September 9, 2010
Educational Toys | BLE NEW EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT: House Mouse Designs
The dream of a trip to Europe sparked the beginning of Ellen Jarecki and Barry Percy’s company – House Mouse Designs.
In order to fund the trip, Percy printed up some cards of Jarecki’s drawings of her pet mouse Tiny, and set about selling them at a craft fair.
The early success of the cards drove the pair to set up a greeting card company in 1980 and about six years later, they made it to Europe.
Within a couple of years, House Mouse Designs went from four black and white designs to a full line of cards, featuring the mice in Jarecki’s watercolours. Around 1992, the mice expanded into a family of five characters – Amanda, Muzzy, Monica, Mudpie and Maxwell, each with distinct personalities, allowing the artist to create a story within each of the pictures.
The company is continuing to grow, as Nicole Percy, director of licensing, explains: “In the past five years or so, Ellen has expanded her horizons by introducing a line of rabbits and a line of bears. The Happyhoppers and Gruffies lines have been well received.”
With such an array of artwork, a licensing programme seems obvious for the company and in 2003, they started to focus on this area.
Percy continues: “Though it’s been a learning process, we have really enjoyed the day-to-day of licensing, so much so, that we licensed our mail order/greeting card and paper product business to someone else, freeing us up to focus on licensing shows and expanding that side of our business.”
The firm’s fist significant licence was with Stampa Rosa for wood-mounted rubber stamps.
At BLE, House Mouse Designs will have its complete gallery of illustrations featuring the House-Mouse Designs, HappyHoppers and Gruffies images. There will also be licensed product and mock ups of possible new products on show.
House Mouse Designs is hoping to expand into a range of new categories at the show. Percy explains: “In the UK and Europe, we would love to see our images gracing the pages of wall calendars, address books, photo albums and all sorts of goodies found in the social expressions market, especially greeting cards.
“Also, we think our endearing characters are perfect for decorating all sorts of child friendly products, such as educational toys, puzzles, colouring books, classroom decor and supplies, plush bedding, wall clings and even night lights.”
The firm is hoping to build new contacts in the territories and forge new relationships to move towards these categories with its properties at the show.
Return to Educational Resources
18 Comments on Educational Toys | BLE NEW EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT: House Mouse Designs »
April 10, 2011
Web Directory @ 10:53 pm:
Super Dueling Spinner Top Battle Arena
April 20, 2011
Lucas M @ 10:20 pm:
books..or like spidey socks a..and other little usefull things like that. Put money away for college…that will be more important then some little trinket
May 5, 2011
Twitter @ 1:19 pm:
http://www.shopgreenforbaby.com Special Wooden Educational Toys & Games Skwish Classic a special educational wooden baby toys by Manhattan Toy For detail information and best buy, plesae visit http://www.amazon.com Video Rating: 0 / 5 Wooden Baby Toys Skwish Classic by Manhattan Toy is a post from: Kids Educational Toys
Wooden Baby Toys Skwish Classic by Manhattan Toy is a post from: Kids Educational Toys
May 7, 2011
oneview.com | new tags: "e; @ 11:42 pm:
Educational Toys | Kids Toys –
May 13, 2011
Teri @ 10:48 pm:
Hi Bethany,I've been blog-stalking your blog for a while and I have to say that I'm completely impressed with Jaxon's geographical abilities.
I'm totally feeling the same way about the educational toys for Hunter lately. I did a bunch of research on plastics a little while ago and I ended up putting a bunch of plasticky, noisy, and un-creative toys on a big lot and craigslist and have now opted for simpler toys that inspire imagination, knowledge, and creativity. We always have grandparents inquiring as to what to get the kids for christmas and birthdays, so to go along with this new toy movement I put a bunch of toys I liked on “The Things I Want”.com . Check it out if you want and let me know if you have any ideas. http://www.thethingsiwant.com/pencefamily
May 17, 2011
Jerry Oakman @ 6:05 pm:
Cranium® Grab & Go Connect-O-Round (Toy)
By Cranium
Buy new: $12.00
7 used and new from $11.00
First tagged "toy" by amyjoesamazon
Customer tags: puzzles, games, toy, educational toys, maze, puzzle, brainteaser
May 21, 2011
Daisy @ 3:41 am:
Hi! Everyone. My new URL is http://www.DaisyBoutiqueAndToys.com.
We are NOW an ONLINE Educational Toy Store that was once located in Winter Garden, Florida (Orlando, Central Florida). We specialize in organic, environmentally friendly, safe wooden toys, open-ended educational toys, and Barefoot Children's Books for children ages infant to age 8. We offer popular brands like, Voila, Selecta Spielzeug, Kathe Kruse, Under the Nile, Wedgits, ImagiPlay, K'Kids, Taggies, HABA, Earlyears, Alex Toys, Young Scientist Club, Ever Earth by Maxim Enterprise, Inc. and many more brands.
