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Brilliant Sky Toys Wilmington – August Store of the Month

Posted on August 18, 2014August 21, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is lucky to partner with a fantastic bunch of retailers who are passionate about their businesses and supportive of our games. We want to do more to recognize the stores and individuals that make our mission possible. That’s how our monthly spotlight on an outstanding Blue Orange Games retailer came about!

We are pleased to announce that Brilliant Sky Toys in Wilmington, North Carolina is our Store of the Month for August! Renaud, a member of our sales team, nominated the store because of their dedication to their local community and their passion for creating fun times with their customers.

Mike and his wife Annika decided to open their store (Brilliant Sky) back in 2010, because they both loved working with kids and had previously run a rental company in Cape Cod, focused on renting equipment to families during the vacation season. They decided to move to North Carolina, and transfered their passion for providing seasonal entertainment into year-long entertainment in the toys and games industry.

As specialty retailers, Mike and Annika believe that children (and families) can learn a lot together through creative, fun play. As Mike told me on the phone, he believes that our game Spot it! is the perfect example of learning through play. Before Spot it, he had many games on his shelves that were good games. But once he was able to break out Spot it! and start demoing it, playing with families and children in his store brought a liveliness and excitement that was previously missing. As he put it, “Spot it! saved my store”

The joy of playing Spot it with their customers opened Annika and Mike’s eyes to the power of demoing games. Not only did they start selling more, they also had A LOT more fun. Nowadays, their store is full of demos. They are especially fond of the giant versions of some of our wooden games. “It’s so much fun to watch customers come into the store, and see their eyes pop out when they see all the demos. Their eyes just light up!”

While they love any game that brings educational play to families, they are especially fond of games that can be explained and played in less than 5 minutes. That’s why our games like Spot it, Gobblet Gobblers, Fastrack, Niya, and Aztack do so well in their store. They can play all 3 games in just a couple a minutes, and everyone has a great time!

Mike’s advice to anyone starting a new toy store is to “learn the power of demoing. Have tons of demos available. Place demos on the tables, and under the tables, and on the shelves and behind the counter. And always start with the fast-playing and easy to learn games.

“Our staff does a great job of demoing and selling the games. We teach them the fast card games. It is so important that customers understand the value a game will bring to them, instead of just looking at it in the box. If someone asks how to play a game, you need to be able to break it out and start playing it. That is how you will succeed.”

“You need to show customers that everybody and anybody can play a game. Games breaks down borders, and open up fun rewarding experiences for families to share together.”

For more information, visit http://wilmingtontoystores.com.

The whole team at Blue Orange Games would like to thank Mike, Annika and the rest of the Brilliant Sky Toys staff for believing in our games and for creating rewarding, educational experiences for their community. Congrats!

Blue Orange goes to Camp

Posted on July 30, 2014December 17, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is busy this summer giving kids even more chances for fun at their camps. Samantha is this summer’s intern and has traveled around the San Francisco Bay Area to host game days at local summer camps. Read about her experiences as Blue Orange’s Brand Ambassador.

What Is A Camp Game Day?

By Samantha Fry

I was originally drawn to this position because it would allow me to gain experience in the field of marketing as well as build on my experience in childcare. A camp game day consists of a taking a bunch of our games to camp and engaging kids in board/card game play. The ages at the camps vary but we are able to accommodate kids of all ages from Pengoloo to BraveRats. Sometimes the kids are lucky to play with games that haven’t hit the store shelves!

These young campers are playing Doodle Quest

Long time camp favorites are Pengoloo, Gobblet Gobblers, and Fastrack. Luckily, older campers were also able to try out some of our newest strategy games such as Aztack, Battle Sheep, and Niya!

A new favorite with the campers has been our new game Spot It! Splash. It’s just like the original Spot It! but has a fun summer theme with waterproof cards. This was a great compliment to our sometimes messy campers.

It was fulfilling to play with the kids and engage their minds in learning new games this summer.

Fun and Games – July Store of the Month

Posted on July 18, 2014July 21, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is lucky to partner with a fantastic bunch of retailers who are passionate about their businesses and supportive of our games. We want to do more to recognize the stores and individuals that make our mission possible. That’s how our new monthly spotlight on an outstanding Blue Orange Games retailer came about!

We are pleased to announce that Fun and Games in Sacramento, California is our Store of the Month for July! Xavier, a member of our sales team, nominated the store because of their love of Spot it! Party and their dedication to their local community.

Rose and the staff of Fun & Games believe that their top priority as a store is to create fun times. Then selling toys and games comes second, after making sure her customers have a positive experience. That is why the store has such a pro-play policy. Any of the games on their shelves are available to try before you buy. If they don’t already have a demo out, they are more than happy to open up a copy and play with that one. This positive attitude, and emphasis on customer experience, is why so many people return to Fun and Games — They had such a great time playing that game just wouldn’t get out of their head.

