We love to showcase the skills, talents and history of the businesses across Cupar in our KnowHow series. The latest focuses on a business that’s been around for more than 40 years – Nappy Pin & Toymaster on Bonnygate.

The independent toy and nursery store is run by Paul Stewart but it was first opened by his father and mother-in-law in Broughty Ferry in the 1970s. Paul says: “The shop initially sold mainly nursery items in a small unit. As time went by – and the shop became more and more popular – it grew in size to offer a larger range of both toys and nursery goods.”

The opportunity arose to open a shop in Cupar. Paul says: “Initially, the shop traded on the site that is now occupied by Subway. It then relocated to the formner Fairfields’ site – our current location at 62 Bonnygate.”

Paul’s mother and father-in-law opened the original business in April 1976, providing children and adults with what Paul describes as “a true experience of a good old fashioned toy and nursery shop!”

Roll the clocks forward some 46 years and the ethos of the shop remains exactly the same. Paul says: “We are the oldest and most traditional toy and nursery shop in the whole of Fife and Tayside … if not in the whole of Scotland!” It is an Aladdin’s cave of a shop – opening up from the toy section in the front to the nursery store at the rear.

You will find a huge array of toys and games – action toys, collectibles, dolls and accessories, soft toys, all manner of vehicles and farm animals as well as arts and crafts for ‘make and do’ sessions! Leading brands of toys and games are all in store – from Barbie and Lego to Pokemon and Playmobil.

In the nursery section, there are prams and buggies, cots and play pens, babies’ clothing and accessories – and all manner of gadgets and gizmos that are essential to help make life easier for new parents.

Today, the shop employs around 10 members of staff, some who have been with Paul and his family for over 20 years. That loyalty is shown across their customer base too. Paul says: “We have been a part of Cupar for more than four decades. We have customers who would have had toys and more bought for them at our store – and they are now parents and grandparents doing the same for the children and grandchildren.”

Paul is very proud of the business – and its place in Cupar’s retailing history. “The greatest achievement is still being able to provide people with the experience of shopping in a traditional manner.” That said, he describes it as “very challenging in the present climate” citing online shopping as one of the biggest challenges.

Beyond Nappy Pin & Toymaster, Paul also runs the Subway franchise in Cupar. He says it gives them a different take on business – being across two very different sectors.

Finally, we ask all featuring on our Blog what they’d recommend to someone visiting Cupar for the first time, or for the first time in a long time? Paul says: “Support as many local independent businesses as possible!” We’d agree 100%.

Need more?

You can follow the shop on Facebook via this link. Drop the an email with any questions via this link, call them on 01334 653160 … or better still, pop in to see them on Bonnygate.

 

Thanks for reading!