On April 1, 1955, Richard Dakin, a San Francisco entrepreneur, started a business importing shotguns from Europe.
[1] In 1957, his son, Roger, joined and imported battery-operated trains, and the manufacturer also sent samples of small, sawdust-filled cotton-velveteen-covered toys.
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] From 1991 to 1995, the company built a retail business by focusing on entertainment licensed brands with in-store merchandising displays.
This acquisition strengthened Applause's generic stuffed animal business to balance out its entertainment license portfolio.
Applause created a Strategic Alliances Group to oversee products for food-related and premium-based programs.