The other day I went to visit my 4-year-old grandson in Arkansas. Stopping at a toy store, I noticed a brand I was very familiar with from my childhood: Tonka. When I was growing up,
Tonka trucks were the gold standard of toy trucks and were made entirely of steel except for the wheels. They were durable and nearly indestructible. However, they were prone to rust when left outside. When I first picked up the Tonka truck, I noticed that the truck bed was made of plastic.
My first reaction was disappointment that the iconic Tonka trucks of my youth had degraded in quality like most things. However, upon further examination, I noticed that the hood and roof were steel clad as was the operative tailgate. In fact, the plastic itself was very ridged. The combination of steel and plastic was in fact much more sturdy than the original truck design. In an age where most new products have gotten cheaper and more disposable, it is refreshing to see that some companies have used modern materials and construction techniques to improve their original designs.
My impression of the Tonka company has been reinforced since they continue to be the leader in superior quality toys. Rather than keep the timeless classic design, they made the product even better and put, even more, the distance between them and their competitors.
Are you happy sitting on your leadership in your industry or are you looking for ways to put even more distance between you and your competitors?
