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Exclusive: Jakks Pacific, The Heart Supply Partner for Target Skateboard Launch
Jakks Pacific and Johnny Schillereff — founder of Element Skateboards — are teaming up to bring skateboarding to the masses while doing a lot of good along the way. Target is the exclusive destination for a groundbreaking collection of high-quality skateboards from The Heart Supply, Schillereff’s new company that was founded with giving in its DNA. Read more…
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Spin Master Drafts Russell Wilson as Aerobie Sonic Fin Football Star
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is teaching kids how to throw like a pro — Spin Master style. The NFL star teamed up with Spin Master to help release the new Aerobie Sonic Fin Football, designed for kids ages 8 and up. A hollow, gyroscopic design helps the football lift and travel through the air up to 100 yards. Read more…
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Jazwares, Moonbug Entertainment Launch Squishville YouTube Series
Squishville will follow the adventures of various characters in the Squishmallows universe. Fifi, Lola, Cam, Winston, Jeanna, Leonard, and more will squish around town, visit Squishville park, and more in each 2-minute episode. Read more…
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eOne Preps a Special Delivery of Ninja Express
eOne, alongside Creative Conspiracy and Frogbox, has been working on Ninja Express, a new animated series about a special delivery service run by super-powered ninjas. The global rollout of the series begins today. Read more…
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Exclusive: Funko Preps 3-Day FunKon Summer Fan Event
Funko Inc. is throwing a hybrid fan event this summer. FunKon will take place Aug. 4-7, 2021 at Funko Hollywood. The maker of pop culture-inspired toys, collectibles, and lifestyle products is planning three days packed with new product reveals, celebrity guests, a Loungefly fashion show, exclusive live-streamed content, giveaways, and more emanating from its 40,000 square-foot retail destination. Read more…
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Little Tikes Introduces the Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle
MGA Entertainment‘s Little Tikes division is getting into the at-home fitness craze. Over the past 18 months, sales of cycles, bikes, and other home training equipment have been booming as parents looked for ways to get active and stay fit while gyms around the world were closed. Now kids can get in on the action with the Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle. Read more…
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The LEGO Group Shares a Closer Look at Its New LEGO Flagship Store in NYC
The two-story store located on Fifth Avenue is the first LEGO store to feature the company’s new retail format. Aiming to create an immersive LEGO experience, this new flagship blends unique digital and physical experiences. The updated retail format reflects LEGO’s strategy to update its stores as shoppers look for more personalized and interactive retail offerings. Read more…
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Mattel, ViacomCBS Ink Licensing Deal for PAW Patrol: The Movie Mega Bloks, UNO Junior
Under the new agreement, Mattel Games will issue UNO Junior PAW Patrol — a simplified UNO Junior card game designed for younger players — while Mattel's Mega Bloks brand will unleash a collection of more than 10 new building sets, including the Adventure City Pups Assortment, Marshall’s City Fire Rescue set, and Rubble’s City Construction Truck. Read more…
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Melissa & Doug Takes Blue’s Clues and PAW Patrol Off Screen with Hands-on Toys
Melissa & Doug and Nickelodeon have inked a multi-year partnership, beginning with a collection of PAW Patrol and Blue’s Clues & You toys. Read more…
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Hasbro, Universal Team up for Transformers x Jurassic Park Mashup
Hasbro was so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should … but in this case they 100% should. The latest Transformers pop culture mash-up combines the iconic robots in disguise with the beloved Jurassic Park franchise. Read more…
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Step2’s Pretend Grills Are Sizzlin’, Smokin’, and Sweet Fun for Kids this Summer
July is National Grilling Month, and what better way to celebrate than by letting kids host their own BBQ bash? Families can roll out some role-play fun with Step2’s outdoor grill sets that mini Masterchefs-in-the-making can use to grill up the fun. Read more…
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Talking Retail with Kappa Toys’ Lizzy Newsome on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Lizzy Newsome, owner and curator of Kappa Toys in Las Vegas. Newsome’s design-minded stores carry a wide array of hard-to-find international toys and collectibles combined with a carefully curated selection of nostalgic retro classics for kids and adults alike. Listen here...
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Litzky Public Relations Launches Grant Program, Names PunkinFutz First Grant Recipient
Litzky Public Relations is showing some love to small businesses and entrepreneurs through its new grant program: LOVE, Litzky, which stands for Lifting Outstanding Voices & Endeavors. The first business to receive the LL treatment is PunkinFutz, a company that designs and manufactures sensory play products for kids. Read more…
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Putting the “M” Back in STEM
If there’s one thing that parents love in their kids’ toys, it’s educational value. Who wouldn’t want their kids to excel in school and learn key skills to succeed in life? While not all kids love school, all kids love toys, and with so many STEM options out there, it’s easy to learn key skills in science, technology, engineering, and math through the power of play. Read more…
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ASTRA Names Sue Warfield President
Nearly a year after taking the reins as interim president, Sue Warfield has been named president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). The move comes ahead of ASTRA’s upcoming Marketplace & Academy, the specialty toy community’s much-anticipated return to live events. Warfield stepped into the interim role last September and helped guide ASTRA through the height of the pandemic. Read more…
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Pamela Mastrota Joins The Toy Foundation as Executive Director
The Toy Association and The Toy Foundation’s board of trustees tapped Pamela Mastrota to serve as executive director for the 501(c)3 charity. Mastrota joins the foundation from Make-A-Wish Metro NY & Western NY where she served as CEO. Read more…
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ViacomCBS Consumer Products Promotes Leadership Team
Lourdes Arocho has been promoted to senior vice president, Paramount Pictures licensing, global games and publishing for ViacomCBS products. Chris Groll became the senior vice president, consumer products design, ViacomCBS. Priya Mukhedkar is promoted to senior vice president, packaged goods, ViacomCBS Consumer Products. Read more…
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Lonny Weinstein Joins Diverse Marketing as Executive Vice President
Weinstein joins the company from Melissa & Doug where he served for nearly 20 years, most recently as vice president of omnichannel sales. During his time at Melissa & Doug, Weinstein was part of the team that grew the company from a small manufacturer catering primarily to independent toy stores and gift shops to one of the most recognizable global brands in the toy industry. Read more…
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Licensing International Elects Seven New Board Members
Licensing International’s new board includes Dean Allen of Made Engine Apparel, Veronica Hart of ViacomCBS Consumer Products, Steven Heller of The Brand Liason, Holly Rawlinson of Spirit Halloween and Spencer Gifts, Milin Shaho of Isaac Morris, Malaika Underwood of OneTeam Partners, and Maarten Weck of Wildbrain CPLG. The seven members will serve three-year terms effective today. Read more…
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