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PlayMonster Group LLC
Company typePrivate
IndustryInternational toy, game, craft, and activity company
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985) (as Patch Products)
February 2016; 8 years ago (2016-02) (as PlayMonster)
FoundersFran Patch
Bryce Patch
HeadquartersBeloit, Wisconsin, U.S.
ProductsCriminal Minds UNknown SUBject | Drone Home | Farkle | Five Crowns | Koosh ball | Loopdedoo| Loopdeloom | Quiddler | Set (card game) |Spirograph Animator | The Magical World of Disney Trivia | The Original Magnatab | Utter Nonsense! | Windward | Wooly Willy | Yeti in My Spaghetti | 5 Second Rule
BrandsAnn Williams | Colorforms | Craft-tastic | Craft-tastic Nature | Craft Crush | Fashion Plates | Glo Friends | Koosh | Latchkits | My Fairy Garden | Snap Ships | Spirograph | Take 'N Play Anywhere | The Original Magnatab | Waterfuls | Weeble | 5 Second Rule
OwnerAdams Street Partners and H.I.G. Capital
WebsitePlayMonster

PlayMonster (formerly Patch Products) is a manufacturer and marketer of family entertainment products that specializes in games, children's puzzles, toys, activities, and teaching tools founded in 1985. In February 2016, Patch changed its company name to PlayMonster.[1]

History

Patch Products

1971

Brothers Fran and Bryce Patch opened a commercial printing company, producing games and related items for other companies. They printed Trivial Pursuit game boards and Cabbage Patch Kids sticker books, among other products.

1985

Fran and Bryce Patch began their own toy and game company: Patch Products.[2] The company started a line of PuzzlePatch tray puzzles for preschoolers, which are still in production; the company produced its 100 millionth puzzle in 2008. The American Toy Institute, Great American Toy Contest, National Association for Gifted Children, Nick Jr. Magazine and Toy Tips have recognized the puzzles for helping educate children.[3]

1992

The company obtained the license for TriBond, its first board game, which was inducted into Games Magazine's Hall of Fame.[4]

2000

Patch followed the success of TriBond with two other board games, Blurt! and MadGab. The company sold the brand rights to these games to Mattel in 2004.[5]

2008

In 2008, Patch Products acquired Smethport Specialty Co., the maker of Lauri Toys and specialty products, adding educational items to Patch's lineup, including Tall-Stackers pegging and crepe rubber puzzles, along with the Wooly Willy magnetic personality.[6]

2009

Patch Products secured the rights to create a fresh version of the popular Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? board game based on the TV show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.[7]

2010

Patch Products introduced 5 Second Rule. 5 Second Rule would go on to be played on The Ellen Show for over six years. Patch Products also developed a nostalgic line called Treasured Toys, which included bringing back favorites Yakity-Yak Teeth, Shark Attack, and Bed Bugs.[8][9]

2011

5 Second Rule was a finalist for Game of the Year TOTY Award.[10]

2012

Patch Products was honored with a Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award. The Work Hard—Play Hard Award was given to Patch to recognize the company's emphasis on family fun to promote togetherness.[11]

2013

Patch Products, was the distributor of the Perplexus 3D maze game to independent toy and gift stores.[12] It also became the new manufacturer and distributor of the well-known The Game of THINGS...[13] Patch debuted its new collectible soft doll line Planet Sock Monkey which adds attitude and style to the classic sock monkey: each doll features a its own name, personality, clothing, and accessories.[14]

2014

Patch Products was acquired by the private equity firm Topspin Partners.[15] Shortly after, Patch Products grew with the acquisition of Onaroo, previously owned by American Innovative, LLC. This brand allowed Patch Products to expand into a new, complementary category of children's room décor.[16]

PlayMonster

2016

In February, Patch Products changed its name to PlayMonster. The new name better reflected the company’s values and commitment to providing play for all ages.[1]

2017

PlayMonster had multiple TOTY Award finalists, and won Game of the Year with their kids game Yeti in My Spaghetti.[17] PlayMonster also acquired Tinkineer and its Marbleocity line (laser-cut STEM kits).[18]

2018

Topspin sold PlayMonster to Audax Private Equity.[19] PlayMonster also acquired the UK-based toy company Interplay UK Ltd.[20]

2019

PlayMonster acquired Set Enterprises.[21] PlayMonster also acquired Kahootz Toys.[22] Patriot Capital became an investor in PlayMonster at this time.[23]

