About Richard Gottlieb
Richard Gottlieb is a well known toy industry commentator and president of Richard Gottlieb's USA Toy Experts, a toy industry consultancy. Richard combines an MBA in Global Management with thirty plus years of toy industry experience to help small, medium, and large toy manufacturers to enter North American and global markets. Recognized for his knowledge of the industry, his high level relationships and his gift for analysis, Richard is frequently interviewed by media worldwide, and has been called on by CNN, PBS, ABC and other media outlets. He is also a contributing editor to Playthings magazine in the US, Toys n Playthings in the UK and writes for other European toy magazines. Richard is frequently asked to speak at toy industry conferences.Richard's Building Our Future Conference, held annually in New York and Nuremberg, Germany, is a by-invitation event that brings play industry thought leaders together to discuss the future of the play business. Richard has written a book, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Wal-Mart, and his blog, Out of the Toy Box, is a popular destination for those who want to know what is happening and is going to happen in the toy industry. In addition, Richard produces a monthly bulletin calledWhat's Next, which focuses on coming trends.In recognition of his prominence in the toy industry, Richard was selected as a member of the National Toy Hall of Fame voting committee.Boards and CommitteesNational Toy Hall of Fame Selection CommitteeChicago Toy and Game Fair Advisory BoardToy Industry Association Strategic Planning CommitteeToy Industry Association ToyCon CommitteeGehrson Lehrman Group Retail CouncilDeMatteo Monness Consultant NetworkSociety of Industry Leaders
Richard Gottlieb is a well known toy industry commentator and president of Richard Gottlieb's USA Toy Experts, a toy industry consultancy. Richard combines an MBA in Global Management with thirty plus years of toy industry experience to help small, medium, and large toy manufacturers to enter North American and global markets.
Recognized for his knowledge of the industry, his high level relationships and his gift for analysis, Richard is frequently interviewed by media worldwide, and has been called on by CNN, PBS, ABC and other media outlets. He is also a contributing editor to Playthings magazine in the US, Toys n Playthings in the UK and writes for other European toy magazines. Richard is frequently asked to speak at toy industry conferences.
Richard's Building Our Future Conference, held annually in New York and Nuremberg, Germany, is a by-invitation event that brings play industry thought leaders together to discuss the future of the play business. Richard has written a book, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Wal-Mart, and his blog, Out of the Toy Box, is a popular destination for those who want to know what is happening and is going to happen in the toy industry. In addition, Richard produces a monthly bulletin calledWhat's Next, which focuses on coming trends.
In recognition of his prominence in the toy industry, Richard was selected as a member of the National Toy Hall of Fame voting committee.
Boards and Committees
National Toy Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Chicago Toy and Game Fair Advisory Board
Toy Industry Association Strategic Planning Committee
Toy Industry Association ToyCon Committee
Gehrson Lehrman Group Retail Council
DeMatteo Monness Consultant Network
Society of Industry Leaders
Newsletters
Monthly Bulletin Offers News, Trend Information and Insight about the Toy Industry.Those who know me are aware that I speak to a great number of business leaders and research many newspapers, magazines and websites regularly to get a feel for what's happening and what's going to happen next. This information is used to develop the monthly columns I write for various United States and European magazines on the consumer products business, and to help counsel my clients and their businesses.Some of you have asked me to share what I write as well as some of my sources. This bulletin is the result of those requests. As you read the What's Next Bulletin, you are invited to share your opinion with me. Also, please let me know of any areas that you would like to see explored in the future.
Monthly Bulletin Offers News, Trend Information and Insight about the Toy Industry.
Those who know me are aware that I speak to a great number of business leaders and research many newspapers, magazines and websites regularly to get a feel for what's happening and what's going to happen next. This information is used to develop the monthly columns I write for various United States and European magazines on the consumer products business, and to help counsel my clients and their businesses.
Some of you have asked me to share what I write as well as some of my sources. This bulletin is the result of those requests. As you read the What's Next Bulletin, you are invited to share your opinion with me. Also, please let me know of any areas that you would like to see explored in the future.
- Smart Phone of the Future: Cars That Brake For Pedestrians...
