|
 Rehtmeyer Inc. was established in 1989 as toy think tank that would develop toy ideas and license them to other toy manufacturers. Rehtmeyer is noted for creating new product opportunities and industry direction that include bringing games to girls and candy into the toy world. While the scope of our business has vastly increased over the years, Rehtmeyer Inc. is still noted for many of the toys they have developed over the years. Some of these include:
Tape Gum (Amurol/Wriggley), I'm a Little Tea Pot (Fisher Price), Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, The Grape Escape (Parker), Pretty Pretty Princess, National Geographic Society games, Blossom game (Tyco), Loony Tunes Games (Tyco), Perpetual Notion (Pressman), Baton Barbie (Mattel), Pom Pon Barbie (Mattel), Finger Painter (Cap Toys), Bug Zapper (Parker Bros.), Call the Plumber (Tiger), Sparkle Heart Doll (Mattel), Pigtails & Ponytails (Parker), Fleas on Fred (Tyco), Dance Party (Western), Let's go Shopping (Pressman), My Friend & Me (Playtime), Ninja Turtle Bowling (Remco), Smooshes (Fisher Price), Tappy Taps (World-wide), Magic Scanner (Mattel), Floppy Disc (World-wide), Rand McNally games, Doodle & Draw Table (Fisher Price), Kidoodle Splasher (Kidpower), Lego Surprizzles (Warren), Lucky Ducks (Milton Bradley), Blockbuster Movie Game (Blockbuster), plus My Dog Can Do That!, Loaded Questions, Initialize, Go Goddess!, Tween Talk, Spell Cast, Yin Yang Ball, Riddles & Riches, Child Work Child Play psychological game line, Magefire, Movie Quote Craze, Pick Your Nose product line and several dozen more.
In 1996, Rehtmeyer Inc' not for profit entity entitled "TGIF"; "The Toy & Game Industry Foundation" and the "Toy & Game Inventor's Forum" was developed. Its initial function was to serve toy and game inventors. No longer just an inventor program, "The Toy & Game Industry Foundation" annually host and sponsor the toy industry' most prestigious and exciting forum, trade show and networking. TGIF is held in Las Vegas each year and boasts a speaking faculty of 50 some key industry executives.
In 1998 Ms. Rehtmeyer established a Hong Kong office to manage manufacturing, costing, sourcing and importing. In 2000, partners in Korea and China were added for the purpose of technology transfer. Also in 2000, Rehtmeyer began developing products for clients as an incubator program that would be the basis for formation of new companies. Rehtmeyer would manage these companies. The first company to be incubated was "Chat@ Inc." "Chat@"- a hand held wireless e-mail device for the teen and tween market was incorporated in 2000. Following the development of Chat@, Ms. Rehtmeyer established a sales and marketing force, providing direct distribution into world wide retail outlets that include: Toys R Us, Walmart, K-Mart, K-B Toys, Meiers, Best Buy, etc. "Express-It!, Inc." (teen and tween girl electronic empowerment products) was established in 2001. Each company was established with it's own board of directors, advisors and officers.
Today, Rehtmeyer Inc. offers a "turn-key" product development through project management, manufacturing and distribution solution for companies of all sizes. With emphasis on researched based- new product opportunities, product innovation and "wow appeal", Rehtmeyer provides both a dynamic and cost effective solution for the toy and consumer product industry.
Rehtmeyer Inc.
To identify, create market opportunities and successfully produce and market unique product in the toy and related consumer good industries. To maintain Rehtmeyer' position as the leader in terms of industry respect, innovation, and market excellence though cost effective solutions, product innovation, market and trend awareness, expertise, project management, service and industry leadership roles.
Toy & Game Industry Foundation (TGIF)
To provide a foundation from which a variety of programs that encourage growth, build relationships, knowledge and develop new opportunities in the toy, game and entertainment industries, to a wide range of individuals and companies are offered.
Toy & Game Inventor's Conference (TGIFCon)
To give inventor's, entrepreneurs and industry professionals the opportunity to meet, learn, network, and conduct business in a noncompetitive environment to benefit the toy, game, electronic, juvenile product and entertainment industries as a whole.
KidVention
To provide a framework for positive competition to encourage creativity and ingenuity in today's youth and award outstanding youth contestants with scholastic scholarships and the potential to see their inventions licensed and marketed.
 Ms. Rehtmeyer is an eighteen year toy industry veteran. Carol is President and CEO of Rehtmeyer Inc. She is also Founder, Sponsor and President of the "Toy & Game Industry Foundation", Sponsor and General Director of the annual the "Toy & Game Inventor's Forum" and Executive Director of "KidVention" (a youth scholarship competition that inspires toy invention, education and entrepreneur-ship). Carol has additionally held the position of President of Chat@ Corporation (a hand-held, wireless e-mail technology company for the Tween & Teen market), and as Acting President of Great Expressions Corporation (an electronic empowerment product company for Tween and Teen Girls).
Carol serves the toy and entertainment industry in an educational capacity as a speaker for: The Toy & Game Industry Foundation, Game Inventors of America, The Licensing Journal, The New York Toy Fair Association, The Innovators and Entrepreneurs Expo and Conference, Speaking to Tweens Conference, University of Illinois, and others. Ms. Rehtmeyer is on the board of advisors for North Central College's Coleman foundation for entrepreneurship, The Illinois Institute of Art and on the board of directors for "Toynetwork.com" and "Chat@ Company". Carol has a degree from The University of Illinois at Champaign in Industrial Design Engineering.
Honors and Awards
Carol is the recipient of the National Women Business Owners' 2003, "Women Business Owner of the Year" award. She earned a 2002 Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" award, is recipient of the 2000 NAWBO/ Business Ledger "Influential Women in Business Award", 1999 Business Ledger's "Excellence in Business" Honoree, and 1999 Naperville Chamber of Commerce "Business of the Year" finalist.
Publicity:
Carol has been interviewed or appeared on: The cover of Working Mother Magazine, American Airlines' "American Way" magazine, WBBM News Radio, CLTV, The Chicago Tribune, Crains Chicago, The Indianapolis Business Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Games Magazine, Toybox Magazine, Lang Communications, Playthings Magazine, Toy & Hobby World, Discover Games, The Miami Sun Sentinel, The Naperville Sun, The South Florida Business Journal, and the books: "Inside Santa's Workshop", "The Toy & Game Inventor's Guide", "The Toy and Game Inventor's Handbook" in 2003 and "Entrepreneur's How to Start 5 Kids-Related Businesses" due to be released in Spring 2008. Ms. Rehtmeyer has appeared on several radio talk shows and in numerous other publications. She is a writer for various publications including "The Licensing Book".
Rehtmeyer's incubated "Chat@ Company, Inc." has recently been noted by: The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Magazine, Family Life, Cosmo Girl Magazine, Site2Shop.com, Teen Style, Time Out Magazine, Popular Science, Children's Television Workshop, Internet Magazine UK, In Style Magazine and numerous others.
Memberships and Associations:
ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailers Association)
NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners)
TIA- Toy Industry Association
LIMA- Licensing Industry Manufacturers Association
Founder of the Greater Chicago-land Chapter of Women in Toys.
Naperville and Downers Grove Chambers of Commerce.
|
