Toger y hang on a pole, small figures made of plastic: polar bear next to Grüffelo, Bibi Blocksberg and Princess Lillifee. To a certain extent, y lack home, basis on which ir radio plays and children's songs were played. The so-called Toniebox, a soft padded cube that downloads and play audio files over WLAN, is nowhere to be seen in this Berlin department store. Mors and fars are looking for it in vain in trade, it has been sold out for months.
"Tonieboxen", salesperson shouts, laughing, "since Christmas we have not come after! When people heard about hype, y bought se things in bulk and now sell m expensively on internet. " 1.2 million figures company Boxine sold last year and 148,000 Tonieboxen. But re could have been a good 30,000 more pieces, say inventors of box, Patric Fassbender, 47, and his partner Marcus Stahl, 50.
The two of m are sitting in car, y are on ir way to an appointment with business partners in Hamburg. Contracts and licences all over Germany, that does double head of company still in common, in "rolling office" as y say. In last four and a half years, two fars who met on board of a Düsseldorf daycare have become close friends. On hands-free system, Patric Fassbender tells of his idea, with which he convinced his present business partner at time.
No scratched CDsA few years ago, graphic designer Fassbender wanted to try something new professionally. The right idea came to him through his two daughters. They were three and five years old and loved radio plays. But Fassbender was no longer trying to push an ipad into hand or get scratched CDs from CD player. Instead, his invention should be robust and without display. Because that way children would not be distracted unnecessarily when playing. You should concentrate on radio play alone.
Marcus Stahl was enthusiastic about concept: The engineer brought necessary expertise with regard to technology and numbers. The two founded company Boxine. Fassbender developed first prototypes, a friend took over padding of box. The first dummy was small dog Tintin on box, from children's book classic Tim and Tintin. Fassbender had so fondly heard stories in his childhood.
The start-up capital brought founders out of ir savings. Without venture capitalists, but with support from well-known circle: "Because we were both over 40, luckily we had enough solvent friends," says Stahl. The two fars chose ir investors strategically. Among shareholders today is Oetinger Verlag, which opens up a new distribution channel with investment and at same time contributes its experience with audiobook rights. A law firm takes care of patents and protection of intellectual property and holds shares in company.
Besides, Paul Herb is among investors. The former owner of medium-sized company Schleich has experience with game figures, his former company is known for lifelike animal remodels from hard rubber, which are now sold even in DIY stores at checkout. The tonies are now also manufactured in a toy factory of his family in Tunisia. They cost between 11 and 16 euros. The boxes are manufactured in China and cost toger with a figure 79.95 euro.
Date Of Update: 02 March 2018, 12:03
