Rick’s Blog

Due to an extended illness of our tradeshow representative, Christopher Pop-In-Kins and Imaginatives were forced to cancel our appearance at AmericasMart in January. Because of the late cancellation date, information could not be changed in AmericasMart advertisements and programs. For ordering and other information about Christopher Pop-In-Kins/Imaginatives please call 1-866-283-5178.

Christopher will miss seeing everyone. Have a great 2010!

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Missed taking a photo or getting a hug from Christopher Pop-In-Kins after “Light Up Downtown”? Christopher will be at Westfield Belden Village Mall in Canton, OH on December 12 from noon until 2:00 at Pine Cone Gift Shop. Stop by for holiday fun and ideas.

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This was sent to Christopher this morning from Tracy T.

“Good morning! I just wanted to send you a quick report from the ground at the Light Up Downtown Canton event last evening.

We all braved the very chilly weather, and eventually bone-chilling rain to enjoy the festivities, but it was well worth the experience to be there for the show to see Christopher’s performance first hand, and to hear the comments of the children in the crowd throughout the evening! I brought friends, and among them was six-year old Lily who has Christopher in her home this year for the first time. As the children began to sing the Christopher theme song, and mentioned Christopher’s name, her face lit up and she loudly exclaimed, “Christopher Pop-in-Kins! He is at my house! He is at my house!” When she saw him arrive on stage, she excitedly began waving to him saying, “Christopher, Christopher, hi Christopher! Look, it’s Christopher! He is at my house!” The excitement generated by the incredible combination of both Christopher and the anticipation of Santa’s arrival was almost too much, and so it was throughout the entire show!”

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

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Christopher had lots of fun with everyone at Buckeye Village Market Yum Yum Tree and Hot Pots. Thanks for coming out.

Here I am with the ladies from Yum Yum Tree. I love their outfits.

I am waiting to start painting ornaments with the children at Hot Pots.

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Christopher is making his way around Ohio this month bringing smiles and hugs to everyone he sees! He’s also very proud to have just received the National Parent Center Seal of Approval for 2010.

This weekend Christopher’s Popping In at Cleveland’s Christmas Connection at the IX-Center. Come and shop booths of arts, crafts, gifts, and decorating items. It’s Christmas “mecca”.

Can’t make it to Cleveland? No problem. Pop on over to Rodman Public Library in Alliance, OH (215 E. Broadway St.). Christopher’s illustrator, Brian Bradway, will be signing books from 2:00-4:00pm.

Start a new holiday tradition that’s fun for the entire family. Christopher is celebrating 24 years as Santa’s very first Children’s Elf.

Christopher can’t wait to meet you!

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Christopher is ready to make his 2009 holiday debut.  There are several events set where you can meet Christopher and/or get your books signed by illustrator, Brian Bradway.  Click here for the November dates.  Check back often because we are adding more dates.

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A pre-holiday visit with Christopher Pop-In-Kins will held at Westfield Belden Village Mall in Canton Ohio on October 24 and 25 from 11:00-1:00 and 2:00-4:00 outside of Macy’s. Order forms available for CP at same location on October 23-25 during regular mall hours. Are you popping in with Pop-In-Kins?

Order yours this weekend!

Why Wait, order Christopher online now!

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Within the past week or so, we received a comment questioning the origin of Christopher Pop-In-Kins. Some of Christopher’s many fans wanted to help set the record straight about the Christmas elf’s beginnings.

One sent us this Canton Repository article from 1999 – read how Flora and Al created the children’s Christmas elf that families nationwide fell in love with.

And, another sent a Canton Repository article from 2003. Check it out and see how Christopher Pop-in-Kins and Rick Johnson have changed over the past five years.

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Last week was busy for the Christopher team – not only did we attend the ASTRA toy convention (you can read all about that in our next post!), but we were also interviewed by Laurie Huffman for our local paper, The Alliance Review. To read all about Christopher in the paper, check out the article.

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We just completed our first two trade show events of the year with Christopher Pop-In-Kins, our hide-and-seek Christmas elf. Wow… fun and exhausting!

The America’s Mart tradeshow in Atlanta gave us a great opportunity to start showing the world Christopher’s “new shoes.” As you may know, the Christopher Pop-In-Kins story and concept is unchanged but we’ve updated the look of the doll and the book. It’s the same great tradition and story that Flora started in 1985. What is new is the illustration style that Christopher is drawn in. I think I’m the third or fourth artist over the last twenty three years to illustrate Christopher Pop-In-Kins. During the process of putting my spin on Christopher, I kept a photo on my computer screen of Flora’s original hand sewn Christopher doll. I wanted to make sure that I kept the original creative spirit of Christopher’s character in my illustrations. The color schemes and basic design are all still there – that was very important to me personally.

So while we were in Atlanta I was excited and a little nervous to see what the reaction would be from all of the store owners shopping for this year’s Christmas items. Long story short – the reaction was incredible! If we had a nickel every time someone said “Oh my gosh, this elf is so cute!” we would be very well off! So to every one in Atlanta and your kind words, THANK YOU!

In Atlanta, our team consisted of myself, my wife Missy, Imaginatives CEO Rick Johnson, Bob Holliday, Imaginatives president Dave Kuntzman, and Debbie Burge. Besides Christopher himself, Debbie and Missy stole the show! It was so neat to see two people step into a role the way they did. Missy is a first grade teacher and Debbie is an executive assistant at Dave Kuntzman’s agency. So hosting a trade show booth is something they have never done before – but you would have never known it. I had to keep telling them how impressed I was with them. I remember Debbie saying “Well, it’s easy because Christopher is just so darn cute!”. (ding! nickel…)

We made some wonderful contacts and friends while we were in Atlanta. Folks from all over the country. From Florida to Michigan – and Massachusetts to California. So many wonderful people stopping by to see what our little elf was all about. Thank you all for your kind words and compliments!

The weekend following Atlanta we headed to Columbus, Ohio. Our humble little headquarters is based in Alliance, Ohio – about a two hour drive northeast of Columbus. So yes, we are Buckeyes and it was nice to be in our own backyard! Just like the week before in Atlanta, folks were quite impressed with little Christopher. It really makes me feel great to see people enjoy something I’ve helped with.

The cool thing for me in Columbus was meeting up with many people from Ohio that knew Christopher way before I did. I was fortunate enough to chat with a very nice couple from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. They had purchased Christopher for their store many years ago from Flora Johnson herself. They had wonderful things to say about Christopher’s new shoes and it was truly exciting to see their passion.

Looking forward, we have tradeshows planned for the ASTRA Convention June 23-24 at the MGM Grand in Mashantucket, Connecticut as well as the Atlanta Gift Mart, July 11-15 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Maybe we’ll see you there!

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