- GM and Segway Have a Baby; Retro Future; The New Marketing Lingo
- Nerd Inventor Collectives; Biomechanical Energy Harvesters
- Weird Light Bulbs; Three Wheeled Automobiles Save Gas...
- Invisibility Cloaks; Vending Machines for Expensive Stuff
- Designer Bandages; Jump Ropes Go Big Time; Rocket Racing...
- Koenigsegg CCX; Skins; Knight Rider GPS
- Mind-Reading Game Controller; Rocket Train; Next Christmas...
- The Playground of the Future; RoboFest; Pretend Products Become Real
- Few Teenagers are getting their driver's licenses; Trendy Bar Codes
Upcoming Events and Appearances
February 5, 2010
Speaker, 2010 Toy Business Forum, "The Future of Play, Spielwarenmesse Toy Fair, Nuremberg, Germany
February 14, 2010
Speaker, New York Toy Fair, Creative Factor, Booth #4822. 11am
February 16-17, 2010
Panel Moderator, Engage! Expo, Javits Center, New York
News Click on the headlines to read the full article.
Podcasts from the International Toy Fair 2010
Listen to current programs direct from the International Toy Fair 2010.
Holiday 'Pop-up' Stores Are Going Upscale
It's more than just a tough real estate market that is opening the door to pop-up shops. It's also a larger retail paradigm shift, said Richard Gottlieb, a toy expert who writes the blog Out of the Toy Box. A new generation of consumers is more comfortable buying online, and they're not going to spend a lot of time in traditional brick-and-mortar stores as their parents did. As a result, the pop-up trend may be here to stay for companies that want to take advantage of holiday sales traffic without committing to a five-year lease.
--MSNBC.com, 11/20/2009
Toy Wonders & Blunders
Lastly, all the TV commercials or effusive tweets in the world won't make up for a lame idea
or bad timing. Toys flop every year for reasons ranging from bad design to ugly packaging.
Some simply slink into the obscurity of the bargain bin, explains Gottlieb, where they die
a silent death, while others live on in kitschy infamy. Vintage toxic Flubber, anyone?
--The Atlantic, September 7, 2009
Additional articles available below.
• Monstersandcritics.com - February 2010
Experts See Video Games In Decline, Board Games On Rise.
• Joystickdivision.com - February 2010
Are Board Games A Threat To Video Games?
• Jezebel.com - February 2010
From Underwear To Kids' Toys: Gender Segregation In Shopping
What we do
Richard Gottlieb's USA Toy Experts works with companies of all different sizes as they market and sell consumer products. Specifically, he and his team help mature companies successfully grow, foreign companies successfully enter and entrepreneurs successfully get started in the dynamic U.S. market.
Companies Entering the U.S. Market
We will help you develop your strategies and tactics for successfully entering the dynamic U.S. market with its population of more than 60 million children under the age of 14. Here are just some of the services we provide:
Coaching for EntrepreneursWe will help you become successful. We coach entrepreneurs in avoiding unnecessary costs, minimizing risks and maximizing rewards. Here are just some of the services we offer: We generate a data base of over 1,000 retailers who carry toys and other consumer products to make sure that you are selling all possible accounts and channels of trade.With a data base of over 300 independent sales representatives, we help you construct a sales structure for the US market and assist in finding the right salespeople to fill it.We find you third party providers to take care of your operations, logistics, accounts receivable, and all other back office needs.We furnish information on and show you how to get the most out of key trade shows.We caution you about specific visible and hidden costs of business so you don't get surprised.We work with you to develop pricing that maximizes profit, sales material that helps close orders and packaging that grabs the consumer's attention.We work with you to develop an effective business model, create a marketing plan, develop forecasts and create financial models that work in the US market.We develop and execute advertising and public relations plans that increase brand awareness and sell more products.We help you source production in China and the US.We assist in securing licenses as well as licensing your own intellectual property.
Coaching for Entrepreneurs
We will help you become successful. We coach entrepreneurs in avoiding unnecessary costs, minimizing risks and maximizing rewards. Here are just some of the services we offer:
Coaching for Mature Companies
We will help sell more by helping you open new markets in the U.S. and abroad, improve your packaging and show you how to develop more dynamic relationships with the sales representative community. Here is just some of what we offer:
- We find you European and Asian distributors.
