This year the Toy Industry Hall of Fame inducted Pixar's John Lasseter, the animator and storyteller behind the Toy Story and Cars movie franchises that have been successful as toys, as well. Sam Walton, the founder and visionary behind Walmart, was also inducted. A Walmart executive gave a warm acceptance speech on behalf of Walmart and the Walton family.

            

 

 

Later, after we settled into the business of toyfair I heard someone ask, “Why doesn’t the Toy Industry Hall of Fame induct people actually in our industry and not movie makers or retailers?” They have in the past inducted industry leaders, inventors, and others that toil directly in our industry, but many of the honorees are from other industries. 

            

 

 

It is a good question, I think. Perhaps we need a special section in the Toy Hall of Fame for “Honorary Inductees,” much like honorary doctorates. There are, after all, many outside our industry who have been tangentially important to our industry - but they are not of the Toy Industry. There is no Oscar category for Best-Toy-Based-on-a-Movie, to my knowledge. 

 

 

           

Honorary doctorates are not real degrees based on years of study, real work, or accomplishment, and are distinguished as such from the real thing. Recognition of others by our industry may be appropriate or useful, but as they are not of our industry, perhaps they should not be placed alongside those who are actual industry veterans. 

            

There’s my two cents on the matter . . . What do you think?

 

P.S.  A very big Kudos to my team who scheduled, planned, prepared and executed this year's Toy Fair trip flawlessly.

 

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