After asking the staff two days in a row to clean our room, yesterday they actually did it. Surprise of the day (besides the fact they cleaned) was that They took My Towel!
Has that ever happened in the history of the world?! Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?
They gave it back when I asked. That's something.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
You want to be big? Pretend you are Playmobil.
The BIGS of the toy industry DO NOT MINGLE with the smaller, less important companies. In fact, if you were not on the press tour, you probably wouldn't even know that LEGO, MATTEL, and PLAYMOBIL are even here. These are the stands that are OFF-LIMITS, as in CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. To get to this super special area you take a bus ride to a pavilion you have to look extra hard on your Fair venue map to even find (oddly enough, it is enormous).
What are they thinking? What is their vision? Any women up there? These were the kinds of things we wanted to know.
We were not on the guest list, which had about 20 names on it, but we got past the first control at the entrance of the building with our press passes by telling the man checking that we were bloggers and had not registered. He let us in.
We passed the LEGO section on the way. Closed. A security guard outside.
We get to the entrance of the Playmobil stand, which is hardly a stand, rather, it is a museum of modern art, two display areas are in the shape of a playmobil person’s head. The face is rounded glass sliding doors with the ultra recognizable two dots for eyes and smile etched into the glass. We are in the big leagues.
A woman named Judith (nametag with name, no title. All staff have nametags, none with a title) is there to meet us with a check list and sees we are not on it. We say we are bloggers and did not register. She gives us a smile full of appreciation (unexpected). BLOGGERS! She says.
She gets us the press pack with information in English and asks two others to move over for us so that Klementina and I can sit together. This is the first of a long string of thoughtful acts that communicate something at a very deep and fundamental level about this company. They have values. Everyone seems to understand what they are and are consistent with them.
During the press conference, when not speaking, Judith (Corporate Communications Executive. I know this from her card) comes up behind us and translates the key points of the speeches into English (German company, German fair, German talks).
The talk starts with a look at performance over the last two years. Significant growth while the toy industry in general is in crisis. The distinctions they highlight are the importance of allowing kids to role play, quality of their products which are made in Europe only, brand identity (who doesn’t recognize THAT FACE, THAT HAIR?) and the value added of their toys.
There is a lot to learn from this company. For our purposes let’s consider them the Warren Buffett of the toy world. A good mix of a philosophy of doing the right thing and good business sense.
The company focuses on one product. These are play figures in different “Play worlds” The value of Quality is repeated everywhere: the museum-like atmosphere of their “exhibit”s. Products are on display in transparent cases. Oversized Playmobil people are placed around the space, even up high, like statues. But they all smile.
We are offered orange juice, water, or coke in wine glasses the moment we come in.
The press materials are of the highest quality with interesting info and pleasing to look at.
The food and birthday cake is beautiful and delicious.
We are offered orange juice, water, or coke in wine glasses the moment we come in.
The press materials are of the highest quality with interesting info and pleasing to look at.
The food and birthday cake is beautiful and delicious.
Guests are treated like royalty. My sense is they treat EVERYONE this way. It is not fake at all. They all talk to you with sincere interest and respect.
The company pays attention to the details that kids and adults notice.
They really focus on the end-users: children.
Their toys encourage kids to play an active part in the fun.
They TALK about children, creativity, development, play, fantasy during their talks and afterwards.
They TALK about children, creativity, development, play, fantasy during their talks and afterwards.
They get their ideas from the suggestions they get from the children themselves.
There is constant innovation without forgetting the past. They take products out of production and bring them back later creating scarcity, familiarity, variety.
They offer new products every year.
They concentrate on being the best.
They know what their competitors are doing.
The make-up of their 4.000 employees is 54% female.
The make-up of their 4.000 employees is 54% female.
Women are in positions of power.
While the products were targeted towards boys in 1974 (three characters then: construction worker, Indian, Police man?), girls now take up a 50% position in use. Toys cross the gender divide.
After the conference, there was a photo op and a chance to ask questions in an informal way. I interviewed the CEO of Marketing, R&D, and Sales. I asked her three questions.
1. How do you manage internal communications?
We do a lot of communicating, training, workshops. Our working language is English. It has to be. But we are methodical. We are German, after all.
2. What are the Values of the company?
Quality and long-term thinking. We are not interested in selling anyone anything. We want our customers to be HAPPY and to come back to us. We focus on giving added value. We think about the kids.
3. What is your target age?
Our target age is 11/2 to 10. We also have adults who are collectors, but they are not our target.
I decided to talk about gender, as I have been surprised by how many more men are at this fair than women. She said she was surprised too. She told me Playmobil takes this issue seriously and that the 50-50 commitment is also reflected in management positions.
Klementina and I left that place starstruck. Besides the fact that the information was interesting, I think about how kind it was of this woman to talk to me. No unnecessary hierarchies. Quality of products aside, the companies that really make it for me, are the inclusive ones who remember that it’s not about the products, it’s about the relationship with the customer.
