The more things change…
Different year, different millenium; same stuff
Maria Weiskott, Editor-in-Chief -- Playthings, 12/1/2001
A psychotherapist counsels participants on how to deal emotionally with the pressures of survival. Retail-wholesale panelists describe their firms' efforts for surviving. A university professor gives tips on how to survive financially in bad times. A group of manufacturers reveal their own survival plans. A chain executive presents views on surviving continuing child safety issues.
Hey! Sounds like one of our industry conferences. Sign me up!
Too late! And by a quarter of a century, no less.
Appropriately titled, "Survivor" (ring a bell?), the conference described here was actually held by the former Toy Manufacturers of America (TMA) in May 1975.
It's great being around for nearly a century. With the archives we've got here at PLAYTHINGS, we can truly testify to the adage: The more things change, the more they stay the same, which should be encouragement for us—yes, indeed we will survive— as we face yet another challenging economic period in history.
Here's some of the advice to come out of that conference from one retailer, as reported in the June issue of PLAYTHINGS back in 1975, a recession year.
Good communication, the retailer commented, is one of the most effective means in strengthening the toy industry, especially among manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Regarding his own company's business strategy, the executive noted that a list of objectives had been set in each of three priority areas: relationships with vendors, relationships with customers and internal operations that included stock turns, distribution patterns and long-range planning.
The advice was given by a young Target executive, Lew Kennedy, who at the time, forecast that the company expected its most profitable year yet in the toy department.
Apparently the strategy paid off—and is paying off still, considering Target is ranked number four in PLAYTHINGS annual survey of top 50 toy retailers ("The 'A' List" starts on page 38 in this issue).
There were some other words of wisdom to come out of that 1975 TMA conference and they ring especially true during times that are difficult economically and are extraordinarily stressful as well.
"Remember that the world is organized one day at a time," a Dr. Otis Maxfield told conference members. He added that when under a great deal of stress, "emphasize your strengths, never build a case against yourself and take one thing at a time."
Like we said—the more things change, the more they stay the same. And that includes good advice.
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