Question: What do the following characters – Cabbage Patch, Barney-The Purple Dinosaur, and Pokemon have in common? Answer: They are whimsical ideas that were developed into hot market phenomenons! Now there is The Official Baby Watcher (The OBW).

Artist believes artists and creative people may offer unique investment opportunities, which fly under the usual investments radar screens. The endeavors are varied in scope and potential but are opportunities that can definitely payoff for potential investors.

Most likely, we have all heard the term “entrepreneur”. Now, from Humble, Texas comes “artrepreneur”. “An artrepreneur”, according to artist Ray Gatica – “is an artist with creative and artistic skills coupled with the business sense and drive of an entrepreneur”. Gatica created the term to best suit what he does. He developed The Official Baby Watcher (The OBW; a.k.a. The Lil Baby Watcher), intellectual property after a few years of researching the toy and licensing industries. Gatica says the property is a fully developed, multifaceted, and lends it self to a variety of marketing, promotional tie-in and licensing possibilities. The company’s business will be marketing its products (storybooks, plush dolls and T-shirts based on the character) and license the company’s intellectual properties (copyrights and Trademarks) based on the concept.

For those not familiar with the character marketing and licensing business, two good examples are the Walt Disney and Warner Brothers companies. They market Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Taz via dolls and plush characters. There are other similar companies behind The Teen Age Mutant Turtles, Barney the Purple Dinosaur. These companies market their cache of characters, and license the trademarks (intellectual properties), character designs to clothing manufacturers, silkscreen companies etc. These companies have a stable of artist designing for them as they market their characters (intellectual properties).

Not flukes: The above properties were not flukes, they were whimsical ideas that were developed into Succe$$ful multimillion dollar intellectual properties – through the creator’s vision and strategy. The OBW will grow similarly.

Who is the Official Baby Watcher? You ask. The Official Baby Watcher (OBW) is conceptual children’s character, created and designed by the artist. The character is a special “Fanciful” Li’l Baby Watchman, (a little Silent Sentinel ” that watches over babies and small children lovingly and dutifully. The character is an extension to The Official Baby Watcher storybook, where the character comes to life, written and illustrated by the artist. The OBW character presents itself to the market via the primary item – a cleverly designed, child-safe, playable, plush doll that doubles as a decorative, stimulating wallhanging – for the baby’s room. The idea is that when the baby is not playing with the doll – it is designed to hang on the wall where it performs its fanciful duty – to watch over the baby – hence the name – “The Li’l Baby Watcher”. The character’s name comes from the parents in the storybook after he saves the baby from harm. Furthermore – The OBW is a “Fanciful” character with a “Real” Purpose and Mission – “to rally and unite families/children for the purpose of watching over babies’ and small children’s well being.”

Gatica, created the character, a few years ago because, as he was shopping for a baby gift for a friends newborn baby and could not find anything suitable. So instead of settling on anything, just cute and simple, he went back to his studio to create his gift.

He had an idea in mind of what he wanted. He was looking for something new and fresh and unique, something with a purpose, something that meant something. He wanted a ‘gift from the heart’. I wanted to give the new baby a significant gift with a purpose. I thought: “If I could give any one thing to any child it would be their very own guardian that would watch over them forever.” From this thought the Li’l Baby Watcher ™ character was born.

It Started With a Two-Dimensional Drawing: The original, whimsical design was a two-dimensional airbrush rendering of my idea of what a baby watchman would look like if he were real: a wholesome, physically fit and strong character. Overall he is a little peculiar, funny looking character with a large head with big eyes, big ears and short-short legs and he stands on two huge feet and clumsy looking boots.

The idea is that his big ears and eyes allow him to see and hear everything in the baby’s room tirelessly and dutifully while he perform his fanciful sentinel duties – as he watches over the baby’s room hence his name -The Li’l Baby Watcher. He is a misfit of sorts, a cross between a funny looking clown and a dashing, li’l soldier but is neither. However, these peculiarities are what make him special and allow him to be whom he is. Overall, he is a healthy, wholesome looking character by design.

From Drawing to Market: Using the two-dimensional drawing, as a model he sculpted a Styrofoam sculptor that was the model for the three dimensional soft plush dolls that double as decorative colorful wall hangings that are being marketed today.. The dolls are precious gifts that can be shared with small children of all nationalities. *These designs can be seen at the characters website.