May 30, 2011
B-Dragon @ 9:08 am:
What type of cold war era question is this?
Really?
I would respond with an essay of welcome to over fifteen years later and express Russian economic growth laced with the widespread use of technology in the civilized world. Sure, they have political problems, but they aren't living in huts for shiits sake. It depends on what area of Russia they are in. If you are sitting in Chechnya (sp wrong I know), you are more concerned with safety and aren't bopping to an Ipod. But, if you are in Moscow or St. Petersburg, your life would probably be radically different.
It is the same as people in the US and how they allocate funds based on their socioeconomic status, just in a different political environment and scale.
Who cares if you fail the assignment, write a well developed essay to retort a dumb assignment. Maybe then your teacher will deep down and create real assignments.
June 1, 2011
Brishell @ 6:21 pm:
I know my nephew loves the lego's to where you can build like ships and different things like that, and they come in all different price ranges, so it could fit your budget.
June 6, 2011
Danica M @ 10:09 am:
Lady you have a big job ahead of you, but it sounds like you're doing the right thing by having separate stations for them to entertain themselves. My only comment would be, don't set anything up in your areas of doing things, like the kitchen or your bedroom. The kitchen you need for food and other types of preparations, and the bedroom you need to make more babies. Did you think it was going to be easy with six, try seven or eight, you're on roll. LMAO
June 14, 2011
games: Newly tagged products at Amazon.com @ 11:10 pm:
WowToyz Classic Train Set – 40 Piece with Steam Engine
June 15, 2011
Ultimate Colossus @ 6:07 pm:
[b]Buy Toys Online: An Easy and Prompt Buying Option[/b]
Are you one of them who want to buy toys online for kids? If your answer is affirmative, then no need to get fretted as there are a number of online stores available selling numerous types of toys at affordable rates. Some even ships the toys the very same day at the customer's doorsteps. Nowadays, toys are no longer just playing commodity, Infact, they have been proved as great products that assist in the overall development of a child. With this concept in mind, the educational toys was designed and manufactured that help child to learn with playway method.
Buying toys from online stores
Individuals are suggested to buy toys online. Reason being, the process is not only promt and easy, but also brings the toys at affordable rates. With the presence of online stores, no one needs to waste their time in moving around shops on their week offs. Some of the popular toys available in the online market include barbie dolls, car toys, transformers or Lego toys, etc. One can order toys according to his/her requirement and budget.
Types of toys
With the presence of online stores, kids can buy different types of toys such as educational toys, activity toys, learning toys, toddler toys and play toys. Most of the stores categorize as toys for boys and toys for girls; therefore buying toys for your kids is now not a hard nut to crack. Toys aid children in all round development and make them able to learn the skills of life. Buy toys online but keep in mind that the toys you are going to buy must not only be safe and sound, but also play an important role in your child's development. You also need to ensure that the store is reputed and doing well in the business of selling toys.
Reading testimonials
Online stores bring testimonials of customers. Before buying toys from online stores, people need to read the testimonials of parents who have already purchased such toys. And thus, they come to know about the advantages and disadvantages of the toys. In fact, environment friendly toys can also be considered as a good option for your kids.
July 2, 2011
Twitter @ 8:03 pm:
Toy Story 3 Jessie & Bullseye Partner Pack
July 18, 2011
Web Directory @ 11:56 am:
Little Tikes Secret Garden Playhouse
August 2, 2011
Twitter @ 3:48 am:
children educational toys – Educational Baby Toys, Children Educational Toys, Educational Aids For Children, Educational Toys For Children
August 21, 2011
Alaina N @ 3:26 pm:
When I was a baby/toddler I remember playing with dolls/stuffed animals. Most of them had stitched eyes and not the plastic ones you find on most dolls today.
I had a bunny, baby doll, stuffed dogs etc.
As a baby/toddler I also loved to hear little stories. I had a large book collection.
When my cousin was 1 year old he had some sesame street stacking cups, books, little stuffed toys.
Hope this helps a little. Don't worry, when they're two it will be so much easier to buy presents.
September 3, 2011
Ping.fm @ 10:10 pm:
SALE on Smart Balance Bikes, Brik A Blok, and Sassafras Educational Toys & Bakeware!
October 16, 2011
littleJaina @ 4:58 pm:
I know my nephew loves the lego's to where you can build like ships and different things like that, and they come in all different price ranges, so it could fit your budget.