HAMA Press Release-50th Anniversary
50 years of beads celebrated with unique Hama anniversary packs
September marks the 50th anniversary of the first Hama beads. We're celebrating with special anniversary packs – a must for every fan of beading.
This year, Hama Beads is celebrating the anniversary of the first bead completed at the Nykøbing Mors factory 50 years ago.
Since that day, millions of children all over the world have let their creativity bloom, making beautiful patterns and motifs in every conceivable color with Hama beads. To celebrate the birthday, Hama is releasing four special anniversary packages for a limited time only.
"We are very proud that for 50 years we have been the world’s leading supplier of beads and have inspired millions of children to creative challenges and play. We want to mark the day with all our loyal bead users, which is why we're launching the four unique anniversary packages ‒ a must in the collection for any Hama fan!" said Lene Haaning, CEO of Malte Haaning Plastic A/S, the manufacturer of Hama Beads.
Four unique anniversary packs
The anniversary packs have a unique design, marking the 50 years since the first Hama pegboard was made. There are four different products in the Anniversary Series: a box of 4000 beads, a box of 2000 beads and two bags of 2000 beads. All beads are Midi size.
"The anniversary packs contain our most popular Midi beads in a variety of attractive colors, which can be used for different motifs. We're selling them at a very competitive price, so many bead users can celebrate the anniversary with us," said Haaning.
Kids don't realize they are learning
Hama gives children from the age of three a creative challenge. It's precisely during these early years that children develop their most basic skills. With Hama beads, children learn to recognize colors, handle small objects, distinguish shapes and get a sense of quantities.
Hama beads are adapted to follow children’s development. As they get older, Hama beads evolve from being an educational toy to a creative hobby that will also prepare them for the next stage in school.
"Hama increases the children’s physical and mental skills in a way that does not make them aware of learning. They just think they’re playing," said Haaning.
Facts
The first Hama bead was produced in 1971 by Malte Haaning Plastic A/S, in Nykøbing Mors. The beads are still developed, manufactured, packed and shipped from Denmark. Today, Hama beads are sold to more than 40 countries around the world.
The Midi beads are the original size, and still account for the vast majority of sales today. Later, the Mini and Maxi beads were added. The name Hama comes from the name of the company founder, Malte Haaning, who combined the first two letters of his surname with the first two letters of his first name.
You can now take your beads with you on-the-go. In 2015, Hama launched the Hama Universe app, a digital universe for classic play with beads and pegboards, but where the pegboards are ironed and saved digitally.
Malte Haaning Plastic A/S was founded in 1961 and initially produced drinking straws. It evolved into other plastic items, such as chopsticks and fly swatters, before the beads were introduced.