ToyNews July 2017

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July 2017

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COVER STORY FUTURE GAZING p12

Contents July 2017 Features

Regulars

COVER STORY: ACTIVE VISIONARY Activion Blizzard's Tim Kilpin tells the toy industry that the time for videogame is nigh.

Opinion 07 Ian Downes 08 Steve Reece 09 Cas Paton 11 Jem Alexander

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FEATURE: TECH IN THE TOY SPACE Mobile gaming, VR, STEAM learning and robotics. It's all heading to toys, are you ready?

28

INTERVIEW: IAN CHAMBERS Mind Candy's CEO talks about the return of Moshi Monsters with Egg Hunt.

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RISE OF THE ROBOTS They're Coming

Market Data 32 Euromonitor 35 Generation Media 37 Campaign of the Month 38 ToyShop UK Product Guide 41 Dress Up 48 Construction 56 Drones Back pages 72 People 74 Anonymous July 2017 | toy news | 3

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6/19/17 12:10

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No. 185 | July 2017

“The toy industry isn't one to rest on its laurels, so why should its trade publications?”

Editor Robert Hutchins rhutchins@nbmedia.com Deputy Editor Jade Burke jburke@nbmedia.com Staff Writer Jack Ridsdale jridsdale@nbmedia.com Sales Manager Jodie Holdway jholdway@nbmedia.com Production Executive James Marinos jmarinos@nbmedia.com Designer Nikki Hargreaves nhargreaves@nbmedia.com Managing Director Mark Burton mburton@nbmedia.com

Follow us @toynews online

W

elcome to the new look ToyNews. It's been an exciting last month working to bring you the magazine we believe this forward-thinking industry deserves.

The first thing you'll notice is that we have dropped the news. Let’s face it, who reads a magazine for the stories you've already seen on your phone, anyway? It’s dated and not what you, the innovators and decision makers in this industry are about.

All of our news coverage will move online, where we can keep up with the rapid-fire changes as they occur. Of course, this gives us a lot of space to play with...

It’s why we are hitting you hard and fast with bold opinions, relevant features, big interviews and informed analysis to engage you and your businesses; the real heartland and heritage of ToyNews, across all aspects of the toy space that we will continue to support.

With a new size, ToyNews can now be read on the go, and its new design will make this even more pleasurable as we delve into the pressing issues in a visually compelling way. So, let's get started, and keep watching this space for even more to come.

Robert Hutchins, Editor Rhutchins@nbmedia.com

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a bumper crop for you this August. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Chameleon, our award-winning social deduction game, First Dates, the official game of the hit Channel 4 show, and Colourbrain, our latest super-simple quiz. Tuck in.

To pre-order our three new games, please contact Emily Polglase on: 07472 824 526 or at emily@bigpotato.co.uk

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Opinion

Brand plans: Is your brand licensing ready?

by Ian Downes

Like many people, when I joined the licensing industry I didn’t know much about it. 20 years later, I'm still learning.

I remember the industry being explained to me at my induction at Copyrights Promotions (now CPLG).

The session that left a lasting impression was on Monopoly. Examples of Monopoly products were shown to us, including cufflinks and gift chocolates.

They were impressive and helped me think differently about board games. Even more impressive were the promotions, including an eye-catching initiative with McDonald’s.

It’s one that is still going strong and seems to be used annually. It must be one of the longest running licensed promotions and a real tribute to the strength of the Monopoly brand.

Toy companies are good at creating brands, and toy brands have strong identities, gameplay and international appeal. The road may be well trodden, but licensing has always welcomed strong brands.

Current competition in licensing is intense, yet there is still an appetite for new opportunities, and toy companies are well placed to engage with licensees to develop products based on successful toys.

A successful campaign can bring in additional revenue, add bottom line value to a brand and, in today’s changing retail world, extend a brand’s reach into new retail channels.

Licensing can also extend the brand experience for consumers and now could be a good time for toy companies to review their own brands and think more broadly about them.

Publishing is an obvious route. A range of books with stories or activities can extend the brand experience and help build the brand universe. Licensees will challenge toy companies to demonstrate the consumer appeal of their brands and toy companies should be prepared to ‘sell’ their brands with hard evidence of their popularity and longevity.

This shouldn’t put brand owners off the process.

In fact, it is quite healthy to find out what makes your brand popular.

Furthermore, in an age where many new games are launched through crowdfunding, it's clear there is consumer empathy for toys and games.

Game developers should be thinking about brand building – can you make your game licensing ready?

Brands like Monopoly have shown that the conversation between licensing and toys doesn’t always have to be one way. Toy and game brands have licensing potential, and you don’t need to throw a double six to start in the Game of Licensing.

"Toy and game brands have huge licensing potential today."

Ian Downes is the director of the licensing agency Start Licensing. A veteran of the licensing and consumer products scene, he has worked across a number of leading children's brands including the Beano, Asterix, Bananaman, Olly the Little White Van and more.

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Opinion

Look East: Can India pip China in toy manufacturing stakes?

by Steve Reece

You’d have to be living on another planet not to have noticed that toy manufacturing costs have been under increasing pressure over recent years.

China was once the holder of most of the global toy manufacturing capacity and very economical, and while it still accounts for the majority of the world’s toy production, things are changing.

For quite some time now, toy companies have been looking for an alternative or alternatives capable of offering similar capacity as China, with the economical manufacturing of yesteryear.

Vietnam and Thailand have grown in importance, especially for figurine manufacturing, making them the areas of choice for many an action figure manufacturer.

Yet neither offers anything like the current or eventual potential of China’s vast capacity.

For nearly three years I have been working in India on the basis that only it can hope to replace any significant proportion of labour heavy toy production.

India is the only country in the world with a similar population to China. It also has a very strong automotive manufacturing sector, with over 25 million people employed within it, making India the world's fifth biggest car exporter.

This is relevant because cars tend to be made of injection/blow moulded plastic, basic electronics, some rubber and some die cast metal – all of which are key components in toys.

There are currently a limited number of very highend toy factories in India with ICTI and other requisite certifications. These leading factories are seeing demand significantly outstrip supply capacity, as toy companies big and small look to save around ten to 15 per cent on ex-factory costs.

It’s no wonder the industry has jumped on such cost saving opportunities.

My company is increasingly consulting with Indian factories to help get up to the required standards quickly to meet soaring demand.

And this isn’t without challenges. India in general is very culturally different to China; response times and working culture is very different and local supply chain not as experienced in manufacturing certain types of components found in toys.

This can take some getting used to, as we are all so used to China’s experienced approach. Overall though, delivery and quality has been far better from India than originally anticipated, and at this stage I predict India will take billions of dollars of labour heavy toy production from China in the next few years, as China increasingly focuses on higher end or more automated production.

"India could take billions from China in the next few years."

Steve Reece is CEO at Kids Brand Insight, a leading supplier of consultancy services to the global toy, game and kids' entertainment industries. Reece can be contacted on Steve@kidsbrandinsight.com

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6/21/17 12:20

Opinion

Strong and stable? Or has the horse bolted?

By Cas Paton

Whoever said politics was boring? If the results of last month’s General Election proved anything, it’s that things can turn on a sixpence.

Once again, we have found the UK’s political institution flipped on its head as – at the time of writing, at least – a rather more deflated vision of Theresa May heads into Brexit negotiations under very different circumstances to the ones her many advisors foresaw.

Yet press on with those negotiations she must, with or without the ten seats of the DUP behind her, and with or without a majority Government.

What I do know is that the retail industry across the board is looking for a period of stability. In my view, part of that safe environment for growth and prosperity includes keeping corporation tax and business rates low, which is more important than ever.

At the time of writing, uncertainty still presides over our approach to Brexit. It doesn’t surprise me that retailers are becoming prudent when making business decisions, while some extra cautious ones look for concrete answers as to what the final deal will be.

Some of these may well wait until after Brexit before making any big plans. It remains a matter that is very much up in the air.

However, if anything, the past year has taught us is that uncertainty does not dent entrepreneurship and consumer confidence. For many retailers, it will be a case of ‘business as usual’.

I believe UK retail will remain buoyant in spite of the challenges ahead. The practical business of retail is, afterall, less dependent on movement within the EU than some of the other parts of the toy sector. In fact, we may even see a benefit from some of the changes.

On Buy is a British-born and UK-based e-commerce platform that the toy industry is rapidly backing. Like any sector, e-commerce is not impervious to the impact of Brexit and there will be bridges to cross, depending on what deal is eventually struck.

The cost of importing goods potentially rising will, of course, be the prime concern for many retailers, but the flipside of this is that we will probably see a renewed focus on trading within the UK and with that, there will be fresh opportunities for the retail industry.

What is important for the UK now is that we do not lose our focus. We cannot – and we will not – lose our focus or pace, because, as well as the numerous pitfalls that we may now face, we also face a lot of opportunities and we have to be sure we take them.

Doing nothing isn’t an option. And while we may not know when or from where the next political upheaval will arrive, the UK retail sector has the inherent entrepreneurship and resilience to overcome.

"UK retail will remain buoyant in spite of the challenges."

Cas Paton is the founder of Onbuy, an online marketplace that compares prices from a range of retailers presenting users with the best deals on offer on a variety of products.

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Opinion

Toys (return) to life

By Jem Alexander

In Los Angeles this month, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, a zombie rose from its grave. The games industry thought it had seen the beginning of the end of the toys-tolife genre when Disney shut down Avalanche Software and cancelled all future iterations of Disney Infinity. Meanwhile, Activision’s Skylanders limps on, with deteriorating sales and no new game releasing in 2017. Toys-to-life is dead, we thought.

So imagine our surprise when during Ubisoft’s E3 press conference, amid the Far Cry 5s and Assassin’s Creed Origins, the withered hand of toys-to-life reached up from its well-trod resting place, pulling its fetid body into the fresh LA air. Starlink: Battle for Atlas looks to be a decent, fairly cutesy, space-combat game that allows players to change their ship, characters and weapon loadout by adding and removing parts of the toy spaceship sitting atop their controller.

A bold move, considering the big boys of toys-to-life are putting away their childish things. Ubisoft clearly

has faith that gamers are still willing to part with their cash for plastic laser cannons and warp engines. And judging from the response to the announcement, they could be right. There’s an excitement surrounding Starlink and its modular ship-building mechanic. It’s an evolution of the genre; to stretch the metaphor further, this zombie’s got gills.

The difference with Starlink is that, sure, new toys will unlock new content. That’s a given. But there are also practical applications within the game that make this even more intriguing –and compelling – for collectors and players alike. Need extra firepower? Stick four of those heavy laser cannons on your ship’s carapace and blow a new crater in this little moon. Need a bit more? Stick on those missile launchers. Why not?

Ubisoft has revived the toys to life genre with Starlink, in way that bridges the gap between construction toys and toys to life.

Ubisoft hasn’t given any indication of how many Starlink toys will be made available, or how much they’ll be sold for, but there’s clearly a hunger for this level of customisation and interaction between toy and game. Besides, plastic spaceships are cool.

" Ubisoft has revived the toys-to-life genre with Starlink."

Jem Alexander is the editor of video game development trade title and ToyNews sister-publication, Develop. Previously, Jem has held positions at Riot Games, Playstation and Square-Enix in a diverse career, covering many facets of the games industry.

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OWN R U O Y CREATE

BOWS

© 2017 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. JoJo Siwa is a trademark of JoJo Siwa Entertainment, LLC.

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6/19/17 12:14

Big Interview

"We are starting to see a new dawning for the age of video game and toy cross-over."