The favorite game to play with customers? Spot it! and Spot it Party! The quick-action and easy-to-learn rules makes all the Spot it games a delight for Rose and her customers to play over and over again. With such a sincere passion for the game, it’s no surprise that Fun and Games was the number one seller of Spot it Party last year. Customers couldn’t help but catch Rose’s passion.

One of the most charming things about the Fun and Games store is their signature wall in the back. If customers can beat Rose or her staff at one of their games, they get to sign the store’s wall as a reward. It is super fun to read through all of the positive comments in the back of the wall.

For more information, visit www.oldsacfunandgames.com/.

The whole team at Blue Orange Games would like to thank Rose and the rest of the Fun and Games staff for believing in our games and for creating rewarding, educational experiences for their community. Congrats!

Prevent Summer Learning Loss: Play Games to Sharpen Young Minds.

Posted on June 12, 2014July 2, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Summer vacation means fun and sun, but it can also be a major learning setback for kids (click here for article). Parents express how summer is the most challenging time to esnsure their kids are productive. Maintaining learning skills can be as simple as incorporating games that strengthen math, language skills, visual perception, and creativity. Although the brain is not a muscle per say, it does benefit from regular workouts to stay sharp. Incorporating educational games into their routine will help ensure that once fall approaches, students will have a much easier time transitioning back into school.

Math Skills

Can Math be fun? Many kids struggle with math, and that struggle can lead to frustration. Introducing them to mathematical concepts through games is a less formal approach that will take some of the pressure off because it’ll be fun! Sumoku is a game that will strengthen addition and multiplication in a simple, yet challenging format. The game is made up of colorful number tiles and a die. After you roll the die, players must spot a combination of numbers which adds up to a multiple of the key number. This sharpens math skills because you need to quickly calculate in your head to come up with the right answer. The game is made up of high-quality tokens, and comes in a travel-friendly bag. Another game that introduces children to addition is Double Shutter. Made up of two columns of movable tiles, the object is to flip down as many tiles as possible. Children will learn how to count by adding up the tiles to match the number on the die. The game can be played alone, or with up to 4 players.

Visual Perception

Visual perception skills are the ability for the brain to process what the eyes are seeing. Kids who struggle with visual perception might struggle to write on a blackboard, or find an object within a busy background. Doodle Quest develops this skill through drawing challenges. Children follow instructions on the quest cards, then complete the quest on transparent sheets. There are 36 quest cards with two separate levels of difficulty, so kids can work up to more difficult challenges surrounded by underwater images. Children will develop the ability to measure visually and develop hand-eye coordination. These skills will help in a range of tasks and assignments that require spatial awareness and fine-motor-skills.

Language Skills & Creativity

Language skills, such as reading and writing, also fall by the wayside during the summer. Reading a book to children, and having them read too, is a great way to spend time together while strengthening this important skill. Tell Tale is a storytelling game which is like a book, but that you and your kids can improvise together! Illustrated cards act as story prompts, sparking your imaginations. You pick a card, or make a storyboard, and spin unique stories together. Tell Tale sharpens creativity and improvisation, while encouraging social play. From a creative writing perspective, you could take out a pen and paper and write down the stories that emerge, developing writing skills along the way.

Many of our games introduce preschoolers to letters, while older kids get a head start with vocabulary. Our most popular game, Spot it!, strengthens language skills in a simple matching game. Summer is a great time to learn a new language, and Spot it! French and Spot it! Spanish are easy introductions. For advanced play, use the word in a sentence, or spell it out without looking at the card. To practice writing, write a sentence using the word, or create a poem with words that rhyme with it. Speedebee is another game that strengthens language skills, but with a spelling feature. The goal is to be the fastest player to create a word based on a few letters on the dice. The fast-paced dynamic develops spelling skills and reaction time, which will come in handy during spelling bees or during in class writing exams.

We look forward to summer vacation for the time off and to be with our loved ones, but summer can also be a time to think creatively about how to engage children’s minds so they don’t fall behind. Most of our games are compact, so it’s easy to bring them along with you on your next vacation. Summertime will still be the most anticipated time of the year for kids, but with the added bonus of discovering fun ways to learn.

Imagination Station – June Store of the Month

Posted on June 10, 2014July 2, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is lucky to partner with a fantastic bunch of retailers who are passionate about their businesses and supportive of our games. We want to do more to recognize the stores and individuals that make our mission possible. That’s how our new monthly spotlight on an outstanding Blue Orange Games retailer came about!

We are pleased to announce that the Imagination Station in Franklin, Indiana is our store of the month for June! Our sales rep Xavier recommended the store because they just celebrated the 10^th year anniversary last month, and are always a pleasure to deal with!

