Brand Loyalty – Thoughts from a Step2 Brand Ambassador

I am a Step2 Ambassador.  All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.

photo courtesy of Step2 Photographers and  James – The Rock Father.

If you follow me on social media, you probably know that just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Cleveland, Ohio.  Step2 invited their 10 Brand Ambassadors to come tour the Headquarters and meet the Step2 Team.  There were 6 of us that were able to attend and what a pleasure it was!

While I was there, we had the chance to tour the Step2 Plant, visit some of the best sights and restaurants that Cleveland has to offer, and really dig in and get to know the brand that we share on our blogs – which got me thinking…

What connects you with a brand?

Are there certain brands that you’re loyal to – whether it be toy companies or a certain food label?

It’s so funny because there are so many things that make me loyal to a brand.  Maybe I started a certain brand of mayonnaise because I had a coupon when I first bought it, a certain brand of crackers because they use recycled packaging, and a certain brand of toys because I’ve come to expect quality products when I buy them.

That’s where I was with Step2 at the beginning of this year.  I had experienced enough of their products to know that when I put my money towards buying them, I would not be disappointed with what I received.  It’s also fair to say that I tend to support brands that support bloggers [as this is my profession and I appreciate brands that appreciate us!], so yes, this could be a big reason of why I reach for Step2 toys in the store over others.

But something changed after this trip and I’ve become even more loyal to Step2.  Not just as a Brand Ambassador either, but as a Mom to two young girls and it all started with a plant and headquarters tour.

I was so excited – excited to meet the faces behind the brand, excited to meet employees who I trade emails with, excited to see the toys – oh all those toys!

Side story – I sent Sophia a picture of the Step2 Showroom because honestly I just couldn’t imagine seeing all those toys as a young child.  But instead of excitement, she was concerned.  “Why is no one playing with those toys in the picture, Mom?”  “Oh honey, those toys are just for people to look at, no one plays with them.”  She replied back so somber “Mom, I will come with you next time so someone can play with those toys!”

In the showroom we had the chance to see the brand new Step2 Ford Raptor!  We got a few other sneak peeks at toys to come in the near future and all I can say is you’re gonna love them [and your kids will too]!  Watch for a review of the Ford Raptor coming in just a few weeks!

But this tour and this trip were less about the toys than I had assumed it would be.  Well, wait – of course they were about the toys [and a few other Home & Garden items that Step2 makes], but this trip was really about the brand that I represent each time a visitor visits SEBG.  Each time my Step2 Brand Ambassador badge is seen – how proud I am to be in this elite group with a wonderful company.

We were taken on our plant tour by Al – an employee who has been with Step2 since the early days of the company.

We didn’t take any photos of the plant tour except for one – that middle picture that shows one of the biggest prides of Step2.  The American Flag hanging in the plant to remind employees that they’re one of the few still making USA made toys – quality USA made toys.  When Al spoke about that fact, you could hear pride in his voice.

You could also hear pride in his voice when he discussed the safety measures that Step2 takes.  If I had taken pictures of this tour, you would have seen a Ford Raptor just getting shaken to death by a machine – pumping it’s handle up and down over and over and over… Al said that test would run for a few days.  Why?  Because they were testing the durability of the handle.  Parents are going to be pushing their children in this toy and Step2 wants to make sure the toy is up for that.

Quality.  Durable.  Dependable.  Pride.

Those are the things I took from the plant and headquarters tour.  When Al spoke about being a parent himself and how important it was to remember the safety of toys, what a responsibility a brand like Step2 has to parents and their children, well, I honestly teared up a bit.  It’s so easy to forget the people and motives behind a company when you’re blinded by all the bright colors and fun toys, but he brought it down to Earth for me.

If I had taken pictures during the plant tour, you would have seen employees putting together toys by hand, working the machines, safety checks being performed, and inventory of boxes being done – to make sure each box and toy part is correct and packaged perfectly.  You would have seen the Customer Service office full of toys, as each Customer Service representative assembles each toy so they can walk a customer through the assembly process over a phone call for troubleshooting.  You would have seen a room full of toys-that-could-have-been in Research & Development [and a few toys that we raved just had to be made!].  You would have seen employees working to make strides in eco friendly packaging.  You would have seen all this and more!

I feel like I could go on and on about the things I experienced while on my Step2 Headquarters Trip and I probably will – in future posts to come about the brand.

I think it means so much when a brand respects their costumers and employees how I saw Step2 treating theirs – it speaks volumes about a company and a brand and that’s the type of brand that I can stand behind.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Step2 for allowing the Ambassadors to come in and really connect with the brand.