Tim Kilpin,

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A

Big Interview

CTIVE

VISIONARY

The crossover between toys and video games has never been more prominent, and with the video games eSports market set to hit a value of $1bn by the end of the year, this space definitely isn't one to miss. Robert Hutchins sits down with Activision Blizzard's Tim Kilpin to see how more toy retailers can make the most of and embrace this burgeoning sector

T

im Kilpin is a man from toys.

Having spent many years heading up the global brand strategy and consumer products division for Mattel, Kilpin is also a man to whom – when on the subject of toys – people tend to listen.

In February this year, he made the move to Activision Blizzard, a leader in the video games industry.

CEO and president of the firm’s consumer products division, Kilpin has since been busy developing the licensing opportunities around some of the biggest names in the space, including Call of Duty, Overwatch, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush.

A slight departure from Barbie, Hot Wheels and Monster High, perhaps, but when dealing with mass entertainment, global franchises, sentiment tends not to stray too far.

It’s perhaps why, when he talks about the time being nigh for the toy industry to really start taking notice of the energy surrounding major video game properties, you could take that with a degree of certainty.

“We are starting to see a new dawning for the age of video game and toy crossover,” Kilpin tells ToyNews from his office at this year’s Licensing Expo in Vegas.

“There is an emerging understanding about what really is possible in the space, but it is still early days.”

It’s no secret that the video games space has been side-lined by the traditional toy retailer, showing preference for the blockbuster movie titles that have thrown up the likes of Minions and the Marvel franchise.

However, and as reported by ToyNews back in March, the video games market is fast overtaking the film industry as the biggest form of mass entertainment. Adding

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Big Interview

to this, some exciting developments in the video games market – namely the surge in growth of eSports – means that the market is on the cusp of something revolutionary.

“There is a huge amount of energy and excitement around eSports as a growing opportunity and platform in the licensing space,” continues Kilpin.

Admittedly, from the peripheral markets such as toys, eSports is a foreign concept.

However, as a business, the video games market research firm, SuperData suggests that it could hit a value of $1bn by the end of the year.

A main player in this field is the game, Overwatch, meaning that Activision has a vested interest in the success of the space.

“We are beginning to see the formation of the Overwatch league and Call of Duty world league, placing Activision at the forefront of the eSports movement. And we are going to be bringing this to life with franchises,” explains Kilpin.

“Franchises are the future, and this is an opportunity we are taking to create the franchise to create the teams, put the league around it, secure the broadcasting around it as well as the advertising opportunities and the consumer products.”

But what has a community of video game obsessed geeks got to do with the toy

industry? Besides the fact that the audience for video gaming is getting younger each year, with the substantial rise in mobile app

"There is a huge amount of excitement around eSports in licensing."

Tim Kilpin, Activision Blizzard gaming playing a key role in this, it is at a fan engagement level that the toy industry can spot its in-road to the medium.

“Within our franchises alone, you are looking at 40 billion hours of gameplay – that’s crazy engagement," says Kilpin.

“Toy retailers are getting there, and I think it will take certain properties that bring the aspirational character qualities into play, to encourage [the toy trade] to recognise there is something richer there.”

Prior to Kilpin’s arrival earlier this year, Activision has been no stranger to the toy industry, having carved out the toys-to-life market back in 2013 with the launch of its hit Skylanders brand.

It goes some way to highlight the vision of the firm that has, for many years, placed itself at the forefront of innovative new approaches to toys and gaming.

Yet, for retailers still not convinced of the role video gaming has already and is yet to play within the toy space, the firm now plans to bring its franchises to the movies.

Under the leadership of Kilpin, the firm is set to develop a live-action series of movies set in its Call of Duty universe.

“The plan for Call of Duty is to create a live action feature film franchise that will start in 2019,” continues Kilpin.

“This means that storytelling opportunities are very rich. Of course, with that avid fanbase already in place, we have to live up to expectations. No one is going to allow us to do something that isn’t the best and there’s no doing these things half-assed."

What it does mean, however, is that from 2019 onwards, demand for fan emersion within Call of Duty is likely to hit new heights, and the firm fully expects to see that base look to surround themselves in the property, from apparel to toys.

14 | toy news | July 2017

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6/21/17 10:35

Eye on the Isles

BEST OF BRITISH Whether it's a loaf of bread or a multi-million pound business, nothing compares to the taste of home. And the UK has a stellar line-up of toy firms in its midst, each as impressive as the last.

Here, Robert Hutchins explores the heritage, products and plans for the future with some of Britain's greatest

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Eye on the Isles

Product Spotlight

Sesame Street hand puppets Sambro is dipping its toe into the plush and hand puppets sector with the launch of its new Sesame Street hand puppets line.

Fans won't have to wait long to get their hands on the new items, which are slated for release this coming autumn.

LEADING THE TEAM

Sambro Founded: 1989 Sales growth: 18% YoY growth for 2015/16 period Product to watch: Sesame Street hand puppets On the cusp of opening its second UK office in the coming months, if ever a company reflected the evolving toy business, Sambro would be it.

A shift in gears in its recent history has placed Sambro at the forefront of sourcing and manufacturing licensed toys and games on a global scale that, having grown through value retail channels some 20 years ago, now spans Europe and the Middle East.

Soft and hard-line business has become its bread and butter, and today Sambro works with huge firms including Spin Master, LEGO, Disney, Universal and Hasbro.

It’s no surprise then that over the 2015 to 2016 period, the firm that has tracked an annual growth of 18 per cent year-on-year, is significantly outpacing the market place, and with it, a number of its competitors, too.

It’s a good news story for Sambro then, who is now preparing to report its strongest sales period to date.

“You might say the business has changed gradually over the last two decades, but as you will have seen, we have accelerated the pace recently and the way we operate and service the industry is very different,” explains commercial director Grant Gie. “Our strategy is clear and simple; we want to retain all that’s unique and valued about Sambro such as being a collaborative and open partner, while always looking forward and taking on new initiatives.”

A forward-thinking leader of the business, MD Tom Duffy, and recent addition to the business, Gie, have been quick to pin-point new areas of growth, whether that is building up Sambro’s own IP across the art and crafts sector, or entering wholly new sectors such as plush toys and hand puppets (kicking off with a Sesame Street range this autumn).

With a head count of 160 strong, Sambro’s staff remains the heart of Gie and Nikki Samuels’ business. A reshuffled and newly formed marketing team also means that 2017 will be a year of firsts as the team readies new campaigns across TV and cinema.

But regardless of the new plans, Sambro hasn’t forgotten its roots and the audience that has propelled it to success and will continue to innovate in the licensing space with properties such as PAW Patrol, Play-Doh, Disney Princess and Frozen, while securing new brands Hatchimals and PJ Masks.

TOM DUFFY MD

BRIAN ROBSON FINANCE DIRECTOR

GRANT GIE COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

COLLETTE O’KANE BUYING DIRECTOR

ERIC MARKUS SALES DIRECTOR

JEREMY CLINES BUYING DIRECTOR

NIKKI SAMUELS LICENSING DIRECTOR

GAVIN HOTCHKISS IT DIRECTOR

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Eye on the Isles

Product Spotlight

Bush Baby World Bush Baby World takes Golden Bear surging into the girls’ market with a range of cute collectable creatures inspired by the Bush Baby World animated webisode series, which was first unveiled at London Toy Fair in January.

LEADING THE TEAM

Golden Bear Founded: 1979 Product to watch: Bush Baby World 35 years of hard graft has placed Golden Bear at the top of the leader board for children’s plush and plastics, particularly among the licensed product market.

And it’s not by accident that the firm has earned its reputation for producing highquality, safe and reliable children’s toys among parents and kids. In fact, it has been the company’s ethos and central focus since its establishment back in 1979.

A true British success story, it was John Hales and Christine Nicholls who founded the business that has continued to grow.

Take a quick look at the NPD stats and Golden Bear emerges as a UK top three manufacturer of plush, as well as number two manufacturer of licensed plush. In fact, the firm can lay claim to being a top manufacturer in the licensed toy market in general with an impressive portfolio that includes some of the biggest names and properties in children’s and pre-school entertainment.

Stable properties include In the Night Garden, Mr Tumble, Something Special and

CHRISTINE NICHOLLS VICE CHAIR AND DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

BARRY HUGHES MD

Twirlywoos – each favourites among the CBeebies’ roster of leading pre-school series.

But it’s not just the big names that Golden Bear offers up its time and expertise to, boasting an eye for innovative and emerging new brands such as the new launch of Bush Baby World. A range of characters based on a new series of animated webisodes, Bush Baby World is testament to Golden Bear’s eye for an exciting new line as it expands the company’s presence within the girls’ market.

“Bush Baby World is one of our hero ranges for AW17 and has been building great momentum and interest with retailers since it was first revealed at London Toy Fair in January,” says Nicholls.

On top of this, Golden Bear was recently included in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain Report, an encouraging achievement for a company that continues to push forward and seek out the hottest new licences as well as advancing its in-house development programme.

“The future is looking really strong,” explains Nicholls. “We are continuing to push forward and seek out the strongest licences, while also bolstering the company’s own IP offering via innovation and development.”

JULIE TAYLOR SALES DIRECTOR

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22/06/2017 16:35

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6/19/17 12:17 16/06/2017 08:45:24

Eye on the Isles

Product Spotlight

R/C Bladez Drone Racerz The upcoming launch of Bladez Toyz's R/C Bladez Drone Racerz are set to enter the market this September, which pairs a drone with a Hot Wheels car chassis. Fans of both brands will be able to drift and drive around, while also building their very own drag race.

LEADING THE TEAM

Bladez Toyz Founded: 2007 Product to watch: R/C Bladez Drone Racerz It was only ten years ago that Bladez Toyz was a fledgling British start-up, turning over a regular profit through sales of R/C helicopters, cars and battery operated puzzles on small market stalls.

How quickly fortunes can change over the space of a decade, as in the past five years alone Bladez has experienced yearon-year growth, not only in turnover but in international distribution, too.

Now an international operation, the British R/C specialist is forecasting 2017 to be its best year to date as it taps into new overseas markets in the likes of Eastern Europe, China and India.

A true British company, it was in 2007 that Bladez Toyz founder Iain and Emma Morgan won a prize investment from Peter Jones (BBC’s Dragons’ Den) that set them up for the past ten years of success.

With an eye for innovation, Bladez is a dynamic outfit with the ability to react to trends quickly, an aspect that has regularly put them ahead of other R/C suppliers.

IAIN MORGAN CEO

EMMA MORGAN OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Now, as the company continues to grow, so too do its horizons and Bladez has recently sought to incorporate industry execs into the current outfit, helping the firm raise its profile and provide greater marketing packages.

Included in the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain Report, an encouraging achievement for a company that continues to push forward and seek out the hottest new licences, from Star Wars and Thomas & Friends to Teletubbies and Despicable Me, as well as advancing its inhouse development programme.

A highlight of the Bladez 2017 portfolio is the latest collaboration with Mattel and its Hot Wheels brand.

The new R/C Bladez Drone Racerz combine the Hot Wheels brand and Bladez’ expertise in flying toys. By connecting the drone to the Bladez Hot Wheels car chassis, kids will be able to freestyle drift and drive on the ground as well as build their own drag race using the Hot Wheels track.

The Drone and Vehicle Sets are slated to launch in September with TV and digital marketing support, which the firm already anticipates to be one of its top selling products for 2017.

