Corinne Marcot-Jones

Author: Corinne Marcot-Jones

Congratulations to Bird in Hand in Chico, CA for Winning July’s Store of the Month

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

For the month of July our Store of the Month is Bird in Hand in Downtown Chico, California! Jean Noel chose this store for its “chill atmosphere” and its great support for our games. However, unlike other game stores, Bird in Hand started off with very different beginnings. I had the pleasure of discussing these interesting beginnings with Thad Winzenz, son-in-law of the store founders Bob and Barbara Malowney. The store actually started as a screen printing and graphics design shop. It made a business by printing t-shirts for local events. Eventually they started a small retail business selling shirts. The shop started to grow as they added other objects such as kites, yoyos, and games, and it wasn’t before long that they decided to establish Bird in Hand as a standalone store.

Thad in front of store — **”We’re like the modern general store.”**

Because of these origins, Bird in Hand has a motley array of items that they sell. There isn’t one category of objects like in other specialty stores. Bird in Hand offers anything from shirts, greeting cards, bath supplies, toys, and games. Often the challenge is recognizing the diversity of their inventory. While this can be confusing, it’s also what the staff loves so much about the store. They love showing off their cool items to everyone who walks in. While parents would come in to buy toys for their children, they might also come in for a t-shirt or some soap for the bathroom. In that way, the staff has made Bird in Hand a family store for everyone to benefit from.

But don’t be fooled! Bird in Hand is still a fantastic game store (why else would it be store of the month!) Some of Thad’s Blue Orange favorites are Shrimp Cocktail, Fastrack, and the classic Gobblet! Like many of our other game fanatics, Thad likes twisting up the rules on Gobblet! to increase the difficulty and make even more challenging fun. He’ll sometimes start with all the pieces on the board either in clusters or completely spread out. It makes for a mind-bending memory game since players have to remember where their pieces are hidden right off the bat.

Bird in Hand Employee Mara — **“So much of what you do in business should support and give back to the community.” Thad Winzenz**

While Bird in Hand is definitely a store like no other, it also brings a standard that’s not always easy to find in this modern age of business: to engage and support the local community. Thad mentioned that while many stores try to promote products with sales, the owners of Bird in Hand try to reach out to local community events or even create their own to promote their products. These events include Chico Kite Day, where Bird in Hand will give out some of their kites to the families who participate, and the National YoYo Championships, an event that started small in Chico and has since spread across the US. Bird in Hand strives not only to be a successful business but to also participate in the community and give the family of Downtown Chico, California everything it can offer.

We are proud of Bird in Hand in so many ways. The store has become a role model for other, teaching the lesson that it’s not just about money, it’s about the people you give back to and the lives you touch. Congratulations to the Bird in Hand staff! We hope you continue to make a big splash in your small town. Visit Bird in Hand in Downtown Chico, California, or check out their website to see for yourself why Bird in Hand stands out in this month of July.

Give a hand to Bird in Hand! See what I did there? — **Give a hand for Bird in Hand! See what I did there?**

Strike It Summer Giveaway

Posted on June 29, 2016June 30, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Games aren’t just for the table, and with the bright season, Blue Orange wants to celebrate the summer vacation with a Strike It giveaway for your outdoor adventures. Strike It is the must have outdoor game for any family that enjoys some fun outside the home.

Go outside this summer and get the family together outside for a wacky game, where hand eye coordination, mental math, and basic strategy are your keys to victory. Strike It is a sturdy, beautifully crafted wooden game inspired by the classic game Skittles. Each pin you strike will add to your score. The first person that gets 25 points wins the game. But be warned! The Striker Stick is a devious mischief-maker with a mind of its own! Once you throw it, no one knows exactly where it will strike next. If you get over 25 points, your score will reset to 10! Strike It is an easy-to-set up and easy-to-clean up game complete with a carrier box, making it perfect for family outings and picnic get-togethers. It’s a perfect game to keep the kids active and provides creative learning opportunities for younger children to understand basic mathematics that will keep their cogs running all summer long.

