Haystack Toys Seeks New Ideas for Play

Attention toy inventors. Haystack Toys Inc. has begun its second annual Great American Toy Hunt to scout the nation for new ideas for playthings. The St. Louis-based company will send representatives to Los Angeles in September to meet with inventors as part of a nine-city tour to uncover ideas that probably would be overlooked by traditional toy corporations.

Founded by toy industry veterans Daniel Lauer and Jeffrey Loeb, Web-based Haystack is trying to reinvent the way toys come to market by seeking out original works from inventors and helping them develop their products. Last year the company hit the road for seven cities and reviewed 700 concepts. It ultimately chose six toys to become part of Haystack’s first line, which will be sold through the company’s Web site later this year.

Last year’s Toy Hunt winners included a couple of first-time inventors as well as some seasoned toy designers. The company plans to choose up to 10 winners this year, each of whom will receive a $5,000 advance, $50,000 toward the development and production of the toy under the Haystack brand and a 5% royalty on wholesale sales.

What do they want from you inventors? Unique toys for children age 3 to 6. Forget puzzles, crafts, board games, electronic gizmos or entertainment licensed gimmicks. Think dolls, furniture sets, bath toys and multi-featured toys that inspire creative play.

For more information on the Toy Hunt, check out the Haystack Web site at https://www.haystacktoys.com.