Applause Inc. was a company that produced stuffed toys and collectible figurines. The company produced licensed toys from Warner Bros., Disney, and Jim Henson's Muppets. Its principal subsidiaries included Dakin Inc. and International Tropic-Cal Inc. The Applause brand survives as part of Kid Brands.
The company was founded as The Wallace Berrie Company in 1966 by Wallace Berrie. In 1979 the company obtained worldwide rights to The Smurfs and released figurines in 1979 at $1.50 each. The figurines became one of the best-selling toys of 1982. That year, the company acquired the Applause division from Knickerbocker Toys, which came with the licenses to Disney, Sesame Street, and Raggedy Ann and Andy. In 1986, the company changed its name to Applause Inc. and released California Raisins merchandise. It would also produce various Batman merchandise, focusing largely on small figures and dolls, from the late 1980s into the early 1990s. In 1992, Applause released the Magic Trolls Babies toy line.
R. Dakin & Co.
On April 1, 1955, Richard Dakin, a San Francisco entrepreneur, started a business importing shotguns from Europe.[1] In 1957, his son, Roger, joined and imported battery-operated trains, and the manufacturer also sent samples of small, sawdust-filled cotton-velveteen-covered toys.[1] Roger quickly booked an order for three hundred pieces from a nearby department store.[1] On 20 December 1966, Richard Dakin, and his wife, Roger Dakin, and his wife and four children, died in a plane crash.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Dakin merger
From 1991 to 1995, the company built a retail business by focusing on entertainment licensed brands with in-store merchandising displays for entertainment properties, e.g. The Lion King, The Flintstones, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Also during this period, one of the most significant events was the company's acquisition of the licensed rights to the very popular Looney Tunes characters.
In late 1995 the company acquired Dakin Inc., a stuffed animals company. This acquisition strengthened Applause's generic stuffed animal business to balance out its already strong entertainment license portfolio.
In 2004 CEO Bob Solomon killed himself once it became apparent the company was not going to survive. The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after his death. The Applause name was acquired by Russ Berrie in a bankruptcy auction.[9][10]
Sources
"Applause, a Novelty Maker, Sold to Management Group," The New York Times, September 26, 1997, p. C4(N)/D4(L).
Bozman, Jean S., "New, Tougher Garfield Emerges," Computerworld, February 17, 1992, p. 53.
Cuneo, Alice Z., "Hot Raisins; It's Licensed Products That Bring Big Bucks," Advertising Age, May 16, 1988, p. 30.
"Custom Warehousing, Distributor Services Pay; Dakin, Stafford Make a Winning Combination," Playthings, May 31, 1989, p. 10.
"Applause to Sell Name; Bankrupt Toy Company's Label to be Shed for $4 Million," Los Angeles Daily News, September 30, 2004.
References
^ abcd"Excerpt from: 'The Great Beanie Baby Bubble'". Penguin Random House Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
^"Henry Dakin Obituary". Legacy.com. Ukiah, CA: San Francisco Chronicle. 2010.
