I think it is important for children to have imaginative playtime because when a child’s imagination is sparked, they can create their own adventures, which is significant in our overstimulated world.

Dream Frenz began in the imagination of a young girl, the oldest of three sisters, she always drew characters with big round heads and tiny bodies. These drawings inspired Halie Fulton to produce a round decorative pillow which became the “head” with a small body that tucks inside which are now Dream Frenz. Dream Frenz are available on www.dreamfrenz.com and on Walmart.com

BusinessInterviews.com: What inspired you to launch your business?

Halie Fulton: My oldest daughter’s childhood artwork of characters with big round heads and tiny bodies, which I later learned are called tadpole drawings, inspired me to launch my business. One day we were at a restaurant, and she was drawing with crayons when I suddenly realized that the characters she was drawing could make the perfect toy. The big round heads would be the perfect round pillow and the bodies were so tiny that they could tuck inside the pillow. I thought this would make a perfect comforting companion for kids, and that’s how Dream Frenz® were born.

BusinessInterviews.com: Do you have any recent success stories that you’d like to share with our readers?

Halie Fulton: We are thrilled to announce that Dream Frenz are now available on Walmart.com. We are very excited to have an opportunity to reach out to Walmart’s large customer base, and I believe that Walmart’s customers will be drawn to our colorful, diverse designs for boys and girls.

BusinessInterviews.com: What issue does your core product help solve and how so?

Halie Fulton: Dream Frenz are a low-tech and comforting toy in today’s high tech world. I think it is important for children to have imaginative playtime because when a child’s imagination is sparked, they can create their own adventures, which is significant in our overstimulated world. Dream Frenz gives kids a toy to have this playtime with.

BusinessInterviews.com: What has been your biggest challenge as a business owner and how have you met that challenge?

Halie Fulton: My biggest challenge as a business owner has been two-fold. First, producing a unique product has been a huge challenge. Taking my idea and producing a design into a product to match my vision was a difficult journey with a manufacturer, however, that was also the most rewarding part of the journey. When the final product matched up with what was in my head, it made all the work worthwhile.

Second, learning about an industry from the ground up has also been a huge challenge. I have a background as a lawyer so the toy industry was a whole new arena for me. The toy industry can have a reputation of being super competitive but, I have been pleasantly surprised at what a great group of professionals work in this space. I am thankful for these great people and the time and advice that they have given me.

BusinessInterviews.com: Do you consider yourself successful and by what means do you measure success?

Halie Fulton: I consider myself successful because I have had this opportunity to be a positive role model for my three daughters. They have seen how to take a small spark of an idea and turn it into a business, and they have been involved in every aspect of the business with me. The creative power of the human mind has been what has developed our world so far and it is incredibly important to encourage every generation to use creativity to support positive development around the world. My personal success is really measured by inspiring my children to have the courage to follow their own dreams and aspirations.

BusinessInterviews.com: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs and business owners? What do you wish someone told you?

Halie Fulton: I would tell other entrepreneurs and business owners to persevere and follow their dreams. Without entrepreneurs and business owners, our future stalls. The future depends on people who are continually pushing and challenging themselves to come up with that next great idea.

I wish someone had told me that there is more than one way to measure success. I have thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of success from developing a simple toy idea. Dream Frenz is not a huge idea that will change the world, but if the Dream Frenz characters can comfort children or spark their imagination, then it makes a difference.