Archive for the ‘Awards’ Category
Company Recognized For Commitment to Excellence and Quality Assurance
STREETSBORO, OHIO — November 11, 2009 — The Step2® Company is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification from STR-Registrar, LLC an ANSI/ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited Certification Body for its plant and office locations in Streetsboro and Perrysville, Ohio and their plant in Fort Valley, Ga. ISO certification, the globally recognized quality management system standard, verifies that Step2′s processes and procedures consistently meet the highest measure for delivering quality products, services and support to its customers.
Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, outdoor furniture and trash cans.
“The Step2 family members are extremely proud of this accomplishment and it shows what can be achieved when everyone works together towards a goal,” said Dave Orr, Director of Quality Systems and Lean Manufacturing for The Step2 Company.
ISO 9001 certification is a quality management standard that is recognized throughout the world by a set of requirements that businesses can follow in order to achieve consistently high level of quality in their products, services and general manner in which they operate. This certification assures that The Step2 Company products are designed, manufactured, tested and shipped by a documented system that meets the rigorous requirements of ISO 9001.
To earn ISO certification, companies contract with a registrar for three years to audit and confirm they are focused on meeting customer requirements, by measuring themselves for continual improvement, effective internal communications, effective training, effective process control, and especially, effective customer satisfaction.
Scott Levin, President and CEO of the Step2 Company said, “This is a distinguished recognition and certification of a well—established quality process for key business processes from product development through manufacturing and distribution, and sales order through collection. We’re proud of our efforts to continually improve our processes and to be recognized and licensed by this esteemed organization.”
For more information on The Step2 Company visit www.step2.com. To find out more about the International Organization for Standardization visit www.iso.org.
Consumers Recognize America’s Largest Toy Maker as “Excellent” Overall in Customer Service and Satisfaction
STREETSBORO, OHIO — October 14, 2009 — Recognizing its excellent customer service and consistent positive customer feedback, The Step2 Company’s online direct sales channel at www.step2.com has earned BizRate’s 2009 Platinum Circle of Excellence.
The Step2® Company is a family company with toy brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years, sold at retail worldwide and via www.step2.com.
The Circle of Excellence recognizes those online retailers within the BizRate®Research network who have demonstrated outstanding performance, as rated by their customers, throughout a one year period. In 2009, over 5,000 online merchants were considered for an award. Winners consistently obtained feedback from their customers throughout the award year period and received the highest ratings. The ratings are from the direct feedback, collected at the point-of-sale and after delivery of goods, from customers concerning seven key satisfaction metrics:
- Overall satisfaction at the point-of-sale
- Product selection at the point-of-sale
- Ease of finding products on the website
- Intent to buy from the same retailer again, collected after the order is received
- Product met expectations, collected after the order is received
- On-time delivery of the order
- Customer support assistance
More than 2,500 people rated their experiences purchasing products through Step2.com’s online store, recognizing the company with an overall score of “excellent.” The Step2 Company earned high marks across the board to be included in the Platinum Circle of Excellence, among only three percent of all merchants evaluated within the BizRate network.
“We are honored to have earned the BizRate Platinum Circle of Excellence,” said Rob MacKay, Vice President for Internet Sales and Marketing at The Step2 Company. “It is especially meaningful that this recognition reflects actual customer feedback, and it is a testimony to the dedication and hard work of the entire Step2 family.”
In addition to providing innovative toys and excellent customer service, The Step2 Company is dedicated to providing parents and child care professionals access to learn and share information about the importance of creative play. CreativePlayPlus.com is a ground-breaking blog launched in partnership with the Step2 Company and the renowned Schubert Center for Child Studies. The site offers a variety of topics related to play and childhood development, and provides visitors with relevant news stories, expert research, articles and other blogs that center around the topic of developmental play.
For more information on Step2 products visit www.step2.com. For a full list of the 2009 BizRate Circle of Excellence winners visit: http://www.bizrate.com/boutique/2009circleofexcellence.html.
About The Step2 Company:
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.
CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440
Lisa Brogan, CURRENT
lbrogan@currentlm.com; 310-854-8278
STREETSBORO, OHIO — October 13, 2009 — Recognizing innovation, creative play and safety, The Step2 Company® has received an unprecedented number of awards from The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the toy industry’s leading independent consumer reviewer of children’s toys and media. The prestigious Oppenheim Awards recently honored The Step2 Company, the nation’s largest preschool and toddler toy maker, with Platinum and Gold Awards for 13 new Step2® and Infantino® products.
The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio judges on educational and play value, safety, age appropriateness, economic value and other factors, including actual child and parent feedback from testing families around the nation. Award winners also met the highest toy safety standards.
