Richard Gottlieb

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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,... More

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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... More

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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... More

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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... More

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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... More