Smurf Distribution during the early 1980s

Date: Circa 1982

The Official Factory opening in Sri Lanka (Quality Crafts Ltd)

Personnel:

Centre: Janine & Pierre Culliford (Peyo)

Extreme right: Herman Schneider (Schleich), Marlene Schneider (blue t-shirt), William Li, Ulli Köester (Schleich)

Centre left: Larry Elins (with camera), owner of Wallace Berrie inc. USA.

Rear of group: Sri Lankan Factory owner & his wife, Gary Trumbo (Marketing Director Wallace Berrie inc. USA), "Flavio" (Italian Distributor), Victor Maia & family (Portugal) and other smurf world distributors.

Location: Visit to the opening of the new Sri Lanka Factory (Quality Crafts Ltd) outside Columbo Airport, in the jungle. An elephant lifted a large tree log off barrier supports to signify the private drive to the factory was now open. The picture left shows Terry & Irene Anderson and Papa Smurf(!) with the elephant!

Date: Circa October 1983

Information: Hong Kong visit to the showrooms of William & Bill Li who produced moulds, and moulded and arranged the hand painting to Schleich's very high standard. All German production was organised by Ulli Köester who became Managing Director when Herman Schneider became a consultant, following his sale of Schleich to new owners.

Location: On a Chinese River Junk in Hong Kong, hired by William & Bill Li during a visit to the Hong Kong Toy Fair.

Personnel: Herr Meyer & wife (Danish Smurf Distributor) with Terry & Irene Anderson (UK & Eire Smurf Distributor).

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