Total Sales Increase Seven Times 1996 Substantial New Retail Accounts Added
Three Major Lines Receive Award Nominations
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The L. L.
Knickerbocker Co., Inc. (Nasdaq-NNM: KNIC) today announced final figures from
the 94th American International Toyfair, February 14th at the Jacob Javits
Center in New York City. The Company featured The Knickerbocker Collectible
Toy Company, Marie Osmond Fine Porcelain Collector Dolls, the Annette
Funicello Collectible Bear Company and the recently acquired Georgetown
Collection with much enthusiasm. The Expo resulted in 120 new retail
accounts, with existing retailers doubling their orders from last year's
Toyfair, and over $500,000 in sales.
All lines presented at Toyfair received prestigious award nominations and
added to the fury of orders. Collector Communications Corporation's Teddy
Bear Review bestowed their nomination for the "Golden Teddy" award to Annette
Funicello's "Snow White," exclusive to the Disney catalog, "Roseta" and
"Tiara." The Knickerbocker Collectible Toy Company received nominations for
"Patches," "Prudence" and "Alexander."
Marie Osmond's entire line received a nomination "Trendsetter of the Year"
by Business Collectibles and three Dolls magazine "Award of Excellence"
nomination for "Adora Belle," "Elise," and "Peek-A-Boo," the second
collaboration of Marie Osmond and Annette Funicello. Their first joint
venture "I Love You Beary Much" was a sell out on QVC and is to date the
number one selling Collectible.
The Georgetown Collection also received a Dolls "Award for Excellence"
nomination for "Ashley" and "Therese and Tino." Doll Reader presented
nominees for the "Doll of the Year" to Georgetown's "Marisa," "Samantha" and
"Emerald Memories."
Initial discussions were held with TVSN, a 24-hour television home
shopping network located in Australia that broadcast live throughout the
entire Asia-Pacific region. Large orders were also placed by several Las
Vegas casinos, and agreements were made with a Japanese distributor for
placement in their June catalog.
Peggy E. Vicioso, Executive Vice-President of The L. L. Knickerbocker
Company, commenting on results, said "It was a great thrill for Marie Osmond
and the Company to have her line be nominated, for the first time, for these
prestigious awards. Annette Funicello's nomination, for the second year,
added to the excitement at this prominent annual event. The addition of
Georgetown to the Company's brand lines and their nominations, together with
those of The Knickerbocker Collectible Toy Company, made for a special and
very successful show."
Quoting Business Collectibles magazine, she added, "The Collectibles
Business Trendseller award is designed to recognize and encourage companies
that innovate in collectible product form, design, presentation and marketing.
Each of these companies exemplifies innovation and excellence in the product
lines they introduced and marketed in the award year."
"Although growing rapidly, the Company continues to strive to achieve
innovation and excellence in producing and marketing its products, while
building brand names," Ms. Vicioso concluded.
The L. L. Knickerbocker Co., Inc. markets a wide variety of branded
collectibles, jewelry and accessories and consumer products. The Company's
primary focus is to create and build brands which can be marketed through a
variety of channels, including national and international retail and direct
response mail. The Company has a 38.3% equity investment interest in Pure
Energy Corporation, the exclusive worldwide licensee to an alternative fuel
with Patent Pending developed at Princeton University. The Company also has a
25% equity investment interest in Self-Heating Container Corporation (now
known as Ontro, Inc.) and a 25% equity interest in Insta-Heat, Inc., involved
in the development of new products which self-heat liquids and meals in a can. |
