How a loving dad, clever storytelling, and a powerful team brought a glowing skeleton to life.
When Marc Fetscherin set out to create Bones is Back, he didn’t just want to make a Halloween-themed toy—he wanted to create a joyful, inclusive, and safe tradition that could live on in families’ homes for years to come. What started as a family tradition with his two daughters, evolved into a mission: to create a high-quality product from scratch, one that blends playfulness, encourages positive behavior, and sparks a sense of wonder.
And he knew he couldn’t do it alone.
The Vision
Marc’s background in entrepreneurship and marketing allowed him to recognize a clear market opportunity: the absence of a Halloween-themed character that checked all the right boxes. He envisioned a product that was:
- A storybook and toy set not tied to any specific religion
- A first-of-its-kind: a cute, glow-in-the-dark skeleton toy
- Inclusive and child-friendly—kids can touch, play, and interact freely
- Stress-free for parents—no nightly repositioning like Elf on the Shelf
- And most importantly, designed with safety and quality at its core
He also wanted the story and character to reinforce positive values—not just for kids, but for their parents too.
“The product is part of me,” Marc told us. “It’s an extension of myself.”
An Exciting Start
After conducting four market research studies in the United States, the results were clear and consistent: people loved the concept of a book and toy set. They found Bones irresistibly cute, were highly engaged with the story, and expressed strong purchase interest. Sharing early images of the Book & Toy Set sparked rapid growth on Instagram—averaging over 100 new followers per day. As of now, the account has already surpassed 6,000 followers.
He had initial proof of demand. Now he needed to figure out how to make Bones real.
Finding a Partner
Marc partnered with Gembah to bring the character Bones to life. The team helped turn sketches and ideas into a tangible product by guiding the design, sourcing, compliance, sampling, and manufacturing.
“I couldn’t have done it without Gembah,” Marc said. “Bringing a product to life is a massive undertaking. Having experts like Lance for CAD design, David for packaging, Larry for compliance, and Will and Nick guiding the overall process—plus the support of the sourcing team consisting of Chris and Lennon—gave me the confidence I needed every step of the way.”
That confidence was critical—Marc had seen from other companies what can go wrong with a product launch. Safety, timing, and reliability are non-negotiable.
“They didn’t just deliver a product—they brought Bones to life in a way that exceeded my expectations,” Marc shared. The partnership gave him the confidence to navigate a complex supply chain and launch on a tight timeline, all while staying true to his mission.
What’s Next?
Marc recently launched on Kickstarter for pre-sales and quickly began building a community of early fans. With Halloween just around the corner, Marc is focused on ramping up production and preparing for a delivery date in the Halloween season.
Marc launched Bones is Back on Kickstarter for four reasons:
- Market validation – to test if people actually wanted it.
- Social proof – being funded builds credibility.
- Momentum & visibility – a successful campaign can create buzz and PR.
- Early sales – directly supporting the first production run.
He’s quick to add, though, that running a Kickstarter campaign is a lot of work. Also there, you need professional help, smart strategy, and to watch out for scammers.
“Everybody promises you a lot on Fiverr—be careful who you trust.”
Advice for Entrepreneurs
Marc’s guidance for fellow founders is clear:
Prepare financially. Product development is expensive, and always costs more than you expect..
Be a generalist and a specialist at the same time. Understand the full stack—from accounting and legal to logistics and product development.
Partner with experts. “You need a team. You can’t do this alone.”
The Product: A Skeleton with Soul
Bones isn’t just a toy—he’s a fully developed character with a rich backstory (he used to be an elf!), a glow-in-the-dark body, and heartfelt details inspired by Marc’s daughters, like the two hidden hearts—one in his chest and one in his nose.
The accompanying storybook, already the winner of five book awards, encourages kids and parents alike to engage in positive behavior. Unlike other holiday characters meant to be watched from a distance, Bones is designed to be played with, hugged, and brought into everyday fun.
Thoughtfully crafted to fit most Elf on the Shelf costumes, Bones stands exactly 10.31 inches tall—a playful nod to Halloween’s date, October 31st. It’s just one of many small touches that make Bones more than a toy—he’s a tradition in the making.
The Final Word
Marc poured his heart into every inch of this product. And while the road from concept to launch was anything but easy, it was worth it, and we can’t wait his vision to become reality, that Bones is part of every family’s Halloween.
“I wanted to create something joyful, inclusive, and meaningful—a tradition families could truly connect with. And now, this has become reality.”.
Want to learn more about Bones is Back or see the Kickstarter campaign? Visit bonesisback.com or check out the kickstarter campaign here.
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