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Exclusive: U.S. Toy Industry Grows 13% in 2021
Play prevailed during another year of challenges and uncertainty for the toy industry.
Despite the ongoing supply chain crisis, continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and additional uncertainty, U.S. toy retail sales totaled $28.6 billion in 2021, compared to $25.4 billion in 2020, according to The NPD Group. In addition to the 13% sales increase, unit sales increased 8% and the average selling price (ASP) of $12.37 was up 4% versus 2020. Read more…
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Just Play to Launch Entertainment and Gaming Division
The company behind Hairdorables, Slinky, and hit licensed toys inspired by Ada Twist, Scientist, Blue’s Clues & You!, and CoComelon is launching Just Play Entertainment & Gaming, a new division led by industry veteran Stone Newman. Read more…
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Hasbro Extends Licensing Deal with Disney’s Lucasfilm for Star Wars, Indiana Jones
Under the revised agreement, Hasbro will serve as the master toy licensee for both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Kenner — now a part of Hasbro — was the master toy licensee for Indiana Jones in the early 1980s and made toys inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark from 1982-1983. Read more…
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Mattel Wins Back Disney Doll License
The toy and licensing industries are getting a royal shakeup. After losing the rights to produce Disney Princess and Frozen dolls to Hasbro in 2014, Mattel has regained the global licensing rights for the franchises, including fashion dolls, small dolls, and figures. Mattel President and COO Richard Dickson says that the company is "incredibly proud" of the deal. Read more…
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Playmates Toys Boldly Returns to the Star Trek Universe
After 12 years apart, Playmates Toys and Star Trek have been reunited. To kick off an extensive, franchise-spanning licensing agreement with ViacomCBS, Playmates Toys beamed up a first look at an assortment of new products to be released in July under the Star Trek Universe banner. Read more…
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Exclusive: Hape Launches Uniche Collective Specialty Division
At launch, the Uniche Collective features an assortment of products from five brands that have been specifically designed for the specialty toy, gift boutique, and museum markets. Uniche Collective is being led by Cassidy Smith, a longtime Hape veteran who most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing for Hape International Inc. Read more…
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MGA Entertainment Introduces Rainbow High Chinese New Year Collector Doll
Rainbow High’s Lily Cheng is inspired by the cultural heritage and traditions of China. Born in San Francisco with family back in Shanghai, Lily Cheng is a brave and confident designer who is dressed in a fashionable yet modern approach for the holiday. Read more…
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LEGO Honors the Lunar New Year with New Building Sets and Activities
LEGO is honoring the traditions and festivities of the upcoming holiday with a range of new products celebrating the Year of the Tiger. Kids can build a collection with symbolic Lunar New Year animals, such as the Chinese New Year Tiger, Panda, the Shorthair Cats, the Lucky Cat, and the Lion Dance Guy set. Read more…
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Discussing the World of Diverse Marketing with Wes Hardin on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Wes Hardin to the show. Hardin is the owner and CEO of Diverse Marketing. Listen here…
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Jakks Pacific Unveils Updated Designs for ReDo Skateboard Co. Brand
Jakks Pacific is grinding the rails into retail with a refreshed lineup of products for its ReDo Skateboard Co. brand. The range of affordable skateboards in updated designs is geared toward kids ages 8 and up spanning a variety of skill levels from beginner to expert. Read more…
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Wow! Stuff Named Master Toy Partner for ‘Odo’
Odo is a new kids’ series about a camp of colorful animals led by the titular owl focuses on teaching kids self-efficacy and to believe in themselves while combating the rise in childhood anxiety and depression levels. Wow! Stuff will produce an extensive range of Odo toys, including action figures and accessories, playsets, plush, dolls, track sets, construction toys, and bath toys. Read more…
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ToyFest West Moves Forward with In-person Trade Show
The disruption in the toy fair season has placed the spotlight on ToyFest West. This week, the Western Toy and Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA) board of directors voted to move forward with the in-person show March 9-11, 2022 at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas. Attendees will also have access to gift and accessory lines that are available in permanent showrooms at the World Market Center Las Vegas. Read more…
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Cloudco Entertainment Celebrates 40 Years of Care Bears with Licensing Partnerships, Collaborations
Care Bears launched in 1982 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year with multiple partnerships and collaborations. The anniversary celebration will see new Care Bears products and programs in toys and games, fashion, accessories, homeware, cosmetics, crafts, seasonal, travel, and yes, the metaverse. Read more…
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Spielwarenmesse Shines New Light on ‘Toys Go Green’ Megatrend
With the 72nd Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair having been canceled for the second year in a row, the organizers at Spielwarenmesse eG are casting a spotlight on one big trend that they had planned to showcase this year: sustainable toys. Read more…
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The Insights Family Issues ‘The Year of STEM’ Report for London Toy Fair
The report focuses primarily on the rising popularity of STEM toys among the parents and children utilizing real-time data by The Insights Family, especially with a rising interest driven by girls. The popularity of STEM toys has increased 122% for kids ages 3-12 in the UK. Read more…
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Talkin’ Toys: Alisa Toys Expands into the U.S. Toy Market
With around a quarter-century of experience and currently selling its products in more than 20 countries, Alisa is making its way to the U.S. The Toy Book spoke with Alisa Toys’ CEO Jane French about the company’s expansion to the U.S. market, new product lines, and all this company has to offer. Read more…
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Build-A-Bear Workshop Creates Adult Division with HeartBox
The company known for its colorful mall stores and plush teddy bears launched a new gifting solution for adults called HeartBox. The direct-to-consumer brand offers four specially curated, themed gift boxes geared toward what the company calls “adult-to-adult gifting occasions.” Read more…
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eBay Expands Trading Card Authenticity Guarantee Program
The trading card category is a booming business for eBay, hitting $2 billion in transactions in the first half of last year with an average of one sports trading card bought every second on the site. Now, the company is responding to this sales boom by providing an Authenticity Guarantee program for single, ungraded trading cards that sell for more than $750 in the U.S. Read more…
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Goliath’s David Norman Retires; Peter Boutros Named President
Boutros joins the company from the Sears spinoff Kenmore/Craftsman/Diehard and previously held roles at Disney and RSI Development. For the past two years, he had served as vice-chair of the Goliath advisory board. Read more…
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Hasbro Promotes Sally Carnota to Senior Director of UK Licensed Consumer Products
In her new role, Carnota, who joined the company in 2015, will continue to lead Hasbro’s UK licensing business while focusing on extending its reach into new categories and distribution channels. Prior to joining Hasbro, Carnota worked in the home media division of ViacomCBS’ Paramount Pictures. Read more…
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Disney Veteran Nitin Chawla Joins WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences
In his new role, Chawla leads finance, strategy, and business operations for the division of WarnerMedia that develops new ways for consumers to engage with its brands by combining creative elements from WarnerMedia Studios and Networks, DC, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment. Read more…
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Insight Editions Continues to Grow With 7 New Hires
The publisher of illustrated books, novelty gifts, journals, stationery, and collectibles is meeting its rapid growth with seven appointments made this month for key positions within the company. Read more…
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