Meet Your Fun-Loving, Tree-Hugging Toymakers
👋🏻 I'M JUSTIN. I've been enamored with getting lost in the forest, planting trees, and creating with wood since the day I took my first steps. I love talking to strangers and dominating the bouncy house at my kids' birthday parties.
👋🏻 AND I'M KATHLEEN. I'm a Midwestern farm girl at-heart and crazy into board games, cooking from scratch, sustainable living, and all things handmade. I'm also the mom with the nose ring and the crazy colored socks.
OUR MISSION: to create lifelong childhood memories for families and green the earth for all kids to come.
WORDS WE LIVE BY: "Kids don't need all the things. Let's give them meaningful, long-lasting toys that encourage creativity, create lifelong memories, and green the earth for all kids to come." -JUSTIN + KATHLEEN, FOUNDERS
BUY. PLANT. GROW. We plant a tree for every item we sell. It's our way of giving back to ensure this amazing planet stays green and healthy for all kids to come.
LIFE AT OUR PLACE. Our home, wood shop, garden, giant tree house, and orchard is nestled into 13 acres on the Minnesota prairie. It's basically our favorite place on earth. Our renovated red barn wood shop hums all day long with the happy sounds of toy making, world music, and little ones' footsteps. Our office and shipping room are the scenes of quick ins-and-outs as we reply to emails, ship orders, and jot down those eureka! moments when new ideas pop into mind. In between all of that we’re pausing for play time, reading books, and chasing our kids all around the farm.
KEEPING THE FAMILY IN THE BUSINESS. Smiling Tree Toys isn’t just a family business; it’s a defining part of our family. We keep the personal, the passionate, and the eco-handmade touch in every aspect of Smiling Tree. From sustainably harvested American hardwoods, to our organic oil finish, to natural cotton drawstring bags made-in-the-USA, to plastic-free packaging, we ensure every aspect of Smiling Tree is respectful of and gentle on mother earth. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
We believe that when people are kind, honest, hard-working, respectful of mother earth, and doing something they love, then great things can happen. Life is great for us, indeed.
Is it hard at times? Sure. But is it worth it? Absolutely.
SHOP OUR ENTIRE PRODUCT LINE | www.smilingtreetoys.com
SIGN UP + SAVE | www.smilingtreetoys.com/pages/newsletter
INSTAGRAM | www.instagram.com/smilingtreetoys
PINTEREST | www.pinterest.com/smilingtreetoys