MaineBusiness.com

AUGUSTA, Maine – Marshall Interactive, a new division of Nancy Marshall Communications specializing in strategic e-Commerce marketing, has hit the ground running with their first clients, Jeff and Pattie Parsons, founders of the Maine-made wooden-block tower game Ta-Ka-Radi.

From their Outdoor Adventure shop in Bethel, the Parsons created a wooden tower game in the late 1970s, which before long, “toppled” all expectations. Sold across the globe and by popular retailers like L.L. Bean and Lands End, the young family was able to share with the world the fun, excitement and cultural heritage of Ta-Ka-Radi.

As Jeff eloquently describes “it is a game that is so simple in concept, so sophisticated in practice.”

Needless to say, this is no ordinary game. While manufactured in Maine, the game’s origins are rooted in the West African village of Takoradi Secondi in Ghana, where it has been played for generations. While traveling, Jeff and Pattie were introduced to Ta-Ka-Radi through close friends who had visited the village while they were in the Peace Corps, and were instantly hooked on the game.

Quite confident that others would share their enjoyment and due to their tight budgets during the holidays, in 1978 the Parsons decided to reproduce the game themselves and present it to friends and relatives at Christmas. They came up with a few rules, fashioned tiles out of native Maine hardwoods, sewed up personalized tote bags and off they went. What happened next was somewhat unexpected. Their family loved it, their friends loved it, and soon its popularity started to spread from that little town in Maine beyond our national borders.

Following the success of the Parsons’ game, Milton Bradley introduced a similar game in 1986, Jenga. Although similar, Ta-Ka-Radi provides a wider extent of creativity and unlimited building styles, differing from Jenga’s singular tower design. Ta-Ka-Radi is also proudly made in Maine, sustainably produced exclusively from native hardwoods.

Marshall Interactive is working ardently with the Parsons to bring this wonderful game into the limelight for good reason: educational and artistic in nature, it symbolizes unity, faith and creativity. It fosters community by bringing together players of all ages, perfect for the young and the young at heart. To put it simply, it is good, wholesome Maine-made fun.

As a full service strategic marketing organization specializing in the development and optimization of e-Commerce businesses in Maine, Nancy Marshall’s team is devoted to the success of Ta-Ka-Radi and all Maine-based businesses.
To learn more about Marshall Interactive, please visit www.marshallinteractive.com or contact amy@marshallinteractive.com. To check out Ta-Ka-Radi for yourself, please visit www.takaradi.com where you can purchase the game online. Or you can contact the Parsons toll-free at 1-800-533-3607, or email them at info@takaradi.com.