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NH OUTLOOK, Monday, 7/7/03

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Hello
HELLO. I'M ALLISON MCNAIR. WELCOME TO NH OUTLOOK.
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Preshow #1
IN THIS EDITION. IT'S ALL ABOUT BUSINESS AND MAKING IT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
YOU'LL MEET THE LITTLETON MAN BEHIND THE LARGEST MAIL ORDER STAMP COLLECTING BUSINESS IN THE WORLD.
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Preshow #2
YOU'LL ALSO MEET THE MAN BEHIND COLEBROOK'S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL AND CONTROVERSIAL USED EQUIPMENT BUSINESS WHERE YOU LITERALLY CAN GET ACRES AND ACRES OF DEALS.
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Preshow #3
YOU'LL SEE HOW A 4-H PROJECT RAISING DAIRY COWS TURNED INTO A BUSINESS MAKING PUDDING.
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Preshow #4
AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE CREATIVE PROCESS FOR TOYMAKERS IN NASHUA.
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Intro Littleton Coin
FIRST, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL STAMP AND COIN COLLECTING BUSINESSES IS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MAYNARD SUNDMAN HAS BEEN GROWING HIS COMPANY IN LITTLETON FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
THERESA KENNETT INTRODUCES US TO A MAN WHO DISCOVERED HIS LIVELIHOOD BY CHANCE AS A YOUNG BOY.
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Littleton Coin
MAYNARD AT 00:48 - 00:56
IT WAS PROBABLY 14 BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS 12 BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I WAS VERY YOUNG
2 SHOT OF T AND MAYNARD AT 48:44
MAYNARD SUNDMAN KNEW HE WANTED TO START HIS OWN STAMP BUSINESS FROM THE MOMENT HE SAW HIS FRIEND'S COLLECTION.
MAYNARD AT 1:57
I WAS ABSOLUTELY, I'D SAY WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?
JUMP CUT - COVER JUMP WITH 53:41 - FACE SHOT OF TLK
MAYNARD AT 2:19
WHEN MY FOLKS CAME TO PICK ME UP THAT'S ALL I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I NEVER STOPPED.
00:01; 00:12 - PICTURE OF STAMPS AND LETTERHEAD
FROM 1935 TO 1941, SUNDMAN OPERATED THE MAYNARD SUNDMAN STAMP CO. OUT OF HIS PARENTS HOME IN CONNECTICUT.
COVER WITH PHOTO AT 01:15 SECOND TAPE - MAYNARD IN UNIFORM
IN 1941 HE WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY.
1:54:42 - ARM AROUND FANNIE
THAT SAME YEAR HE MARRIED FANNIE KASPER.
MAYNARD AT 5:38
BOY WAS SHE A SMART GAL. POLISH GIRL.
2 SHOT OF T AND MAYNARD 47:30??
MAYNARD AND FANNIE'S DREAM WAS TO START A MAIL ORDER STAMP BUSINESS IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. DURING MAYNARD'S LAST YEAR OF DUTY, FANNIE SCOUTED LOCATIONS.
MAYNARD AT 8:24
SHE TOOK THE TRAIN AND CHECKED THEM ALL, BUT LITTLETON STOOD OUT AND OF COURSE SHE WAS RIGHT AGAIN.
COVER JUMP WITH 1:56:51 - PICTURE OF FANNIE
8:52 -TLK VOICE
WHAT IMPRESSED HER?
JUST WHAT IMPRESSES EVERYONE, THE GENERAL APPEARANCE, AND THE POST OFFICE AND OF COURSE SHE WAS IN THE THAYER HOTEL.
COVER 1:54:51 - OLD PHOTO OF OUTSIDE OF BUILDING
THE LITTLETON STAMP COMPANY WAS BORN IN 1945 IN A SECOND STORY,
COVER 1:55:23 - PHOTO OF OPERATIONS
2-ROOM OFFICE SPACE IN THE TILTON OPERA BLOCK. RENT $50 A MONTH.
