About Open & Shut

Open & Shut is a small independent shop in the Kennet Centre, Newbury, Berkshire and in essence sells a whole stack of fun wooden stuff for all ages to meet all budgets. Open & Shut was opened in February 2006 and has been described as "The place to go to when you don't know what to get them".

Having opted for redundancy (from an international Comms company) in 2005 I spent a long time deciding what to do and finally "plumped" for a shop selling the kind of things that I would buy - and after a couple of years trading I am pleased to say that my taste isn't totally unique - it definetely veers towards traditional, wooden, fun and different. It is so refreshing to hear Grannies and Grandads come in and say things like "Do you remember when we got that for little Jimmy" or "I used to have one of those when I was a kid". BUT this is not just a shop for children - I stock something for pretty much any age and any budget!

Originally I just sold wooden boxes, puzzles and games until one of my daughters insisted that I sell wooden toys for small children as well - just as well really as these now make up the vast majority of sales!

I passionately believe in wooden toys for small children and to see small children dragging thier parents into the shop makes me believe that small children have a similar passion - whilst plastic toys have their place wooden ones will last and last and last!

All the wood used to make the products I stock comes from sustainable sources and all toys use non toxic paint and are EU and UK certified as "child safe"