When a toy designer’s young daughter becomes fascinated by the gel-like beads in a flower vase, there is only one conclusion to draw: “There has got to be a toy in here somewhere,” says Ron Brawer, a partner in the Maya Group and a toy industry veteran.

The fast-growing Torrance company has gone on to develop dozens of playthings based on those transparent polymer pellets. One of those toys, a modified water gun called the Xploderz XBlaster 200, was a finalist for the 2012 Outdoor Toy of the Year Award from the Toy Industry Assn. in New York.

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Orbeez RC Ladybug Scooper from The Maya Group

http://www.timetoplaymag.com/toys/4528/the-maya-group/orbeez-rc-ladybug-scooper/

Interview with Sharon Cohen on all the new Orbeez products for 2012!

http://www.bootcamp.com/interview.jsp?interviewId=1097

Orbeez Magic Light-Up Globe

How to describe this, besides wow? Well, think of it as an activity, a light show, and a surefire sleepover showstopper wrapped into one beautiful bundle of fun. To begin with, kids “grow” their Orbeez (don’t worry, it’ll make sense when you get it home), then pour it into the “magic” globe, add water, and illuminate. The swirling Orbeez, color-changing lights, and movement create a light show in the globe and on the ceiling. (Ages 5 and up; $14.99)

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/toy-fair-2012?view=home&pnid=530694

We got this email and video from a customer!

Hi creators of the great Orbeez! My little sister, Lauren’s, 8th birthday was a couple days ago and all she wanted was Orbeez Soothing Spa.  She had been talking about it all the time and singing your theme song all around the house. Attached is her adorable reaction to opening the gift.  I hope you enjoy it, and let us know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKkTB6UhEA8

Need an exciting gift for your tween or teen?

Check out the Orbeez Mood Lamp. Fun meets function with this product – and I can’t help but be reminded of my old lava lamp! This toy allows you to design your own real, working mood lamp in a few simple steps.

Add water to your Orbeez (comes with 1,500 of them!) and watch them grow before your eyes. When Orbeez have swelled to full size, fill the Mood Lamp and illuminate it! The LED lights change colors and the Mood Lamp magically lights up and changes color. This product will not only entertain kids as they put it together, but add to the decor of their bedrooms.

The Orbeez Mood Lamp also comes with a 16 page full color activity book.

Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included).

Price: $20

Check out this Orbeez newspiece on a Fox News Station. Thank you AC Moore for being a great partner.

http://ow.ly/2XoaF

It’s an exciting day for the Orbeez team! We just found out Toys “R” Us included the Orbeez Magic Maker on its Hot Holiday Toy list. This announcement comes less than two months after we launched the Orbeez brand. We are thrilled and honored to be included along with some huge names in the toy industry.

Excerpt below from Toys “R” Us Press Release,  read the complete announcement from Toys “R” Us here: http://ow.ly/2HEpO

From Baby’s First Christmas to Big Kids, the 2010 Toys“R”Us Holiday Hot Toy List represents the top new toys for 2010 in each age group:

5 to 7 Years

Magic Orbeez Maker from Maya Group
By filling the Magic Orbeez Maker with water and placing up to 300 Orbeez inside at once, children can watch as these unique orbs, which start off tiny, grow to more than 100 times their original volume! As the Orbeez transform into wet, wacky, soft, squishy and bouncy orbs, kids can float them through hoops and then cascade them down a spiral ramp into a collection tray. From there, playtime is endless as kids can brew up their own concoctions or use the included activity booklet and 2,500 Orbeez to find dozens of fun ideas. No batteries required. Ages 5 years and up.

