It was 1998, a decade since Michele Litzky, a publicist and marketer with each company and in-house expertise, determined to arrange store on her personal. Litzky Public Relations (LPR) was blazing a brand new path as an company firmly planted within the children and household area and Litzky was sharing her data and expertise by main an introductory PR class at New York College (NYU). There, one pupil stood out.
“She was completely different, uncommon,” Litzky remembers, noting a pair of braids, a purple pen, and an angle that stood out among the many others. The rebellious pupil, Josslynne Welch, quickly joined LPR as an intern.
Quick ahead 25 years and now, on the eve of Toy Fair’s long-awaited return to New York Metropolis, a brand new period begins as Welch — President of LPR since 2018 — takes the helm as sole proprietor and Litzky retires from the company that bears her title to embark on new adventures in consulting.
Once I opened the company in 1988, I used to be a distinct segment marketer with an Ivy League toy trade training, taught by a number of the finest. Stephen Hassenfeld and his crew at Hasbro sparked by the brilliance of Tom Griffin and Joe Bacal gave me each a basis within the trade by which I devoted my profession and a love of the toy enterprise that is still right this moment.”
Litzky’s love of the toy enterprise fueled the evolution of LPR right into a full-service communications company connecting manufacturers and households and serving the business-to-business market.
I’ve spent greater than half my life with Michele and Litzky PR, this company is a part of who I’m and I can’t think about being anyplace else. I’m endlessly grateful to Michele for seeing one thing in me after I took her PR class at NYU and her continued mentorship over time. Our relationship has grown from partnership to household and as she retires it’s my nice honor to look after her legacy.”
That legacy contains previous work with Hasbro and continues with a stacked lineup of present toy trade purchasers together with The Pokémon Co., KidKraft, Horizon, Cepia, and Schleich. Moreover, LPR’s roster additionally contains Disney Publishing Worldwide, Nationwide Geographic Books, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, Kamik, Schwinn, Ageless Innovation, American Mensa, Sony Photos Client Merchandise, The Toy Affiliation, and Licensing Worldwide.
“I’ve recognized for a very long time that Josslynne would succeed me and proceed the legacy we constructed collectively over the previous 25 years,” Litzky provides. “From pupil to mentee to protégé, she’s already diversified the company into new enterprise sectors that may solely profit from her experience in advertising and marketing to kids and their mother and father. As I transfer into my subsequent chapter, I’m additionally waiting for see the place Joss takes LPR.”
The subsequent chapter contains Michele Litzky Consulting underneath which Michele will proceed her work with occasional Toy Guide contributor Chris Byrne, The Toy Man.
Wanting forward past this week’s Toy Honest, Welch is already gearing up for continued development within the years forward.
“The final 25 years have been a lot enjoyable — how might it not be working within the trade of play?! I’m indebted to many individuals for taking the time to show, share, and collaborate over time; the toy group is a particular place,” Welch says. “As I look ahead, it’s an thrilling time to be in PR, and with a lot change comes alternative. I’m having fun with nurturing my crew, constructing our consumer portfolio, and strengthening our companies.”
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