Fauni Trolls: Fun, Friendly and Educational (Wilmington, North Carolina)

By Abby Slutsky — January 7, 2011

The U.S. Troll store, currently located in Wilmington, North Carolina, has
been delighting customers with trolls for over 30 years. The Kuuskoski family,
which owns the store, previously made trolls in Finland. Although Scandinavian
folklore routinely depicts trolls as evil, the Kuuskoski family creates friendly
trolls that appeal to children and adults.

Helena Kuuskoski began making stuffed, lovable trolls in 1952. Her hobby
attracted locals, and visitors so she started selling trolls in Finland. She began
calling her trolls Fauni Trolls, named after the Greek God of the Forests. Her troll
business, surrounded by acres of wooded land, was the perfect setting for her
trolls, who lived in the imaginary world of Trolldom, a land with abundant forests.
Her family obtained permits and created Trolldom Park, a theme park, without
rides, that had costumed troll characters. The park provided entertainment while
educating people about trolls.

Although the park was well visited, eventually the Kuuskoski family
moved to the United States in the 1970s because Finland tax laws made it difficult
to operate the park and store profitably. Today it seems appropriate that the store
is in their home on Market Street, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The warm,
inviting atmosphere and service make customers feel as valued as family
members. Helena passed her infectious enthusiasm for trolls to her children,
Minna and Johannes, who help run the family-based business.

A Brief Description of Fauni Trolls

There are approximately 40 or 50 different Fauni trolls. They are hand-
made out of fabric, felt, leather, and occasionally real fur. All trolls are soft,
cuddly and come with a story about their life, background or interests. The trolls
are friendly and have ethical moral values. Most Fauni trolls have names that
describe their appearances.

Each troll is unique. Some have furry mustaches, interesting hats, or

unusual hair. Some trolls are available in more than one color. Large, medium,
and small trolls are available, and larger trolls are more expensive. They range in
price, but trolls are between $6 and $37.

There are trolls that appeal to any age because there are humans who can
relate to the different problems that the trolls face. The troll community includes
busy parents, troll kids, preschoolers, grandparents, lovers and adventurers. Many
trolls have jobs and responsibilities. Some are protectors, mail carriers, writers or
have other professions. Just like humans, many trolls have weaknesses. For
example, they may be absent-minded or overly curious.

Trolldom: A Magical Place Where Trolls Live

 Fauni Trolls live in Trolldom, a magical forest that is in an unknown part
of the world. Like any land, everything in Trolldom is not perfect, and trolls are
not the only inhabitants there. Mudhats reside in Trolldom and are enemies of the
Trolls, often causing them problems. Sneaky is the leader of the Mudhats. The
antics of the Mudhats usually involve the wrong behavior. Many of the troll
stories involve problems caused by Mudhats and end with solutions.

If people could visit Trolldom, they would see many fascinating activities.
Trolls look out for their young in Trolldom. Sometimes Moko Trolls, Trolldom's
message carriers, transport young trolls’ baskets through the air. Visitors might
also see young trolls climbing trees.

A design of Trolldom is available for visitors to see. The Kuuskoski

family hopes to one day create a Trolldom Park in the United States where troll
enthusiasts can come visit their favorite trolls.

Highlights about a Few Trolls

Trumpetnose, the troll leader, is a writer. Trumpetnose is a friendly dark-haired
troll. Bugbear is an adventurous, cheerful troll who looks like a bear. Boxtroll, is a
blue troll, made out of box shapes. Little Busters are furry, child-like trolls, who
love to explore.

There are many other trolls in Trolldom, who help promote educational values and
demonstrate positive qualities. Fauni troll creators do not consciously create new
trolls for Trolldom, but they gradually evolve when the time seems right.

Visiting U.S. Trolls

Visitors can explore the store seven days a week. The store is open 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. six days a week. It is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. In the store,
trolls are busy climbing ladders or nestled in baskets. The store also sells plastic,
pre-owned trolls.

The troll store has a weekend story time. There are pillows and chairs, so
children and adults are comfortable. Story selection is based on the audience.
Often the story time concludes with a discussion that encourages audience
participation. Store proprietors are happy to accommodate requests and provide a
story any day of the week. However, advanced scheduling and a minimum of five
listeners are required.

Of course, those who buy a troll will enjoy reading the story about their
troll repeatedly. The Trollforest website provides short biographies about the
different trolls. Children are also encouraged to write to trolls and can receive
responses.

In addition to selling trolls, the Kuuskoski family created a line of Troll

charms in 2007. These are smaller trolls, made out of fabric, that are only two or
three inches tall. They are adorably furry with playful hair, mustaches or other
facial details. Similar to regular trolls, charms have names and interests. Several
troll charms love sports. Some troll charms like to read. There are also charms of
Mudhats who are enemies of the trolls. Troll charms are only $6.00 and come
with a charm clip or ribbon. They are ideal as Christmas ornaments, and some are
specially designed for the holiday. Many standard size Fauni trolls are available in
charm sizes. Since they are tiny, troll charms are for hanging rather than play.
They are perfect for the person who wants to accumulate a troll collection at a
reasonable price.

If you are in Wilmington, North Carolina, a visit to the U.S. Troll store
will delight and educate children and adults alike. The cuddly trolls are soft and
easy to pack making them the ideal souvenir or gift. After visiting U.S. Troll, you
may become enthusiastic about trolls too.