Plaay is a new start-up business based in Leicester that specialises in children’s luxury wooden toys.
The brand’s founder Ben Sharman tapped into his creative family roots to launch the business; drawing inspiration from his handyman father, his mother, a painter for over 50 years, plus his three children.
Following thorough research, countless prototypes, as well as testing across a range of materials and application methods, the brand launched.
“The idea for Plaay began following the birth of my third child, Parker,” says Sharman. “I realised there was a gap in the market for high-end luxury wooden toys for consumers looking for alternatives for special occasional gifting; a market chiefly dominated by pottery and silverware.
“I was determined to create a line of heirloom luxury wooden toys that are elegant, simple and also ooze quality. Three years of development, testing and encouragement from friends and family have resulted in a range of designs being brought to life.”
Plaay has five core values; integrity, caring, passionate, creative, fun and respect.
All Plaay products are handmade from FSC approved solid Oak chosen for both its wood grain definition and product durability. All of the Oak is from sustainable sources, with no harmful chemicals or materials featuring in any of the toys. Furthermore, all materials comply with the European Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC.
For its launch range, Plaay has seven iconic designs offering a mix of traditional themed characters, all with a luxury contemporary finish. The designs are; The Giraffe; The Bear; The Unicorn; The Hippo; The Elephant; The Car; and finally, The Snowman.
“We are 100% confident about the design and manufacturing consistency of each product,” continues Sharman. “We have received final production samples from our factory, financed and developed the necessary tooling, and we are now ready to release production.”
Trade enquiries
Plaay’s products are currently available to order. For wholesale enquiries and further information contact ben@goplaay.com or call 07770 494846. You can also follow Plaay’s updates and new product launches via Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
