Rainbow Play Systems

History

Founded by Greg Foster in 1985 as a small custom job shop in Minnesota, the company has expanded. Foster founded the company when he was 18 years old.

Due to its network of independent distributors, the company expanded across the United States throughout the 1990s. It currently operates out of a 1300000 sqft manufacturing facility on 130 acre in Brookings, South Dakota. According to the company, it has 150 employees, plus over 200 dealerships across the world.

White House Swing Set

One prominent customer of Rainbow Play Systems was the Obama family. On March 4, 2009, a swing set manufactured by the company was placed on the south lawn just outside the Oval Office of the White House, as a surprise for Malia and Sasha, the Obama daughters. This was the first playset on the White House lawn since the 1960s, during John F. Kennedy's presidency. According to Rainbow Play CEO Greg Foster, the White House's chief usher "did his research first on the Internet and narrowed it down to three or four companies", before choosing Rainbow Play.

Before leaving the White House, the Obama family offered the swing set to the Trump family, who refused it, as the only Trump child who would use it would not be moving into the White House. The swing set was then donated to a local D.C. charity.

United Kingdom

Rainbow Play Systems in the United Kingdom operates from the main headquarters in Bagshot, Surrey and from 1 other Sales Office in Wilmslow.

Pandemic Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic reportedly resulted in higher sales of swing sets, including Rainbow Play play sets, due to more time being spent at home by families and children. According to the Chicago Tribune, Rainbow Play play sets had a four-week wait for most orders at the height of the pandemic.

References

References

1. "The History of Rainbow Play Systems".
2. "Play equipment brings the park to the back yard".
3. "Room To Grow: Take It Outside".
4. "Why Rainbow Play".
5. "Obama surprises daughters with new swing set".
6. Fier, Jill. (March 5, 2009). "Rainbow Plays at White House". The Brookings Register.
7. "White House Swing Set Draws Attention to Child Safety".
8. "White House donates Obama daughters' swing set".
9. "Malia and Sasha Obama's White House Swing Set Has Been Donated to Charity".
10. "Looking for a swing set to occupy the kids during the pandemic? You might be out of luck.".