The new owner Debi took over ownership of the store this spring, after the original owners decided to move on. Debi had worked at the Imagination Station for almost eight years, so it was a no-brainer for her to take over running the store she cared so much about. Her favorite part of the job? “Everyday is different. I love seeing what’s new and what kids play with most in the store. And I really enjoy helping parents and grandparents find the perfect gift for their kids.” It is this passion for her job that makes the Imagination Station standout as an example of how to turn a store into a community gathering place.

The Imagination Station is dedicated to providing their local community with fun activities beyond just toys and games. They have regular storytimes in the summer, and a special summer book club that meets in the months of June and July. And my personal favorite event – A night focused on inspiring young entrepreneurs focusing on encouraging kids to develop the skills and abilities needed to create innovative, creative products. As part of the event, a local college professor comes into the store to talk to the kids and inspire them — motivating them to one day start their own business.

Debi and her staff treasure their relationship with their customers. “The most important thing is the relationships. We know the people, we know the children. We greet everyone. We make sure to ask why are they here? What is special about their visit today? We wamt to know what is going on in their life. Did you just ace a test? Pee on potty for the first time? – Whatever it is, we wan to celebrate with them.”

The whole team at Blue Orange Games would like to thank Betsy and the rest of the Magic Box staff for believing in our games and for creating rewarding, educational experiences for their community. Congrats!

Playing Games: a Doorway into Childhood

Posted on May 16, 2014June 17, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

When I told a friend of mine that I would be working for a company that creates games, she said: “You will be rediscovering childhood!” She was right. Each process of game development takes me through another door to that treasure trove of memories. The past two months have zoomed by as I have immersed myself in play, while learning what it takes to make play happen.

Growing up, I played games too. A few that stand out in my mind are Operation, Monopoly, Scrabble, Snakes & Ladders, and Etch a Sketch. I have this vivid memory of playing Operation with my brother and sister, meticulously handling the tiny tweezers, yet missing the wish bone! I can still hear that high-pitched buzzer go off and seeing the red nose of that naked man glow and all of us bursting into laughter. As I look back at that moment, it dawns on me that playing games is a wonderful way to spend time with loved ones, but there’s something deeper happening: playing games creates memories.

I would never have imagined that later on as an adult, I would be engaging in parallel activities, but with the purpose of testing games that go out to our consumers. It’s curious to see how people react to different outcomes, or see the wheels in their heads turning as they plan their next move. Beyond just being fun, games compel us to think strategically, or in ways other than from our daily activities. It is learning, but with a social component that connects people. Board games are a tried and true format that encourages social interaction. In this fast-paced digital age, there’s no better way to unplug and get together.

Can one create memories? We at Blue Orange are certainly helping to create lasting impressions. I think of kids playing our games, and see just how important that process is. Whether completing drawing challenges with Doodle Quest, or telling stories with Tell Tale, children and parents can play with a purpose.

There is a tendency to perceive playing games as just entertainment, that it’s something to keep little ones busy, but our mission reveals that it’s so much more. Although having fun is a big component, for children, play is a doorway into discovery and creativity. They discover new thought processes, and create a micro-world of their own making. I love rediscovering childhood through their eyes.

Magic Box Toys – May Store of the Month

Posted on May 6, 2014May 8, 2014 by Corinne Marcot-Jones

Blue Orange Games is lucky to partner with a fantastic bunch of retailers who are passionate about their businesses and supportive of our games. We want to do more to recognize the stores and individuals that make our mission possible. That’s how our new monthly spotlight on an outstanding Blue Orange Games retailer came about!

We are pleased to announce that Magic Box Toys in New Orleans, Louisiana is our Store of the Month for May! Renaud, a member of our sales team, nominated the store because of their passion for our product and their dedication to their local community.

The Magic Box strives to provide kids and adults with quality toys and games that can’t be found in “big box” retail stores.

Since it opened in 1995, store owner Betsy Ordermann has made sure that her local community is at the heart and soul of her business. She listens to and cares about her customers, and prides herself on carrying the products that her community needs. They have a monthly newsletter that lets everyone know about the best deals and community events at the store. And they hold several events each month — story time, instructional classes, guest speakers, and fun household activities. Recently, they even partnered with other local businesses to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

It is exactly this sort of commitment to their community that impressed us so much!

They understand the importance of rewarding their customers. They have a great loyalty program that gives 10% discount to members AND throws in a nifty, reusable blue tote bag so that their customers can help the environment WHILE saving money!

Betsy and her staff are also very passionate and knowledgable about games, and they pride themselves on being able to offer the perfect toy/game for any occasion. To this end, they divide all the toys and games in their store into 8 different categories (which they appropriately name the “FUNdamentals“) so that people shopping in there store can find exactly what you are looking for:

For more information, visit www.magicboxneworleans.com.