Look out
Many Little Tikes products don’t come solely from internal innovation. A lot of ideas — if only tweaks to finished products — are contributions from people whom Tom Richmond doesn’t even employ.
“Ideas can come from anywhere,” says Richmond, the general manager. “Many times … it’s just people coming up with ideas who are actually using the product.”
By the time consumers test an idea, it probably has your organization’s nod already. Now, it rides on external feedback.
“The main filters are the experience of bringing (ideas) out to the environment and the folks that are going to be using or playing with our products and looking at how that reception is,” Richmond says. “There are many times when our whole organization’s behind a product … and it goes nowhere. There are other products that are kind of ho-hum … and they sell out.”
The challenge is embracing external input without discouraging internal ideas.
“You have to have some injection of external thinking, but then how do you break the internal barriers?” Richmond asks, referencing partnerships, internships and consultancies. “Really promote the fact that when you’re bringing in external resources and external thinking, this isn’t to your detriment. It’s for your benefit. These people are here to help, not to criticize. … If they see something you didn’t see, it’s only going to make you a better person.”
How to reach: The Little Tikes Co., (800) 748-2204 or www.littletikes.com