RULES

Contents: 12 pins marked 1 to 12 and 1 striker stick with rubber ends

Set Up: Place the pins together in an upright position 12 feet away from the players, leaving 2” between each pin.

Goal: Be the first to score exactly 25 points by knocking down the pins.

How to Play: Players take turns throwing the striker stick in order to knock down one or more pins. After each turn, add up the points for any pins knocked down and then set them back up in the same spot where they landed.

Scoring: If you knock down only one pin, you score the number of points marked on that pin. If you knock down 2 or more pins, you score the total number of pins that fell down.

Important: If you go over 25 points, your score is set back to 10 points.

End of the Game: The first player to reach exactly 25 points wins the game.

Check out the Summer Strike It fun our team had in San Fransisco!

Making Games with the Children’s Creativity Museum

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Working at a children’s board game company, we get a lot of opportunities to work on cool projects that inspire and uplift kids. Most recently, we partnered with the San Francisco Children’s Creativity Museum, as part of a 6 month exhibit they were doing on games. We donated several of our giant-sized games for free play in the entry room and they made big, instructional signs for us. It was fun to see the games in a structured exhibit environment — as opposed to the usual chaotic, high-energy events I attend (I’m talking about you, Gen Con). The CCM certainly has a high level of energy too, but its more focused on the act and artistry of creation.

In addition to the games donated to be put on exhibit, we also put on a two part workshop based on two of our most popular titles: Rally Up! and Fast Flip. During this workshop we helped kids at the museum create their own games with only paper, markers, scissors and stickers. The goal of the project was to inspire kids, and to show them how easy and fun it is to make their own games.

Our retail version of Fast Flip, features a deck of 54 cards with 15 pictures on each card. The goal is to find the right match between the back of one card and the front of another card. For our simplified DIY version, we reduced the number of pictures on each card from 15 to 3, and we gave the kids a set of stickers to put on.

Kids used donated stickers to make their own Fast Flips.

While some kids worked on making their own Fast Flips, we had two other tables set up for the Rally Up! project. Rally Up! is a game of categories, where each card has a picture of something from a specific category. When two cards (or more) that show the same category are flipped up, the first player to call that category scores them.

Drawing on blank Rally Up! cards to make the downloadable game.

For our Rally Up! project, we had kids draw their own cards. They were allowed to come up with whatever category they chose and then draw pictures that fell into those categories. It was interesting to discover that many of the categories chosen by the children were categories in our retail version of the game as well. Like…

Fruits

Monsters

Candies

After combining all of the drawings from the two workshops (and removing some categories that only had a few images), we were able to create the final game by adding titles to each card + creating category cards that showed all the different images of each category (to help with identification during the game).

Here’s the completed game: Rally Up! Museum Game Category Cards

And some of our favorite contributions:

If you want to create your own games at home, just print the blank sheets in the materials section and follow our instructions!

DIY Rally Up! Instructions

Materials:

Rally Up! Blank

Colored Pens or Pencils

Scissors

Pick a category (ex. Fruit)
Draw a few pictures of objects that fall in that category (ex. Watermelon, Pineapple, Cherries)
Do this for as many categories as you like, we recommend doing at least 5 categories with about 4 objects in each category
Cut out your cards, shuffle and play!

*Download the rules from our website if you don’t already know how to play Rally Up! http://blueorangegames.com/download-rules

DIY Fast Flip Instructions

Materials:

Fast Flip Blank

Stickers

Scissors

Cut out as many cards as you want to make (we highly recommend you do this first)
Put one sticker on each card
Match it, put the same sticker on again
Put a new, different sticker on each card (Now that you have 3 stickers on each card, flip them over!)
Put one sticker on the back of each card
Make sure all your cards face the same way, shuffle and play!

*Download the rules from our website if you don’t already know how to play Fast Flip http://blueorangegames.com/download-rules

Congratulations to Red Balloon Toy Store in Utah for Winning June’s Store of the Month

Posted on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Check them out in any of their four locations.

