Yahoo Small Business - Local Toy Chain Creates "Toy Hundred-Grid Cabinet" Concept

As electronic gadgets become popular, and even toddlers start playing with tablet computers, the local toy chain Me100fun (Me100fun Educational Toys Specialist Store) voiced a different opinion: "The simplest toys are the most inspiring and help children grow up healthily." This company has opened up a blue ocean by changing the traditional toy sales model and incorporating professional consulting services.

Me100fun has been actively promoting back-to-basics educational toys in recent years, operating under the unique concept of "Toys for a Hundred Children." Parents visiting the store first describe the developmental issues their children are facing, allowing Me100fun staff to recommend suitable toys, and then immediately teach parents how to effectively use these toys to play with their children at home. This not only specifically addresses their problems but also enhances parent-child relationships.

Back-to-basics educational toys

Regarding the origin of the business, founder Chan Wai Sum said: "The current site of our Kennedy Town store used to be for rent. Later, the tenant decided not to renew the lease. Coincidentally, our home wasn't very spacious, and we always wanted a small space for our two children to play, so we decided to keep the shop space for our own use, and the whole family started planning this small space. Later, it changed from personal use to a toy store because we gradually realized that our eldest daughter, who was in fifth grade at the time, was very interested in 'running a toy store,' which sparked our operational philosophy, and we decided to officially open our own toy store."

"At that time, my children were attending a good primary school, but we had a very strong feeling: their classmates were often unhappy. Because besides classes every day, they also faced many extracurricular activities. For 365 days a year, there was hardly a moment to rest. I thought, toys can actually be used for learning, why should parents deprive their children of a happy childhood? Secondly, when children stop, their only friends are computers and video games. For growing children, these are not beneficial friends. So we decided to open a small store that only sells educational toys." Chan Wai Sum pointed out that the five weakest areas in children's development today include memory, concentration, logical analysis, mathematical ability, and social skills. Another fatal flaw is that children are overly immersed in computer technology and electronic gadgets. He said: "I know a child who started playing with a tablet computer at the age of two. In his world, the only action was swiping his finger. Once, when his father was holding him and playing, he only knew how to flick his finger on his father's face, thinking his father's face was a computer screen!"

Solving children's problems with targeted approaches

"We primarily sell educational toys, and each toy helps children in different aspects of their development. Many parents, teachers, and even child education experts come to us to choose different toys to help children improve or enhance certain aspects of their development. Besides competing with peers, our biggest challenges actually come from video games, phones, and parents. Because many educational toys require parents to spend time participating with their children, unfortunately, parents nowadays are too busy; they would rather buy a smartphone for their children than spare time to accompany them." "Many parents only focus on their children's academic performance, ignoring their mental development. When children grow up and enter society, they then realize they have problems with crisis management and social skills." Me100fun's toys target these shortcomings, focusing on cultivating children's correct thinking. Taking one of the most popular toys, "Classic Preschool Series - Counting Cherries," as an example, participants need to roll a dice to quickly get the most cherries onto their tree. During the game, birds and dogs come to steal cherries, and new cherries must be accumulated. Under parental guidance, this game allows children to learn to follow game rules and how to face adversity, accept setbacks, and get back up after falling, developing a positive outlook on life. In addition, there are games that help enhance spatial awareness, multiple intelligences, logical thinking, and left/right brain memory techniques, each suitable for different needs. Besides actively sourcing educational toys from around the world, Me100fun will also develop its own brand of toys this year, with the first innovative toy designed to train babies' hand-eye coordination.

Small profits but quick turnover to build reputation

When talking about the difficulties of starting a business, Chan Wai Sum directly pointed to costs, as they face constantly rising rents and utility bills each year. To stabilize the business, he hopes that excellent product quality will help enhance the company's image. "We adhere to the principle of 'small profits but quick turnover,' coupled with word-of-mouth from customers, gradually making 'Me100fun' a brand of affordable and high-quality educational toys. In recent years, our professional image in the industry, diversified services, and expanded range of toys have also been important factors in the continuous growth of our sales."

"In today's Hong Kong society, it's really not easy to run a business, and it's even harder to build a reputable brand with a small capital. But I like doing business, and I'm willing to spend a long time building my company's brand. I set a short-term goal and an ultimate goal, just like a flowchart in computer science, there will be many 'ifs' along the way. If you give up when you encounter an 'if,' the company won't be able to continue. So in the process of running the business, whenever we encounter difficulties, we must quickly find the 'then' to continue and persevere." With hard work, many social workers and speech therapists now recommend parents to Me100fun to buy toys that promote healthy development in children and teenagers. Some social workers from youth centers even buy action games for troubled youths with drug abuse problems, so they realize that after drug abuse, they can't even play with educational toys designed for three-year-olds, thereby learning to strive for improvement. In addition, occupational therapists buy push-and-roll toys for patients who have just undergone surgery to exercise their hand muscles and speed up recovery. These toys are particularly small and convenient for therapists to carry with them.

Planned launch of own brand

Chan Wai Sum stated: "Seven years ago, my wife and I resolutely founded Me100fun, hoping that children in Hong Kong could grow up as healthily as our own children. My wife diligently researched theories related to children's mental development and growth, combining strengths and making comprehensive use of them, creating a wealth of knowledge. With this knowledge, we can provide appropriate professional advice to our customers, and then select suitable toys from our 'Toys for a Hundred Children' to meet their actual needs. In other words, parents not only buy toys but also a set of professional advice and solutions to promote their children's development."

Regarding the company's development, he stated that in addition to introducing quality brands from Europe and America, he hopes to successfully find high-quality toy manufacturers to cooperate with and launch their own brand of toys within this year. "As long as you keep an 'overambitious' ultimate goal in mind, business will naturally move faster than others." This is Chan Wai Sum's entrepreneurship philosophy.