Timeline

1933 - Russ Berrie is born in the Bronx, NY.

1956 - Russ begins his career as a manufacturer’s rep in the toy business.

1963 - With $500 in a rented converted garage, Russ establishes, “Russ Berrie and Company, (Russ)" in Palisades Park, NJ. By year end, sales top $60,000.

1964 - First products manufactured by the Company are plush items called Fuzzy Wuzzies™.

1965 - First hot product is the Bupkis Family ™ .

1966 - Annual sales revenue cross the $1 million threshold.

1968 - First full-time salesperson is hired. SillisSculpts ™ , a line of whimsical statues with messages, earns a permanent place in American pop culture.

1971- Headquarters for the Company is established in Oakland, NJ.

1972 - West Coast distribution center opens in Santa Rosa, CA.

1977 - First overseas office opens in Korea.

1979 - Second overseas office opens in Taiwan. Russ Berrie (U.K.) Ltd. is established to serve Europe.

1981 - Annual sales revenues exceed $50 million.

1982 - Inc magazine recognizes the Company as one of the 500 fastest growing privately-held firms in the U.S.

1983 - Annual sales revenues top $100 million. Office in Hong Kong opens.

1984 - On March 29, trading begins on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol: RUS.

1985 - Annual Sales revenues top $200 million. Active period of acquisition starts with Amram’s Distributing, Ltd. in Canada. Russ establishes The Russell Berrie Foundation.

1986 - Company obtains the license for the most popular bear on the market - Snuggle ™ , and acquires Efanbee Dolls and Freelance, Inc.

1987 - Company acquires Papel, Inc.; later merged two subsidiaries to form Papel/Freelance.

1990 - Company acquires Bright of America, a stationery and fundraising company.

1992 - Trolls sweep the marketplace, driving sales to record levels above $400 million.

1993 - Company acquires Cap Toys to diversify and develop a role in the rapidly expanding mass market.

1994 - Company acquires OddzOn Products, Inc., and develops products in the sports category.

1995 - A new line of nostalgic bears – "Bears from the Past" ® - is introduced.

1996 - Following a 25% increase in gift item sales, the Company sells subsidiary Papel/Freelance to focus on its core strength – gifts.

1997 - Profitable sale of Cap Toys, Inc. and OddzOn Products to Hasbro improves strong cash position for future acquisitions. New showrooms open in Hong Kong and South America. Direct sales forces are added in Germany and Spain.

1998 - Fortune magazine recognizes Russ Berrie as the 34 th Most Generous Philanthropist in the country. Oakland, NJ showroom expands to 18,000 square feet.

1999 - Company establishes RUSS Australia PTY Ltd. in Sydney. RUSS adopts new advertising slogan, “Make someone happy.”

2000 - Giftware Business magazine and Giftbeat rank the Company as #1 for seven of its product categories.

2001 - Forbes names Russ Berrie and Company one of the 200 Best Small Companies in America. Annual sales revenues Top $285 million.

2002 - New headquarters for Russ Berrie (U.K.) Ltd. in Hounsdown, Southampton, England consolidates European operations. The Company acquires Sassy, Inc.
Sadly, Russ Berrie passes away on the 25th of December.