media KIT
The
ORB factory
has built a PREMIUM Brand
of Children’s
ACTIVITY KITS
over the last
20 Years!
ORB factory We BELIEVE in...
The Power of Play!
We strive to produce toys that not only stimulate a child’s mind, but their creativity as well. Our kits allow children to immerse themselves in a world of magic, imagination and artistic freedom.
The Power of Education!
Every product has an educational component. Our toys are imaginative, stimulating and have been used as learning tools in classrooms around the world. Every product we make gives children a strong sense of achievement.
The Highest Quality!
Orb Factory products are currently sold in over 60 countries and have won numerous awards. We consistently strive to produce kits of the highest quality that are in line with today’s trends. 2
Watch Us PLAY!
Our Beginnings Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, The Orb Factory has been in the toy business for over 20 years. Steven Kay started designing toys when he was 6 years old. With formal training in photograhy, scultpture and design, he founded The Orb Facory in 1991. The company’s first line was based around the Celestial Orb, a transoforming hand-held widget made from wire. Orb products are now sold in over 60 countries and have won numberous awards.
A GLOBAL CATEGORY LEADER Industry AWARDS
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Toys “R” Us Canada, Vendor of the Year ASTRA, Vendor of the Year Excellence Award Learning Express, Best Partner Award Learning Express, Industry Leader Award
Product AWARDS • • • •
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MEDIA
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TOTY/TIA, Toy of the Year Award Nomination, Sticky Mosaics , Happily Ever After Jewelry Box Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award, PlushCraft Butterfly Pillow ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award, Sticky Mosaics Twinkle Tiaras Learning Express Best Arts & Crafts Award, Stick’n Style Blinglets
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Best of Toy Fair segment on The View for Pulsar Power Balls Toy Feature on The Today Show for Make Your Own Glitter Chalk
Starting with a simple base and using a stylus to pop on the sticky cubes, you will bring your character to life! Based on popular pixelated electronic games, this craft offers a unique play concept outside the online world. The ORB factory’s newest product launch, this line is on the leading edge of this growing trend. It’s the first craft to bring 8-bit art to the 3rd dimension!
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Pick up the cubes.
Pop them down!
Join the pieces together.
Create your scene and display!
How it Works
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These tween fashion kits are based on the latest DoIt-Yourself trends! Each kit teaches a new crafting technique. Learn how to make cool wire jewelry, corded bracelets and rings as well as fashionable tassel and lace accessories. All kits come with a inspiration booklet, featuring ideas from beginner to advanced. Create your own totally unique jewelry and accessories that reflect your personal style.
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The ORB factory™ is the originator of the Sticky Mosaics® play concept which has now become an evergreen crafting activity. Sticky Mosaics® is the ORB factory’s™ foundation and largest revenue producing category. This intuitive, mess-free mosaic-by-number activity continues to provide a fun play experience for children year after year. Simply follow a numbered legend and add sparkling gems and tiles to create a perfect mosaic masterpiece every time!
ORB factory On Television
The Orb Factory has captured the attention of US television producers. Sales soared after Curiosity Kits® appeared on popular daytime talk shows The View and The Couch Make Your Own Glitter Chalk™ was featured on The Today Show. Most recently, PlushCraft™ has been on Fox and Friends.
Design, is the ideal play setup for your little one to experience the joy of building. Ages 5+ years. From $110 (kit without tools) to $160 (assembled with tools). Visit orcawoodworks.com. Slide them, spin them or even crash them into each other. Each SkaZooms character from Jax Ltd. comes with its own customized helmet and board — ready to race across any smooth surface. Circle Reader Service #153
ORB factory SkaZooms
In Media
Create five Pulsar Powerballs that bounce and soar to amazing heights. Place colorful crystals in the mold, submerge it in water and let it sit for five minutes. Open the mold and your brand new Powerball is ready to play with. Place the special lights inside the larger mold to create a Powerball that lights up when it bounces! Ages 6+. $14.99. For local retailers, visit fatbraintoys.com. Fa l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 3 / 1 4
Circle Reader Service #335
42 www.museumsandmore.com
The Sunflowers Master Kitz includes all the tools your child needs to create their own “van Gogh” masterpieces and the learning materials to deepen their understanding of van Gogh the artist and the time he spent in Arles. Ages 5+. $29.99. Available locally at Classic Toys, Enchanted Forest ToysFollow or visit kidzaw.com. a simple numbered legend and mosaic three boxes that can be used individually or together with the Sticky Mosaics Princess Palace Treasure Box from The Orb Factory. Stick more than 575 jewels to accentuate the whimsical fairytale A l a smotif. k a B a b y M a g . c o m ❀ 47 Circle Reader Service #154
Princess Palace
Toy guIde
“once built, those towers were guarded – we’d have some upset kids if they accidentlaly got knocked over!”
Spring 2013
rIck, dad of Blake and cole, 7
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54. stiCky MosaiC forest friends $17, orBfactory.com
an adorable forest full of woodland creatures is at your child’s fingertips with this artsy toy. making the mosaic with fuzzy tiles and jewels is fun, and afterward, the 3-d figures provide hours of imaginative play. there are enough pieces to entertain several children at once. 55. arChiquest arChiteCtural eleMents
shure, $85, amazon.ca
While the look is retro
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57. lego friends heartlake high
cool, these bright wooden blocks are anything but old-fashioned. small hands can easily build castles, houses, bridges and skyscrapers with the multi-purpose blocks (and knocking their creations over is fun, too!)
$60, shoP.lego.com
56. duCt taPe Party
$33, alextoys.com
this fun kit includes rolls of brightly coloured tape and everything else your fashionista needs to make her own purse, bracelets, headbands and more.
little learners will love building this fun lego set (and then using it as a dollhouse afterward!). “Joey built the entire thing in a few hours on her own. I was amazed she was able to do it herself. Challenging, but awesome.” haley, mom of Joey, 8
58. window stiCker art ZooM $11, alextoys.com
fire up imaginations with this space-themed kit.
kids can make their own stickers with preprinted stencils and coloured sticker glue.
dropping any. “This game was so funny, I laughed too hard to hold the eggs!” karlIe, 6
59. y-fliker f1 sCooter
61. see-thru light designer
mini adrenaline junkies will have a blast carving and drifting on this cool, three-wheeled scooter.
talk about bright ideas – kids create cool designs that light up and move at the push of a button.
yvolutIon, $120, toysrus.ca
crayola, $24, amazon.ca
60. danCing eggs gaMe haBa, $23, BaBynaturoPathIcs.com
get ready for a case of the sillies. kids tuck wiggly eggs into their armpits or between their knees, then run around without
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ORB factory FAQ
Are your products safe?
The Orb Factory Limited takes safety seriously. Our products are tested by independent testing labs to meet EN71, ASTM, and, as of February 10 2009, CPSIA standards for child safety. These standards are generally considered the most rigorous in the world and are recognized by toy industries and government agencies globally. The Orb Factory considers it mandatory to guarantee the safety of the children that use our products every day. In addition, all of our products are manufactured in China by an ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries) certified factory www. toy-icti.org. ICTI promotes fair labor treatment, employee health and safety, and consistently monitors certified manufacturers. The Orb Factory has been enlivening the minds of children for 15 years. When your child plays with our products, you can be assured that they have been tested and considered safe according to the strictest international guidelines.
What ages are your products for?
Our products range in suitability for various ages. The majority of our products are appropriate for children aged 4 or 5+. We do have a special Pre-School line, as well as our My First Sticky Mosaics®, which are made especially for children 3+. All ages are marked clearly on our products and website. Due to choking hazards, age restrictions should be followed. Please take care to monitor younger children who are around older children playing with our products.
What is the educational value of your products?
Numerous studies have been conducted to show how art enhances creativity, imagination and self-esteem. We believe these to be some of the most important skills a child can develop, and are proud that our products nurture these skills. Aside from these ever important factors, art also encourages cognition, critical thinking and learning skills. Through the use of number and pattern recognition, children using our kits are learning valuable tools that will help them later in reading, writing and even math. Our kits develop also print awareness, spatial relation skills, visual literacy and verbal creativity.
Do you have anything for travel?
Our Sticky Mosaics® Singles are perfect for long car or plane rides. These packages include one art project and over 400 sticky tiles. Children follow the legend to create a magical picture without messy paint or sticky glue. Our Magnetic Mosaics® are also a huge travel hit! Our Chroma includes a magnetic hexagonal travel tin with 37 colorful pieces. Create beautiful mosaic designs over and over again - follow the templates for perfect results every time, or create your own designs.
How sticky are your tiles?
Well, they’re not going to stick on a toddler’s head and never come off - we promise! Our tiles are strong enough to create long lasting pieces of art, but can also be peeled back off if put on wrong - which means mistakes are easily fixed.
ORB factory Contact
Where can I get up to date information on The Orb Factory? Our website: www.orbfactory.com Twitter: twitter.com/orbfactory
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OrbFactory Our Blog: www.orbfactory.blogspot.com
Where can I purchase The Orb Factory’s Products?
All our products can be ordered online at www.orbfactory.com. Our products are also sold in select chain stores and in many independant neighbourhood toy stores.
How do I contact The Orb Factory?
For promotions or general inquiries, please contact our head of communications; stephanie@orbfactory.com For sales inquiries, please contact sales@orbfactory.com
For media inrquireis: Stephanie Carver Marketing - The Orb Factory 225 Herring Cove Road, Halifax NS Toll Free: 1-800-741-0089