Sisters Game For New Business

Trio’s Game Savers replace broken boxes from board games

 

By GRETCHEN METZ

Staff Writer

 

WEST GOSHEN—Three sisters are ready to introduce their solution for families with busted Parcheesi boxes, shuffled Monopoly money or Colonel Mustard lost in the library without a Clue.

The product, called Game Savers is made by OBH Enterprises.  The company was founded by Mickie Lucas, Terry Donze and Suzanne Kirkland, Sisters who came up with an idea  to make custom plastic containers with snap lids to store disheveled board games cluttering the closets.

The idea came from a friend or Kirkland’s during a conversation about new products and start-up companies.

“Six months later at a family event, I threw out the idea and they loved it,” said Kirkland, 41, of West Goshen.

It was Jan 4, 2003 when the sisters decided to go with the and start a business. The Friend who had the idea originally was invited to go in on the venture, but declined, Kirkland said.

In the process of making the decision , other ideas like beach bags and beach chairs were discussed but put on the back burner, said Lucas, 55, of Marple, Delaware County.

It was Donze, with a daughter, 12, and a son, 10, who recognized the possibilities of Game Savers first. 

“I just threw out five games with missing pieces.  I was cleaning out a closet, pieces were everywhere.  I was going to buy new games,”

said Donze, 43, of West Whiteland.  “That was the big motivation for me.”

“She saw the need, definitely.” added Lucas, who has two grown children.

Sixteen months later, the sisters are launching their privately funded business. 

The president of the company is Kirkland, a retired engineer from Lockheed Martin and mother of a 5-year-old. 

Donze, who handles payroll for her husband’s business, is vice president of marketing.  Lucas, who works for the Marple-Newtown School District, is vice president of operations.

The sisters named the company with an eye to the future.  OBH Enterprises stands for “Our Beach House.”  For the sisters, the goal is to make enough money to buy a beach house in Longport or Margate, NJ, big enough for all their families to enjoy.

Two weeks from now, the blue and orange models of Game Savers will be available on www.areyougame.com.  The internet company will handle shipping the units. Suggested retail price is $10 for the orange unit or $12 for the blue plus shipping and handling.

Orange Units are designed to Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Parcheesi, Charades for kids, Sorry, Clue, Stratego and Scrabble.

Blue units hold Life, Monopoly, Risk and Colorforms Silly Noises.

Both units have compartments for game pieces and money.  All units are designed the current versions of the games.

The sisters are having a direct response TV commercial shot as well.  Viewers will be able to order Game Savers at $12.95 for one or $19.95 for two through an 800-phone number

 broadcast during the commercial,

In February, the sisters took their Game Savers to the International Toy Show in new York.  Donze described the experience at the massive trade show as “overwhelming.”

Kirkland added that while the first two days of the show were exciting, by the end of the four day run she and her sisters were exhausted with “dark circles under our eyes.”

Besides the web site and direct marketing outlets, the company has six retail accounts, although none are local.  To get a local presence, Kirkland said the company is working “aggressively” with Toys R Us and Target representatives.

Coming down the pipeline are Game Saver Red for Trouble, Hi Ho Cherrio, Frustration, Guess Who, Connect Four, Four in Line and Sponge Bob, and Game Saver green for Fishing Around, Lucky Ducks, Hands Down, Old McDonald Had a Farm, Kerplunk, Mr. Mouth and Hungry Hippos. 

For first time entrepreneurs, starting a business can be daunting.

Kirkland said time was gobbled up in “fits and spurts” between the search for a manufacturer over the internet and then working with the manufacturer on mold designs.

“Most surprising to me is that things take longer than you think.” Kirkland said.

Donze said she was pleasantly surprised how helpful people were, especially other entrepreneurs.

The company is opening office/warehouse space in the Matlack Industrial park.  Friday they are expecting their first shipment of product. The top priority will be to fulfill orders placed at the Toy Show.

versions of the games.  The sisters are having a direct response TV commercial shot as well.

OBH Enterprises

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OBH Enterprises made the front page of the Chester County Daily Local’s Business section!

Daily Local (of Chester County, Pa.)