Educo International Inc.
Sherwood Park, AB
Company Overview
Founded in 1983, Educo International Inc., is a Canadian company manufacturing educational toys made of wooden beads, wooden frames and colourful sculptured play wires. Today, Educo bead and wires mazes are a favoured toy among parents and pre-schoolers who enjoy them in medical offices, airports, schools and home. The Educo collection features over 70 interactive play products now used throughout the world to stimulate imaginative minds, encourage three dimensional manipulation, enhance motor skill development, and provide rewarding rehabilitation exercises. Carefully written activity guides accompany each model to help parents, teachers, health, professionals, and care-givers extend educational opportunities, therapeutic options and playtime fun.
For more than a decade, Educo has achieved industry acclaim from its peers, consumer groups, the international media and the Government of Canada, earning awards for export achievement, business excellence and service to children with special needs. Displaying the highest standards in product design, quality craftsmanship and educational play value, each toy is created with careful attention to detail.
Primarily focused on the specialty toy market, Educo is also active in consumer catalogues, educational stores/catalogues, as well as the special needs market. In 1991, Educo launched a line of activity centers for public play areas and commercial settings, helping fuel company growth in this rapidly expanding market, while solidifying Educo's outstanding reputation with parents and child professionals.
In an effort to strengthen the company's strong share of the public play market, in 1997, Educo licensed a fully enclosed magnetic sandbox table. This new element has led to the development of a new Educo product - a combination magnetic sand and maze activity center.
The company proudly displays more than 40 international awards including Parents' Choice Gold and Silver Medals, National Parenting Honors, the British Best Toy award and the prestigious Oppenheim Gold Seal of Excellence for every product in the line. In 1994, Educo's award winning Original Supermaze was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame.
As part of a long-term strategic plan, Educo entered the mass market in 1995 with high volume Christmas orders for major retailers such as Price Costco and Wal-Mart's Sam's Club. In 1998 Educo will introduce a new bead and wire line dedicated solely to the U. S. mass market.
To keep pace with rapid growth, increase production efficiency and streamline the design process, in 1996 Educo purchased a state-of-the-art CNC wire forming machine. Automated programming of the wire bending process and a dramatic improvement in design and production capabilities are a result of this new technology.
Educo products can be purchased in specialty toy shops, teacher supply stores, educational and consumer catalogues and in select department stores on several continents. A strong network of manufacturers' representatives, under the direction of Educo's U. S. Sales Manager, sell the Educo exhibits annually at major national and regional toy, educational and gift trade shows in North America and abroad.
Educo produces more than 120, 000 toys a year, exporting 80% to the United States and many other countries. Container shipments to Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Korea, Saudi Arabia and the Benelux countries, South America, Sweden, Singapore, and New Zealand reflect the eclectic diversity of interest in the Educo line and demonstrate the strength of Educo's overseas distribution and marketing efforts. Educo's exhibit at the Middle East International Toys, Games and Hobbies Show in Dubai in 1997 underlines a commitment to new markets.
The President and sole owner of Educo International is Kathy Klaus, recently voted Woman of Vision' and Business Person of the Year' in her own community. She has also honoured with a Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurship in Alberta. The company's head office and factory are located in a 30, 000 square foot facility situated in a modern industrial park, just east of Alberta's capital city of Edmonton.
Educo looks to the future with confidence and welcomes the prospect of co-operative ventures that will enhance a solid reputation, continue to manage steady growth and build upon a proud record of profit and achievement.
Company Information
Physical Address
123 Cree Rd.
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X9
CA
Mailing Address
123 Cree Rd.
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X9
CA
Additional Details
Legal Name: Educo International Inc.
Number of Employees: 20
Total Sales ($CDN): $100,000 - $200,000
CA
Contacts
Kathy Klaus
Title: President
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
Phone: Show phone
Fax: Show fax
Colleen Madsen
Title: Manager
Area of Responsibility: Domestic Sales & Marketing
Phone: Show phone
Fax: Show fax
Email: Show email
Products
- Toys, Educational
NAICS Categories
Additional Information
339930
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