Gaffney international licensing

The kids seem to be buying in right now and working extremely hard. We have a really good group of kids. He brings knowledge and enthusiasm. Anyone who knows Tony and how he approaches the game, he brings that culture as well. Gaffney, 37, starred for the Raiders in where he helped turn a team to a Division II state semifinalist.

Gaffney recently returned from overseas and landed a job with the Department of Corrections. It is different than playing basketball. I feel like it is my calling. It is very rewarding to able to deal with your clients and help them out as well as coach high school basketball. Gaffney has had opportunities to coach and do scouting at the pro level. But he quickly changed his mind. I love the game of basketball, I do but I love my family more. Two years later, in , the Smurfs were a huge hit for Gaffney.

A contact in London had called him to let him know about these small gnome-like toys that BP was distributing at its petrol stations in England and The Netherlands as part of its marketing campaign "service with a Smurf".

Gaffney went to Brussels to negotiate with the owner of the Smurf rights, brought them to Australia and sold 6 million over the next three years. Of course, there were Bananas in Pyjamas and the Wiggles, two of Australia's biggest international brands. Gaffney recalls driving to a concert in Wagga Wagga to see for himself if the Wiggles were worth a punt. The best ideas you can work hard on and they don't take off.

They just don't have the magic touch , whatever that is. He spends six months a year overseas, visiting every major toy fair in the world, as well as TV fairs and book fairs, searching for the next big thing. And he keeps in touch with the tastes for the unders market through his son Luke, seven, and three grandchildren aged nine, four and one. Recently, for example, he has snapped up the Australian licensing rights for the Icelandic children's television show LazyTown , after following its progress for three years.

As for what's hot right now, Gaffney says many old brands, such as Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids and Pokemon are having a revival. Biggest break When I was appointed by Sesame Street [in to license their products in Australia]. It gave me the opportunity to learn the business from professional, conservative people with high ethics, who were not driven by money. Biggest achievement Playing a role in the development of [character] licensing in Australia. Instead, he had Sesame Street, and the backing of Michael Edgely.

Gaffney soon bought out his partners to become the sole owner. By the time young girls were decorating their first car with a sucker-footed acrylic Garfield on the side window, Gaffney was looking like a very smart operator. Found this article enlightening? Sign up to the Madman mailing list to keep up to date on all the latest news! All rights reserved.