Since I, myself, am part of the Cedar Rapids small business consortium, it would be reprehensible of me to not support, plug, promote, and devote my blog space to the further and future advances of these small businesses.

One in particular is THE WOODEN RAINBOW.  Owner Katie Frederick has a serious sales background, but soon found her unique passion for selling one thing; toys!  Says Katie in her own words:

"The Wooden Rainbow, Inc. has been a dream of mine since I began my first sales job.  My first 10 years of college were spent working as an independent sales representative.  I sold a variety of gifts, toys, educational items, games, stationary, apparel and jewelry.  However, I was most passionate about selling toys, games, and educational items."

If you are going to survive in the small business world, you need to have a plan, and if your plan starts to head south, you need to have another plan.  Katie realized this as The Wooden Rainbow went through its share of struggles in one of its first locations in a strip mall.  Business was great as long as other "like minded" businesses were next to you.  Foot traffic to these strip malls is generated when business owners get together and market their businesses as if they were one.  It's like having an arts and crafts store next to a teacher store, and next to a book store, etc.

Realizing that there weren't a great deal of independent toy stores left, Katie seriously investigated having an online Internet presence for The Wooden Rainbow.  What a smart business plan that turned out to be!  Only one potential problem though.  How does a first class toy store in the midwest get FOUND among the sea of search engine opportunities?  First, you have to advertise and let people know you are out there.  Then, once they find you, you have to capture them and keep them at your site long enough for customers to see the tremendous value and service The Wooden Rainbow offers to its clients.  Katie and her employees now sell toys to customers  around the world, thanks to her online presence as a quality merchant for everything toys!  The store represents over 40 manufacturers and carries over 250 products and growing!

Oh, did I mention SERVICE!  The Wooden Rainbow prides itself on great service, knowledge, and efficiency for both walk in customers at their store in Northeast Cedar Rapids and Internet customers.  You don't last long in small business or any business if you don't provide a certain level of SERVICE to your customers that they expect.  Having worked with the same staff when the company started four years ago allows The Wooden Rainbow a seamless transition from point of initial customer contact to successful closure of sale whether it's online or locally.

My personal experience with The Wooden Rainbow was with my 8 1/2 year old daughter and 2 1/2 year old boy.  My daugher exclaimed upon entering the toy store, "Wow, this toy store is awesome."  My 2 1/2 year old boy had to be coerced out of the store because he had his hand on about five different toys he wanted "daddy" to buy!

If you're in Cedar Rapids and  need that hard to find or unique toy experience, visit The Wooden Rainbow at 1957 Blairs Ferry Road NE.  They are right behind the old Nevada Bob's Golf Store and Welter's Storage. 

Don't forget to support your local Cedar Rapids, Iowa small business!  Thank You!

Katie Frederick

www.TheWoodenRainbow.com

1957 Blairs Ferry Rd NE

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

319-362-2223

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Christopher Smith

Traditions Real Estate

www.christophersmithrealtor.com

christopher.smith.realtor@gmail.com

319-329-5988

Licensed Realtor in the state of Iowa

"Success in real estate at the SERVICE of others."