by Stephen Key | Jan 12, 2018 | Toy and Novelty Gift Industry
Post Views: 383 The last time I was at Toy Fair in New York City, I was pitching products and visiting a licensee, Ohio Art, which back then was launching the Michael Jordan Wall-Ball. The Wall-Ball had been my idea, to replace the back board of a Nerf basketball hoop...
by Stephen Key | Jan 12, 2018 | Toy and Novelty Gift Industry
Post Views: 532 When I worked at Worlds of Wonder, the startup that brought the hit plush talking bear Teddy Ruxpin to market in the 1980s, I didn’t fully feel the impact he had on kids because I didn’t have any. Today, I can clearly see that experience...
by Stephen Key | Oct 4, 2016 | How to Become Successful
Post Views: 311 Working at a startup taught me more about business than any other endeavor has. In the mid ‘80s, long before startup culture was red hot, I joined a toy company that was rapidly growing in Fremont, California. Looking back, the two years I spent there...
by Stephen Key | Sep 23, 2016 | Product Launch
Post Views: 363 Last Wednesday, Apple unveiled its latest phone, the iPhone 7 and 7s. Notably, they’re without a headphone jack. But, you can buy Apple’s forthcoming AirPods to go with, its somewhat awkwardly named and looking $159 pair of wireless earbuds. The news...