Taking business to the next level, Brave Toys, owner of CONNETIX, invests in global expansion of much-loved brand My Creative Box.
Announcing for the first time an exciting business partnership, Leanne Papadopolous owner and founder of My Creative Box and Brea Brand, CEO and co-founder of CONNETIX, share how they seamlessly align from friendship, to motherhood, as educators, business owners and more! Bringing together their shared values and unique brand visions to create a world-wide profile for My Creative Box.
Brave Toys and My Creative Box are both incredible Australian businesses, what made you want to join forces?
Leanne — Joining forces with a company like Brave Toys with incredible business owners was an easy decision for us, so we jumped at this opportunity for our brand. As a family we love to play with CONNETIX together, which proved to be a game-changer during lockdown and is still a much-loved toy within our home today. The brand story and mission also resonates with me as it is driven by play and learning, something I am so passionate about.
Brea — We have always admired My Creative Box and the way they lead their business with integrity and strong values, not to mention they are lovely people. Coincidently, when My Creative Box were exploring opportunities to invest in their global expansion we saw so many synergies in our businesses and what we stand for, so it was an obvious choice to form a partnership together.
Leanne — What’s unique about our businesses is that we share a common vision: to inspire creativity, foster learning and promote a playful childhood, so we are excited to see what the future holds together.
Already dubbed as a dynamic duo, tell us about how you met and what sparked an instant friendship?
Leanne — Brea and I met back in 2021 when we were both nominated for the Australian Toy Association’s Rising Star Award. We immediately connected, both being mums with similar backgrounds in early childhood education, and having a shared passion for play and hands-on learning. Since then, our mutual interests have developed into a one-of-a-kind friendship and strong business alliance.
Brea — Over the years, it’s been incredibly rewarding to have a like-minded business friend to turn to for support and advice. We’ve shared insights, celebrated successes and navigated challenges together. I am so grateful to have found someone so ambitious and aligned with similar goals to mine. This friendship has not only strengthened our individual journeys but also laid a solid foundation for our collaboration, bringing our shared vision to life through this dynamic partnership.
You both have backgrounds in early childhood education, what’s it like to work creatively together within the toy industry?
Leanne — Brea and I share a profound passion for early childhood education, this fuels our creativity and dedication to developing innovative products for children and their families.
The toy industry is an exciting space for us to channel our passion, creating products that help families connect, play and learn together — it’s incredibly rewarding. Working with Brea is a joy! She is fun, down-to-earth and always positive. Her role as an exceptional business owner and leader in the field, having built a global brand with a substantial team in a short amount of time, is truly inspiring. Partnering with someone so like-minded and ambitious makes our journey in the toy industry not only productive but also so enjoyable. Together, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in children’s lives through our creative products and we’re very excited about the future prospects.
Brea — I have always been inspired by Leanne’s creativity and her dedication to the play and early learning space for so many years. Seeing My Creative Box evolve into a renowned brand has been truly amazing. Leanne is an incredible businesswoman. She effortlessly places everyone around her at ease and naturally empowers others with her personable approach. Our thoughts and ideas always align, both of us being huge advocates for children’s education with our respective backgrounds as teachers. This shared foundation allows us to bring a unique perspective to the everyday challenges of running a business and a global brand, we believe teaching is flexible and innovative – so too is our approach to business!
Brave Toys and My Creative Box undoubtedly have strong business visions, share what makes this alliance so fitting?
Leanne — Together, our businesses complement each other perfectly. We are wholeheartedly committed to nurturing creativity, learning and meaningful play in children, and this vision is at the heart of everything we do as business owners and parents. By joining forces, we can better support families in spending quality time together, fostering connections and encouraging children’s development through play.
Brea — With our collective passion for early childhood education, we have thoughtfully designed products that are high-quality, innovative and engaging to provide learning enrichment in a fun, hands-on way. Our brands align in valuing the important benefits of STEAM learning resources for children. As Australian owned and loved businesses, we are incredibly proud of the loyal and inspired communities that celebrate our products and bring our vision to life. We believe we’ve cultivated a unique community-feel within our companies by placing relationships with our networks and customers at the forefront, it’s this approach to our businesses that makes our alliance such a natural fit.
Leanne — Ultimately, this partnership between Brave Toys and My Creative Box allows us to leverage our strengths and create a powerful synergy that enhances the impact of our products.
“With our collective passion for early childhood education, we have thoughtfully designed products that are high-quality, innovative and engaging to provide learning enrichment in a fun, hands-on way.”
Brea Brand
We’re eager to hear, what’s in store for this exciting partnership?
Leanne — This strategic partnership marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for My Creative Box. We are thrilled about the possibilities it brings and look forward to creating even more meaningful, enriching products for children and their families. We’re excited to reach a broader audience, bringing all the benefits of My Creative Box to more families around the world.
Brea — My Creative Box is a successful, well-established Australian business with so much scope to grow. Understandably, the demand for the brand is rapidly increasing both nationally and across the globe. With the investment of Brave Toys, My Creative Box can further expand their reach and connect with customers on a global scale. Working with my business partner Dave Alexander and Leanne’s husband George Papadopoulos, we have a strong advisory board and diverse skill set to really take My Creative Box to the next level.
Leanne — Watch this space for more fun and unique product initiatives in the ever-evolving toy industry!
This article originally appeared in Edition 10 of The Toy Universe Magazine
