Lego continue to defy the global recession by posting excellent first half results. However, according to The NPD Group the overall picture is not so good for the U.S.A. Yu-Gi-Oh has broken a record I didn’t know existed. Sainbury’s makes another move to help extend its sales reach beyond its traditional grocery market.
Monday 17th August 2009
Lego announced that its sales rose by 23 per cent in the first half of the year. [Informer: Toys 'n' Playthings]
University of Leeds research finds that there is a need for bite testing toys to improve toy safety and prevent choking among the under fives. [Informer: Toy News]
The NPD Group report that toy sales in the U.S. drop by 2% for the first half of 2009. [Informer: Playthings]
Tuesday 18th August 2009
Yu-Gi-Oh! is named best selling trading card game of all time by Guinness World Records. [Informer: Licensing.biz]
Wednesday 19th August 2009
Razor, the scooter brand, will have its own UK website as of September 1st. [Informer: Toy News]
Joy Toys, the wooden toy manufacturer, has been acquired by Bigjigs. [Informer: Toys 'n' Playthings]
Thursday 20th August 2009
Roland Rat, the 1980s puppet TV star, is to make a merchandising come-back. Thankfully this come-back looks like it will not go as far as a return to TV. [Informer: Toy News]
Sainsbury’s has released a 98 page non-food catalogue to support its new bid to increase online sales. [Informer: Toys 'n' Playthings]
Friday 21st August 2009
Retail Week report on a rumored letter by Home Retail Group, the parent company of Argos, alleging that it has written to its suppliers suggesting that they should not trade with retailers that have had their credit insurance removed. [Informer: Toys 'n' Playthings]
