The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Founder of Crazy Aaron’s named executive chairman of Toy Association
Aaron Muderick, the founder of Norristown-based toy manufacturer Crazy Aaron’s, has been elected executive chairman of the board for The Toy Association.
The nonprofit trade association represents all businesses that design, produce, license, and deliver toys and youth entertainment products. Since 2021, Muderick served as vice chairman of the association.
He is the founder of Crazy Aaron’s and the inventor of Thinking Putty — a toy and stress reliever that is sold in more than 50 countries around the world.
“My story is a journey from the ground up. I started as a software engineer with an idea of how the putty we all played with as kids could be better. Crazy Aaron’s has grown since 1998 to be a mid-size company with over 100 employees,” he said in an emailed response to questions.
Before he could develop the final product, Muderick said he needed to teach himself chemistry — borrowing textbooks from friends. Within a month of coming up with the idea, he was making thinking putty, and about three months later he was pitching it to coworkers and “selling it in bags under my desk,” he told MediaNews Group in October 2021.
He said he’s excited to use his experience in the industry in his new role.
“The toy industry is fast-moving and innovative. Any wacky idea can become the next hot toy,” he said. “I hope to continue the positive culture that nurtures inventors and works to create a marketplace where those great ideas can be shown and sold to smiling children worldwide.”
In his role as executive chairman of The Toy Association, Muderick will lead the association’s executive committee and board of directors to determine the priorities for the Toy Association in several areas.
“We host Toy Fair, which brings toy manufacturers together with toy buyers. We also work to promote safe toys and safe, healthy play,” he said in the response. “We do this through consumer education as well as coordinating with federal and state governments to ensure that toys available for sale meet strict safety standards.”
Muderick said he is interested in the “voices and opinions” of all the association’s member companies — “whether it is a giant like LEGO, or a lone inventor with an idea.”
As he starts his new role, Muderick said there are some issues facing member companies.
“The pandemic has created a great demand for toys and healthy play these past few years,” he said in the response. “At the same time, the toy industry has not been able to meet face-to-face. We have hands-on products which are hard to demonstrate via Zoom.”
The Toy Association’s annual event, Toy Fair, was canceled due to the omicron wave. As a result, Muderick said the association will be working to reconnect the toy industry.
Muderick said immediately following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was what he called a “tremendous groundswell of support for the children of Ukraine who are experiencing untold trauma and suffering.” He said there have been immediate cash contributions to aid organizations totaling “tens of millions of dollars” from member companies through the association.
Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association said Muderick is an “inspired” choice to lead The Toy Association’s governance.
“Aaron has truly done it all, from advocating for the needs of the specialty toy retail sector to testifying before the U.S. Senate on the safety risks of illicit counterfeit toys being sold in online marketplaces,” Pasierb said in a statement. “In a time of unprecedented disruption in global supply chains and swiftly evolving consumer behavior, Aaron’s commitment to serving others and driving solutions is certain to be a great benefit.”
Muderick, a resident of Narberth, moved the production of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty to its location at 700 E. Main St. in Norristown in March 2018, after outgrowing its Phoenixville location. Muderick said he looked at several other areas, but ultimately chose to purchase the Norristown building, which dates back to 1898 when it was a knitting mill.
In addition to the production operation, the site also houses the company’s retail store, which also opened in 2018.
Muderick recently retired from Narberth Borough Council after serving for 12 years — spending six years as vice-president and the remaining six as council president. He has also been a volunteer firefighter with the Narberth Fire Co, for nearly 15 years.
“I love the hands-on work, the endless learning of new skills and the positive community impact the fire service offers,” he said.