ToyFest has named its 2024 Western Toy & Passion Representatives Affiliation (WTHRA) Corridor of Fame inductees.
Beforehand a regional toy present for specialty retailers based mostly in Pomona, California, ToyFest has since advanced right into a nationwide present in Las Vegas that makes use of each everlasting showrooms and non permanent cubicles on the World Market Heart Las Vegas.
The 2024 ToyFest Gala will introduce 4 members of the WTHRA Corridor of Fame: Jan and Ken Hatch from The Erin Griffin Group, Tad Kato from Wildthings, Sandy Lepire and Andrea Peterson from Sunshine Gross sales, and Bruce Reynolds from Toyology. The Retailer of the Yr may also be awarded to Dinosaur Farm in Pasadena, California.
Jan and Ken Hatch are lately retired gross sales representatives who labored at The Erin Griffin Group. Jan began as a gross sales rep in Oct. 2003 within the Arizona and New Mexico territory, whereas Ken began shortly after in Feb. 2004 representing Utah and the South Idaho territory. They each labored onerous to offer the very best service and enhance enterprise yr after yr. Jan retired in Could of 2021 and Ken retired shortly after in April 2022.
Tad Kato began within the toy trade throughout the vacation season of 1979 as a part-time worker for Michael’s Toys on the Santa Anita Style Park in Arcadia, California. He returned the subsequent summer time and continued to work there full-time. In 1983. Don Frankel bought the shop and made Kato the shop supervisor till its closure in 1993. From there, he labored for Linda Frankel as a gross sales rep for 3 years till Linda offered the corporate to Doug Carson, who modified the title to The Toy Sellers Group. He concurrently began working for Wildthings and in 1998 switched to working completely there. Kato nonetheless works at Wildthings in the present day.
Sandy Lepire began her toy profession with Russ Berry proper out of faculty in 1988 in Orange County, whereas Andrea Peterson labored for The Hole within the Bay Space. They each joined Henry Unger and Associates in 1990 and have been collectively from that day ahead. On Nov. 1, 1994, they began Sunshine Gross sales. This firm, which coated California, Nevada, and Hawaii, was began with a handful of producers and three salespeople. They grew right into a crew of 14 salespeople, increasing to the Pacific Northwest in 2014 and now over California, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Northern Idaho, and Arizona. This yr marks the thirtieth anniversary of Sunshine Gross sales. On July 9, 2023, Peterson misplaced her brief battle with ALS. Though she is not with Lepire and the Sunshine crew, they carry her optimistic spirit with them.
Bruce Reynolds received his begin within the toy trade within the early ’90s working at Talbot’s Toyland in San Francisco. In 1997, he grew to become a gross sales consultant with Brio and in 2002, he moved to Rod Porter and Associates in Seattle. Toyology bought Rod Porter in 2011 and Reynolds continued as an impartial gross sales rep for the rest of his profession. He had many achievements within the toy trade, together with awards with Alex, Squishable, and lots of others. Toy data was his largest ardour. Reynolds misplaced his battle with most cancers on June 12, 2022.
David Plenn and his spouse Shelly opened Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena in 1994. Shelly was operating retail shops for the Nationwide Historical past Museum of Los Angeles, and so they used her data and connections to assist get Dinosaur Farm up and operating. They listened to their clients, making a particular room for dinosaur toys when it was determined they didn’t have sufficient. The Plenns additionally discovered that carrying books separated them from the large field toy shops, in order that they curated a particular ebook part for his or her clients. Over time, the shop has obtained recognition from Forbes Traveler, USA Right now, BuzzFeed, LA Father or mother, and Pasadena Weekly. There are not any indicators of extinction but for these homeowners.
The ToyFest Gala will happen on the Resorts World Lily Ballroom on March 3, 2024. To study extra concerning the Corridor of Fame honorees, click on here.
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