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The Toy Book
’s April/May Issue Is Here!
At
the Toy Book
, we are more dedicated than ever to making sure you have the information you need to make the best decisions for your business so that you can keep doing what you do best: bringing smiles to kids’ faces. Our latest issue takes a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our industry; includes coverage of the plush, R/C, and collectibles categories; and explores how a successful toy line turned into
Go! Go! Cory Carson
, now on Netflix.
Read it here
!
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The Toy Book Presents First-Ever Sweet Suite @ Home: Retailer Day
In just a few short months, the world as we know it has changed. Along with it, the business of play has been faced with the necessity of rapid evolution. The Toy Book is here to support the industry as we look ahead with optimism toward what can still be a successful holiday season.
With that in mind, we’re proud to present the first-ever Sweet Suite @ Home: Retailer Day — the best way to see the hottest toys of the year … from your couch!
Read more…
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Exclusive: Funko Introduces Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones
Funko and Marvel have teamed up to launch a new micro collectible tabletop gaming system. Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones is a collectible adventure game that invites kids and families to play in a whole new way involving collectible figures, cards, and dice.
Read more…
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Mattel Expands #ThankYouHeroes Collection with Matchbox, UNO, and Mega Construx Toys
Mattel’s #ThankYouHeroes initiative is expanding with a new range of toys across its brands, and net proceeds will benefit #FirstRespondersFirst. UNO, Mega Construx, and the iconic Matchbox brand join the lineup with exclusive new offerings geared toward kids and collectors alike. #ThankYouHeroes is part of Mattel‘s broader Play it Forward platform, which aims to give back to communities in times of need.
Read more…
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Basic Fun! Donates N95 Masks, Toys to Healthcare Heroes
The company behind Care Bears and Tonka is stepping up to provide aid to healthcare heroes and essential front-line workers in need. Basic Fun! donated 4,000 3M brand N95 surgical masks to hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons for use in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more…
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Brian Volk-Weiss talks
A Toy Store Near You
on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design speaks with Brian Volk-Weiss, CEO of The Nacelle Co. and Comedy Dynamics. Volk-Weiss is the creator and producer of Netflix’s
The Toys That Made Us
and
The Movies That Made Us
. His latest project is the new series,
A Toy Store Near You
, which delves into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on independent toy stores and collectibles retailers around the world.
Listen here…
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Introducing the We Be Geeks Podcast Collective Weekly Roundup
The Pop Insider
presents the We Be Geeks Podcast Collective Weekly Roundup — a showcase featuring a curated selection of podcasts for many interests. These weekly podcasts feature great conversations with special guests, including many of the creators and talent behind the entertainment content you love. And you just might catch a few members of
the Pop Insider
editorial team making appearances as well.
Read more...
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Insight Kids Is Launching Officially Blinged-Out L.O.L. Surprise! Books
Insight Kids is partnering with MGA Entertainment‘s L.O.L. Surprise! to create an Officially Blinged-Out series of interactive books and products launching on Sept. 1. The series will debut in North America with four titles.
Read more…
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LEGO Launches First Chinese-Inspired LEGO Theme
LEGO is launching its first Chinese-inspired LEGO theme, based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King. Kids can collect eight LEGO Monkie Kid building sets, inspired by the
Journey to the West
book. The legend of the Monkey King begins when an ordinary boy, Monkie Kid, becomes the chosen one after finding the Monkey King’s legendary staff.
Read more..
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Sunny Days Entertainment Introduces Ravel Tales
A new take on the unboxing trend, kids ages 5 and up can unwind the yarn ball to uncover 12 surprises, including DIY accessories, a sticker sheet, button charms and a plush Ravel Tales character. Kids can share their crafty creations with the hashtag #TheUnravellers on social media.
Read more…
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U.S. Customs Catches More than 86,000 Counterfeit Pokémon Figures
They may not have caught them all, but more than 86,000 counterfeit Pokémon are off the streets thanks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Pennsylvania. Inspection of incoming shipments from Hong Kong revealed a manifest for 15 shipping boxes that had been said to contain “plastic furnishing articles.” Upon further inspection, the boxes contained knockoff Pokémon action figures. According to the CBP, authentic figures would have carried a retail price of approximately $604,000.