Even a company with revenue of 552 million euros/year.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Television Interview Tip
Today I had a surprise web television interview for a very technical magazine on plastics.
Plastics, you say. What the Sam Hill do You know about Plastics! Nothing, really. But I did know that the animatronic Baby T-Rex growling next to me and batting his tail and whipping his head from side to side was made of some kind of plastic, and he was great eye-candy for camera. I also knew,(because I helped write the copy for 2014 catalog) that the company was concerned about using safe materials, so that would eventually have to come out.
The interview went surprisingly well. I believe this was because I decided to answer any question that came my way through the filter of the company's values. It helped that I knew what they were because I helped the company identify them.
I am sure the interview went differently than the plastics people suspected, as we didn't go into technical detail. At the same time, I was able to touch on the materials used and bring them back to the company's overall strategy and mission. Luckily that worked and hopefully the viewers appreciate the difference in approach.
Plastics, you say. What the Sam Hill do You know about Plastics! Nothing, really. But I did know that the animatronic Baby T-Rex growling next to me and batting his tail and whipping his head from side to side was made of some kind of plastic, and he was great eye-candy for camera. I also knew,(because I helped write the copy for 2014 catalog) that the company was concerned about using safe materials, so that would eventually have to come out.
The interview went surprisingly well. I believe this was because I decided to answer any question that came my way through the filter of the company's values. It helped that I knew what they were because I helped the company identify them.
I am sure the interview went differently than the plastics people suspected, as we didn't go into technical detail. At the same time, I was able to touch on the materials used and bring them back to the company's overall strategy and mission. Luckily that worked and hopefully the viewers appreciate the difference in approach.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
The Grand Hotel Update
By the way... The hotel is not first class, but thanks to my low expecations it is just fine. The room is clean, the bathroom is shared with maybe three rooms (have not seen any other guests as we came in late and left early this morning). There is a boys WC, a girls WC and a shower room, which is one perfectly normal shower with running hot water. It is simple and acceptable.
I realized quickly what the code language in the Trip Advisor reviews was, however. Racism or zenophobia, whatever you want to call it. The people who own the hotel are from Romania. I think that people associate that with the Rom, or, what they used to call "Gypsies" when we kids were getting threatened to be taken away by them for being naughty in the 70s.
They were very kind and polite, even went to get a pizza for us at the place accross the street (only place around there offering food) even though it was closed (at 8.30pm). They managed to get one. Which means they are probably good neighbors.
Our communication language is Italian as we do not speak German and one of the girls lived in Italy for a while. We also understand a bit of what the others say because Romanian is a romance language and has some words in common with Italian. They do not speak English.
So that is the update. My only real complaint is that there are no lights on the nightstands (but there are nightstands, and I did not really expect them). That means you have to cross the room to turn off the light. Oh well.
Happy surprises there.
1. Towels for each of us.
2. Two ketchup packets each of shampoo.
3. Coffee and tea on a table in the hallway on the way out even though no breakfast was promised.
Those were nice touches. It is good to have low standards.
I realized quickly what the code language in the Trip Advisor reviews was, however. Racism or zenophobia, whatever you want to call it. The people who own the hotel are from Romania. I think that people associate that with the Rom, or, what they used to call "Gypsies" when we kids were getting threatened to be taken away by them for being naughty in the 70s.
They were very kind and polite, even went to get a pizza for us at the place accross the street (only place around there offering food) even though it was closed (at 8.30pm). They managed to get one. Which means they are probably good neighbors.
Our communication language is Italian as we do not speak German and one of the girls lived in Italy for a while. We also understand a bit of what the others say because Romanian is a romance language and has some words in common with Italian. They do not speak English.
So that is the update. My only real complaint is that there are no lights on the nightstands (but there are nightstands, and I did not really expect them). That means you have to cross the room to turn off the light. Oh well.
Happy surprises there.
1. Towels for each of us.
2. Two ketchup packets each of shampoo.
3. Coffee and tea on a table in the hallway on the way out even though no breakfast was promised.
Those were nice touches. It is good to have low standards.
Toy Fair Press Preview
So far today I have had my picture taken with Sam the Fireman, two Giant Frogs and two white Stormtrooopers (my childhood dream come true).
The fair itself actually starts tomorrow. Today is the Press Preview, and, guess what, thanks to the democracy of the internet, Bloggers who beg are considered journalists.
Here are my initial observations of the fair so far:
1. Gifties are sparse and even the once-ubiquitous shopping bag give-out is greedily hoarded.
2. Toys for up to age 4 are puffy and round, even when made of hard plastic.
3. Toys get divided into boys vs. girls at about age 5. Well, no, also before. But at least for very small people there is a neutral choice (yellow).
