Hi I am Erik. My journey with POI Toys kicked off 25 years ago in 1999, which honestly surprises me after all this time. It all began when I had stalls at Camden Market, selling a single product. After attending a festival, I was mesmerized watching a girl skillfully play with poi, and it sparked my interest. I knew I had to learn how to master them myself, and I quickly recognized a gap in the market.
I launched my business, starting with those market stalls in Camden. I focused on selling just one product, taking it to various festivals where I could showcase my poi skills. My fascination grew, and I was eager to learn the art of poi spinning. I envisioned selling them at my stall, but I faced a hurdle: I could only source poi from a juggling shop in Camden, and they were not keen on me reselling their products.
That challenge led me to create my own poi, marking the beginning of this incredible journey. Fast forward to today, and I’m selling my creations worldwide. Over the years, I've developed new products and styles, and I've had the privilege of meeting countless people from diverse backgrounds, all while doing something I love.
The business has flourished, evolving from a passion project into a full-fledged enterprise. A pivotal point in my business occurred when my products gained acceptance in New Zealand, the very country of their origin. Today, I proudly sell my products across the globe.
However, monetizing that passion brings its own set of challenges and stresses, I have managed to maintain a healthy work-life balance. I still enjoy spending time with my customers at festivals and have even conducted workshops for kids in the past, which allowed me to witness first-hand the joy my creations bring. It has been a beautiful experience, truly.
The products are kid friendly, retailing at £9 onwards and can be purchased from www.erikspoitoys.com
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