Today we’d like to introduce you to Tameka Maiden.
Tameka, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a single mom, pharmacist and former Houston elementary school teacher. Initially, I created the Cubby Love Bears logo for a line of children’s clothing I was working on, before deciding to create an educational toy instead.
My labor of “Cubby Love” started when I was trying to teach my daughter, Tori, her colors, but it wasn’t really sinking in with her. I was looking at the little bear face on my logo and started thinking maybe there’s a better way to help her and other kids learn their colors. So, I created a line of colorful, interactive Cubby Love Bears (teddy bears) that teach children their colors, numbers, alphabet, days of the week and other primary skills in both English and Spanish simultaneously.
I launched the Bears online in June of 2019 and have had an amazing response! Soon I’ll be launching a new special needs bear to help children on the non-verbal autism spectrum and those with language barriers learn and communicate their needs and feelings to their families and caregivers through the bear’s voice-commands.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road and there were many obstacles along the way. It was very difficult switching gears from a clothing line I hadn’t gotten off the ground to an educational toy. I lost a lot of money, but I feel like the Bears are the product I was meant to create.
It was also tough to find resources and people to believe in the product. I invested pretty much all of my own savings and spent countless hours doing my own research to learn about safety for children’s toys, licensing, marketing, etc. Even finding a manufacturer was a challenge – it’s hard to send thousands of dollars to someone you’ve never met and trust them to deliver your vision.
Please tell us about Cubby Love Bears.
My business is called Cubby Love Bears. As a mom and a former elementary school teacher, I wanted to create an educational toy for kids that could not only help them learn but could be a lovable, huggable friend for life. I also wanted to develop a brand for kids to help them become impactful in world through communication. As a mom, I understand communication with your kids leads them to confidence, respect and helps them become resilient as they journey through the world.
I created a line of cuddly bilingual Teddy Bears that teach children colors, numbers, alphabet and other primary skills while simultaneously building their vocabulary in both English and Spanish. Cubby Love Bears allow children to vocally hear English and Spanish words with a simple click of the bear’s paws. The furry dual-language line includes bears like “Yancy the Time Bear”, who helps kids learn the days of the week and months of the year in both English and Spanish, “Ory the ABC and Number Bear” and a Cubby Love Bears Color Set, with four color block bears and accompanying bilingual books that teach kids their colors in both languages. To my knowledge, they are the only bilingual teaching bears on the market today!
I’m also introducing a new baby blue Cubby Love Bear, named “Auzy Bear”, to help children on the autism nonverbal spectrum and kids with language barriers verbally communicate better with their families and caregivers through pre-programmed voice commands in the bear’s paws and ears. Auzy Bear can help special needs kids tell others when they are hungry, feeling bad, need to use the restroom, and other things that can be difficult for non-verbal kids to communicate!
The collection also includes “Zoli”, a non-speaking bear that holds on tight to mobile devices in both portrait and landscape mode; keeping it steady for children to enjoy their apps, games and movies hands-free on phones and tablets.
My true desire is to create a brand that can benefit all kids and help them in some way reach their maximum potential with that brand. What I am most proud of with this venture is that I am helping children across the country learn from a product built with love. The love and feedback I’ve gotten from parents, and especially my own daughter, lets me know these Bears are something special and I’m on the right path!
Pricing:
- “Zoli” Cellphone and Tablet Holder Bear is $19.99
- Dual Language Bears and Special Needs Bear are $29.99
- Dual Language Color Bears Set (Includes 4 Bears & Bilingual Reading Books) is $64.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cubbylovebears.com/
- Email: info@cubbylovebears.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/cubbylovebears
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cubby-Love-Bears-101828227937416/
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