Products Custom stuffed toys Founder Alex Furmansky | Website budsies.com | |
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Alex furmansky startupgrind budsies
Budsies turns children's artwork into custom stuffed animals. The company's vision is to let children be the designers of their own toys.
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Budsies custom stuffed toys
Company
Founder Alex Furmansky initially thought of the Budsies idea in early 2013 in an effort to memorialize his younger sister's artwork. The company formally launched in September 2013 to a positive reception by the blogger community. The company has sold more than 8,000 Budsies since its launch.
Budsies' target demographic is children ages 3 to 10. Children's artwork the company has received and transformed into physical form has ranged from puppies, chickens, robot, monsters, and rainbow colored hearts, to a s'more. However, Budsies has also fulfilled orders for adults and has created likenesses of video game characters, selfies, and adult artwork.
Furmansky appeared on the April 10, 2015 episode of the reality competition television series Shark Tank to pitch Budsies. Furmansky failed to get a shark pitch in to the company.
Method
Customers submit their artwork to Budsies by taking a photo of it with their smartphones and sending it to Budsies via e-mail or text message. Orders for the custom plush toys are placed via the company's website and fulfilled within approximately 5 weeks.
Philanthropy
Budsies organizes art days and provides free toys through organizations including Easter Seals, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. Therapists also utilize the donated toys during speech therapy sessions. The company also donates art supplies and Budsies to school districts to encourage creativity and host art contests.
In 2015, Budsies partnered with the Boca West Foundation to bring the artwork of 60 children at Florence Fuller Child Development Centers in Boca Raton, Florida to life.