Feb 4, 2020

WTHRA’s 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees

Western Toy & Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) has recognized three remarkable people to induct into the Hall of Fame this year. WTHRA looks forward to honoring and congratulating all of these recipients on March 8, 2020 at the Annual ToyFest West Awards Gala, located in the South Point Hotel Grand Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. All event participants are welcome and encouraged to attend and meet with friends and colleagues.

Hall of Fame 2020

Western Toy & Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) has recognized three remarkable people to induct into the Hall of Fame this year: Kari and Ed Dodd of Classic Toys in Alaska, Melissa Moore from Toy Crazy in Southern California and Donna Songer, Sales Rep for Wildthings.

Kari and Ed Dodd, Classic Toys

Kari and Ed Dodd purchased Classic Toys in January of 1998 from the original owners Jo Michalski and Jana Hayenga (sisters) who opened the store in January of 1985. Previously Ed was operating three Texaco gas stations and Kari was working at a bookstore next door to Classic Toys, also owned by Jo and Jana. When a local commercial real-estate agent came into the gas station who told Ed Classic Toys was for sale, Kari and Ed believed it to be the right investment. They both agreed it would be a 5-year trial basis. After the first five went well, the next five were the same and so on.

Kari handles all the toy buying while Ed manages the logistics, warehouse and payroll. Ed also spends December on the sales floor relieving the employees from the holiday pressure. They both have a home office and have enjoyed the work from home lifestyle to raise their son Jack. They continue to enjoy home offices and are proud of the fact they typically employ 10-12 staff members, with having only had a grand total of 86 employees in 21 years. Their staff is a great group that understands work is a tool, treat it with respect and it will work for you forever.

Over the years Classic Toys has received many Best Toy Store awards, but the greatest reward for Kari and Ed is the growing number of parents returning to share their story of how they grew up coming to the store and are thrilled to be back with their children. The business is living and breathing and the people don’t care so much about who owns it but rather that it is exactly how they remember it and its being taken care of.

Melissa Moore, Toy Crazy

Melissa Moore started in the toy industry working for the Toy Attic with owner Sharon Hill as a freshman in high school. Shortly after she began her career in toys, Hill sold the Toy Attic to Mike and Jeanne Nissen. She continued to work at the store for seven years, sometimes over summer break while attending college. She also worked at another toy store in Chico where she attended university. After graduating, Melissa worked for a short time as a sales representative for the Toy Sellers Group, realizing a life on the road was not for her.

Sharon Hill had opened another Toy Attic after she sold her first one to the Nissen’s and in 1998 Moore purchased that Toy Attic located in Malibu and changed the name to Toy Crazy. In 2005 Moore opened her second store in Santa Monica/Brentwood. In 2010 she opened her 3rd location in Montecito and in 2014 she ventured north into Marin County and opened her 4^th location. Toy Crazy has been previously honored with ToyFest’s Retailer of the Month in 2018 as well as WTHRA’s Retailer of the Year award in 2011.

Donna Songer, Wildthings

Donna Songer was hired by Ernie DiBenedetto to join Toy Sellers in 1986. Her territory was Northern CA, just south of San Francisco to Big Sur. In 1997 she went to work with Linn Porep Associates for a couple of years before starting Wildthings Sales & Marketing with Harry Clayton.

Retailer of the Year

A Child’s Delight, located in Northern California, will be recognized as Retailer of the Year by WTHRA for outstanding customer service, community involvement and many years of distinguished service in the toy industry.

A Child’s Delight first opened its doors in 1994 at the Northgate Mall in San Rafael, California. After having success as a holiday pop up shop, the store expanded in the mall with a full-size store. Since that first opening, customers have been consistently enchanted by the high-quality, lovingly chosen products they can find there.

The store later expanded to a location in Corte Madera, CA and is now owned and operated by Jonathan Meyer. A Child’s Delight is on a mission to help kids unleash their creativity with a wide selection of wholesome toys. In the store, the only limit to the fun and adventures a kid can have is their own imagination.

“Due to the merchandising and layout genius of my wife Deborah, we very consistently get enthusiastic raves from new customers about our presentation and overall vibe,” said Meyer.

The store has unicorns that can lead children on a journey through an enchanted forest and books that can let children envision an entire universe that’s painted on the pages, or they can find a new friend in one of the cozy stuffed animals. Childhood is a magical time illuminated by the endless wonder of a child’s own imagination – A Child’s Delight is there to help give them the tools they need to create.

The store has won many Best Toy Store awards in local publications and Hall of Fame in the Pacific Sun newspaper after winning Best Toy Store, five years in a row. A Child’s Delight also received WTHRA’s Retailer of the Month in January 2019. Owner, Jonathan maintains a goal of being a true resource for families, providing them with the wholesome, imaginative toys for children of all ages that are so rapidly disappearing in this age of mass market and big-box stores. There is always someone at the store available to advise customers as to the most appropriate gift for any particular child, based on age, gender, and interests.

ToyFest West is hosted by Western Toy & Hobby Representatives Association and will take place at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa March 8-10, 2020.

ToyFest West 2020 Show Times

• Sunday, March 8: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Monday, March 9: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 10: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information or to review all of our past recipients please visit toyfestwest.com.