It's Good to Know… Dan Garr

Dan Garr and Wallables

Dan Garr is the only Renaissance Man I know. He knows almost everything about many topics, has more interests than anyone I know, excels in artistry and business skills and uses his knowledge and abilities as a true artist and innovative craftsman in many different ways.

The Man Behind Wallables and Hot Buttered Elves

Dan Garr is president and founder of Wallables, a toy designer that produces fun wall décor for children. His Wallables collection includes “talking” glow-in-the-dark alphabets, suns, moon, flowers, planes and more, plus a newly introduced line of Disney classics, including Disney Princess Collection with Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Disney Fairies featuring Tinker Bell and her friends, and stars from “Toy Story “,”Cars,” and “Winnie the Pooh.” The Disney Wallables are so new that retailers should hurry and contact Wallables about exclusive deals.

New Disney Cars by Wallables

Wallables are now green too, made from an FDA-approved forumula ,that Dan developed with Dow Chemical, that is made out of soy beans farmed in the USA. With his enthusiasm and excitement over the latest green innovation and product expansion, Dan told me, “This product will eventually bring food to the tables of hungry people, because the by-product of our soy formula and process is actually food. Imagine!”

Since 1988 Dan has also been the owner of Hot Buttered Elves, a creative sculpting and molding operation that invents toys, makes sculptures of characters for licensors, and provides important steps in the creation of molded products from Mattel, Disney, Spinmaster and others. Dan told me, “With a shortage of workers in China, more molding is needed in the U.S. for manufacturers, and I can help fill that need stateside with my talented crew and knowledge of the toy business.”

New Disney Belle by Wallables

Dan’s artistry and leadership fuel all of his business ventures. There is no one better for retailers or other manufacturers to work with to inspire both increased sales and new product ideas. I think it was Richard Branson that said, ‘If you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life.” Dan is one of the lucky ones. He is a very hard worker, but he loves what he does. He has been sculpting since the age of 4 and his businesses are reflections of his talents. His energy is infectious, his optimism is encouraging and his mile-a-minute imagination as a creator and inventor never takes a rest.

Dan as Dad, Surfer, Inventor, Lobster Lover and Barbie’s Man

In addition to being a fan of Wallables and Hot Buttered Elves, I am a fan of Dan as a Renaissance Man. He is always interesting and never ceases to amaze me with his diversity, knowledge and “guess-what’s new” achievements. Here is just a bit of Dan trivia that makes him good to know:
Dan is a windsurfer, surfer, Dad to two young rough-and-tumble boys, nephew of Terri Garr, the comedic actress, (Dan’s granddad was in a movie with Marilyn Monroe too!); he is a movie special effects craftsman and worked on building the cruise ship for “Titanic,” can hold his own speaking Chinese when he travels to China for business, is an author of children’s stories, great storyteller, inventor of cooking appliances, and loves to eat lobster! He is a philanthropist too and has always supported children’s foundations and hospitals through his fundraising and art.

Last but never least, Dan is married to someone else that I am glad I know, Izzy Garr. She is an artist too that I first met when she worked at Crown Craft (Red Calliope). For years now she has been a designer at Mattel on the Barbie collections. Which is amazing to me because I have always thought that Dan was blessed to have such a nice and beautiful inside-and-out wife that looks like … Barbie!

I am fortunate to know a Renaissance Man. Dan’s that man.
For more information, go to www.wallables.com and www.hotbutteredelves.com.

David Gaunt
Editorial Director
The Giggle Guide

“It’s Good to Know” is a recurring feature on my blog. Come back next Thursday to meet the next person I’m glad to know in the children’s industry. Who do you think it’s good to know in the children’s business? Share your comments here.