Brand New for 2023

Learn to Build - Flags of the World from Plus-Plus explores colorful flags from over 80 countries. Learn how to build each one, then create your own. ■ The Kratt Brothers Kit from Pix Brix comes with 329 pieces and instructions to build Martin and Chris Kratt.

■ Learn To Play Baritone Ukulele Starter Kit from Kala Brand is tuned like the top four strings of a guitar. It’s the perfect bridge between playing ukulele and guitar. ■ PIXIO Magnetic Blocks from Ukidz provide endless construction opportunities. Enjoy building and rebuilding vibrant pixelated artwork in any shape. Use your imagination or thousands of designs provided.

■ Farm Animals 25-Piece Set from Magna-Tiles brings imaginative play to life. Little hands will enjoy caring for animals through hands-on, screen-free playtime. ■ Magna-Tiles Dino World XL 50-Piece Set features oversized tropical-themed tiles, six of the Magna-Tiles dinosaurs and new magnetic trees.

■ Rock & Roll It! Jr. – Piano and Drum Duo from Mukikim is a junior version for aspiring musicians. The portable toy has soft tactile keys and flexible keyboard with piano and drum tones. ■ Tangles, the Original Fidget Toy, is now available in vibrant heat-reactive styles that change color as the temperature rises! For kids age 3 and up.

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WHP Global is bringing back Babies R Us with the opening of a flagship store this summer, says Forbes. The 1,000-square-foot store will be located in the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey – the same location as the flagship Toys R Us store.

The Babies R Us store will have interactive experiences including a stroller test track, photo-op station and wishing tree. It will also bring back regular features from the previous store model, including a baby registry lounge and learning center.

The decision to open the Babies R Us store follows WHP Global’s partnership with Macy’s to sell Toys R Us products on the chain retailer’s website and brick-and-mortar locations. WHP Global plans to follow a similar plan with Babies R Us.

CSI Connect Marketing Inc. in Orange City, Florida, has named

Tonya Flaherty director of the Toy Collection Brand. Flaherty has worked in the toy industry for more than 27 years. CSI Connect Marketing provides marketing materials, tradeshows, websites, email marketing and more in both print and digital formats.

Flaherty can be reached at tonya@ toycollection.com or by calling 386775-1070 ext. 225.

The Toy Association will host The Play Date on March 8 in New York City. The single day, invitationonly media event will provide an opportunity for toy companies to present their 2023 lineups to the press and other trendspotters.

On the agenda is the “Toy Trends Briefing,” the association’s annual forecast of the hottest trends of the year. To prepare the 2023 list, The Toy Association’s trends team met with hundreds of companies large and small to collect data and examine emerging play patterns. The report is expected to predict some of the largest influences on toy and game purchases. A longer-form digital version of the presentation will be released on the Toy Association’s YouTube channel following the live presentation.

Toy and game consultant and manufacturer Grand Prix International (GPI) has launched a program that helps BIPOC and women-owned toy and game businesses bring their products to market. The program provides extended payment terms on the manufacturing of goods to fulfill massmarket purchase orders.

“Tailoring the customer’s terms to the entire PO process allows our customers to grow their businesses,” said Mike Fisher, GPI president. “We have talked for years about the lack of diversity in our industry and after becoming aware of this financial hurdle BIPOC and women-owned businesses face, we decided it’s time to stop talking and do something positive.”

Fahy-Williams recently welcomed Victoria Ritter onboard as its assistant editor.

Ritter, a longtime resident of Michigan, began her job at FahyWilliams in January. She has several years of publishing experience, including working eight years as a journalist for the Midland Daily News in Midland, Michigan.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Fahy-Williams,” Ritter stated. “I look forward to working with this team of wonderful professionals.”

She can be reached at victoria@ fwpi.com or by calling 315-789-0458.

Kathy Balogh of Cleveland, Ohio has joined ASTRA as its director of operations.

Balogh has worked in the specialty toy industryfor more than 20 years, including stints as a catalog director for a wholesale distributor, as director of market development at Holcomb’s Know Place, a chain of 35 teacher/toy stores; and as director of sales and development for the Education Market Association.

Balogh can be reached through astratoy.org/astrastaff or by calling 773-261-8707.

Wild Republic relocated its U.S. corporate headquarters from Twinsburg, Ohio, to Independence, Ohio. The company has offices throughout the world with international distribution serving zoos, museums, aquariums and retailers.

For more than 40 years, Wild Republic has provided customers with a collection of nature-related toys and gifts that foster curiosity about wildlife and educate children about the wonders of nature.

In keeping with its tradition of year-round and global charitable giving, Wild Republic scheduled the official ribbon cutting ceremony last year on November 29th, Giving Tuesday. Company founders G.B. and Kamala Pillai have funded several animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations throughout the world and began an orphanage in India so that young girls would have a home.

Afri-Imports Inc.

Afri-Imports serves sporting, automotive and beauty industries, shipping across the globe with distribution points in Canada, South Africa and across the U.S. Its signature product is Fozzi’s, a safe foam soap that offers colorful fun for bath time as well as events or simply family fun time. For more information, visit afri-imports.com.

Kiddy Crawler LLC (Crawligator)

Tummy time can be fun, thanks to Crawligator. While the original Crawligator was available in the late 1960s, it eventually disappeared; the brand was brought back to life in 2016. The Crawligator promotes child development, strengthens infants’ muscles and helps with mobility. It can also assist babies with special needs by encouraging natural movements that lead to crawling.

Learn more at thecrawligator.com

Play-A-Maze

This family-owned and -operated company offers educational puzzle toys for kids and kids-at-heart. Every toy is designed with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in mind. Its major line is Gear8, which provides two levels of puzzle mazes that challenges players to navigate through gears, stations and traps for a portable and fun time away from screens. For more information, visit plmaze.com.

SmartNoggin

SmartNoggin Toy provides developmental toys based on the belief that “learning begins at birth.”

Production began with the NogginStik Developmental Light-up Rattle and has grown to include rings and a book, Baby’s First Book of 44 Sounds. The company’s Mileston Makers line helps encourage babies’ early developmental milestones. SmartNoggin has more than 500 locations across the U.S and is also available through retailers.

Learn more at smartnoggintoys.com.