YoYo Joe's edition of the SEVERE yo-yo getting rave reviews!

We're the only store in the universe to carry our custom color combination of the Tyler Severance signature edition SEVERE. It's sold well (we're almost out) and has received rave reviews from our buying public. One customer liked it so much, he made a YouTube video of his review!

We're SEVERE-ly excited!

Tyler Severance was employee number 2 at YoYo Joe's. He was one of two people who came to work for us who previously worked at Mitchell's Trains, Toys & Hobbies. If you shopped at YoYo Joe's last holiday season, you might have seen Tyler. He was the Yo-Yo 2007 World Champion in the 5A division. For previous mentions of Tyler in the blog, click here.
Since Tyler left us, he graduated from William Penn High School and headed out to Arizona, where he's following his dream, working for yo-yo manufacturer YoYo Factory.
YoYo Factory has just released the signature model yo-yo for Tyler - the SEVERE. We were delighted to receive the first of these last week (already sold out!). I tried out the first batch and (maybe I'm biased), but it's my favorite metal yo-yo! We're also thrilled to be receiving an exclusive color combination of the SEVERE this week. We're the only store in the world to offer the blue & orange YoYo Joe's edition of the SEVERE. We expect it to arrive any day, and I will update the blog with ordering info when we get it in.
Congrats to Tyler and YoYo Factory.

YoYo Joe's yoyoers profiled in Washington Post Magazine

The Washington Post Magazine's cover story (registration required - unless you check out bugmenot.com) this week focus' on two local yoyoers - former YoYo Joe's employee and World Champion Tyler Severance (left) and Vice-President Joe Biden's favorite yoyoer Jonathan Robinson. It's a great article that was written with care. Writer Rebecca Bengal contacted me last year talking about doing a story on a regional yoyoer. The story features a cool video shot at the Maryland State Yo-Yo Contest in Perryville. The article also talks about both Mitchell's and YoYo Joe's. Great press! 

Rebecca told me there's more pictures in the paper edition of the magazine, so I'll be picking up a couple copies tomorrow. 

Meet the people at YoYo Joe's - Tyler Severance

This is first in a series of postings introducing the people who work here at YoYo Joe's Toys & Fun - First up is Tyler Severance. 

Tyler is a senior at William Penn High School in New Castle. He worked with us over at Mitchell's and we brought him along for the ride. He's really stepped up his game with his gift-wrapping skills over the past couple of weeks. 

Tyler started showing up at Mitchell's Yo-Yo club with his brother Danny years ago. Here's a shot of Tyler from a couple years back...back when he was but a long haired lad. 

Danny and Tyler are both terrific yo-yoers, and Tyler actually won the 2007 US National and World Yo-Yo Championship in the 5A (or counterweight) division. So, he's a former World Yo-Yo Champ! He's retired now (you know, he's all of 17 years old), but don't be surprised to see him yo-yoing at YoYo Joe's. Tyler will also lead the YoYo Joe's Yo-Yo Club, which will start meeting in 2009 on Saturdays - a great place to learn awesome yo-yo tricks by one of the best yo-yoers in the world. 

Here's a video of Tyler's World Championship winning performance at the 2007 World Yo-Yo Contest. 

Delaware State Yo-Yo Contest / East Coast Classic

If you've been in Mitchell's, you know we know yo-yos. It's one of our specialty departments. We host weekly yo-yo club meetings on Fridays from 4 till whenever. Tyler Severance (left), who runs our yo-yo club meetings, won the US National and World Championships in his division (5A or counterweight division). Plus, we host the Mid-Atlantic Regional Yo-Yo Contest each year (one of eight Regional yo-yo contests in the United States).

This Saturday (January 12th) is a yo-yo contest to be held at Aldersgate United Methodist Church (five doors down from Mitchell's) Tyler has set up this contest, recruited the judges, solicited prizes and done most of the work associated with running a contest. The contest is open to yo-yoers of all skill levels and ages. There will be a 'Ladder' contest, which involves working your way along a trick list until your second miss. The trick list starts with the most basic of tricks (the sleeper) and moves up to very difficult tricks. There will also be two expert divisions for yo-yoers to compete for prize money and the title of Delaware State Champion!

Yo-yoers from around the country are coming in, with Dave Poyzer and Seth Peterson (www.savedeth.org) in town to film for their latest video release and former Duncan team member Spencer Berry in town. Some of the best yo-yoers in the country will be on hand - so if you're in the area, you should check out the contest. Saturday, from 10-5 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. For more information, check out the official ECC website.

Mitchell's will be on hand to sell all sorts of yo-yos, including the official debut of Tyler's signature edition yo-yo - the Train Wreck. Only available at Mitchell's, this yo-yo from Saturn Precision Yo-Yos will be $94.95.