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  1. Home
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  4. Hape Toys: The Global Wooden Toy Brand Founded by a Former Blacksmith—An Interview with Founder and CEO Peter Handstein
  • Developmental Toys

Hape Toys: The Global Wooden Toy Brand Founded by a Former Blacksmith—An Interview with Founder and CEO Peter Handstein

6 Mar 2023Updated 18 Oct 20265 min read
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  1. Quick summary
  2. Hape offers high-quality children's toys made from sustainable materials and is a brand known for quality. As a leader in design and manufacturing with a long and respected history, Hape is a standout in the toy industry. The brand and its founder have attracted the attention of prominent figures and influential associations around the world.
  3. Frequently asked questions
  4. References

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Hape was founded in 1986 by Peter Handstein, who, as this article recounts, began as an ordinary blacksmith before becoming an international CEO. Guided from day one by the principle that good design puts children first, he has pledged to work toward carbon neutrality and research sustainable materials such as cork and natural rubber for toy production.

Contents (4 sections)
  1. Quick summary
  2. Hape offers high-quality children's toys made from sustainable materials and is a brand known for quality. As a leader in design and manufacturing with a long and respected history, Hape is a standout in the toy industry. The brand and its founder have attracted the attention of prominent figures and influential associations around the world.
  3. Frequently asked questions
  4. References

Quick summary

  1. 01

    Peter Handstein is the founder and CEO of Hape Group, which was established in 1986.

  2. 02

    His guiding principle is that good design must put children first from day one.

  3. 03

    Hape has pledged to work toward carbon neutrality and research materials such as cork and natural rubber.

  4. 04

    Peter sees sustainable development and environmentally friendly toys as trends of our time.

  5. 05

    Hape toys use non-toxic paints and wood subject to FSC quality standards.

Hape offers high-quality children's toys made from sustainable materials and is a brand known for quality. As a leader in design and manufacturing with a long and respected history, Hape is a standout in the toy industry. The brand and its founder have attracted the attention of prominent figures and influential associations around the world.

Previously, Peter Handstein, founder and CEO of Hape Group, was invited to take part in four interviews, sharing his unique experiences and offering everyone deeper insights into Hape and the toy industry.

Beyond Peter's remarkable entrepreneurial journey and distinctive vision, the CEO's forward-looking approach to sustainable development has also caught many people's attention. As Peter said, \"Hape has made a commitment to the environment and is working toward carbon neutrality, while also spending time researching the feasibility of introducing a wider range of sustainable materials, such as cork and natural rubber, into toy production to reduce the industry's environmental impact.\"

Woodworker sanding a wooden toy in a toy factory

Peter also believes that, following the pandemic, more people will pay attention to the environment and may be more willing to help protect nature. “Sustainable development and environmentally friendly toys are trends of our time,” Peter said, adding that Hape will always prioritize the safety and sustainability of its toy materials.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the world-renowned Children-Baby-Maternity Expo (CBME), a professional international trade platform for maternity, baby and children's products, the organizers arranged an in-depth interview with Peter, focusing on his ideas and perspectives on the changing industry and society.

When CBME was first established around 20 years earlier, the maternity and children's products industry was growing rapidly, partly thanks to CBME's steady support. Peter sincerely appreciated those efforts and felt fortunate to have made the right choices during the '90s, riding a wave of strong economic and social development in China. Peter also follows the industry closely and has noticed rapid changes in consumers' habits and purchasing behavior in recent years. Consumer feedback and preferences are also having a growing impact on toy manufacturers. He concluded by observing that social media KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) have a considerable influence on both the industry and consumers.

As a prominent leader and entrepreneur, Peter was also invited to speak at the “2020 Women Leadership Forum: Leading with Purpose,” an online speaking event organized by the CEIBS MBA Women’s Leadership Network and Global Women Connect. Peter inspired the audience with a Jewish parable: “You can find out how many seeds an apple contains by cutting it open, but you cannot know how many apples will grow from those seeds. Not a single one in barren land, but many in land blessed with sunshine and plentiful rain…”. He then shared a true story about Hape. Around 15 years before that talk in 2020, Peter offered an ambitious 25-year-old woman the opportunity to run a new business in Canada. Unafraid of failure or hardship, she seized the opportunity, and after 7–8 years, the company had grown to 10 times its previous size. Through this story, Peter reinforced his philosophy of \"driving change through empowerment.\" Everyone has limitless possibilities and limitless potential. Nothing can stop women leaders from achieving such outstanding success.

Last but not least, The CEO Magazine, a world-renowned business publication focusing on the world's most successful leaders, executives, investors and entrepreneurs, featured Hape and Peter in an interview. It described how, ever since founding Hape in 1986, Peter has remained true to his guiding principle: \"From day one, good design means putting children first.\"

Peter admits that he has not held many jobs throughout his career, but maintains that he has come a very long way. The love that makes Hape toys stand out has earned growing recognition from experts and consumers worldwide. Peter loves making and inventing toys for children and has always stayed true to his commitment to children and the environment. His ingenuity, sincerity and concern for the common good keep him determined to make things better.

From a Supplier of Early Childhood Educational Products to the "Hape Toy Wonderland"

Hape is a remarkable story, transforming an ordinary blacksmith into an international CEO and building a lasting legacy. After years of hard work since 1986, Hape has become popular with families worldwide (Hape). Likewise, Peter's firm beliefs and high standards as a toy manufacturer have made him a successful leader.

Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold his commitment and bring love and happiness to children and families around the world through Hape toys.

If you are looking for an excellent developmental toy, toys from Hape are a great choice. We offer a wide range of wooden toys that support children's development at every age.

Thoughtfully designed with children's learning in mind, these toys help them practice important skills such as seeing, listening, observing, using fine motor skills, problem-solving, imagination and creativity. They also encourage integrated academic learning through STEAM.

With sturdy designs and durable materials, these toys focus on supporting children's development while making their safety a priority. They use non-toxic colors and FSC quality-controlled wood. Their strength and durability give them a long useful life and make them environmentally friendly.

These qualities have helped Hape become a global brand and meet ICTI, CCIB, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards.

Read more about the founder in Peter Handstein's Commitment to Learning Through Play and Hape: A Brand That Cares About the Environment.

It is easy to see how Hape can enrich these activities and help keep little ones away from screens.

What matters most is sharing happy moments as a family, because where there is love, there is a complete home! What activities do you and your little one enjoy together? 😁

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Frequently asked questions

Who founded Hape toys?

+

Peter Handstein is the founder and CEO of Hape Group, which was established in 1986. The article recounts that he began his career as a blacksmith.

Are Hape toys safe?

+

Hape uses non-toxic paints and wood subject to FSC quality standards, and cites standards such as ICTI, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.

How are Hape toys environmentally friendly?

+

Hape is working toward carbon neutrality and researching the use of sustainable materials such as cork and natural rubber in toy production.

References

  1. Hapehape.com

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