Read more…
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Pocket.watch Seeks to Turn ‘Love Diana — the Princess of Play’ into a Global Franchise
A number of toy companies are already on board for what’s being touted as “one of the largest consumer products launches ever for a YouTube creator brand.” Headstart International, Just Play, Far Out Toys, KidKraft, and more are prepping toys for a holiday launch.
Read more…
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Kids2 Relaunches Ingenuity Brand with New Toy Line
The brand — known for its modern baby gear such as high chairs, bassinets, and playpens — just launched its Cozy Spot Reversible Duvet Activity Gym and a full range of plush baby toys.
Read more…
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5 Harry Potter Themed Games You'll Want to Play Now
The Toy Insider
takes a look at a handful of the new and recent games that put players right in the heart of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Read more...
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High Noon Game Challenges Players to be the ‘Last Posse Standing’
High Noon Game Inc. blew past its Kickstarter goal and raised nearly $100,000 in less than 10 days. The miniature combat tactical board game launched on May 5 with a goal of raising $84,400 in 30 days. Set in a fictional Wild West world, the fast-paced game immerses players into “New America,” a landscape filled with unfinished railroads, red rock deserts, native aboriginal warbands, and gunslinging bandits.
Read more…
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Mighty Mojo Toys Preps Sound Knockers for the Holidays
The recently launched Mighty Mojo Toys is teaming up with the creator of the original Fart Knocker for a new line of novelty door knockers. The newly inked deal was brokered by The Brand Liaison. The collection includes customized Halloween and Christmas designs with up to seven unique sounds activated by lifting a lever.
Read more…
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Talkin’ Toys: Nikko Toys Zooms Its Way to Success
The Toy Book
caught up with Philip Redmond, CEO of Nikko Toys, about the company’s year since entering the market and various strategies to keep up with the ever-evolving consumer. The Nikko brand has been a fixture of the R/C category for more than 60 years.
Read more...
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Facing the Unknown: The Toy Industry Isn’t Playing When it Comes to COVID-19
Another year, another new and unexpected challenge. For the third straight year, the toy industry entered Toy Fair New York facing uncertainty caused by very fluid external factors. Following retail bankruptcies, store closures, and the on-again, off-again threat of tariffs on toys, the novel coronavirus disease known as COVID-19 became the latest test to the resilience of an industry that’s rooted in the business of play.
Read more…
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Stay-at-Home Orders Lead U.S. Video Gaming Industry to Record First Quarter
Following several quarters of expected declines heading toward the launch of a new console generation, the U.S. video gaming industry had an unexpected rebound in the first quarter fueled by stay-at-home orders across the country. According to the Q1 2020 Games Market Dynamics: U.S. report from The NPD Group, overall consumer spending on video gaming in the U.S. spiked 9% over last year, reaching a record $10.86 billion in sales.
Read more…
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As Expected, Retail Sales Took Major Hit in April
Following repeated warnings that the second quarter would reflect the biggest challenges of the COVID-19 era, April retail sales numbers confirm it. According to numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Trade Federation (NRF), and Dow Jones, retail sales dropped nearly twice as much in April as they did in March. Differing methodology in calculations between the three organizations reflect a drop of 12.3% on the low end to 16.4% on the high end.
Read more…
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David Morgenstern Returns to Madame Alexander Doll Co.
A toy industry vet is returning to his roots. David Morgenstern has been appointed vice president of sales at Madame Alexander Doll Co., marking a return to a role that he previously held for more than 18 years. Morgenstern rejoins the company from Charisma Brands Inc., where he served as vice president of sales for more than three years.
Read more…
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Getting to Know Janice Ross, WIT’s New President
Entering its 30th-anniversary year, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) recently made the exciting announcement that Janice Ross, managing partner at Brand Fresh Management, has ascended to the role of WIT president after serving on its leadership team as vice president for the last two years.
Read more…
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The Toy Book Toy Report is published by Adventure Media and Events LLC, Inc.,
307 Seventh Avenue, Room 501, New York, NY 10001.
Closing is Wednesday at noon EST of the same week's edition.
If you would like to submit news to the Toy Book Toy Report, please email
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