Hot New Toy Line Arrived in Stores Two Weeks Ago

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Huntington Beach, CA, August 18, 2010 – The Orbeez Magic Maker has quickly become one of the top-selling toys in advance of the holiday season.  Less than two weeks after the brand-new Orbeez line arrived at stores, the Orbeez Magic Maker has reached the #1 spot in the activity toys category, prompting retailers to try and secure additional inventory in advance of the holiday season. The popular new Orbeez magically grow 100 times their original volume in water. The versatile properties of Orbeez—they are soft, squishy, wet, bouncy and beautiful—provide creative play for boys and girls.

“We are very excited — our key retailers just informed us that the Orbeez Magic Maker is the best-selling toy in the activities category thus far this season and a top-selling toy overall,” said Ron Brawer, a partner in the Maya Group, which makes Orbeez. “We are doing everything we can to produce enough Orbeez Magic Makers for the upcoming holiday season.”

The Orbeez product line, including the Orbeez Magic Maker, Orbeez Stack ‘ems, Butterfly, Peace Sign, Flow ‘n Show, and Orbeez Color Pack provide limitless play possibilities. Every Orbeez product comes with a 16-page full-color activity booklet. Products range from $5.99 – $24.99 and are designed for children ages 5 and up. They are available at Target, Toys R Us, Amazon and Kmart.

You can find information about Orbeez at: www.orbeezone.com, www.twitter.com/orbeezone and www.facebook.com/orbeez.

About Hobbeezone/The Maya Group

The Maya Group (which owns Hobbeezone) was founded to bring safe, high-quality and innovative toys to the market—toys that amaze, wow and dazzle long after the packaging has been opened. The company is dedicated to finding new, cool technologies and applying them to play patterns tested to create enjoyable and continued play.

Contact:  Sheliah Reynolds

For Orbeez/The Maya Group

sreynolds@resonatecomm.com

(720) 289-4739

Commercial Debuts Saturday, August 7 during Nick’s True Jackson Special

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Aug. 5 — Hobbeezone, Inc., part of The Maya Group, today announced the arrival of its brand-new line of creative activity toys, Orbeez™, at major online outlets and mass retailers nationwide. Available now at Toy ‘R Us stores and online, Target, Kmart and Amazon.com, Orbeez magically grow 100 times their original volume in water. They are wet and wacky, soft and squishy, bouncy and beautiful.

The Orbeez product line, including the Orbeez Magic Maker, Stack ‘ems, Butterfly, Peace Sign, Flow ‘n Show (a Toys R Us exclusive), and Orbeez Color Pack provide limitless play possibilities. Boys and girls love Orbeez because of the amazing transformation from tiny bead to marble-size orb, cool “squish” factor, bounciness, bright colors and endless fun possibilities. Parents love Orbeez because they are safe, versatile, and easy to store and clean up.

Every Orbeez product comes with a 16-page full color activity booklet. Products range from $5.99 – $24.99 and are designed for children ages 5 and up. They make great anytime, back-to-school, birthday or holiday gifts.

“The reception to Orbeez has been phenomenal – Orbeez look, transform and feel like nothing else out there in toyland,” said Sharon Cohen, product brand manager for Orbeez. “I’ve yet to meet a kid who isn’t fascinated by them.”

Additionally, Orbeez will make its national TV debut on Saturday, August 7 with a just-released TV commercial on Nick. It will air during the True Jackson, VP “True Magic” special at 8 p.m. PT/ET. Consumers can get a sneak peak on YouTube: www.youtube.com/orbeezone

Orbeez also provides information and ideas for kids and parents on its website, on Twitter and via Facebook. You can find Orbeez at: www.orbeezone.com, www.twitter.com/orbeezone and www.facebook.com/orbeez.

About Hobbeezone, Inc.

Hobbeezone, Inc. was founded to bring safe, high-quality and innovative toys to the market – toys that amaze, wow and dazzle long after the packaging has been opened. The company is dedicated to finding new, cool technologies and applying them to play patterns tested to create enjoyable and continued play.

Media Contact:

Sheliah Reynolds

For Hobbeezone, Inc./Orbeez

sreynolds@resonatecomm.com

(720) 289-4739