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Exclusive: WowWee, Hasbro Make a Splash with Outdoor Toys Inspired by Classic Games
The Toy Book chats with Andrew Yanofsky, WowWee’s head of marketing and operations, about the company’s new line of water and outdoor toys inspired by the NERF Super Soaker brand and classic titles from the Hasbro Gaming portfolio, including Twister, Operation, and Crocodile Dentist. Read more…
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NPD Group Reveals 2021 Toy Industry Performance Awards Winners
The U.S. toy industry is coming off of a record year, and now, The NPD Group is honoring the biggest performers in the U.S. and beyond. The annual presentation of the Toy Industry Performance Awards honors the best-selling toys, properties, and manufacturers globally and in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe. Read more…
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Mattel Celebrates 60 Years of the Barbie Dreamhouse with Habitat for Humanity
The Barbie brand is funding 60 projects and activations, including neighborhood revitalization, playhouse builds, critical home repairs, new construction, home preservation, and contributions to the Habitat’s Women Build program. These projects will help families in Canada, Poland, and Brazil, as well as a local family in Los Angeles. Read more…
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PlayMonster Adds ‘Bluey’ License to Its Roster for New Activities
PlayMonster entered into a strategic licensing agreement with BBC Studios to bring Australia’s favorite Blue Heeler pup, Bluey, into new product categories. New products include Bluey-branded versions of Hasbro’s Spirograph and 9 Story Brands’ Colorforms. Read more…
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These Plush Haribo Bears Will Take Your Gummy Obsession to the Next Level
Jakks Pacific unveiled its new collection of squishy figures and plush inspired by the Haribo candy brand. The Haribo collection includes characters like Goldbear, Happy Cola, Red Goldbear, and more in a variety of sizes and price points. Read more…
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Spin Master, CMON Launch Marvel Zombies: A Zombicide Game
The third collaboration between Spin Master Games and CMON broke Kickstarter records to become the No. 4 tabletop game ever funded using the platform. Backers pledged more than $1 million during the first 13 minutes of the campaign as it headed toward a $9 million total. Spin Master says that the first games are expected to ship in October. Read more…
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Entering the Puttyworld with ‘Crazy’ Aaron Muderick on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Aaron Muderick to the show. Muderick is the founder of Crazy Aaron’s, the company behind Thinking Putty and Land of Dough. Listen here…
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Horst Brandstätter Group Unveils Playmobil Sustainability Goals, New Toys
Horst Brandstätter Group — parent company of Playmobil — issued an update on its sustainability goals for the next few years while formally unveiling new brands and line extensions. Playmobil’s lineup for this year includes the Duck on Call preschool range, the Discover Our Planet brand, and new additions to its growing, adult-centered pop culture and car segments. Read more…
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Hasbro Unveils New Wave of Marvel Legends X-Men Action Figures
This action figure line expands with seven new X-Men figures in total, each featuring outfits and sculpts inspired by their appearances in Marvel comic books. The new wave of super-articulated figures includes characters such as Wolverine, Siryn, Havok, Vulcan, Maggott, Darwin, and Sabretooth. Read more…
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Good Banana Introduces Extensive New Product Line for 2022
The company is introducing dozens of new toys this year, including those designed for indoor and outdoor play. Kids can crush their boredom with a cheeseburger and rocketship fidget toys; complete delicious 3D puzzles in the shape of a s’more, a cheeseburger, or a cupcake; lounge around in a mega-sized plush pillow featuring a hamburger, a hot dog, a rainbow, or a taco; and more. Read more…
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Hippity Hop into Schleich’s Springtime Musical Storytelling Contest
Schleich is inviting kids everywhere to hop into their imaginations and submit an original song or story to its Springtime Musical Storytelling Contest. Kids can compete to have the company’s new storytelling band, The Hippity Hops, turn their story into a music video. Read more…
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‘Spielwarenmesse Podcast’ Explores the Launch of Spielwarenmesse Digital
Spielwarenmesse eG’s Director of Communications Scarlett Wisotzki attended the digital opening of the event from a broadcast studio inside the Nuremberg Exhibition Center and spoke with a number of guests regarding this year’s switch to a digital platform following the cancellation of the annual in-person trade fair. Listen here…
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Wishbone Consumer Products Launches Crazy Ice Bubbles in the U.S.
Crazy Ice Bubbles make crystalline patterns as they fly through the air or land on the ground. The product first launched in Canada and is available now through Amazon, Target, and select independent retailers in the U.S. Read more…
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Bandai UK to Distribute ‘True and the Rainbow Kingdom’ Toys
Toronto-based Guru Studio has appointed Bandai UK as its UK distributor for a toy line inspired by its animated series True and the Rainbow Kingdom. The toy line features a collection of figures, plush, dolls, playsets, and vehicles, and is set to launch in the U.K. this fall. Read more…
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Talkin’ Toys: Adventerra Games Combines Environmentalism and Play
The Toy Book caught up with France Mer, director of marketing for Adventerra Games North America, to chat about the company’s mission statements, how important STEM toys are, and what’s in store for Adventerra Games in 2022. Read more…
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Talkin’ Toys: Hog Wild Embraces the Absurd to Focus on Fun
The Toy Book chatted with Steve Markey, Hog Wild’s new vice president of sales and marketing, about the company’s upcoming products for this year, continuing to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more. Read more…
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Ren Beanie PR Named Agency of Record for IT’SUGAR
Specialty candy retailer IT’SUGAR is tapping into some toy industry expertise to further build its brand. Following the addition of industry veteran Ashley Mady as its vice president of brand development last summer, the largest specialty candy retailer in the U.S. tapped Ren Beanie Public Relations to serve as its agency of record. Read more…
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Mattel Sales Spiked 19% in 2021 Powered by Dolls, Action Figures, Vehicles
Mattel Chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz declared that the “turnaround is now complete” as the company reported net sales of $5.46 billion for the year and improvements in operating income and net income. Net sales and gross billings in North America spiked 22% versus 2020. Read more…
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Hasbro Revenue Spiked 17% in 2021 with Growth Across Toys, Gaming, and Entertainment
The play and entertainment company reported a 17% spike in revenue for both the fourth quarter and the full year of 2021. The company says that all three of its operating and financial reporting segments — Consumer Products, Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming, and Entertainment — grew last year for a total of $6.42 billion in revenue, $2.01 billion of which came during Q4. Read more…
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Spin Master Sells Outdoor Manufacturing Operation, Select Brands to Comfort Research
Comfort Research, the Michigan-based company behind the Big Joe brand of bean bag chairs and pool floats, acquired Spin Master’s 268,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and a 90,000-square-foot distribution center in Tarboro, North Carolina. The company also acquired select product lines from Spin Master’s outdoor portfolio that were previously sold under the SwimWays label. Read more…
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Osmo from BYJU’s Appoints Kar-Han Tan as Head of Computer Vision
In his new role, Tan is responsible for furthering the development of the brand’s computer vision and augmented reality (AI) platform to create new products, games, and devices. He will also lead a global team in the research, development, and optimization of new algorithms for computer vision and AI-enabled features. Read more…
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Genius Brands Appoints Cindy Kelly as Head of Advertising Sales
In her new role, Kelly will oversee advertising sales, as well as brand, content, and event sponsorships for the network. She will work alongside Todd Steinman, who was recently appointed co-chief revenue and marketing officer. Read more…
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Rocio Fernandez Joins Bulldog Licensing as Licensing Approvals Coordinator
In her new role, Fernandez will provide product approval support for all licensees, facilitate communications throughout the product development process, create marketing materials for all licensees and licensors, and more. Read more…
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