❤️ It all starts with me liking the product myself
Before an item even makes it into the shop, something happens that cannot be planned:
I have to like it.
I don't buy anything just because it's "trending" or "sure to sell well."
I buy things that I would love to own myself. And sometimes, that's my biggest problem.
Because even though I buy most toys and collectibles for sale, I regularly find myself standing in front of them, thinking:
"Actually, I'd love to keep this..."
But you can't collect everything.
Not for space reasons.
Not for financial reasons.
And sometimes not for reasons of common sense.
Nevertheless, it's hard for me to part with some items – especially when there's only one single item in stock. I like it when things hang around here for a while, I can look at them, photograph them, "own" them a bit before they move on.
Crazy?
Maybe.
But that's how my collector's heart beats.
Argh....... That Turtles 4-pack would fit perfectly into my NECA collection. Sometimes I want to keep it. Sometimes I have to sell it. Collector's logic, you know.
🔎 How I find my products
Many ask me: "Where do you find all your stuff?"
The answer is simple: I live toys.
A huge amount of my free time revolves around it.
I check Instagram and Facebook groups, follow several Telegram channels that are only about toys, and watch YouTube reviews to discover new figures, sets, or toy lines. I compare prices, watch offers, stroll through Smyths Toys and other stores, watch WhatNot auctions, and go to toy fairs, conventions, and flea markets.
In short:
A large part of my free time consists of toy research.
Fortunately, much to the delight of my children.
While other parents are annoyed after five minutes in the toy store, I'm the one who's still standing by the shelf after an hour. My children are then the ones who say:
Toy store - research :-)
"Dad, can we please go now?"
Many parents just buy whatever.
For me, it's the exact opposite.
I then say things like:
"Rather take this one, it fits much better with your toyline."
And that's exactly how I select products for the shop:
I like them, my kids like them, or we all like them together.
After that comes the price – because, of course, I have to buy cheaply to remain competitive. Sometimes that works out great. And sometimes I think:
"Wow, what a cool toy!"
...and then it sits in storage forever because no one wants to buy it or because it's being sold off cheaply on large platforms.
Yes, difficult.
But that's exactly what makes it exciting.
📦 Step 1: Inspection & Box Check
Before a product goes into the shop, I inspect the box.
I only sell new goods, original packaging, unopened – and the condition of the packaging is incredibly important.
I look at every corner, check for dents, tears, pressure marks, or creases. If something is damaged, I don't buy it in the first place. And if a dented box arrives during shipping to me, it usually goes straight back as a return.
This way, I almost exclusively have top-quality goods in stock – clean, sharp-edged, collector-friendly.
📸 Step 2: Take Photos
If the box is fine, it's time for photos.
For me, product photos are not a chore, but a small stage. I try to capture the colors, details, and nostalgia of a set. Sometimes it takes longer, sometimes it goes quickly – but I always enjoy it.
Every product is first photographed and then post-processed before it can go into the shop (Background Remover + Centering + Square Photo)
📝 Step 3: Description, Photos & Listing
Once the photos are done, the part that many underestimate begins.
Putting a product online is not "just done."
I edit the pictures, remove the background, neatly center the product, export the files, and upload them. Then I write the description, add product details, research variants, check the EAN, set categories, and research sales prices. Only when everything is perfect does the item go online.
That sounds like routine – but in reality, it's often a whole evening.
Sometimes two.
And that's precisely why quality takes precedence over speed for me.
I want every product to be presented the way I, as a collector, would want to see it.
📦 Step 4: Packaging & Shipping
When a product is sold, I'm happy every time.
Not because it's gone – but because I know someone who will appreciate it as much as I do is getting it.
Shipping is a small ritual for me:
Bubble wrap, packing paper, edge protection, a small candy, and a flyer.
That's how every package embarks on its journey.
A typical El-Affo-Toys package: safe, clean, with love.
🚀 And then?
Then the product is gone.
And yes – sometimes it hurts a little.
But mostly I'm happy because I know:
It's going to someone who really wants it.
And that's the moment El Affo Toys makes sense to me.
Not as a business.
Not as a duty.
But as a hobby that brings joy –
to me and hopefully also to the people who order here