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China is tightly interlocked with the world’s economies. The country so dominates global production that its health, demographic, and economic changes can impact businesses worldwide. That is particularly so for a toy industry that produces 86% of its products in that one country. It is therefore essential to keep up to date with conditions in China. Of particular note is the … [Read more...] about China’s Baby Bust

Click here to listen to this episode Richard and Chris talk to Choon Ng, inventor of the Rainbow Loom and new CEO Chris Tidwell about the history of this phenomenon, how the company has grown, strategies for keeping kids engaged and the always-present challenge of fighting infringements and knock-offs. It’s a great story, and Choon’s management philosophy: “I want to have … [Read more...] about From Fad to Brand: Rainbow Loom 10 Years In

I have always loved bookstores. There is something almost spiritual about spending time, strolling through the aisles, occasionally pausing to take down an intriguing title, feeling its texture, studying the cover, even breathing in its smell, and ultimately either placing it back on the shelf or, book in hand, moving on in the hopes of finding another tome to take home. I, … [Read more...] about Leadership Lessons from Barnes & Noble

The Toy Intelligencer Toy Stock Index Down 8% Year to Year “The Toy Intelligencer Toy Stock Index” calculates the combined value of ten toy industry-related publicly traded companies. The list includes Mattel, Hasbro, JAKKS, Build-a-Bear, Spin Master, Walmart, Maersk, Disney, and Intertek Testing. White House Warns that the Supply Chain Will Continue to Be … [Read more...] about Disruption Report #53: White House Warnings, Improving Conditions at West Coast Ports, and TTI “Toy Stock Index” Down 8%

In kitchen couple and multi racial daughters prepare vegetable salad having fun make funny faces cover eyes with red paprika circles looking like eyewear, binoculars shape, cookery, family joy concept The Insights Family survey more than 469,040 kids aged 3-18 and 228,800 different parents a year across 22 countries in 6 continents. From this data, it has become clear that the … [Read more...] about New ‘Making it Matter’ Report Highlights Why Every Organization Needs to Become Family First (Ad)

The Gorey Pig, by Edward Gorey, 1979. The Strong, Rochester, New York. In 1976, scholar Barbara Bader defined a picture book as “text, illustrations, total design; an item of manufacture and a commercial product; a social, cultural, historic document; and foremost, an experience for a [reader/beholder]. As an art form it hinges on the interdependence of pictures and words, on … [Read more...] about From the Page to the Playroom

Until two years ago, January through February was the busiest and most exhausting time for the American toy industry. Toy people began their year by attending three global toy shows in a matter of weeks. Like nomads, they started the year with a two-week stay in Hong Kong, followed by a trip to the Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg in early February, and concluded with Toy Fair in … [Read more...] about The Spielwarenmesse #1: Nuremberg Takes Center Stage for the Winter Toy Calendar

Click here to listen to this episode In this important and insightful episode, Richard and Chris talk with Eric Pliner, CEO of YSC Consulting about what today’s managers can learn from the current political, employee and public image crisis at Disney. Pliner’s insights on the changing nature of ethics and employment are essential for anyone who wants to function effectively … [Read more...] about What Managers Can Learn from Walt Disney’s Florida Problems: Eric Pliner of YSC Consulting

In light of the evolving pandemic situation across China, Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China and Licensing China will now be held from 5 – 7 August. The three shows will still take place at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Centre to provide anminvaluable business trading hub for the toy, baby product and icensing industries. Talking about the … [Read more...] about Toy & Edu China Sets New Dates for August