2021

Interplay, acquired in 2016, rebranded to PlayMonster.[24] PlayMonster also acquired Ann Williams Group, a Michigan-based manufacturer of craft and activity kits for kids and adults.[25] Additionally, PlayMonster partnered with Dude Perfect to relaunch the Koosh brand, licensed by Hasbro, in time for the 35th anniversary of Koosh.[26]

2022

PlayMonster promoted Tim Kilpin to CEO and gained investments from private market firms Adams Street Partners and H.I.G Capital. PlayMonster also relaunched Glo Friends, licensed by Hasbro. PlayMonster's take on the Glo Friends line introduces products featuring elements of Social–Emotional Learning.[27]

2023

Tim Kilpin transitioned to the newly created role of Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors. Sitting President, Steve Adolph, was appointed Chief Executive Officer.[28]

Award-winning games

PlayMonster has won awards from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy, The National Parenting Center, iParenting Media Awards, Parents' Choice, and Toy Tips.[citation needed] Award-winning games include: What's Yours Like?, 5 Second Rule, Buzzword, Know It or Blow It, Malarky, Don't Rock the Boat, Big Little Games Flingin' Frogs, Toss Up!, Swap!, Roll-It Tic-Tac-Toe, Giant Spoons, 100 Wacky Things, Word Shout, Farkle Frenzy, and Tales to Play

Million Minute Family Challenge

From September through December every year, PlayMonster sponsors the Million Minute Family Challenge, a grass-roots effort to promote interaction and communication among family and friends through playing board games. The goal is to encourage at least one thousand families, groups, or organizations in each of the fifty states to play a board game together for twenty minutes, or a cumulative million minutes.

Toys based on Netflix's Harvey Girls Forever!

Main article: List of Harvey Girls Forever! toys

References

  1. ^ a b PlayMonster. "Patch Products' BIG Announcement with Corporate Name Change to PlayMonster!". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  2. ^ Corporate Report Wisconsin, December 2003
  3. ^ The Janesville Gazette, June 16, 2008
  4. ^ Games Magazine Archived 2010-04-17 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 4, 2004
  6. ^ "News : Smethport Web : Smethport PA's Online News Magazine". Archived from the original on 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  7. ^ Westphal, Melissa. "Company cranks out '5th Grader' game". The Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  8. ^ LLC, PlayMonster. "PlayMonster's 5 Second Rule game celebrates its 10th anniversary with a chance to win a virtual seat to one of "Ellen's 12 Days of Giveaways"". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  9. ^ McCraw, Justin (2010-06-08). "Patch Set to Reintroduce Three Retro Products • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  10. ^ "2011 TOTY Winners". The Toy Association. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  11. ^ Beloit Daily News, May 11, 2012
  12. ^ Beloit Daily News, March 11, 2013
  13. ^ The Toy Book, Feb. 8, 2013
  14. ^ The Toy Book, Vol. 28, No. 2, Mar./Apr. 2013
  15. ^ "Patch Products Purchased by Topspin Partners". Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  16. ^ Engage121 (2014-11-03). "Patch Products Growing Under Topspin Partners' Ownership With Acquisition of Successful Onaroo Line". GlobeNewswire News Room (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "2017 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award Finalists Unveiled by Toy Industry Association". The Toy Association. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  18. ^ Michalik, Maddie (2017-05-11). "PlayMonster Acquires Tinkineer and Its Marbleocity Line • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  19. ^ Partners, Topspin (2018-11-21). "Topspin Partners II Exits PlayMonster". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  20. ^ Michalik, Maddie (2018-05-29). "PlayMonster Acquires Interplay • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  21. ^ "PlayMonster Bolsters Game Lineup with Set Enterprises Acquisition • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  22. ^ "PlayMonster acquires Kahootz Toys | Toy World Magazine". toyworldmag.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  23. ^ "Patriot Capital Supports PlayMonster and Audax Private Equity's Acquisition of Kahootz Toys – Patriot Capital". Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  24. ^ Zahn, James (2021-01-19). "UK-Based Interplay Rebrands as PlayMonster • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  25. ^ Michalik, Maddie (2021-06-23). "PlayMonster Acquires Ann Williams Group • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  26. ^ Zahn, James (2021-05-11). "PlayMonster Teams Up with Dude Perfect for Koosh Relaunch • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  27. ^ Pelletier, Ashley (2022-09-12). "PlayMonster Introduces New Chief Parenting Officer in Tandem with Playskool Glo Friends Launch • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  28. ^ Group, PlayMonster. "PLAYMONSTER APPOINTS STEVE ADOLPH AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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