Toy Report 9/12: Jazwares Owner Makes a Play for Jakks Pacific; GameStop Could Close Up To 200 Stores Amid 14.3% Q2 Sales Decrease

September 12, 2019

Jazwares Owner Makes a Play for Jakks Pacific

Over the past few years, mergers and acquisitions have fueled growth for many toymakers as the business of play continues to evolve. Could Jazwares and Jakks Pacific be the next duo to combine forces? Read more…

GameStop Could Close Up To 200 Stores Amid 14.3% Q2 Sales Decrease

Just two months after announcing sweeping changes to reinvent itself with new store concepts and experiences, the Texas-based retailer reported a dismal second quarter, which saw overall sales decline by 14.3%, with same-store sales dipping an average of 11.6%. The company’s total net income loss was $415.3 million compared to a net income loss of $24.9 million in the same quarter last year. On a call with investors following this week’s earnings report, GameStop Chief Financial Officer James Bell said that the company could close up to 200 of its underperforming stores by the end of this year. Read more…

Regional Retailer Fred’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; All Stores to Close

The rapid decline for Fred’s Inc. is coming to an end. The Tennessee-based discount retailer and pharmacy filed for voluntary relief under Chapter 11 and will liquidate all stores. While toy industry impact should be minimal, companies including Jakks Pacific are named among the unsecured creditors. Read more…

Hasbro Celebrates Female Entrepreneurs, Inventors with Ms. Monopoly

When it comes to board games, perhaps none has been reinvented more times than Monopoly. The subject of countless new editions and revamps, Monopoly always stays fresh, but the latest update flips the script to become “the first game where women make more than men.” Read more…

Retail Imports Surge Ahead of New Tariffs; Toymakers Can Apply for Exclusion

According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, retail imports at the nation’s major container ports surged to “unusually high numbers” just before the latest wave of tariffs hit goods from China beginning Sept. 1. While toys were not included in this wave, the next 15% tariff goes into effect on Dec. 15 and is expected to cover nearly all toys. The Toy Association will help members learn how they can apply for individual product exclusion. Read more...

2020 TOTY Awards Nominations Close

Sept. 19

The Toy Association is reminding companies to submit their nominations for the 2020 TOTY Awards by midnight (Eastern) on Thursday, Sept. 19. Finalists will be revealed on Nov. 11, at which time voting will open to retailers, media, The Toy Association members, and consumers through Jan. 5. Awards will be presented Feb. 21 at Toy Fair New York. Read more…

National Toy Hall of Fame Reveals 2019 Finalists

The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame has revealed the 12 iconic toys that are in the running to take their place in the hallowed halls of the museum this November. Among the finalists are a few that have been up for the honor before, such as My Little Pony, Matchbox cars, and Masters of the Universe. Read more…

Nicole Richie Teams Up with Moose Toys to Launch Capsule Chix Fashion Collectibles

Moose Toys has entered the fashion collectible space with Capsule Chix. Kids and collectors can craft more than 4 billion possible fashion combinations across four different style collections with the new line of dolls. Nicole Richie — founder of the House of Harlow 1960 fashion brand — partnered with Moose to launch the collection at an intimate event in New York City. Read more…

Disguise, Warner Bros. Partner for Wizarding World of Harry Potter Costumes

Disguise inked a new deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to manufacture, market, and distribute adult and kids Halloween costumes, accessories, and everyday dress-up items based on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films and the books that inspired them. Read more…

Geomagworld Expands Magicube Range, Offers Play Space to Independent Toy Stores

Geomagworld SA is expanding its Magicube junior construction range with the new Magicube Transport, Magicube Insects, and Magicube People sets. To accompany its latest entries into the junior construction category, the company is offering specialty retailers and independent toy stores the opportunity to put a Magicube Play Space in their stores. Read more…

Horizon Group USA Debuts Vendees Surprise DIY Dispensers

The unboxing trend continues to evolve, and the next extension is leaning toward vending machines for dolls and collectibles. Now, the trend is hitting the arts and crafts aisles. Horizon Group USA officially launched Vendees this week — surprise DIY dispensers that tap into the appeal of mystery toys while adding interactive creative activities to the mix. Each Vendees package includes a curated assortment of contents across four primary themes. Read more…

Kid Trax Rolls Out Full Fleet of Ride-On Toys for the Holidays

Dorel Industries’ Kid Trax is rolling out a fresh lineup of ride-on toys for fall — many of which made their debut at the Toy Insider ‘s Sweet Suite event this summer. The new lineup includes products for kids ages 18 months to 7 years old in a wide array of styles, such as original creations to those based on licensed vehicles and properties. Read more…

