Bobble
Heads !

Custom Bobbleheads - Now You Can Be a Nodder

DEER PARK - The Hollywood set leaves its mark in fresh concrete in front of Graumann's Chinese Theater. Tristate residents can be immortalized as bobblehead dolls or action figures. 

Now you don't even have to be a big shot to be a bobblehead, thanks to Scott Baker, a graphic artist from this northern suburb. About two years ago, Baker began making the dolls for friends and family. 

"It started as Christmas presents," he said. "Then I tried to figure out a way to sell the idea." 

A Star Wars and sports fan himself, Baker saw opportunities to customize figures for anyone whose fantasy could be depicted in an action figure uniform or whose likeness could be compressed. He founded Uratoy.com and launched a Web site to support his marketing efforts. 

"Everything we do is one-of-a-kind, original," he explained. "We customize your toys for you; we don't do production runs." 

While customized figures aren't cheap, Scott Baker tries to keep them under $100. A bobblehead alone is $35; with a custom package it runs $85. Action figures come with packaging and cost about $85. More elaborate orders can cost more. Normal turnaround time is one to two weeks. This year, Baker is imposing a deadline of three weeks before Christmas for orders; after that, it's a rush job. 

Uratoy.com is at 4298 E. Galbraith Road. Information: 891-9111 or Web site. 

Folks who want to order an action figure supply Baker with the figure to be customized, a photo of the subject and a two-paragraph bio. He replaces the head, hand-painted to match the photo, and creates a customized package that includes the bio. 

"We love them!" said local sports talk show host Lance McAllister. "He put me in a Bengals uniform and gave me stats for the season. He made 'Casey the Builder' for my son, a spin-off from the Bob the Builder character. I think he's on to something." 

Baker explained that because the items are keepsakes, they're geared toward adults. "When kids get the toys, they want to play with them," he said. 

Said McAllister: "It's the perfect 'What do you get the person who has everything?' gift." 

Baker runs Uratoy.com and its companion business, Baker Design Group, from a small office on Galbraith Road. So far, Christmas has been his busiest time. Last year he got orders for 85 bobbleheads two weeks before the holiday and managed to get them finished and delivered on time. 

"I have a friend who helps with design," he said. 

Even though each item is different, Baker has streamlined the process so that on a good day he can complete four figures. And he charges as he would for any graphic design job, so that the business remains viable. 

"It will never be highly profitable, but it's fun for me," he said. 

Uratoy.com is expanding into the area of personalized trading cards, which Baker will sell in sets of 12. Buyers can be their favorite sports or action hero, or can be depicted in their own activity. 

From Enquirer.com

September 3, 2003