Applause (toy company): Difference between revisions
m Added {{unreferenced}} tag to article. using Friendly |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{unreferenced|date=October 2009}} |
|||
{{Infobox_Company |
{{Infobox_Company |
||
|company_name=Applause Inc. |
|company_name=Applause Inc. |
||
| Line 23: | Line 22: | ||
Applause created a Strategic Alliances Group to oversee products for food-related and premium-based programs such as from [[Taco Bell]], [[KFC]], [[Kellogg's]], [[General Mills]], and [[Pillsbury]]. In 1998 the company produced toys for [[A Bug's Life]] and [[Mulan]]. |
Applause created a Strategic Alliances Group to oversee products for food-related and premium-based programs such as from [[Taco Bell]], [[KFC]], [[Kellogg's]], [[General Mills]], and [[Pillsbury]]. In 1998 the company produced toys for [[A Bug's Life]] and [[Mulan]]. |
||
==References== |
|||
*"Applause, a Novelty Maker, Sold to Management Group," New York Times, September 26, 1997, p. C4(N)/D4(L). |
|||
*Bozman, Jean S., "New, Tougher Garfield Emerges," Computerworld, February 17, 1992, p. 53. |
|||
Cuneo, Alice Z., "Hot Raisins; It's Licensed Products That Bring Big Bucks," Advertising Age, May 16, 1988, p. 30. |
|||
*"Custom Warehousing, Distributor Services Pay; Dakin, Stafford Make a Winning Combination," Playthings, May 31, 1989, p. 10. |
|||
*http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Applause-Inc-Company-History.html |
|||
[[Category:Toy brands]] |
[[Category:Toy brands]] |
||
Revision as of 03:31, 19 October 2009
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Stuffed toy |
| Founded | 1966 as The Wallace Berrie Company |
| Headquarters | 6101 Variel Avenue, P.O. Box 4183, Woodland Hills, California 91365-4183, U.S.A. |
Number of employees | 600 |
Applause Inc. is a company that produces stuffed toys and collectible figurines. The company produces licensed toys from Warner Bros., Disney, and Jim Henson's Muppets. Its principal subsidiaries include Dakin Inc. and International Tropic-Cal Inc.
History
The company was founded as the The Wallace Berrie Company in 1966 by Wallace Berrie. In 1979 teh company obtained worldwide rights to The Smurfs and released figurines in 1979 at $1.50 each. The figurines became one of the best-selling toys of 1982. In 1982 the company acquired the Applause division from Knickerbocker Toys, which came with the licenses to Disney, Sesame Street, and Raggedy Ann and Andy. In 1986, the company changed its name to Applause Inc. and released The California Raisins merchandise. In 1992, Applause released The Magic Trolls Babies toy line.
Dakin Merge
In late 1995 the company merged with Woodland Hills, California company, Dakin Inc., the most widely recognized brand name in stuffed animals. Dakin was founded in 1955 by Richard Dakin as an import business. In the 1960s the company marketing of stuffed animals as impulse gifts. The company was growing in 1963 and had contracted Stafford Enterprises Inc. to be its East Coast warehousing and distribution company. In 1988, Dakin Inc. introduced the Garfield "Stuck on You" stuffed toys. Early 1990 Hallmark Cards Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Dakin as an independent subsidiary of the $2.5 billion. The agreement was later called off in April. In December 1990, Dakin, outsourced labor to Thailand and Korea to reduce cost. In 1992, Bob Solomon became the CEO of Dakin. After the merger in 1995 with Applause both company product lines were maintained separately.
Applause created a Strategic Alliances Group to oversee products for food-related and premium-based programs such as from Taco Bell, KFC, Kellogg's, General Mills, and Pillsbury. In 1998 the company produced toys for A Bug's Life and Mulan.
References
- "Applause, a Novelty Maker, Sold to Management Group," New York Times, September 26, 1997, p. C4(N)/D4(L).
- Bozman, Jean S., "New, Tougher Garfield Emerges," Computerworld, February 17, 1992, p. 53.
Cuneo, Alice Z., "Hot Raisins; It's Licensed Products That Bring Big Bucks," Advertising Age, May 16, 1988, p. 30.
- "Custom Warehousing, Distributor Services Pay; Dakin, Stafford Make a Winning Combination," Playthings, May 31, 1989, p. 10.
- http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Applause-Inc-Company-History.html