With the summer days here and our ASTRA Marketplace Convention wrapping up, it’s time to show our appreciation to our awesome retailers for June’s Store of the Month. Without further ado, congratulations to Red Balloon Toy Store in Utah for winning Store of the Month! It is little wonder our sales rep Nicholas chose Red Balloon Toy Store. They are one of our best customers and they have a grand selection of game and toys. The Red Balloon really got its start when its original owners were looking around for a toy and found the store was going out of business. As it’s described, the couple went to the store to buy a toy and left buying a business. Now the store is owned by Yamil and Sue Castillo and has expanded to a total of four locations (Salt Lake City, Sandy, Logan, and Provo).

I got a chance to speak with the Vice President of the store, David Castillo. While Yamil and Sue Castillo are the co-presidents of the store, David says he has a lot of “hats to wear.” He manages staffing, buys games, works in human resources, and generally straightens out any kinks or problems the stores might be having. While he admits Vice President can be an exhausting job, he enjoys promoting and believes in his stores’ games and toys. He knows that while sometimes technology is necessary, it can still deprive a child of high quality play, and he believes in his product’s ability to provide and encourage that necessary play.

Besides the high quality toys and games, David takes pride in the business’s staff. Red Balloon holds high standards for their shops’ employees and is very selective about who they staff in order to maintain high customer service. He says that everyone on the Red Balloon staff, from the youngest high schooler to the experienced mom, brings something new and great to Red Balloon’s table.

David keeps the business’s high quality service by holding a meeting each year to decide that year’s goals. This year, in addition to optimizing how they manage the inventory with their stores, the Red Balloon staff has come up with an effective way to explain their games: GAL. The acronym describes how the employees should explain the game to the customer. G stands for the goals of the game, A stands for how to accomplish those goals, and L stands for what the employee personally likes about the game. It’s a very effective means to get key points of a game across to inquiring customers. One of David’s favorite things about Blue Orange is how we take ownership of our games and send sales reps like Nicholas out to show retailers the games. David tries to mimic this with his staff by holding monthly game nights to teach the employees the games and give them a chance to play so they can learn what they enjoy about the game and relay that to the customers.

Red Balloon Toy Store could have disappeared, but with a fantastic stroke of luck it has blossomed into a buzzing local business with four store locations. This month we toast Yamil, Sue, and David Castillo for their hard work in continuing to make their shops great. Take some time to stop by at one of their stores to give them a warm congratulations or check out the Red Balloon website. Congratulations again to Red Balloon Toy Store for winning Store of the Month for June. We hope your store continues to exceed its high quality standards for products and customer service.

8 Awesome Garden Crafts for the Summer Time

Posted on June 6, 2016November 24, 2020 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

June is just around the corner, and with it brings the three-month-long summer vacation every child can hardly wait for. However, the new task of entertaining and occupying the children’s time may be daunting for a parent since there’s no classroom to keep those mental cogs turning. Games are a great way to get the family together and away from the TV, but even game-lovers understand the healthy benefits of getting involved in the summer outdoor fun.

A simple and fun way to engage the young ones in outdoor fun is with a crafty activity for the backyard. Also, for your daily dose of outdoor fun, better boost your gardening and gear up with the best and quality garden tools that you can find on OccupyTheFarm. Below are 8 awesome garden crafts that will get your little ones out of the house and enjoying the summer sun.

1. Pinwheel by Kate Stewart

This is a family fun classic that will have children running around the backyard, trying to make their pinwheel spin.

Supplies:
Paper
Scissors
Glue stick
Tape
Needle nose pliers
Ball pins or map pins
Seed beads
Ruler
Pencils, unsharpened with an eraser on the end (or a cookie or cake pop stick)

2. Sand Castles that will Last by Jodidur

Children can play in the sand and create beautiful sculptures to decorate the flower beds.

