‘Trick sticks’ are cashing in

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 23

‘Trick sticks’ are cashing in

From

KEN COATES

in London

William Collie, the .26-year-old New Zealander who managed to sell his -trick stick" to the toy trade in Britain, stands 'to make many thousands of dollars from international sales. Although not in the same league as the once famous hula hoop, sales of Collie's novel toy throughout the world could reach between eight or nine million. A "trick stick" is a 2ft 6in length of plastic stick with a round knob at each end. It is attached by a length of string to the operator's finger, and its twirling movement is governed by the hand.

Children are intrigued by the floating movementthrough the air of the stick which can be used as a trick walking stick that can dance out in front of the user and be snapped back into the hand.

Collie (Willie to his friends) has been described as "a little bit shy and introverted." That did not prevent him from hustling around stands at last year's

annual toy fair at Earl's Court, London, trying to interest toy-makers in his idea. Formerly of'Nelson and a graduate of the University of Otago's School of Physical Education. Willie Collie first made a "trick stick" while at university "to fool around with." He took one to England on a working holiday. He got so sick of people borrowing it, and not returning it. that he decided to try to cash in on its novel appeal by selling the idea to a toy manufacturer. He and a friend went around stands at the 1980 Earl's Court Toy Fair, but were given the cold shoulder by several manufacturers’ representatives who said they were too busy to talk. Several said they did not have time to watch a demonstration, and told Willie and his mate to go home and write them a letter. The two hopefuls received much the same initial response from Mr Keith Townsend, managing director of Harbutt's Plastiscine,

. Ltd. of Bath. But when they told him they had been "thrown off every other stand." he said they might as well demonstrate their trick stick there and then. Mr Townsend bought the idea on the spot. "I just had a ’gut feeling about it, that's all. And I remembered the hula hoop." He terms it a first-rate children's play item, and although sales have not been as spectacular as the hoop, nor quite as high as Mr Townsend at first hoped, they have been satisfactory. They will soon top one million in the United Kingdom and four million in the United States. Another four million could be sold in Europe. Australia, and New Zealand, where sales are due to start soon. The trick stick is the latest of what is known in the trade as a pocket-money toy. It sells for less than $4.80 in Britain.

After development by Harbutts. the stick was promoted at this year's fair as the toy of 1981. It drew some welcome publicity from the professional magicians’ organisation, the Magic Circle, which accused Mr Collie and the manufacturers of “pinching something that did not belong to them and turning it into a toy."

The magicians claimed that the magic cane trick was invented about 25 years ago and became part of their repertoire. Its commercialisation meant the trick was ruined, they said. The drum majorettes of America were not too happy either. The argument even reached 8.8. C. radio when it was the subject of an interview with the magicians’ representative, Paul Daniels, and Sir Robin Day. A spokesman for Harbutts said that the magicians later regretted their protest when it was pointed out that the

trick had been explained fully in any book of magic. "They were’ just jealous that they did not think of the idea of popularising it themselves."

The spokesman added that Collie always seemed to go to ground when press interviews were in the air, but he had taken part in several trade promotions of his trick stick.

"He's a clever bloke, knows about bio-mechanics and things like that. We're planning a big celebration when we sell the millionth trick stick,” he said.

By all accounts Willie Collie and two friends own a strawberry farm near Canvastown, Marlborough. Profits from the New Zealander’s part in the trick-stick project will go to buy more land to grow more strawberries.

The amount of the royalty

Collie will get on each stick has not been disclosed, but if the toy's popularity takes off. one estimate is that he could make between $140,000 and $240,000.

At one stage it was reported Collie was on a cycling trip across Africa to try to interest native people in his trick stick, but that mayhave been a figment of a public relations man's imagination.

The latest report is that Collie, described as "more of a nomad with a rucksack than an international salesman." by the.manufacturers’ spokesman, is on his way back to New Zealand. Has he left behind anymore bright, money-making ideas? According to the spokesman, he did try to interest Harbutts in a trick lapel badge, in the shape of a flower, out of which bounced a long spring. But they were not impressed. Something like the trick stick comes along only “once in a lifetime," Mr Townsend says.