Based upon some preliminary discussions, it appears as if we will be adding FedEx to our list of outbound carrier options. According to our sales person, FedEx is looking to get more aggressive within the e-commerce space, particularly since it has grown exponentially in the wake of the pandemic. An official Zoom presentation is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, so if we like what we hear and the terms are amenable, we will enable the FedEx API on our web site so that our customers can now compare shipping rates across all three major carriers. Keep in mind that we will still be the final arbiter when deciding upon which carrier to use based upon shipping costs, the value of the package and other mitigating factors.

FedEx is also looking to garner more international shipments, although it remains to be seen if they are indeed competitive with the USPS and can provide viable last-mile delivery confirmation to ensure that a parcel arrives at its ultimate destination to everyone’s satisfaction.

In the past, February has typically been a retrenching month for us as well as the industry at-large, where the manufacturer’s show off many of their new products for the coming year. Since the customary toy fairs have been dispensed with in 2021, much of this information is being passed along through the Internet, so some of this new product information is a bit spotty at best, in some instances devoid of any imagery. We will update new product introductions as soon as imagery is provided.

Looking back, 2020 was our strongest year to date, and we anticipate much the same spike in business for the balance of 2021. Its difficult to say if this trend will continue well into the outer years but all signs thus far are pointing to a robust recovery, which should propel our own business trajectory for at least the foreseeable future. That’s it for now. We’ll be taking a few days off towards the end of this month largely to scout out a new location in Florida for both our business and home. Wish us luck.