So Many Dolls to Love
(continued from page 10)
Rohn used to teach, to have ‘multiple streams of income.’ I have seen online stores open brick-and-mortars, but I don’t know of any brick-and-mortars that have moved exclusively online successfully.” It’s portable The couple collects Social Security now, and Peter admits that he and his wife “are slowing down some.” At the same time, “It’s nice to make money, even though it’s not a lot. “What’s even better is knowing that every day, some child somewhere is going to get a new doll to love, and it’s great knowing that Black kids are getting Black dolls and Biracial kids are getting Biracial dolls, and that they weren’t picked over and looking ratty at the big box stores,” he adds. But Peter’s favorite thing about Pattycake Doll Company is this: “While KB Toys, Toys “R” Us, Kmart and many other toy-selling chain stores have disappeared, and while everyone in the world complained about Amazon and the Retail Armageddon, we’re still here and doing better than ever.”
Around Christmas 2019, when Essence magazine published a link to BestDollsForKids.com, business increased 3,000 percent. “That increase can only happen if you’re small to begin with,” Peter laughs. He finds it fun and challenging to keep up with the changes and improvements to ecommerce. “As much as I follow edplay, Toybook and Global Toy News, there are thrice as many feeds, blogs and emails in the ecommerce press to keep up with, and it’s a fascinating, fascinating subject. I’ve always said, ‘An idle mind is the devil’s playground, and the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s,’ so on that basis alone, it’s worth continuing with the business.” At the same time, he says it can be an anchor. Peter and Addie’s children have moved away from their rural Upstate New York hometown, and the two find it hard to travel with doll orders coming in 24/7. “Whenever we move, though, it will be easy to take the business with us. All we need is 1,200 square feet and a connection to the internet. “If someone were to make a good enough offer for our Shopify store, we’d sell,” he adds. “Know anybody?”
ADVERTISER INDEX Company
Page Website
Company
Adventerra Games North America
17 adventerragamesusa.com
MW Wholesale
Amahi Ukeleles
14
amahiukuleles.com
Playmonster
American Bubble Company
5
americanbubble.com
Beautiful Blessings
29 iamabeautifulblessing.com
CSI Connect Marketing
6
csiconnects.com
Devir Games
9
devir.com
Family Games America FGA Inc
10
familygamesamerica.com
back cover
FatBrainToyCo.com
Kala BrandMusic Co.
13
kalabrand.co
Kardwell International
23
gameparts.net
Fat Brain Toy Co.
Page Website 11
mwwholesale.biz
inside front cover
playmonster.com
Sentosphere USA
3
sentosphereusa.com
Tangle
7 tangletoys.com
The Toy Network
22
Toysmith
31 annemcgilvray.com
U.S Toy Company
21
ustoykidfun.com
Wikki Stix
19
wikkistix.com
Wrebbit Puzzles
15
wrebbit3dpuzzle.com
Around the Table a publication of the Game Manufacturers Association
Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry Publisher J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com
Advertising Director Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com
Production Manager Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com
Editorial Director Tina Manzer tmanzer@fwpi.com
Ad Sales Representative Darlene Ryan darlene@fwpi.com
Subscriptions accounts@fwpi.com
Graphic Artist Christopher Cornett Christopher@fwpi.com
Enewsletter & Online Advertising Manager Rick Kauder rkauder@fwpi.com
28 May 2021 — edplay.com
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About edplay Founded in 1994. edplay is the original trade magazine for the specialty toy industry. With six printed issues and monthly enewsletters, it reports on new play products, features interviews with toy experts, and provides best-practice advice for running an independent toy store.
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