From a fun idea and product design in 2003 to a toy design company with worldwide distribution and sales network in 2017. Our story in a nutshell. I am Sybren, waytoplay’s creator and designer. In 2013 my wife Marise and I embarked on a road trip into the unknown world of toys. Before we knew it, we were in overdrive. Together with Lex, distributor, and Stephanie, marketing, we are a solid team. Our kids, Bente and Joep regularly get on board to help out with packaging, events or photography for social media. Our team mirrors our product: compact, reliable and flexible.
Crowdfunded
After this promising start, we took a breather. Call it a pitstop, or gathering of wits. We needed it. In 2012 my wife Marise joined forces with me and we drove headlong into making waytoplay a business. In 2013 the pilot run of waytoplay hit Lex’ store in Haarlem (the current Mr. Paprika). All 250 sets were sold in the blink of an eye. It was clear that we had an audience.
Scaling up
Our achievements are driven by the effort of an extraordinary group of people and companies. In Breidenbach, Germany, skilled specialists produce our road segments. Truly high tech, because while our product may look simple, producing it is not. The road segments are then printed on two sides by Mooi printers in The Netherlands, a sheltered employment provider. Most of the packaging is also done there. This provides jobs for 10 people with little access to regular employment. This makes us happy and proud.
The team
Marise, my wife and co-founder, is handling the webshop and Consumer care, she will answer your questions about waytoplay. Lex knows the route in retail and he will help you with purchasing waytoplay. Stephanie is telling the world about waytoplay, from beautiful Paris, she is reaching out to parents and children.
The road ahead..
Waytoplay is currently sold in over 60 countries. On social media we enjoy a loyal group of waytoplay fans who share their unique waytoplay experiences. The future is bright and our sights are set on ‘Route 2021’. A challenge that will take us to new, exciting places. We intend to start producing our road segments from bio-based materials. And we have the ambition to go circular, for example by recycling materials.
no wires, no screens
Waytoplay offers fun without wires, wifi or screens. We believe in the creative force of children. With your child in the driving seat, the road segments let the imagination pave the way to adventure.There are no maps and the toy road can be expanded endlessly for a never ending adventure.
No rules, no standards
The road segments are the tools, the children make the rules. We believe in endless, OPEN enjoyment. That’s what waytoplay embodies to us. With the various road segment shapes included in our sets, a child can build its own route, find its own way and discover a new world. Long, short, curvy or straight. With other toys or without. It’s all good.
Start playing
The rich creativity and imagination in any child is best stimulated with ‘open ended’ toys. Toys that have no set goal, target or result. No concrete problem to be solved, no points to be scored, simply to be enjoyed by doing, discovering, trying and playing. Once children discover that they themselves are free to create their own game, their imagination blossoms. We call that: pressing the ‘play’ button.
Open end
With the various road segment shapes included in our sets, every child can build its own course, make its own way. And discover a new world. Long, short, curvy or straight. With other toys or without. It’s all good. The road segments are the tools, the children make the rules. We believe in endless, OPEN enjoyment. That’s what waytoplay embodies to us.