Contents Born into the Business A Curious Child Growing Pains 4 6 8 Life Goes On 10 A Family Legend A Big Idea Bright Name Bright Future 12 14 16 Product Placement 18 The Play-Doh Recipe 20 Parenting and Patents The Shape of Success Life After Play-Doh 22 24 26 Timeline 28 Glossary 30 Websites 31 Index 32
Chapter 1 Born into the Born into the Business Business Business Business Business Joseph McVicker was born on September 9 1930 in Cincinnati Ohio His father Cleophus Cleo McVicker came from a family of Scottish immigrants Irma Joseph’s mother was an immigrant too She left Austria for the United States when she was six years old Cleo McVicker and his brother Noah McVicker ran a company called Kutol Products The company made soaps and other cleaning supplies Noah was the plant manager and product developer Cleo focused on sales In 1928 Cleo and Irma had a daughter Ruth The family business was doing well at the time However when Joseph was born two years later many companies were entering the soap-making business Competition was fierce fun fact National Play-Doh Day is September 16 a week after Joseph’s birthday 4
Irma McVicker poses with her children Joseph left and Ruth right As a young man Joseph joined the family business A changing economy had caused the company’s sales to decrease But Joseph had an idea for a new product that would make the business more successful than ever That product was Play-Doh the world-famous toy 5