MAYNARD 14:29 - 15:07
IT WAS AMUSING AT TIMES TOO BECAUSE NATURALLY SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THE THING WOULD GO UNDER, WHY WOULDN'T THEY.
COVER WITH JPEGS - SHOT OF HARRIS AND COMPANY SIGN
BUT THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM HE HARRIS, PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PHILATELIC MAIL ORDER FIRM IN THE WORLD, MAYNARD'S COMPANY WAS OFF TO A STRONG START. EMPLOYEES GREW FROM 4 TO 40 DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, THIS RAPID GROWTH WAS DUE IN PART TO ONE OF MAYNARD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIONS -
COVER 1:05;
ADVERTISING IN NON-TRADITIONAL TRADE MAGAZINES AND SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS.
TODAY'S MAIN STREET SHOTS
BY 1954 THE COMPANY HAD TAKEN OVER THE ENTIRE THIRD STORY OF THE OPERA BLOCK, EXPANDED TO THREE OFFICES ACROSS THE STREET IN THE JAX JR. THEATER BUILDING
COVER WITH 1:58:16
AND BEGAN MARKETING COINS AS WELL AS STAMPS THOUGH THE MAIL.
DAVID SUNDMAN AT 1:09:54
I TELL MY KIDS THAT I WAS WORKING FORM THE AGE OF 5.
TWO SHOT - 1:47:40
DAVID SUNDMAN, MAYNARD'S OLDEST SON, HAS BEEN IN THE COIN BUSINESS EVER SINCE HE CAN REMEMBER.
1:10:12 -
HE USE TO PAY US 10% OF THE CATALOG VALUE.
JUMP CUT TO 1:10:18 COVER WITH OLD PHOTO AT 1:56:08 DAVID AND BROTHER GOING THROUGH COINS
HE'D BRING HOME COINS FROM THE BANK AND FROM THE BUSINESS AND AFTER THE DISHES WERE WASHED WE WOULD GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE COINS.
1:01:33 COVER WITH 1:57:49
DAVID JOINED THE BUSINESS OFFICIALLY IN 1972 AND BECAME PRESIDENT IN 1985.
COVER - PICTURE OF COINS
IN RECENT YEARS HE HAS ENLARGED THE PRODUCT LINE TO INCLUDE ANCIENT AND WORLD COINS AND PAPER MONEY.
COVER - JPG PHOTO OF DAVID GETTING AWARD I FOUND ON THE INTERNET
LAST YEAR THE PROFESSIONAL NUMASMISTISTS GUILD, A NONPROFIT TRADE ASSOCIATION OF SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP RARE COIN AND PAPER MONEY DEALERS. HONORED DAVID WITH AN AWARD FOR HIS CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK
COVER OF JPG PHOTO OF THE PAPER NOTE
HE HELPED A NEW ENGLAND MAN SELL A RARE CIVIL WAR ERA BANKNOTE FOR $220,000. TWO OTHER DEALERS ORIGINALLY OFFERED THE MAN LESS THAN $2,000.
MAYNARD 42:09
THAT HELPS THE TRADE TO SEE THAT HONESTY BECAUSE WE NEVER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE.
JUMP CUT
MAYNARD AT 42:49
WELL THAT IS THE WAY BUSINESS SHOUD BE. WE ALL KNOW THAT.
COVER WITH 1:57:23
MAYNARD'S YOUNGEST SON, DON CAME ON BOARD IN 1974 WHEN MAYNARD PURCHASED THE MYSTIC STAMP COMPANY, IN CAMDEN NEW YORK
MAYNARD AT 33:24
I SAID DON I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO BUY THE MYSTIC STAMP COMPANY, BUT I WON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU RUN IT INSTANTLY HE SAID SURE. FIRST FOUR YEARS HE TRIPLED THE BUSINESS.
