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July 2009 | Vol. VIII - No. 7

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Binkley & Hurst Takes a Ride With Berg Toys

Durable Ride-on Vehicles Encourage Activity and Exploration

By: Claudia Newcorn
7/1/2009

“All the retailers said these are the coolest things they have seen in years.” — Frank Bewersdorff, Binkley & Hurst

^{This article is a paid advertorial.}

Conceived more than 20 years ago by a Dutch boy who longed to own a go-cart, Berg Toys has grown into a worldwide market leader in the manufacture of outdoor toys, now available through U.S. distributor Binkley & Hurst.

IGNITING THE IMAGINATION

It started with a Ferrari. A Ferrai go-cart, to be precise. Frank Bewersdorff, vice president of Binkley & Hurst, spotted it during a customer visit for the company’s Lititz, Pa., retail store, Outback Toys, in Germany.

“It piqued my interest,” Bewersdorff told TDmonthly Magazine. “We have a toy division, and after looking at their catalog, I felt it would be a good fit.”

He was so impressed by the products’ quality and how they promoted active play and learning that Binkley & Hurst decided to become the U.S. distributor for Berg’s pedal go-karts and accessories, and their MOOV construction-toy ride-ons.

Berg Toys prides itself in using innovation to create fun. They like to say that instead of following today’s industry trends, they are creating tomorrow’s. Manufactured in Holland using environmentally friendly materials and processes, the CPSIA-compliant, award-winning toys are distrubuted worldwide. The ever-expanding line is predicated on the belief that it’s important that children have adventures and learn to explore the world around them, and that their outdoor toys encourage those explorations.

Bewersdorff explained that his company was also attracted to the fact that the toys promote healthy outdoor play. “Berg’s motto is ‘Let’s play outside.’”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play is important to healthy brain development. ... [and] builds active, healthy bodies.”

KID-TESTED AND FUN-CERTIFIED

Berg Toys do not leave the company’s test laboratory until they have been fully tested and approved by what they dub their toughest testing team — children.

Binkley & Hurst introduced the products during Toy Fair in February 2009 and response was outstanding, Bewersdorff reported. “There was huge interest,” he told TDmonthly. “Retailers see the tremendous value of product, particularly those that have a passion for healthy outdoor play as an important part of child development. All the retailers said these are the coolest things they have seen in years.”

The award-winning MOOV Builder Construction sets are particularly clever, he noted. The rubber O-ring that holds everything together allows a child to build without tools, constructing something they can actually ride on.

“MOOV has been very well received by retailers who have educational and teacher-oriented supplies,” he said. “It’s about creativity, dexterity, planning — it’s very versatile, and the child can build so many different things with these toys.”

They’re also what could be called ‘heritage toys’ — of such fine quality that they can be handed down from child to child, generation to generation, along with the many tales of the adventures they helped create.

BUILDING STEADY GROWTH

Bewersdorff anticipates solid growth and success for Berg Toys in the United States.

“They’re high quality, value-priced products. It requires commitment and passion to really believe in this type of toy, and the margins are very good,” he said. “My anticipation is that once the line catches on, we will attract those consumers who are health- and environmentally conscious, and who want their kids to have something fun to play with that promotes developmental skills.”

See several products from Binkley & Hurst below:

BERG Toys Freestyler 2WD by BERG USA, LLC

Other products from BERG USA, LLC