Toy Company KiwiCo Sees Children as 'Young Innovators'
*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)
Will Rhind, CEO of GraniteShares, joined Cheddar News to discuss Friday's trading session and the overall market as investors deal with some uncertainty despite the Federal Reserve's cautious optimism about inflation cooling.
Looking ahead to what could move markets next week, Cheddar News discusses what earnings to expect and explains why a Southwest Airlines executive will testify about its recent flight cancellations.
Toy's don't just have to be mindless objects we give children to pass time, they can be educational, brain stimulating, and emotionally calming. From toys that tell you stories to ones that let you test your creative side and music making skills, this year's Consumer Electronics Show presented some tech toys that could have some positive impacts on your mind.
Jason Vitug, financial wellness expert and author of "Happy Money Happy Life," joined Cheddar News to discuss how to overcome the emotional, financial and stressful toll of workforce reductions.
The Week's Top Stories is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
The legacy automaker Ford says its keeping sustainability in mind in its return to the F1 racing circuit and its future EV plans following a turbulent quarter.