That’s a Wrapp: Bubble Wrapp toys and collectibles celebrates one year in Westport
Photo by Brooke Tramel
On the corner of Westport Road and Main Street sits Bubble Wrapp, filled to the brim with more toys than any kid you know.
Business owners, seasoned toy collectors, and partners Kitty and Nate opened their brick-and-mortar in Oct. 2022 after 18 months of official Bubble Wrapp sales online.
Now, the Westport hotspot serves as a haven for collectors, knick-knack lovers, and those seeking something a little different.
After suffering an unexpected medical emergency at 29, Kitty’s career as an esthetician came to a halt, and she was confined to the walls of their home for nearly a year. With a passion for collecting toys along with a solid knowledge base, Kitty took to eBay in hopes of keeping busy and making some extra bucks reselling toys. Though it started as a side project, it proved to be an authentic business venture. The two filed for a business license, built a website, stocked inventory, and ultimately left ebay to create their own space online. Bubble Wrapp was live.
“We’ve been collectors ourselves since about 2007, when we had our own introduction to art toys, via Tokidoki. Our first ever vinyl toys were Adios and Ciao Ciao” says Kitty. After collecting their first figures, they dove deeper into the designer toy and lowbrow art world, expanding their collection. “I had always thought, wouldn’t it be cool if we had a shop one day? But it was never a lifelong dream of mine.” says Kitty.
As the COVID-19 pandemic approached, bubblewrapptoys.com and the online toy collecting community was only growing. Social media and livestream selling allowed the business to connect with their collectors remotely, hosting virtual gallery shows, exclusive releases, and artist collaborative projects.
Uniquely, Bubble Wrapp offers perks for their shoppers like their loyalty program, which rewards regular collectors with exclusive discounts and early access to certain products. They even offer a service for online collectors, allowing them to “fill a hold box” with items for up to a year. This way, collectors pay for shipping all at once rather than with each purchase, offering significant savings especially for those shopping overseas.
As the world slowly prepared to come out of social isolation, the two decided to expand their horizons and take the leap of faith that is opening a brick-and-mortar location. They felt confident that Kansas City would be ready and receptive to their concept. Not only is Kansas City full of arts and culture, but as they say, it is also a toy desert. “Basically, it means you can’t drive anywhere close and find a store that sells these products,” says Nate. “The majority of stores like ours are on the coasts, like California, New York, or Florida. The closest one in the Midwest, comparable to us, is in Chicago.”
Six months after signing the lease, the shelves were stocked with blind boxes and vinyl toys that varied from cult brands like Sanrio and Sonny Angel, to pieces designed and produced exclusively for Bubble Wrapp. “Our primary focus from day one has been to feature growing brands and independent artists,” says Kitty. “It is what makes us unique if you were to compare us to Barnes & Noble or Box Lunch. We believe that distinction is what continues to bring collectors back.”
Alongside unique merchandise, Bubble Wrapp also focuses on featuring and working with local artists through commissions and gallery events. This month in particular, they have partnered with local artist and monster maker, Haley Lane for a month-long interactive gallery event. She designed and installed a 6+ foot wide furry friend that sits atop their back wall, crafted monster paw keychains, a furry mirror (perfect for selfies) and brought some additional buddies from a previous event to hang out on commission.
Being located in the heart of Midtown has been essential in the development of their growth. The Kansas City Art Institute students are not only their neighbors but some of their most regular collectors. “When they come in, I feel like there’s a certain level of understanding and appreciation,” says Nate, “The products connect directly with who they are, as artists.” Today, two of six Bubble Wrapp team members are current KCAI students.
“Without every single person who has ever bought something from us at any point, whether it was a $3 sticker sheet or a $300 custom piece, we would not be here without them,” says Nate. “We are so extremely grateful to everyone who comes in and supports us.”
Photos by Brooke Tramel
