Games are not just for kids
FOSTER CITY PROGRESS -- THE INDEPENDENT
By Tammy Gelfond
Staff Reporter
Good ideas are something that have always come naturally to Tice Swackhamer. The Foster City mother of two has been inventive since she was a child and has now found an avenue for her creative mind.
Swackhamer has developed and marketed a new game for baby showers that has proven to be a success at parties for expecting moms.
“It’s about taking the concept you’ve been thinking about and making a product,” she said.
The idea for a new game came when Swackhamer and her husband, Bill, were hosting a friend’s baby shower. They became discouraged when they couldn’t find any activities to entertain their guests.
The couple decided to invent a game that was fun for everybody. The game, called Baby Draw, is similar to charades – with a twist.
“A lot of us had been to showers before and we always played the same old games,” she said.
For two years, Swackhamer organized online surveys, implemented a focus group with the help of the Foster City Mom’s Club and developed a core idea for a game.
“I found that they wanted to play games,” Swackhamer said. “They felt that so many people come together who don’t know each other – this is a nice vehicle to get people going.”
About 1,600 people responded to the survey.
Many respondents said they were interested in a game that was active and fun to watch, said Swackhamer.
“We made it so people can get up and see the game from across the room,” she said. “You don’t have to stick right there all the time.”
Baby Draw filled a void by providing a fun activity for partygoers and it was still a hit even at couple’s showers.
Available to consumers since 1999, the game is now available through the Internet shopping mogul Yahoo!
“The orders came in immediately,” Swackhamer said. “It is so gratifying to have had an idea, an instinct and taken a chance.”
The game quickly attracted a customer base that extends throughout the United States. There are even prospective customers in other countries.
“The Internet allows us to make sales and gives us the exposure,” said Swackhamer.
Swackhamer has received a lot of advice from other women who have started businesses. She is a member of “Littledidiknow.com,” which is a site that guides and markets merchandise developed by mothers.
“This group has been very helpful to me because whenever I have a question, I email the group and they are a terrific resource,” said Swackhamer. “We help each other out and offer lots of encouragement.”
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