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GAMA Report: David Wallace Named CEO of Troll and Toad Date: 5/1/2008 |
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David Wallace has been appointed to the top management position at Troll And Toad, an industry leader since 1994 in online retail of Hobby/Game products, especially Magic: the Gathering collectible cards. He joins a staff of 77 at the Barbourville headquarters. "We feel honored to have such an esteemed colleague as our new CEO,” said Jon Huston, President of Troll And Toad; “We believe he will be an invaluable asset as we move into our next period of growth." Troll And Toad VP Lana Huston similarly welcomed the addition of both Wallace and his wife Kelli to the company and the area. Wallace is probably best known for his mentorship of other hobby/game retailers and his programming at the GAMA trade show, various distributor-offered retailer seminars and industry retreats. The last ten years have seen him and wife Kelli enthusiastically engaged in education of new and would-be retailers. The couple has been directly or indirectly responsible for much of the retailer-targeted programming occurring at GAMA sponsored events. His “The Bottom Line” talk is a perennial favorite. He has adopted and recommends a delegation approach to management in his organization, leaving much to his competent store managers. This leaves him considerable free time for other business pursuits. Over the years he has consulted as a business analyst, served for two years as the head of GAMA’s retail division, and published two books on retailing, The Specialty Retailer’s Handbook, and the Store Manager Training Guide, both available from distributors. In addition to moving to Kentucky, Wallace will retain ownership of his current Hobby/Game/Comic 5-store chain in the St. Louis area, and with it, his commitment to face-to-face retailing. Although he has joined the online arena, he retains his previous sensibilities. Wallace explains "Although I've been surrounded by brick and mortar retail for 27 years, I'd not previously had this chance to expand my horizons in the online frontier." A retail operation with a both a brick and mortar component and a strong online component, Troll And Toad sells board games, Role Playing Games (RPGs), miniatures, gaming supplies and many different collectible card games, including Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic: TG single cards. “This is a great fit for both of us,” Wallace explains, “Troll And Toad’s phenomenal growth spurt created the need for expert management skills. Growth can be a bumpy ride if it’s not managed properly. I was looking for something new to do in the industry where I could be fully engaged. This is it.” |
| Source: Comics & Games Retailer |
