SPECIAL FEATURES

I was picked up at the airport and driven to Swibco's headquarters. I was given a tour of the downstairs offices and got to meet lots of nice, wonderful people including the receptionist, customer service department and the three owners! There were Puffkins everywhere! They were sitting on desks and shelves, the tops of computers and a whole set lives in the office of one of the owners.

Next I was taken into a large room with printing presses. They make all sorts of things with the presses including the Puffkins Collector's lists. The new lists were being printed and were in several large stacks.

Some of you probably don't know that Swibco makes things other than Puffkins. Well, they do! We went into another area where some ladies were sitting at button making machines. They would put in the metal pieces and then the picture part with a clear piece of plastic on the top. Then they would push the lever and the top part of the machine would come down and next thing you know, a completed button pops out. One lady was even working on some new Puffkin buttons for employees in stores to wear. It was really cool!

The next section was for making clear keychains with pictures inside. These were two pieces of clear plastic. One piece would go in and then two pictures facing back to back to be double sided and then the top piece of plastic are all fitted into the machine. The push of a button and the top part of the machine comes down compressing it and then spits out the keychain. The chains are added in another section. Also in this section, who did I see supervising over one of the machines? Black nose Snowball wearing a sombrero and a scarf!

The next machines were used for printing on leather. They were making Tweety and Taz keychains. These machines get very hot. The lady said around 300 degrees! Wow! They put different colors on the leather to make the picture using metal plates and colored ink.

Another part of the building is used as a warehouse. There were boxes and bins of Puffkins and Puffkin keychains everywhere! They also load boxes of Puffkins and other merchandise into trucks at the back of the building to be taken to stores.

We then went back inside and upstairs. We visited the Art Department where they draw and plan ideas and then design and create things. I met the head of the Art Department and some of the people including Swibco's webmaster. I got to see how they shrink down postcards to use as the pictures in some of the keychains. There is a gym upstairs too with weights and machines, a shower and a sauna! One of the owners likes to use all of it. I'm not sure who else uses it.

We then went into the showroom where Puffkins, keychains, magnets and all of their other merchandise is displayed. We had a meeting at a long table in the showroom. And guess who was there. Armour, Albert, Dottie, and Franklin! Armour is lighter tan then he looks in the internet pictures. He's pretty cute! Albert has cool eyes, different than other Puffkins. Dottie is cute with little antennas on her head. Franklin is bright red and very fluffy.

The day just flew by! I couldn't believe it when it was time to go back to the airport. Everyone was so friendly and I had such a good time!

I would like to thank Swibco for being so nice to me and allowing me the chance to visit with them and see everything. If any of you from Swibco are reading this, THANK YOU!