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Business & Tech

Business of the Week: Toss Designs

Stylish San Anselmo retailer offers great gifts and eye-catching accessories for yourself and your friends.

343 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo

(415) 455-8677; www.tossdesigns.com

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shoptoss@tossdesigns.com

What do they offer?

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is the authority on travel bags, cosmetic bags in whimsical prints, and beautiful caning totes trimmed in patent. Each season’s assortment highlights the very latest in fashion trends, color and style. Toss also knows how to delight your inner party-girl with chic cocktail shakers and bar essentials. The boutique carries candles, jewelry, children’s items, gifts, clothing and much more.

The name "Toss" was chosen to represent fun and playfulness, and the store displays delight the eye. The colorful collections have marvelous names like “Portofino” (navy and white medallion print trimmed in orange), “Madagascar” (brown and white zebra trimmed in orange), and an equestrian print called “Steeplechase.”

Oversized totes in great colors and prints are meant to replace the ubiquitous and often plain leather briefcase professional women once carried. Many have padded sections meant for laptops. They also fit everyday items such as water bottles and cell phones. Several patterns have a matching clutch, which can either fit inside the tote or be carried to coordinate with the "briefcase."    

You will find “Milly Mocs,” slip-on shoes with horsebit buckles, available in orange, black, navy or platinum. And, bar-sized (4” - perfect for cutting lemons and limes) wooden cutting boards adorned by an aluminum fleur de lys or pineapple are great hostess gifts. Holiday themes are due in the store shortly. 

Toss Designs is a wholesale company that develops beautiful women’s accessory products for every age group, and sells to over 4,000 stores nationwide. They now have four retail stores in the Bay Area - San Anselmo, St. Helena, San Francisco and Palo Alto.  

Who are they?

Born and raised in San Francisco, Toss Designs owner Jennifer Hogan currently lives in Ross with her husband. Before starting Toss, she studied design and business and worked in product development with large retail accounts. Her design and product development skills are obvious, as is her business acumen.  All three are evidenced by the rapid growth of the business.   

How long have they been there? 

Toss Designs was started in 2004 as a wholesale company. Hogan opened the retail store in San Anselmo a year ago, in October. 

Why are they business of the week?

"Toss is a fun place to be and a wonderful place to shop," said Hogan. The store has a large variety of exclusive hostess gifts for the upcoming party season with many items starting at low price points. Hogan's goal is that her customers are “wowed” by their shopping experience. From the "oohs" and "ahhs" I heard while taking photographs inside, she has succeeded. 

“Toss is the store to stop by on the way to a dinner party, a birthday, to find a quick gift for friends, teachers, sisters, mothers, daughters, fathers, and brothers,” Hogan said.   

Toss Designs works closely with Adopt a Family/Ross Valley Women’s League and Sunny Hills. In December, Toss will host a shopping night and will donate 20 percent of all proceeds back to these two charitable causes. 

The store is a stylish addition to San Anselmo’s main street. The black and white curved awning and colorful windows beckon customers to come inside for a look. To show passers-by that the store is all about lifestyle, outside you will see a bicycle and statue of a greyhound dog -- both painted white. As the store mascot, the dog has already become somewhat of a celebrity and is photographed often. “Kids love it,” said Hogan.

If you are looking for something to brighten up your day, or someone else's, you will no doubt find it at Toss Designs. Hogan's motto is: “Always remember that life is a journey, carry a Toss bag!”

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