Can We Preserve our Close-Knit Industry?
By Nancy Zwiers
Few major industries are as close-knit as the toy industry. Many people say they love their jobs, or their companies, but how many people say they love their industry. I know I do, and it begs the question: How did we become such a strong community full of business competitors? And amidst the changes wrought by the pandemic, how can we preserve this sense of shared community?
Let’s look at the ways we have forged connections beyond our own companies:
In the face of the pandemic, we’ve had to sacrifice much of the physical togetherness we’ve come to appreciate so much. Our virtual gatherings are a decent stop gap but surely not a replacement for physical togetherness IRL. While I suspect some events/shows may never regain their former glory of “perceived essentialness,” we can each do our part to help preserve a core slate of annual events that keep us coming together throughout the year. I know I’m not the only one who loves how close knit our industry is…let’s keep it that way!
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