Move over Superman, He-Man, Iron Man, et al. Our very own superheroes are all set to grab kids’ attention. An Indian toy maker is working on indigenous ‘avatars’ like `Arjun’, Bhim, Jatayu, Abhimanyu, Karn, to name a few, in the form of toys.
“Since long I have observed that kids here are fond of only westernized creations like He-Man or Superman, though we have our own “real heroes”. Yes, I am working on to shape the Indian icons to land in the palms of our kids and in the toy tables of our country which boasts of rich history and culture. Very soon I will launch one such character through our production unit in Gujarat,” said NRI, Vick Rana, Chairman of Stone Sapphire India which is known for its toy and stationary brand ‘Skoodle’.
Skoodle has also developed a “Toy Laboratory” at its Baroda plant where children are allowed to visit and play. It is from this very lab that Rana got the idea of ‘nurturing’ the Indian superheroes into toys. “In our lab a dedicated team including myself sit and observe the kids playing with the stuff which include a variety of toys and other items. It gives us the understanding of the child’s psychology and help us further redesign, or design toys,” Rana told The Pioneer in a freewheeling discussion over the current toys and stationery business in India.
Skoodle is also a big brand in stationery known for its unique pencils made out of recycled paper which has won many accolades.
A second-generation entrepreneur and the son of distinguished army veteran Jitendra Singh Rana, Hong Kong-based Vick Rana’s journey is an inspiring tale of resilience, vision, and unparalleled business acumen.
Two decades ago, armed with determination and a mere $600, Vikram founded Red Ridge Global in Hong Kong which has now become an MNC and a $500 million revenue-generating enterprise. His entrepreneurial journey took a transformative turn when he created a group of companies spanning Hong Kong, Australia, China, Thailand, Dubai, and India.
In 2018, Vikram’s innovative spirit gave birth to Skoodle, a children’s learning and lifestyle brand that has expanded dramatically over the years. Skoodle, a fusion of “school” and “doodle,” offers an extensive range of school supplies, art materials, toys, and sports goods across 15 diverse categories.
