COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — For local toy inventor Tim Holmes, Christmas 2024 brought more than just holiday cheer, it delivered a whirlwind of unexpected success that transformed his small business, Kingdom Quest. Holmes, the creator of Nurkl, a craft stick connector set compatible with other building toys, revealed in an email to NBC4 that product orders began rolling into the company's inbox moments after a story about his journey was published. “I didn’t expect much,” Holmes noted about the article. “However, I remained hopeful that somehow this exposure might lead to a breakthrough.” What started as a chance idea in 2017 had finally captured widespread attention and the timing could not have been better, or more chaotic. “This sudden surge in demand was both thrilling and overwhelming,” said Holmes. “I found myself scrambling to keep up with orders, knowing that our inventory was limited and restocking would take time.” Holmes stated that orders had doubled overnight from across the United States. Juggling his company roles as a designer, manufacturer, customer service rep and more, he struggled to manage the influx. By the following day, available product stock was depleted and due to a rise in shipping fees, the Kingdom Quest business account was reduced to just $2. Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Nurkl (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes)Tim Holmes, Nurkl building toy inventor (Photo Courtesy/ Tim Holmes) “After three days of being out of stock, we managed to restock and catch up with the orders, creating a sense of relief and satisfaction,” Holmes said. “Although demand slowed as expected around Christmas, the experience was a hidden blessing that gave us renewed energy and optimism for the future.” Looking forward, Holmes said the company's goals include expanding into larger retail outlets, scaling manufacturing capacity, finding the right investment partners and hiring a full-time team. The entrepreneur hopes 2025 will be the year the company “will join the ranks of the Fortune 500.” “We are dedicated to giving back to both local and global communities,” Holmes wrote. “We believe in empowering individuals by helping them realize their potential and pursue their dreams.”