Japanese Eraser and Shaped Bands Trading Parties Announced

Edwardsville, IL, June 11, 2010 --(PR.com)-- To encourage her customers and their collections, Shawnta' Ray, owner of Happy Up Inc., is thrilled to announce her stores' first-ever trading parties. There will be opportunities for collectors to show off their collections, as well as to trade duplicates or items they no longer wish to include in their collections. Door prizes, give-aways, and other activities are also being planned. While the parties are free and open to the public, the stores would appreciate a phone call to let them know how many people to expect. If you would like to attend, Ray says “an RSVP would be great, but not required.” Each Happy Up Inc. store will host their own party, beginning in Edwardsville, IL at Once Upon a Toy.

The dates for the trading parties are as follows:
- Once Upon a Toy will host their trading party on Thursday, June 17 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm. Once Upon a Toy is located at 2460 Troy Rd., Edwardsville, IL, 62025. The telephone number is: (618) 656-9596
- LagoonaMagoo Toys in Fairview Heights, IL will host their party on Thursday, June 24 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm. LagoonaMagoo Toys is located at 6308 North Illinois, Fairview Heights, IL 62208. The telephone number is (618) 628-9270
- LagoonaMagoo Toys at the St. Louis Mills Mall will host the final party on Thursday, July 1 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm. LagoonaMagoo Toys is located at 5555 St. Louis Mills Rd., Suite #566 (next to the playground), Hazelwood, MO 63042. The telephone number is: (314) 227-5335

There will be a special gift drawing for those who attend all three parties.

Japanese erasers have long been popular collectibles in Europe and Asia. Created with a meticulous attention to detail, the erasers are cute, stylized, and miniature versions of everyday objects. Latex-free, phthalate-free, pvc-free, and lead-free, the erasers are made in factories that adhere to very strict manufacturing guidelines. The content and manufacturing of the erasers also exceeds toy safety requirements established in the US. Packaged using recycled materials, the erasers are also considered a "green" toy. Named by ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailing Association) as a Top Toy of 2009, Japanese Erasers are becoming familiar items in many St. Louis area homes.

Shaped bands, another collecting trend that has swept the east coast and southern states, is just now beginning to appear in the St. Louis area. Made from brightly colored silicone, shaped bands go by many names, including: shaped rubber bands, shaped bands, shaped wrist bands, shaped bracelets, silly bands, and silly bandz. Formed in the shapes of zoo animals, symbols, birds, sports figures, and more, the bands appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. Purchased in inexpensive packages of 12 or more, they are an easy collection to start. And once they get started, kids take their collections very seriously.

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