Out of the Toy Box
Richard Gottlieb, president of Richard Gottlieb & Associates, a New York-based business development firm specializing in the toy business, offers his sometimes funny and always unique take on developments in the industry.
Nuremberg Toy Fair 2012 : Greece surprises, Russia impresses and Germany grows
Greetings from Nuremberg. I have been having some very interesting conversations with exhibitors and attendees. For example, I was surprised to discover that one major toy company's biggest increases this year were in Greece. Greece, as we know, has been suffering major economic problems so I had to ask; why the increase? The answer is that while adults are cutting back on trips, restaurants,... Read More
Comments (0)Hot Pink, Passion and Lego
The good news and the bad news for Lego is that people care...and care deeply...about what they do. Lego is accused by Peggy Orenstein (author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter) and others of helping create a "Pink Ghetto" in the toy department and people are signing an online petition against the new "Girls" Lego line, Lego Friends.But why do people care so much? It's because Le... Read More
Comments (2)China Ready Limited
In modern China, the culture, business practices, media and everything else you can think of are different from anything to which westerners are used. It is for that reason that I have set up a new company, China Ready Limited, which will direct western companies in effectively entering the Chinese toy market. My partner in this venture is Wai Or, a toy industry leader whose family of companies... Read More
Comments (0)Fighting Amazon; What Small E-Commerce Providers Are Doing?
In my last posting, "Amazon and the Small Retailer" I wrote about the challenges being faced by small ecommerce providers. They fight a similar fight with Amazon that bricks and mortar specialty retailers fight with Wal-Mart. Might there be a commonality of interests between the two channels of trade? Shouldn't they be talking to each other?According to The New York Times, small ecomm... Read More
Comments (2)Amazon and the Small Retailer; E-Commerce and Bricks-and-Mortar Unite!?
I am hearing more and more concern coming from small retailers that Amazon is, for all extents and purposes, using them as showrooms. Consumers come in the stores to look at products and then once finding something they like; go to their cell phones to find them on line. In short, the store provides the service and Amazon gets the business. If you think about it, every retail store is providing... Read More
Comments (0)Update; Hong Kong 2012
The other is the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair which is this year taking place from January 9-12. It is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Most Americans and Canadians stay on the Kowloon side and do not attend the Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair. The latter is attended by many Asian and European companies.Having said that, some have written in via email and the Linked In groups... Read More
Comments (0)Hong Kong 2012; a little too quiet
I would describe the atmosphere in Hong Kong this year as a little too quiet. I am seeing fewer toy people on the streets, in the bars and restaurants and salespeople are reporting fewer appointments. Some retailers did not make the trip this year (Meijer and Shopko to name two) and those who are here appear to have cut back on the number of people they have sent. As a result, it looks like som... Read More
Comments (0)JAKKS, Li & Fung and Tomy; Top 11 Top Toy Industry Stories of 2011 Part 3 (Numbers 3 – 1)
This is the third part in a series I have been doing on the Top 11 Toy Industry Stories of 2011. Click here to see numbers 11-8 and here to see numbers 7-4.3. Oaktree and Jay Foreman go after JAKKSJay Foreman is a hit maker. He is responsible for the Hannah Montana, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber dolls along with a long list of other hits. He sold his company, Play Along, to JAKKS in... Read More
Comments (0)McDonalds and Bryan Stockton; Top 11 Top Toy Industry Stories of 2011 Part 2 (Numbers 7 – 4)
In my last posting, I started my list of the Top 11 Toy Industry Stories of 2011 with numbers 11-8. Revealed David Letterman style (in reverse order), these are what I see as the stories that had the biggest impact on the broader toy industry. Today we continue with numbers 7-4. 7. LayawayAsk Target if they think that Wal-Mart's decision to offer layaway this year made a difference. An... Read More
Comments (1)Cash Mobs; A new way to promote local retailers
Local retailers (and you too ASTRA) take note, the "Cash Mob" may just be the next marketing innovation. "Cash Mobs" are like "Flash Mobs" but with a purpose...to drive people to support local businesses. A "Flash Mob" is defined by Wikipedia as "... a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly... Read More
Comments (0)Top 11 Top Toy Industry Stories of 2011 Part 1 (Numbers 11 – 8)
What were the big news stories for the toy industry in 2011? In order to construct my list, I went to my friend Phil Bloom who publishes The Bloom Report. No one, and I mean no one, follows the toy industry news like Phil so, not surprisingly, he was able to provide me with 50 stories he felt merited the title of Top Story.I took his list, added a few of my own, and then ranked the top 11 in o... Read More
Comments (3)Important Survey on Global Icons for Packaging
I am working with The Toy Research Institute (AIJU) on a worldwide research project involving the use of one global set of icons to be used on packaging. We would like you to help us by filling out a survey. By doing so you will help us determine the level of interest in a global set of icons and if so which icons are most relevant. It's short so it will literally only take a few minutes. Yo... Read More
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