DANIEL ABDELMASSIH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

KEIRAN PEOPLES EUROPEAN SALES MANAGER

VICKI MARLERHAUSEN MARKETING MANAGER

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22/06/2017 16:37

Eye on the Isles

Product Spotlight

Scalextric Arc Air Le Mans The new Scalextric Arc Air Le Mans set shot into the market during Le Mans race week in June, showcasing the exciting functionality of the Arc Air App Race Control technology, including weather control, tyre change and pit stops, as well as wireless handsets and two Porsche 911 RSR racing cars.

Hornby Hobbies Ltd Founded: 1901 Turnover: £47.7mfor year ended March 31 2017 Product to watch: Scalextric Arc Air Le Mans After a tumultuous couple of years, Hornby may be on track to stage the turnaround of the decade. The long-standing British brand has been vocal about its recent efforts in re-establishing the business within the UK’s marketplace, and it may be starting to pay off.

Having recently detailed its results for the year ended March 31st, 2017, the company – home of the iconic Scalextric and Airfix brands among others – has plenty to be cheerful about, having secured revenue of £47.7 million.

It hasn’t been an easy ride for Hornby, of course, but having emerged successfully from stage one of its multi-step turnaround plan, the wheels are firmly in place for this heritage UK brand.

Reduction of business scale and costs, maintenance of its key UK brands and a streamlining of its European operating model and brands have all helped the firm rise with a second half gross margin at 40 per cent, reflecting its new strategic focus on profitable product lines.

And what are they? Having spanned more than 100 years, Hornby’s portfolio needs no introduction, boasting the UK’s most famous model railway, the iconic Corgi range, Airfix and Scalextric.

Founded in 1901, nobody could have imagined how the Hornby model railway would influence the hobby today. In 1980 the company, now known as Hornby Hobbies Ltd, became an independent company.

It was in 2006 that Hornby Hobbies acquired Airfix, followed by Corgi Classics Limited shortly after, one of the world’s oldest makers of collectable die-cast models of trucks, buses, cars and aeroplanes.

Corgi is in for a big 2017, with new licenses due to launch later this year, including a special Paddington Bear 2 movie licensed New Routemaster Bus and Captain Scarlet’s Spectrum Saloon car to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the character this September.

And while heritage is at the heart of the Hornby offering, the firm’s forward thinking attitude has seen it introduce tech to its stable of brands.

Leading the charge, recent years have seen the introduction of app-controlled technology to enhance the driving experience across both new and classic Scalextric sets.

Scalextric set launches in 2016 included the popular super cars set Total Speed and Track Day ARC Air set with supercars McLaren P1 and Jaguar C-X75. Meanwhile, the My First Scalextric set has continued to be a key sales performer for recruiting young racers, hitting the number two spot in the category last year.

Continuing to look to the future, then, and as the firm embarks on phase two of its big turnaround plans, Hornby Hobbies will continue to build on the profitability of the Hornby, Airfix and Humbrol brands, while improving the performance of Scalextric.

Growth across the European and US markets is on the cards as the company looks to maximise the return from its brands through curated licensing agreements. It’s a new and exciting territory for the firm to be embracing as it looks to return to strength as a true British success story.

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Eye on the Isles

Product Spotlight

Krispy Kreme puzzle Krispy Kreme is a new addition to Gibsons Games’ Iconic Brands Collection, capturing the joy of Krispy Kreme doughnuts in a new puzzle form.

This 500-piece puzzle features the Original Glazed, Strawberries and Kreme and Nutty Chocolate doughnuts.

LEADING THE TEAM

Gibsons Games

For a business so close to celebrating 100 years in puzzles and gaming, Gibsons is far from lethargic within the marketplace.

While sales have been ticking over nicely for the company, it is almost one century on that the family owned firm now finds itself at the epicentre of rejuvenation. Only this March were jigsaws added to the basket of goods used to keep track of inflation, demonstrating that puzzles are now part of the UK’s modern shopping habits; and business at Gibsons couldn’t be better.

In fact, in the midst of its best year to date, business really hasn’t been better than now.

The nation’s reinvigorated love for both games and puzzles has helped the British-born firm – established as far back as

1919 – to some of its most impressive sales figures in a century.

Sales numbers for Gibsons’ current best-seller – 221b Baker Street, a Sherlock Holmes-inspired family gaming title – have surged by 227 per cent over the last year, placing the company's new management outfit at the helm of a juggernaut in the games and puzzles market.

From its post WWI effort, the company is now in the hands of a new managing director (MD), Kate Gibson, who – while working with new and emerging artists, designers and illustrators – is steering the company to even greater things, tapping into new licenses including Krispy Kreme, Wall’s Ice Cream, Transport for London and Enid Blyton.

With heritage at its heart and innovation firmly in its eye line, along with a new MD, product developers and sales operations at its helm, Gibsons is now looking forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength.

KATE GIBSON MD

NICKI GUMBRELL SALES DIRECTOR

Founded: 1919 Best-seller: 221b Baker Street Sales Stat: 221b Baker Street 2016/17 sales up 227 per cent on 2014/15

22 | toy news | July 2017

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Running head

"Children need the chance to be hands-on with tech, we need to inspire and empower the digital creators of the future."

34 24 | March | toy news 2017 | Month 2017 Tech Will Save Us Bethany Koby,

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F

Tech in the toy space

uture gazing

By 2021, the VR market is forecast to grow by 800 per cent, while as of 2016, the toys-to-life market hit €4.98bn and is tipped to double in the next three years. This year, Anki’s Cozmo is billed to be among the most sought after toys for Christmas. Jade Burke explores the growing tech toy space

W

ith technology now integral to our everyday lives, it’s no surprise that some of our greatest advancements in the space are trickling down in to toys.

Toys are transforming at an incredible velocity. It’s no longer just tablets; it’s app-connected toys, virtual reality, augmented reality, even mixed reality.

Tech toys topped the bill across this year’s Toy Fair season, tapping into the rise in child engagement with adult gadgets like smart phones, smart watches and even VR headsets.

Tech is undoubtedly shaping our future.

In fact, around 65 per cent of children in

school today will have a job that doesn’t currently exist, painting today’s tech toys more as the kind of tools needed to prepare them for the future.

“The world is increasingly becoming tech-driven so it’s important that kids have the chance to be hands-on with tech. We need to inspire and empower the digital creators of the future,” Bethany Koby, CEO of Tech Will Save Us, tells ToyNews.

Tech Will Save Us recently launched a campaign on Kickstarter to fuel the launch of three new STEAM make-it-yourself kits under the Dough Universe umbrella.

It’s a move in line with the industry’s shift towards creating “child-friendly iterations of leading consumer tech launches.”

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Tech in the toy space

“FitBits for kids, tablets that teach and faux-computers; we are starting to see more and more brands trying to connect apps to everything in order to add ‘digital’ to the experience,” continues Koby.

But despite the gradual leaning towards tech within the industry, Koby insists that it still has a long way to go.

Reality Check Inextricably linked to education and learning, tech toys certainly offer children the opportunity to develop new skills at a young age. Recent years have seen an emphasis on coding, developing toys and products in line with the changing school curriculum.

However, the evolution of technological entertainment is no more evident than in the burgeoning virtual, augmented and even mixed reality markets.

Research company CCS Insight has revealed that the dedicated VR headset market is set to grow by 800 per cent

between 2017 and 2021, hitting around 22 million units.

And if it’s any indication of its potential, in China, VR content revenue is forecast to be worth $3.6 billion within the next five years. Now, that paves quite the path for the toy industry.

“AR and VR allows children to engage with products or characters in a way that has not been possible before, while also adding value when compared to regular toys or books,” explains James Murden, co-founder of AliveLab, the team behind the AR reading concept, Mardles.

This is a sentiment echoed by the toy companies already closely aligned with the tech movement including the pre-school specialist, LeapFrog.

“We need to future proof our kids and embrace new technologies so that we can help encourage, engage and excite children to reach their full potential,” explains Leapfrog’s senior brand manager, Gail Fisher, speaking for a firm who carved a market for tech-focused pre-school toys.

Playing it safe As tech evolves, so too do the concerns around child safety in a digital age. Recent reports of hackers accessing databases of information have thrown up issues around digital privacy laws, while the concept of ‘spy toys,’ by which connected toys have been commandeered by hackers through simple Bluetooth or wi-fi settings, does highlight its darker side.

In the most, these security breaches could have been avoided with simple firewall or security software, but a number of start-ups are now tackling the issue of online exposure children suffer unwillingly on a daily basis.

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Tech in the toy space

Noting the demand among kids for Facebook-like online interactivity, Empath Interactive has recently detailed its Elfkins Communications Robot, a new smart toy that enables a safe, screen-free network among children and their family.

It’s a launch that also paves a new way for bringing imaginative play in line with tech toys, a point always contested among the devoutly traditional corners of the toy industry.

“I think it’s a shame if children spend a huge amount of time on tablets and ‘being connected’ to a device, as a balance of active, creative play and interacting with

others face to face is important,” argues owner of Jolly’s Toys, Charlotte Croser.

However, changes within the genetic make-up of traditional parenting and homestead, often means face to face interaction is not always achievable. So how is tech helping to bring families together?

Patrick Chiang, founder and CEO of Elfkins believes his firm is offering family members the chance to keep in touch, despite the strains of today’s working habits.

“We are enabling children and their families to connect more frequently when people are not together and doing it in a way that fits into how children engage naturally,” he explains.

“While technology has enabled some new play patterns, I believe the opportunity is really in how it enhances traditional ones. For us, it is more important to focus on the action it enables than the way it enables it.”

Of course, with advances in technology being discovered almost daily, surely there is an argument here not to dress tech toys

in the cloaks of child development and education too much?

Can tech and toys both be embraced for exactly what they are, a bit of fun?

The toys-to-life movement has done this staggeringly well to date. A marketplace kickstarted back in 2013 with the launch of Activision’s Skylanders, it has become a sector that, as of 2016, is worth €4.98 billion (iDate).

With a wealth of new and major players in the space, including Nintendo with Amiibo, LEGO Dimensions, Ubisoft’s recent E3 launch Starlink: Battle for Atlas and Tomy’s own Lightseekers, the market is now expected to double by 2020.

While the developmental benefits of toys-to-life are yet to be uncovered, recent launches in the space from Ubisoft, Tomy and LEGO have observed the medium of play taking huge steps forwards in its synergy between videogames and toys.

Couple this with the growing calls for VR, AR and MR and we could just be on the brink of a new dawn for tech-driven toys.

July 2017 | toy news | 27

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Mind Candy

The comeback

KINGS

It was only a few months ago that the London start-up, Mind Candy looked to be on the ropes. But with a renewed faith from investors, a new digital strategy and new mobile title, Moshi Monsters Egg Hunt, the firm could be on the cusp of the turnaround of the decade. Robert Hutchins talks to Mind Candy CEO, Ian Chambers

28 | toy news | July 2017

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Mind Candy

"We want to create a world that we believe kids will fall in love with."

Ian Chambers, Mind Candy

I

t may have been years in the making, but Moshi Monsters has made the move to mobile. It’s an initiative that – in concordance with the seismic shift in the way kids engage with entertainment today – is filled with the potential to put the one-time leading UK children’s property back on the map.

It’s no secret that Moshi Monsters creators, Mind Candy, has had quite the rough ride in recent history. Once the talk of the playground, Moshi Monsters didn’t

just occupy the web space, it appeared to command it.

An online digital children’s game, Moshi Monsters hit the big time in the licensing space, expanding into books, clothes and, of course, toys and collectables. Created by the media’s golden-child, Michael Acton-Smith, this was Mind Candy’s flagship.

