ToyCyte sale!
We've slashed our prices for a lot of our toys to make room for more customs! Go get some amazing deals today at our store !
<-->
Tue, Jun 2, 2009
Since I began ToyCyte in April 2008, I had the amazing “once-in-a-life” opportunity to try and find a great news team to cover an industry I love. I was able to explore any and all options to make a toy news blog profitable on a larger scale. I quickly found Jeremy, and a few other freelancers, and ToyCyte was born. Jeremy quickly became a powerhouse on our staff, and we were lucky enough to be able to contract him full-time to concentrate on making our news gathering unlike anything else out there. I think we not only achieved that in short order, but greatly exceeded even our own expectations.
Then, the economy took a collective poop. As you may have noticed, we at ToyCyte scaled back our news coverage considerably last month. The economic woes severely affected our parent company, and as a result, ToyCyte’s funding was severely cut, after nearly 4 months of us trying to find ways to make ToyCyte financially sustainable. The economy affected our advertisers, and affected online sales even before we started up our own store. Double whammy.
Even before ToyCyte finally took shape, I knew most of the financial obstacles I would face, but nobody expected what was to come in late 2008. We were not unlike the newspaper industry in someways… how do you find a way to be financially viable for a product you give away? How do you find a way to really elevate designer toy news with a team of writers? Retain editorial quality? Not be a press-release blog? Write hard-hitting stories on copyright protection, blindbox economy… or researching the industry, discovering new talent and helping hundreds of artists get the attention they deserve?
Regardless, I will argue that editorially, we are the best damn toy news site out there.
We correctly erred on the side of being a watchdog rather than a lapdog and I am extremely proud of what Jeremy, Collin, Sunny, Hana, Nic and the rest of our contributors have accomplished. To date, we have published 3,546 articles in just over a year. Jeremy was responsible for 1,960 of those alone. His keen eye and sharp writing wit will be missed not only in ToyCyte, but in the designer toy world. Jeremy will still be around, and he’s currently working on projects involving “the archiving of doodles and other ephemera”.
ToyCyte isn’t shutting down, but since this is more a labor of love now, and until we can find a way to generate enough income to support a person, we’re scaling back our reporting. Jeremy will be concentrating in finding a full-time gig (so if anyone needs a great writer, please hit him up!), and I will be handling the custoMONDAY, and running the editorial and the store on top of a fulltime job and preparing to be a dad, sculpting and sleeping. Don’t be surprised if you see Jeremy and Collin posting every now and then, though. It’s not really goodbye.
That said, if anyone wants to step up — or into the EIC reins — please contact me directly. There is a small bit of financial incentive to running ToyCyte, but more importantly, there is still a lot of talent out there waiting to be written about. Everybody give Jeremy a shoutout in the comments!
Jason Babler - who has written 76 posts on ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected.
Jason started ToyCyte in April 2008. A creative director by day, sculptor by night, he hopes to release his first toy in 2009. Contact him for any Store questions.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
This sux. Not only is Jeremy a great writer, he is a great guy. Jeremy put out some of the better write ups in the toy biz. His insight into the toy scene was not only professional but also personal. He writes with true passion about toys (you’d think he likes them or something). When I saw his icon on the story header I would read it. His non-biased approach to toy was refreshing. Nothing worse than a paid for review. I’m gonna miss reading his articles.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
amen brotha.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 am
A very sad day indeed. The ToyCyte coverage has been without peer and that level of commitment will be sorely missed.
BC
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
This is sad news. ToyCyte really has been one of my favorite sites in this field. Props to everyone of you for your commitment.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 am
*sniff sniff*
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 am
Very sad news. I know from talking to Jeremy on several occasions that he was/is very passionate about his job and the toy industry. I have no doubts that he will be able to find work because of is passion. If I was a larger company I would snatch him up right quick! Aside from his work ethic Jeremy is just a nice guy period.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Dang that is no good. If we could afford to pay him at GEN I would have him on in a heart beat!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
wow, bummer. this sucks. Sorry to hear the news. but blogging about toys is a labor of love. i’m sure your contributors can continue toycyte as just that…
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Lame, super sad to hear this. What would we do without this place?
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
This truly is sad news. I wish the best of luck to all of the toycyte staff, Jeremy especially. I’m sure, given his talent, he will be able to find a great job somewhere out there.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Best of luck to Jeremy in his next endeavor and lots of luck to ToyCyte. Tough Times Go Way, Tough Websites Don’t!
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
This is a sad day. Good luck to Jeremy and Toycyte in the future.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Good luck, Jeremy! You raised the bar for toy blogs out there.
Keep it up, Toycyte!
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
It’s a real shame, but in these times I can understand. I hope Jeremy finds something just as great in the near future!
