It's Good to Know… Larry Schur

In any business, it’s always good to know the man in charge. Although I know that All Baby & Child Inc. is guided by a committee of independent juvenile product retailers and manufacturers, and they have a great team that organizes its annual ABC Spring Conference and ABC Kids Expo… the main man is Larry Schur, President of ABC. Good to know!

Larry Schur Helped Change How Our Business Works

I can’t even remember how long I have known Larry. I am sure I met him in the “old days” when the kid biz revolved around the JPMA Show in Dallas. But I really got to know, and appreciate the character of the man, after 9/11/01. Along with seemingly everything else in our country, the tragedy of that day put the juvenile products business in a state of uncertainty and turmoil. No need to rehash the past, but out of the chaos evolved All Baby & Child and the ABC Kids Expo, which has earned several annual awards as the fastest-growing and largest trade show sin the country.

The way business was done in the juvenile market changed a lot, especially for the first few years after 9/11. Throughout the sometimes stormy transistions of our industry’s trade events, and over the course of not necessarily the industry’s most shining moments, I saw Larry Schur as a calming influence that helped bring the interests of the kid biz together. I admired Larry’s strength of character, quiet resolve and humble management style that brought direction, focus, solutions and a sense of hope for better business days to come.

Larry is Number One of ABC’s!

Since those early days of learning the ABC’s of trade show management, Larry has proven himself to be a respected leader and manager. As a member of the media, he has always been available to help me promote and supporr the kids’ market. I trust Larry’s judgment, appreciate his insights and encouragement over the years, and applaud both his personal accomplishments and those of his ABC team that really seem to love “following the leader.”

Larry is Onesies^® Singular Sensation!

Here is my favorite bit of Larry Schur trivia: Larry was on the original team at Gerber, over 28 years ago, that named and invented the Onesides^®! And yes, Onesies^® (and all possible variations of its spelling) is a registered trademark of Gerber Childrenswear LLC… . and should never be used to describe any other one-piece, bodysuit or romper! Larry’s children were even part of the Gerber baby ad campaign when Onesies^® were first introduced.

It’s good to know someone that is partially responsible for a brand name that in real life has become as common as Kleenex^®, Xerox^® and Band-Aid^® to describe an entire product category!

Congratulations to Larry and his entire ABC team for a successful ABC Spring Conference this May. We look forward to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, October 10-13 ,2010. In 2011, the ABC Kids Expo moves to Louisville, Kentucky.

For more information, go to www.theabcshow.com.

David Gaunt
Editorial Director
The Giggle Guide

“It’s Good to Know” is a recurring feature on my blog. Come back next Thursday to meet the next person I’m glad to know in the children’s industry. Who do you think it’s good to know in the children’s business? Share your comments here.