MADE IN CANADA!
Here is a made-in-Canada success story. Family Pastimes, located in Perth, Ontario, creates games that foster co-operation rather than competitiion. They just got a mention in the Globe and Mail this week:
Jim Deacove, who manufactures board games in the workshop near his home near Perth, Ont., estimates his sales have increased 10 per cent in Canada and 25 per cent internationally since the recall, and they continue to grow.
"The preliminary reaction is benefiting us," says Mr. Deacove. "People are taking a greater interest in where their products are made, and it's great - it's what we're all about."
A relatively small outfit, his 35-year-old company, Family Pastimes, ships more than 65,000 games to about 3,500 retailers around the world every year, grossing between $400,000 and $500,000 in revenue annually.
The company makes more than 80 games, using recycled materials whenever possible and soy-based printing ink, using local labour. Nothing is imported from China.
"I think it's up to the company that produces the product to test their product to make sure it's safe," says Mr. Deacove, adding: "I couldn't live with myself if I thought there was a chance a child could get sick from my product."
One of our favourite games when our daughter was small was "The Sleeping Princess". The object of this game is to rescue the princess before nightfall. Players need to remember where Special Things are hidden, and use them to creatively overcome obstacles before it is too late. We started playing this game when our daughter was about four, and she was still asking for it at age seven or eight.
You can see the full offerings from Family Pastimes at www.familypastimes.com.
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