DAVID AT 1:13:23 COVER WITH 1:57:17; 1:57:27; 1:58:07 1:58:49 - SHOTS ARE OF THE COMPANY'S GROWTH
IF YOU ARE IN A FAMILY BUSINESS THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PERFORM. BUT BASICALLY MY FATHER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT GIVING PEOPLE A LOT OF ROOM TO DEVELOP AND TRY THINGS. SO WE WOULD EXPERIMENT AND DO THINGS AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.
COVER WITH 1:55 - OUTSIDE OF BUILDING
THE LITTLETON COIN COMPANY NOW OCCUPIES A 65,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY,
NATS 1:06:43 - OF OPERATIOONS
COVER 1:06:45
HANDLES MORE CUSTOMER ORDERS THAN ANY OTHER COIN COMPANY IN THE WORLD,
COVER - 1:04:13 - WIDE SHOT OF INVENTORY SHELVES
AND HAS AMASSED AN ENORMOUS INVENTORY
DAVID IN FRONT OF USE INVENTORY SHELF AT 1:04:49 -:56
WE KNOW THE LOCATION OF EVERY SINGLE COIN THAT WE HAVE AND ALSO WHAT'S OUT IN THE MAIL TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
DAVID AT 1:15:49 COVER - 1:02:40
A LOT OF OUR BUSINESS IS SENDING COINS OUT TO PEOPE ON APPROVAL. THEY PICK WHAT THEY WANT AND RETURN THE REST WITH A CHECK OR CREDIT CARD.
JUMP CUT TO 1:16:18
IT'S A RARE BUSINESS TODAY BUT IT USED TO BE MORE POPULAR.
COVER - 1:04:04
LITTLETON COIN DRAWS MORE THAN 400,000 NEW CUSTOMERS A YEAR.
COVER 1:54:04
SO WHAT'S THE ATTRACTION?
DAVID AT 1:32:37
PART OF IT I THINK IS THE HISTORY. COINS AND BANK NOTES CAPTURE A WHOLE CIVILIZATION IN YOUR HAND.
COVER 1:48:02
I CAN PUT A COIN OF CLEOPATRA IN YOUR HAND AND INSTANTLY YOUR TAKEN BACK TO EGYPT. THE ROMAN EMPIRE THE CLASH OF THE GREEK,
BACK TO DAVID
ITS MAGIC.
LITTLETON COIN CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 320 PEOPLE
COVER 1:06:55 TO 01:07:01
AND HANDLES MORE THAN 5000 MAIL ORDERS A WEEK.
DAVID AT 1:14:35
I THINK OUR SUCCESS IS A RESULT OF ATTRACTING GOOD PEOPLE AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND WE'VE BEEN LUCKY THAT THEY HAVE STAYED WITH US.
EILEEN WHITEHEAD HAS BEEN MAYNARD SUNDMAN'S SECRETARY FOR 34 YEARS.
EILEEN AT 20:19
HE IS VERY EASY TO WORK FOR HE APPRECIATES EVERYTHING I DO. SOMETIMES HE
THINKS THAT I'M SMARTER THAN I AM BUT I HAVE TO TRY AND LIVE UP TO IT.
JUMP CUT TO 20:58
TLK'S VOICE WHAT IS THE VERY BEST THING ABOUT WORKING AT LITTLETON COIN
THE PEOPLE, IT HAS TO BE THE PEOPLE. I'VE MET SO MANY NICE PEOPLE HERE. I 'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM PEOPLE.
MAYNARD AT 18:58
THE WHOLE BASIC IDEA WAS TREAT THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU AND THE CUSTOMERS THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. FUNDAMENTAL.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO MAYNARD IS SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
PAUL AT 12:31
HE IS JUST A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING.
PAUL MCGOLDRICK, A LOCAL FUNDRAISER, HAS KNOWN THE SUNDMAN FAMILY FOR YEARS. HE HAS LOTS GREAT STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THEIR GENEROSITY
PAUL AT 12:40
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AS A FAMILY, ESTABLISHED A QUARTER OF A MILLION ENDOWMENT FUND SO THEY'RE NOW HELPING MORE THAN ONE AT EVERY GRADUATION.
