The Toy Book Top 10: The Hottest Stories of September 2022



The Toy Book hits the rewind button and takes a look back at some of the hottest stories of September 2022, as chosen by you, the readers. It was a big month toplined by the debut of our Fall Toy Preview issue. See the list…

Exclusive: CreateOn Targets the Game and Hobby Market with Terrain-Tiles



The company known for its colorful collaborations with Magna-Tiles is extending its product range. After finding success with licensed construction sets for kids and kidults, CreateOn is targeting the game and hobby market with Terrain-Tiles. Read more…

Exclusive: Wrebbit 3D, Ubisoft Team Up for Assassin’s Creed 3D Puzzles



Our Creed does not command us to be free. It commands us to build puzzles. Wrebbit Puzzles Inc. and Ubisoft — both of which are celebrating milestone years this year — have teamed up to bring the video game franchise Assassin’s Creed to the world of Wrebbit 3D puzzles. Learn more at The Pop Insider…

Hasbro Leans into Licensing, Dungeons & Dragons, Transformers; Unveils Blueprint 2.0 Plan to Grow Profit by 50%



During the company’s fall investor day — the first under CEO Chris Cocks — Hasbro unveiled the results of a nine-month strategic review of its business. Amid cost-cutting efforts and a drive to do more business from fewer properties, Hasbro says that it can grow its profit by 50% over the next three years. Read more…

Mattel Mounts Crowdfunding Campaign for Epic Masters of the Universe Eternia Playset



On Oct. 12, He-Man’s 40th birthday, Mattel will open a crowdfunding campaign for the Masters of the Universe Origins Eternia Playset. The set pays tribute to a sought-after set from the 1980s that was produced in very limited quantities at the time. Read more…

Create A Castle Creators Head for ‘Shark Tank’



Kevin and Laurie Lane will be swimming with sharks tomorrow night. The Create A Castle creators will pitch their award-winning sand and snow castle building kits to Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, and guest Shark Kendra Scott in a new episode of Shark Tank airing at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Read more…

Play-Doh x Nickelodeon Slime to Launch in 2023



Paramount Consumer Products is teaming up with Hasbro to launch a new Play-Doh x Nickelodeon Slime line in 2023. The new range of products is geared toward both kids and kidults as the companies aim to give consumers “the slime of their life.” Read more…

Toikido, Gary Vee Launch VeeFriends Collectible Line with Macy’s, Toys ‘R’ Us



The rebooted Toys “R” Us has its first major exclusive. VeeFriends is set to launch its first-ever limited series of collectible characters at Macy’s and Toys “R” Us, transforming the characters from digital non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into physical collectibles. Read more…

It’s Official: hand2Mind Sets Guinness World Record



On Sept. 29, hand2mind and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) achieved a Guinness World Record title for “The World’s Largest Pattern Blocks Mosaic.” During the second day of the NCTM Annual Meeting and Exposition, a Guinness World Records official was present to confirm the attempt. Read more…

What Do You Meme? Enters New Category with Better Than Yesterday Game



The company teamed up with mindfulness expert Case Kenny to create the self-improvement challenge Better Than Yesterday, marking the company’s first foray into the mindfulness and wellness category. Read more…

Transformers Roll Out to Hobby Shops in Magic: The Gathering Expansion



The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons has a new front in The Brothers’ War. Plans are underway to incorporate the Transformers into Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering. A new series of Universes Beyond cards will be available to specialty retailers and hobby shops next month. Read more…

Lighting Up the Toy Aisle with Anand Dhirmalani and Lil Wish Lanterns on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’



In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Anand Dhirmalani to the show. Dhirmalani is an expert in the As Seen On TV space and is collaborating with Albritton on the launch of a new brand: Lil Wish Lanterns. Listen here…

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Trick or Treat the Family with 31 Halloween Toys and Games



The Toy Insider put together a list of 31 spooktacular toys and games for Halloween because we can’t think of a better time to conjure up spirits with the Magic Mixies Crystal Ball, go bowling with monsters, swap your fashion dolls for vampires and zombies, or play board games based on horror icons. Get your BOO on…

Rocket League: Gel Blaster Races into the Game with Oxygen Esports Partnership as Funrise Unveils R/C Range



The Texas-based Gel Blaster partnered with New England’s Oxygen Esports (OXG) to develop a custom OXG-branded car that will debut in the Rocket League Championship Series next month. The news comes alongside the debut of a Rocket League R/C range from Funrise. Read more…

The Woobles Makes a $450,000 Deal on ‘Shark Tank’



The Woobles — a DIY crochet kit company, co-founded by Adrian Zhang and Justine Tiu — landed a deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner of ABC’s Shark Tank. The husband-and-wife duo earned a $450,000 offer from Cuban and Greiner in exchange for a 6% stake in the company. Read more…

NFL Players Ink Starting Lineup Deal



Some hard-hitting new personalities are set to join the relaunched Starting Lineup brand of action figures. The National Football League (NFL) and National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) inked licensing deals with Hasbro for products that will debut next year. Read more…

Guru Studio Inks New International Broadcast, Acquisition Deals



Numerous deals for toyetic entertainment properties are being made at MIPCOM. Canadian children’s entertainment company Guru Studio inked several new broadcast deals for Big Blue, Pikwik Pack, and True and the Rainbow Kingdom at the annual market in France. Read more…

NERFBALL Launches in 2023 as the Official Sport of NERF



The onslaught of news from Hasbro continues with the introduction of NERFBALL, the first-ever officially organized team sport for the NERF brand. Former NFL star Donald Driver is working with the company to craft the rules and gameplay for the new sport ahead of its launch next summer. Read more…

NOTICE OF SECURED PARTY PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY



Notice is hereby given by ASSEMBLED BRANDS CAPITAL FUNDING LLC (the “Secured Party”), that pursuant to Section 9-610 of the Uniform Commercial Code, a secured party public sale to the highest and/or best bidder for cash, with reserve, will be conducted by the Secured Party on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (the “Public Sale”). The Public Sale shall be held at the offices of Cohen Tauber Spievack & Wagner P.C., 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10170, and “qualified bidders” must attend in person.

The Secured Party has a first priority perfected lien and security interest in and to all of the personal property assets of MADE MODERN HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”). Learn more about the auction…

Target Details Holiday 2022 Toy Strategy



The retail landscape has been challenging for the big boxes this year as inventory backlogs and inflationary concerns have taken big bites out of the bottom line. There is perhaps no better example of the impact than Target, which experienced a nearly 90% drop in profit for Q2. Now, they’re striking back with a multi-pronged approach to win with families this fall. Read more…

Consumer Confidence Falls, but Spending Continues, NRF Says

This fall is another wild-card situation at retail. According to the latest update from the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumer confidence continues to decline amid inflationary concerns, but the looming cloud of uncertainty hasn’t necessarily stifled spending. Read more…

Toys ‘R’ Us Canada Unveils 2022 Top Toy List



The retailer — which has operated as an independent, privately held company since the collapse of the original Toys “R” Us in the U.S. in 2018 — has assembled a list of hot toys for the holiday season. The list spans collectibles, playsets, and more, and is toplined by a dozen picks that are expected to top Canadian kids’ wish lists this year. Read more…

Los Angeles’ Independent Adventuretown Toy Emporium Launches New Venture



The independent specialty toy retailer launched Fledglings’ Flight, a free app and a customized subscription box, geared toward aiding parents in the optimization of their kids’ development with daily exercises created by specialists in pediatric occupational therapy, developmental optometry, and speech pathology. Read more…

40 Years of Phoning Home: Celebrating E.T.’s Anniversary in the Toy Aisle

The Toy Book catches up with Universal Brand Development to discuss the 40-year legacy of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in the toy department and what new products are hitting retail shelves this fall. Be good and read this…

Spotlight On Dr. Lisa Williams and the World of EPI

The Toy Book chats with Dr. Lisa Williams about the success of the World of EPI and its rapid expansion into licensed products, including dolls inspired by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells. Get the scoop…

Welcoming Japanese Inventors: Engaging the World’s Second-Largest Toy Inventing Community



TinkerTini’s Trina McFarland discusses the importance of Japanese inventors as the toy industry works to better incorporate their work into an ecosystem largely dominated by players in the U.S. and the UK. Learn more…

MrBeast, Luka Dončić Ink Brand Partnership Deals with NERF

It’s NERF or nothin’ for YouTube star MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson and NBA All-Star Luka Dončić. The duo inked two-year partnership deals with Hasbro to represent the NERF brand on multiple fronts. Additionally, the deals will spawn exclusive product collaborations beginning next year. Read more…

Sesame Workshop Names Brett Robinson as CFO, EVP of Finance, Technology, and Facilities



In his new role, Robinson will advise on financial matters for the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, as well as guide the IT and engineering divisions to oversee and improve the systems and technology of the company. Read more…