Blue Marble - Inspiring Kids and Empowering Parents
“It was supposed to be a six-month project that turned into a nine-month project incorporating a lot more work than initially anticipated, but I believe the final product will have the potential to inspire young lives.”
My Experience With Blue Marble
It all started with a phone call from longtime friend and PR professional, Darren Shuster. “Would you be interested in consulting for a toy company that is putting out a series of magic sets designed for kids?” My instant reply was an enthusiastic, “Maybe.”
After discussing the company and its founders, I realized Blue Marble’s core values were very much in alignment with mine, so making the decision to work with them was an easy one.
Originally we anticipated this project would take six months to complete, but six months soon turned into nine months. Sourcing and creating the products during a pandemic that lead to a global lockdown certainly didn’t help things, but I must say that my experience with everyone at Blue Marble was an incredibly enjoyable one.
My final week of consulting culminated with a trip to the company headquarters in Ashland, OR. Located in the southern part of the state, Ashland is best known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is ranked in the top 10 of “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America.”
Lou in the lobby of the Ashland Springs Hotel
It’s a beautiful city with a population of just over 21,000 people. It’s certainly a drastic change from living in the suburbs of Los Angeles, and it was a welcome respite from big city living.
Three days of filming for the project ensued. I had the privilege of working with the project creator, Jacob Davies, the project manager, Kristen Steele, and videographer/editor, Raymond Craig. All three were professional, talented, and a joy to work with. Blue Marble is lucky to have them, and if this project is any indication, I see big things in their futures.
The Blue Marble Team: Kristen Steele, Raymond Craig, Jacob Davies
I was able to join Founder and CEO, Jordan Willing along with Jacob Davies for dinner one evening, and I was happy to see that Jordan is looked upon as a mentor to the younger employees, encouraging growth both personally and professionally. The company culture reflects an environment of family, integrity, and creating mutually beneficial relationships with clients, employees, and business associates, and that culture was clearly evident during my stay.
(Click on images to enlarge.)
Several months of work is still in store to complete the project, and when this project finally hits the market, I will tell you all about it. It’s going to be grand!
What is Blue Marble?
Blue Marble is an award-winning creator of STEM toys (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Founded by Jordan and Katie Willing, Blue Marble has been producing educational children’s toys designed to inspire kids to love learning and the process of discovery along with empowering parents to raise thoughtful and confident kids. After all, the kids of today are the future of tomorrow.
Their brands include National Geographic, Discover with Dr. Cool, and Blockaroo (the latter being a favorite of my two year old granddaughter).
Blockaroo
My granddaughter, Josie, enjoying her Blockaroo.
You can get more information about Blue Marble by checking out their website at www.thinkbluemarble.com
(About the Author: Lou Serrano is a Corporate Entertainment Specialist helping organizations connect with their people in a fun, positive, memorable, and meaningful way. He is also available for virtual magic shows, consulting, and keynote speaking.)