Stephanie Oppenheim, co-founder of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, notes “our testers gave the highest marks to so many of the new products from Step 2. The company clearly has a strong commitment to creating fun, engaging and developmentally appropriate toys for kids. These award winning products bring a fresh look to classic toys that can now be enjoyed by a new generation of kids.”
The Step2 Company puts all of its toys through rigorous safety testing and produces the highest quality products for families.
“We are delighted to be acknowledged by these prestigious awards from The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio,” said Scott Levin, CEO of the Step2 Company. “We continually strive to create new, engaging, safe products that help families foster creative play and developmental learning.”
Award Winners
Step2, the brand famous for its signature play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor climbers, and arts and crafts tables — was recognized by The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for seven new toys, including items from the new preschool line designed specifically for children ages 12 months to 3 years:
- Basic Rhythms Guitar (Platinum): ABCs and music notes are molded into this cool kids’ guitar complete with color coded sheet music.
- Basic Rhythms Piano (Platinum): Have a little Mozart on your hands? Help them to learn piano notes and read music with this pint-sized piano.
- Basic Rhythms Bongos (Gold): Let your child follow the beat of her own drum with these hipster bongos and special beats.
- Basic Rhythms Maracas (Gold): Shake, rattle and dance — kids feel the rhythm to dance and play with this colorful set.
- Cafe Barista (Gold): Today’s tea set just got an update fresh from mom’s favorite coffee shop with everything you need to brew a great coffee and cappuccino while serving delicious treats.
- Gourmet Cafe Kitchen (Gold): This cool cafe kitchen allows kids to cook with their friends in a realistic all-in-one environment featuring a warm and cozy country styling with the conveniences of modern living.
- Pastry Chef (Gold): Little chef testers loved the pretend desserts and tools for creating precious pretend sweet treats.
Infantino toys are known for fashion-forwards designs and ingenious engineering for functional parent products and toys for babies, including stroller toys, puzzles, interactive shopping cart covers, baby carriers, and no-fuss baby travel systems. The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio has recognized these six new Infantino toys:
- Flip & Peek Phone (Platinum): Calling all babies! This is a phone they’ll flip over, with fun sounds, peek-a-boo mirrors and recorded greetings in English and Spanish.
- Spiral Spin Top (Platinum): Promoting sensory exploration through cause and effect, and sight, sound and touch, babies can watch the bright balls spiral up and spin back down under their control.
- Twist & Fold Activity Gym (Platinum): Featuring fashionable vintage fabrics, this gym was made for both mom and baby in mind with sounds, textures, bright colors and a teether ring that opens and closes with just one hand.
- Loopapalooza (Gold): Linkable activity loops, with peek-a-boo mirror, textured teether and clacking rings, Infantino has brought classic grasp toys to a whole new level.
- Vintage Jittery Pal (Gold): This Jittery Jungle Pal is a loveable linkable that jitters and shakes, encouraging your baby to play. Bring it in the car, stroller, or anywhere else.
- Wall Mounted Mobile Mirror (Gold): Providing a fun distraction for changing time, this zoo pal has a mirror and dangly feet, and can be mounted on the wall and changed for optimum position as your baby grows.
For more information, visit step2.com or view the award posting at www.toyportfolio.com.
About The Step2® Company
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.
About Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
Founded in 1989 by mother and daughter team, Joanne and Stephanie Oppenheim, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio does not accept entry fees for reviewing products or take ads from companies. The Oppenheims are independent child development experts and contributors to NBC’s TODAY Show. www.toyportfolio.com
CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440
Margaux Vega, Current Lifestyle Marketing
mvega@currentlm.com ; 415-449-0126
Brian McDonald, Step2 VP International Sales, Governor Ted Strickland and Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development
STREETSBORO, OHIO, September 3, 2009 — The Step2 Company, LLC announces its selection as one of 27 Ohio export leaders to be honored recently in Columbus for their successful strategies in global trade. Step2 is the largest toy manufacturer in the U.S. and while 90% of toys sold in this country are imported, Step2 is successfully competing for market share in more than 70 countries.
Since 1986 the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Awards (e-Awards) has recognized companies of all sizes that show superior performance in exporting. Step2 was chosen from a pool of 11,000 Ohio companies that distribute goods globally. Its selection is not only due to a 30% sales increase from 2007 to 2008 in international business, but how this success translates into jobs within the Step2 Company and for its local suppliers as well. This marks the third time Step2 has been honored with this award having received it previously in 1998 & 2002.
Brian McDonald, Step2 Vice President, International Sales remarks: “It’s an honor to receive this award and reflects the efforts of all of our employees to grow the Step2 brand globally. Our success internationally shows continuing appreciation for Step2′s American-made, high-quality products and recognizes our American work force that competes head to head against all global work forces.”
