LEONARD M. DVORIN
**** **** *****, ***********, ** 07081 973-***-**** Len.Dvorin @gmail.com
Executive Management - Business Development, R&D, Marketing, Sales
Toy industry executive with extensive experience strategically growing
brands from ideation through implementation in both retail channels and
online sales direct to consumers. A creative, passionate, results oriented
leader driven to succeed. Skillful manager with deep negotiating
expertise, P&L discipline and visionary strategic planning. Consummate
problem solver, quick study change agent and revenue driver.
. Created and marketed over five hundred children's products in forty
countries in diverse categories Boys Action Figures, Preschool,
Battery Operated Toys, Traditional O Gauge Trains, Dolls, Girls
Activity Sets, Crafts, Stuffed Plush Animals, Pinatas and Halloween
products.
. Inventor of Million Dollar Sellers Inchworm, Ready For Takeoff Jumbo
Jet, Baby Burps Doll and Animated Pretty Pets.
. Work directly with China factories, Sourcing Agents, and Quality
Control Laboratories on new product development, prototyping, molds,
material choices, sample approval and shipping logistics.
. Set up affiliations with domestic distribution centers on both coasts
for product fulfillment to provide retailers with merchandise on a
timely basis.
. Managed National Sales Network of highly respected independent agents
to interface with major retail toy buyers in all territories.
Professional Employment
Playworld Corp., Boca Raton, FL 01/2008 - Present
President/Consultant
Hired by Venture Capital Group to launch new toy company. Recognizing the
economic climate,
focus was on making innovative products for the fast growing Children's
Activity space and Arts and Crafts category.
. Licensed the brand name "The Sneaky Chef" to create toy items and take
advantage of the publicity engendered by the success of the Sneaky
Chef books with child friendly, healthy recipes. Named toy line ""The
Sneaky Chef Cooking Academy" and introduced six boxed sets for
children to prepare recipes using uniquely designed child size
utensils following the directions of the laminated recipe cards with
instructions included in each set to keep children away from the
stove.
. Acquired the "Leader Girlz" license for development of craft sets
built upon currently popular themes with Peace, Love and Happiness
icons in each set. Leader Girlz 'Spell It Out Friendship Jewelry" and
"Tips and Toes Manicure/Pedicure Set" were both well received by
consumers and instantly popular with young girls.
. Playworld expanded its product range by obtaining exclusive
distribution rights to "Pancake Puppies" plush animals and the "Making
My Own Pinata" craft activity sets, which have sixteen new items on
the drawing board for 2013. These acquisitions have flourished with
acceptance at both Brick and Mortar retailers and online presence at
Walmart,com, Sears.com, Kmart.com, Wayfair.com plus other notable 'e-
tailers'.
Sales and Marketing LLC, South Orange, NJ 05/2003 - 12/2007
President
Certified Focal Point Business Performance Coach facilitating startup
ventures and turnaround
situations to strategically market diverse consumer products and business
solutions from conception to sales attainment. Buyers included accounts
Toys R Us, Kmart, FAO Schwarz, Kaybee Toy, BJ'S.
. Pro Sports Marketing - Package Design, P.O.P. Displays and creation of
licensed sports tattoos.
. Dunaway Products - Building and managing USA sales effort for
"Starcrossed", Hollywood's game.
. Pamtel Enterprises - Strategic planning and package design for
interactive plush character dolls.
. Del Mar Trading Co. - Developing a sales team for Novelty Toy and Gift
manufacturer.
. Tradeasi Worldwide - Early stage mobile purchasing program for small
business enterprises.
Action Products International Inc., Orlando, FL 09/2001 - 04/2003
Vice President, Marketing and Product Development
P&L and strategic planning responsibility for fifteen proprietary and
licensed brands with over three hundred toy and novelty products.
Supervised the research, creative design, packaging and P.O.P. displays of
one hundred new items in six months. Value of APII stock increased 600%
from 2001 to 2003.
. Obtained the license for Thomas & Friends arts & crafts properties and
brought ten new Thomas items to market by Toy Fair 2002.
. Finalized licensing agreement for Jay, Jay The Jet Plane to be
introduced on television in 2002. At New York Toy Fair put huge wide
screen television high up in trade show booth so buyers have birds eye
view of Jay, Jay action on screen as well as the complete display of
the prototype products to be shipped later in 2002.
. Expanded the Successful Earth Lore I Dig Line to include Treasure
Hunts and the Dino Dig Play Day Party along with the regular Dinosaur
Digs
. Added New Play and Store Take-Along Fun to expand brand to include
thirteen Big Boxes.
. Introduced Kidz Workshop E-Z Build Wood Projects featuring the hit
product All-Star Sports Clock Kit.
Leader Toy Corp., South Orange, NJ 07/1983-08/2001
Chief Executive Officer
Founder and CEO of toy manufacturing company specializing in new product
development and Far East production with sales to the USA, Europe, South
America, Australia and Hong Kong. Work directly in sales to major retail
accounts around the globe.
. Invented, developed and produced high volume sales of "Real Sounds"
brand preschool vehicles including "Ready For Takeoff" Jumbo Jet, "To
The Rescue" Fire Engine, "School Days" School Bus and "All Aboard"
Loco. The "Ready For Takeoff " Jumbo Jet was personally introduced by
Johnny Carson on his television show.
. Sales of ten million dollars worth of battery operated plush of
trademarked scented "Pretty Pets", "Junior Pet Set" and "Walk-Along
Pets".
. Designed and copyrighting unique Troll products "Trollerskater", "Tag-
Along Trolls", "Troll Slammer Jammers" and Seasonal Santa, Mrs. Claus
and Elf Trolls.
H.Corenzwit & Co., Hillside, NJ 05/1978 - 06/1983
Chief Executive Officer
All departments of toy, hobby and sporting goods distributorship reported
directly to me, inclusive of Finance, Sales, Purchasing, Marketing, MIS and
Warehousing. The company employed sixty individuals, with sales personnel
located in nine states. Company provided overnight delivery on all orders
received same day.
. Created innovative marketing programs combining television
advertising, in-store product demonstrations and celebrity appearances
promoting sales of private label electronic handheld games. Major
customers included Macy's, Bloomingdales, J.C.Penney and department
stores across the USA.
. Developed pre-ticketing labeling system for retailers to get products
on retail shelves more rapidly and accurately than their direct
competitors.
. Revenues grew 500% to fifty million dollars per annum from 1978 -
1980.
. Gross margin percentage doubled in five-year period.
Hasbro Inc., Providence, RI 03/1976 - 04/1978
Director of New Product Planning
Worked with President and Vice-Presidents of Product Development, Sales and
Advertising to ascertain strategies to increase market share and
profitability of established toy manufacturer in highly competitive
marketplace.
. Interfaced with independent toy inventors, package design firms and
advertising agency to upgrade presentations to the trade and financial
community.
. Repositioned and revitalized the company premier brand G.I. Joe from a
military action figure to worldwide adventurer.
. Captured ten percent market share in preschool category versus well-
established competitors Fisher Price and Playskool.
. Invented Inchworm Riding Toy that is still in production to this day
at another toy manufacturer.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science Degree (Economics), Wharton School of Business,
Philadelphia, PA