Comments for ToyDirectory Toy Blog

Comment on MYSTERIOUS CREATURES BECOME TEACHERS by TDmonthly Editorial

TDmonthly Editorial — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:51:04 +0000

The game is slated to come out this August. You can read a description of the game here: http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/new_product.asp?id=31758

Comment on MYSTERIOUS CREATURES BECOME TEACHERS by Mark Snead

Mark Snead — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:59:09 +0000

When will this be available!!!!

Comment on MYSTERIOUS CREATURES BECOME TEACHERS by Karen Mconnel

Karen Mconnel — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:24:09 +0000

Love how this brand makes learning cool

Comment on BE KEN TO BUILD BUZZ by ToyDirectory Toy Blog » Blog Archive » Toys in the News: 02-14-11

ToyDirectory Toy Blog » Blog Archive » Toys in the News: 02-14-11 — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:11:55 +0000

[...] Barbie and Ken, Together Again. February 14, 2011 — It’s official; one of America’s favorite couples is back together. After a 7 year hiatus and extensive social media marketing campaign, the couple has reunited. You can read retailing tips for this story here. [...]

Comment on To Tweet or Not to Tweet, That is the Question by Bob Phibbs

Bob Phibbs — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Thanks Joe! Twitter is great if you jump in and try it over time. I also wrote about Twitter for retail at http://www.retaildoc.com/blog/business/how-to-use-twitter-for-your-retail-business

Comment on My Lovely Little Crochet Lady and the CPSIA by Jill Chuckas

Jill Chuckas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:08:08 +0000

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and insightful post. We at the Handmade Toy Alliance (www.handmadetoyalliance.org) have been working hard as well at enacting common sense changes to the CPSIA. We all agree that safety for our children is so very important, but the way the CPSIA is written does little to improve safety standards and insteads penalizes the very companies that work so hard to present unique and safe items for children. Although new leadership at the CPSC is a positive first step to change, there are so many things that need to happen to make this law functionable. Harmonization with EU standards, component testing certification, more material exemptions and an overall look at risk assessment as it pertains to children’s products are critical to keeping small businesses open.

Comment on My Lovely Little Crochet Lady and the CPSIA by Andy Hoffman

Andy Hoffman — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:40:02 +0000

….My fear is that the offerings of toys will finally be whittled down to the top 40 manufacturers, and everyone from Wal-Mart to FAO Schwarz will have to source the same things from the same places, manufactured as cheaply as possible….

I found this remark striking and insightful, as it pertains to the rarely talked about fact that one of the reasons the TIA and other so-called industry “leaders” originally pressed so hard for CPSIA-style regulation was to drive “up production costs, which helps large companies like Mattel and hurts samll toy makers–particularly those sporting ‘Made in America’ labels.” http://tinyurl.com/pfhmtg Small businesses were thrown under the bus by industry big-wigs–and the hypocrisy of their latent attempts to befriend (and incite) small manufacturers never ceases to amaze me.

Having said that, I am confidant that the new leadership at the CPSC will do a much better job at implementing the CPSIA, and that a fair and “final resolution” as you say is in the offing.

Comment on My Lovely Little Crochet Lady and the CPSIA by A CPSIA future?

A CPSIA future? — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:08:29 +0000

[...] manufactured as cheaply as possible.” [Linda Hays (Hopscotch Toys, McMinnville, Ore.), ToyDirectory.com] More views from toyland: Handmade Toy Alliance and Cecilia Leibovitz; Rick Woldenberg in Roll Call [...]

Comment on What “Educational” Really Means in Children’s Toys by Michelle Spelman

Michelle Spelman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:32:35 +0000

Well done! I try to put playthings in my children’s environment that are simple, accessible, and allow for them to exercise motor skills, imagination and all the things you mention above. But they must always be fun first! Play is a child’s work. Children are “taught” through their play all day long. Equipping them good quality toys, games and activities and then stepping out of their way and letting them discover “how to play” sets the foundation for building concentration skills and the attention span needed for formal education as they get older.

Thank you for a great article.

Comment on CoC Supports Shop Local, Only in my Dreams by Michelle Spelman

Michelle Spelman — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:57:12 +0000

Great article John! We are blessed with a great “buy local” movement in Cincinnati Ohio that supports small business. In fact, http://www.BuyCincy.com blogger Sean Fisher helped us immensely with our startup game company by spotlighting our debut game which led to mainstream media coverage after press releases sent directly to local media went ignored. What a privelege to be recognized by locavores. What a great resource for true American Made small business. I can’t afford CoC membership yet (I’m a bootstrapping startup), but when I can, I hope I can be the change I want to see in CoC culture.