By Cristina Sierra, www.nevermissgift.com

Lessons from three toy entrepreneurs we can share with nieces and nephews...

As the owner of a gifting service, I attend trade shows annually looking for distinctive toys. I adore great design, thoughtful manufacturing and packaging (bonus if you can avoid breaking out industrial scissors), and great “play value”, i.e., kid engagement. I’m in the business of helping thoughtful aunts, uncles, and godparents select the birthday or holiday gifts that inspires a budding Steve Jobs, Neil Armstrong, or Gwen Stefanie.

With that in mind, I headed off to NY Gift Show in August. It’s my favorite because it features items found in gift, boutique, or museum stores. As a result, I’m more likely to find goods that elicit a “WOW – I’ve never seen anything like that!!!” reaction.

This year’s show yielded toys so ingenious I wanted to know more about the creators and their inspirations. So I met with the founders of Urban Canvas, Mimish, and Lollacup.

Here’s a bit on the companies and founders:

Urban Canvas is an eco-friendly craft kit conceived by art educator Maria Chee. It’s a series of kits made of several cardboard pieces that latch together (without tools) to form three-dimensional structures. Bonus: one side of each piece is blank, adding a creative element. I love that kids can assemble, decorate, use, disassemble, and repeat. It’s made in the USA and it’s brilliant.

Mimish Designs is storage that can double as a seat or ottoman. Because the top half is lined with beanbags, it’s comfortable and has storage on the bottom. I love that the founder, Andrea Soto, patented a solution that de-clutters and looks great. I could have sat on it all day. (Also made in the USA.)

Lollacup is a kid’s drink cup that’s not your average Sippy cup. It’s BPA free, has a whimsical design, a smart weighted straw and handles that can be removed to fit a cup holder. Surprisingly, it’s made in the USA. Founder Hannah Lim and husband Mark auditioned for Shark Tank and achieved funding from both Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec.

As a mom and an aunt, talking to these innovative folks was a great way to hear personal lessons I could take back to the kids in my life.

1. Struggling to come up with an idea? Take cues from your daily life.

Maria Chee was an art instructor who built a cardboard box that she labelled a “store.” After watching her kids play in it and then seeing kids of all ages spend hours decorating it, she tested it with more kids and it was a hit. Finding nothing on the market that let kids build AND decorate AND innovate, she got to work.

Advice for nieces and nephews: If you come up with an idea that seems to interest you or your friends, it could be a winner! Test it out!

2. Look for features that can set your idea apart.

When I first saw Mimish, I was surprised Andrea had been awarded a patent. Hadn’t I seen a toy storage bag before? Nope! The difference was the beanbag lining on the top half of the bag, providing structure. As a former occupational therapist, Andrea has bean bags galore, needed to eliminate clutter, and viola! That combination led to a differentiated, patentable product.

Advice for nieces and nephews: Even a seemingly small feature can make your assignment, play, or application stand out. Consider what unique perspective you can add – it could make a difference!

3. Never stop seeking advice and connections.

Even having advisers from Shark Tank doesn’t stop Hannah and Mark from requesting advice from their peers. “You can never have enough input.” I noticed they were friendly to everyone who stopped by their booth (they have tons of fans) and took breaks, grabbed lunch and dinner with other vendors every chance they got. It keeps them connected to the entrepreneurial community.

Advice for nieces and nephews: An open mind, a willingness to accept advice and an ever-expanding circle of friends can make the difference between success and failure in life.

What lessons from inspiring people or ideas can you share with your nieces and nephews?

Cristina is the founder of NeverMissGift.com, a site she developed for well-intentioned busy people who are tired of forgetting their nieces’ and/or nephews’ birthdays and holidays. She also authors a blog called badaunt.com, where she provides indisputable proof that screwing up a child is harder than it looks. She would love to connect via Twitter @nevermissgift or Facebook (www.facebook.com/nevermissgift).

Photo: Courtesy of Cristina Sierra
Published: August 28, 2013