DAVID AT 1:24:28
MY MOM WAS A REALLY BRIGHT LADY BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO TO COLLEGE.
JUMP CUT TO 1:24:45
WHAT HE DID WAS CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD COLLEGE.
TLK STAND-UP AT 3:15
THERE ARE MANY INTERESTING STORIES BEHIND THE 58 YEAR LEGACY OF THE LITTLETON COIN CO. A FULL HISTORY HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SO THAT THE GOOD WORK OF ITS EMPLOYEES WILL NOT BE LOST.
A DECENT BOLDNESS, THE LIFE ACHIEVEMENT OF MAYNARD SUNDMAN WAS PUBLISHED IN 1995.
DAVID 1:22:05 -
WE HAD A REMARKABLE GENERATION OF PEOPLE THAT GREW UP IN THE DEPRESSION AND REALLY HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD FOR EVERYTHING THEY GOT AND
COVER WITH SHOT 1;54:45;
THE WAR REALLY BOTTLED UP ALL OF THIS ENERGY AND WHEN THEY CAME BACK THEY JUST STARTED SO MANY WONDERFUL BUSINESSES AND CREATED OPPORTUNITY.
COVER WITH 1:58:28
AND MY FATHER IS JUST ONE STORY, PART OF THAT GENERATION THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR THE WORLD.
COVER WITH 57:38 - TALKING WITH MELISSA
AT 87, MAYNARD SUNDMAN STILL REPORTS TO WORK EVERYDAY.
NATS OF TYPING 56:41
HE STILL USES HIS 1948 ROYAL TYPEWRITER FOR CORRESPONDENCE,
NATS 59:00 -:03 - MAYNARD SAYS TO EMPLOYEE WHO IS GRADING COINS - SEE YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING
AND HE STILL GREETS HIS EMPLOYEES WITH THE SAME POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SHARING THE WISDOM THAT MADE HIS AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY THAT UNFOLDED IN A SMALL NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN. FROM LITTLETON, I'M THERESA KENNETT FOR NH OUTLOOK.
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Into Taylor/Nash
THIS NEXT STORY ALSO TAKES US TO THE NORTH COUNTRY WHERE A MAN AND HIS MACHINES ARE LEGEND.
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE STEVE TAYLOR FIRST INTRODUCED US TO EDDIE NASH LAST YEAR.
IT'S A SLICE OF STEVE'S REAL NEW HAMPSHIRE.
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Taylor/Nash
STEVE TAYLOR TAKES US ON ANOTHER JOURNEY TO ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SLICES OF THE "REAL NEW HAMPSHIRE". IT'S A VISIT WITH EDDIE NASH AND HIS USED FARM AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT BUSINESS IN COLEBROOK. IF YOU HAVE EVER LUSTED AFTER YOUR VERY OWN BACKHOE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR ACRES AND ACRES OF DEALS. EDDIE TELLS HOW THEY SHIP AS FAR AWAY AS BOLIVIA AND BELGIUM. AND, STEVE CHECKS OUT SEVERAL OF THE DEALS. ALL OF THE PIECES HAVE THE PRICE RIGHT ON THEM. SO, YOU KNOW WHERE START DICKERING.
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Intro echo farms
FOR MANY FARMERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DIVERSIFICATION HAS BEEN THEIR KEY TO SUCCESS. SOME HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL PRODUCTIONS AND ENTERED INTO NICHE MARKETING. NEAR HINSDALE, THERE'S A DAIRY FARM WHERE THE OWNERS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE MILK THEY PRODUCED AND THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT. PHIL VAUGHN HAS THE STORY OF ECHO FARM.
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echo farms
SHOTS OF PUDDING CONTAINERS BEING FILLED
COURTNEY CLIP 3-1750 "THE REASON WE ARE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR ANIMALS AND WE LOVE FARMING. WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE."
