Applause was founded in 1966 by Wallace Berrie, who in the late 1970's recognized an opportunity a dozen other major licensors had passed by. They were called the Smurfs-and they revolutionized an entire industry. Wallace Berrie was a pioneer with a vision of putting world-famous characters into the hands of every child on the globe. Acquiring The Applause Company from Knickerbocker Toys in 1984, Berrie seized further potential by taking Applause as the new company name and utilizing the acquired Disney©, Sesame Street™ and Raggedy Ann™ licenses to build one of the industry's top portfolios. When Applause acquired Dakin in 1995, it diversified its product line and set the stage to become the major force of the new millennium.

In 1957, Roger Dakin transformed some small, velveteen animals that had been used for freight padding into the most popular plush gifts on the planet. Revolutionizing the gift business through the next several decades, Dakin became the leader in a long tradition of top-of-the-line quality, soft, lovable plush animals that the whole world fell in love with. Today, Dakin offers a 45 year tradition of quality gifts and home decor products marketed under the banners of four distinctive gift lines. High quality plush, collectibles and home decor items are the hallmarks of our Dakin brand. The Dakin Artist Collection boasts product inspired by original works of art of some of the world's most popular artists, including Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light; the renowned marine artist, Wyland; Susan Wheeler's Holly Pond Hill; and sculptor Lou Rankin. In the Dakin Signature Collection, you will find the classic American icons, Raggedy Ann & Andy™ and Kewpie¨, plus everything from the collectible treasures of Josef Originals¨ to the inspirational Precious Moments™. As Dakin grows and diversifies to meet an ever changing world, the Dakin Signature Collection preserves the world-famous Dakin tradition. Nothing has made Dakin more proud than its continuing and ever-expanding Bears for a Cause line-a unique plush program designed in partnership with established charitable organizations, granting a percentage of profits to aid these humanitarian causes. The Susan G. Komen Foundation and the National Childhood Cancer Research Foundation are just two of Dakin's foundation partners.

It is ever expanding, always changing and ever true. Some things-like the smile on a child's face, or the memory of a treasured moment-will never change.