Children across the globe demanded a piece of Moshi Monsters, and the world’s journalists each wanted a piece of Acton-Smith.

July 2017 | toy news | 29

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Mind Candy

But its meteoric rise to fame didn’t safeguard it from the treacherous line children’s IP can all too often walk. In what seemed like quick succession, both toy sales and online user numbers fell and Mind Candy found itself paddling to keep its head above the water.

12 months after an extensive executive reshuffle that saw video games man Ian Chambers take up the mantle as CEO, having come from Ubisoft, IGN and GAME, Mind Candy is ready to take the spotlight once more with Moshi Monsters Egg Hunt.

“We are excited to be bringing Moshi Monsters to a whole new generation of kids via the Moshi Monsters Egg Hunt game.

We have taken key elements of the Moshi Monsters web game and developed the relationship further by adding elements of personalisation,” Chambers tells ToyNews.

Let’s not forget, while numbers may have dropped, Mind Candy still sees 250,000 kids engaging with and playing with Moshi Monsters via its web platform each month.

“With Moshi Monsters Egg Hunt, kids can adopt, name and customise a Moshling created just for them and share it with their friends via physical trading cards.

“The platform we have created gives us the opportunity to do things at retail that were not possible before. We are already in conversations with key partners.”

Speculation has been made over whether Moshi Monster’s delayed move to mobile gaming is the root cause of the issues it suffered in the past. However, having shot to the number one spot in the kids’ six to eight category on app stores at launch, the firm now appears to have this sewn up.

“Mobile is the natural platform for us to create new relationships with the Moshi world, as part of a wider cross-channel strategy. Our goal is to create an environment in which creativity meets tech, that kids will love and parents will trust.”

Combining the digital with the physical, Egg Hunt also launches with a vast collection of trading cards, each accounting for every piece of content and character within the game.

“Each card has a scratch panel at the back, and you can either scratch or swap.

You can then use the code behind the panel and the item will appear in their game.”

You’d be quick to admit, Chambers paints an exciting picture on how the

property will work at retail, with some innovative ideas on monetising digital engagement in a new way.

"With Egg Hunt, the sky is the limit."

Ian Chambers, Mind Candy

“We focus on the audience and how we believe they want to engage with our worlds, looking for ways to enhance their experience,” Chambers adds.

“Games remain a core focus of the business, but only as part of a wider entertainment strategy. Meanwhile, characters, story, sharing and collecting are at the heart of the Moshi Monsters world, so we will be looking at building new licensing relationships as the audience for Egg Hunt continues to grow.”

By the way, that audience looks like 600,000 Egg Hunt downloads within its

first week of launch. And tapping into a heritage that still sees 250,000 users via its Moshi Monsters web platform and one that has seen more than 100 million Moshi Monsters adopted to date, Egg Hunt offers some exciting prospects to the consumer products market.

“Our continuing goal is to create worlds that fuel the imagination and Moshi Monsters Egg Hunt is a key part of this. For us, and in the consumer products market, the sky is the limit,” Chambers explains.

What this will eventually span remains to be seen. Whether Egg Hunt will kickstart a revival for the Moshi Monsters brand is a question only time will answer. But with more innovation waiting in the wings from the firm, including whispers of a Moshi Monsters subscription box service, it would appear Mind Candy is back on the scene.

“Ultimately we want to create a world that we believe kids will fall in love with. As tech becomes more accessible, we are looking at new ways to engage audiences and bring them in to the magical world of Moshi.

After all, who wouldn’t want to adopt a pet monster?”

30 | toy news | July 2017

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Euromonitor Research

Rise of the robots Mobile gaming is on the warpath, but does it pose a threat to the toy industry?

Not yet, says Euromonitor’s research analyst, Filip Hoffmann-Häußler, but only if the market can keep up with advancing technology

T

he rapid development of technology is having a strong impact on toys. Consumers have not only changed the way they shop, but also the way they play.

Technology may pose a threat to traditional toys and games, with the rise of mobile gaming potentially eroding toy sales. But this isn’t a doom and gloom piece, far from it.

There are also huge opportunities for toy products coming from a demand from a growing clutch of techsavvy consumers.

Tech heads demand new solutions In 2017, the penetration of smartphones in UK households reached 178 per cent, up from 123 per cent in 2012, with a considerable number of consumers still owning feature phones with limited functionality.

Annual volume sales of smartphones in Western Europe in the same time period grew by 413 per cent and reached total sales of 136 million in 2017.

High ownership of smartphones has led to major changes in distribution channels. Mobile devices allow customers to purchase items on the go. Retailers and manufacturers alike have launched online stores in response to consumers’ call for more convenience and greater flexibility.

In Western Europe, 19 per cent of traditional toy value sales were generated online in 2016, up from 11 per cent in 2011.

Besides retailers, technology continues to have a strong impact on manufacturers of traditional toys, too. In order to stay competitive in an everchanging and highly demanding market environment, manufacturers have to keep up with the times by constantly reinventing and innovating their products.

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Euromonitor Research

Comparative % Value Forecast Growth Performance in Western Europe

% Household Penetration of Mobile Devices in the UK

There has recently been a transition to STREAM toys, adding robotic features to the core principles.

SmratGutz is an example of doing this well. A line of coding robots debuting in the US this year, it is primarily targeted ay young girls.

Here we see technology used as the enabler of a new form of learning. The robots can be programmed, using an accompanying app.

This interaction between traditional toys and mobile devices has started to gain ground and can be expected to be of increasingly high importance for the traditional toys industry as it moves forward and continues to innovate in the tech space.

Tech may pose a threat to traditional toys, but this isn't a doom and gloom piece. Far from it. The opportunities are vast."

Filip Hoffmann-Häußler, Euromonitor

The increasing household penetration of smartphones and tablets has led to consumers of all age groups getting involved in mobile gaming. Value sales of mobile games have skyrocketed within Western European countries, following the strong increase in the penetration of smartphones and tablets.

This led to mobile games witnessing current value growth of 153 per cent over the 2012 to 2016 period.

Transforming the way we play Children are getting involved with technology at an increasingly young age. More than ever before, manufacturers of traditional toys are facing the challenge of drawing a link between traditional gaming and technology to appeal to an audience of increasingly tech-savvy youngsters.

Many electronic toys are positioned within the educational/scientific sphere, teaching children how to programme and understand the technology itself.

Educational and scientific toys are often referred to as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) toys. Designed to increase knowledge of certain areas of science, they help prepare children for school or a career in these areas or business sectors.

Euromonitor International forecasts that scientific/ educational toys will witness value growth of 23 per cent in Western European countries over 2016 to 2021. This gives it the most dynamic forecast growth projection within traditional toys.

Looking at the UK, scientific/educational and pre-school toys with technological features already accounted for 54 per cent and 60 per cent of value sales of the respective categories in 2016.

Carving a new future The impact of tech on the way we play is likely to grow. With the recent emergence of AR/VR headsets, traditional toy manufacturers are likely to start incorporating virtual and augmented reality technology into their new product innovations.

Mattel already launched a VR headset device, and the developer of the SmartGurlz line is working on an augmented reality feature to add to the gaming experience it currently boasts.

43 million AR/VR headset units are projected to be sold in Western Europe by 2021; a strong indicator of where the industry is heading.

With more technological advancement in all areas of life, technology will feature in all aspects of children’s playing routines, opening up new possibilities for manufacturers and consumers alike.

Euromonitor International is the world’s leading independent provider of strategic market research. The firm creates data and analysis on thousands of products and services around the world. Euromonitor’s Passport database provides insight on industries, economies and consumers worldwide, helping clients analyse market context and identify future trends impacting businesses globally. For more on Euromonitor and Passport, head to http://www.euromonitor.com/

July 2017 | toy news | 35

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Generation Media

IRISH SCENE Ellie Start "Subscription TV is far more common in ROI than the UK, meaning channels hold 89 per cent share of kids' commercial impacts vs. UK's 66 per cent."

Source: BARB 2017

T

he UK children’s BARB universe has recently cleared a new high, with the panel now representative of 9,014,000 children that toy advertisers can reach through commercial TV. In the Republic of Ireland, the children’s universe stands at 746,000 – around eight per cent of the size of the UK market.

We estimate that around 16 per cent of transmissions from the UK are received as ‘overspill’ in ROI, and if we assume that half of these households receiving these transmissions have children in them, this means limiting your reach to around 60,000 children in ROI by focusing all TV budgets in the UK. It is therefore critical to consider how we can ensure the remaining 686,000 children are not missing your brand message.

Reaching children in ROI on TV, however, is not necessarily as straightforward as in the UK. Comparatively, there are 15 dedicated kids’ commercial channels (in addition to Milkshake and ITVB dayparts on CH5 and ITV1) in the UK, whereas there are just four kids commercial stations in Ireland – INJR, INick, INJRToo and INickToons. In addition, the largest kids’ station, RTEJr is non-commercial.

The good news for advertisers however, is that subscription television is far more common in ROI than in the UK, with a much greater reach, with over half of homes are estimated to have Sky Ireland or Soarsat television services set up in their homes.

As a result of these high subscription levels, these channels hold around 89 per cent share of kids’ commercial impacts – comparably in the UK, the subscription channels hold around 66 per cent share.

The remaining share is held by kids’ dayparts on freeto-air ‘grown up’ TV channels on Soarview (the ROI freeview equivalent) on RTE2 and the recent addition BE3 (previously TV3), which have a ten per cent and one per cent share of children’s commercial impacts, respectively.

INJR and INick currently are the largest channels within the space, both holding around 30 per cent share each, ensuring reach of both older and younger children children.

However, INick looks well placed to soon overtake INjr, as the largest channel in the market..

BE3 has also demonstrated impressive growth in 2017 with its 7am to 10am pre-school segment currently up 47 per cent year-on-year.

It is one to watch in regards to providing free-to-air reach on media plans in light of the declines seen on INjr this year.

There isn’t a set rule for how much budget should be allocated to ROI vs. the UK, and this will ultimatley vary based on your commitments to ROI retailers such as Smyths Toys.

It is however, worth apportioning media spend to this area to ensure you are not missing an incremental 716,000 potential customers and their families.

ToyNews PlayTime is provided by Generation Media 0207 307 7900 | www.generationmedia.co.uk

July 2017 | toy news | 35

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Featuring

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Campaign of the month

Hatchimals Colleggtibles The nation’s favourite collectable craze is back with a new spin supported by a strong advertising push including an on-trend influencer campaign

S

pin Master is back with the newest addition to the award-winning Hatchimals line. Like their predecessors, Hatchimals Colleggtibles shells are made from the same special patented material and require the care and nurturing of a child to hatch.

The shell’s bright, colourful speckles indicate which of the 13 families the Hatchimal inside belongs to, giving kids a tiny glimpse of who their new friend may be and letting them decide whether to keep or trade their Hatchimals Colleggtible even before hatching.

Once the child is ready to hatch their egg, they gently rub the heart in the middle and it is ready to spring to life.

Starting with a teaser television campaign for fans, which ran ahead of the in-store date, Hatchimals Colleggtibles enjoyed initial TV burst runs until the end of June, in addition to a three-week cinema campaign through Kids Club Cinema, during May.

Working once again with Tiana from Toys AndMe, who had teased about the launch of Colleggtibles from her visit to New York Toy Fair – the UK launch campaign focused on in-store meet and greets on May Day. Views of Hatchimals Colleggtibles through the Toys AndMe channel have now reached in excess of five million.

“Hatchimals enjoyed TV burst runs until the end of June, in addition to a cinema campaign through Kids Club Cinema.”

