historic downtown North Augusta, Orange Otter Toy Store has served over 5,000 children and families from across the CSRA and beyond since opening in late 2022.
Orange Otter Toys offers an escape into a world of imagination, creativity and play! You can experience all you love from the toy stores of old and the convenience of today's’ boutique shopping experience…every busy parent’s dream. The store is reminiscent of a classic toy store even offering a retro toy selection. The top sellers from the first year include arts and crafts like slime, stuffed animals, baby books and retro ribbon dancers. Customized gifts have also been a hit with parents who love the added WOW factor of a child’s name printed on a gift.
“We are so thankful for the community’s response and support of Orange Otter Toys.“ said Aubrey Hinkson, owner of Orange Otter Toys. “We created this store with busy parents and families in mind, and we are honored to help folks find unique, special gifts that are sure to make a child’s eyes light up. We want the toys purchased from us and the memories made in our store to last a lifetime.”
Orange Otter Toys carries the classics and latest kid-approved crazes catering to ages 0-12 and the young at heart. Customers have shared their enthusiasm for having a toy store back in the area and for the extra touches of magic like free gift wrapping.
“We want everything we carry to be kid-approved and sure-to-wow, so we welcome kids to try out toys in-store and give their feedback. We are locally owned and not a franchise, so we can truly let our customers select what we sell.” said Aubrey.
In the year ahead, Orange Otter Toys plans to grow by offering new toys every quarter, participating in all downtown North Augusta events, and offering services like in-store birthday parties.
“We’re excited for the holiday season ahead kicking off with Jack O’Lantern Jubilee. To date, it was our biggest day in the store, so we are hoping for another wonderful turnout.”
The Orange Otter is for kids, their parents, loved ones and those who love to play. Come check out the Otter difference in store or online.
About Orange Otter
Did you know otters play throughout their lifetime? From pup to adult, they never stop playing. Orange Otter Toys embraces this attitude in all we do. We carefully curate toys to wow the child in your life. We cater to parents looking for a great experience with their child and a convenient place to find a special gift. We are a resource for families to cherish the wonder of childhood together, the way toy shopping should be. The Otter is here to help you imagine, create, explore and play like never before! In short, the Otter Knows Play.
Visit us at orangeottertoystore.com or stop by Monday-Saturday at 336 Georgia Avenue Suite 105 in historic downtown North Augusta, SC.
Best Baby Toys (Ages 0-2)
At this age, children are fascinated by cause and effect toys. This is why we love toys with movement. Push and pull-along toys are great for crawlers and walkers. Toys focused on development of motor skills and understanding motion in general are going to be a hit. Babies love bright colors. This is why we love Fat Brain Toys.
Staff pick: 3 in 1 telephone from Small Foot Toys
Best Toddler Toys (Ages 2-3)
This is when the pretend play fun begins! We carry a wide array of stuffed animals and Corolle dolls for your child’s first introduction to pretend play. For those who love to build, classic Lincoln Logs or Magna-tiles are excellent development toys and gives them the freedom to pretend, create and explore. Kids are also learning about their emotions and how to regulate those emotions. Slumberkins and board books can be great tools for building these critical skills. We also love introducing arts and craft basics at this age. It gives them a chance to be creative and end playtime with a tangible takeaway.
Staff pick: Classic Lincoln Logs
Best Toys for Ages 4-5
Educational toys are a great idea to introduce at this age. Our STEM collection is full of great ideas. Why not explore nature with some of our outdoor toys like a telescope, magnifying glass or rock collection kit? Perhaps your child would have fun making their own slime kit? Let’s play and find out!
Staff pick: Volcano Kit
Best Toys for Ages 6-7
When I’m helping shop for a birthday gift for this age, I love to ask if there is a birthday party theme. If so, it is a good tell for what that child loves. For example, is it dinosaur themed? Sticking to a dinosaur related gift is guaranteed to bring a smile. As children develop their own interests at this time, you’ll learn to find a gift that matches what they are into whether that is sports, collectibles, art, space etc.
Staff pick: Hoop Brightz
Best Toys Ages 8-12
Kids at this age have now developed interests, abilities and hobbies they will more than likely take into adulthood. We have so many great family board games, screen-free fidget toys, collectibles and more to match your child's interests.
Staff pick: Shashibo Cube
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Ages 0-2 Marshmallow Jr. Bunny and That’s Not my Bunny Book
The imaginative use of textures in this inviting new board book adds a delightful dimension to sharing books with babies and toddlers. Read along with the cutest, softest tiny bunny from Mary Meyer. What a fun way to introduce your child to the Easter bunny!
Ages 2-4 Apple Park Big Farm Bunny and Chick Puzzle
We love this Eco-friendly, polyester free, organic cotton bunny who comes in bright colors sure to bring a smile to your child’s face! Pair the bunny with the cutest puzzle play set to help them learn their colors!
Ages 4-6 Egg Coloring Kit
Egg dying is one of our favorite spring traditions. Eco Kids wows again with their eggstraordinary, all natural kit made with organic fruit and vegetable extracts.
