Seattle’s self-declared “most charming toy store” is co-owned by Brittney Geleynse and Ashley Church. Clover’s huge selection of children’s toys, games, costumes and even miniature instruments make it fun and easy for kids to be kids!
Story
Co-owners Brittney Geleynse and Ashley Church first met through a game of Magic: The Gathering. Soon after, they became troop leaders for the Girl Scouts, and before they knew it, they were buying Clover Toys together in 2017. Their backgrounds complement each other: Brittney had experience as a small-business owner, while Ashley had spent her whole career in the toy industry.
“We definitely just want to be able to run regular events, as far as maybe having people come in, maybe local authors coming in to do storybook time, having children’s musicians come perform. We love having little parties,” said Ashley.
The duo is also have created an in-store play area, and love partnering with other nearby businesses.
They're proud to have stick to Clover’s founding principles as a classic toy store. “We’re not going to have a lot of your battery-powered, ‘pop’ toys,” said Brittney. “You’re going to come here for our wooden figurines [and] classic books.”
Ashley and Brittney are both motivated by their grandparents’ success as small business owners. Brittney’s grandfather has owned a corner store in the middle-of-nowhere, Wyoming for decades.
“He runs his business with integrity,” she said, “and so he will frequently accept beadwork for food…. He’s done everything right in my opinion.”
Meanwhile, Ashley’s grandparents ran a craft and flower shop in New Mexico. “It’s actually where my parents met,” said Ashley. “As a crafty person, I always thought that it’s amazing they were able to open up a shop that was all about empowering your creativity.”
Fun Fact
Clover’s original owner, Sarah Furstenburg, left the business to become a special ed teacher. Coincidentally, childhood education is where Brittney started. “She and I kind of flipped places in the universe,” Brittney smiled.
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