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Dragons' Den star Imran launches winning Teddy

1:13am Thursday 21st June 2007

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A Bolton entrepeneur's children's toy which won a cash grant from TV's Dragons' Den will be officially launched today.

Imran Hakim, from Astley Bridge, won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year title at last year's Bolton and Bury Business Awards.

He also succeeded in winning over the judges of TV's Dragons' Den in February, when they agreed to give him £140,000 to develop an innovative new toy - the iTeddy.

Now the interactive teddy bear, which incorporates a personal media player - a mini computer screen - on its tummy, will be unveiled in a high-profile launch at London Zoo.

The iteddy, which has a retail price of about £55, was the subject of fierce competition from major UK toy retailers to stock the first units, which have been manufactured in China with an initial production run of about 100,000.

Now the deal today will see it sold by high street retailer Argos.

Mr Hakim, aged 29, said: "We have got television crews turning up, and I am already scheduled to appear on GMTV.

"It will be fantastic to finally see my invention on the shelves. I think this could be a great retailing success story.

"iTeddy aims to develop a new brand that provides products and services designed to make a child's first steps in today's hi-tech world educational, less daunting and most importantly, fun.

"I knew that this was a great idea judging from all the market research and the overwhelming response from our trade launch at the Toy Fair 2007."

Mr Hakim also paid tribute to his partners from Dragons Den, who backed the venture.

"Working with Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones has helped catalyse the evolution of iTeddy. Through their backing and bank of contacts both in the UK and across the globe, we're looking forward to achieving major success with iTeddy.

Peter Jones said: "We were very impressed with Imran's pitch and excited by the whole concept of iTeddy. We see great potential for iTeddy and hope to have a long and prosperous working relationship."


Your Say YourThe Bolton News

Ian, Bolton says...
8:02am Thu 21 Jun 07

Great Idea

But make sure its meet UK flammability Standards before it goes to market.

Andrew, Bury says...
9:26am Thu 21 Jun 07

Argos would hardly stock it if it didn't would they.

Ian, Bolton says...
9:49am Thu 21 Jun 07

That is probably true but when something like this comes on the market it has to be thoroughly tested first.

It might be a consideration for the Business owner. That's all I'm saying.

Oh and you comment about ARgo isnt strictly true toys imported from the far east are required to met statutory regulations. Iive know certain items to slip through the net because they have been classified under different categories.

This toy if classed as an electronic device may be subject to very different testing.

For me they should be test to SI number 204

Which contains the following:-

2. Flammability

(a) Toys must not constitute a dangerous flammable element in the child's environment. They must therefore be composed of materials which—
(1) do not burn if directly exposed to a flame or spark or other potential seat of fire; or
(2) are not readily flammable (the flame goes out as soon as the fire cause disappears); or
(3) if they do ignite, burn slowly and present a low rate of spread of the flame; or
(4) irrespective of the toy's chemical composition, are treated so as to delay the combustion process.
Such combustible materials must not constitute a risk of ignition for other materials used in the toy.

(b) Toys which, for reasons essential to their functioning, contain dangerous substances or preparations as defined in Council Directive 67/548/EEC, in particular materials and equipment for chemistry experiments, model assembly, plastic or ceramic moulding, enamelling, photography or similar activities, must not contain, as such, substances or preparations which may become flammable due to the loss of non-flammable volatile components.

(c) Toys must not be explosive or contain elements or substances likely to explode when used as specified in Article 2(1) of the Toys Directive. This provision does not apply to toy percussion caps, for which reference should be made to point 10 of Annex 1 and the related footnote.

(d) Toys and, in particular, chemical games and toys, must not contain as such substances or preparations—

— which, when mixed, may explode:
— through chemical reaction, or through heating,
— when mixed with oxidising substances,

— which contain volatile components which are flammable in air and liable to form flammable or explosive vapour/air mixture.

RagReader, Horwich says...
10:38am Fri 22 Jun 07

Ian, it must take you a long time when you go shopping.

Tommy, says...
11:00am Fri 22 Jun 07

RagReader wrote:
Ian, it must take you a long time when you go shopping.
lol.

Ian, Bolton says...
4:09pm Fri 22 Jun 07

RagReader wrote:
Ian, it must take you a long time when you go shopping.
lol

That's why I let t'other half do it.

t'oherwise it's out wit mobile testing lab.

Comments are closed on this article.

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