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| John A. doll is anatomically correct |
National Post-Chis Wattie
-11/24/2003-
A Montreal--based company has launched what it hopes will be the next big thing in toys and collectibles:Fathes of Confederation action figures.Nafekh Technologies Inc. has already purchased it's inaugural figure John A. Macdonald--and began selling it at this month's liberal leadership convention in Toronto.Even though Canada's first PM was a Tory,company co.--owner Sonia Nafekh said sales at her booth outside the convention hall were brisk."They're selling quite well" she said.
"We're getting a lot of e--mails from across the country asking about them...People who have seen the product in store windows and even children have asked us when the next figure will be released."
The company plans an enter "Canadian Legends"--line of figurines,and has already completed a prototype of the next in the series:Sir Wilfrid Laurier,Canada's first Quebec--born PM(though it commits the common error of misspelling his name"Wilfred" in a promotion on the package for the Macdonald figure).Mrs. Nafekh is open to suggestions as to which great Canadian will be the next to get his or her own action figure."We had a survey for people to fill out at the[Liberal] convention...to make suggestions about who else we should do"she said."Some were asking for Terry Fox,or Wayne Gretzky,or PM Trudeau."She would not say which name would be the next Canadian Legends line."We want it to be a surprise."The 15cm Sir John A. figurine lacks the bells and whistles of some of it's compettitors on toy store shelves--it's arms move,but there is no"kung--fu grip"or"karate kick action."It does,however,include a colorful booklet telling the story of Canada's first prime minister and antique--looking accescories such as an end table,books and tiny 19th cuntury reding glasses.The solid plastic Sir John A. has one thing in common with oter action figures,however:it is made in China.
Mrs. Nafekh added primly that the company has had suggestions for accescories to go with the Sir John A. figure,based on the former PM's fondness for an occasional drink.
"A lot of people were joking about that--that we should have given him a wine glass too,"she said."But we wanted to focus on his achievements,the positive things."
The miniature Sir John A's are being sold in some toy stores and hobby shops for about $20, and Ms. Nafekh hopes to convince a large retailer such as Wal-Mart to stock them in time for Christmas.
"We're hoping to educate young people about their history," she said. "About the Canadians who had a significant impact on building our country".
Ms. Nafekh, who runs Nafekh Technologies with husband Andrew, said action-figure sales had been growing exponentially since 2001, when they took off by 36% according to toy industry research firms. |
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