Ages 6-8 Rock Pet Bunny
We are loving Crocodile Creek’s new Rock Pets. This set comes ready for creativity to blossom with 6 paints and a paint brush included. Also available in turtle and frog.
Ages 8-10 Sea Monkey Eggs and Bouncy Egg, Hatch and Grow Duck
Let your child explore and learn about different reactions. Add water to the Hatch and Grow duck and watch him grow. Or how about a first pet Sea Monkey? And tons of fun jokes ahead (perfect for April Fool’s) with the bouncy egg.
Ages 10+ Nee Doh Squishees and Waboba
How about a high-flying bouncy ball in spring colors? Or choose from our marble egg or chickadee Nee Doh squishies. This fidget toys make perfect gifts for your older kids!
You can also customize a gift tub or grab one of our Easter baskets while they last!
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Looking for a unique way to celebrate your child’s birthday or special event? Our private shopping parties are designed just for you. Your child can explore an entire toy store and try out their new favorite toys!
Experience a more personalized, special event by hosting a private toy shopping party with us.
Each one-of-a-kind experience costs $250 and includes:
1. 2 hours in store with just you, your party and a toy expert!
2. The guest of honor will receive 20% off of their purchase
3. Each guest (up to 10) will receive $5 in Otter Bucks to spend in store during the party.
4. We are happy to help customize the space for your party allowing decorations, music of your choice and a table for refreshments.
Email us (orangeottertoys@gmail.com) with the date and time requested 6-8 pm Monday-Saturday or anytime Sunday). We'll message you with more info and to confirm your requested date.
Let's party soon!
Santa has shopped around and made a list of his favorite gifts for Christmas here at Orange Otter Toys. He picked a range of toys for all ages and interests. Thanks, Santa! HO, HO, HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Possibly the biggest toy for the 2022 holiday season, these are the perfect imaginative play toy! Play with these colorful tiles and you’ll see, there are endless ways to have fun and build! We have numerous collections including dinosaur, construction, metropolitan and classic!
Ages 3-99
A classic toy that provides hour of imaginative play! Designed in Germany, this large wooden doll house has 4 floors with an open front and richly detailed design and modern color scheme. Professionally designed to develop early-learning, fine motor skills to keep kids engaged and minds developing through playful problem solving. The high quality wood used is FSC certified in support of environmental sustainability.
Ages 3+
Kullerbu is the perfect combination of wood and plastic parts and highlights the advantages of each material making this sturdy play system from HABA one that will last for your child's entire childhood - and beyond. This makes a great starter set of the Kullerbu track system. Having a wide range of track section and accessories. you have endless options on how to build the track. Or are able to add the different sections to any Kullerbu set.
Ages 2 - 8
One of our top sellers is back and double the fun! Our Dueling Stomp Racers come with two launch pads and car. Let the racing begin. We love this active play toy that is a great way to practice coordination and get energy out!
And no batteries are needed; just your kid’s energy!
Ages 4-8
The perfect baby doll for Christmas! Choose from a variety of our high-quality dolls that smell of sweet vanilla. We have accessories to go with them including a stroller, clothes, baby bottles and more!
Ages 1+
You can’t go wrong with our large stuffed animals. We have an alpaca, giraffe, anaconda, sea turtle and crocodile in store! We also have a great selection of Squishables available online.
Ages 1+
Toniebox: Best screen-free gift
Listen, learn and play with your huggable box and favorite characters. We love this toy because it is screen-free but still gives kids an opportunity to learn through technology and lead their own story time.
Ages 3+
HAPE Gearhead Stunt Garage: Best Gift for Car Fanatics
The HAPE Gearhead Stunt Garage playset has a working elevator to transport your toy cars to the upper parking levels. From the top, it's a race to the bottom with fantastic stunt ramp action.
Ages 3 to 7
A hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) experiment kit, Mega Cyborg Hand provides a fun and engaging introduction to hydraulics. Build it and wear it!
Ages 7+
Looking for a bright way to add some sparkle to your child’s play? With our classic AirFort structure, you can host a fort party for all of your little ones! ! Out-of-this-world fun in just seconds!
Ages 3+
Multifunctional surfaces allow for unlimited art creations! 3-in-1 art easel for kids can be used as a drawing easel, white board, chalk board or lap desk! Non-toxic art supplies included! See your art come to life in vibrant color with Faber-Castell quality art supplies for kids. Faber-Castell art materials allow your young artist's imagination and creativity to take the lead.
Ages 4+
Manhattan Toys Activity Centers: best gift for baby
This wood activity center is packed full of exciting features! Includes 4 quadrants in the shape of a jellyfish with a variety of activities: gliders, bead runs, spinning gears, springy coral and clacking clams. Deep Sea Adventure offers seated and kneeling play
Ages 12 month+
Steiff Bear: Best gift for infant
Choose a holiday gift they will treasure their entire childhood. Did you know the world’s favorite toy is turning 120 years old? That’s why we’ve proclaimed 2022 as the “Year of the Teddy Bear.”
Age Group: Safety tested for ages 0+
]]>Is there a more classic toy? It is an ancient toy with proof of existence since 500 BC! We have colorful wooden yo-yos in addition to the metal ones that are great for “walking the dog”!
