Funormous inflates fun — literally — and the company’s licensed outdoor products aim to elevate the bounce house experience for kids by bringing fan-favorite characters and their worlds into the mix. The Toy Book spoke with Sam and Arthur Bagumyan, brothers and Co-Founders of Funormous, to discuss what differentiates their products from others in the outdoor toys space and future plans for the family-owned company.
The Toy Book: How does your previous experience in the commercial inflatables industry contribute to the consumer-facing Funormous business today?
Funormous: Our extensive experience in the commercial inflatables sector, particularly with Magic Jump, has been instrumental in shaping Funormous. From a young age, we’ve been involved in the manufacturing of commercial inflatable attractions and we’ve gained a deep understanding of the industry’s intricacies, quality standards, and safety requirements.
This background has allowed us to identify gaps in the consumer inflatables market, especially when it comes to residential bounce houses. We’ve observed several shortcomings in consumer inflatables made for private use. Leveraging our expertise, we set out to design inflatables for Funormous that are not only fun but also safe, durable, and of the highest quality. Our hands-on experience with Magic Jump has taught us the importance of customer satisfaction, innovation, and staying ahead of industry trends. We’ve brought these values to Funormous, ensuring that every product we offer meets the expectations of our customers and stands out in the market.
Source: Funormous
Source: Funormous
Source: Funormous
TB: How does being a family-owned business impact the company’s vision?
Funormous: Being a family-owned business has a profound impact on Funormous’ vision and values. Our close-knit family ties have instilled in us a deep sense of responsibility, commitment, and passion for what we do. We don’t just see our products as mere inflatables; we see them as tools for families to create lasting memories, much like our own family experiences.
Our family-centric approach means that we prioritize the safety, quality, and enjoyment of our products above all else. We understand the concerns parents have when purchasing products for their children, as one of us is a father and both of us are fun uncles. This personal connection drives us to ensure that every Funormous inflatable meets the highest safety standards and provides endless fun for kids.
Moreover, our family values extend to how we treat our customers and employees. We believe in building long-term relationships, offering exceptional customer service, and fostering a work environment that feels like a family.
In essence, being a family-owned business means that Funormous isn’t just about selling inflatables to turn a profit; it’s about promoting family fun, ensuring safety, and creating products that we’d be proud to have in our own backyards. Our vision is deeply rooted in the belief that play is essential for children, and we aim to provide the best play experiences for families everywhere.
We're not just about inflatables; we're about creating moments of joy, laughter, and togetherness."
TB: Tell us about the company’s different product offerings (i.e. bounce house, water slide, etc.) and how they stand apart from other products in the outdoor space.
Funormous: Our passion lies in crafting a varied selection of indoor and outdoor inflatables, meticulously designed to resonate with the distinct desires of families. Among our cherished offerings are our vibrant bounce houses, which stand as a testament to our commitment to fun. Adorned with themes of beloved children’s characters, these inflatables are not only compact and lightweight but also an ideal fit for any backyard escapade.
Taking the excitement up a notch, we’ve introduced the bounce and slide inflatables, a delightful fusion of bouncing exhilaration and sliding thrill, ensuring kids get a multifaceted play experience. And for those sun-drenched summer days, our water slides come into play, transforming ordinary backyards into exhilarating mini water parks.
Recognizing the importance of convenience, we’ve complemented our inflatables with top-tier air blowers and accessories, ensuring a hassle-free setup and maintenance experience for parents.
What truly distinguishes Funormous in the bustling outdoor arena is our unwavering commitment to excellence. Drawing from our rich family legacy in the commercial inflatable domain, we ensure every product is of the highest caliber, promising both durability and lasting joy. Our affiliation with Magic Jump has ingrained in us a profound respect for safety, making it a cornerstone of our design philosophy. This, coupled with our themed designs centered around popular children’s characters, ensures our inflatables are more than just play equipment; they are gateways to immersive adventures.
With the modern family in mind, we’ve emphasized ease of use, ensuring our inflatables are straightforward to set up, deflate, and store. And our confidence in our products is unwavering, as evidenced by our risk-free 100% guarantee.
In the vast landscape of outdoor offerings, Funormous emerges as a beacon of quality, safety, and unparalleled fun, highlighted by our profound understanding of family dynamics and needs. With us, it’s not merely about purchasing an inflatable; it’s about embracing a commitment to boundless joy and cherished memories.
TB: Funormous designs its inflatables with families in mind. What are some of the features that make these products appealing to parents and other caregivers?