Spin Master also linked up with over 50 bloggers from the BlogOn Blogger network who were given samples and invited to create review Vlogs and blogs and also joined

in a Twitter Party at tea time on the launch day, which saw #HatchimalsColleggtibles trending during the hour-long session.

The YouTube activities around the launch delivered way in excess of the original targets with one particular element outperforming by more than 1,000 per cent.

Press and media were given a sneak peek during the New York Toy Fair in February, which started to build early excitement for the new range via media and influencers.

A UK press and media launch campaign was then implemented resulting in TV and national press coverage including ITV’s This Morning, The Mirror, Sun Online and Huffington Post, plus targeted activities pages have been secured in key girls' titles.

“We are absolutely delighted with the initial response, and we’re thrilled to share this new, magical world with children everywhere,” commented Spin Master’s Charlotte Yates. “We will continue to bring these characters to life in new and imaginitive ways.”

July 2017 | toy news | 37

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Toy Shop UK

THE BIG DEBATE

Open all hours DUNCAN CONNER Owner, Bus Stop Toy Shop

“We're open late every night except on Wednesdays and we run in-store gaming events in the evenings,”

WENDY HAMILTON Owner, Grasshopper Toys

“Instead of opening all hours for diminishing return after a normal trading day, we should focus on providing a cracking 24/7 online service to support our shop's normal opening hours.”

DAVID GROUNSELL Owner, Dave's Classic Toys

“Costs of opening out of hours far outway the fact that some people think we are there for their convenience. If customers are really interested in what you sell they will find time to get to the shop.”

This month, Jade Burke asks the ToyShop UK listing whether changing opening hours from the normal nine to five is a viable alternative for independents

P

opping down to the High Street to visit the local store to pick up amenities is a luxury some consumers do not have nowadays.

More and more, people are finding it difficult to visit their High Street within the constraints of traditional opening hours.

It can be no surprise then, that consumers are seeking out online retailers and supermarkets that are open all hours.

It begs the question, would it not be more beneficial for toyshops to open either earlier or later in order to cater to today's

consumer, those who are unable to squeeze it all in between nine and five?

The appetite is most certainly there, as supermarkets continue to roll out and increase their toy offerings, while platforms such as Amazon or eBay see peaks in online activity during the out-of-work hours. It seems remiss of the toy retailer to ignore it.

“We are open late every night except on Wednesdays and we also run in-store gaming events in the evenings,” Duncan Conner, owner of the Bus Stop Toy Shop, tells ToyNews.

38 | toy news | July 2017

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Toy Shop UK

“Whereas it's often not worth the bother of being open on week day mornings.

Evenings are an essential part of our business.”

The concept of nine to five opening hours is a flawed one. And while anyone who has spent time working within retail can attest to the peaks and troughs of the average day, perhaps shifting time patterns can help ensure retailers are optimising their efforts during hours of heightened High Street activity?

“I run my business on my own and I've been opening on Sundays, but seven days a week was getting quite enough for me. If I could afford the staff and the utility bills, I would be open from 8am to 9pm,” states Darths Hutt’s owner, Mitch Brown.

However, Mimi Gorman, owner of The

Cheshire Cat, disagrees.

“I think it would make no difference to anything other than retail operating costs,” she laments.

The additional costs of opening at different hours has also proved to be a bugbear for many retailers, for example opening later may mean more staff costs, while utility bills for electricity and gas could increase, which could undo the plans for any profit-making by store owners.

David Grounsell from Dave's Classic Toys, concurs: “Costs of opening out of hours far outway the fact that some people think we are there for their convenience. If customers are really interested in what you sell they will find time to get to the shop.”

The beauty of being an independent means owners can offer bespoke services, from local delivery options to click and collect, which will help to cater for those consumers who are unable to shop in-store.

Alongside this, offering a complete 24hour service online also helps to ensure independent stores are accommodating every consumer.

Wendy Hamilton, of Helensburgh’s Grasshopper Toys, agrees: “Instead of opening all hours for diminishing return after a normal trading day, we should focus on providing a cracking 24/7 online service to support our shop's normal hours.”

Jollys Toys' owner, Charlotte Croser, also believes this to be true. “An essential offering we have is our online service and in-store collection which local customers use regularly,” continues Croser.

High Street competition is unavoidable, as grocers infiltrate the scene and onlines continue to crop up. Today's indies need to be heard, whether that's via a thorough online presence or altering opening hours.

“Customers are the life blood of any business, we have to adapt to the lifestyles they have now,” concludes Julian Shelford, owner of the Final Frontier.

CHARLOTTE CROSER, Owner, Jollys Toys

“An essential offering we have is our online service and in-store collection which all of our local customers use regularly.”

Toy Shop UK is a consumer-led, online directory that helps toy suppliers, retailers and licence holders promote their businesses to an audience of up to 10,000 unique visitors per day.

Popular weekly giveaways, the esteemed Independent Toy Awards and special supplier listings are just three of the ways that Toy Shop UK can help you increase your online presence and complement your other marketing activities this year.

Contact: Michael Hawkins michael@toyshopuk.co.uk 07786 295756 for more information. www.toyshopuk.co.uk follow us @toyshopuk

July 2017 | toy news | 39

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Š Disney

Call us on: 08453 070707

Browse the full range at rubiesuk.com/beauty-beast

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DRESS UP | CONSTRUCTION | DRONES | TECH TOYS

DRESSED TO IMPRESS With so many costumes on the market, it's easy to see why kids would be eager to step into the shoes of their favourite heroes. Here, Jack Ridsdale, takes a look at some of the biggest names in this sector

The superhero space has never been bigger and more diverse, which has only been boosted by the release of summer superhero adventure, Wonder Woman. The film has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, inspiring young girls everywhere to step in to the world of superheroes. While there have been a couple of half-hearted attempts at a female superhero movie (the misguided Catwoman and Elektra movies spring to mind), Wonder Woman marks the first time the film has been met with widespread praise, opening the door to licensing opportunities galore.

Location: Milton Keynes

Meanwhile, Minions are back once again to delight children everywhere with Despicable Me 3, which sees the return of Steve Carrellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s villain with a heart of gold, Gru. With the return of this blockbuster franchise comes a new slate of dress-up and role play items to delight the youngsters.

Elsewhere, Transformers returns to our screens, which is sure to capture kids' imaginations everywhere.

With so much exciting activity in the world of entertainment, there has never been a better time to bring the world of costumes and role-play to retail.

Amscan 01908 288 500 - sales@amscan-uk.co.uk

Amscanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s costume collection contains a vast array of dress-up and accessory kits featuring the latest trends and themes. For tiny tots there is a collection of baby costumes such as Waddles the Penguin, Junior Giraffe and Elephant Sweetie.

Continuing the animal theme, Amscan has also launched a variety of all-in-one zipster costumes for children this year which make great unisex outfits for any occasion.

In addition to the wide variety of costumes there is a great choice of role-play sets from career themes such as doctors, fire fighters and builders, to adventure and historical themes such as explorers and knights.

In the licensed character stakes, Amscan boasts Disney lines while further boosting its offering is its range of DreamWorks Trolls costumes including girls and teens Poppy styles and a Branch style for boys. What more could you ask for?

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Product Guide

Location: Oxfordshire

Rubies 08453 070707 - sales@rubiesuk.com

Rubie’s catalogue of movie-related licensed dress-up has seen great new additions recently in the form of new look Transformers and Spider-man costume ranges from Transformers: The Last Knight and Spider-man: Homecoming, while the recent success of DC Comics’ Wonder Woman movie has kept everyone’s favourite Amazonian Princess at the top of the musthave costumes for the summer. There’ll be plenty more great new costume ranges unveiled in Rubie’s Upcoming Additions Catalogue due out at the start of August; here’s a sneaky peek at what’s in store.

New for Autumn/Winter will be exciting new DC Comics-licensed Justice League and Marvel-licensed Thor: Ragnarok costume ranges to add to Rubie’s extensive Super Hero portfolio while for kids parties, Rubie’s innovative new ‘Party Packs’ put together a variety of 36 costumes in a CDU perfect for themed kids’ parties. New ranges will include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol to add to Rubie’s existing Marvel, DC Comics and Disney Princess party packs already available. Look out for a new Cars 3 race suit to tie into the upcoming Disney/ Pixar animation, a new range of Disney Princess dresses and of course, with excitement building for the new Star Wars, look out for plenty of great new costumes for the second half of the year from the leaders in licensed dress-up.

Location: Bradford

Simba Smoby 01274 765030

A new pre-school character which kids can emulate with Simba toys is Wissper.

The new Role Play Panpipe gives girls power to arrive in a new magic world, all they need to do is blow on the pipe and listen for the magical Wissper music. Also not to be missed is the Wissper Bag Set, which comes with friendship bracelets and an all-important compass accessory.

Bob the Builder fans can get to work building with an awesome existing range of role play and dress up options such as the Mechanical Drill, DIY Toolbest and 3 in 1 Multi Tool which comes with a drill, jigsaw and power sander and the Bob the Builder Dress Up Set which has a helmet, work jacket, spanner and smartphone just like Bob’s.

Featured product

Disney-Pixar's Cars 3 Race Suit

Featured product

Manufacturer: Rubies

Manufacturer: Simba Smoby

Bob the Builder Mechanical Drill

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Product Guide

Location: Milton Keynes

Funrise 01908 555640

JAMES R DIXON Commercial Director UK & Ireland

The Funrise portfolio has expanded for 2017 to include a brand new, whimsical property that is sure to be a hit; welcome to the world of Luna Petunia!

As master toy licensee for the new Netflix series Luna Petunia, Funrise has created a toy line that brings the world of Luna and her friends to life as they embark on adventures throughout the magical world of Amazia.

Within the range is the Sparkle Gem Necklace, a replica of the necklace Luna Petunia wears throughout the show. This role-play accessory comes complete with lights as well as magical sounds from the show. Displayed in a CDU and priced at £9.99, the Sparkle Gem Necklace makes the perfect impulse buy for little ones.

Funrise will be launching the Luna Petunia range with a full marketing campaign that is to include TV, digital, and parental support.

Featured product

Location: Nottingham

Pretend to Bee (GSC) 0115 984 7838 - hello@pretendtobee.co.uk

Sparkle Gem Necklace

Manufacturer: Funrise Cost: £9.99

KATE SKITT, Sales Manager

Pretend to Bee continues to develop its ranges with the end consumer in mind, listening to feedback from customers from across the UK. Summer will see the launch of the Pretend to Bee and Me collection: a range of doll costumes that sit perfectly alongside the company’s existing offering.

The brand new range of costumes are perfect miniatures of some of the most popular dress-up items from the Pretend to Bee portfolio. As well as extending the role-playing possibilities even further, the new range gives children the opportunity to create a whole new wardrobe for their favourite toy. The initial collection will include Nurse, Fire-fighter, Knight, Princess, Fairy and Robin Hood, among other children’s favourites.

“We always get such amazing feedback on the quality of our ranges and we wanted to replicate this attention to detail into our new dolls collection,” said Harrison Palmer, sales & marketing director at Pretend to Bee. Featured product

Knight and Queen Elizabeth constumes Manufacturer: Pretend to Bee Cost: £18.95 each 44 | toy news | July 2017

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Location: Lancashire

HTI 01253 775544 - Sales@htigroup.co.uk

From character shaped role-play cases, styling and cooking role-play toys to dolls prams and musical play, HTI provides some of the biggest licensed brands, taking inspiration from real life to encourage imaginative play.