NARRATION 1 - COURTNEY HODGE, LIKE HER CHILDHOOD FRIEND SHELLEY SCHOFIELD GREW UP TENDING TO COWS - IT'S NOW THEIR BUSINESS. TOGETHER, THE HODGE AND THE SCHOFIELD FAMILIES MAKE PUDDING - ECHO FARM PUDDING.
GORDON SCHOFIELD CLIP 2-3613/3630 "WE PRODUCE ABOUT 5,000 POUNDS PER WEEK. AND, WE JUST GOT INTO SOME NEW STORES SO THAT WILL INCREASE."
SHOTS OF PUDDING CONTAINERS BEING FILLED
NARRATION 2 - THAT'S ABOUT 300,000 POUNDS OF PUDDING MADE HERE EVERY YEAR.
BOB CLIP 1-2145 "IT STARTED OUT THAT EACH KID HAD A HORSE THAT THEY TOOK CARE OF. THEN THEY GOT INVOLVED IN 4-H - THEY DID THAT EACH WEEK WITH THE SCHOFIELDS."
COURTNEY CLIP 3-1728 "THEY WERE INTO SHOWING COWS, SO WE GOT THEM INTO SHOWING HORSES AND WE STARTED SHOWING COWS. WE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT WE STOPPED SHOWING HORSES."
NARRATION 3 - THAT WAS TWELVE YEARS AGO. OVER TIME, THE HERD GREW AND IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE GIRL'S AVOCATION WOULD SOMEDAY BECOME THE FAMILY'S VOCATION.
BOB CLIP 1-2330 "THE QUESTION THEN BECAME, HOW DO WE TURN A 4-H PROJECT INTO A BUSINESS AND TRY TO MAKE ROOM FOR MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS IN AND BUILD A BUSINESS FUTURE? - THAT LED US TO LOOKING FOR A PRODUCT TO MAKE."
STAND-UP "THE HODGES AND THE SCHOFIELDS SEARCHED THE DAIRY CASES. THEY FOUND A LOT OF HIGH QUALITY YOGURTS, CHEESES AND ICE CREAMS. BUT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A NICHE - AND THEY FOUND IT IN PUDDING."
BOB CLIP 1-2415 "SO WE SET OUT TO BUILD A PREMIUM BRAND PUDDING AND START A FAMILY BUSINESS."
COURTNEY 3-1915 "MY PARENTS WERE GOOD. IN THE BEGINNING THEY DID ALL THE FINANCES AND AS TIME WENT ON, WE TOOK ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE THEM TO US."
NARRATION 4 - THERE ARE SEVEN FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WORK ON THE FARM - FOUR HODGES AND THREE SCHOFIELDS. GORDON SCHOFIELD IS THE CHEF.
GORDON CLIP 2-3500/3445 NO, MY WIFE DOES ALL THE COOKING AT HOME. I FOLLOW A RECIPE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE SUGGESTIONS. WE HAVE A MAPLE FLAVOR BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY MAPLE PRODUCERS IN THE AREA THEY SAID ' YOU HAVE TO HAVE MAPLE.'"
COURTNEY CLIP 3-2120 "THE PUDDINGS WE STARTED FOUR AND HALF YEARS AGO. WE STARTED OUT WITH RICE PUDDING AND NOW HAVE NINE PRODUCTS. WE HAVE GONE FROM SELLING LOCALLY TO STORES THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND AND NY CITY."
BOB CLIP 1-2640 "IT'S A DIFFICULT WORLD OUT THERE IN TERMS OF MARKETING. IT'S DOMINATED BY LARGE COMPANIES AND CHAINS. THEY WON'T OPEN THEIR DOORS TO YOU. WE HAD TO START IN AN AREA THAT WE COULD GET IN TO - CO-OPS AND INDEPENDENTS."
SHOT OF DURHAM MARKET PLACE
CHUCK CRESSEY CLIP - WHY THEY WANT THEIR PRODUCT IN THEIR STORE.
BOB CLIP - 2655 "YOU HAVE TO FIGHT YOUR WAY ON TO THE SHELVES AND HAVE A BETTER PRODUCT OR YOU WON'T MAKE IT."