Funormous: Designing inflatables with families at the forefront is central to our ethos. One of the most significant aspects that parents and caregivers appreciate about our products is the uncompromising emphasis on safety. Every inflatable we create is meticulously crafted with features like reinforced stitching, secure anchor points, and safety netting, ensuring adherence to the industry’s strictest safety standards.
Beyond safety, the quality of materials we use is paramount. By opting for premium-grade materials, we ensure our inflatables are not only durable but also resistant to the usual wear and tear, promising years of fun and offering families great value for their money. Recognizing the importance of convenience in today’s fast-paced world, we’ve designed our inflatables to be effortlessly set up and packed away. Each inflatable comes with a storage bag, simplifying the process even further.
For those families who might be space-conscious, we’ve taken special care to design our inflatables to be compact, ensuring they seamlessly fit into most backyards or indoor spaces without compromising on the play area. Adding to the allure, we’ve adorned our inflatables with themes of popular children’s characters, turning playtime into an immersive experience where kids can engage with their favorite characters.
We’re also acutely aware of the importance of cleanliness, especially when it comes to children’s play areas. That’s why our inflatables are crafted from materials that are a breeze to clean, ensuring kids always have a hygienic environment to play in. While our commitment to quality is unwavering, we also understand the importance of affordability. We’ve priced our products competitively, ensuring families receive outstanding value for their investment.
Funormous is more than just a brand; it’s a promise. A promise of fun, safety, and quality, all wrapped into thoughtfully designed inflatables that resonate with the needs and aspirations of modern families.
TB: The Funormous product assortment includes licensed residential inflatables. How do these licenses add to the fun and what does Funormous look for in a license?
Funormous: Licensed residential inflatables are a significant aspect of our Funormous product range. Kids naturally gravitate toward characters and themes they recognize from their favorite shows, movies, or books. And parents feel a sense of nostalgia too. By weaving these licensed characters into our inflatables, we not only enhance the physical play experience but also ignite their imaginations. It transforms the act of bouncing or sliding into an adventure with beloved characters. Moreover, these inflatables become the highlight of themed birthday parties or events, be it superhero, princess, or any other popular character celebration, making the occasion even more special for kids.
Beyond the fun, recognizable licenses come with an implicit seal of quality. Parents, upon seeing well-known characters like Mickey Mouse or Spider-Man on our inflatables, feel a heightened sense of trust in the product’s quality and safety. Additionally, by aligning with popular characters, we ensure our products remain relevant and resonate with current market trends.
When we consider incorporating a license into our Funormous products, several factors come into play. We seek characters or themes that are timeless and strike a chord with parents and their little ones, ensuring our offerings align with their current interests. It’s crucial that these licenses are age-appropriate, resonating with the target age group (3 to 8 years old), and ensuring the themes are both suitable and enjoyable. Partnering with reputable licensors like Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., and Paramount, is also vital, as it aligns with our commitment to quality and brand values. While staying current is essential, we also value licenses with timeless appeal, those characters or themes that have been or are likely to be beloved across generations.
TB: What can we expect to see from Funormous in 2024?
Funormous: In 2024, Funormous is set to make waves with our exciting lineup of products, and we’re thrilled to announce one of our most anticipated additions: The Baby Shark Inflatable Water Slide!
Understanding the immense popularity and love for Baby Shark among kids, we’ve designed this water slide to be a delightful blend of fun, safety, and vibrant aesthetics. The slide features colorful graphics of the beloved Baby Shark characters, ensuring that children not only have a thrilling sliding experience but also get to engage with their favorite underwater friends.
The Baby Shark Inflatable Water Slide is more than just a visual treat. We’ve incorporated advanced safety features, ensuring that kids can enjoy the slide safely. The slide’s base is designed to hold water, creating a fun splash zone for kids to cool off during those hot summer days. Additionally, the materials used are of the highest quality, ensuring durability and longevity.
This new product epitomizes our commitment to staying in tune with current trends while never compromising on the safety and quality that Funormous is known for. We believe the Baby Shark Inflatable Water Slide will be a hit among families, turning backyards into mini water parks and creating countless joyful memories.
So, as we venture into 2024, we invite families to dive into the fun with our new Baby Shark Inflatable Water Slide, along with many other innovative offerings we have in store. At Funormous, we’re not just about inflatables; we’re about creating moments of joy, laughter, and togetherness.
For more information, visit funormous.com or visit the team at Toy Fair, taking place Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2023 at the Javits Center in New York City. Funmormous can be found in the Launch Pad, booth No. 5103.
