Rick's Blog » News and Events http://www.imaginatives.com/blog The Christmas Elf Family Christmas Tradition Since 1985 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:34:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Christopher’s Christmas Connection http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/christophers-christmas-connection/ http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/christophers-christmas-connection/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:20:20 +0000 jacci http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/?p=118 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!

]]> http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/christophers-christmas-connection/feed/ 0 Check Out Where Christoper’s Pop’in In http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/check-out-where-christopers-popin-in/ http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/check-out-where-christopers-popin-in/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:21:41 +0000 jacci http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/?p=113 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.

]]> http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/check-out-where-christopers-popin-in/feed/ 2 A Pre-holiday Visit with Christopher http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/pre-holiday-visit-2009/ http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/pre-holiday-visit-2009/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:16:40 +0000 admin http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/?p=100 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!

]]> http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/pre-holiday-visit-2009/feed/ 0 Christopher Pop-In-Kins: Local Celebrity http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/christopher-pop-in-kins-local-celebrity/ http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/christopher-pop-in-kins-local-celebrity/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:50:38 +0000 David Kuntzman http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/?p=18 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.

]]> http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/christopher-pop-in-kins-local-celebrity/feed/ 0 Christopher Pops In To Atlanta And Columbus Tradeshows http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/tradeshows/christopher-pops-in-at-atlanta-and-columbus-tradeshows/ http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/tradeshows/christopher-pops-in-at-atlanta-and-columbus-tradeshows/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:30:58 +0000 Brian Bradway http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/2008-04/christopher-pops-in-at-atlanta-and-columbus-tradeshows/ 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!

cp-tradeshow-booth.jpgThe 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.cp-tradeshow-team.jpg

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…)cp-with-peppermints.jpg

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 nicecp-lounging.jpg 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!

]]> http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/tradeshows/christopher-pops-in-at-atlanta-and-columbus-tradeshows/feed/ 1 Exciting Week For Imaginatives And Christopher Pop-In-Kins http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/exciting-week-for-imaginatives-and-christopher-pop-in-kins/ http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/news-and-events/exciting-week-for-imaginatives-and-christopher-pop-in-kins/#comments Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:49:16 +0000 Rick Johnson http://www.imaginatives.com/blog/2008-03/exciting-week-for-imaginatives-and-christopher-pop-in-kins/ First of all, I just want to say thank you so much for visiting our new Imaginatives website. Many talented folks were involved in making sure it not only functions at a world-class level, but looks world class too.

Big news of course is the unveiling of our new version of the Christopher Pop-In-Kins Christmas elf doll and book!

New Christopher Pop-In-Kins Package With Children’s Book and Christmas Elf Doll

Two years in the making and countless hours spent in making sure everything was done just right, we think we’ve come up with a package that is just unbeatable. Everyone just smiles when they see Christopher for the first time, and I know that my mom, Christopher’s creator, is smiling too.

You know, this has been quite a journey for me. Mom started Imaginatives back in 1985, and here it is March of 2008 and her dream is still very much alive. Mom’s dream was for every child who believes in Santa to experience the magic of Christmas with their very own visit from Christopher. We are even closer to making that dream a reality!

Before I forget, we’re going to  the America’s Mart tradeshow in Atlanta this week. If you are attending the show, we’d love to meet you! Brian Bradway, our illustrator, will be with us signing some really cool pencil illustrations that he did in the early stages of the project. You won’t want to miss it.

Well, its Tuesday, March 4th and my trip to Atlanta in the morning will be made more exciting by an ice storm that is moving into the area. It should be an interesting trip!

Thank you so much for visiting us.

Wishing all of you the merriest!

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