Whale's Tale Toys - a participating member of the Neighborhood Toy Stores of Canada
We have been a member of NETS for almost 5 years. NETS is a network of Canadian specialty toy retailers ans suppliers working together to provide a superior source of quality toys within our communities. Whale's Tale Toys is one of only 6 participating members in British Columbia, and one of two on the island (our sister NETS store is Buddies Toy Store in Sidney. Every year, NETS produces a wish catalog for Christmas. We compile this catalog by considering all of the product feedback we have received from customers over the previous year and choosing to spotlight the best and brightest toys in a full color, glossy magazine that we distribute in our communities in time for the holiday season. NETS has 28 participating stores across Canada; allowing us to stronger buying power as a group. We get better deals, so you do as well. Watch for the NETS catalog this fall. They will be available in stores by November.
Comox Valley Record "About Town Article" Featuring Judy Osborne and Whale's Tale Toys -
As a young woman and newcomer to the Comox Valley, Judy Osborne saw a need for a shop carrying quality toys and educational products for children. She also wanted a job that would give her the flexibility to be available to help out and be present at her children’s school events and activities. So she opened Whale’s Tale Toys, never dreaming that in Oct. 2009 she’d be celebrating the store’s 25th anniversary. “It was a lot of hard work at first,” admits Osborne, “but fun too”.
Originally located where the Atlas is now, the shop moved first across the street from the former Leung’s and, in 1994, to its present location on 5th St. Once she bought the building, she was able to decorate it inside – and out – in the now familiar ship’s theme. “Right from the beginning I knew the store had to be in downtown Courtenay,” she says. “It’s an awesome community and I love being part of that.” Osborne wanted to offer families a unique shopping experience so she puts toys out on tables so kids can play with them and parents can see what kids like. The shop caters to children from babyhood to around 12 years of age and carries games for all ages. And even though it’s become a technological age, Osborne’s pleased to see that old stand-bys, like Lego, are still popular. “I’ve always been very environmentally and safety conscious,” she says. “After all, my children were raised in the store.” In fact, photographs of now grown daughters, Katie and Jennifer, are proudly displayed amongst the merchandise. Whale’s Tale has always been a family affair, with husband, Greg, being a silent partner, as well as the bookkeeper and the girls learning retail skills as they got older. In fact, Katie, still works in the store part time.
Whale’s Tale is the go-to store for grandparents or any adult not sure what to buy a youngster. I know whenever I’ve shopped for my niece and nephew who live in California, Whale’s Tale staff picks have been bang on. And the gift-wrapping is a real bonus! “The store’s now seeing the next generation of loyal customers as grown up kids come in to buy for their own children,” notes Osborne. “I feel like I’ve watched half the Valley grow up.”
Osborne spent her childhood and youth on the family grain and beef farm in Alberta. She grew up surrounded by animals and horseback riding and catching frogs were some of her favourite pastimes. After obtaining a degree in Recreation and Parks Administration, she worked in children’s summer camps in Northern Alberta. She moved to the Comox Valley 28 years ago and married Greg a year later. “We knew we wanted to raise our kids here,” she says. The Osborne’s live on acreage with their youngest daughter and a menagerie of quarter horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats and geese. “It takes me an hour to feed them all every morning,” Osborne admits. Somehow, in between running a business and tending the animals, she also finds time to take a weekly horseback riding lesson, rides for pleasure several times a week and even participated in a horse show last year.
Twenty-three years ago, Osborne started working with the Courtenay Recreation Centre to create the still popular Father’s Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit. Over the years Whale’s Tale has sponsored many ball teams, as well as supporting the Therapeutic Riding Association. Every Christmas Osborne quietly drops off presents for children of families going through hard times. And the big Christmas tree in downtown Courtenay is the Osborne family’s gift to the Comox Valley. But life hasn’t always been easy. Eight years ago Osborne was seriously ill with cancer and says that without the support and hard work of Thea Whyte and another employee, the store would have closed. “I’m so grateful for their loyalty and the loyalty of my customers,” she says. “When times are tough, you really appreciate the people that are there for you.” Whyte, who has worked at Whale’s Tale off and on for 23 years, says “I’m here because I have the best boss in the world. Judy is really supportive of all her employees and their children. My children were in their teens when I started here and she always found little jobs for them to do and included them in events. She’s a very generous person. And she’s got a great sense of humour – we have a lot of laughs.” A high energy person, Osborne says she’s not looking to retire anytime soon. “I make my ‘to do’ list the night before,” she says, “and hit the floor running come morning.”
