Making toys to treasure
moncler saldi outlet Now he has designs on piumini moncler saldi something bigger: changing piumini moncler the toy industry. Calello is hoping that a toy he invented Automoblox will spark a movement away from disposable plastic toys and a return to toys that can be passed down for generations. That sector has struggled until recently. toy sales increased 0.3 percent last year, reversing a decline from a year earlier, according to market research firm NPD Group Inc. moncler saldi outlet
piumini moncler uomo Automoblox, the company founded to sell the cars made out of wooden building blocks that Calello created, sold about 140,000 of the toys last year, Chief Executive piumini moncler uomo Officer Joe Barrett said. Though the privately held company doesn’t reveal its revenues, that adds up to $4.9 million spent on Automoblox in 2006 moncler saldi (at a retail price of $35 per car). piumini moncler uomo
outlet moncler The toys are sold at some Learning Express stores, at other specialty toy shops and at some museum stores. They consist of wooden blocks, wheels and assorted plastic parts that can be assembled moncler outlet and reassembled to create different kinds of cars. «And none of them have been returned which is a very good thing,» Diaz said. outlet moncler
piumini moncler saldi «We like to say this is the reinvention of the classic wooden car,» Calello moncler outlet serravalle said. And we’re trying to bring substance and quality and moncler saldi real learning benefits,» he said. piumini moncler saldi
moncler donna Children, Calello believes, will learn to take care of their toys if you give them something worth taking care of. moncler donna
moncler saldi A bad message’ moncler saldi
moncler outlet online shop «Your typical mass moncler bambino outlet market toy, usually the box is more exciting than the toy,» he said. «It’s typical to get a Christmas or Hanukkah present and by spring it’s already in the garage sale. I think it’s a bad message to give kids that the moncler outlet trebaseleghe world is disposable.» moncler outlet online shop
moncler outlet online uomo The father of a 4 year old, Calello says: «I’d rather my daughter have five wonderful, delightful toys that are really engaging and have real value than 50 disposable, Happy Meal style toys.» moncler outlet online uomo
moncler bambino saldi Calello, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, is moncler saldi moncleroutlet-i uomo an industrial designer who first had an idea for a high quality toy car made of wood in 1992 moncler outlet online shop while in college. He kept the idea in the back of his mind while pursuing a career in industrial design that included a stint at Colgate Palmolive Co. moncler bambino saldi
moncler uomo A rough year moncler uomo
moncler outlet A rough year, in moncler outlet online uomo which he experienced the separate deaths of his parents and a brother, moved him in 2003 to devote himself full time to making his Automoblox dream a reality. He made a trial run of the cars in 2004 and test marketed them that year. moncler outlet
piumini moncler outlet The company’s first test moncler bambino saldi cars received a good amount of media attention in the toy and automotive press, and for piumini moncler outlet about the first year «the orders came to us. We did no active selling,» Calello said. Since then, the company has put a distribution network in place, with regional sales representatives. piumini moncler outlet
moncler saldi uomo Last year was the company’s first holiday season with widespread distribution and it estimates that it sold about 80,000 of the cars as holiday outlet moncler gifts. moncler saldi uomo
moncler outlet serravalle Barrett signed on as CEO last year after Calello decided he needed someone with experience running companies to help the business grow. moncler outlet serravalle
moncler outlet trebaseleghe Barrett had been involved in a software startup moncler saldi outlet in the 1990s in San Francisco, then had headed an eyewear company based in Hong Kong. Barrett said he was back moncler donna in the United States, working as a consultant, when Calello invited him to join Automoblox. He said he took the job because he believes in the product. moncler outlet trebaseleghe
piumini moncler scontatissimi «I’ve got two very young kids myself, and I’m not always real happy with what they have to play with,» he said. «This is a great toy. How many piumini moncler scontatissimi toys look moncler uomo this beautiful and you can smash them around and they don’t break?» piumini moncler scontatissimi
piumini moncler The toys are made in China, constructed out of high grade beechwood imported from Germany, and shatter resistant plastic parts. piumini moncler
moncler bambino outlet The biggest challenge facing the company, both Calello and Barrett said, is the low profit margin involved in selling a toy that is expensive to make. Also, the company wants to stay in the specialty toy market, but it is hard to do large volume sales in that market moncler bambino outlet.