With a selection of high profile character brands across several international territories, HTI offers character shaped cases featuring the likes of Spiderman, Avengers (Captain America and Iron Man), Disney Princess Belle, Despicable Me and Peppa Pig, as well as Thomas & Friends.

Each case contains toys relevant to each character with which children can enjoy hours of role-play fun. All accessories pack away neatly into the case for tidy away play.

Location: Northampton

Click Distribution 01604 438 147 Sophie@clickdistributionuk.com

SOPHIE HOGG

Click is set to release its new and exclusive range of licensed fashion accessories at the end of July, which includes Despicable Me 3, Paw Patrol, Shimmer & Shine and Trolls.

With the Summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most anticipated animation, Despicable Me 3, out in cinemas now, the new collection presents a fantastic selection of dress-up and role-play products including sleep masks, accessory sets, goggles plus much more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; perfect for Minions fans who want to look and feel like their favourite characters from the new movie.

This extensive selection of products spans across all licenses including fake hair alice bands, jewellery sets, hair pieces and more, enabling girls and boys of all ages to collect and wear the most popular character accessories from their favourite animations.

Click is also excited to bring its full range of high-quality products to stores across the country this month and believe the licenses they have signed represent a strong portfolio moving forward.

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Product Guide

Location: Bishops Stortford

Qualatex chris.smalley@qualatex.com, 01279 501 090

CHRIS SMALLEY, Business Development Manager

Finally, no kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dress-up party would be complete without top-notch partywear, and you can count on Qualatex to offer all of the biggest licensed properties.

The firm offers an extensive collection of licensed balloons and partyware, and is welcoming two new partyware lines in time for this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot film releases.

New Disney Pixar Cars 3 partyware could be racing to your store soon! To coincide with the launch of Cars 3, Pioneer Europe Ltd. is delighted to offer a full partyware range which includes cups, plates, napkins, table covers, banners and invitations. Combine with Qualatex Cars balloons for a winning formula for sales.

Pioneer is also pleased to bring brand new Marvel Spider-Man partyware and balloons to retail to coincide with the next movie in the Spider-Man franchise, Spider-Man Homecoming, which will be released in UK cinemas on July 7th.

Featured product

Spider-man Homecoming partyware Manufacturer: Qualatex/Pioneer

New for AW17!

We are excited to launch our Matching Dolls Costumes Now you and your favourite doll can play Dress Up together

For more information: support@pretendtobee.com pretendtobehalf_V2.indd 1

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DRESS-UP | CONSTRUSTION | DRONES | TECH TOYS

BRICK BY BRICK

Last year saw the global construction toys market grow by 7.8 per cent, holding the largest share of the traditional toys and games market at $10 billion. It’s little wonder then that this sector has some exciting new developments ahead. Robert Hutchins explores…

Location: Maidenhead

Mattel 01628 500 000

Mega Bloks remains the number two manufacturer within the Junior Building category, with the help of a burgeoning portfolio featuring the likes of Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends, Despicable Me and Halo.

Part of the Fisher-Price family, the impressive pre-school range includes the popular Building Bag 60 Piece Assortment and Build n’ Learn Bag Assortment, featuring Learn My Colours Bag and 123 Count Bag. Products also include the ABC Learning Train, Build n’ Learn Table, Find My Shape Bag, Lil Vehicles Assortment and the new Elephant Parade.

Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends is now available in maxi-bricks, suitable for children aged one and upwards. The range includes the Buildable Engine and Sights of Sodor Assortments, including Thomas at the Mill and Percy at the Farm.

Following the success of the films, Mega Bloks Construx continues the Despicable Me range, which features the Blind Packs Series, Fun Pack, Booster Pack and more.

Also part of the Construx range is the Halo range, including the Micro Action Figure, Customiser and Fireteam Assortments, Banished Ghost and Covenant Wrath.

New for autumn/winter is the Deluxe Warthog and Wasp Attack.

Featured product: The ABC Learning Train Manufacturer: Fisher-Price

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Smart Toy and Games 01903 885 669

Smart Toys and Games is delighted to introduce GeoSmart, a line the firm has billed as the future of geomagnetic play.

The ideal STEM construction kit, GeoSmart promises children from five years old hours of fun, enjoying creative play, while learning at the same time. The whole range comprises of six different Geoshapes in nine striking colours. Each piece interlocks, meaning that the possibilities are endless.

This educational range offers unsurpassed safety, which, when added to the durable pieces that are easy to clean, means you have the perfect construction kit for limitless play.

The Solar Spinner set contains 23 pieces, including a spinner and by building 3D shapes, children will not only be developing their spatial insight, but nurturing their hand-eye co-ordination, too.

The flagship set, Mars Explorer contains 51 pieces and LED lights. Kids can control the Explorer with its two motors, a transmitter and included receiver.

Featured product: GeoSmart Mars Explorer Manufacturer: Smart Toys and Games

Location: Essex

PLAYMOBIL 01268 548 111

From walks on the wild side to catwalk struts, Playmobil has launched a swathe of new building sets for youngsters to enjoy.

The firm has released three new ranges to toy stores up and down the UK, including African Safari, Fashion Girls and additions to its Special Plus set.

The African Safari range sees children putting themselves in the shoes of a ranger as the set includes a variety of animals such as elephants, gazelles, leopards and a hippo.

Alongside this is the ranger station, ranger truck, safari plane and safari truck.

Meanwhile, the Fashion Girls range adds a bit of glitz and glam to the construction sector. The set includes a clutch bag shaped Take Along Fashion Boutique.

Other new releases for Playmobil this month include a raft of new additions to the Special Plus collectable range, featuring a dog walker, tooth fairy, boy with go-kart, ice hockey and more.

Featured product: Playmobil Ranger Station Manufacturer: Playmobil

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Product Guide Location: Hatfield

Jumbo Games 01707 260436

Jumbo is looking to make big moves in the construction toy space, starting with the GOULA wooden contruction range, designed to help develop manual skills and coordination, using eye-catching and engaging toys and playsets for young children to build and play with.

Each of the two packs contains bright geometric wooden shapes to help build handeye coordination, as well as allowing kids to learn about different geometrical shapes.

Meanwhile, the colourful, intricately crafted Toolbox and Multi Construction Sets let little ones play handyman whilst at the same time exploring their building and construction skills, using safe and playful toys.

Finally, the GOULA Screw In and Play range includes two box sets of fun and brightly coloured animal construction packs, where children can piece together recognisable zoo and farm animals.

Featured product: Screw in & Play Manufacturer: Goula

Location: Richmond

Juratoys 020 8878 2133

Juratoys continues to bolster the construction toy space with a series of products that are sure to catch the interest of little boys and girls everywhere.

At the top of this list is the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest launch, the new Janod Zigolas Giant Multicolor Train, an adorable pull-along toy with a quintessentially French design that will surely delight the pre-school crowd.

With its adorably simple design, the product offers a great way for kids to get involved in construction from a young age, as they enjoy the wobble-head rabbit, duck and chick. This toy is a great way to encourage children to develop their hand-eye-coordination and motor skills, as well as boosting their desire to get walking.

With its cute design and educational value, this toddler-friendly construction toy is a welcome addition to Juraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse range of pre-school products.

Featured product: Giant Multi-colour Train Manufacturer: Janod

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Product Guide Location: Hatfield

K’NEX 0118 925 3270

K’NEX STEM Exploration sets help kids to develop their skills as they play.

Youngsters can choose between Gears or Levers and Pulleys, while the Vehicles set has five experiments and seven different models.

K’NEX Super Mario Series 8 Mystery Bags are a great impulse buy at £2.99, timed with the launch of a new Super Mario iOS game, while the K’NEX Plants vs Zombies line will be refreshed with new mystery bags and sets.

K'NEX unveils its My Little Pony range this month, while Kid K’NEX will be available at retail for the first time ever.

K’NEX Building Tubs will be refreshed in July 2017, extending to kids aged over five for the first time ever. New additions include the Power and Play Motorised Tub and Imagination Makers Tub. A hit since its launch, the K’NEX K-FORCE range of buildable, customisable blasters will be refreshed in July 2017.

Featured product: Power & Play Motorised Tub Manufacturer: K'NEX

Location: London

Playmags sales@dressupamerica.co.uk

Children can enjoy creative play with Playmags’ building blocks, which boast magnets that attract on all sides.

The kit is designed to encourage kids to learn about geometric shapes, symmetry and basic math concepts.

By placing the pieces together on a flat surface, kids can make cubes with six squares, which can then be used as support to allow further pieces to be added to the design.

Playmags offers hours of fun for children to enjoy, and will see them design houses, airplanes, cars, fish and much more.

Featured product: Playmags building blocks Manufacturer: Playmags

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Tel: 01869 363800 sales@ravensburger.com

6/20/17 10:36

Product Guide Location: London

WowWee 0203 598 0272

DAN SUGRUE, JAZWARES

A new range under WowWee’s construction banner is Magnaflex, a creative construction kit that helps inspire kids of all ages to build anything they can imagine.

Having already been nominated for a Science Toy Award in the UK, the kits include flexible magnetic strips that easily bend, zip, connect, or stack together to create fun and colourful designs.

The connector pieces add structure to creations, and can also be used as decorative accents such as eyes, wheels, and more, plus kids can build 2D or 3D creations anywhere with this educational toy that promotes creativity, visualisation and fine motor skills.

An easy-to-follow instruction guide provides multiple project ideas, including a ‘how to’ build animals, race cars, beach balls, wearable crowns and more. When it is time to clean up, Magnaflex strips can be stacked together for easy storage and transport.

Supported by marketing and PR activity from launch, Magnaflex sets are available from £14.99 to £34.99rrp.

Featured product: Magnaflex Manufacturer: WowWee Cost: £14.99 - £34.99

Location: Bourne End

Meccano 01628 535 000

Bridging the gap between entertainment and educational growth and development, Spin Master’s STEM-based toys teach and motivate as they inspire the next generation of inventors.

Spin Master acquired Meccano in 2013, and as well as bringing it new life, it continues to develop its range of traditional building sets.

New for 2017 is the 25 Model 4X4 Off Road Racer set, encouraging youngsters to use their imagination to explore the world of real engineering. Build one of the 25 off-road motorised models, including a truck – then take it apart and build a different one.

This real working Off-Road Racer set comes with 443 parts, two ergonomic tools, 6V electrical motor and a nice set of easy-tofollow instructions.

Featured product: 25 Model 4x4 Off Road Racer Manufacturer: Meccano

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Product Guide Location: Northampton

DKL Marketing 01604 678 780

Already established globally, Plus-Plus will now be available in the UK and Ireland, courtesy of DKL Marketing Ltd. Plus-Plus Building System allows children of all ages to create models, mosaics and 3D designs in many colours, even curves can be made by this flexible system.

Appealing to boys and girls, Plus-Plus pieces come in many colours in two sizes.

Look out for the launch FSDU with best-selling lines and a play tray with play pieces included for in-store play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I saw this range in Nuremberg, I knew it would appeal to the UK market. The construction category needs a new player and I believe Plus-Plus fills this gap,â&#x20AC;? said David Allan, sales director at DKL. Featured product: 300 piece mini basic Manufacturer: Plus-Plus

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DRESS UP | CONSTRUCTION | DRONES | TECH TOYS

ATTACK

OF THE DRONES 56 | toy news | July 2017

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With products ranging from pocket-money prices to professional-grade camera equipment, drones have proved themselves far more than a fad, with a dedicated hobbyist fan-base as well as interest from kids and adults alike. Here, Jack Ridsdale immerses himself in the world of drones, to understand this ever-rising sector Ever since man emerged from the cave and laid eyes on birds, he has dreamt of flight. Today, that dream is accessible to children and adults through an innovative yet affordable device: the drone.

