My name is Thierry Bourret, I am one of the directors and founder of Asobi. For the curious amongst you, Asobi means "play" in Japanese. Why would a French man, living and trading in Great Britain, name his company with a Japanese word? Well, Japan has played, and still is, a big part in my life. I worked for a very large Japanese company for a long period of my life. My travels took me to Japan on numerous occasions and I lived in Tokyo for two years. I even climbed Mount Fuji in July 2001. The Japanese say that you would be a fool not to do it once but equally you would be a fool to do it twice. I did it only once...

Asobi was born in January 2009 from my frustration at trying to find 'eco-friendly' or at least 'nature aware' toys for my son that did not cost the earth, in more ways than one! I wanted toys that looked good, felt good and had no batteries... but were still fun to play with. I am no eco-warrior but have strong feelings on protecting our environment for future generations. I also wanted to demystify the belief that 'green' means expensive.

The companies for whom we distribute are designer/owner managed which ensures quality. I believe that the growing selection, we have reflects the brief with which I set out. Most of the toys are made of recycled or recyclable materials, or are 'nature aware' and good value for money. The wood used is from a sustainable source. Where possible, our manufacturers are using eco friendly paint and colour. The factories making the toys are not all based in Europe but we minimise transport to the best of our ability. We have visited many factories to check that no child labour is used and ensure that the staff is treated fairly.

We do have a green policy and use suppliers with a similar ethos. We avoid printing catalogues and prefer to offer you the choice to view our catalogue online, or, if really necessary, print it. We communicate new products, promotions and news by email. Shortly, we will trial an online invoicing system to enable us to become a paperless office.

We do value feedback and suggestions so don't hesitate to contact us. If you come across a new eco-friendly toy or item you feel we should distribute, let me know. As a small company we react quickly to new products.

We are focused on delivering good customer service. Give us a try!

We look forward to working with you.

Amicalement

Thierry Bourret

Managing Director