Tesco is taking the precautionary measure of recalling its Little Steps Funky Play Centre and Fun to Learn Funky Play Centre (both with the barcode 5051790422508) which has been on sale since September/October 2008.Continue Reading
1 May 2009
Swine Flu: Mexican Tries to Cash In with Soft Toy
A Mexican is trying to market a soft toy called Achufy as “A souvenir of the 2009 Epidemic that united Mexico.” The creator suggests that the blue stuffed toy, priced at 345 peso (around $30.00 US), will allow you to “…use the stuffed animal to tell your grandchildren of this unique experience in history.”Continue Reading
1 May 2009
Hasbro & Discovery to Launch New Childrens TV Channel
Discovery Communications will receive $300 million from toy company Hasbro for a 50% stake in a new venture that will hold the assets of the Discovery Kids Network in the US.
Hasbro has been guaranteed merchandising royalties of $125m over five years in addition to revenue from cable television subscription fees and advertising.
David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications, stated: “This joint venture reinforces Discovery’s strategy to develop strong brands, maximise the potential of our extensive distribution in the US and work with the highest quality content partners to create long-term value.”
Programming will be based on popular Hasbro brands (such as, My Little Pony, GI Joe and Transformers), Discovery’s existing shows and from third party programme producers.
Ralph Nader of lobby group Commercial Alert said he would ask regulators to investigate, describing the joint venture as “nothing more than a scheme to deliver programme-length advertisements to children over television”.
Available in 60 million US homes, the new channel is due to launch in the US late 2010, replacing the existing Discovery Kids channel.
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29 April 2009
Out of Corn Flakes? Then Get Some at Toys “R” Us
In the US this Wednesday, Toys “R” Us will announce that it will open convenience store sections within 260 of its existing 585 stores. The new department, which has already been trialed in Phillipsburg (New Jersey), will be called “R” Market and will offer items such as cereal, pasta, canned food, toilet paper and toothbrushes. This is in addition to the nappies, baby hygiene, baby food and sweets that many Toys “R” Us customers are used to seeing in-store.Continue Reading
28 April 2009
Bratz Doll Maker Ordered into Receivership by US Court
MGA Entertainment has been placed into receivership having lost its appeal against last year’s $100 million award won by Mattel over ownership rights to the Bratz doll franchise.
Continue Reading
26 April 2009
Jump to it in Style with Berg’s New Trampolines
Berg Toys, European supplier of outdoor toys, has launched a new range of trampolines, including the uniquely designed InGround trampoline. The InGround trampoline is bedded into the ground making it as inconspicuous as possible for those who do not want their garden dominated by such equipment.
Models in Berg’s Jumping Styles range are available in a variety of colours, offering the opportunity to make a trampoline fit in with the style of a garden. Some models even have patterns printed upon them.
With every trampoline, Berg includes a free safety DVD, which presents step-by-step instructions for the safe enjoyment of their trampolines. Underling Berg’s attention to the safety of their products, sales manager, Andrew Reynolds stated: “All BERG trampolines are built with a sturdy frame, an extra wide protective edge and strong springs, so you can feel confident that your child is enjoying themselves without compromising their safety”.
For Berg Toys webite visit: bergtoys.co.uk
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25 April 2009
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]
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24 April 2009
Toy Industry Player’s Digest: 13 – 19 April
This week LeapFrog makes its debut on Apple‘s shiny devices. Mattel reports a bigger first quarter loss than last year. Playing outside is what John Lewis customers did during Easter. Another Hamley’s concession in House of Fraser closes, this time in Birmingham.
Monday 13th April 2009
LeapFrog announce the launch of Number Rumble, their first game designed for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch devices. [The Toy Detectives report]
Tuesday 14th April 2009
Wizard Toys have signed a deal to produce a range of made in Britain Shrinkles, based on The Beano and The Dandy comics. [Informer: Licensing.biz]
Wednesday 15th April 2009
Mega Brands agree to pay $1.1 million to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for the late reporting of the dangers of Magnetix building sets. [The Toy Detectives report]
Fair weather makes outdoor toys buck the downward trend at John Lewis this Easter. [Informer: Toy News]
Thursday 16th April 2009
Upper Deck’s case against Konami, to be re-instated as distributor of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards in Europe and other markets was rejected by a Dutch court. [Informer: Toy News]
Saturday 18th April 2009
Mattel report a decline of 15% worldwide and a loss of $51 million in the quarter ending 31st March 2009. [Informer: The Wall Street Journal]
In Birmingham, Hamley’s closes its concession within House of Fraser. [The Toy Detectives report]
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24 April 2009
Hasbro Leads in Action for Climate Change
A survey conducted by Climate Counts reveals Hasbro to be the clear leader, in the toy and child equipment industry, in taking action to reduce its impact on climate change.
There were 22 criteria taken into account in measuring a company’s efforts to address its climate footprint, reduce its emissions, support (or block) progress on climate legislation and communicate climate change efforts clearly to consumers.
10 of the 13 companies surveyed were classified as “stuck”, a red traffic light failing grade. Only five companies received any points at all on a scale which rates companies out of 100.
Hasbro scored 40 points and was classified as “starting” (amber traffic light), which was well above Mattel, its closest rival, with 18 points. Lego scored 13 points.
Newell Rubbermaid (makers of Graco products) scored four points, while Dorel Industries (makers of InStep and Safety First) scored two points; both companies rated as “stuck”, together with the following eight companies which scored no points:
JAKKS Pacific
MEGA Brands
Playmates
Chicco
Evenflo
Chelsea & Scott (One Step Ahead and Leaps and Bounds)
Britax
Peg Perego
Climate Counts said the toy and child equipment segment had the lowest total score of any of the 13 sectors it had tested so far.
“This is our first ranking of this sector and we were, frankly, surprised at how far behind they are” said Wood Turner, Executive Director of the non-profit Climate Counts. “The climate crisis poses a threat to our children’s future – it is our children and their children who will suffer from the most serious climate impacts.”
Informers: Climate Counts, Environmental Leader & Climate Biz
22 April 2009
Lego Builders Get the Vote
Lego fanatics have the chance to vote for one of three new Lego City themes. The choices are a City Square, Public Transportation Centre and a Truck Stop.
You can view preliminary sketches and vote at the Toys “R” Us website. Voting has already started and ends April 24, 2009.
The winning theme will be announced at the 2010 International Toy Fair, held in New York and will be launched in the shops.
