Our Story

COI Play a été fondée aux États-Unis en 2023 par Bennie Mo, designer produit, amoureuse des animaux et défenseure de l’environnement.

La marque est née d’une histoire de sauvetage, d’une conviction en faveur de la créativité sans écran et d’un engagement pour des kits d’aquarelle réfléchis, avec moins de gaspillage, destinés aux enfants et aux familles.

Avant le lancement officiel de COI Play, le chemin n’a pas été simple. La pandémie, des épreuves personnelles et la pression d’entrer dans un secteur du jouet très concurrentiel ont ralenti le travail, mais nous ont aussi poussés à construire la marque avec plus de soin et d’intention.

Sandwich, our rescue calico cat, sitting against an orange wall in our home

Taking Design In-House

En manque d’options, Bennie a décidé de ramener la conception des produits en interne. Bennie dirige la vision créative avec l’équipe d’artistes COI Play afin de développer les personnages, les kits, les emballages et les illustrations prêtes pour l’impression de la marque. C’était la seule voie possible.

Meeting Sandwich

On a walk during one of those low points, Bennie spotted a small calico cat with an open wound on her neck. She called the animal rescue hotline and walked away, trusting it would be handled.

For the next year, life got busy — but the calico drifted through her thoughts every so often. Was she okay? Did someone take her in?

A year later, Bennie passed that same street again. The cat came running. Still there. Still alone. The wound on her neck was bleeding badly now. That was the day Bennie didn’t walk away. She named her Sandwich.

From Rescue to Bestseller

That cat became Sandwich, the inspiration behind our Meow & Bark watercolor art kit and Sandwich Bookmark Craft Kit. Today, Sandwich-themed products are COI Play’s best-selling line.

COI Play Meow and Bark watercolor art kit featuring Sandwich on the tin packaging

ASPCA Business Ambassador

Sandwich’s rescue inspired us to become an ASPCA Business Ambassador. Her story reminded us that a small act of care can turn into a whole world of color.

What Sandwich Taught Me

When Sandwich first came home, she weighed just four pounds. The wound on her neck was severe, and the vet detail was sobering: by every medical measure, she shouldn’t have made it — but she had.

After a year of daily wound care (and several dozen scratched-up shirts), Sandwich came back to nine pounds. Sandwich’s spirit — surviving the worst, refusing to give up, still soft to the world — is everything COI Play tries to be.

“Even when life hands you the worst, you can still face it head-on.” — Bennie

More Rescue Stories

Sandwich is not the only one. Meet the rest of the COI Play family: every one of them rescued, every one of them now home.

Taco

A tabby Bennie rescued by the taco truck outside her local park. Skin and bones, eating dirt — until she got her first taco lunch. The name stuck.

Pumpkin

Rescued at three months old, blind in one eye and battling skin disease. Bennie brought him with her when she immigrated to LA. Today he sleeps in the sun. Fat, happy, home.

Lucky

Found at just two weeks old after her mother left her in our garden. She grew up sensitive and solitary, the family’s quiet champion mouser. Sleeps on Bennie’s bed every night.

In Loving Memory

Milky & Mini — Mini ran outside and was killed by a wolf; Milky ran outside and never came home. We couldn’t keep you safe, but we never forgot you. Every kit we make is a little bit because of you.

A Few Friends

Not all family by birth, but family all the same — friends and neighbors whose cats live in our world too.

Mori

Not ours — a friend’s cat, but he stole our hearts. Plus tard, Mori a rejoint l’univers des personnages COI Play comme chat inspiré par des amis. Brand character, officially adopted.