Toy Business Week from 20th April 2009

A busy week for financial results, with Hasbro, Jakks Pacific and RC2 among others reporting Q1 results. The Chancellor announces a credit insurance top-up scheme. Earth Day sees a survey published reporting a disappointing level of climate change action from the large toy and baby equipment manufacturers. You’ll soon be able to perform with Lego on a video game console in a game that is surely going to rock.

Monday 20th April 2009

Hasbro’s first quarter profits drop by 47% compared to the same period last year. [The Toy Detectives report]

Scalextric announces a greater internet presence with a blog, YouTube channel and a FaceBook page with a specially developed “My Garage” application. [The Toy Detectives report]

Tuesday 21st April 2009

Lego Rock Band, a combination of famous music video game and famous toy, is being developed for various video game machines and should be in the shops in time for Christmas. [Informer: Action Figure]

Ugobe the makers of Pleo, an interactive dinosaur robot, has gone into liquidation. [The Toy Detectives report]

Tesco announce that their full year pre-tax profits exceed £3 billion. [Informer: Financial Times]

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

RC2 report better than expected Q1 results. [Informer: Toy News]

Poundland announced that it has bought 12 premises that were formerly Woolworth’s stores. [Informer: Toy News]

Budget day and Toy Retailer Association president, Grant Grant, gives his thought over the government’s plan to introduce a credit insurance top-up scheme. [Informer Toys 'n' Playthings]

This day was Earth Day 2009. Various events occurred around the globe to mark this day. [Informer: The Guardian]

Thursday 23rd 2009

Jakks Pacific report a Q1 loss. [Informer: Toy News]

Disney is named the top licensor in License Global’s top 100 of the licensing industry. [Informer: Licensing.biz]

Sambro’s Thumb Wresting Federation toys sell in a quantity of over 250,000 units in the first three months of 2009. [Informer: Licensing.biz]

Friday 24th April 2009

A survey conducted by Climate Counts, finds that Hasbro is by far the best of the large toy and baby equipment makers when is comes to taking environment protection measures. [The Toy Detective report]

Independent toy retailers are still benefitting from the closure of Woolworth’s. [Informer: Toy News]

Hamley’s have been rated as a top 15 online retailer by The Retail Bulletin. [Informer: The Retail Bulletin]

Intellectual property owners take note: Apple served its one billionth download on the Apple App Store. [Informer: Apple]