STEVE TAYLOR CLIP - WHAT SMALL DAIRIES NEED TO DO TO SURVIVE. CHALLENGES AND REWARDS IN HAVING THESE SMALL BUSINESSES OPERATING IN NH.
COURTNEY 3-2500 "OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE IS THAT WE CONTROL THE ENTIRE PROCESS - FROM WHAT THE COWS EAT TO MILKING THEM TO THE INGREDIENTS THAT WE USE IN MAKING OUR PUDDINGS."
NARRATION 5 - THOSE EFFORTS ARE PAYING OFF FOR ECHO FARM AS THEY ARE NOW AT ABOUT THE BREAK-EVEN POINT. TWENTY-NINE HANNAFORD STORES NOW CARRY THEIR PUDDINGS - SHAW'S SUPERMARKETS WILL SOON BE, AS WELL. WHEN ASKED HOW BIG THEY WANT THE COMPANY TO SOMEDAY BE, YOU ARE QUICKLY REMINDED OF HOW IT ALL BEGAN.
SHOT OF GIRLS IN 4-H
COURTNEY 2940 "WE DEBATE THAT. SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT EXPANDING ANOTHER 100 COWS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET TOO BIG. THAT'S OUR FEAR, THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO WALK INTO THE BARN AND KNOW THE COWS BY NAME."
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Intro Bendos
FINALLY, AS YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS PROGRAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
THEY EVEN MAKE SOME OF THE WORLD'S COOLEST TOYS.
IF YOU HAVE A YOUNG PERSON IN YOUR LIFE, OR, IF YOU'RE YOUNG AT HEART, YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH BENDOS.
ACCORDING TO THE TOY INDUSTRY, THEY ARE ONE OF THE HOTTEST TOYS ON THE MARKET.
LISA BROWN REPORTS FROM MANCHESTER.
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Bendos
THERE'S NOTHING STUFFY ABOUT A BENDOS. UNLIKE BEANIE BABIES, THESE LITTLE CHARACTERS ARE ACTION FIGURES WITH A TWIST. THEY COME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ATTITUDE AND A WHOLE LOT OF IMAGINATION.
RICK MALAGODI/PRESIDENT
KID GALAXY, "MASTER OF THE GALAXY"
1:16:40
THE BENDOS ARE ALWAYS NON VIOLENT, MANY ACTION FIGURES USE VIOLENCE AS A THEME, TIED TO A TELEVISION SERIES OR MOVIE, THOSE FILL A NICHE. BUT WE DECIDED THAT YOU CAN HAE A COMPELLING ACTION FIGURE THAT DIDN'T HAVE VIOLENCE AS AN ELEMENT.
1:16:38
KID GALAXY GAVE BIRTH TO THE BENDO IN 1999 BY MISTAKE. THE CHARACTERS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO GO ALONG WITH A LINE OF WOODEN CARS AND TRUCKS, BUT LITTLE MINDS HAD BIGGER IDEAS. THE KIDS LIKED THE BENDOS'S BETTER THAN THE WHEELS. A FIRE WAS LIT AND "SPARKY" WAS BORN.
RICK
1:10:09
HE WENT ALONG WITH A LITTLE WOODEN TRUCK HE WAS A FIT IN TO THE CLASSIC PLAY PATTERN FIREMAN POLICE PA
FIRE POLICE EVEN PIRATES.CLASSIC ROLE MODEL TOYS.
1:10:25
FASTER THAN A BRUSH FIRE, BENDOS TOOK OFF. IN JUST FOUR MONTHS, 80 BENDO CHARACTERS WERE IN 300 SPECIALTY RETAIL STORES AND SALES SLAMMED PAST THE ONE MILLION DOLLAR MARK. THEY SELL FOR ABOUT FIVE DOLLARS AND THEY'RE HOT. TODAY, THERE ARE 125 BENDO CHARACTERS, EACH WITH ITS OWN NAME, BIRTHDAY AND PERSONALITY.