Originally a piece of military tech used primarily for surveillance, drones have now been adopted by general society, not only as a practical tool soon to be implemented by Amazon as a delivery method, but also as a hobbyist’s pastime. As the cameras equipped to drones became higher quality, filmmakers helped spur on the popularity of drones with beautifully filmed vistas, which soon led to the devices becoming the gadget of choice for youngsters everywhere, especially those spying a lucrative YouTube career. The relatively affordable drones even allow youngsters to put together incredibly professional looking films with ease.

“Drones are essentially a variation on R/C helicopters that have been popular for almost ten years now,” explains David Mordecai, CEO of retail chain Hawkin’s Bazaar. “They’re easier to fly and more stable than helicopters and then the popularity is boosted by the fact that these things are in the news.”

It was in 2016 that drones really began to hit the mainstream, with YouTubers including the likes of PewDiePie popularising drones among their audience. The exposure that drones gained from both their fun as a pastime and the numerous real-world practical applications has lead to them becoming something of a high-end craze among youngsters all around the world.

“I think there’s plenty more growth in drones yet,” continues Mordecai, “there’s a lot of technology still to come, and as that comes the products get cheaper and the high-end drones with state of the art technology will begin to filter into the everyday drones which will keep this trend going for some time.”

With numerous affordably priced drone models hitting the market, now is the perfect moment to capitalise on this trend. Read on for our rundown of the essential firms you’ll need to know to introduce drones to your audience.

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Location: Rochdale

Mondo jphilipharrison@gmail.com

SALES: PHILIP HARRISON

As the drone market evolves, so does UltraDrone, Mondo Motor's drone range is now in its third year in the UK market. Since its launch in 2015, UltraDrone has distinguished itself as one of the most complete toy drone ranges on the market, incorporating quadcopters of all sizes, ranging in SRP from £25 to £150; all joined by a unified style packaging and branding.

Having well established the base line on the market, Mondo is now expanding the line through different and unique items, designed to satisfy the needs of more experienced and demanding users under the Ultra Drone Black Series brand.

Items such as the unique Tornado depict exactly this type of item, for example by allowing the user to modify the camera angle while filming in mid air or avoiding nearby obstacles by use of its lateral sensors, always respecting the evolving requirements and legislation of quadcopter's specifications.

This is the essence of UltraDrone, an innovative range in a constantly evolving market.

Location: Gatwick

Alpha 01293 804599

SALES: MARK HYNDMAN

Alpha Animation and Toys brings an exciting new drone collection called Drone Force, the first line of R/C drones designed specifically for the younger flight enthusiasts, aimed at ages six plus.

The core DNA of these creature-inspired drones is a durable, ‘exoskeleton’ cage for maximum crash protection, they all feature easy-to-use controllers with intuitive buttons and levers, as well as auto, one touch take-off and landing for the beginner flyer.

This unique collection consists of five lines ranging from SRP £29.99. The Stinger, the alien drone, is perfect for indoor flying, with its lightweight and safe design. Arachno Fury, the spider that flies. This drone flips, dips and dive bombs and is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use with a range of up to 150’ RF. Key highlights of the collection include Raptor Strike, a distinctive drone that is capable of dual missile fire and can launch missiles in flight using its infrared targeting; and the incredible Angler Attack which features breathing and flash lighting luminescent LED and glow effects, lighting up the sky in flight, creating an amazing appearance when flown in low light.

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Product Guide

Location: Portsmouth

Bladez Toyz 02392 658259 - keiran@bladeztoyz.co.uk

SALES: KEIRAN PEOPLES

Hot Wheels fans will be introduced to a unique play pattern to extend youngsters’ interest in cars and enhance their driving skills, with the launch of Hot Wheels RC Bladez Drone Racerz this September.

Aimed at eight year olds and above, the Drone and Vehicle Set offers three-in-one play with everything they will need to fly, connect and drive while racing their friends in epic challenges. The packaging also includes a cut out racing gate and ramp for more drone racing fun.

Bladez is also expanding the Hot Wheels drone offering this autumn with the launch of a 14cm Stingray drone featuring top grade technology with altitude control, auto take off and land and headless function.

Drone Racerz will be supported by a TV, cinema and digital campaign starting in September along with consumer press and live event activity. A slim-line FSDU is also available for retailers looking for an even more impactful display solution.

Syma info@symatoys.com

In 2017, top-tier drone manufacturer Syma will be introducing the X5UW FPV Real Time 720P Wi-Fi, the latest addition to Syma’s popular X5 line of mini quadcopters.

This new model features the most advanced Wi-Fi FPV camera that any X5 has seen to date, not only does it feature HD 720P video and a much better image sensor, it also has a completely new body with a twist-tolock design.

Syma has also released a new app called Syma GO that features both drone and camera control. It is very similar to the earlier Syma FPV app but with some newly added features. For a start, there is the transmitter emulator, which allows users to pilot the drone using two virtual controller sticks — not the best way to fly your drone but can come in handy if your transmitter is not around or is out of battery.

Elsewhere, Syma’s range of mid-tier drones offer a reliable and expertly-crafted flight experience for beginners to drone veterans.

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UK Office: LOCK 50 Business Centre Oldham Road - Rochdale OL16 5RD - UK Tel. +44 (01706) 75 11 55 - e-mail: sales@mondo-uk.com www.mondomotors.org

6/19/17 12:13

Product Guide

Toy State 0781 349 1000- sales@toystate.com

SALES: BRIAN MACKINNON

Innovator of licensed and highly-styled 'lights and sound' and R/C vehicles, Toy State, has partnered with the Drone Racing League as an official sponsor of the thrilling high-speed competitive sport.

Drone racing will be centre stage in June when Season Two of DRL’s Allianz World Championships airs on ESPN and other networks around the world. Drone racing, where skilled pilots push the limits of physics by flying high-performance drones, built for speed, agility and competition, through exhilarating courses at breathtaking speeds of up to 100 mph, is one of the world’s hottest new pro sports.

In addition to being an official DRL sponsor, Toy State has teamed up with the League to deliver an exciting line of Nikko Air DRL racing drones – the first and only co-branded drones designed expressly for consumers.

Featuring superior quality and innovation for every skill level, Toy State’s new racing drone models deliver the ultimate drone racing experience, leveraging elite drone racing technology, developed by drone racers, and designed for future pilots.

Coming in for a landing at retail this fall are: Nikko Air Race Vision 220 FPV Pro. This first person view (FPV) model puts the latest technology used by professional drone racers in the hands of future pilots.

Operating on the same 5.8GHz analog frequency as the professional DRL drones for real-time flying without lag time, this high-flying racing drone enables pilots to see real-time video transmissions of their flight path without delay or interruption.

Red5 01306 646 639

SALES: SAM KRAFTMAN

2017 is a huge year of drone innovation for the Red5 range. At the entry price point, the firm has just launched the world’s first 2.4 Ghz motion controlled drone, using hand gestures to move the drone around with take-off and 360-degree flips all controlled with the click of a button.

Despite the competitive £39.99 RRP, the Drone doesn’t shirk on specification with a six axis gyro making it easy to control and fast USB charging for optimum fling time.

Continuing the theme of fun, The Red 5 Battle Drones at an RRP of £79.99 for a set of two drones, allow mid-air combat at a range of up to 20m.

The Drones can be launched by throwing, have built in flex blades for durability and have six axis gyros and an auto-stabilise function to help you lock on to your target with ease.

Finally, watch this space for the new pocket Selfie Drones, which are currently being developed under patents in China with the entry model launching at £79.99 with a more sophisticated model that locks onto users and follows them around, is planned to launch for A/W 2017 at a fraction of the cost of current GPS operated models.

62 | toy news | July 2017

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month* ry e v e rs o it is v e 28,000 uniqu l Reaching over executives y tr s u d in 0 0 ,0 2 2 emails to over y il a d d te e rg a T l ion that matters in p o d n a is s ly a e news, an l First with all th try every day s u d in e th g in rt l Suppo *according to

Find out how licensing.biz can boost your brand editorial: Rob Hutchins:

rhutchins@nbmedia.com

sales: Jodie Holdway:

jholdway@nbmedia.com

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6/21/17 11:22

Coming September 2017 Anki.com

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6/19/17 12:08

DRESS-UP | CONSTRUSTION | DRONES | TECH TOYS

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Tech toys are now more common than ever in every child’s toy box, making this burgeoning sector an opportunity not to be missed. Jade Burke highlights the latest innovations from robots and smart board games to wearable tech Location: Abingdon, Oxfordshire

VTech 01235 546 838

SUZIE MILLS, SENIOR BRAND MANAGER

Launching this August with a supported TV plan and digital activity, Kidizoom Flix is a new, friendly and fun alien friend who can detect faces and give funny alien responses. Kids can also enjoy customising their Kidizoom Flix by changing its eyes or background colours to make its appearance unique or use the detachable flexible tripod to attach it anywhere.

Kidizoom Flix boasts a camera with a rotating lens to capture pictures and videos and comes packed with lots of other interactive features and games. Set Kidizoom Flix to Guard Mode, where it will act as a detective when it notices movement, signalling to intruders that it will start capturing photos or videos as evidence.

2017 will see the Kidizoom Action Cam get even better with the new 180-degree rotating lens that will give a greater variety of action shots and videos, while still retaining the fun features such as the slow and high speed recording and photo burst modes. The new Action Cam 180-degree will still come with all the same accessories, including various mounts and the waterproof case.

Amalgamating the huge success of VTech’s cameras and watches with the biggest property in the UK in 2016 (NOD EPoS retail Tracking), the new Star Wars licensed products are set to be top sellers this year.

The product designs of the Star Wars Camera Watches include features such as Star Wars mini games, signature sound effects and Star Wars-themed 3D style clock faces. Fans can also add themed effects to the photos and videos that are captured.

Using the chunky grips, it’s easy to take photos or videos with the Stormtrooper camera and add Star Wars effects, stamps or frames. Play one of many interactive, augmented reality games such as Fighter Battle, where imperial ships appear on the screen, ready to be shot down.

July 2017 | toy news | 65

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Product Guide Location: Islington, London

DAN SUGRUE, UK SALES DIRECTOR

WOWWEE 0203 598 0272

Fingerlings Baby Monkeys love hanging onto fingers and know when they’re being touched, spoken to and even hung upside down. These primate pets come to life with 40 ways to play and 50 sounds to let users know how they are feeling.

CHiPPiES are a pack of playful, interactive, R/C puppies that love to show off their many tricks. Pet their heads for different reactions including sniffs, barks, puppy kisses, and even a sneeze. Kids can use the remote control to make CHiPPiES dance, sing, chase its tail, or tell it which way to roll.

WowWee’s CHiPPiES can also explore each room on their own, or guard it from intruders using their sensors; they’ll even sing together as a pack. Smaller in size than the original CHiP robot dog, CHiPPiES feature bright LED eyes, posable hind legs, along with playful sounds and animations.

Elsewhere, Minion Mip Turbo Dave responds to hand gestures and can even navigate rooms. Download the Minion Mip App in order to control the Minion remotely, plan paths for him to self-navigate, or even have the Minion interact with other characters or props from the Despicable Me franchise.

Introducing two interactive robot construction vehicles; GRiP a hardworking, interactive bot that is a jack-of-all-trades. Grip’s got speed; turns on a dime, and can grab and haul some serious payloads.

