The Spokane startup is capturing national attention with its eco-friendly gift bags with a digital twist.
Tokki has developed a reusable gift bag that comes with a QR greeting card. This allows recipients to scan a digital code to view a personalized video or photo message.
The company’s gift bags, which are made from materials made from recycled plastic bottled water, were mentioned in the shopping segment of the Today show that aired last month.
Tokki Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Taylor Hoit said: “There are also some really fun features, like a map where you can see where you’ve been. We call it the ‘sisterhood of travel gift wrapping. ”
Spokane native Hoit launched Tokki with veteran entrepreneur Jane Park, who previously co-founded Seattle-based beauty brand Julep. Hoit previously worked with Park as a software engineering team manager at Julep.
The idea for Tokki came in 2019 when Park was staring at the pile of gift wrap in his living room after the holiday season.
A Google search revealed that most gift wrap is not recyclable, and I remembered my grandmother in Korea wrapping gifts in reusable squares of silk. That’s when the idea for the company was born.
Tokki (pronounced tokki) is the Korean word for rabbit. The company wants the gift bags to “fly” around the world among friends and family.
Tokki launched its reusable gift bags in June, after three years and several product iterations. The company sold 25,000 of his bags in its first month and has wholesale accounts with over 280 retailers.
Sold in medium, large, and wine bottle sizes, the bags retail for between $12 and $16 each. Each bag has a snap-close top that eliminates the need for tissue paper, says Hoit. said.
The company has applied for 10 intellectual property patents on digital QR greeting cards in the United States, Europe, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
Hoit has started shipping bag orders from his home in South Hills. The company will open its headquarters and fulfillment center in the Riverwalk Building in the Spokane University District in June 2021.
Some of Tokki’s gift bags feature designs by Spokane artist Corinna Ren, who owns PNW Dream, a store that sells handcrafted, nature-inspired apparel, art prints, and stickers. According to Hoyt, PNW Dream sells some of her bags of Tokki gifts at her Park Square storefront on the river.
Based in Delaware, Tokki is entering the gift wrapping and greeting card industry, a $35 billion market, according to verified market research.
“This is an industry that has never changed,” says Hoit. “There is no innovation and people are excited to get something new in the category.”
The company has seen an increase in customer demand for its reusable bags as families seek sustainable options for exchanging holiday, graduation and birthday gifts, Hoit said.
“We are currently negotiating with a large retailer for an exclusive line next year,” Hoit said. “In general, more companies are looking to develop brands that are more sustainable and better for the planet.”
Tokki currently has eight employees and plans to hire more in the near future to meet expected growth, Hoit said.
Last month, the company launched a crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. This is an equity funding platform that allows you to invest in startups for as little as $100. To date, Tokki has raised his $100,000 from more than 100 investors with StartEngine, Hoit said.
Tokki has been largely self-funded, but may consider seeking other avenues of venture capital backing from investors who share the same goals and mission of the company, Hoit said. I’m here.
Hoit said Tokki is looking to expand its reach to more than 300 stores in the near future, in addition to potentially landing products in large retailers.
“We want to be the most valuable, memorable and sustainable product in the gift wrapping aisle,” said Hoit.
