PALM SPRINGS, California – Every year, Learning Express Toys recognizes its outstanding franchisees with awards at the Convention Banquet. Through these awards, we hold up Learning Express Toys’ values of cultivating superb teams, selling excellent products, and a creating a WOW experience for our customers. Store owners are chosen for:
- Personal qualities, such as being a team player or always being willing to lend a hand
- Professional excellence, such as identifying hot new products or turning a store’s sales around
- Going above and beyond, such as making an impact on the entire Learning Express Toys family or the broader community through charitable giving programs.
We are incredibly proud to recognize the award winners for 2015:
Mission Possible Award
This award recognizes a person who takes small ideas and turns them into big ideas that drive traffic and sales.
Winner: Colleen Hendon of Roseville, CA
Team Player Award
This award recognizes a consummate team player, who always looks for ways to share with others.
Winner: Cindy O’Hara, Alpharetta & East Cobb, GA
Trendsetter Award
This award is presented to store owners or managers who take a product or category and make it a hot trend. These stores formed popular YoYo and Kendama clubs.
Winners:
Colleen Hendon, Roseville, CA
Les and Heather Crosby, Highlands Ranch, CO
Heidi Perino, St. George, UT
Helping Hand Award
This award recognizes a person who is always willing to lend a hand; expecting nothing in return.
Winners: Ed & Shelley Hobson, Wilmington, NC
Discovery Awards
The Discovery Awards are presented to store owners who shared best-selling product throughout the past year. The key factor in winning a discovery award is to share results.
Winners:
Mary Lewis, Brookfield, WI – Simon Carabineer
Rick Derr, Lake Zurich, IL – Shopkins
Colleen Hendon, Roseville, CA – Minecraft
Kristin Janger and Shannon Fritz, Cypress and Town & Country, TX – Bean Boozled Jelly Bean Beads
Hal and Kathryn Cook, Dallas, TX – Two Bros Bows
Barry and Chery Weiss and Manager Mark Hatcher, Blue Bell & King of Prussia, PA – Logo Loops Headbands
Special thanks to Cindy O’Hara, Alpharetta & East Cobb, GA – Logo Loops Headbands.
Product Promotion Award
This award recognizes a store owner that works with the graphics department to creatively manage inventory and market product effectively.
Winner: Mary Lewis, Brookfield, WI
Marketing Awards
These awards are presented to store owners who demonstrate both creativity and innovation in their marketing and in-store events.
Winners:
Wayne and Jeanne Murry, Steve and Rhonda Solomon, Mandeville, LA
Kris and Stefanie Dunlop, Citrus Park, FL
WOW Award
The WOW Award was developed to honor stores who have taken the WOW customer experience to the next level.
Winners: Dee Senter and Paige Watson, Irmo and Lexington, SC
Striving for Success Award
This award recognizes store owners striving to learn and grow on a quest to be #1.
Winners: Isaac Bendrao and Valerie Zafrany, Aventura, FL
180 Award
This award recognizes store owners who purchased an existing store and improved performance.
Winners:
Chris and Pam Stolz, University Park, FL
Vinny and Michell Albanese, Saucon Valley, PA
Impact Award
This award goes to a store owner who is making contributions that truly impact the company and the LE Brand.
Winner: Rick Derr, Lake Zurich, IL
Bob Conger Charitable Giving Award
This award recognizes store owners who are taking charity work to the next level.
Winners: Steve Wickham, Erica Orient and Andrea Waldin, Wyomissing, PA
People’s Choice Award
This award honors someone who provides service to the LE family above and beyond their own interests; offers ideas and advice; and considers how their efforts impact others.
Winner: Colleen Hendon, Roseville, CA
President’s Award
The President’s Award was created to recognize a remarkable team member from one of our stores.
Winner: Shari Berger, Town & Country, TX
Founder’s Award
Our most prestigious store award, this award recognizes store owners who are outstanding operators at the top of their game. The recipients are passionate team players. They are great leaders who make an impact, and are highly effective in mentoring, optimizing inventory and creating a WOW experience for our customers.
Winners: Kristin Janger and Shannon Fritz, Cypress and Town & Country, TX
Congratulations, and a huge “thank you,” to all our amazing winners! Keep up the incredible work!