WHY SO POPULAR? NO ONE'S QUITE SO SURE.
VINCE CONTIC/DESIGNER
KID GALAXY, "COSMIC CREATOR"
2:12:19
IT'S THE QUIRKINESS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE**
CUT OUT LAUGHTER*******
THEY ARE SHINY.GLOSSY.
ITS THAT QUIRKINESS THAT MAKES THEM WHAT THEY ARE.
2:12:49
CREATING A BENDO IS A TEAM EFFORT. WITH LESS THAN 25 EMPLOYEES, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT AS SOPHISTICATED AS BOWLING.
THOMAS CSIZMADIA/DESIGNER
KID GALAXY, "ROCKET BOY"
2:25
DUKE IS NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK.DUKE IS ME AND I AM DUKE.
2:33
TOM
3:17
I TOOK HIM AND MODELED HIM AFTER MY SHIRT AND MY FAVORITE SHOES AND DUKE WAS BORN.
3:26
THERE ARE BENDOS FOR THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, COLLEGE TEAMS, AND SOON MINOR AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN LINE.
AS NEW BENDOS HIT THE MARKET, OTHERS COME OFF. EACH YEAR, TWO BENDOS ARE RETIRED. SOME TRADE FOR AS MUCH AS TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS OVER THE INTERNET. IT SEEMS KIDS ARE HOOKED ON THESE LITTLE GUYS.
RICK
1:15:15
KIDS ARE IN TUNE WITH THE COLLECTABLE THING.ENCLOSE A TRADING CARD
ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THE FAMILY.
A TRADING CARD.
1:15:29
FOR NOW, KID GALAXY'S BENDOS ARE RIDING A WAVE OF POPULARITY, BUT LIKE ALL TOYS THAT COULD BE SHORT LIVED. LOOK WHATS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
WELCOME TO KID GALAXY'S NEWEST TOY, A NEW LINE OF REMOTE CONTROL CARS, SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN THE PALM OF A HAND.-AND COMING TO SPECILTY STORES THIS MONTH AROUND THE COUNTY.
THOMAS CSIZMADIA/DESIGNER
KID GALAXY, "ROCKET BOY"
9:03 THESE ARE VERY SIMPLE, LOTS OF MOBILITY, BACKWORDS FORWARD, SPINS
WILL RUN FOR HOURS.
9:21
WHILE THE SUCCESS OF THESE CARS -WILL BE KNOWN, "DOWN THE ROAD" THE FUTURE OF KID GALAXY IS BRIGHT. TWO MONTHS AGO THE COMPANY WAS PURCHASED BY A HONG KONG ELECTRONIC TOY MANUFACTURER AND PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO EXPAND KID GALAXY'S MARKETSHARE.
MEANWHILE, THE CREATIVE JUICES KEEP FLOWING HERE AT THE GALAXY.
VINCENT:
2:22:34
I THINK TOYS ARE IMPORTANT WHO KNOWS WHAT TYPE OF CHILD AND HANDS THEY'LL BE IN HOW IT MAKES THEM HAPPY AND I KNOW IT WILL , IT DOES AND IT WILL.
2:22:44
WHEN IT COMES TO TOY MANUFACTURERS, KID GALAXY IS IN ITS OWN WORLD, ONE THAT MOVES FORWARD BY EMBRACING OLD FASHION IDEAS.THAT THE BEST TOYS TODAY ARE THOSE.THAT ALLOW CHILDREN TO USE THEIR IMAGINATION.
IN MANCHESTER, LISA BROWN FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK.
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Tomorrow
ON THE NEXT NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK -
A DAY IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL HOWARD DEAN.
IT'S THE SECOND IN OUR SERIES OF REPORTS ON NEW HAMPSHIRE'S FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY.
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Goodnight
UNTIL NEXT TIME, CONNECT WITH US ONLINE AT NHPTV.ORG.
FOR ALL OF US HERE AT New Hampshire PBS. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
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