The Mini Marvel toys history from my imagination to your home.

I first thought about making a soft toy horse when I was in hospital recovering from major surgery on my back in 1995. I had to take a year off from riding and couldn’t do my normal physical work, one day when I was looking at my little star Hercules I thought how great it would be if others could also have their very own special little plush toy horse called Hercules.
First I needed to see if there were any toys around that were similar to what l had in mind, so I went to a major trade toy fair in Birmingham to see what was on offer and then I had to check out lots of shops! I couldn't find anything, so l got to work designing the toy but when I tried to get a sample made I ran into lots of problems and the dream was put on back burner. But I learnt many new things, such as how to arrange and register my trademarks and then sort out the licensing on my toys - all parts of a new business world. Unfortunately l could not get them made in Great Britian due to the cost, so l had to go to China!
First I needed to see if there were any toys around that were similar to what l had in mind, so I went to a major trade toy fair in Birmingham to see what was on offer and then I had to check out lots of shops! I couldn't find anything, so l got to work designing the toy but when I tried to get a sample made I ran into lots of problems and the dream was put on back burner. But I learnt many new things, such as how to arrange and register my trademarks and then sort out the licensing on my toys - all parts of a new business world. Unfortunately l could not get them made in Great Britian due to the cost, so l had to go to China!
So.........

Fast forward a few years, when l put together my full team of miniature horses The Mini Marvels we started doing our displays and also visiting hospitals and homes, met many people on our travels - some had never seen a real horse let alone a mini!
I started thinking about my toys again - there were still nothing like them in the shops. So l dug out my designs and went for it! I created a set of toys each one with their own passport and stable, based on my real team, I then put them out on license to another company for a period of time. l hope you love them as much as l do, I have been on quite a journey with The Mini Marvels toys and now they are selling and going worldwide :-)
I started thinking about my toys again - there were still nothing like them in the shops. So l dug out my designs and went for it! I created a set of toys each one with their own passport and stable, based on my real team, I then put them out on license to another company for a period of time. l hope you love them as much as l do, I have been on quite a journey with The Mini Marvels toys and now they are selling and going worldwide :-)
After much work at home with drawings and altering the samples so they looked how l wanted them to - they still came back wrong. l decided the best way was to fly over to the factory in China to work on the toys - it stopped time being wasted and this way l knew l would get them made exactly how l wanted them to be. . |
Flying into Hong Kong![]() .
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Eventually it all came together, the toys made the shortlist for Best Childrens Toy at the Spring Toy Fair and l put them out on license which ran for a period of time. That has now finished and l have the toys totally under my wing, l decided to change their packaging and put them into special waterproof see through travel bags.
As it happened l had to go to India on business for another project so l was able to source the bags there and get the correct ones made. Even after the samples were made there were a lot of emails and drawings going back and forth in order to make sure l had the waterproof travel bags just how l wanted them for MM1 toys. You can see the result at the bottom of the page, l hope you like them.
My toys have taken me on a journey to some places l never thought l would go to and in turn my Mini Marvel toys have gone all over the world to be special friends to lots of other people.

out! . They sent back many samples, finally l got busy cutting & adding new bits like wig hair to make the mane & tail, l made the neck longer, and put it in the correct position, l even changed the ears. Finally l put something under the front legs to show they were to short! The pieces of the pattern are sown together Nearly there Getting there slowly While that is happening, l was busy making sure that we got the colours correct and as close as we could
Making sure the tail is fixed in. Putting in final stuffing to the legs Seen here below are the final toys that l brought back with me
This was taxi Chinese style - but l gave it a miss, a little bit to risky for me! But when the needs must then sometimes you have no choice.
As l decided to repackage the toys in new plastic travell bags l needed to go to India to source the bags.
This was one of the sights l saw, with the old and the new ways of transport!
The Mini Marvels® is the registered trademark of Tanya Larrigan
Eventually it all came together, the toys made the shortlist for Best Childrens Toy at the Spring Toy Fair and l put them out on license which ran for a period of time. That has now finished and l have the toys totally under my wing, l decided to change their packaging and put them into special waterproof see through travel bags.
As it happened l had to go to India on business for another project so l was able to source the bags there and get the correct ones made. Even after the samples were made there were a lot of emails and drawings going back and forth in order to make sure l had the waterproof travel bags just how l wanted them for MM1 toys. You can see the result at the bottom of the page, l hope you like them.
My toys have taken me on a journey to some places l never thought l would go to and in turn my Mini Marvel toys have gone all over the world to be special friends to lots of other people.
All text and images are copyright THE MINI MARVELS® 2007/13 and may not be copied or reproduced without permission. tanya@ttll.fsnet.co.uk
www.tanyalarrigan.com