To borrow an overused phrase that has cropped up throughout the pandemic, “We are living in unprecedented times.”
No matter which political party you belong to or don’t belong to, the undeniable fact is that we are collectively experiencing historic events that, whether you like it or not, will impact our business going forward. Whatever changes are coming, the toy industry will not be immune.
When voters cast their ballots in November, they will choose either the Republican nominee, former President Donald J. Trump, or the Democratic nominee, which as of this writing is likely to be Vice President Kamala Harris. Whatever happens during the next transition of power, I believe it will be another tumultuous four years.
As we play, we should be aware of ourselves and others—constantly “watching the room” to frequently check the atmosphere.
On LinkedIn (my favorite social platform besides Instagram), friction has heated up, and reds and blues are starting to seep into conversations in potentially divisive ways.
like mike
A few years ago, a colleague at one of our industry trade shows asked me to weigh in on a topic that could easily force answers to align with a particular political party. I paused and said I preferred “Michael Jordan’s way.”
Everyone buys toys—Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between.
Four years ago, in a promotional video for an ESPN documentary last danceA famous quote from the Chicago Bulls legend is making the rounds again: “Republicans buy sneakers, too.”
The comment came up during the 1990 election cycle, with Jordan slightly retorting that it was “joking.” At the time, Jordan, Nike’s most prominent endorser, was asked to publicly endorse a Democratic candidate in the North Carolina Senate race. In my opinion, he wisely refused to do so. He called because it was good for business.
While we will never agree with everyone’s political views, we should be able to agree that almost everyone wants to do the right thing for their children in life. No matter who wins the White House next year, birthdays and holidays will still come, and parents, grandparents and countless others will be looking for the best toys and games to give as gifts to their children.
Disagreement does not mean that one is a bad person by default. Wrong ideal? Maybe, but that’s just a matter of opinion.
Keep society civilized
Not surprisingly, I firmly believe in freedom of speech and expression, including on social media. My point is that what individuals post on their personal social media platforms is their own business – but it’s important to note that LinkedIn is a place where everyone you work with (or may work with in the future) will watch.
This week has been a turning point, with strong opinions emerging and passion easily turning into protest and protest into polarization. Some people may not care about creating conflict as long as they are prepared to deal with the consequences.
Focus on business
Since 2017, the toy industry has encountered challenges again and again. We live in it. The only constant is change and nothing will ever be the same again.
In a field filled with creative people, we should look to the future with a mindset around change.
More mergers and acquisitions are coming, and some existing companies will not survive the next administration.
Reshoring and nearshoring were hot topics a few years ago and should be top of mind, as should the real potential of another U.S.-China trade war with all the tariffs (or threats of tariffs) it might bring.
The dismal state of U.S. toy retailing
While there are many external factors beyond the industry’s control, I firmly believe that one of the biggest can be addressed through thoughtful collaboration – the lack of excitement in mass retail. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You can’t simply stack boxes of toys and games on a shelf and expect them to sell on their own. And you certainly can’t sell empty shelves and hooks in an aisle that looks like a garage sale.
Of course, this is just my opinion.
