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.
Crowdfunding Sites; Crowdtilt, AngelList, Crowdfunder, Kickstarter and more
In my last post, "Crowdfunding Websites; where to find investment money under the new JOBS Act," I wrote about a CNN article, "8 crowdfunding sites to watch." These are sites that CNN deems important to watch as they may become major players for companies and individuals seeking investors under the new JOBS Act. Here is the listCrowdtiltCNN describes Crowdtilt this way: &q... Read More
Comments (0)Crowdfunding Websites; where to find investment money under the new JOBS Act
As a consultant, I am frequently approached by entrepreneurs and start-up companies seeking investment money. I have had to tell them that in most cases, initial money comes from family, friends and credit cards. Once they have established that they have a workable business model they can turn to Angel and Venture Capital investors. The latter form of investment money is hard to find and can be... Read More
Comments (0)The Power of Silly
My son, Matt, sent me a picture this week of a hippopotamus having his teeth brushed. You may wonder, as did I, why a grown man would send his father a picture of a hippo much less one with good dental hygiene. Well, it seems that he remembers me asking him this question when he was a little boy: "Would you rather be a dentist for an alligator or a hippo?That silly moment came back to him... Read More
Comments (0)The JOBS Act and how it makes raising money easier
The JOBS Act is one of the most important changes to raising capital in American history. Why, because it makes the IPO process more attractive and provides entrepreneurs of any size with new opportunities to find investors. For instance, in the past, companies have been able to collect donations via crowd funding. This approach allowed people to donate money, but not to invest. Under the JOBS... Read More
Comments (0)The decline of Nintendo, Play Station, Xbox; can the toy industry help?
E3, the Video Game trade show, is taking place this week in Los Angeles. It is occurring in the face of a steady decline in video game sales. The drop off appears to be more than some cyclical development but rather a full retreat from the highs of just a few years ago. Last month, Nintendo reported its first losing year in company history. And they are not alone, "Market tracker NPD Group... Read More
Comments (4)Slow Time, Fast Time and Children
I have always been fascinated by time. It's so malleable that its passage can seem to speed up or slow down simply by circumstance. For me, there is no slower passage of time than sitting in a doctor's office or waiting for my luggage at the airport. Nothing, though, equaled the fifth grade in terms of slow time (my teacher was not just mean; she was crazy). I think that school year lasted a d... Read More
Comments (2)Game Rooms and the Importance of Play Environments
When you were a teenager you may have had a friend whose family had a place in their house which was dedicated to playing competitive, action games. Some of these were like pieces of furniture: There could have been a pool table; a Pinball Machine, Foosball, ping pong or Air Hockey. That place was called "the play room" and having one (or even knowing someone who had one) was really,... Read More
Comments (0)Colors; Why Are They So Important To Children?
Pink, blue, red, green, you name it...every child seems to have a favorite color. In fact, some children are so passionate about their color choice that they insist that their clothes, room décor and school supplies all match.This is not news to us in the toy industry. After all, the wrong color choice can in a product or package can kill a product. What we may not think about, however, is why.... Read More
Comments (1)Wal-Mart's Bribery Scandal; Why It Matters
In my last posting, "Wal-Mart's ethics; it's a long way from Bentonville to Mexico City" I reported on an investigation conducted by The New York Times on alleged bribery among Wal-Mart's leadership in Mexico City and a subsequent coverup by the leadership in Bentonville.Some may feel that bribes paid in a foreign country are just a matter of doing business according to the local culture... Read More
Comments (0)Brazil; They Do Things Differently There
I am back from Brazil and after spending a week there and attending the ABRIN toy show. I can see why Brazil should be of interest to any toy company thinking of expanding its foreign markets. As I wrote in an earlier posting: "The Carlyle Group, one of the world's biggest private equity investment firms, has taken an 85% stake Ri Happy, the largest toy chain in Brazil. Their reason: Bec... Read More
Comments (0)The Pricing Paradox: To Promote or Not to Promote, That Is the Question
Are running sales and couponing going the way of the dinosaur? J.C. Penney and a number of other retailers think so. I am not so sure, at least for the near future. Here is why:In January I wrote a piece entitled "J.C. Penney moves away from "Fake Pricing." That article gave insights into J.C. Penney's plans to end promotions and to go to Everyday Low Pricing. Ron Johnson, the... Read More
Comments (1)Important! New law makes it easier to raise capital
President Obama signed a new, bipartisan bill "...on Thursday that will roll back restrictions on the way start-up companies can raise money from individual investors." In a New York Times article by Mark Landler entitled "Obama Signs Bill to Promote Start-Up Investments" we learn that ..."the bill known as the JOBS Act, for Jump-Start Our Business Start-Ups, was a "... Read More
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