Nostalgic Toys, Classic Fun from the House of Marbles

In the midst of a struggling economy, House of Marbles flourishes by bringing nostalgic toys and classic fun to the marketplace and, as the catalogue says, “For the young in the head.”

A British company, House of Marbles started in the early 1970s, manufacturing and distributing traditional and nostalgic toys, games, puzzles and giftware. In the early 1990s, the company opened a U.S. sales office and 5,000-square-foot warehouse, now housed in the Stryker Lane business complex.

Lifelong township resident Alan Romano heads the U.S. wholesale distribution operations and leads a staff of four. He was first hired to use his marketing degree from Rider College to help with sales and advanced to his current position as national sales manager.

Today, the business’s focus in on selling to other businesses, with accounts at such specialty gift retailers as independent bookstores and toy stores as well as resort and museum gift shops.

The showroom displays some of the many items in the House of Marbles inventory: about 130 different styles of glass marbles in 6-7 different sizes, metal jacks (with a ball and bag), juggling balls, kaleidoscopes, kazoos, Tidily Winks, wooden pick-up sticks and so much  more.

There is also a line of toys for the younger set, such as wooden building blocks and trains, musical instruments, such as tambourines and maracas, and giftware, an evolving inventory of items that has included wind chimes, banks, wine stoppers, vases and glass sea shells. 

“We are not inventing new products. Instead, we focus heavily on history and bring out nostalgic games and the history of the games as well,” Romano said.

“We have found that when the economy is tough, people have this throwback desire for nostalgia,” he said. “They buy things that make them feel good and look for good, old-fashioned nostalgic fun.”

Then there is the cost factor. Romano pointed out that the cost for some of the nostalgic toys—like marbles, jacks, etc.—is much less than that of some of today’s high-tech games.

While the focus is on nostalgia, the company is always looking for “something new, something different” to add to its inventory – while adhering to its original philosophy.

One of the newest items is from a British publisher that includes children's board books, activity books, flip-up classic fairy tales and finger puppet books.

“We are growing,” Romano said. “In fact, we have shown growth for the last five years.”

House of Marbles currently focuses on wholesale orders but is exploring the possibility of expanding its ability to service independent customer orders. Visit www.houseofmarbles.com to learn more about House of Marbles.