Have you met Gilbert yet? As the friendly face behind the Toy Desk, his job is to make getting support from The Toy Association easier than ever. The Bloom Report editors recently caught up with Gilbert to talk about his origin story, how the Toy Desk came about, and how he’s helping members find answers.

Hi Gilbert, Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us. First things first! What is your role at The Toy Association?
Gilbert: I’m Gilbert, your trusty guide to the Toy Desk! Think of me as your first stop whenever you have a question for The Toy Association. I may not have all the answers myself (I leave the policy questions to our advocacy team and the technical standards to the experts), but I know exactly who does. My job is simply to help members find answers.

Why are you named Gilbert?
Gilbert: It’s an honor to be named after A.C. Gilbert, the inventor of the Erector set, an Olympian, entrepreneur, and founder of The Toy Association (then the Toy Manufacturers of America) in 1916. He believed that toys inspire creativity, curiosity, and innovation. More than a century later, those same values continue to guide our industry. I like to think I'm carrying that legacy forward, just with a few more emails.

Why did The Toy Association create the Toy Desk?
Gilbert: Because getting help shouldn’t feel like assembling a toy without the instruction sheet. People have questions about advocacy, regulations, Toy Fair, the Toy Building, media opportunities, networking, membership benefits — you name it. Instead of wondering who to contact or which department handles what, the Toy Desk gives you one place to start. We’ll take it from there.

How did you land this gig?
Gilbert: Well, I interviewed against a teddy bear, a building block, and a rubber duck ... just kidding. I like to think the job found me! The Toy Desk is a service built for our members, and having an approachable guide reminds everyone that there are real people behind every request who are ready to respond. Add a friendly mascot who's passionate about helping people, and you’ve got a pretty perfect match.

If you could describe yourself as a toy, what would you choose?
Gilbert: Even though I look like a bouncing ball, I’d pick a building set! I’m all about making connections. I connect members with experts, ideas with resources, and questions with answers. Piece by piece, everything comes together.

Click here for more information and to visit the Toy Desk.