FAQ

Who or what is Fairplace?

In 2013, childhood friends Yves Vercruysse and Christophe Toye began searching for toys that were stronger, sturdier and more ecological. Made with attention to people and the environment.

That's how Fairplace was born and launched in 2014. Our purpose is also in our name: 'Fair-place'. A dream to make this world a more fair place for everyone.

There are many toys on the market. And sometimes they look nice but are not made sturdy. Or they wear out or discolour too quickly. And so many toys end up in the rubbish. Moreover, we also saw in our own children's toys that a lot of material is used as raw material that is not safe, ecological or sustainable. We thought the time was ripe to do something about it. In the meantime, more than 10 years have passed...

Does the Fairplace webshop also have a physical store?

Fairplace started as a webshop and we are therefore mainly online. But since 2022 you can also visit us 'live' or pick up an order in the store in Kortrijk. To do this, check the option ' pick up in store' when ordering.

Our offices and warehouse are located above and behind the store in Kortrijk, at Rijselsestraat 23 , which is in the city center, 100 meters from the Grote Markt. Since the summer of 2022, we have a collection point and showroom there. You can visit on fixed days and by appointment . Spread over 3 floors you will find our dozens of sustainable brands. A colorful collection of toys that is still growing every week. We also show in 20 linear meters of window what we have in stock.

Here you will find all information about the store and the opening days.

How do we select 'sustainable' toys?

For us, toys must first and foremost be good, functional and fun to play with. We call that the factor ' play value '. In addition, they must also be sustainable : that can mean 'strong and sturdy', but also bio, eco, fair trade, or made in correct conditions for people and the environment.

We check with suppliers how and where our products are made. We investigate labels and guarantees. We test safety and harmful materials. And what does not meet the requirements, does not enter our company. We mainly have European suppliers (who also produce in Europe). But if a product really fits our range, it can also come from Canada, America or New Zealand, such as the balance bikes from Wishbone.

If you have any tips, questions or comments, please let us know!

Do we only have toys?

The people behind Fairplace are notoriously playful. And the founders' roots lie in children's games and play materials. That love has not gone away after all these years. That is why we limit ourselves to what we know best: toys .

But we don't just have toys, we also have books that children will enjoy. The books are carefully selected for all ages. Whether you want to read your child a bedtime story or learn about animals, you will find what you want with us.

And don't we want to make toys ourselves?

That is our ultimate dream. We would like to design and launch a Fairplace toy line one day. In the meantime, we are taking cautious steps: we already had our own tepee made and the 'water play table' was our first real own product. At the moment, that is on hold because we are brushing up on our knowledge of product design and toy safety.

Help, I can't complete my order online, what should I do?

It rarely happens, but sometimes the ordering system is overloaded. You can contact us, but you can also wait: an automatic payment reminder for your order will come exactly 24 hours after your order. You can then complete the order via the link. Do you want certainty faster? Give us a signal via hallo@fairplace.be and we will check whether your order has actually been received.

Something went wrong with my order, what now?

We send our packages via Bpost and DPD . We have been very satisfied with them for years . Your package is normally delivered within 2 working days in Belgium and the Netherlands. Of course, something can always go wrong. You can then follow where your package is via the track & trace code of Bpost and DPD.

Didn't receive a track & trace code? Send us an email via hallo@fairplace.be and we will look it up for you. If a package is lost (exceptionally), we will create a file with Bpost or DPD and they will start searching. We will keep you informed by email. Large deliveries (heavy boxes +30kg or on a pallet) are made via our regular carrier. They will always receive your telephone number from us to call you for the delivery.

Package wrong or damaged?

It is exceptional, but it can happen that your package is wrong or damaged upon delivery. In that case, always take a few photos and email them to hallo@fairplace.be. If we have photos, we can check them in the warehouse and possibly create a file with the deliverers of the package. If the packaging is intact, but the goods inside are damaged, also take photos of the damage and email them to hallo@fairplace.be We will then contact you.

