Business Opportunities Weblog

September 9, 2008 by Rich Whittle | 1 Comment

The Record:

A Lodi man is using a space-age idea to enter into the field of toy-making, and at least one major retailer is on board.

Twelve Wal-Marts in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties are selling a toy called the Glow and Throw UFO Flying Disc, the brainchild of Lodi resident Bryan Stamos, who hopes the toy eventually will go national.

The flying disc has holes for users to place, tie, twist and contort glow sticks.

When thrown in a dark setting, the Glow and Throw has the appearance of a space invader.

“You can do all kinds of colors and shapes,” the 57-year-old Stamos said. “It’s very unique, very unusual.”

Stamos said he patented the toy in the 1990s, but it did not go into production until 2007, when his patent was set to expire.

After he fabricated his product, he went through a four month long negotiation process, Stamos said, and was able to convince Wal-Mart to carry the toy locally in July. He said sales have been very strong.

“We’ve sold out in some stores,” said Stamos, a Lodi High School graduate. “You have to see it in flight. So we were able to get a video display in some stores, and then sales really took off.”

Photo by Victor J. Blue.

In Inventions | 1 Comment
Tags: Kids, Toys