By Steve Lathrop
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008 12:00 am
You won't find run of the mill toys in here
A visit to an antique store started a chain reaction of events for Tom LaFlamme, leading him to spend his days surrounded by dolls and teddy bears.
LaFlamme operates The Children's Hour Collectibles in the Carriage House Plaza in Albany. The dolls and bears, along with other plush characters and a few traditional toys, line his shelves and fill his display cases. It's an inventory a little above the ordinary.
"These are all specialty items. You won't find them at Target or Wal-Mart," LaFlamme said.
It was a find of his own that led him into the world of collectibles. He discovered a Barbie doll at an antique store in California. It reminded him of the ones his sisters used to have. He bought it for the sake of nostalgia but discovered an entire network of people collecting, trading and selling.
"I met people and liked them and it was a fun industry," he said.
Soon he was selling Barbies at weekend shows, making more money than he was at his full-time job.
"The center downsized and I lost the job. I decided to pursue what I was doing at the shows," LaFlamme said. "It was a chain of things that got me here."
In 1995, he opened his first store in Southern California and soon found a blossoming market. He followed his parents to Oregon last year. Children's Hour Collectibles opened its doors in April.
LaFlamme admitted his items are out of the ordinary but says what he offers is high quality and not mass produced.
"The dolls and bears are for collectors who know what they want but there is a great variety and really a unique item for any price range," LaFlamme said. "I try to provide items that meet specific standards."
The store features popular collectible brands from throughout the United States and Europe and LaFlamme is always on the lookout for something interesting.
He has traveled to trade shows and conventions in search of a new find or the latest trends or simply to interact with people in the trade.
"I like the people," he said. "You meet great people at the shows and in the store."
He would like to see more customers. Once word is out he thinks that will happen.
"It only needs to get established," LaFlamme said. "I think it's getting there. I just got my website going. That should help."
LaFlamme offers sales on the site and sells on eBay, but he doesn't do weekend doll shows anymore.
His weekends are generally busy anyway. The store is open six days a week and he says he spends most of his time on site.
"People come through the door and are usually impressed. Some of what I offer isn't available anywhere else in the state," LaFlamme said.
He does special orders and layaways and has a table filled with collector catalogs for browsing. Collectible brands include Tonner, Kish, Alexander, Steiff, Boyds and Corolle.
"I'll do what I can to get an item," he said. "I love what I'm doing."
The Children's Hour Collectibles is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information about the store, call 928-8982 or visit the website, www.thechildrenshourcollectibles.com.