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Thank you for all of you passion for toys, and your labor to document them and start a community. Few people understand the level of work that this actually takes, and that the rewards are few and far between. It is always a labor of love, and we here at Super7 thank you for your efforts, and hope to see you again soon, online or in person. Take care.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Wow while I understand how much it takes to write and keep something like this up, its sad to see Jeremy leave. I may be new to everything but the few times I have talked with Jeremy he is an awesome person. He has been awesome to work with, and helped me a bunch with the CustoMONDAY giveaway. So THANKS for the help and for posting my art over the past few months, I look forward to working with you again. I am sure you’ll move on, and there are sure to be bigger things in the future! Thanks toycyte, best of luck in the future.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
i only found this site a few months ago but i have checked it religiously everyday. good luck with everything in the future and I’ll still be checking it everyday.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
this is a bummer, i love toycyte, and totally agree that your team of writers is top notch, especially jeremy!
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Im sure we havent seen the last of Jeremy yet…
Keep on keepin’ on JB….
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Jeremy is one of the most awesome guys you could wish to meet in this scene, totally sucks that he won’t be ToyCyte anymore. However a man of his calibre will bounce back stronger than ever, and i do hope he’ll continue to report on all thing vinyl in a new guise.
Thanks for all your support man, and thanks to everyone else at ToyCyte for making it what it is!
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
The designer toy world always feels so very fragile to me. And because of how much I love it, that is a scary thing. So seeing a great contributor like Jeremy have to step down is very sad indeed.
I know he’ll be around, and the toy community will persevere, but it still sucks.
We’ll miss you Jeremy, best of luck.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Really sad to see Jeremy go. I love this site and you guys have been great with all the promotion you have given me since the site launched!
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
For such a small sum of money to let such major talent go: seems to me there’s got to be somebody(ies) able to step up to the plate, do the right thing, to support real ability in a world thriving on less and less of it!
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Jeremy, I’m really sorry to hear this. You have been extremely supportive of us and a myriad of other artists, and you will be missed. The very best of luck with your new ventures.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
ToyCyte has been a powerhouse of information in the last year, and Jeremy has written some of the most memorable and well-crafted pieces about toys + art I can think of (5-part feature on blind boxes – awesome!). What a loss for our community to not have his insight on a regular basis or on the scale we’ve grown accustomed to. Best of luck to you, Jeremy – and don’t be a stranger!
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Best of luck with your next adventures Jeremy!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I really enjoy all of what ToyCyte has offered the community and a ton of it has been through Jeremy’s contributions. Thanks for all the support you’ve given me in your tenure here.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
What a bummer. I didnt really know Jeremey personally but i did email with him a few times and it is sad that he must move on, Toycite is a great place and i believe he will be missed as much as his awesome and informative posts on Art toys during these fragile times, best of luck to you Jeremey. Peace!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
: (
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
I wish you the best of luck Jeremy. I’ve always enjoyed the wit and creativity in your writing. Thanks for all your help. I’ll keep my ears open and await the big splash upon your return.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:26 am
Aw that’s no good! Jeremy is a great asset to the toy community and I feel like Toycyte was just hitting its stride!
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Damn the economy. Loved reading your posts. Good luck with everything. Olivier @ camiondepompier.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Getting to be friends with Jeremy over the past year and a half was a blessing for me. What a great guy and even better writer, things will come along for you my friend no need to worry. Best toy insight I have seen on the web it will be sad to see it scaled down, unlike some other toy websites out there who exist strictly as a mouthpiece for toy companies and do not follow through with their contests etc. To Jeremy i know there is not a cubicle out there with your name on it, if you get my drift my friend.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Man, this is a bummer. Jeremy’s a damn good writer and a solid dude. As much as this sucks, I’m sure Jeremy will remain a contributing member of the toy community.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
“…and don’t let the door hit you in the jafro on the way out.” Good luck in your next gig, Jeremy!
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Big changes always happen for the better…
Surely we hear from you soon..
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
This sucks.
Jeremy, I am sure we’ll all be hearing from you soon. If there’s anything I can do for you folks at ToyCyte, let me know…
June 4th, 2009 at 2:10 am
What the other said. Hang in there boys!
June 4th, 2009 at 2:30 am
sad, i can see how much work u put into this! enjoyed toycyte’s fine site design & contents! :-/
great job! all the best jeremy!
June 5th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I’ll miss your steady flow of articles here, but really glad other projects are in the works. Excited to see what’s next!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Jeremy’s passion and creative contributions will surely be missed, we are glad to see he may be popping up from time to time again. Difficult times unfortunately sometime require difficult decisions. We know first hand how much time, passion, dedication, sleepless nights and more go into this world, and we at Lulubell commend ToyCyte and all of it’s contributors now and in the future for your tremendous contributions to the community. Best wishes to all future endeavors!
Amy & Luke / Lulubell Toys
June 8th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Damn! I just found this site a couple months ago and made it a daily read. Loved the writing and the vast coverage. I’ll still be stopping by to check things out as they hit my feed. Best of luck to everyone involved and know that you were appreciated.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
jeremy! woot!
June 12th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I never realized the effect the economy had on a website. Jeremy, your posts will be greatly missed. This is such a great site, I wish I had more to contribute.
June 18th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Best of luck to whatever you move on to. Jeremy. I hope you’ll still have a chance to post some honest, hard hitting toy articles from time to time! ^_^
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Best of luck to Jeremy and ToyCyte. It’s always been a cut above.