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In the spirit of the season as a time of reflection and gratitude for so many things, I wanted to truly thank some awesome people for making a difference in one aspect of our lives in a pretty neat way. 

Today isn't just Frank Zappa's birthday (although that would be justification for a blog post, certainly), it also marks the one year anniversary of Shauna and I flipping on the website for Walkie Chalk and released our little idea from the safe confines of our family room out into the wild. Not exactly curing cancer, saving the planet or starting Facebook, but an attempt at our own small chip in the universe's windshield.

It was nerve wracking.

We had an awful homemade website, our "product" was spray painted plumbing pipe parts, we didn't have packing designed and had no clue on kids toy testing, freight forwarding or...how we could afford to actually make this thing. But, we had support. We've learned that much can change in a year when you're lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing people.

Now, in a few days, what started as an idea will be showing up in stockings and under Christmas trees from Honolulu to Hoboken. That's still crazy to us. And still nerve wracking:)

We have shipped a Walkie Chalk to every state in the country, and tomorrow our first shipment will be delivered to Toys''R''Us for Spring (yes, Spring stuff will be out before you know it!) along with Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, Zulily.com and Hobby Lobby.

We are thankful.

None of this happens first without Bill Damman. On the day last July we ran into Beverly Hills Ace Hardware and tried to shove chalk in a PVC pipe he showed an enthusiasm normally reserved only for free Miller Lite and dark chocolate. Dad, you've helped us in so many ways.

Then, friends like Mick and Katie Janness, John and Tinney Newman, David O'Connor and Brian Owen wouldn't let us stop, "you have to do this" they said. Thank you. "Go on Shark Tank" they said. No Thank you. But, Walkie Chalk would still be just an idea on the driveway without the vision and trust of Joe Saad, we can't thank that guy enough. (and, he told us to pass on Shark Tank, so extra Thank You Joe:) And it was Jonathan Wright who made it all come to life. 

We got support from so many of you guys. Old friends from college, new acquaintences we hardly knew, random grandmas in Kentucky and each and every "like" on Facebook, text, share and then orders on Kickstarter - we saw them all and were humbled by each one.

So, will a chalk stick change the world? Probably not.

Is it cool be thanked by a special needs parent for giving their child a way to draw with their friends? Yea.

As we wrap up what will go down as a true whirlwind of a year for our family - thank you everyone, for supporting a few folks with an idea. 

Who knew?

Walkie Chalk is... a big Christmas gift? 

I didn't, that's for sure. Who buys sidewalk chalk stuff for Xmas? Don't they know it's 22 degrees and snowing out?

When we created it, I was focused mostly on the idea of a very seasonal summer toy - but people kept saying no, it could be year-round... well, given our Amazon stock, or lack thereof, I guess I was wrong. And glad to be wrong. As the chilly white stuff falls here in Michigan I keep forgetting that kids in nice warm places like Florida and Texas can draw sidewalk chalk all year. Lucky ducks!
 

We keep sending boxes to Amazon and they keep disappearing, and orders coming from all over - Biloxi AL, Darien, CT, Nashua, NH, Honolulu, HI, Las Vegas, NV or my favorite Conshohocken, PA! - . It's sort of the same feeling to have your product shipping to all these strangers - as it is a parent when you child goes off to school is playing with new kids - I just want to know, who are these people? Who is playing with our toy? But THANK YOU, from Ocean City to Century City, we appreciate it!

So as we head towards the end of 2016, we're thinking back on what a year it was. At this time a year ago, we had a single plastic 3D printed prototype of what we thought Walkie Chalk could be, no packaging, no web site and were stressed about the investment to take a giant leap of faith in production. 

But, with a great investor, awesome manufacturing partners, the best graphic design guy on the planet (how we got so lucky, I'll never know) sleepless nights and support from our friends, we did it.We have shipments on their way to Toys R Us, Bed Bath & Beyond and Hobby Lobby right now, and we'll be on Zulily next week.

We also met amazing people, like Choon Ng who invented the RainbowLoom (the biggest toy of the last 20 years!) and have gotten calls and emails from buyers, parents and grandparents all around the world. The same guy in Australia keeps emailing asking when he can get a Walkie Chalk!

Now, we're getting ready for Toy Fair in February with our distributor, Talicor out of Kalamazoo, MI and from there it's onto 2018 planning already. Shauna is lining up some awesome PR for the summer too, so watch out! Who knows where Walkie Chalk will go or what happens to our little idea - but now we can say we did something and it was with your help and support that it happened.

We truly thank all of you guys for the encouragement, contacts and advice - it's been one heck of a 2016. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Stand Up & Draw!