VTech Expands Kidi Line of Electronics

VTech‘s Kidi line of kid-friendly electronics is expanding this fall with the debut of three new products: Kidi Star Dance, KidiGo Walkie Talkies, and Kidizoom Pixi. The new offerings join an extensive line of age-appropriate electronics, including cameras, smart devices, and wearables. Read more…

Farmers Insurance Joins Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Bert and Ernie, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Count von Count are among the Sesame Street Muppets featured in a trio of new spots airing now, as Farmers Insurance joins Sesame Workshop to celebrate 50 years of Sesame Street. Two of the spots feature Farmers claims reenacted by the furry faces of Sesame Street. Read more…

LEGO Debuts Ultimate Collector Series Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer

The ominous ship that first wowed audiences in the opening moments of Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) is being brought to life in brick form as the LEGO Ultimate Collector Series Imperial Star Destroyer. Known as the Devastator, the one-time flagship of Darth Vader includes 4,784 pieces and features swiveling blasters, a tilting radar dish, huge engine exhaust ports, and intricate surface detail. Read more…

Spin Master Mounts Global Launch for Hatchimals: Adventures in Hatchtopia

Spin Master Entertainment has secured worldwide broadcast and streaming deals for its series of animated shorts, Hatchimals: Adventures in Hatchtopia . Based on the toy line, the series of 44 three-minute shorts follow the hatchings and discoveries of four main heroes: Penguala, Cheetree, Draggle, and Puppit. Read more…

MGA Entertainment Launches Dojo Battle Action Line

With Dojo Battle, kids can suit up with electronic swords and chest shields that include patented Smart Strike technology. As opponents face off, the chest shield detects strikes and keeps score as the battle gets enhanced with lights and sounds. After three consecutive strikes, the system declares a winner. Read more…

Pillowie Introduces Forest Friends Collection This Fall

Pillowie is expanding its collection of tagalong pillow and blanket sets with a new Forest Friends collection available this fall. Series two features a fox, mouse, and raccoon, which join Pillowie's original collection of three colorful characters. Geared toward kids ages 18 months and up, Pillowie is both a stuffed animal and pillow with an included storage compartment for the included matching blanket, pajamas, or kids' treasures. Read more…

ASTRA Wants Members to be Media-Ready this Holiday Season

On Sept. 16, ASTRA will present an exclusive webinar meant to help toy store owners secure media coverage and to be better prepared on what to say when press comes calling. Toys “R” Us, Tariffs, and Neighborhood Toy Store Day: Get Ready for Your Next Media Moment , will take place at 10 a.m. CST, with a recording set to be archived on ASTRA Academy for ASTRA members to reference throughout the upcoming season. Read more…

Spielwarenmesse Toy Business Forum to Showcase New Perspectives

The 71st Spielwarenmesse international toy fair will take place from Jan. 29-Feb. 2 at Germany’s Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, and the programming is already taking shape. The Toy Business Forum will take place in the TrendGallery (Hall 3A) with new perspectives on industry topics presented daily. The free talks are simultaneously interpreted into English or German, and will focus on five key topics — trend, change, digital, retail, marketing — with one presented daily from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Read more…

Distroller Teams Up with Miracle Babies for NICU Giving Day

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) helps critically ill newborns in the early stages of life, and Miracle Babies will celebrate NICU graduates and their families at the experience-based Distroller Wərld boutique in San Diego where they will be given the opportunity to adopt their own Neonate Baby. Read more…

Masha and the Bear Heads to Theaters in the UK, Ireland

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of little Masha and her kind and caring friend, the Bear, Animaccord in collaboration with Generation Media and Vue Entertainment will present Masha and the Bear on the Big Screen . The special presentation includes the eight most recent episodes from Masha and the Bear’s third season. Read more…

Protecting Kids, Brands in the Wake of YouTube’s FTC Settlement

Guest commentary by Harold Chizick of ChizComm and Beacon Media Group . In the wake of YouTube having to pay a record-setting $170 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New York Attorney General for Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) violations, many in the toy industry are left asking, “But what does this mean for my business?” Read more…

YouTube: An Unflattering Point of View

Guest commentary by David Becker of Blue Plate Media Services . On the YouTube correction, clients and the industry as a whole are rallying, asking, “What next?” Just as YouTube is trying to figure out a viable and responsible approach to accepting advertising dollars when targeting children, as a marketer you, too, have a say in the matter and shoulder some of the responsibility. Read more…

The Uncertain Future of YouTube Influencer Collaborations Could Be the Jolt Your Marketing Plans Need

Guest commentary by Clark Nesselrodt, Kathleen Tomes, and Brooke Schwartzman of Brilliant PR & Marketing. Earlier this week, we found ourselves drafting an email to our clients in response to the recent FTC fines levied against YouTube’s parent company, Google. It seemed all too natural as public relations people to convey a tone of calm and indicate that nothing much would be changing. But then, we received the first tear-soaked call from one of our YouTube creator partners. Read more…