Christie's Toy Box expands via new catalogs, Web site

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Sep 28, 1999

Christie's Toy Box, an Oklahoma novelty and erotic gift retailer, is expanding its sales reach around the globe through a new e- commerce Web site and mail-order catalog.

Beth Chandler, owner of the 25-year-old chain, said she believes there is a huge untapped market of people who are too shy to walk into one of her 11 stores, but will eagerly shop for intimate products in the anonymity of the Internet.

In fact, Chandler says even she herself would not feel comfortable shopping in one of her own stores. She feels that sex is a personal issue.

"It's not something you want to share with everybody," she said.

The new catalogs will not be sent out on mailing lists, but will be available in the stores or by special request.

The Web site and catalogs will not feature any videos or magazines. Explicit materials are against Oklahoma law and Chandler says that market is already saturated on the Internet anyway.

Chandler said she is pleased with the initial response to the new site even though it is still "under construction," meaning many products have not been put online yet.

Chandler owns five Christie's Toy Box stores in Oklahoma City, plus locations in Norman, Lawton, Sapulpa, Del City, Broken Arrow, and Wichita Falls, Texas.

On the grill at Sonic

Sonic, America's Drive-In, is expanding its menu this October with two new Toaster Sandwiches -- buffalo chicken and bacon cheeseburger.

Sonic's Toaster Sandwich line was introduced last October and was such a hit that two new sandwiches were added in May, Pattye Moore, senior vice president-marketing and brand development said. It also changed ordering habits at Sonic's 2,000 drive-ins.

"After the introduction of our Toaster Sandwiches, customers began ordering many of their sandwiches on Texas Toast," Moore said. "So even though our Toaster Sandwiches may not be a regular menu item, customers still can get their favorite Sonic sandwich on Texas toast."

Studying workers comp

Rep. Jari Askins, D-Duncan, has been named to a House-Senate committee to review the financial status of the state's largest single provider of workers compensation insurance and to recommend an avenue for paying thousands of delinquent injured worker claims.

Askins was appointed to the 10-member Joint Committee to Investigate the Financial Condition of the State Insurance Fund by House Speaker Loyd Benson, D-Frederick.

The committee, created this year by Senate Bill 680, was assigned the task of examining ledgers of the State Insurance Fund and its Special Indemnity Fund. The five representatives and five senators have been instructed to report their recommendations to the legislature and governor by Jan. 15.

Askins said the committee is expected to determine if the financial ability exists to declare a $150 million dividend, of which $30 million would go into the Special Indemnity Fund to pay off workers compensation claims that are in arrears. Medical claim payments are almost five years overdue for more than 4,500 Oklahomans who sustained multiple work-related injuries, she said.

The remaining $120 million from the proposed dividend would be rebated to private businesses that use the State Insurance Fund, which is one of the state's principal workers compensation providers.

Other House members assigned to the special legislative committee are Reps. Mike Ervin, D-Wewoka, chairman of the House Economic Development Committee; Bill Settle, D-Muskogee; Chris Hastings, R- Tulsa, and House Executive Majority Leader Don Kinnamon, D-Stroud.

Senators assigned to the committee are Sens. Dave Herbert, D- Midwest City; Brad Henry, D-Shawnee; Gene Stipe, D-McAlester; Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, and Jerry Smith, R-Tulsa.

Rural solutions

Rep. Joe Sweeden, D-Pawhuska, has been appointed to the State Agricultural Transportation Needs and the Rural Economic Development task forces by House Speaker Loyd Benson, D-Frederick.

The purpose of the transportation task force is to study the state transportation needs as they affect the farmers who ship agricultural products to market.

The first meeting of the task force will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Northern Oklahoma College campus in Enid.

The House Rural Economic Development Task Force will design a comprehensive plan that will assist rural Oklahoma in key areas, such as business, education, infrastructure and agriculture. Sweeden will join 22 other House members on that panel.

Cole at Gold Level

Cole Computer has been accepted for membership at the Gold Level in the Microsoft OEM System Builder Program

The Oklahoma City-based company is the only Gold member in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Cole Computer builds, sells and supports new personal computer systems for customers that need standard and customized solutions.

Through the System Builder Program, Microsoft provides tools and resources that help Cole build systems and deliver customer solutions that integrate the latest Microsoft operating systems, software applications and hardware. Cole Computer's Gold Level status means it is part of a group of system builders that have met additional program and purchasing requirements.