These awesome puzzles are TUBULAR! They each come with directions on how to build a character or kids can imagine and create their own. Great STEM challenge.
If you have gotten a Tonie box for your little one, grab one or two of their favorite characters for stocking stuffers! This will let them expand on the capabilities of their Tonie box and start to build a collection of friends.
Choose from large or tiny tins. This putty doesn’t dry out and is addictive! It is a great stress reliever and way to channel energy.
The patented, award-winning Shashibo fidget box features 36 rare earth magnets for an innovative design that transforms into over 70 shapes. Fits comfortably in the hand (and stocking)! Enjoy hours of mind-challenging fun, stimulate the senses with unlimited creative possibility!
The new line of miniature collectibles featuring the greatest toys of all time in the tiniest size! These are working miniatures. And if our tree in store doesn’t say it all, they make the PERFECT ornament or stocking stuffer. All your favorite toys and those you only dreamed of having can be found in miniature size. These tiny treasures fit into the palm of your hand!
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We carefully selected toys that will make you momentarily relive the good times. So we ask you to take a moment to remember the past, step back in time and take a look at some of our favorites.
These items are available in store and online.
1. Travel Bingo
Close your eyes and feel the breeze from the backseat of your mom’s station wagon with the woodgrain. But open your eyes quickly and see who can spot the first cow!
2. Marble Run
This has been our top seller since opening our doors in August. Kids can begin a marble collection and build a run to their own specifications.
Ribbon Dancer...writing on the wall...up and then it falls!
4. Cat’s Cradle
Who remembers the tea cup and Eiffel Tower? This string game is a classic.
5. Windmills
Windmills are available in small and jumbo! These have been such a special hit at the store. We put them outside each day to let folks know, “We’re Open!”
6. Harmonica
Did you know the harmonica originated in Germany? It is now commonly known as a blues instrument.
7. Slinky
Did you know the Slinky was originally created as a spring to be used in a battleship’s engine? Lucky for all of us that it was discovered to be much more fun as a toy in the 1940’s. We carry the small, metal original slinky as well as a jumbo slinky in rainbow.
8. Hacky Sack
These “footbags” became popular in the 1970’s. A game of dexterity and focus. Can you dig it?
9. Skip Ball
Just like the Skip It of old, this will keep your kid skipping and hopping for hours! The best part is, this version is made of a soft plastic that won’t break your ankle and the ball glows when you use it!
Check out our entire Retro selection online and in-store today!
]]>You can also make your wish list online. This makes creating, updating and sharing your list super simple.
Step 1: Come in store and let us know you want to create a Wish Bin!
Step 2: Fill the bin FULL of all the items you would like to receive on your special day.
Step 3: Orange Otter Toys will keep the list of items in store and email you a copy.
Step 4: Share with friends and family that you have a Wish Bin at the Orange Otter via invitation or online event related to your birthday.
Why complete an Orange Otter Toy Store Wish Bin?
Wishes do come true at Orange Otter Toy Store!
]]>We are proud residents of the river region. We’ve been lucky enough to witness river otters splashing in the Savannah on our evening walks with our daughter and dogs. So if we’re being specific, we are talking a North American river otter. With their tiny ears, long whiskers and adorable faces, otters are undeniably cute and kid-friendly. Did you know otters play throughout their lifetime? From pup to adult, they never stop playing. Orange Otter Toys embraces this attitude in all we do.
While an orange NA river otter does not actually exist, we love the color orange. Kids love the color orange. And orange just happens to be the signature color of our beloved alma mater. But that is just a happy coincidence. The alliterative wordplay is fun and fresh just like we hope our brand will feel to our customers.
Our otter is named Ottis. More formally known as Ottis Otterton. His job is to embody the curiosity of play and to help create a wondrous environment for exploration and imagination. With his magical and sometimes mischievous sensibility, Ottis beautifully encapsulates the feel and fun of a thoughtful and different toy store experience.
]]>1. We focus on classic play.
We provide a neighborhood experience delivering the human element unmatched by mass retailers. Our selection focuses on toys that trigger the imagination. We want our customers to explore and create new worlds of adventure and fun with each toy they select from Orange Otter Toy Store.
2. Our products are sustainable, durable and unique.
We see you. You've shown up to your child's friend's birthday party. You don't know him or her from the next kid, so you go online and search for an age appropriate gift. The likelihood that other attendees are doing the same is extremely high, so you all show up to random kid's birthday party with the same gift. Orange Otter Toys is here to help! Our personalization and unique items not found in big box stores will set you a part. It will make you and your child the hero of the birthday party. Our products are also carefully curated to ensure they will last. We want our toys to be passed down for generations to come, not thrown out because Mom is tired of the bulky, plastic mountain of toys overtaking her home.
3. We carry products that support a better world and environment for future generations.
Thankfully the next generation is more eco-conscious and focused on saving our planet. The brands we work with will have a sustainable mission, focused on doing good in the world and creating eco-friendly products kids can enjoy again and again. We are investing in the next generation with the products we offer.
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