Apr 23, 2009

Title Wave

Burlington, Vermont – Rich Frog Industries, a toy manufacturer from Burlington, Vermont, is a company that does things a little differently. Whereas most company owners would choose to call themselves President or CEO, at Rich Frog, Maarten van Ryckevorsel’s business card reads Frog Prince. His wife and business partner, Sarah, holds the title Queen Bee. “Hey, if we were selling pipe fittings or copper wire, it would be a different matter,” says van Ryckevorsel, “but we’re a toy maker! We’re entitled – pun intended – to have a little fun with our jobs.”

As it turns out, Rich Frog employees are all given the opportunity to choose their own job titles. And so it is that instead of an office manager Rich Frog has a Zookeeper, and instead of a warehouse manager the company has a Tightrope Walker. One of Rich Frog’s customer service representatives is known as Little Cheese, while another, realizing it was probably the closest he would ever get to realizing his true life’s ambition, chose the title Rock Star. Finally there’s John Gallagher, who manages the unruly and sometimes rowdy sales force in the field. His choice of job title is clear, he’s the Lion Tamer. “I thought for a moment about ‘Director of National and International Sales and Marketing'”, says Gallagher, “but really, what would you rather be?” For the folks at Rich Frog, the answer to that question seems clear.

Rich Frog Industries, a Burlington, Vermont based designer, manufacturer and wholesaler specializing in classic and colorful children’s toys and gifts. For images or addition information, please contact Sarah Gaboriault at (802) 865-9225 or sg@richfrog.com.