Companies stock up on desk toys, stress relievers and cubicle munitions during sluggish economy
GRANDVILLE, Mich., May 9, 2012 — Although leading office toy supplier KlearGear.com (http://www.kleargear.com) has sold directly to consumers since 2001, sales to its corporate customers — from small businesses to the Fortune 500 — have soared since the beginning of the last recession in 2008.
Downsizing, sluggish wage growth and higher workloads have driven employee stress levels to an all-time high — costing American industry an estimated $300 billion a year. Office toys can help improve employee morale, focus, and creativity by providing them an opportunity to escape, refocus, and personalize their space.
"Smart organizations put their employees first and their customers second," said KlearGear.com president Lee Gersten. "If you take care of your employees, they'll take care of your customers."
Interactive toys like brain teasers, fluorescent slime and foam slingshots have become best-sellers. In some wide-open work spaces such as call centers and IT departments, workers engage in "cubicle warfare" with KlearGear's foam dart guns and flying toys.
More conservative environments such as banks and insurance companies once represented a small percentage of overall sales at KlearGear. Today, KlearGear counts some of the largest U.S. companies in these industries as its most frequent business customers.
"In some offices, fun was viewed as a distraction," said Gersten. "More companies are learning that playtime has tangible benefits. Even small companies can see the ROI."
Employee meetings and company events are also driving corporate customers back for more toys. "Our gizmos feed everyone's inner child," added Gersten. "We sell fun." KlearGear's most popular desk toys, gadgets and decor categories include:
Desktop Toys and Games
http://www.kleargear.com/distractions.html
Cubicle Decor
http://www.kleargear.com/desk-decor.html
Office Warfare
http://www.kleargear.com/weapons.html
KlearGear expanded its own employees' office toy arsenal to help resolve stress stemming from the company's rapid growth. While its customer base ballooned to more than 1 million "cube dwellers" across 80 countries with orders ranging in size from $10 to $10,000, KlearGear struggled to keep pace with growing demand for its inventive and often exclusive desktop toys and cubicle decor.
Following its 116% revenue growth between 2007 and 2010, during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Inc. Magazine named KlearGear to its 2011 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America.
For more information, contact:
Rob Key
Email
http://media.kleargear.com
(616) 965-2426
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