The three co-founders of Wow! Stuff, a toy innovation company based in Wolverhampton, are set to become multimillionaires after selling the business to Troy Companies, a Dutch conglomerate which sells arts and crafts and other consumer products.
Richard North, a serial entrepreneur, launched Wow! Stuff in 2006 with two former scientists, Kenny McAndrew and Graeme Taylor. It is best known for its “puppetronics”, which are a cross between a plush toy and a puppet, with hand-controlled actions and sounds that capture the character’s personality traits.
Its Stitch toy, based on the character from the Disney film franchise Lilo & Stitch, has sold “hundreds of thousands of units,” according to North.
• I built a toy maker – and it’s all thanks to a lift from my boss
The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but Wow! Stuff, which is majority owned by North and his wife, Karen, had sales of £22.4 million in the year to January this year, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £3.1 million. North said it is targeting sales of more than £75 million for 2026.
