LEGO 6074 – Black Falcon Fortress. Original from my childhood. This set has accompanied me then and now, and remains one of my favorite pieces to this day.
🎒 Childhood, Fascination & the First Figures
Some stories begin with a grand plan. And some stories, like mine, just happen because at some point you realize you’ve actually been in the middle of it for years.
I’ve been collecting toys for as long as I can remember. Not because I wanted to get rich, but because these little worlds have always fascinated me. The box art, the feel, the colors, the stories behind them – all of it captivated me as a child and never let go. Masters of the Universe, LEGO, Monster High, Star Wars, Schleich… at some point, I simply had more here than any normal person should own.
He-Man & Battle Cat – Skeletor & Panthor (Original MOTU Vintage, approx. 1982–1984). The classic figures that for many of us were the entry point into the world of Eternia. Super cool, simple yet legendary details – and still absolute classics in any collection. Back then, no one could avoid MOTU. For many of us, it wasn't just a toyline, but the best combination of toy and TV series ever.
🧩 The Moment Everything Started Rolling
At some point, I thought: Maybe I can share this passion.
That’s how El Affo Toys came to be. Not as a business plan, not as "Now I'm going to be a retailer," but as an attempt to pass on a piece of this fascination. A shop that doesn’t shout, doesn’t push, doesn’t throw discounts around. But a place where collectors understand collectors.
🛠️ The Day-to-Day Behind the Scenes
🛠️ The Day-to-Day Behind the Scenes
Of course, the path there isn’t glamorous. A shop means work – much more than what you see from the outside. Product numbers, descriptions, photos, prices, accounting, inventory… and yes, sometimes you just sit on boxes full of figures and wonder if it was all a good idea.
But that’s exactly what makes it so special for me. It’s a lot of work, sure – but I enjoy it incredibly much. This whole project is pure passion for me: holding figures in my hand, sorting sets, taking photos, discovering small details, writing texts… that’s exactly my thing. El Affo Toys is a passion project for me that motivates me anew every day.
Here I’m packing a LEGO Minecraft set – always carefully with what belongs to it.
🤝 When Collectors Come to Visit
What I had envisioned back then – and what has now actually happened – is something you can't plan: that other collectors simply drop by. Not as customers in the classic sense, but as like-minded individuals.
A few times, the doorbell has rung, someone stood at the door with a big grin, we looked at figures, talked about old series, laughed about bad purchases, and discussed rare pieces. Some stay an hour, some two. And some now keep coming back.
My little bar corner – drinks, two stools, a bit of space to sit and chat. This is often where the best conversations happen: about figures, series, old times, new releases, or simply life. A place to exchange ideas, talk shop, and laugh. Many stay longer than planned – and that's exactly how it should be.
These are the moments when I realize why I do all this. Not for sales or growth, but for these small encounters that only arise when passion meets passion. That's exactly the essence of El Affo Toys: a place for collectors, which also happens to be a shop.
✍️ Why There’s This Blog Now
A shop without real content remains invisible on the internet. Google loves stories – and I have some to tell. About figures, about packaging, about collector’s passion, about lucky finds, bad purchases, and everything in between.
Some of the pieces I write about are for sale. Others will remain in my collection forever. But all of them belong to this journey.
Maybe no one will read this at first. Maybe someone will stumble upon it eventually. And maybe exactly what I wish for will come out of it: a small place on the internet where people who share the same enthusiasm land.
Playmobil 3461 – Western City: Saloon. Matching it: the Indians from set 3483. Two absolute classics of the early Playmobil Western world. The Saloon with its swing doors, wood look, and small details was for many of us the heart of every Western scene. And the figures from 3483 truly brought the whole thing to life. Exactly these sets filled entire afternoons back then – and to this day, they are among the most charming Playmobil memories.
🚀 And now?
This is the beginning.
This is how it all started.
And let’s see where it goes from here.