User:Wrightae/sandbox
About HandsOnToys, Inc.
Overview
HandsOnToys, Inc. was established in 1993 to design, develop, and market imaginative toys which stimulate interactive play and learning with a focus on distribution in the specialty toy market . The company’s distributors in the 1990’s included: FAO Schwarz, Learningsmith, Noodle Kidoodle, Store of Knowledge, Imaginarium SA, Zany Brainy, World of Science and fine independently owned toy stores across the USA and around the world.
As the global toy market evolved and many of these outlets disappeared from the landscape in the new millennium, HandsOnToys, had to modify its business model to keep pace with the changing retail world.
Founders
HandsOnToys, Inc. was founded by Andrew Farrar, Rustam Booz, and Arthur Ganson in March of 1993.
• Andrew Farrar is a graduate of Amherst College, and has a background in sales and marketing, product development, and consulting.
• Rustam Booz is a graduate of Brown University, and previously worked with Fortune 500 companies as a consultant in marketing communications.
• Arthur Ganson is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and is an internationally acclaimed kinetic sculptor and renowned inventor.
Contacts
• Co-Founder, president: Andrew Farrar - [email protected]
• Co-Founder, COO: Rustam Booz – [email protected]
Products
HandsOnToys, Inc.’s principle products have included[1] :
• Toobers & Zots – a full line of creative construction toys comprised of flexible foam tubes, launched in 1995. Toobers&Zots has won over 30 major toy awards, and was a Toy of the Year Finalist.
• Wiggly Giggly – a soft, round ball that giggles when moved in any direction, launched initially as a toddler toy. It crossed over to the pet market and won Pet Product of the Year in 1999.
• Floam – an arts and crafts compound that allows the user to coat and decorate all types of surfaces. The compound is textured with polystyrene beads allowing the user to shape, create, decorate and use their creativity to make a wide range of original projects. It was a Toy of the Year Finalist.
• Other products include Crunch Art, Orbity Zorbity, Wiggly Giggler, Nobbly Wobbly, Funny Football, and Cat-a-pult
HandsOnConsulting
Overview
HandsOnConsulting was established by Mr. Farrar and Mr. Booz in 2006 to take advantage of exciting opportunities found in Direct response television (DRTV). The consulting company shifted its focus away from manufacturing toys, instead electing to lock its energy on TV marketing, product research-and-development, and licensing[1] .
Products
Since its establishment in 2006, HandsOnConsulting has worked on Direct Response TV campaigns for kids products such as Floam®, Happy Nappers®, Press Dough®, and CuddleUppets®, general consumer products such as Magic Tap®, and has developed and licensed new toy products such as the Wizzle and Jewel Jam.
Contacts
• Andrew Farrar – [email protected]
• Rustam Booz – [email protected]
Media Links for HandsOnToys and HandsOnConsulting
• Annals of Invention: Thinking in the Rain By Susan Orlean, February 11, 2008, on The New Yorker
• Finding success in toy business is not a game. Hands On Toys remains committed to creativity By Scott Kirsner, December 21, 2008, on Boston.com
• Toymaker Struggles in Movie-Obsessed World By Carmen Nobel, October 21, 2009, on The Street
• Auerbach, Ph.D., Stevanne "Dr. Toy" (1999). F.A.O Scharz Toys for a Lifetime. New York: Universe Publishing. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Patents; The Cat-A-Pult, a toy, is hard to explain in print or on a package. That's the problem. By Teresa Riordan, December 22, 2003, on The New York Times
• The Selling of Whimsy September 20, 1999 on Forbes
• Playing Around: Andrew Farrar, Arthur Ganson and Rustam Booz have their hands on a winner. By Holly Celeste Fisk, January 1, 1996 on Entrepreneur
• Arthur can make a machine that waves goodbye By David Sims, January 1996 on Smithsonian Magazine
References
- ^ a b Susan, Orlean. "Annals of Invention: Thinking in the Rain". The New Yorker. Retrieved 5 June 2012.</ref name="orlean">DETAILS OF REF