August 23, 2005

International Toy Fair open to all - yes, even teachers

If you are ever in New York in February you have to visit the International Toy Fair. It's a kind of convention where the latest and greatest toys are rolled out for buyers across the world to stock their shelves. It's a wonderful experience and anybody can go. As a teacher, it is particularly interesting to see ideas come to life, many of which are science creations that come from simple experiences you and I teach in our classrooms. You will find around 2500 vendors there. In a couple of rows on the left hand side are the first timers. People who have never been to a Toy Fair before, who have mortgaged the house, made prototypes, and are ready to show the world their inventions. It is amazing to discover how many of these toys are born from the simple concepts that kids are learning in school. So head over to New York and be amazed at the learning experiences there. You won't be able to buy anything but you'll probably head to H & R Schwartz and load that spare suitcase you brought with you with the latest and greatest toys to take home. Listen … (more...)

August 21, 2005

Education science toys - from idea to sales and everything in between

People are sometimes confused to walk through a toy store and see this kit designed by Steve Spangler Science under the brand name Be Amazing Toys. How come a science teacher is doing this? It is all because a group of science teachers got together to create educational science toys and put them into stores. To get a science toy from an idea on to the shelf is an incredible process. From concept to shelf can take 12-18 months. First, the buyers have to like it. The product may have to be changed. Testing has to be done. Unfortunately, you sometimes end up with a watered down version of the original. Our catalog company, Steve Spangler Science, gave us the opportunity to put our toys in the hands of teachers within a matter of weeks. It is how we were able to formulate a product called Pearl Swirl. Teachers wanted to be able to colour water so they could put it over a heat source. Others were retailing similar products for about $15-$20 for a litre, but we found an ingenious way to create this product called Pearl Swirl for $4.95 for four gallons of material. Instead of taking 12-18 months to get … (more...)

August 19, 2005

Be Amazing Toys - a great way to “learn” a living

As teachers, we learn how to do different jobs to supplement our income. One of the ways was to take things we worked on during class and come up with ideas for science toys. In 1991 a collaboration of science teachers got together to invent science toys that could one day make their way to the shelves. The most popular science toy in the world - the Tornado Tube - was invented by Craig Burnham. Craig was our inspiration. My first science toy was a cute little pet squid called Squiddy. We simply put these toys in the hands of 50 teachers and their students, and they took on a life of their own. Orders took off and soon my wife had to quit her job because the phone started ringing and we needed someone to process invoices. Based in Salt Lake City, Be Amazing Toys started with this small group of scientists in Denver, Colorado. Now we have a toy company making 60 different educational toys and, if you walk the aisles of Toys 'R Us or Target you will know us. A group of teachers who wanted to be amazing, creating toys that came out of the classroom, to give kids … (more...)

February 19, 2005

Toy Fair 2005 in New York

I'm in New York this week for the American International Toy Fair, the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. I've been coming to Toy Fair since 1993 when I first introduced a line of educational science toys to speciality toy market. My first Toy Fair was an eye-opening experience. More than 1,500 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from 30 countries showcase their products. How could my first science toy invention called SQUIDY ever stand a chance being noticed? We were just a drop of water in a huge ocean! Twelve years later I'm still just a drop of water in a huge ocean, but I've learned how to ride on some of the ripples that a drop of water can make. I'm excited to release 6 new toys and science kits this year through a company called Be Amazing! Toys. I'll share some of the toys with you in the next few days. I'll also be visiting with other inventors and toy creators finding the latest and greatest new discoveries to share with you. I'll post immediate pictures to my blog through a technology called Moblogging - a special way to … (more...)