Kim's Corner
Page 2 of 7
I was happy to see a couple of boards with the coming pin-tractions for March and April in the back of the room - letting those of us who would have to have them know just how broke we were going to be. Let’s just say that Tink, Pooh and friends, Chip and Dale and Disneyland Attraction pin collectors had better start saving now. All in all, this was an event about pin trading friends and fun and not about merchandise and product - quite a change from earlier pin events. I liked the relaxed atmosphere and the idea of having the future events Resort Hop really appeals to me. Maybe next month we could be at the Paradise Pier or the Grand Californian - I guess it depends on which hotel has the open space available.
I was also impressed by how well the Kid’s Zone was organized and run. They had some great pins to trade for from the kid’s board and the coloring station seemed to keep most occupied through the evening. I’m still not used to having a 7-year-old politely point to a pin on my lanyard and ask “Is that the Disneyland rack pin or the Disney Store LE?�? I don’t remember when - in my collecting/buying/trading - that the edition size of a pin made a difference - but, it was older than 7. When it comes to kids, though, I tend to give away more pins than I trade. It’s good pin-Karma to give back to the hobby.
I liked that there were a couple Super Traders there to do any Q&A for any pin trading questions we might have. I also liked the “Trade-A-Pin�? game - but then, I like grab-bag-styled games. As I understand it, this game was a last minute decision and there was a bit of a scramble to get the guidelines finished in time. But, it was fun and it was free and you truly didn’t know what kind of pin you were going to get back - you had to trust that the others playing would give as good as they got. There were 137 traders who played and the pins ranged from DLR and WDW rack to Disney Company promotional and a lot from the recent sell-off sale at the Disney Store - with a few LEs and Cast Member pins thrown in. Some were disappointed - some were thrilled and most would play the game again - works for me.
As the evening wrapped I was able to talk to my pal Michelle Harker, Specialist, Merchandise Special Events, Product Marketing & Pin Trading, about the event. Michelle and I had gotten to know each other during my stint on the 2001 Disneyland Creative Advisory Council and we’ve been playing ever since. We had e-mailed before the event and she assured me that “I just keep telling myself, it’s the first one, which means they'll only get better and we'll learn a lot about what works and what doesn't.�? She’s right - there is a learning curve with any new event. And, while Pin Trading Nights aren’t “new�? they’re “new�? to the DLR.
She assured me that, “We actually have a lot of pin promotion type things coming up and we are already working fast and furious on next years calendar, which will be filled with many more pin events. We had to put some things in perspective... in the fact that the majority of events done at WDW are all about pins. Where as our team still has the focus on the Collector Guest, which is why you see the Haunted Mansion events, figurine releases, sculpture events, lithograph signings, etc… But I think we are well on our way and quite on track.�?
She let me know that, “I’m excited, we’re excited. We’re looking at doing them (Pin Trading Nights) once a month… maybe twice a month. We’re looking into larger venues… because I think we’re definitely over the occupancy here. We’re looking to see if we can go between this hotel, maybe include Paradise Pier… but, maybe use some of the other ones. Then, you know, if we want to do a pin release we’ll have that opportunity… we’re really looking at doing them more often, maybe during the summer doing them more frequently.�? Looks like the DLR’s pin traders will have a standing pin meet every other week to look forward to - how cool is that?
And then - in typical Michelle style - she slipped me some information about a very cool - especially for Mickey collectors - and yet to be announced - upcoming pin promotion. Something called Mickey's All American Pin Festival “or something like that�? - which will be a “huge pin promotion this June through August.�? She added, “It’s a nine week promotion; don’t know what it’s going to be about, really. It could be lanyards, it could be starter kits, it could be pin releases. Lots of fun! It will be all around the Resort.�?
When asked when the next Pin Trading Night was scheduled, “We’re hoping around the middle to end of March maybe. Around the same time period.�? When asked if they were looking at keeping it on Friday nights, she answered, “Probably, but we’re looking into different nights. We don’t want to keep it to just one specific night… Lots of options, lots of opportunity. Hopefully we’ll get some feedback tonight and see how it goes.�?
For me - and most of those I spoke to - the first DLR Pin Trading Night was a HUGE success. BIG kudos go to Timm Lundeen, Store Operations Support Manager/Pin Project Manager, Michelle, Martha Blanding, Cheryl Stockwell and the other members of the Merchandise/Merchandise Special Events Team and other DLR Cast Members who were there to make sure that the evening ran as smoothly as the venue allowed.