Simplay3, a new toy and home and garden company, has opened a preview store at Hudson’s First & Main shopping district.
The Streetsboro company founded by toy industry veteran Tom Murdough recently started selling its products online at www.simplay3.com. Murdough, who founded both the Little Tikes company and Step2 before selling them, came out of retirement to start Simplay3 with several of his former associates and partners.
The idea behind Simplay3 is to make rotational mold toys and home products without the middle man or mass-market retailers. Simplay3’s design is to sell exclusively online via its website. Shipping is free for all orders west of the Mississippi River and $9.99 west of the Mississippi, said Dotti Franks, marketing communications specialist.
But the company decided to open the preview store for the holiday season in the First & Main shopping district as a way to allow local customers a chance to touch and feel the products before they buy, Franks said. Murdough, a Hudson resident, is also owner and developer of the First & Main district at the corner of state routes 303 and 91.
Customers will also be able to give the company feedback on some future products at the store at 46 Park Lane, next to the Cold Stone Creamery.
“Based on prior experience at Little Tikes and Step2, where we had on-site company stores, we learned a great deal from consumer contact with our products,” Murdough said. “That’s the same thinking behind the launch of our preview store in the First and Main shopping district.”
Five of the company’s products — four home and garden products and a children’s Game Day Push About Helmet stroller — are available for purchase at the store. Other items are available for viewing and pre-orders and several future items are also on display for customer feedback, Franks said.
There is also a promotional discount of 10 percent for orders purchased at the store, Franks said.
The store opened last weekend and for now is on a short-term lease, though the company may decide to keep it open.
Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty
