OUR HISTORY
OUR HISTORY. It is not improper to use the term "history" to tell the story of the Ginocchio family that span three centuries in the world of toys.
The origins: in Germany. It all started way back in 1887; in that year, Domenico Ginocchio emigrated from his native Chiavari (Genoa) and settled in Hamburg, Germany, where he started selling toys. If initially the customers are exclusively countrymen, emigrants like him, who sell toys at fairs and on the markets, with the passage of time, the offer of toys is expanding and, at the beginning, many German merchants are also increasingly numerous. This thriving enterprise slowed down during the great financial crisis of 1929, which devastated the entire German economy; however, in the following years, Domenico, (then assisted by his three sons who took over after his departure), began the business with tenacity, so much so that, in 1943, he became one of the most important companies in the wholesale toys sector of the whole Germany. Unfortunately, that year also marks the end of the company. Hamburg is subject to repeated Anglo-American airstrikes and, in the night between 24 and 25 July, the bombs destroy everything that had been built in 50 years of hard work; the members of the Ginocchio family do not suffer mourning: in fact, by accident, that night they do not remain under the rubble of their homes because, at the time of the bombing, they are all at a reception at the Italian embassy. On that tragic day everything was destroyed: warehouse houses, vehicles ... Only memories of that period remained: every photographic document devoured by the fire of the bombs. Following these events, one of the three children, Vittorio, decides to return to Italy; the other two brothers who remained in Germany, after the conflict ended, resumed their activity in Hamburg.
The new beginning in Italy. At the end of the war period, in September 1945, Vittorio Ginocchio, thanks to the experience gained in Germany. and assisted by his two sons (Mario and Enrico), he opens a toy wholesale in Genoa. The first small tricks that helped the restart were the setting up of beautiful sample rooms (a custom then widespread in Germany but less in Italy) and having first entered the item "Toys" on the Yellow Pages for the city of Genoa and province .
The first trips to the Far East. Starting from 1958 the wholesale management is supported by an import activity from the Far East. Initially the supplier countries are Japan and Hong Kong, to which Taiwan, South Korea and the People's Republic of China are soon added. The first trips to the Far East are "adventurous". In Japan of those years, very few speak English and therefore it is very difficult to find your way in the cities, also because the streets are not marked with a name (a reality still present today in many parts of China). Mario Ginocchio participates in one of the first "Canton Fairs", the most important trade fair for the export of Chinese products, which arrived today at edition number 126. The tales of those first trips to the so-called China of Mao contrast with today's reality. Then, before entering China, at the border you must leave your passport, the gold chain, the watch at Customs ... The western economic operators are taken on a train (used only for them) that uses a full day to go from Hong Kong to Guanzhou (today the same route is done in less than 2 hours, with high speed trains!). . During the journey, at each station, passengers are taken off the train and receive a welcome greeting: once the local music band, another a ward of soldiers saluting, another still a schoolchild who entertains travelers with dancing and singing and waving in the air of flowers. Once in Canton, there are only two hotels for foreigners (the Tung Fang Hotel and the China Hotel, which still exist today, although obviously renovated), one occupied only by Japanese businessmen; the other intended for commercial operators from the rest of the world. At the reception, customers are divided into the various rooms, at the discretion of the hotel managers; so it happens that you have to share the room with foreigners from distant countries and of course never met until then; outside, an armed guard is standing outside the door of the chamber and, at the Fair, it is not uncommon for a uniformed guard to listen to the talks between foreigners and those in charge of the Cooperatons (public bodies, responsible for exports exclusively). This is the past: today Canton is a modern and dynamic city, with skyscrapers, the subway, an imposing traffic of national and international flights, high-speed rail connections ... and much more.
The specialization in import only. As from 1971 the wholesale ceases and only the import activity remains operational. A few years later (1974), only one of the children, Mario, chose to carry on the family "tradition" in the world of toys. The company is called Givi-Ginocchio (where Givi stands for Ginocchio Vittorio, father's name). At the time, the offices are in the center of Genoa, while the goods warehouse is in the suburbs. From 1986 to 1989, the working activity, both administrative and goods handling, was brought together in San Quirico, Genoa.
The new headquarters In September 1989 the company consolidated its organizational structure with the purchase of the properties in Isoverde Genoa. which have since represented the operational headquarters.
The first 50 years in Italy In September 1995, the Ginocchio family, with all its collaborators, celebrated the milestone of the first 50 years of activity in Italy.
Office in Hong Kong.  In 2000, Ginmar invested in the ownership of an office in Hong Kong, in order to facilitate research and the choice of new products to be imported and to lay the foundations for further commercial growth on foreign markets
The Nuremberg Fair This trade fair is the most prestigious showcase in the world of toys in Europe. In February 2018, the Spielwarenmesse (the organizing body) presented Ginmar with a certificate in recognition of the achievement of 25 years of participation in this important event. New paragraph
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