About The Step2 Company:
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.
CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications | dfranks@step2.net | 330-656-0440
STREETSBORO, OHIO — May 5, 2009 — The Step2® Company has earned yet another prestigious award for the company’s line of products. The National Parenting Center has honored Step2′s Sand & Water Transportation Station and Thinkativity’s Feed & Learn Singing Croc with a seal of approval for price, packaging, design, stimulation, desirability, age appropriateness and creativity.
The Step2® Company, LLC is a family company with toy brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. The company designs and produces new toys that receive recognition every year for their durability, creative play value, and fun designs.
The Thinkativity Feed & Learn Singing Croc is an interactive crocodile that sings 26 different songs about letters and words. It includes letters A-Z that store in the croc’s tummy to help children learn the alphabet. The Step2 Sand & Water Transportation Station allows children to jump on board the transportation station of fun. It promotes hours of creative play with two compartments for both sand and water with drain plugs for easy clean-up.
“We greatly appreciate this award from such a highly regarded organization,” said Step2 CEO Scott Levin. “We take pride in providing families creative toys that are safe, fun, and provide hours of imaginative play for kids.”
The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval is a peer-to-peer parent review program that recognizes products and services that have been met with a “thumbs up” by parents. Since 1989, The National Parenting Center has been a leading parent advocacy organization, offering advice and information to parents on issues ranging from pregnancy through adolescence.
The Step2 Company not only designs and produces innovative toys, it also provides parents and child care professionals access to learn and share information about the importance of creative play. CreativePlayPlus.com is a ground breaking blog launched from an alliance between the Step2 Company and the renowned Schubert Center for Child Studies. The site offers a variety of topics related to play and provides visitors with relevant news stories, expert research, articles and other blogs that center around the topic of play.
For more information on Step2 products visit www.step2.com. For more information on the National Parenting Center visit www.tnpc.com/.
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About The Step2 Company:
Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn.
CONTACT:
Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440
Alexis Black, Current Lifestyle Marketing
ablack@currentlm.com; 312-929-0504
Consumers Choose America’s Largest Toy Maker for Best Toys for Families
STREETSBORO, OHIO – April 1, 2009 — Step2 children’s toys are the favorite brand for fun toys that foster creative play, according to hundreds of grandparents, working parents and families across the country taking part in the Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Awards. Receiving an unprecedented 55 honors, the Step2 toys were noted for their high-quality, creativity and innovation.
The Step2 Company, LLC, is the nation’s largest preschool and toddler toy manufacturer, famous for its signature play kitchens, outdoor and ride-on toys, and craft tables and easels. With headquarters in Streetsboro, Ohio, Step2 is an American toy company making 90 percent of its toys in three US-based factories. Step2 is the largest rotational molder of plastics in the world and distributes its toys in 70 countries worldwide.
Winners of the Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice™ Awards are selected based on the opinions of real consumers who have purchased and used the product and posted their opinions on Buzzillions.com, the Web’s premier hub for customer reviews. Buzzillions is the only product review site that categorizes its reviews by “user personality” so that consumers can get ratings and reviews from people just like them.
“Most product awards are judged by a small group of industry experts,” said Andy Chen, CEO of Buzzillions. “The Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Awards are unique in that they are judged by the people, for the people. It speaks volumes for Step2 to be recognized by the toughest judges of all — their customers.”
The Step2 Company was honored with 21 2008 Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Award Winners and 34 2008 Buzzillions Reviewer’s Choice Award Finalists for their toddler toys and children’s furniture. Additionally, 23 of these awards were for the best “overall” product in their nominated category.
“At Step2, we pride ourselves on making innovative toys that foster creativity for children and are a good value for families. We care about what our consumers are saying about our products and take all feedback into consideration,” said Scott Levin, CEO for The Step2 Company. “We think it’s fantastic that Buzzillions.com offers such a unique venue for people to share their opinion online and are grateful to be honored with these awards.”
