TDmonthly - Imaginatives’ Christopher Pop-In-Kins (2025)

“Finding the right people first is critical. Once you have that select team, the money will follow.” — Rick Johnson, CEO

A Mother’s Love

The poseable elf and accompanying beautifully illustrated storybook were born of author Flora Johnson’s love for her five children 23 years ago, TDmonthly Magazine learned. In the story, Santa grants an elf’s wish to visit real children, allowing him to arrive in a child’s home just after Thanksgiving and stay until just before Christmas Eve.

Creating a unique story featuring a special game of hide and seek, Flora sought to introduce a daily surprise, encouraging parents and children to build heart-warming holiday memories.

“A child’s love for reading grows when the words on the page come to life through experiences shared as a family,” wrote Brent Sitton, founder of DiscoveryJourney.com, in an article on Brainy-child.com.

“Christopher is a really big tradition,” specialty retailer Christine Lee of Treehouse Toys in North Canton, Ohio, shared with TDmonthly. “New customers just love the idea. I feel it’s because they really like the idea of having a new family tradition that brings fun and excitement to the holidays.”

A Son’s Love Overcomes Obstacles

CEO Rick Johnson grew up with his mother’s creation, becoming involved with Imaginatives in 2002. But managing a company was a challenge. “When I started working on this, the main obstacle I faced was lack of experience,” he told TDmonthly. “I had a ton of enthusiasm, and thankfully that kept me learning and moving forward.”

In 2003, Rick became his parents’ caretaker until their passing in 2005. “I felt an enormous sense of responsibility to work to achieve their dream for all children to know and love Christopher Pop-In-Kins.”

Early in 2006, Rick gathered a talented team that was just as determined to achieve the dream. Brian Bradway, VP of Creative Services, was tasked with illustrating the new storybook. Although thrilled, he admitted to being “pretty dang scared. Christopher Pop-In-Kins had become a holiday tradition for families across our country before I came on the scene, and it was very important that I didn’t mess this up.”

Given that today’s children are weaned on computer graphics, Brian created 3D illustrations to “make sure that the art the children would see in the book would look just like the Christopher doll they found hiding in their home during the holiday season.”

New Horizons to Explore

Rick shared some valuable lessons he’s learned. “Never give up because you never know when success will come. Build a team based not on money, but on talent and integrity. Looking for money first is dangerous because it tends to lead you to a false sense of security,” he said. “Finding the right people first is critical. Once you have that select team, the money will follow.”

Like its little elf, Imaginatives has new places to explore. That includes branching out to include educational toys and games, Rick said, adding that he wants Imaginatives known as a company that offers safe and wholesome products.

“We want everyone to feel confident that they will always get the best quality and integrity from our company,” Rick told TDmonthly.

See Imaginatives’ elf of a dream below: