In every small town and villages in india , you will see children playing with whatever they find sticks, old tires or homemade balls. But when a proper toy shop opens it becomes a favorite place for both children and the parents. A toy shop may sound like a city business but even in rural and semi urban areas, the demand is strong. Families want to buy affordable toys for birthdays, small gifts or to keep their children happy. This is why opening a toy shop can be a good business idea for the rural youth.
How much Investment is Needed?
To start a small toy shop, you don’t need lakhs of rupees. Only with Rs40000 to Rs70000, you can set up a simple shop. If you already have a small room at home or space in a local market, your cost becomes even less. The main expenses will be for buying toys, racks for display and some decoration to make the shop colorful looking.
For those who want a bigger shop in a bazaar area, the investment may go up to Rs1 lakh. But it is always better to begin small and slowly increase stock when you understand what toys children are buying the most.
From where to buy Toys in Bulk
You cannot run a toy shop by buying one or two items from retail stores. You need wholesale suppliers. most rural shopkeepers go to nearby big cities to buy toys in bulk.
- In Assam, places like Fancy Bazaar (in Guwahati ) are famous for wholesale toys.
- in West bengal, Burrabazar ( Kolkata ) is a big wholesale hub.
- You can also order toys online from B2B sites like IndiaMART or Tradeindia, but buying directly from city markets is cheaper in most cases.
Always mix your stock. Keep both plastic low cost toys like cars, dolls, bats and balls and also slightly better quality items like remote cars or board games for families who can spend a little more money.
How to stock the Shop in the beginning
When you are starting, do not buy too many of one kind of toy. Children have different tastes , some love cars, others like dolls or cricket bats. So instead of keeping 100 pieces of the same toy, keep 10 to 15 pieces of different items. This way your shop looks full, and children always find something they like.
You should also keep seasonal toys like water guns and balloons during Holi, kites during Vishwakarma Puja or plastic bats and balls during cricket season. These small ideas increase sales.
Getting Toys without buying First
One smart way many shopkeepers follow is talking to distributors directly. Sometimes, distributors give toys on credit. You sell them first and then pay the distributor later. This reduces your investment pressure. But to get this benefit, you need to build trust with the distributor by being regular and honest in the payments.
Licenses and Permissions
For a toy shop, you do not need heavy licenses. Still there are some small formalities:
- Shop and establishment license from the local panchayat or municipality.
- GST registration only if your yearly sales go above Rs20 lakh (not necessary for small shops).
If you are running the shop from your own house in the village usually panchayat permission is enough.
How to Attract the Customers
A toy shop must look bright and colorful. Children should feel excited when they pass by. Simple ideas like balloons hanging at the entrance or a few toys displayed outside or even a small discount board will bring attention.
You should also connect with local schools. Many schools buy toys or learning games for kindergarten classes. You can also sell small items like slates, puzzles or educational toys that parents buy for study purposes.
Another way is to provide doorstep delivery in nearby villages. If you have a two wheeler, you can take small orders from parents over phone Whatsapp and deliver them at home. This service is not common in villages, so it can make your shop special.
Struggles You May Face
Every business has struggles. For toy shops, the biggest challenge is seasonal demand. During festivals, sales are high. But in some months toys may not sell fast and your money gets stuck in stock. Another struggle is that children often want the newest toys they see on TV or Youtube. If you don’t update your stock, they will lose interest.
Also since toys are often made of plastic, quality control is important. Cheap toys break easily and parents may complain. So you should test the toys before keeping them in your shop.
How to learn Toy repairing
Sometimes children come with broken toys, especially battery cars or remote control toys. If you can repair them, even for Rs20 to Rs50, it gives you extra income and keeps customers happy. Learning this is not very hard. You can either:
- Watch free Youtube tutorials on toy repairing.
- Work for 2 or 3 months in a city toy shop to gain experience.
Small repair service can make your shop more trusted.
Investment without Government Help
For toy shops, government schemes are not always easy. So how to arrange money?
- family savings is the most common way.
- Small cooperative banks or local micro finance institutions sometimes give Rs50k to 1 lakh loan for shopkeepers.
- Another way is sharing the shop with a friend or relative. Two people can start together by dividing costs and profits.
Last words
Opening a toy shop in rural and semi urban areas is not only a business, it is also a happy service. When children of the village get toys at low cost, parents feel the joy too. For the shopkeeper, it is a way to earn steady income while spreading smiles. With careful investment, smart stocking and trust with distributors, anyone can start this business and make it grow slowly.