The Step2 Company received the following Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Awards:
Art Master Activity Desk: Art Storage & Tables – Best Overall
Soft & Sturdy Blocks: Building Sets, Blocks & Materials – Best Overall
Soft & Sturdy Deluxe Blocks: Building Sets, Blocks & Materials — Best for Parents of Two or More Children
Lift & Hide Bookcase Storage Chest: Children’s Bedroom Furniture – for Budget Shoppers, Mid-range Shoppers and Best Overall
Pirate Ship: Doll Accessories – for Parents of Two or More Children
Flip Doodle Easel Desk: Learning & Activities – for Grandparents
24″ Playmats – 1 pack (4 Total Playmats): Learning & Activities – for Working Parents
Outdoor Storage Bench: Patio Benches – Best Overall
Naturally Playful Welcome Home Playhouse: Play Houses & Furniture – for First-Time Parents, Grandparents, Parents of Two or More Children, Stay-at-Home Parents, Working Parents and Best Overall
Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center: Playsets – Best Overall
Par 3 Mini Golf Course: Toy Sports – Best Overall
Deluxe Canyon Road Train Track Table: Toy Trains – for Parents of Two or More Children and Best Overall
Naturally Playful Sand & Water Activity Center: Water Toys – Best Overall
Up & Down Roller Coaster: Youth Push Ride-on Toys — Best Overall
The following products are Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalists:
Creative Projects Table: Art Storage & Tables – Overall
Dream Castle Convertible Bed: Children’s Bedroom Furniture – Overall
Racing Room Combo: Children’s Bedroom Furniture — Overall and Mid-range Shoppers
Dream Castle Convertible Bed: Children’s Bedroom Furniture – for Mid-range and Budget Shoppers
Fire Engine Toddler Bed: Children’s Bedroom Furniture – for Mid-range Shoppers and Budget Shoppers
Pirate Ship: Doll Accessories — Overall and Stay-At-Home-Parents
Sand & Water Cart: Floats, Toys & Games – Overall
Flip & Doodle Easel Desk: Learning & Activities — Overall and for Stay-At Home-Parents
24″ Playmats — 1 pack (4 Total Playmats): Learning Activities, for First-Time Parents and Parents of Two or More Children
Naturally Playful Picnic Table: Play Houses & Furniture — Overall and Stay-at-Home Parents
Naturally Playful Storybook Cottage Playhouse: Play Houses & Furniture — Overall, Stay-at-Home and Parents of Two or More Children and First time Parents
Naturally Playful Neat and Tidy Cottage: Play Houses & Furniture — For Working Parents, Stay-At-Home-Parents, and First-Time Parents
Play Shade Deluxe Bouncer: Play Houses & Furniture – For Parents of Two or More Children
Fold & Store Slide: Playsets – Overall
Naturally Playful Big Folding Slide: Playsets – Overall
Naturally Playful Look-out Treehouse: Playsets – Overall
Deluxe Canyon Road Train Track Table: Toy Trains – for Stay-at-Home Parents
WaterWheel Play Table: Water Toys – Overall
Push-Around Buggy: Youth Push Ride-On Toys – Overall
In addition to providing innovative toys, The Step2 Company is also dedicated to providing parents and child care professionals access to learn and share information about the importance of creative play. CreativePlayPlus.com is a ground breaking blog launched from an alliance between the Step2 Company and the renowned Schubert Center for Child Studies. The site offers a variety of topics related to play and provides visitors with relevant news stories, expert research, articles and other blogs that center around the topic of play.
For more information on Step2 products visit www.step2.com. For a full list of winners visit Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Award Announcement.
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About The Step2 Company:
The Step2® Company is a family company with brands including Step2®, Infantino®, and Thinkativity® that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. Step2, based in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational molder of children’s and home products, including children’s play kitchens, playhouses, outdoor toys and ride on toys, as well as home products such as mailboxes, gardening aids and trash cans. Infantino, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. is a leading designer and international distributor of innovative and original infant, toddler, and preschool products. Featuring fashion-forward designs, the popular product lines include classic creative baby toys and puzzles, innovative soft baby carriers, and simple, no-fuss baby travel systems. New Jersey-based Thinkativity is a leading innovator of electronic and early learning toys promoting inventive play patterns through original musical compositions and stories that inspire children to explore, play and learn. Step2, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University’s Schubert Center for Child Studies, sponsors CreativePlayPlus.com, an online resource to provide parents with the latest research on creative play and child development. Visit www.creativeplayplus.com for more information on this partnered initiative. Visit www.step2.com, www.infantino.com and www.thinkativity.com to learn more about The Step2 Company brands.
About the Buzzillions® Reviewers’ Choice™ Awards
Buzzillions Reviewers’ Choice Awards are selected utilizing a special algorithm that ranks products reviewed by consumers in the calendar year of 2008. This algorithm incorporates star ratings, number of reviews and the reliability of the reviewers (reviews by “Verified Buyers” are given more weight). The #1-ranked product is awarded “Reviewers’ Choice Winner” status. The #2 – #5-ranked products are awarded “Reviewers’ Choice Finalist” status. Buzzillions.com, which has nearly five million reviews, is a one-stop product research site for consumers, providing reviews and recommendations from real product users for more than 700,000 products in thousands of categories, including consumer electronics, apparel, sporting goods, health & beauty and home & garden.
CONTACT:Dotti Franks, Vice President Marketing Communications
dfranks@step2.net; 330-656-0440
Lisa Brogan, CURRENT
lbrogan@currentlm.com; 310-854-8278
