Local Success Story Second Wonderment Location Opens in St. Paul

After the success of the first Wonderment store in Linden Hills, with its unique selection of quality natural toys and crafts, a second Wonderment store is opening at 949 Grand Avenue in St. Paul. On Saturday June 21st from 10 am to 5 pm, Wonderment's new store will be packed with kids and activities, with lots of great visuals for media - including a jump rope machine, extreme bubble blowing and paper airplanes; details follow.

"We're thrilled that the success of our first store has led to a second location. This kind of growth is rare for a small business," said Lisa MacMartin, one of the three 'Wonderment Women' co-owners. "In our Linden Hills store, we had so many customers from St. Paul and even further east," said Zuzanne Fenner. "It became clear that demand had grown beyond our first location."Grand Avenue is a terrific location - an interesting mix of retailers and lots of foot traffic, including the strolling families and grandparents that are so important to our business," said co-owner Joyce Olson-Kapell. "We expect our second store will do even better."

Wonderment offers high quality toys and crafts in natural materials, thoughtfully selected for infants to teens, with many items that appeal to adults too. The well-made toys, games, dolls, dollhouses, wooden animals, construction toys, science kits, craft supplies, dress-up and musical instruments are sourced from Europe, the US (including local makers), Canada, South America and Asia. Wonderment also sells online at www.wondermentshop.com.

"Right from the beginning, customers responded to our belief that well-designed natural toys inspire open-ended imaginative play, and engage a child far longer than cheaply made toys or electronics," said Lisa MacMartin. "Wonderment carries only toys in natural materials--this is increasingly important to parents. When growing concerns about toy safety began making headlines, Wonderment's integrity was already well-established."

A feature in the Linden Hills location - a well-loved whimsical tree - is repeated in the new store. Wonderment in St. Paul features a solidly built indoor tree, twelve feet high, leading visitors to a second floor loft area that is used for play space and craft workshops. Seasonally inspired craft workshops are offered at both Wonderment locations on weekends.

As befits a store on historic Grand Avenue, some of the fixtures are antiques; fixture choices were also influenced by environmental sensibilities. A massive old hardware store cabinet displays an eclectic selection of games; the drawers once used for screws and nails hold marbles and small card games. An old oak humidor displays German carved wooden animals. Other fixtures have been repurposed or were purchased locally from a used fixture supplier.

Wonderment has uniquely well-experienced co-owners. Lisa MacMartin has extensive retail experience in management, buying and marketing for bookstores, museum shops, school stores, and multi-media stores. Zuzanne Fenner is an entrepreneur and consultant in finance, financial systems and business process improvements. Joyce Olson-Kapell helped found the successful Magnetic Poetry company, works as a part time Waldorf teacher, and is an accomplished craftswoman who teaches most of the classes at Wonderment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Lisa MacMartin 612-812-7755 (cell)

info@wondermentshop.com www.wondermentshop.com

WONDERMENT GRAND OPENING ON GRAND AVENUE

949 Grand Avenue in St. Paul

GRAND OPENING ACTIVITIES

Saturday June 21st, 2008

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

ACTIVITIES

10:00 am - 4:30 pm Make Your Own Jump Rope Machine

This very cool device lets kids wind a jump rope using yarn and a crank. We will charge $5 per jump rope and donate the money to the Children's Cancer Research Fund.

10:30 am - noon Extreme Bubbles

Kids wield giant bubble wands to produce gargantuan, brilliant bubbles.

12:30 - 1:30 pm Paper Pinwheels

Bright paper is cut, folded and pinned, to make toys that twirl with a blow or a breeze.

1:30 - 2:30 pm Bull Roarer Noisemakers

A simple, flat piece of wood makes a fascinating Aboriginal noisemaker.

2:30 - 4:00 pm Wet Felting Balls

Colorful wool is shaped into balls using soap and warm water.

4:00 - 5:00 pm World's Best Paper Airplanes

Clever designs and careful folding create nifty planes that fly so wonderfully!

MUSIC

1:00 pm The Flyers

Husband and wife singing duo Roger and Marnie entertain with a one-of-a-kind interactive concert, a marvelous variety of catchy songs, fun movements and humor.

DEMONSTRATIONS

12 noon & 4:00 pm Juggling

Experienced jugglers demonstrate and then coach interested beginners.

10:00 am - 1:00 pm Magic Wand Making

Local craftsman Bill Pine creates wands by turning wood on a lathe - so fascinating to watch!

All Day Towering Blocks

St Paul toy maker BEKA will bring a cartload of their hardwood blocks for kids to play.

REFRESHMENTS ALL DAY

Popcorn & Lemonade

CONTEST

Enter to win a fairy house or a wooden pogo stick

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: