J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbits had the custom of GIVING presents on their birthdays instead of receiving them.  In that spirit (although I’m no hobbit), as today is my birthday, please accept this 5% Promotion Code as my present to you:

OH1012

Happy shopping!  (And Happy Birthday to Me.)

First, a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Personally, I’m thankful to Matthias Etter for inventing Cuboro, but I am pretty biased. 

CUBORO STANDARD – 54 Blocks

If you believe in total immersion into new things, you may be considering buying several Cuboro or Cugolino sets at once.  Here are my favorite bundles:

Cuboro Standard + Cugolino Pop:  Lots of blocks, plus trampolines!  The most popular combination at toy fairs where I’ve exhibited.

Cugolino Pop – Marbles in the Air!.

Built with Cuboro Standard set

   Cuboro Standard + Metro:  The addition of the “subway” blocks in this set (which permit turns inside the block without a drop-down) make for a great collection, for a total of 78 blocks.

Cuboro Metro – Featuring the “subway” blocks with internal curves on one level.

 Cuboro Basis + Multi — A slightly less expensive combination than Standard and Metro (a total of 54 blocks — the same as in one Standard set, but with more variety).

Cuboro Basis The smaller Starter set, with 30 blocks

Multi adds a bunch of new functions!

 That’s all for now.  Enjoy the day and “let ‘em roll!”

In our previous e-mail, we recommended Cuboro Standard and Cugolino as initial purchases in the Cuboro family.

But what if you’re already hooked (or know someone who is)?  What’s the next set or sets to buy?

My  suggestions:

Cugolino Pop — this great little set is the most popular add-on set for either Cuboro or Cugolino fans.  The rubber trampoline blocks really bring something new to the creation of marble runs.   It also is one of the least expensive sets, so it makes for a great next step.

 cugolino_pop

Cuboro Multi or Metro add some great new functions to Cuboro and they would be my #2 and #3 picks for “what to buy next” in the Cuboro

And finally, there’s Cuboro Duo, “the racers.”  This novel set adds the ability to have side-by-side tracks, thanks to the unique dual track design on each of the special blocks. 

Stay tuned – next e-mail will have some advice on buying combinations of sets, for those who want to start with more blocks right from the start!  And, as always, please feel to call or write — I love a good Cuboro Chat!

Many of the phone calls I answer are about which Cuboro set to buy.  In case you’re too shy — or too busy — to call, here is what to do:

If it’s your first set and the players are 5 or 6 and up, Cuboro Standard is the place to start.  It’s 54 blocks are more than enough to build some amazing mazes and get a proper introduction to “thinking Cuboro.” 

If the players are 3-5, then Cugolino is your set.  With the same basic dimensions as Cuboro (and compatible with all Cuboro sets), Cugolino uses a greater variety of shapes and colors and lets the younger player see everything that is happening with the marbles.  And it does not require the close alignment of Cuboro sets, so younger hands can have the thrill of a successful marble run even when the blocks are not precisely lined up. 

 Stay tuned — over the next week, we’ll have some suggestions on subsequent sets to buy (look out, Grandparents!) once your players (however old they are) have gotten the Cuboro habit.

For a quick summary of one of the most interesting supplemental Cuboro sets, see Scarlet’s post at http://bit.ly/sZAMix.  This set actually came out years ago, just as it had occurred to me, “I wish there were blocks that turned on the same level.”  Voila!  They were already there.  Metro really adds some great new functions to the Cuboro family.

In case you don’t believe ME, here’s another knowledgable voice on toys that make sense.  This post from FamilyFocus blog and right on point:

http://bit.ly/qOySQi

Do you have any experiences with Cuboro or Cugolino to share?  I learn something new about these toys with every conversation.

I had an interesting discussion with some visitors to our Cuboro booth at this past week’s ASTRA  Marketplace on the subject of “expensive” toys.  I would agree that the Cuboro and Cugolino products are on the higher end of the price scale for toys.  But as one visitor from the retail industry put it, “What’s the value equation?”

Value Equation.  Simply, the perceived worth of something in relation to its price.

To this visitor, “Cuboro is a toy that my kids would play with for years and years — and then give to their kids one day.  The true price will boil down to pennies per play or less.”

Nicely put.  A toy that costs $39.99 and ends up in the back of the closet (or keeping company with the dust bunnies under the bed) after a month or two actually is kind of expensive.

An electronic game box that costs $300 and then costs $30 or more for each new game could be considered kind of expensive.

And then there is the question of benefit.  What is the value of a toy that enhances a child’s sense of creative problem-solving, their spatial awareness, and grows with the child’s development (in the sense that as they are capable of more complex thought, the toy provides ways to explore those ideas – to create, test, learn and create again).

Finally, there is the concept of the “heritage toy” – one which is not only physically durable enough to stand up to years of loving play, but one which has at its heart a concept that is fundamental to a child’s development and natural sense of play — a concept that transcends any generational differences or technological advances.

If you use these sort of metrics as  a scorecard, I think the statement, “That’s expensive!” will no longer be the response for toys like Cuboro and Cugolino, not to mention other solid unit blocks and basic, “let the child be the driver” kinds of toys. 

The new thought balloon will be along the lines of long-lasting quality and long-lasting fun.

I spent Monday and Tuesday at the 2011 ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailers Association) Marketplace and Academy – but I was there to introduce Cuboro and Cugolino to the ASTRA community — so I was literally “on the other side” of the table, as I ran the Cuboro booth instead of roaming the aisles looking for new toys.  (Well, okay, I did some of that, too – how could iI not?)

We received a lot of positive feedback (and a few new retail customers) about the concept and amazing quality of these Swiss toys.  As usual, there were a few children accompanying their parents – and as usual, they were hanging around our table, creating their own creations with the Cuboro, Cugolino and Cugolino Pop sets that were out for just that purpose.  I love watching the concentration on kids’ faces when they start to build with Cuboo, eyes moving quickly around as they scan for the next block to use, the look of excitement as they test their designs, rolling marble after marble, tweaking the construction and testing again.

As always, my thanks go out to ASTRA members and, in particular, Steve Aarons of Barston’s Child’s Play, who has been generous with his time and insight about Cuboro from a successful retailer’s perspective.

Next major shows for showing Cuboro are likely to be the annual American Montessori Society conference and the Museum Store Association show.

Just a brief note as I head out to set up for ASTRA’s Marketplace and Academy.

It’s exciting (and a little anxiety-provoking) to be introducing Cuboro and Cugolino to the awesome and “kid-smart” community of Specialty Toy Retailers.    I hope at the end of the event, we can have a Sally Field-Oscar moment:  “You like Cuboro!  You really like Cuboro!”

More later as the event gets underway.

Don’t forget to ask your children:  If you could have a toy that could do or be anything, what would it be?  ToysByKids, Round 5 is underway!

Congratulations, Gianna, on winning Toys By Kids, Round 4!  Round 5 continues the fun through July 1.  Get in on the fun:  What does YOUR child imagine?