Last month, Learning Express Toys (LE Toys) hosted a franchise-wide convention in San Antonio, Texas, that included store owners, store managers, home office employees, and vendors. During the event, LE Toys presented its vendors with awards.
“We want to recognize our distinguished vendors and to show appreciation for their partnership, as well as their ingenuity and proficiency creating toys with exceptional play value,” says Sharon DiMinico, the founder of LE Toys.
• Best New Vendor Award: Two Bro Bows
• Best Marketing Program Award: Melissa and Doug
• Top Sales Awards: Melissa and Doug (first place), Lego (second place), Toysmith (third place)
• Vendor of the Year Award: The Orb Factory
Learning Express Toys also awarded product awards to vendors whose products were new to the franchise last fall or this spring. Product awards are based on originality, creativity, leading-edge design, and sales performance in each of the following categories:
• Books: Awesome Doodle Pad & Delightful Doodle Pad, from EDC Publishing
• Arts and Crafts: Shaggy Pillow Pony Kit (a Learning Express Toys exclusive), from The Orb Factory
• Plush: Beanie Boos, from Ty
• Science: Phantom Thinking Putty, from Crazy Aaron’s PuttyWorld
• Fashion/Tween: Logo Loops, from Logo Loops
• Games: Gravity Maze, from ThinkFun
• Infant/Toddler: NogginStik, from Smart Noggin
• Construction: Friends and City Advent Calendars, from Lego
• Action, Skill, and Sports: Ultra Glow Air Power Soccer Disk, from Toysmith
• Party Favors: Shopkins, from License to Play
• Preschool: Squigz Starter Set, from Fat Brain Toys
• Toy of the Year: Beanie Boos, from Ty
