Chris Byrne Quotations

What we're really trying to do is to be an integral part of the Pennsylvania jazz scene.

The popularity of plug-and-play games is indicative of what's happening with technology in general,

Moms will probably draw a line on these dolls but they're a good 'allowance' toy for kids on a weekly or monthly budget, ... They're goofy, gross, inexpensive and a classic buy for a 5-year-old boy.

On one level, the Hollywood-like romance is tongue-in-cheek. But on the other level, it means serious business.

Batman is such a strong property for Mattel, especially among boys between 4 to 6 years old. One recall is unlikely to affect the brand, ... Mattel did the responsible thing and I don't think this recall will affect the launch of the new Batman toys.

If it's a way of expanding toys into a year-long business, then electronics and furnishings make sense,

Historically, toys have always reflected our culture at any particular point in time, ... Today we live in a high-tech world, where technology is being used by kids even at a very young age. Toymakers are responding to that trend.

Kids are very comfortable with technology and these toys reflect that. When the microwave and car talk to you it's perfectly reasonable that toys do. But it comes down to whether it's fun. All the chips in the world won't make a bad toy good.

KB hasn't articulated a strategy about what they're doing yet, but need to stock a lot of the hot toys. It isn't really a destination store but the fact that they're mall-based helps because parents are in the mall anyway.

I think Barbie is in another transitional period.

I think this will really help. Look at what Target has done in establishing itself as a resource for consumers. Toys R Us is struggling to become a destination for toys so it makes perfect sense.

Parents are looking for products, and increasingly they are agnostic about where they get those products. And with gas prices the way they are they want to go where it's easiest.

Parents are looking for options that allow kids to incorporate physical activity into their play -- even at younger ages. Cranium first defined what that active experience should be for preschoolers with its Cranium Hullabaloo game. With the Hullabaloo DVD Game, Cranium expands the activity by providing an immersive animal environment that will keep kids engaged and playing even longer.

Star Wars' is a 20-year-old brand. When the next 'Star Wars' movie comes out, there's going to be much more interest in the product.

I think he'll provide a nice balance to the merchants who are running the company.

When I first started, my shots kept going right and I thought, well, this isn't that fun. But the more you practice, the better your accuracy and the farther you can throw. Then you start to get a good feeling, the more good shots you can make, and then it's got a hold of you.

We are living in a gadget-driven world, and kids want their own gadgets. It makes them feel like they're part of the whole culture.

Toys 'R' Us will close some of its stores but it's not going away, ... You can't lose sight of how the consumer perceives this retailer. The company has taken a knock but consumers still see it as a powerful brand.

Toymakers are bringing back proven hits because it's less risky than betting on something new,

There are a lot of obstacles and you really have to think and make the best decisions possible. You look at the decisions you make, and that's really what makes up your score.

When Ruth Handler introduced Barbie in 1959, she didn't want any story attached to the doll whatsoever, because she wanted the girls to create it all out of their imaginations. Today, girls interact with story in a different way. They're used to watching television shows, they're used to having characters brought to life for them in dramatic ways.

What used to distinguish a toy from an adult product was a child's ability to work it.

As the toy industry defines itself as an industry of family entertainment, there are signs of real significant health and growth.

All of us at NHT are very excited about our new partners, ... The combined influences of dramatic market change and the increasing pallet of new technologies to improve audio products make it necessary for companies like ours to evolve beyond passive loudspeaker design. With the substantial resources Vinci brings to NHT, we are in a great position for growth.

It spreads the wealth around the industry, and acknowledges that not every kid wants the same toys.

It's definitely a way to reclaim some market share, but how do you get a kid to want it? Kids are more proficient with technology than Mom and Dad. The traditional barrier to what made something a toy has really dissolved... why shouldn't they have the real thing?

It's certainly getting grown-ups like you talking about Barbie, and the metaphor that they are using reflects the majority of people's fascination with celebrity.

Things come and go, but the Ant Farm is very much like Barbie or G.I. Joe or Hot Wheels that have managed to survive. The novelty was creating a whole world that you can see.

If you can demonstrate a good value to the consumer, he or she will buy it. But you look at the toys that have done well, and retailers are marking them down. They are leaving money on the table they needn't, because consumers are really willing to pay for things.

If you're from a city like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, you've most likely heard jazz. You might not have heard jazz if you're from a rural area.

If you look at the business historically, it's been really cyclical. There have been these major events in her life when she's been redefined -- the early 70s, the early 80s and the late 90s. The struggle is to keep Barbie relevant to today's girls. I think they are working on that but I think its going to be a while before it pays off.

He's a guy who really fosters creativity and creative product development, which is exactly what is needed right now, ... By streamlining they'll be able to respond to the marketplace as it evolves.