^Walsh, Margaret (1992). "Plush Endeavors: An Analysis of the Modern American Soft-Toy Industry". Business History Review. 66 (4): 637–670. doi:10.2307/3116843. JSTOR 3116843. S2CID 155455358. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
^Brent Hopkins (September 30, 2004). "APPLAUSE TO SELL NAME - Bankrupt Toy Company's Label to be Shed for $4 Million". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
^"Anatomy of a Meltdown - November 1, 2004". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
External links
Applause Inc Fundinguniverse.com
August 24, 2023
applause, company, this, article, contains, content, that, written, like, advertisement, please, help, improve, removing, promotional, content, inappropriate, external, links, adding, encyclopedic, content, written, from, neutral, point, view, july, 2023, lear. This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Applause Inc was a company that produced stuffed toys and collectible figurines The company produced licensed toys from Warner Bros Disney and Jim Henson s Muppets Its principal subsidiaries included Dakin Inc and International Tropic Cal Inc The Applause brand survives as part of Kid Brands Applause Inc TypePrivateIndustryStuffed toyFounded1966 as The Wallace Berrie CompanyDefunct2004Headquarters6101 Variel Avenue P O Box 4183 Woodland Hills California 91365 4183 U S A OwnerRuss BerrieNumber of employees600 Contents 1 History 1 1 R Dakin amp Co 1 2 Dakin merger 1 3 Bankruptcy suicide and auction 1 4 Sources 2 References 3 External linksHistory EditThe company was founded as The Wallace Berrie Company in 1966 by Wallace Berrie In 1979 the company obtained worldwide rights to The Smurfs and released figurines in 1979 at 1 50 each The figurines became one of the best selling toys of 1982 That year the company acquired the Applause division from Knickerbocker Toys which came with the licenses to Disney Sesame Street and Raggedy Ann and Andy In 1986 the company changed its name to Applause Inc and released California Raisins merchandise It would also produce various Batman merchandise focusing largely on small figures and dolls from the late 1980s into the early 1990s In 1992 Applause released the Magic Trolls Babies toy line R Dakin amp Co Edit On April 1 1955 Richard Dakin a San Francisco entrepreneur started a business importing shotguns from Europe 1 In 1957 his son Roger joined and imported battery operated trains and the manufacturer also sent samples of small sawdust filled cotton velveteen covered toys 1 Roger quickly booked an order for three hundred pieces from a nearby department store 1 On 20 December 1966 Richard Dakin and his wife Roger Dakin and his wife and four children died in a plane crash 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dakin merger Edit From 1991 to 1995 the company built a retail business by focusing on entertainment licensed brands with in store merchandising displays for entertainment properties e g The Lion King The Flintstones Pocahontas The Little Mermaid Star Trek and Star Wars Also during this period one of the most significant events was the company s acquisition of the licensed rights to the very popular Looney Tunes characters In late 1995 the company acquired Dakin Inc a stuffed animals company This acquisition strengthened Applause s generic stuffed animal business to balance out its already strong entertainment license portfolio Applause created a Strategic Alliances Group to oversee products for food related and premium based programs such as from Taco Bell KFC Kellogg s General Mills and Pillsbury In 1998 the company produced fast food toys for A Bug s Life Mulan Pokemon KFC and Godzilla Bankruptcy suicide and auction Edit In 2004 CEO Bob Solomon killed himself once it became apparent the company was not going to survive The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after his death The Applause name was acquired by Russ Berrie in a bankruptcy auction 9 10 Sources Edit Applause a Novelty Maker Sold to Management Group The New York Times September 26 1997 p C4 N D4 L Bozman Jean S New Tougher Garfield Emerges Computerworld February 17 1992 p 53 Cuneo Alice Z Hot Raisins It s Licensed Products That Bring Big Bucks Advertising Age May 16 1988 p 30 Custom Warehousing Distributor Services Pay Dakin Stafford Make a Winning Combination Playthings May 31 1989 p 10 Applause to Sell Name Bankrupt Toy Company s Label to be Shed for 4 Million Los Angeles Daily News September 30 2004 References Edit a b c d Excerpt from The Great Beanie Baby Bubble Penguin Random House Canada Retrieved 28 July 2023 Henry Dakin Obituary Legacy com Ukiah CA San Francisco Chronicle 2010 Walsh Margaret 1992 Plush Endeavors An Analysis of the Modern American Soft Toy Industry Business History Review 66 4 637 670 doi 10 2307 3116843 JSTOR 3116843 S2CID 155455358 Retrieved 28 July 2023 Said Carolyn July 27 2012 Counterfeit goods plague toymakers sfgate com Retrieved 28 July 2023 Plush Beginnings Dakin Turns 45 Gifts amp Decorative Accessories 1 December 2000 Retrieved 28 July 2023 Woman of California biodiversitylibrary org The Landmark landmarkssociety com Fall 2013 Bancroftiana berkeley edu May 1967 Brent Hopkins September 30 2004 APPLAUSE TO SELL NAME Bankrupt Toy Company s Label to be Shed for 4 Million Los Angeles Daily News Retrieved July 30 2017 Anatomy of a Meltdown November 1 2004 money cnn com Retrieved 28 July 2023 External links EditApplause Inc Fundinguniverse com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Applause toy company amp oldid 1171297111, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
