*By: Madison Alworth* Many toy makers may feel imperiled by the closing of Toys 'R' Us, but KiwiCo seems to be doing just fine. The company, which sells kits that encourage kids to build and create their own toys, says sales have grown at an annual rate of about 60 percent a year since its founding in 2011. "This year we are approaching $100 million in sales," said Sandra Oh Lin, the company's founder and CEO, in an interview with Cheddar. KiwiCo took in a round of financing to the tune of $10 million early on. It started producing STEM-based toys, but evolved to sell crates of materials to build toys for everything from engineering to art to more. "In a few weeks we are actually launching a new line called Atlas Crate, which is all about geography and encouraging kids to see themselves as global citizens," Oh Lin said. "We are really about encouraging kids to see themselves as young innovators. We want them to embrace the thought that they are makers, that they have innate creativity. What we are trying to do is instill that creative confidence as well as the tools." The crates are available as stand-alone products and through a subscription service. A [monthly subscription](https://www.kiwico.com/) starts at $19.95 but goes down in price if customers sign on for longer periods. For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/kiwico-subscription-services-for-stem-toys)

Share:
More In Business
MTV Is Shutting Down News Division as Paramount Struggles
MTV, a division of Paramount, is planning to shut down its news division and lay off 25 percent of its workforce. The company cited "broader economic headwinds" as the reason for the shuttering. The decision comes as Paramount makes cuts to better compete with rival entertainment giants.
Airbnb Warns of Possible Slowdown in Bookings
Airbnb warned in its latest quarterly report of a possible slowdown in bookings. Cheddar News breaks down how budget-conscious customers are planning changes in travel for the upcoming summer season.
Load More