Originally located where the Atlas is now, the shop moved first across the street from the former Leung’s and, in 1994, to its present location on 5th St. Once she bought the building, she was able to decorate it inside – and out – in the now familiar ship’s theme. “Right from the beginning I knew the store had to be in downtown Courtenay,” she says. “It’s an awesome community and I love being part of that.” Osborne wanted to offer families a unique shopping experience so she puts toys out on tables so kids can play with them and parents can see what kids like. The shop caters to children from babyhood to around 12 years of age and carries games for all ages. And even though it’s become a technological age, Osborne’s pleased to see that old stand-bys, like Lego, are still popular. “I’ve always been very environmentally and safety conscious,” she says. “After all, my children were raised in the store.” In fact, photographs of now grown daughters, Katie and Jennifer, are proudly displayed amongst the merchandise. Whale’s Tale has always been a family affair, with husband, Greg, being a silent partner, as well as the bookkeeper and the girls learning retail skills as they got older. In fact, Katie, still works in the store part time.
Whale’s Tale is the go-to store for grandparents or any adult not sure what to buy a youngster. I know whenever I’ve shopped for my niece and nephew who live in California, Whale’s Tale staff picks have been bang on. And the gift-wrapping is a real bonus! “The store’s now seeing the next generation of loyal customers as grown up kids come in to buy for their own children,” notes Osborne. “I feel like I’ve watched half the Valley grow up.”
Osborne spent her childhood and youth on the family grain and beef farm in Alberta. She grew up surrounded by animals and horseback riding and catching frogs were some of her favourite pastimes. After obtaining a degree in Recreation and Parks Administration, she worked in children’s summer camps in Northern Alberta. She moved to the Comox Valley 28 years ago and married Greg a year later. “We knew we wanted to raise our kids here,” she says. The Osborne’s live on acreage with their youngest daughter and a menagerie of quarter horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats and geese. “It takes me an hour to feed them all every morning,” Osborne admits. Somehow, in between running a business and tending the animals, she also finds time to take a weekly horseback riding lesson, rides for pleasure several times a week and even participated in a horse show last year.
Twenty-three years ago, Osborne started working with the Courtenay Recreation Centre to create the still popular Father’s Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit. Over the years Whale’s Tale has sponsored many ball teams, as well as supporting the Therapeutic Riding Association. Every Christmas Osborne quietly drops off presents for children of families going through hard times. And the big Christmas tree in downtown Courtenay is the Osborne family’s gift to the Comox Valley. But life hasn’t always been easy. Eight years ago Osborne was seriously ill with cancer and says that without the support and hard work of Thea Whyte and another employee, the store would have closed. “I’m so grateful for their loyalty and the loyalty of my customers,” she says. “When times are tough, you really appreciate the people that are there for you.” Whyte, who has worked at Whale’s Tale off and on for 23 years, says “I’m here because I have the best boss in the world. Judy is really supportive of all her employees and their children. My children were in their teens when I started here and she always found little jobs for them to do and included them in events. She’s a very generous person. And she’s got a great sense of humour – we have a lot of laughs.” A high energy person, Osborne says she’s not looking to retire anytime soon. “I make my ‘to do’ list the night before,” she says, “and hit the floor running come morning.”
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Whale's Tale Toys Celebrates 25 Years Serving the Comox Valley and Beyond!
Comox Valley Echo
Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Once upon a time, a neighborhood toy store was started on Fifth Street. A couple of moves and a ship construction later, Whale's Tale Toys can be found at 332 Fifth Street. Judy Osborne wanted to offer Comox Valley children and their families a unique shopping experience; a place where families were welcomed with tables of toys and product expertise. Twenty-five years later, Whale's Tale Toys is still going strong with the same classic toys and new innovative toys to tickle the young at heart.