- We generate a data base of over 1,000 retailers who carry toys and other consumer products to make sure that you are selling all possible accounts and channels of trade.
- We supply a data base of over 300 independent sales representatives so you can increase your pool of available salespeople.
- We show you how to improve your relationships with your independent sales representatives and increase revenue as a result.
- We provide highly effective strategies for successfully penetrating the powerful supermarket channel of trade. Includes:
- We help you improve your packaging so that it grabs consumer attention. Includes:
Representative Clients
Representative
Brands & Licenses
Winnie The Pooh ™Disney Princesses ™Toy Story 2 ™Scooby Doo ™Thomas The Tank Engine ™Power Rangers ™Barbie ™Hot Wheels ™Kodak ™Lego ™Arthur ™Madeline ™
Price:260
Price:320
Price:350
Price:420
Price:300
Checkout
Books & Directories
*Shipping & Handling included in purchase price.
U.S. Directory of Mass Market Toy Buyers
Most Comprehensive ALL-IN-ONE Directory Available!
New! 2010 Edition Now Available! Available in book format or combo book/CD format
Most directories sell individual lists for each type of retail outlet, but our list allows you to get all toy buyers in one list. You'll get:
* Full contact for 250 US toy buyers
* Buyers from 160 different retailers
* Total of 103,000 stores
* Includes mass merchandisers, supermarkets, sporting goods, craft, book and many other channels that carry toys.
International Directories - New 2010 Edition now available!
Richard Gottlieb's USA Toy Experts has worked with Gameplan Europe to provide you with the most up to date information on doing toy business in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.
We are offering Gameplan Europe's International Directory of Retail Toy Buyers and the International Directory of Toy Importer-Distributors. These directories list annually updated details of the leading retailers and distributors in the following 41 countries:
Argentina / Australia / Austria / Belgium / Brazil / Canada / Chile / China / Czech Republic / France / Germany / Greece / Hong Kong / Hungary / India / Ireland / Israel / Denmark / Finland / Mexico /
Netherlands / New Zealand / Norway / Poland / Portugal / Russia / Saudi Arabia / Italy / Japan / Slovakia / South Africa / Spain / South Korea / Sweden / Switzerland / Taiwan / Turkey / UAE / United Kingdom / USA
These directories include the names of key buyers, contact information and much more.
International Directory of Toy and Game Inventors
Access the creative genius of toy inventors around the world to develop great new products.
A global listing and description of leading toy and game inventors to enable you to identify the inventors most likely to be able to help you
* Contact details of over 120 leading toy and game inventors in North America, Europe and Japan
* Descriptions to enable you to choose the category strengths, functional expertise and geographical locations which best suit your needs.
Ambassador to the Kingdom of Walmart
A new book by expert business commentator Richard Gottlieb that opens your mind to new ways of growing your business in the US consumer products market. Be warned that when you read this book you will be challenged to reconsider the very basis of how we think of our customers, our businesses, and ourselves.
Consider some of the questions raised:
Do we really believe that a salesperson should be calling on a customer like Wal-Mart? With annual revenue that would make some first world nations envious, shouldn't we be employing an ambassador?
Do we really think that baby boomers are going to go gracefully into old age? Are we going to try and sell this generation that refused to grow up the same walkers, canes and other accoutrements of old age that fit their parents? Hardly!
Have we thought about what is going to happen when there are not enough brick and mortar consumers to support the current size of our super center retailers? Will they close stores, down size them or will they just go away?
U.S.A. Sales Representatives Directory
Connect with Hundreds of Sales Reps! New!
The directory includes full contact information for sales representatives all over the United States. Listings include:
* Full contact information including email addresses
* States covered
* Types of retail accounts called upon
* Major lines represented
* Year founded
* And more...
Richard Gottlieb
Authority on the Business of Play
1755 York Avenue #12G
New York, NY 10128
646.675.3019
richard_usatoyexperts.com
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