A Collector’s Journey from Passion to Purpose
Like many kids in the 90s, I was completely obsessed with dinosaurs. I could name every species before I could spell most words. When Jurassic Park hit theatres, it wasn’t just a movie, it was a revelation. Dinosaurs stopped being images in books and suddenly felt real.
What's left of my once extensive childhood collection
That fascination never really faded. Life got busy, careers took over, but there was always something about dinosaurs, the scale, the mystery, the way they connect imagination and science, that quietly stayed with me.
The Spark
A couple of years ago, I wandered into a small boutique gift shop and spotted something that stopped me in my tracks, a line of dinosaur figures from a company called Papo. I couldn’t believe how detailed they were. The textures, the paintwork, the expressions, these weren’t toys, they were sculptures.
I bought three figures on the spot. When I took them home, that childhood wonder came rushing back. It was the moment I realized there was a whole world of collectors who shared that same appreciation, and that dinosaur figures had quietly evolved into miniature works of art. How had I missed it all?
I actually snapped a photo of the shelf that day. I was so impressed I knew I was about to go down a deep dive.
From Frustration to Creation
Once I discovered how advanced this world of collectible figures had become, I wanted more, Eofauna, PNSO, Haolonggood, brands known for museum-level accuracy and craftsmanship. But finding them in Canada was another story.
Every figure had to be ordered from overseas or across the border, with high shipping costs and long wait times. It felt like these amazing models existed for everyone except Canadian collectors.
That challenge became the starting point for Dinosaur Crates, a way to make premium dinosaur figures easier to find and to share the excitement of unboxing them with others who appreciate them the same way I do.
The Vision
From day one, we didn’t just want to sell figures. We wanted to create an experience. Every order should feel like receiving a miniature museum piece, carefully packed, protected, and presented with the same respect the sculptor put into creating it.
That’s why we’ve spent months refining our packaging, from the crate style boxes to the protective material used on the inside, tape, and labels. We wanted the Dinosaur Crates box to spark that instant sense of excitement, the moment collectors see it, they know something special has arrived.
Building Dinosaur Crates
What started as a small idea turned into countless hours of research, connecting with manufacturers, learning the process, and finding ways to make these exceptional brands accessible here in Canada. It has not been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. We are genuinely excited to finally open the doors. Every time I say that, I can’t help but picture the Jurassic Park gates swinging open, “spared no expense.”
The Art
Photography has also become a big part of what Dinosaur Crates represents. We started photographing each figure out of curiosity, but it quickly turned into something deeper. There is something satisfying about trying to capture the texture, light, and sense of movement that once defined these creatures.
Each photo feels like an experiment in bringing them back to life, one frame at a time. Our goal is to keep using this blog to share more of that side of the hobby, including ideas, lighting setups, and simple tips that help make each figure look alive through the lens.
The Future
Dinosaur Crates is still growing, but the mission stays simple, to make collecting prehistoric life more accessible, inspiring, and premium for Canadian collectors and to offer the same experience to our friends down south who want the full Dinosaur Crate experience.
New brands are already on the horizon, here is a teaser of four of thirty figures on the way from Haolonggood and PNSO.
My hope is that Dinosaur Crates becomes more than a shop, a small corner of the internet where collectors, artists, and dinosaur enthusiasts feel at home. Because even though life moves on, that sense of wonder we felt as kids, holding a piece of prehistory in our hands, never really leaves.
