Just like mellimoomoo, the Hess-Spielzeug story started with a parent's search for safe, high-quality toys for their child.

After a successful career in business, as production manager of a company that manufactured nutcrackers and similar products, Guenter Hess made a radical change in 1991 when he travelled to the Leipzig Toy Fair in Germany with a suitcase full of toys that he had designed in his garage.

From this humble beginning, Guenter has built Hess-Spielzeug, based in Olbernhau in the famous Erzgebirge region  in former East Germany, into one of Germany's leading wooden baby toy manufacturers, now supplying 30 countries with safe, non-toxic baby toys.

"It's always been a hobby for me to make toys for my children," Guenter explained.

"Eventually this hobby turned into a profession. In the early stages of the company I had to design the toys myself as we could not afford other designers. Now one of my daughters is chief designer."

Guenter said the secret to his company's success lies in their philosophy that toys must be friendly and safe.

"Making toys and seeing that these toys are loved by children around the world is a beautiful thing," Guenter said.

"However, the toys have to be beautiful themselves. That means they should always be 'friendly' and safe. For example, I don't like toy weapons and the like or toys with distorted figures."

The European Safety Standard for Toys (EN71) forms the basis of all Hess-Speilzeug toys which all have non-toxic and saliva-resistant colours and finishes.

The inspiration behind Guenter's trip to the toy fair all of those years ago remains the same today.

"I think it's the most pleasant task to make something for children," he said.