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U.S. Retail Sales Slow Amid Supply Chain Disruptions, Delta Variant Spread, NRF Says
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. retail sales slowed 1.1% in July as the impact of the global supply chain disruptions paired with a shift in consumer spending and the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant began to affect retail. Read more…
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Jazwares and GM Partner for New Micro Machines Corvette Raceway Transforming Playset
The Micro Machines Corvette Raceway Transforming Playset is inspired by the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8. It quickly and easily transitions from a Corvette into a fully-equipped raceway, complete with a competition track, drag strip, mechanic’s station, micro-sized 2019 Corvette C8R, and more. Read more…
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WowWee, Nickelodeon Team Up for My Squishy Little Dumplings Animated Content
WowWee’s latest toy line is ready to rock. The company behind Got2Glow Fairy Finder and Fingerlings teamed up with Nickelodeon Digital Studios to create original, digital-first content that positions My Squishy Little Dumplings characters as a K-pop-inspired band called The Squish. But no, these little dumplings aren’t actually performing K-pop, they’re rocking to the jams of S-Pop aka “Squish Pop” for their debut single, “Can You Resist the Squish?!” Read more…
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Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour Roars Back Into Action
After being sidelined due to the pandemic and shifting gears into a drive-thru experience, the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Tour is revving its engines for a comeback. Live events will resume beginning Sept. 18 at the Toyota Center in Ontario, California as an expanded lineup of monster trucks makes its way across the U.S. on a 10-stop tour this fall accompanied by a companion toy launch. Read more…
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Hasbro Takes on Xenomorphs with NERF x Aliens Blaster
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the movie Aliens, Hasbro Pulse revealed an epic new NERF blaster, modeled after the equipment used by the Colonial Marine Corps in the movie. Part of the premium NERF LMTD line, which recreates items from entertainment and video game franchises, this blaster features the look of the iconic M41-A Pulse Blaster — including a power loader-inspired design and both over and under barrels for dual-blasting action. Read more...
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Jakks Pacific Launches Disney ily 4EVER Fashion Doll Line
Disney is bringing its most iconic characters into the modern age. Jakks Pacific launched the Disney ily 4EVER fashion doll line, featuring 18-inch dolls inspired by iconic Disney stories and characters. This is the first in a series of character releases and accessories packs, with additional characters such as Ariel, Belle, Tiana, and Snow White to follow in future waves. Read more…
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Disguise, Sesame Workshop Extend Licensing Pact for Sesame Street Costumes
Disguise — the costume division of Jakks Pacific — definitely knows the way to Sesame Street. The company inked a renewal of its licensing agreement with Sesame Workshop to continue the design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of costumes, accessories, and trunk-or-treat kits featuring new and classic characters from the long-running series. Read more…
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Tru Kids Brands Heads Back to Court After Indie Toy Store Moves Into Former Toys ‘R’ Us Space
Tru Kids Brands filed a complaint against Real Investment LLC dba Toys & Beyond alleging trademark infringement. At the center of the lawsuit is the former location of the short-lived new Toys “R” Us concept store that opened in November 2019 at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. Following the closure of that store, Tru Kids Brands abandoned many fixtures that are now being reused by Toys & Beyond. Read more…
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This LEGO STEAM Kit Will Transform Students Into Mini-Engineers
The LEGO Learning System is a lesson system created by LEGO Education to help kids naturally progress through different kinds of learning. The newest addition to the collection is Spike Essentials, which is filled with 40 STEAM activities. Paired with the LEGO Education SPIKE app, students in grades 1-5 can follow along with the five units that have corresponding lesson plans to slowly increase their STEAM skills. Read more…
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PlayMonster and 9 Story Brands Release Special Colorforms 70th Anniversary Edition
This new edition features more than 500 colorful repositionable and interchangeable geometric stick-ons that stick to surfaces for hours of mess-free — and screen-free — creative play. Colorforms has been a childhood staple since the 1950s, evolving into many different products and licenses, including the preschool Netflix series Charlie’s Colorforms City. Read more…
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Hershey Co. Inks Sweet Licensing Deals with Kellytoy, ZURU, Spin Master, More
Hershey and its North American licensing agent, Brand Activation Consulting, confirmed new licensing agreements with a variety of manufacturers. Under the new agreements, famous candy brands including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher, and Hershey’s Kisses will come to toy departments over the next year, with some already hitting the market. Read more…
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The Smurfs Are Making a Smurf-tastic Nickelodeon Debut in September
The Smurfs are heading to Nickelodeon in a new, CG-animated series: The Smurfs.The Smurfs got their start in the ’50s as comic characters, cementing their place in pop culture in the ’80s with an animated series featuring the blue crew. Read more…
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Dive Deeper Into Bluey’s World with New Playsets and More from Moose Toys
Bluey is more than just a dog, she’s an icon — thanks to her animated series that debuted in 2018, followed by a hit toy line from Moose Toys. This year, Moose Toys is rolling out even more Bluey toys to inspire lessons in make-believe, including creative playsets based on different episodes, games, figures, and plush characters. Read more…
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Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Welcomes New Licensees for Fall and Beyond
Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Brands inked a new round of licensing deals that will spawn new products from existing partners such as Jakks Pacific and Mighty Mojo Toys alongside fresh offerings in new categories from new licensees, including Storypod. Read more…
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Licensing Expo Virtual Prepares for Launch
In partnership with Licensing International, Global Licensing Group says that more than 3,200 meetings have already been scheduled for the free event that aims to connect the nearly $300 billion global licensing community. Intellectual property (IP) owners, manufacturers, retailers, and others with interest in the licensing space will take part in content and networking sessions throughout the event from Aug. 24-26. Read more…
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After Among Us, Toikido Targets Gang Beasts as Its Next Big License
UK-based Toikido has a new gang. Toikido founder Darran Garnham broke the news on LinkedIn that his growing company inked a deal with indie game developer Boneloaf to create toys, apparel, and more inspired by the video game Gang Beasts. Read more…
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SnapWatch Enters the North American Market
The classic slap bracelets of the ’80s are back with a useful upgrade. UK-based SnapWatch is bringing its flexible LED watches to the U.S. market with an assortment of styles for kids ages 5-12. SnapWatches quickly snap around kids’ wrists in one swift motion with no buckles. Read more…
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PAW Patrol: The Movie — No Screen Is Too Big, No Pup is Too Small
On the eve of its theatrical debut this weekend, Toy Book Senior Editor Ali Mierzejewski explores the journey toward bringing PAW Patrol to the big screen with insight from executives at ViacomCBS and Spin Master Entertainment. Read more…
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Backstory: Tangle — The Original Fidget Was 40 Years Ahead of the Curve
Fidget toys are back in a big way, and Toy Book Deputy Editor James Zahn takes a look at the phenomenon of Tangle, perhaps the only toy to be simultaneously sold at both Walmart and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Read more…
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Genius Brands Q2 Revenue Spikes 318% as Rob Gronkowski Joins Shaq’s Garage
For the first six months of 2021, Genius Brands experienced a 280% revenue spike driven by the launch of Kartoon Channel! and new partnership deals for owned properties alongside growth in its ChizComm/ChizComm Beacon Media subsidiary. Read more…
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Toy Industry Digital Sales Spike 6.5% in China in the First Half of 2021, NPD Says
Licensed toys did big business with Ultraman leading the charge as the No. 1 license. Luxury and supercars are also attracting kids and collectors in the region, with Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche making appearances on the top 10 licenses chart. Read more…
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Disguise Plots EMEA Expansion with New Senior Leadership Team
The new senior leadership team will be led by 12-year Jakks veteran David Carscadden — currently managing director of Jakks EMEA — who will now take the helm of both the Disguise and Jakks teams in the region. Carscadden will be joined by EMEA Sales and Marketing Director Tony Lewis and UK/EMEA Design Lead Lynda Morris. Read more…
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PlayMonster Taps Bill Sinacore to Lead Walmart Sales Growth
Sinacore, a 30-year industry vet with experience at Leapfrog and The LEGO Group, will serve as associate vice president of national accounts, Walmart. In his new role, Sinacore will oversee PlayMonster’s relationship with the retail giant across digital and physical spaces while working to expand the company’s efforts in games and puzzles, arts and crafts, and infant/toddler/preschool. Read more…
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