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Q&A With Will Haughey, Co-Founder of Tegu Will Haughey and his brother grew up volunteering for several international charities, so when they decided to go into business together in Honduras, they knew that they wanted their company to help drive the local economy and make life better for the people living in the community. Below, Will tells TDmonthly how they started the company, how they are trying to make a positive impact in Honduras, and why toys are such a vital part of children's lives.  A. As a kid, it would have been my dream to get to play with toys all day. Of course, after college working in investment banking that dream seemed far from reality until my brother Chris approached me with the idea of starting a company based in Honduras. At first we thought we’d make sustainable wood furniture, but after seeing some of the classic wooden toys in Germany we thought it would be cooler to make wooden toys. Q. How did you come up with the idea for your first product? A. We put ourselves in kindergarten classrooms and just observed how kids played for a while. We noticed kids often used construction toys as a means to tell stories, both real life and fantasies. The classic wooden block is still a favorite, but we wanted to bring it into the 21st century with the addition of magnets. Q. What steps did you need to take to go from the original spark of an idea to actual production? How long did it take? A. It took several years. Good design and the engineering behind the blocks are vastly more complicated than they look. Q. What charitable organizations has your company worked with in the past? A. For each block set purchased, we donate at least one tree to Trees for Life. We also help support a local elementary school in Tegucigalpa whose pupils all formerly worked full time on the city trash dump. The scholarship fund pays for their tuition, books and other materials so that it is not a burden for the family while the child attends school instead of collecting recyclables for money.  A. In Honduras, two thirds of the population lives below poverty. Our business is helping drive economic growth there, but we also want to be good environmental stewards. We actually plant 100 trees for each one that we use. We also know how important it is to equip the youngest generations with education, which is why we support this school. Q. What experience do you have working with charities on a personal level? A. My brother and I grew up volunteering in overseas charitable work with our families, so it’s something that’s always been important to us. Q. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment in the toy industry? Why? A. Convincing parents that play equals work for children. Play isn’t just a diversion, it’s the way children learn about themselves, test theories and learn about our world. Q. How do you hope your products affect children’s lives? A. One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s first toys as a little boy was a set of wooden blocks his mom bought for him in 1876. Though he never finished high school, he’s one of the most well respected architects of all time and is known for the geometric clarity of his designs. I’d love for all kids to be inspired through this kind of organic, free-range play with Tegu blocks.
 Writer's Bio: Justina Huddleston graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing in 2009. After graduating she was the on-site director of the Boston Children's Museum gift store for a year, selling educational, developmental, and creative activity toys that tied in with the museum's exhibits. Justina also interned at children's book publisher Candlewick Press before moving from Boston to Los Angeles, where she is now Editorial Director of TDmonthly Magazine. Read more articles by this author |
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