Scots scooter shows success is no flash in the pan for toy inventor

Published on Wednesday 20 February 2008 21:17

IT WAS created on an industrial estate outside Glasgow by the man behind the controversial Alien Birth Pod toy.

But now the Scottish version of the folding scooter has taken the world by storm – selling more than 700,000 since its launch four years ago.

The Flashing Storm scooter is now the proud holder of the best children's outdoor product title, handed out by the British Association of Toy Retailers.

Already available in the UK, Denmark, Australia and Canada – where it has also scooped a top industry accolade at the country's national toy fair – the scooter is set to be patented in Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia.

Flashing Storm is the brainchild of toy inventor Martin Grossman and is the latest product to come from the stable of toy and novelty maker H Grossman. The company's hitherto best-known creation was a bizarre alien head which gave birth to twins suspended in a placenta-like goo, which became a must-have for youngsters in the late 1990s.

Mr Grossman, who expects sales of his scooter to top one million by the end of the year, said: "What makes it so attractive to children is that it's just very cool. We've reinvented what was already out there by adding the colours and flashing lights.

"The world of toys is a competitive one. Children's preferences are constantly changing in this electronic world and you have to work hard at identifying what they want – you have to be sharper and good at what you do."

Mr Grossman, 51, who has worked in the family business for 35 years, added: "Parents like the safety aspect of it – it is easily seen by car drivers and other road users. It's our best-selling product and the mainstay of our business now."

He said he had a further four new products set to be released in the coming few years, including a flashing seesaw for younger children which was launched at the British Toy Fair last month.

David Moreland, partner in Glasgow law firm Marks and Clerk, which has patented some of H Grossman's products, added: "This has given Grossman that competitive edge which is not only needed in the toy industry, but in many other market sectors today."

The company was founded by Mr Grossman's father, Harry, in 1946, starting out supplying shoelaces, stockings and shoe polish, and has since produced several controversial toys.

In April 2003, a product imported by Mr Grossman was banned, in the first such move in more than a decade. Yo-balls, liquid-filled plastic balls on the ends of lengths of elasticated plastic, were outlawed over fears children could be strangled.

In the last set of accounts filed with Companies House last year, H Grossman reported pre-tax profits of 112,962 – a third of the figure for the previous year.

The company said heavy investment in new products would take some years to make a major impact on its figures.

BRIGHT LIGHTS AND BETTER CORNERING

OTTO Bolton, nine, and his sister Merle, five, road-tested the scooter on the streets of Portobello yesterday.

The youngsters approved of the design and thought the toy would be popular with their friends.

Otto, who has a fold-up scooter at home, said Martin Grossman's design was faster and nippier than his own model.

He said: "I could go really fast on it and it went around corners a lot better. I could do tricks much better as well."

Merle, who trialled the pink version of the scooter, liked how it looked.

She said: "It was lots of fun to ride. I think my friends would really like it if they saw it."

Charlotte Robinson, the children's mother, said the flashing lights and bright colours also appealed to her.

She said: "It is good for pavement safety as people would be able to see them coming. I think it's a bit different to the other scooters that are on the market. I can see why it's been such a hit."