From KickStarter to the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse)

This weekend, Luke’s Toy Factory will hop across the pond to the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, or Spielwarenmesse - the largest toy industry trade show in the world - where we will have the opportunity to reach an international audience with our eco-friendly, American made toys!

This year marks the 70th anniversary of Spielwarenmesse (pronounced: schpeel-varen-messa), and will see more than 1 million products on display from 3,000 exhibitors representing 70 countries. More than 70,000 visitors from 130 countries will roam the halls looking to place orders for classic toys and new, innovative products alike.

We couldn’t be more excited to share our toys with potential customers from across the globe who value well-made, sustainable, educational products!

In 2014 we set out to create a toy company and brand that would balance eco-friendliness with safety and sustainability, while making toys that are affordable, fun, and educational. To do so, we took inspiration from Europe, where plastics suppliers have been advancing the technology to use organic  materials to replace plastic.                                             

With your support, we launched a KickStarter campaign based on the idea that kids toys could be made sustainably in the United States. We introduced our Fire Truck - a proof of concept that showed that reclaimed sawdust could be used to make robust, durable toys - and that we could do it all here in the U.S. while keeping costs competitive. We also showed that by manufacturing in the United States and relying on only American suppliers it is possible to ensure the highest quality and safety standards, while creating a more efficient and sustainable supply chain.

Over the next several years, we continued to expand our line and reach new, excited customers, particularly in the U.S. education space, who appreciated how our toys help kids develop critical fine-motor and problem solving skills.

We introduced packaging made from 100% recycled, and recyclable material. Our use of 30% maple sawdust reclaimed from U.S. furniture manufacturers means that in 2018, we gave approximately 400 pounds of waste sawdust, which would have otherwise been incinerated, a second life in our toys. In turn the sawdust allows us to use 30% less plastic, and makes our toys extremely durable - perfectly suited to stand up to the rigors of playrooms and preschool classrooms.

We can’t wait to get to Nuremberg to show the world what our little startup from Danbury, Connecticut has accomplished, and what we are capable of! Stay tuned!

- Luke