Supplies:
1 cup sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp alum (sold in the spice section of the grocery store)
3/4 cup water
Shells and rocks (optional)

3. Turtle Herb Planters by Lorie

Kids can grow their own plants in a cute planter of their own creation. If they decide to start a mini-garden after this, having the basic tools can help them stay motivated. Get the tools on https://BestOfMachinery.com – they also post tool guides and gardening advice.

Supplies:
Soil
Basil seeds
Acrylic paint
Hot glue
Googly eyes
Pom poms
Plastic herb container (or any small plastic bowl)

4. Grassy Sponge Houses by Sharon

This project is a perfect way to show children the science behind growing plants.

Supplies:
4 new standard kitchen sponges (approximately 4 1/2 by 3 inches) in orange, green, blue, and pink
Ruler
Permanent marker
Scissors with a pointed tip
Large plastic food-storage container (a clean rotisserie chicken container works well too)
Spray bottle
1/2 cup of grass seed, preferably one labeled “fast-growing”
-Sewing pins (optional)

5.CD Wind Spinners by Jackie

Looking for something to spice up the porch? How about this cute, dazzling craft?

Supplies:
Old CDs or DVDs
School glue
Craft gems, jewels and sequins, buttons etc.
Fishing line

6. Painting Rainbow Pots by Jacquie Fisher

This craft’s a great way to bring more color to your flower pots.

Supplies
Clean terracotta pot
Variety of acrylic paints (at least 4 colors)
Wax paper
Newspaper
Smock

7. Flower Panels by Krokotak

Children will love hunting and searching for the best flowers to use for this neat idea.

Supplies
Plastic wrap
Cardboard box
Box cutter or scissors
Tape
Flowers

8. Bubble Art by HappyMomma

Make a masterpiece out of bubbles with this art lesson!

Supplies
Bubble mix
Bubble wands
Food coloring
Paper

Enjoy these awesome crafts and spend some time in the summer sun with your little ones!

Blue Orange Supports Mini-Transat Competitor Pierre Chedevielle

Posted on May 26, 2016May 26, 2016 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Exciting news! Blue Orange is sponsoring Pierre Chedeveille in the 2017 Mini-Transat.

The Mini-Transat (or the Transat 6.5) is a one-man-crew transatlantic race on a sailing boat 6.5 meters long. You heard right! Individuals race their small vessels across the open seas without anyone helping them! The race was created in 1977 by Bob Sandman, and has been organized every other year since.

“Aside from the around the world race, I do not know any other race more extraordinary than this one. There are as many winners as there are contestants,” said Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, second at the 1979 Transat.

In order to be able to qualify to enter this race, you need to participate in several races during the 2016-2017 seasons. You also need to do a solo trip of 1000 miles without stopping.

Talk about intense! The race proceeds as so: the sailors depart in France then stop for ten days in the Canary Islands or on Madeira Island before continuing to the French Caribbean Islands where the race ends. We asked Pierre a few questions about his preparation for this daring trek, and he was kind enough to grant us his thoughts. We’ve translated his words from French to English below.

My name is Pierre Chedeville. I’m 29. I’m an officer of the Marine Marchande. In September 2017, I will embark across the Atlantic Ocean in a 6.5-meter boat in the Mini-Transat. I have dreamed of this project ever since I participated in the Mini-Fasnet Race, a race for small boats in South Ireland, several years ago. I was born in a small village in Brittany, where I grew up surrounded by sailing and nautical sports. I started sailing with my parents during family outings. Later, I became a certified Sailing Instructor, and taught sailing for many summers in Brittany. I’ve windsurfed, surfed, and kite surfed all my life. I am fascinated by the ocean, and that is why I decided to make my career in the Marine Marchande.

My physical coach prepares me for the water, and my mental coach gives me advice to relax before the race like how to fall asleep quickly. Sleeping is the nerve of the war (it’s the most important part for solo sailors). Often you will have to spend several days without sleeping on this type of boat, and naps usually do not exceed 20 min because you need to keep the boat on course and watch out for competitors or other boats that you can cross with.

