Interview with Nick and Kimber Christensen of Little Sapling Toys

by: Dennis Salazar

9 Mar 2010

ISP readers know I enjoy a good green story and Nick and Kimber Christensen and their company, Little Sapling Toys, is one of the best. Little Sapling Toys has been the subject of articles in numerous publications and blogs including Treehugger, Daily Candy, Etsy’s Storque and Grass Roots Modern. A brief conversation with Nicholas made me realize they would be a great interview for our blog.

DS: Please give us a little background on your family and your company.

KC: Nick and I met in the Army, traveled the country remodeling hotel bathrooms, moved to liberal Humboldt County, had little saplings of our own, started Little Sapling Toys and finally moved to friendly Boise to put down roots and develop our business.

Nick made me a few pieces of furniture that used the natural contrast of beautiful, quality wood while working as a cabinetmaker. When Little Sapling Toys was conceived, we never considered using paints, stains or dyes to cover up something so naturally striking. Now, using Maple, Cherry and Walnut together with our own beeswax and organic jojoba oil finish is our way to reconcile modern and natural beauty.

We try and live a conscientious lifestyle and that naturally translates into our business as well. As Little Sapling Toys has grown, so have our opportunities to make eco-friendly choices.

DS: I was especially impressed and intrigued by your commitment to plant a tree for every toy you sell. How does that work?

NC: We are member partners of Trees for the Future. It’s an extremely inspiring organization that is helping communities throughout the world help themselves. We participate by making a commitment to help fund their tree planting efforts around the globe.

DS: Most eco minded people love wooden toys but how did you decide to start making teething products out of wood?

KC: We saw the demand for basic wooden grasp and teething shapes and recognized that we could bring a whole new level of design to the chubby little hands of children.

DS: Please answer any safety concerns about slivers, how the wood is sealed, etc.

NC: In addition to being compliant to ATSM standards, we use only hardwoods that are tight grained and not prone to slivering in the first place. For instance, our Maple is used for butcher blocks and bowling alley floors. Our teething shapes are left without a finish and our other toys have our own blend of local beeswax and organic jojoba oil. All of the edges of our toys are carefully rounded over and sanded satin smooth. I think that we have become so used to plastics in our lives that it is easy to forget what an amazingly durable and beautiful material wood really is.

DS: You are undoubtedly best known for your teething products but what are some of your other top sellers?

KC: Our Three Tree Blocks and our Maple Skittle Bowling sets are clear favorites.

DS: Equally unique to your product line is the primary way you go to market. Please tell our readers what Etsy is how it has helped you to grow.

KC: Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade and vintage items. At this time, we sell Little Sapling Toys primarily through the shop that we set up on Etsy. Most of our customers, retailers and press have found us through Etsy, so we really thank them for helping our toys reach a worldwide market!

DS: I believe you also sell through retailers. Where can our readers find your product other than your Etsy web store?

KC: We are in about sixty shops, both physical and online retail locations. Many are small, eco-friendly family companies like ours.

DS: With success and growth come unexpected challenges. What issues have you had to deal with so far that you did not expect?

KC: Our business is like a child; an enchanted pregnancy about what parenthood will be like, a painful labor and delivery and constant challenges and rewards every day since. We didn’t expect to be so involved, quite so busy or as fulfilled.

DS: Nick and Kimber, thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to get to know you and your company better. I encourage all of our readers to see the incredibly unique products you offer for the little ones in their lives.

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