4. After age 5 everything marketed towards girls is sexy. It is incredibly problematic. Embarassing really.
5. The companies that get my attention are the ones that go against traditional sex roles. There is one selling race tracks that you build yourself-- there are two little girls dressed up in racing gear demonstrating. Nice.
6. There are a couple of muscular super heroes walking around, but also women dressed up all sexy. It feels strange for a toy show.
7. MATTEL, SHAME ON YOU- YOU ARE A COMPANY THAT HATES WOMEN. I hate to give them any press at all, but I just had to get that out of my system. The Barbie "fashion show" gave me the heebie jeebies this morning.
8. The most innovative and creative toys I found today were Canadian.
9. Only ONE booth featured educational toys anywhere near here. I will definitely give them a shout out when I have a moment. I realiye this is prime positioning that must be paid for, but come on!
More to come.
The fair itself actually starts tomorrow. Today is the Press Preview, and, guess what, thanks to the democracy of the internet, Bloggers who beg are considered journalists.
Here are my initial observations of the fair so far:
1. Gifties are sparse and even the once-ubiquitous shopping bag give-out is greedily hoarded.
2. Toys for up to age 4 are puffy and round, even when made of hard plastic.
3. Toys get divided into boys vs. girls at about age 5. Well, no, also before. But at least for very small people there is a neutral choice (yellow).
4. After age 5 everything marketed towards girls is sexy. It is incredibly problematic. Embarassing really.
5. The companies that get my attention are the ones that go against traditional sex roles. There is one selling race tracks that you build yourself-- there are two little girls dressed up in racing gear demonstrating. Nice.
6. There are a couple of muscular super heroes walking around, but also women dressed up all sexy. It feels strange for a toy show.
7. MATTEL, SHAME ON YOU- YOU ARE A COMPANY THAT HATES WOMEN. I hate to give them any press at all, but I just had to get that out of my system. The Barbie "fashion show" gave me the heebie jeebies this morning.
8. The most innovative and creative toys I found today were Canadian.
9. Only ONE booth featured educational toys anywhere near here. I will definitely give them a shout out when I have a moment. I realiye this is prime positioning that must be paid for, but come on!
More to come.
Monday, January 27, 2014
On Our Way to Nuremberg
Tomorrow morning we will attend the Press Tour.
Note for next time: Get hotel at least 6 months ahead.
Last-minute hotel (and the only one left in the city for under 1400 euros per night!) has this to offer for advice:
DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL.
Another reviewer offers this tidbit:
NOT THE SAFEST.
and yet another:
PEOPLE SIT OUT IN THE BACK AND DRINK ALL NIGHT.
Good news: We will also be sharing the bathroom with ELEVEN (11) other rooms.
Lovely.
But I am keeping an open mind. Everybody knows TripAdvisor is rigged.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Lessons Learned in 2013
1. Complaining about money and taxes is a really boring conversation.
2. People in positions of power are often kinesthetic learners. They are people of action.
3. I do not need to fear poverty or starvation.
4. It is worth planning for success.
5. Doing the right thing is the cheapest marketing move there is.
6. Carefully planned/imagined dreams do come true.
7. Taking up old sports and hobbies makes all aspects of life richer.
8. Time is abundant.
9. Just saying YES is a life-changing decision.
10. Living by your principles takes courage but people will eventually admire you for it.
11. Upcycling old stuff gives deeper satisfaction than buying new.
12. A face-to-face visit is a million times more productive than Skype or the phone.
13. Give people a choice not to choose you. Then sit, wait, and be patient. They will come back.
14. True happiness requires living below your means.
15. Kids need a routine.
16. Kids need you to say no, too.
17. Your values determine your actions.
18. Most of what ails you can be solved with a change in diet and fasting once in a while.
19. Nature must be experienced, often. Unplug.
20. Listen to instinct. If it feels right, do it. If it feels bad, stop.
21. Human beings are highly psychic.
22. Give give give.
2. People in positions of power are often kinesthetic learners. They are people of action.
3. I do not need to fear poverty or starvation.
4. It is worth planning for success.
5. Doing the right thing is the cheapest marketing move there is.
6. Carefully planned/imagined dreams do come true.
7. Taking up old sports and hobbies makes all aspects of life richer.
8. Time is abundant.
9. Just saying YES is a life-changing decision.
10. Living by your principles takes courage but people will eventually admire you for it.
11. Upcycling old stuff gives deeper satisfaction than buying new.
12. A face-to-face visit is a million times more productive than Skype or the phone.
13. Give people a choice not to choose you. Then sit, wait, and be patient. They will come back.
14. True happiness requires living below your means.
15. Kids need a routine.
16. Kids need you to say no, too.
17. Your values determine your actions.
18. Most of what ails you can be solved with a change in diet and fasting once in a while.
19. Nature must be experienced, often. Unplug.
20. Listen to instinct. If it feels right, do it. If it feels bad, stop.
21. Human beings are highly psychic.
22. Give give give.
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