I was lucky to meet Julien Mayot and his wife (co owners of Blue Orange) when my boat was baptized last summer. They were on vacation in Brittany at a mutual friend’s house. When they saw the boat and heard what I was trying to accomplish, they became very enthusiastic about my endeavors right away. Knowing that I was looking for financial partners, Julien told me about Blue Orange and promised to support me. We got along right away and shared many mutual passions like kite surfing and sailing (of course).

The mini Transat will be the accomplishment of a 2 year sportive goal, 2 years during which I will invest myself to the fullest to achieve this dream. I don’t have any predictions as far as where I will rank, but the goal is to cross the ocean without breaking the boat and arrive happy and healthy in the Caribbean. It’s a solitary project which I want to share as much as possible with people around me who support me: my girlfriend, my family, my friends, and Blue Orange who supports me financially and all who will follow my adventures.

Congratulations! Launching Success in Bellingham, Washington is our May Store of the Month

Posted on May 4, 2016February 17, 2021 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

launchingsuccesslogo — Visit them at 133 Prince Avenue in Bellingham, WA

The Store of the Month for this month is (drumroll!) Launching Success Learning Store in Bellingham, Washington! This store was nominated by our sales manager Xavier for their contagious enthusiasm for our games.

In my chat with Jen, the co-store owner, I learned that Launching Success Learning Store was originally started 13 years ago by Sandy and Bob Hiorns, and Barbara and Dan Sanford, a group of retired educators who noticed that there were no stores that sold teaching supplies in their area. They started the store to provide supplies to educators. Two years ago they passed store ownership onto their employees Jen and Kristen. Both have been working excellently in advancing the store to new and great heights. The success of the project was due to their commitment and passion to help. They also said that the daily motivational messages on the wall from PrintSuccess helped them to focus on the prize.

Jen Zimmermann, co-owner of Launching Success

In 2006, the store upgraded to a 5,600 square foot space. This was a large jump for the small business. Jen mentioned that new time customers still come in with a look of surprise and awe at the sight of the stores size and selection. After this big move, the owners had the space to add a section for educational games. As developed in our previous blog post, “Identity Through Play,” children source of development and self-discovery is play. Jen and Kristen understand this and continue to make it the basis for all their games. Since its conception, Launching Success has become a store more dedicated to joining education with fun.

Kristen Krumdiack, co-owner of Launching Success

According to Jen, the most rewarding aspect of being a store owner is the help and encouragement she receives from the companies that support small local businesses. She’s thrilled to work with Blue Orange, and she enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for games with our sales representatives every time they visit. She remembers first seeing Blue Orange crew at a convention. She was most stricken by their enthusiasm for the Blue Orange Games and how that passion showed even through their end-of-the-day exhaustion. She was happy to share her own enthusiasm for the games and encourage them in that last part of the day. Since that day, Jen has been thrilled to meet with Xavier about each year’s upcoming games.

During our discussion of favorite games, Jen mentioned that she enjoys games that are quick to explain with rules flexible enough to allow for other variations. For this reason, she enjoys most of the tin games including Fast Flip and King’s Gold. She’s also thrilled with Dr. Eureka for its simple rule set. She adores the preschool and wooden games and found Froggie Boogie particularly lovable with its adorable story of baby frogs trying to avoid bedtime. “Every kid can relate to that,” she told me.

Jen advises that any future store owner be open to what is out there. She mentioned that she keeps in touch with what’s out there through the Good Toy Group. Besides being open to opportunities for new toys, Jen emphasized the importance of also “follow your gut.” Trends are tricky to catch so it’s important for a store owner to see everything that’s available. However, there’s also a level of intuition involved in choosing toys appropriate for a store.

Go visit Launching Success Learning Store yourself or check out their website. The Blue Orange Team is proud of Jen, Kristen, and all of their employees. Congratulations! Keep up your fantastic passion for games and fun!