Barbara Sinclair's love for the area made her determined to succeed

October 29, 2013 4:45 am • Last Updated: October 29, 2013 12:55 pm

By By KIMBERLY IEMMA

Barbara Sinclair, owner of The Toy Soldier, gives her Teddy Bear a quick hug outside her shop in Olde Mistick Village.

When Barbara Sinclair changed careers in the 1990s, she also saw her clientele change dramatically. "I lived for years in Boston, working at a high-end department store running the women's clothing department," said Sinclair. "We were the first store in Boston to carry Japanese clothing during the explosion of that trend in the U.S. It was a very interesting time to be in fashion." Sinclair dressed celebrities Cher and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith in what was all the rage. A few years later, Sinclair was outfitting precocious preschoolers — in pretend play and dress-up sets — at her Olde Mistick Village store, The Toy Soldier.

Sinclair started quite by accident in the toy store business. "When we moved to Connecticut my son was two — my husband Richard had summered in New London as a child and we instantly fell in love with being here. Our desire to live in this area helped solidify our drive to succeed," said Sinclair. "I remember the night Richard came home and said, 'I found something you might love.'" He told Sinclair The Toy Soldier, one of the first shops to open in Olde Mistick Village, was for sale after 22 years in business.

"Richard and I had spent nearly our entire adulthood in retail. We both had experience and expertise in areas of retail that counter-balanced the other's," Sinclair said. "Just like finding the toy store, it was a perfect match. So we immediately partnered."

Child care also worked itself out when a local playgroup introduced a mother who had a son the same age as theirs and helped to watch him. The Sinclairs are still very close with that family.

"The toy store's original owner, Grace Malloy O'Connor, worked with me one on one for a month while we finalized the purchase of the store," Sinclair said. "I got good sensible advice from Grace, and she stayed with me while I learned ropes." Soon after the transfer of ownership, Beanie Baby mania hit U.S. shores and Sinclair was in business.

"We expanded five years later, in 2000, doubling the size of the store," she said. "It was more work than we anticipated, and being open seven days a week was tough with a young child, but it was a real family affair. My husband and now my stepdaughter are very involved — Richard loves dealing with the collectables and historical figures. Our toy soldier collection is now probably one of the biggest in the country."

Today, parents come into The Toy Soldier who came in as children. Sinclair looks back on the venture with a keen sense of humor and an abundance of gratitude. "There were tough times, yes, but it felt so important to do something I really cared about," Sinclair said. "Staying true to yourself and doing work you want to do…my friends and I agree that continuing to work and staying involved keeps you young."

A self-proclaimed gym rat most mornings, Sinclair now enjoys more time to do what makes her happy in her personal life — including a book club where she's the only member who's Kindle-free — admittedly much more at ease with a book than a device.

"I've been very lucky to find good help for the store which is essential. The hours are easier for me now," said Sinclair. "Owning something yourself gives you the freedom to decide what you want, stick to your guns, and make it your own."