A Real Toy StoryFrom wild-haired troll dolls to nostalgic teddy bears, Russ Berrie has the gift market all wrapped up.

Russ Berrie is still swinging. That's how he knows he'ssuccessful--not because his Oakland, New Jersey, gift and noveltyfirm, Russ Berrie and Co. Inc., posts more than$375 million inannual sales. And not because he's masterminded some of thebest-selling gift items in popular memory, ranging from that littleplastic statuette from the '60s who, with his armsoutstretched, proclaimed "I love you this much!" to, morerecently, the troll doll, which enjoyed a formidable comeback inthe early '90s. With its top-rated line of baby gifts andaccessories, its nostalgic "Bears From the Past" teddybear series, and a menagerie of other familiar gift items, RussBerrie and Co. enjoys more than its share of major hits.

Berrie, 64, is understandably pleased with theseaccomplishments. But it's the longevity of his 34-year-oldcompany that pleases him most. "There are not many companiesaround today that were here in 1963," Berrie says. "Inthis business, things are always changing, but we're stillaround. And it's been fun every step of the way," eventhough it hasn't always been easy.