Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Suquorey Clarke

Suquorey Clarke shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Suquorey, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I successfully launched the first Geeky Girl line plushie (Phaedra), overcoming the challenge of increased tariffs on imports from China. Through close collaboration with our Chinese manufacturing partners, we were able to produce a high-quality plushie and deliver it to the U.S. market before the new regulations went into effect. I am proud to have persevered and brought this project to fruition. I was able to laugh after the fact, it was an awesome experience.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Suquorey Clarke (Quorey). I’m a former USAF Vet and Media Arts & Animation graduate from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (Online Division). Currently I work as Disaster Recovery Technical Advisor. I’ve always had a passion for toys, not so much plush but toys none the less. Through an unique spiritual experience I was led to create my own toy company. Initially I tried Barbie type dolls, which did not work out very well but I learned a lot from the experience. While looking for less expensive and time consuming options, I decided on plush and I’ve been hooked ever since. Plush products allow for some much creativity and expression, I couldn’t imagine creating anything else.

Now that you know a little about me, welcome to Toyz N’Whatnot, a company dedicated to empowering children through play. We believe that toys can be a powerful tool for learning and self-discovery, which is why our focus is on creating plushies that inspire positive self-image and a passion for STEM.

We’re proud to feature two distinct brands:

Plush Like Me: Our mission is to promote positive self-image and self-love by creating plushies that reflect the diverse beauty of girls you see every day. With a wide range of looks, we hope to empower every young girl to embrace her unique beauty.

Geeky Girl: This line of plushies is designed to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. Each plushie comes with its own unique bio and background, celebrating different STEM fields and encouraging children to explore these exciting career paths.

At Toyz N’Whatnot, we’re not just creating toys—we’re building a world where every child feels seen, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential.

We were even able to launch a print-on-demand line of apparel to compliment our plush brands.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Like many, I once believed hard work was enough to achieve my goals. My journey has taught me a more nuanced truth: success requires a comprehensive approach. It means developing a clear plan, building a supportive network, and dedicating yourself to learning every detail of your chosen path. My drive is fueled by the understanding that you have to actively pursue your dreams, and I’m guided by the words of Dolly Parton, who said, ‘I never tried quitting, and I never quit trying.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Failure is not the end; it’s a new beginning. While it’s easy to get discouraged, the real test is how you respond. I believe in dusting yourself off, learning the lesson, and getting back to work. Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about the grit and determination to get back up every time you’re knocked down.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. While my professional persona is more polished, the core principles and values I stand on remain unchanged.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
The foundation of this company is a deep commitment to providing a solution, not contributing to the problem. My motives are, and will always be, genuine. I aim to make the world a better place in the most creative way I know how. I am driven by the belief that if my plushies can inspire just one young girl to embrace her potential, my journey will have been more than worthwhile

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.toyznwhatnot.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toyznwhatnot
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toyznwhatnot
• Other: We recently launched TNW Apparel, a STEM and inspiration inspired apparel line on.TeePublic:
  http://tee.pub/lic/OsOEoL7biMs