Applause Inc. was a company that produced

stuffed toy A stuffed toy is a toy with an outer fabric sewn from a textile and stuffed with flexible material. They are known by many names, such as plush toys, plushies, lovies and stuffies; in Britain and Australia, they may also be called soft toys ...

s and collectible figurines. Its principal subsidiaries included Dakin Inc. and International Tropic-Cal Inc. The Applause brand survives as part of

Kid Brands Kid Brands, Inc. () was a company that designed, developed and distributed infant and juvenile branded products. These products were distributed through mass market, baby super stores, specialty, food, drug, independent, and e-commerce retailers ...

History

The company was founded as The Wallace Berrie Company in 1966 by Wallace Berrie. In 1979, the company acquired the Applause division from Knickerbocker Toys. In 1986, the company changed its name to Applause Inc after a purchase by Jerrald A. Plebiew. In 1992, Applause released the Magic Trolls Babies toy line.

R. Dakin & Co.

On April 1, 1955, Richard Dakin, a San Francisco entrepreneur, started a business importing shotguns from Europe. In 1957, his son, Roger, joined and imported battery-operated trains, and the manufacturer also sent samples of small, sawdust-filled cotton-velveteen-covered toys. Roger quickly booked an order for three hundred pieces from a nearby department store. On 20 December 1966, Richard Dakin, Richard Dakin's wife, Roger Dakin, Roger Dakin's wife, and Roger Dakin's four children died in a plane crash.

Dakin merger

From 1991 to 1995, the company built a retail business by focusing on entertainment licensed brands with in-store merchandising displays. In late 1995, the company acquired Dakin Inc., a stuffed animals company. This acquisition strengthened Applause's generic stuffed animal business to balance out its entertainment license portfolio. Applause created a Strategic Alliances Group to oversee products for food-related and premium-based programs. In 1998, the company produced fast food toys for children's franchises.

Bankruptcy, suicide, and auction

In 2004. CEO Bob Solomon committed suicide once it became apparent the company was not going to survive. The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after his death. The Applause name was acquired by

Russ Berrie Kid Brands, Inc. () was a company that designed, developed and distributed infant and juvenile branded products. These products were distributed through mass market, baby super stores, specialty, food, drug, independent, and e-commerce retailers ...

in a bankruptcy auction.

Sources

* "Applause, a Novelty Maker, Sold to Management Group," ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', September 26, 1997, p. C4(N)/D4(L). * "Custom Warehousing, Distributor Services Pay; Dakin, Stafford Make a Winning Combination," Playthings, May 31, 1989, p. 10. * "Applause to Sell Name; Bankrupt Toy Company's Label to be Shed for $4 Million," Los Angeles Daily News, September 30, 2004.

References

External links

Applause Inc
Fundinguniverse.com {{Teddy bears Toy brands Toy companies established in 1966 Defunct manufacturing companies based in Greater Los Angeles Toy companies of the United States 1966 establishments in California American companies established in 1966