Meanwhile, Joe-Plow: the fast-talking, hard-working bot takes on big jobs with a can-do attitude.

CLEMENTONI 0203 383 2020

SHAHBAZ KHAN, COUNTRY MANAGER

Clementoni is bringing robotics to the pre-school category for the first time with the DOC. DOC is the first ever game that brings children closer to educational robotics in a fun and creative way and will accompany the child as they learn logical reasoning and problem solving skills, letters, numbers, colours and the names of animals.

Children learn through play by programming commands from game cards and watching DOC go – a great way of also enhancing eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills, plus DOC will help them along the way too.

Nominated for a Licensing Award with Science Museum, Clementoni continues its strong STEM offering with the all new Evolution Robot. Children can programme the robot to pick up and transport objects or enhance game play and interaction with the compatible free app, which allows a further five different play modes: Programming, Real time, Self-learning, Dancing and Memo.

Evolution Robot is the third robot in the range following success in 2016 with Cyber Robot and Mio.

66 | toy news | July 2017

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Product Guide

TRENDS UK 01295 768 078

Designed to help pre-schoolers develop early learning skills while having lots of fun, Trends UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ELAs feature top pre-school licences, Peppa Pig, Thomas and Mr Tumble.

The ELAs include activities for understanding colours, communication, phonetics and numeracy through interactive play features.

Elsewhere, the firm is introducing the new Mr Tumble Learning Pad created under licence from BBC Worldwide. An ideal toy for any fan of the programme, it combines recognising colours, letters, numbers, musical instruments with Mr Tumble and his friends.

Trends UK is also introducing the new action robot Xtrem Bots range in the UK. The Xtrem robot range comes with a wealth of features, as well as lights and sounds. Suitable for ages five and up, the Xtrem Bots are operated with a remote control or hand gestures.

Cool animated LED eyes show the personality and moods of the robots. They also have more advanced programmable features, teaching input and output skills and ensuring there is longevity of play.

Lastly, Trends UK is launching the new VR Real Feel Racing created by VR Entertainment Ltd. The technology puts players inside of the action like never before because the virtual reality headset links with the racing style steering wheel.

Featuring a 42mm lens headset that harnesses the power of Apple or Android smartphones to deliver pixel-popping graphics in stereo 3D and a patented Bluetooth steering wheel with Max Force Feedback, players can steer, accelerate, brake and change the view with the steering wheel.

CHARACTER OPTIONS 0161 633 9800

Launching this month is SoundMoovz, the new Motion Activated Sound Bandz from Character Options, which will have everyone moving in time to create the beat.

The movement activated instrumental gadget is worn on the hands and ankles allowing budding dancers to produce music, rhythm, beats and more. As they move around, the user magically controls the beat in perfect timing with their 'moovz'.

Multiplayer mode allows kids to interact with each other off of one device generating music with friends, while the accompanying app lets users adjust to over 400 unique, fun and iconic sounds that can be instantly programmed to each gadget.

68 | toy news | July 2017

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C

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CM

MY

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6/20/17 10:31

Product Guide

LeapFrog 01895 202 840

LeapFrog Epic is designed to grow with children for endless learning and creative play. Kids can access exclusive LeapFrog learning games and other popular Android apps on this full featured tablet.

And, unlike other kids' tablets, LeapFrog Epic captivates children with the first-of-itskind interactive home screen that lets them create their own custom tablet while building their skills and imagination.

Children can bring a town to life, watch their world turn from day to night, add animated characters and discover a new surprise every day. They can also use various art styles that reflect their age and mood.

Additionally, the tablet provides access to select LeapFrog games featuring Just for Me Learning technology, which personalises the content to challenge kids as they learn and level up. Based on children's right or wrong answers, and by remembering their progress across games, the curriculum is adapted to challenge kids as they grow.

LeapFrog Epic is also kid-safe out of the box and includes parent controls that make it easy to expand the kid-appropriate web, download new apps and manage playtime as children grow. Parents can stay in control of what their children can access online with LeapFrog's expanded LeapSearch browser.

Anki 0800 808 5701

Anki announced that Cozmo, the new robot companion, will be available in the UK on September 15th, 2017.

Charming and mischievous, Cozmo is a real-life robot that has been designed with fun and friendship in mind. Cozmo is one of the most sophisticated consumer robots available, developed by a leading team of Ph.D. roboticists, world-class animators, and renowned game developers.

The more Cozmo gets to know you and your surroundings, the more skilled he becomes as new abilities are unlocked and free upgrades added.

The free-to-download Cozmo app, which runs on compatible iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, comes packed full of exciting content and constantly introduces new ways to play. Cozmo even brings his own toys to the game — three interactive Power Cubes that he’s always up for sharing.

To celebrate the global roll-out of Cozmo, Anki is also releasing a Cozmo Collector’s Edition, available for pre-order now, exclusively from Anki and Argos.

70 | toy news | July 2017

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Product Guide

Spin Master 01628 535000

Hatchimals have enchanted and delighted children all around the globe and with the exciting launch of Hatchimals Colleggtibles and the upcoming international licensing programme underway, ‘Hatchi-mania’ is set to continue.

Spin Master is delighted to now introduce a brand new line extension of the original Hatchimals with Hatchimals Glittering Garden.

Sparkly Pengualas and Shimmering Draggles are getting ready to hatch, and as ever, need a child’s care and nurturing to bring them to life. Hailing from Hatchtopia’s Glittering Garden, the newest Hatchimals are nestled inside speckled eggs that shimmer and feature pretty twinkling wings and soft sparkling fur. There’s lots more fun there for the hatching with Hatchimals Glittering Garden.

Hatchimals Glittering Gardens are suitable for kids aged five and over and have an RSP of £64.99.

July 2017 | toy news | 71

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Appointments

Industry moves This month sees a slew of changes across the toy industry including the announcement of new management at flagship retailer Hamleys, as well as a change in leadership at IMC Toys IMC Toys

MARBEL

FREDRIK WOLFF, formerly of Tomy, is to join IMC Toys as managing director (MD) in August 2017.

Current MD, TERRY CREW, will remain with the company as an advisor for the remainder of this year to assist with the transition process.

HAMLEYS Hamleys' chief finance officer ALASDAIR DUNN has announced his departure from the retail company after serving more than ten years.

Dunn will leave to pursue a portfolio career in the retail sector after having served Hamleys since 2005.

Having previously worked as director of finance at B&Q, Dunn was credited with helping the firm emerge through the recession, which toppled its owner Baugur, overseeing its sale to both Ludendo and its current owner C.banner in 2015, as well as building up the company's international portfolio.

It has been reported that ALEX JABLONOWSKI will step into the role following Dunn's departure, with the transition process already underway.

HIPPYCHICK Infant toy and product specialist, Hippychick, has announced a new addition to its sales team in the form of MIKE BIRD, who has been welcomed into the firm as sales executive.

Working under the lead of ALAN HOUGHTON, who has now taken on the role of UK sales manager at the firm, Bird will provide additional sales support, focusing on the company’s independent customer base.

“I have really enjoyed my time at Hippychick so far, learning about the products which I truly think are fantastic, and getting to know our customer base,” said Bird.

“I pride myself on excellent customer service, so no matter how small a query is I am willing to help. I want to nurture our customers businesses and really help them to grow.”

Bird also boasts over ten years’ experience in local media sales.

Marbel has appointed MARK BEAMAN as its new national account manager.

Boasting over 30 years’ experience in the toy market, Beaman has worked across several big sectors of the industry, including construction, pre-school and figures.

Beaman joins from Epoch where he also held the role of national account manager.

“His knowledge and experience will be a major asset to Marbel’s plans going forward,” read a statement.

Beaman will start his new position on June 26th, 2017.

COILEDSPRING Marketing executive, HANNAH BEECHING has departed Coiledspring Games to pursue pastures new.

Beeching served more than two years at the company, beginning in January 2015 as marketing assistant.

In August, Beeching was promoted to the role of marketing executive where she was responsible for all areas of marketing at Coiledspring Games including planning and creating marketing campaigns and PR activities, as well as organising events.

Beeching, also scooped the Rising Star gong at the last year's ToyNews Woman of Year Awards.

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72 | toy news | July 2017

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Anonymous

The complete list of People Awards 2017 winners are: Retail Buying Team of the Year – Major/Multiple Primark

PEOPLE POWER

ToyNews' sister title, Licensing.biz enjoys a good party. Luckily, so does the licensing industry, as the Licensing.biz People Awards 2017 proved only too well. Awards, frivolities and many an Aperol Spritz were 'ad at London's Forge Bar

Retail Buying Team of the Year – Independent/SMB/Specialist Mothercare Licensing Agent of the Year Start Licensing

Brand Extension and Beyond Merlin Entertainments and Magic Light Pictures – The Gruffalo theme park experience

Rising Star Licensee Jane Maxey – The Smiley Company Rising Star Licensor Stephanie Griggs – The Roald Dahl Literary Estate Unsung Hero Sam Byard – SEGA Outstanding Contribution to Licensing Kelvyn Gardner – LIMA UK

Advertising: 0207 354 6000 Web: www.toynews-online.biz Print subscriptions: To subscribe to ToyNews please go to http://www. toynews-online.biz/toynewsprint-edition. Should you have any questions please email subs@toynews-online.biz.

UK: £50 Europe: £60 Rest of World: £90 FAQ’s can be found develop/ FAQ’s. Please note that this is a controlled circulation title and subscription criteria will be strictly adhered to.

NewBay Subscriptions The Emerson Building, 4-8 Emerson Street, London SE1 9DU. Email: subscriptions@toynews.co.uk

Audited circulation Average Net Circulation: 5,419. July 2015-June 2016. The industry's highest circulation trade title.

Licensor Team of the Year – Major Turner

Manager of the Year Helena Mansell Stopher – Bulldog Licensing

Editorial: 0207 354 6017

NewBay Media Europe Ltd is a member of the Periodical Publishers Association

Licensee Team of the Year HTI

Licensing Deal of the Year Sanrio and BBC Worldwide – Mr Men x Doctor Who mash up

NewBay Media Europe Ltd, The Emerson Building, 4th Floor, 4-8 Emerson Street, London SE1 9DU

ToyNews is published 11 times a year by NewBay Media Europe Ltd, The Emerson Building, 4th Floor, 4-8 Emerson Street, London SE1 9DU

Licensing Solutions Team of the Year Imagine8 Creative Agency

Licensor Team of the Year – Small Penguin Random House

CONTACT US

K

eep in mind that we love a drink or two, there's little that could shock as much as the level of excessive consumption the licensing industry enjoys. Or is that endures? Either way, I've woken up furry of mouth, red of eye and fuzzy of head. I feel, for desperate reach of a better description, like I've swallowed a Chihuahua with a 20-a-day habit.

But the point of this hell I am in now is to join in the celebrations at this year's Licensing.biz People Awards.

Taking place at London’s Forge bar, your Tescos, Mothercares and Sainsburys rubbed shoulders with your ITVs, Hasbros and Sanrios, in what was a delicious, nay, sumptious glimpse into the almostopulence of Award Ceremony life.

Guests were even treated to a champagne tower, which the Licensing.biz team tucked into as soon as the performers, who put on a dance display featuring some rather dangerous fire sparklers, were finished entertaining guests.

"It was fantastic to see the industry come together," said Robert Hutchins, Licensing.biz editor. "The Awards is all about championing the people that make it such a fantastic spaceto work within and on the fringes of. Now get off my leg."

©NewBay Media Europe Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of develop are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems.

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74 | toy news | July 2017

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