Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandre and Christina Pariente of Safari Ltd.
Safari Ltd is an American, family-owned manufacturer and global distributor of hand-painted and scientifically accurate educational figurines that span from the natural world to the imaginative realms of myths and fantasy. The company dates back to 1982, founded by Bernard and Rosemarie Rubel after being inspired by an endangered species card game. Our museum quality figurines now include over 1000 Toys That Teach, speaking to the innate curiosity in all of us. The company is currently led by Bernard and Rosemarie’s grandson Alexandre Pariente and his wife Christina Pariente, who serve as CEO and President, respectively. Alexandre began his career with the company in the warehouse at an early age.
Alexandre and Christina, please share your story with us.
My grandfather was old school and believed I needed to work my way up. After proving myself, he one day invited me inside – and I never left.
Our figures are sold in zoos, aquariums and museums around the world, and can also be found in specialty shops such as The Curious George Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Curious George Store has been one of our top partners since they opened their doors in 2012. Throughout the years the company has grown by forging strong, lasting relationships with its partners, tailoring offerings to meet each store’s individual needs and understanding what their customers want.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
At Safari Ltd, we strive to create the most detailed and accurate figurines possible, in order to give our SafariFans of all ages something they love to engage with. In a world full of digital distractions, it can be challenging to stand out with a physical product, but at Safari Ltd we believe that physical interaction and experiencing the joy of play are vital to our mission of teaching children the importance of nature and its conservation. Our toys provide more than just an object to fill a child’s hands, as each toy is thoroughly researched to provide as accurate and detailed a representation as possible.
When children play, they learn. They must have time for imaginative play to develop correctly. Imaginative play teaches children creativity, coping mechanisms, independence, problem solving skills and much more. We make sure our 1 year old has imaginative play time every day. It is that important and should start right away.
Please tell us about Curious George store and Safari Ltd.
Safari Ltd offers a broad range of toys, focusing on creating figures that are both enjoyable and educational. The Curious George Store features a diverse offering of Safari Ltd product, including Wild Safari Wildlife, Mythical Realms, Sea Life, Prehistoric World, and Good Luck Minis. The tiny, one-inch Minis in particular are “insanely popular” according to Jimmy Leandro of The Curious George Store, and customers can always be found perusing the spinning fixture at the front of the store. Our variety of products is designed to appeal to everyone from children who want to play to adults who want to collect and display, with toys that are crafted by experts to be rugged and durable, yet highly detailed and accurate.
Our devotion to nature and conservation goes beyond creating accurate and accredited figures. We provide additional educational resources on our website, including detailed information on every one of our products, as well as our “SafariPedia”. This teaching tool is a valuable educational resource that allows our fans to learn even more about the creatures our products are based upon. We also support a number of conservation initiatives locally and globally, including contributions to the MOTE Marine Laboratory, the Nature Conservancy, and the Sierra Club just to name a few. In addition to teaching the next generation of conservationists about the importance of preserving nature through our figures, we strive to make as much of a difference as we can in today’s world through our philanthropic efforts.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5960 Miami Lakes Drive
Miami Lakes, FL 33014 - Website: http://thecuriousgeorgestore.com/
- Phone: 18005545414
- Email: bernie@safariltd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safariltd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/safariltd
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SafariLtd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-curious-george-store-cambridge-2
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/safariltd
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