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“Cool
Companies” is a monthly feature where we recount the odd beginnings,
interesting permutations, or otherwise unique and noteworthy circumstances
of a toy or hobby manufacturer. If you think you know of a Cool
Company that you’d like to see featured here, please contact
emailtoydirectory@gmail.com.
 The
Buzz On Fuzz: Folkmanis Always Puts On A Great Show
By Karen
Mendez Smith
February
1, 2003
It's
showtime!
The action begins the moment you see an award-winning Folkmanis
puppet or marionette. So soft, so appealing, so squishable —
most kids (okay, adults, too!) just have to hug them before they
dive right into fantasy play. From finger puppets to glove puppets,
animated plush hand/arm puppets of every shape and size, character
and storytelling puppets and a new line BabyFolkmanis
books and toys, Folkmanis always finds a fresh take on this imaginative
art.
Folkmanis'
Jellyfish |
Hands
above the rest
For over twenty-five years, the Folkmanis family has defined high-end
imaginative plush puppet play. What's the secret to their success?
"In part this is due to the design sense of owners Judy and Atis
Folkmanis who originally created and hand-produced the entire line,
and still have daily input," said Elaine Kollias, Marketing Director.
"Another key is our terrific team of designers. They're simply the
best around." New puppets are released each January and June. "We
simply care about putting the most animation with the most play
value in each one," she tells us. "Then we multiply that by ten."
Great
White Shark |
Products
with legs . . . and teeth!
Thought-provoking animations also set their products apart. "A great
example is the new Great White Shark that has two rows of custom-molded
teeth, movable eyes and a hole in its mouth for swallowing," Elaine
said. "It's very true-to-life, as are all of our animal puppets.
But our number one seller this year is definitely going to be the
Great Horned Owl. With a newly-designed mechanism that turns his
head and blinks his eyes, he's just awesome."
Folkmanis'
Cardinal |
Net
gains
The Internet has been a real bonus to Folkmanis. "Businesses linked
to us online have really grown," said Elaine. "It is really making
a difference in sales for smaller companies." With over 50 online
links available through the colorful website at www.folkmanis.com
, an online catalog and lots of information make it a truly worthwhile
web destination for retailers, collectors and fans.
A hands-on approach
In some ways, Folkmanis' success can be attributed to what they
don't do. "We don't do licensing, we don't do trends and we don't
change directions quickly," Elaine said. "We've stayed true to our
original mission." From a cottage industry in the '60's to a multi-million
a year private corporation, Folkmanis has managed to keep their
company a family concern.
Writer's
Bio: Karen Mendez Smith has been involved in children's
media for over twenty years as a literary agent, writer, and creator
of animated television and film. Co-founder of Satori Organics and
M/Path Press, she is a parent to eight children and five incredible
grandchildren (and counting).
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