Fisher-Price

Founded in 1930, Fisher-Price came from the name of two of the original founders of the company: Herman Fisher and Irving Price. These persons were able to come together and use their skills to start a toy company. Fisher had prior experience in sales and manufacture of games in New York and Price used to work in a store. Their third member, Helen Schelle was ironically has the most experience in toys as she used to operate a toy store also in the same state. The turning point of their success was barely a year after they founded the company. At the International Toy Fair in New York, all of the 16 toys they created became very popular. Today, Fisher-Price’s toys are among the best in the world.

Until today, Fisher-Price toys use the same philosophy their original founder had. The toys of Fisher-Price have to be safe, child friendly and a toy in itself. In fact, the very first toys of Fisher-Price were mostly made of metals so that the kids will not have any blisters while playing with them. Plastic was only used in the company in mid 1950s. These increased the number of products they could create since the ease of creating things using plastic is obviously there. From the time of company was founded, Fisher-Price was able to introduce more than 5,000 different types of toys. Even though they now use wood in some of their products, they use the latest technology to ensure safety.

But Fisher-Price has been under fire lately because of the latest recall they made of their toys. Because of China’s way of manufacturing certain products, Fisher-Price recalled a whopping number of products - close to a million toys. These toys were suspected to have lead-based paint, a very dangerous material especially for kids as they could be placed these toys in their mouths unmonitored. Even their toys with popular names such as Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street were recalled for the very same reason. Some say it cost the company millions of dollars but the figures could even reach billions considering to the effect to other products in various countries.

Fisher-Price’s presence is felt worldwide. Across America both north and the south, the European countries, Africa and Asia, the products are available in various languages at the same time. Fisher-Price is usually represented in these countries by Mattel, their mother company. If the company doesn’t have a Mattel headquarters, they are represented by the country’s leading distributor of toys. There are also international sites in various languages in order for the company to cater to local requests of the products.

For decades, Fisher-Price has created toys not only for growing kids but for toddlers as well. Their reputation of being child friendly and safe has never waned even with the recent controversy. The idea of giving kids the toys that are sturdy, safe and somehow educational is still there. As the original idea of the company founders are based in these beliefs, the company continues to impress the parents and entertain the kids with their toys.