Judy and her "silent" partner and husband, Greg worked tirelessly to offer their community toys from around the world while letting their young daughters, whose pictures are splashed throughout the store, be the test market. Who wouldn't have liked that job as a kid?
To say that employees make the business would be an understatement in Judy's case. Beating cancer is tough, but would have been impossible if Thea, Barb and others hadn't been there to take care of the store. Whale's Tale Toys' second longest employee is Wanda the goldfish, who has been with the store for over 10 years. We have many small people come through our doors just to visit Wanda and her ever-changing cast of tank mates.
The children, who blessed our doors 25 years ago, are returning with their own children to our cozy ship on Fifth street. We have literally watched generations grow up in front of our eyes. Time and again, customers have told us they still have Lego, Playmobil and Thomas from when they were kids.
Judy feels privileged to give back to her community by supporting many local charities with donations of toys. Twenty-three years ago, Whale's Tale Toys started and still sponsors the Annual Father's Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit. Other local charities sponsored by Whale's Tale Toys include Slo Pitch, t-ball and the Whaler's Women's Hockey Team. Just for fun, Whale's Tale Toys has hidden a geocache. If you have a GPS, see if you can find it!
She would like to thank loyal customers on Friday and Saturday, October 16th and 17th by offering giveaways and sales storewide. The first 100 customers will receive a free gift. There will be daily draws for a Thomas the Tank Engine table and Playmobil products plus random acts of toy giveaways throughout the two-day, 25th Anniversary sale. All regularly priced products will be 10-50% off with coupons being "fished" out of a pond by your aspiring young anglers. Brio, baby sleepers, Melissa and Doug raincoats and boots and too much more to list will be 40 to 50% off.
Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Once upon a time, a neighborhood toy store was started on Fifth Street. A couple of moves and a ship construction later, Whale's Tale Toys can be found at 332 Fifth Street. Judy Osborne wanted to offer Comox Valley children and their families a unique shopping experience; a place where families were welcomed with tables of toys and product expertise. Twenty-five years later, Whale's Tale Toys is still going strong with the same classic toys and new innovative toys to tickle the young at heart.
Judy and her "silent" partner and husband, Greg worked tirelessly to offer their community toys from around the world while letting their young daughters, whose pictures are splashed throughout the store, be the test market. Who wouldn't have liked that job as a kid?
To say that employees make the business would be an understatement in Judy's case. Beating cancer is tough, but would have been impossible if Thea, Barb and others hadn't been there to take care of the store. Whale's Tale Toys' second longest employee is Wanda the goldfish, who has been with the store for over 10 years. We have many small people come through our doors just to visit Wanda and her ever-changing cast of tank mates.
The children, who blessed our doors 25 years ago, are returning with their own children to our cozy ship on Fifth street. We have literally watched generations grow up in front of our eyes. Time and again, customers have told us they still have Lego, Playmobil and Thomas from when they were kids.
Judy feels privileged to give back to her community by supporting many local charities with donations of toys. Twenty-three years ago, Whale's Tale Toys started and still sponsors the Annual Father's Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit. Other local charities sponsored by Whale's Tale Toys include Slo Pitch, t-ball and the Whaler's Women's Hockey Team. Just for fun, Whale's Tale Toys has hidden a geocache. If you have a GPS, see if you can find it!
She would like to thank loyal customers on Friday and Saturday, October 16th and 17th by offering giveaways and sales storewide. The first 100 customers will receive a free gift. There will be daily draws for a Thomas the Tank Engine table and Playmobil products plus random acts of toy giveaways throughout the two-day, 25th Anniversary sale. All regularly priced products will be 10-50% off with coupons being "fished" out of a pond by your aspiring young anglers. Brio, baby sleepers, Melissa and Doug raincoats and boots and too much more to list will be 40 to 50% off.
WHALE'S TALE TOYS IS CELEBRATING 27 YEARS IN THE COMOX VALLEY
WHALE'S TALE TOYS, the Comox Valley's original toy store proudly celebrates it's 27th year serving the residents of the Valley and central Vancouver Island.
