Ep. 029 – Thomas Marnin (MarninSayor) – Toy Design, Donut Cats & The Magic of Their Pike Place Shop

In this episode, we talk with Thomas Marnin, co-founder of MarninSayor, a toy shop inside Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The shop grew out of a passion for handcrafted toys and the nostalgia of classic donut shops. In this episode, we talk about:How a tiny pencil sketch and a handmade toy turned into a product they could actually sell.What it’s like building a handmade brand piece by piece. From sewing toys to designing packaging to creating a retail space inspired by the characters.Why Pike Place Market is such a unique place to start a creative business, and how its “meet the producer” philosophy helps small makers thrive. Practical lessons that come from turning a small creative experiment into something people genuinely want to buy.If you’ve ever tried to turn a side project into something real, or wondered how a simple creative idea slowly grows into a business, you're going to love this episode.Join the Creative Slash Newsletter and Get the 5-Part “Off the Record” email series FREEClick here to get the five-part “Off the Record” email seriesNote: If you're looking for hard-earned advice, resources from top creatives, and the products they can't live without, you're going to love this.Brad WoodardBrad is an illustrator and designer behind Brave the Woods, a full-service studio working with clients like PBS Kids, Ford, Target, and USPS. His bold, playful style and heart-led storytelling shine through everything from brand campaigns to children’s books.View Brave the WoodsDustin LeeDustin is the founder of RetroSupply, a shop for retro-inspired brushes, textures, and digital tools used by tens of thousands of creatives from indie artists to major studios. He shares what it’s really like to run a creative business while keeping it small, weird, and intentional.View RetroSupplyCreditsAudio/video editing: Clara Wright Cover art: Brad WoodardIntro animation: Seth AustinIntro music: “Snakes and Fire” (Instrumental) by Pär Hagström