How it started
How it's going
The Bannor Story
Welcome to the Bannor Toys family! Jesse and I started Bannor Toys back in 2011 with the idea that the wooden toys we found in our grandparents houses should be made modern to allow our children's imagination and creativity to develop in a way the battery operated toys of today don't, with the idea that play should be fun + easy, and the idea that if kids are learning while they play it is a win-win for everyone!
We have always believed that play should be easy, when you come home after a long day at work and your kids just need a few minutes of time it should be EASY to grab a few toys and get some quality minutes in before dinner starts. That is what our toys do, they make play easy and fun! It is simple to grab a Bannor Toy because you know its safe, there are not tedious instructions, batteries, or set up that goes with them.
So what started in the corner of our small basement as a hobby has turned into a fundamental part of our family, who we are, and who we are teaching our children to be. It is only with diligence, hard work, late nights, and the highest of standards that we are a thriving toy company today built on reputation, responsibility, and the highest quality.
We live in Madrid, IA with our children, Ethan(18), Eli(11) and Eric(4).
2012
In our living room posing for a newspaper article with some of the first toys we ever made, just 1 year after we started.
2013
We started small, doing craft shows and farmers markets. Our toys also showed up in Town & Country magazine!
2014
Just a month after Eli was born, here in our then shop in Des Moines, IA. Do you spot Ethan in the background?!
2015
The kids have grown up knowing what its like to run a family business.
2016
We traded in our 2500sq ft shop for a house and studio in Madrid, IA. This is the studio where we busted at the seems as a company!
2017
We started showing up in places like Nordstom, Hallmark Baby, and went down to Magnolia with Bannor Toys. Stacey also authored a chapter in a book!
2018
We bought a BUILDING! It is over 100 years old and went through lots of renovations before we could move in.
2019
We were invited to The White House as part of the Made in America Showcase, we went on Fox & Friends twice and other shows!
2020
We were pregnant with our last baby and business was growing more than we thought possible!
2021
Eric joined the family and the kids are a staple at the shop...walking over and spending after school time with us. We also spend more time working from home.
2022
Back to NY for another spot on Fox & Friends to talk about the supply chain issues going on all around us and how it is affecting Bannor Toys. Sweet customers from Alaska flew in to see us too!
2023
We continue to make safe toys for little ones!
2024
2024 Took us back to our roots, we downsized our staff and Stacey does the toys now!