This is history in the making! “Just as Walt Disney launched his unique company years ago with a couple of characters (intellectual properties) we are on our way to making history with The OBW,” says Gatica. It not only has a mass market in the U.S., but also worldwide market possibilities, through licensing. The character and concept have been developed over a few years and based on years of research and development and from researching the toy and licensing industries. The company will continue to develop supporting characters and product while pursing licensors for the properties and, maybe, even land a film deal.

SPECIAL FEATURES of the Character that assures its success: The dolls are available in assorted face and hair color combinations that reflect our multicultural society – making them easily adaptable into any nationality – for universal family appeal and a worldwide market. Also, the Trade Name(TM), along with the Concept, easily translates into any language – allowing it to cross borders and cultures without losing the original idea and having to rework the concept. – for worldwide adaptation and marketing possibilities. Also, consider that unlike other doll and toys that sell during the holiday season, The Li’l Baby Watcher character is designed to be a perennial seller – as it coincides with the perpetual newborn market. The plush doll/character are not gender specific – there fore are equally suitable for both – small boys and girls of any nationality, for an extremely broad market. Imagine the possibilities!

The principle item is a baby gift item, a soft plush doll that doubles as a decorative wall hanging. The concept involves other gift items that revolve around the character and concept and are designed for the family and older siblings. These special, gift items are expected to pull on the families heartstrings and emotions – to evoke and strong buy-me response, perennially, from doting grandparents, parents and general family members and friends of babies and small children. Warm, thoughtful gift: When the OBW doll is shared with a small family member or friend – it is an extension of the givers “respect and love” for the child. They make wonderful, meaningful, loving, caring -“Gifts from the Heart” – that says one cares. They are destined to become wonderful keepsakes that can be passed-on through generations.

“In conclusion – I believe that as an artist, I have created my best, life’s work, my ultimate piece of art in ‘The Li’l Baby Watcher,’ concept/character, says the artist. I believe today’s discerning families, who expect more from children’s character – will be able to see the OBW’s true value, especially for children. The OBW is a positive, nonviolent, non-mushy character, and unlike many of the insignificant toys and characters currently on the market today – he is a special little character – with redeeming social-value.” Artist, Ray Gatica.

THE MARKET: The baby market – nearly 4 million newborns annually. However, our actual market is the 70 million proud doting parents, grandparents and other family members and friends of small children (preschoolers). Another important and noteworthy factor included in this market is the very influential “Women’s Market”! Women are responsible for nine-tenths of all consumer spending, and are 85% responsible for purchases of trendy and decorative items for babies and small children.

Gatica, models the businesses after the aforementioned companies and will operate similarly. Now with the character fully developed he intends to market and license the over all property. Even though, the company is an unorthodox start-up, it will operate in three established, proven industries: Toy/Plush, Novelty and Licensing.

As potential investors, imagine having been invested a small amount for a small share of the companies behind intellectual properties like Barney -The Purple Dinosaur, and Pokemon. And, remember the Cabbage Patch dolls? I am sure we can all agree there would have been a substantial return on your initial investment. These characters of the past continue to make millions yearly in licensing revenues. We expect the same for the O.B.W.

Gatica, believes that taking a property from zero to success is easier today than ever before because of today’s business culture, because of the Internet and other mass media and social network communication capabilities. It is conducive to rapidly carrying a character of this nature – from introduction to a multimillion-dollar valuation is possible in a matter within a span of 3 to 5 years.

On the COMPETITION: Even though there is tremendous competition from other insignificant, cute plush characters BUT, there is no other character like The Li’l Baby Watcher – he has a very specific Purpose and Mission that no other character can claim. This will allow it to stand out and ahead of its competition (generic and purposeless plush dolls, novelty items and toys).

Long term, classic potential: Conclusively, the character and concept contain long-term factors that will allow it to become a classic property like: Mickey Mouse, Strawberry Short Cake, Pinocchio, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Barbie. It will exist in perpetuity – because as long as there are babies being born – our li’l character will be there. It is expected to play a part of every newborn baby, and preschooler, and become highly collectible, artistic keepsake – serving to assure the character’s long-term success!

The character and whole concept along with the preceding original art and sculptor can be seen at the character’s website http://www.TheLilBabyWatcher.com.

Conclusively, as potential investors, imagine having been invited to invest a small amount for a small share of the aforementioned companies behind intellectual properties such as Barney -The Purple Dinosaur, Cabbage Patch Dolls, and Pokemon. I am sure we can all agree there would have been a substantial return on your initial investment. These characters of the past continue to make millions yearly in licensing revenues. We expect the same long-term success for the O.B.W.

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