Not convinced about your purchase?

It may be that a purchase is disappointing and you want to return the package return . No problem, that is your legal right and also our guarantee. Attention: notify us by email at hello@fairplace.be (within 14 days) that you cancel the purchase, and sufficiently postage your return shipment. The costs for this are legally for the account of the buyer.

Please pack the toys securely and send everything unscathed back. That way we can make other children happy!

Which items can I not return?

We cannot take back everything: items that have been used, damaged by use or ordered more than 14 days ago, we do not take back. Here too: send us an email and we will look for a solution in consultation.

I received the wrong order?

Contact us via hello@fairplace.be (within 14 days).
The procedure is as follows: we send you the correct product(s) and at the same time we send the return slip for the wrong package. Once you have received the correct package and the return slip. Then you send us back the wrong package.

Under what conditions can I return my order?

Returning a package is possible. An email to hallo@fairplace.be is sufficient to make an appointment. Make sure that the package is well packed and returned undamaged , because then we can make another child happy.

Can I order a voucher from Fairplace?

Of course you can also order a voucher. You can find them here . If you want a voucher with a different amount, that is also possible. An email to hallo@fairplace.be and it will be arranged.

We will then send the vouchers physically or digitally to the address you specify. This can be to yourself, but also to the lucky recipient. You will see that you can enter a separate delivery address for this during the ordering procedure. If it is not clear, email hallo@fairplace.be and we will help you further.

Can I get an invoice for my order?

When you order from www.fairplace.be , you will automatically receive a confirmation for your purchase via the email address you provided. Do you want an official invoice? Send us an email and mention your VAT number.

If you want to place a larger order or if you work with a purchase order, please email us your order with the purchase order (or number) and we will send you the invoice for payment within 14 days.

We also (like to) supply toys to schools, childcare, a non-profit organization, (world) shop, a youth service, a local government. If you have any questions or are looking for advice , please email hallo@fairplace.be and we will help you further. If desired, we will make a customized quote for you.

Is it true that you also sell toys on Bol.com?

Yes, that's right. Since 2015 we have been recognized as a (Belgian) partner of Bol for a selection of sustainable toys. We can now call Mr. Bol Billy 😆 . You can clearly see that we are a Belgian webshop by the way.

On Bol.com we only place a part of the webshop's offer. We send our own packages and our delivery time is also 2 to 3 days there. Billy Bol reaches many more people than we do and we use those contacts to make our name and our offer known. In this way, the offer on the platform also becomes a bit more sustainable . In 2023, Bol received the B Corp certificate for their continued efforts for sustainability. By the way, we were once allowed to take care of Bol's autumn campaign for sustainable toys, together with ten influencers .

I read that you are financed by Win-Win Loans, how exactly does that work?

We try to avoid bank loans by financing our company with private capital. We need that for the construction of the webshop, the marketing and especially the purchase of stock and new brands. In concrete terms, this is done via the PMV Winwin loan from the Flemish government. With this, private individuals can invest in companies of friends and acquaintances. In this way, with Fairplace we can attract capital from our direct environment via people who believe in us and in our project.

For private individuals, this works as an investment : you lend Fairplace a tranche of €2,500, €5,000 or €10,000 for 8 years . This is done with an official (free) deed from PMV, the ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen. You will then receive an annual interest from Fairplace (gross in 2024 = 2.875% ) + on top of that a tax reduction of 2.5% from the government (via your annual tax return).

The loan runs for 8 years and at the end of that period we will pay back the amount in one go. In case of problems in the company, the government guarantees the repayment of at least 30% of your deposit. In addition, we write an extra clause in the deed that we will repay the amount in mutual consultation if necessary. More information from us or on the PMV website.

This way of working is a successful formula for us, we have more than 50 of them running, with friends, acquaintances and customers. A real win-win 🔥🔥.