Posted February 19, 2009

Toyfair in New York  is a wonderful time to connect with old friends and industry contacts, as well as make new ones.  I saw my friend Roger Gehrke, a Swede who speaks six languages fluently, maybe more, and never fails to remind me that he "saved my life" years ago on my first trip to the giant Nuremburg Germany toyfair.  Jammed tightly into the commuter train to the fair, I was lost in the city center train station, and he found me and let me follow him to the the show venue.  Designed by vaunted German engineers, the Nuremburg fairgrounds are an impossible maze of halls, utterly befuddling to my feeble mind to navigate easily.

As we clung to the pole, rocking side to side with the movement of the train, and squeezed close by the crowds of fellow communters, Roger turned to me and said, “Looks like someone lost their passport”  Looking down, it took a moment to recognize it as a passport, and then to recognize that it was in fact my passport.  Holy Mackeral!  Were it not for him I might still be in Germany trying to arrange passage back home to America.  Thank you Roger.  You are one of my heroes.

Did you know Sweden has fewer residents in the entire country than we have in the Chicagoland area?  Everyone must know everyone else in the entire country.

The mood of this show was positive.  Everyone realizes that these are tough times, and there are good times ahead.  Once we are through this year, prospects will surely be brighter.  The industry continues to be under pressure from dwindling retail outlets, and therefore fewer places for a company to offer their products to the consumer, as well as new safety regulations that will probably result in many businesses failing, retailers, manufacturers, and Chinese factories alike. In China, already thousands of toy factories have, or will soon close.

But enough about me, lets talk about you.  Any thoughts, or observations?  Any musing or questions that you might care to share?  Love to hear from you.  Anything I have shared of interest, or not so much. Can we talk?

Very best,

Bruce

Comments (2)

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written by George c Atamian, February 19, 2009

Dear Bruce: I must have seen 20 inventors come in and out of our booth. Sadly, you were not one of them. Love your site and hope we cross paths soon.

Always Your Friend, G
George C. Atamian
Transcience Corporation
Creators & Owners of Sea-Monkeys®
President Brand Management
& Business Development
2315 N. Laurel Ave
Upland, CA 91784
PH: 909.985.0889
FX: 909.920.3143
MP: 909.241.3438
WP:+852.9885.2101
grog5@verizon.net
www.sea-monkeys.com

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written by bruce, February 20, 2009

My dear George;
You have always had the very best voice mail messages the world has ever know. I miss those. My apologies for not visiting, as I was ensconced in a meeting room, with back to back meetings, and a blister on my heel the size of Long Island. New shoes, what was I thinking? Didn't get around much. My loss. We are here to serve. How may we be of service to you?

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