from
Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry April 2022
LOOP your own adorable & cuddly plush pal! AVAILABLE THIS SPRING
Loop Each Half of the 3D Mesh Form, then Snap Together to Finish!
Finished Craft is 9” Tall
www.playmonster.com • 1.800.524.4263 ©2022 PlayMonster LLC
Play Continues, Even When the Project is Complete PlayMonster grows the classic latch hook crafting fun of Latchkits with the brand new Latchkits Yarnimals. Yarnimals expand on the creativity of a classic Latchkits rug by allowing kids to make their very own 3D plush animal. “In designing Yarnimals, we wanted to bring classic rugmaking techniques to a new level,” explains Product Designer Mary Winkler. “There’s no sewing, no stuffing – just loop the yarn, snap it together, and you’ve got the cutest plush friend! “It’s such a fun follow-up to LatchKits, and it continues teaching latch hook techniques,” she adds. “Kids can practice their latching with the little heart that they can then place inside their plush to fill their animals with love. Once they finish looping the rest of the 3D toy form, they just snap it together and now have an adorable friend. In most craft kits, the fun is over once the kit is finished, but kids can play with their Yarnimals once they do the project.” Yarn crafting is very popular these days, with trends like #Latchhook (1.8M) and #Yarncraft (61.4M) garnering millions of views on TikTok. According to a PlayMonster survey of 8,000 adults,
“arts and crafts activity” was the #1 toy category for gift purchases by adults. Latchkits Yarnimals have the dual benefit of being something a child can create and something they can enjoy once they’ve finished, making them the perfect gifting choice. This fun, electronic-free activity keeps kids busy while they are designing and is an adorable toy and companion for kids once they complete it. “The 3D form makes creating a sweet little friend incredibly easy, and kids can keep their hands busy looping away on a rainy afternoon. It’s a really cozy craft through and through,” Winkler explains. Latchkits Yarnimals are for ages eight and up with an MSRP of $19.99 for each of the Yarnimals friends: Panda, Koala, and Penguin. Each kit comes with everything you need to create your Yarnimals. This activity is perfect for any season and a fun, non-screen way to keep kids busy. Kids can collect and craft all three kits or pick a favorite animal friend to make.
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April 2022
Dedicated to the Specialty Toy Industry
Inspiredplay gives specialty toy retailers the stories behind today’s innovative and creative products for children. In this issue, traditional display ads combine with insightful narratives to provide valuable nuggets you can use today to sell products and promote play. Inspiredplay stories
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Play Continues, Even When the Project is Complete by Playmonster MindWare: Putting a Spin on Traditional Puzzle Play The Fast-Growing Kids’ Tech Segment is Transforming Playtime Engagement by Miko Creating Family Fun Game Nights: One Game at a Time by Dolphin Hat Games The Mission is Mutual by Crazy Aaron’s Have It Your Way by The Original Toy Company 30 Years of 3D Puzzles by WREBBIT Kick Down the Door, Fight the Monsters, Grab the Treasure, And Win! by Steve Jackson Games
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Toysmith Welcomes Yoobi to its Portfolio Don’t Trivialize Arts & Crafts by Wikki Stix Ukidz: The Story Starts in Ukraine Get to Know Amahi Ukuleles Brain Games for the Entire Family by Fat Brain Toys
Features
5
12 Empowering Kids Through Play Theresa Duncan of Villa Villakulla Toy Store
26 Play: The Perfect Getaway
Toys That Take You Away From Stress
38 Time to Reset and Move Ahead
Seven Questions Business Owners Should Ask Themselves This Year
The Ukulele for Everyone! by Kala The Proven Solution for Impulse by Toysmith Let’s Be Honest, Kids Aren’t the Only Ones Who Love Making Forts! by Airfort Banana Panda’s Bright Ideas for Curious Minds!
Wordplay Classical Gas by Kevin Fahy
Departments
32 36
New & True
Index of Advertisers edplay welcomes 5 new advertisers!
word play
by Kevin Fahy
Classical Gas When I got my driver’s license, the price of gasoline was about 35 cents per gallon, but by the time I got my first car, three years later, the price had skyrocketed to 38 cents. It seemed at the time like highway robbery, so to speak, but we did get full service with that. An attendant would pump the gas for you, and if you filled the tank he would also clean your windshield and check your oil. At some stations, you would get a free drinking glass to add to your collection of cartoon characters or dinosaurs or presidents or whatever. These numbers say more about my age than they do about gasoline valuation. After all, you could buy a new luxury car for about $5,000 back then, or a pretty nice house for $20,000. A ticket to the movies was $1.50, which adjusted for inflation was more expensive than it is now. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the first oil well in the United States was dug in western Pennsylvania by a guy named Edwin Drake, in 1859. He was looking for kerosene to fuel lamps, and had no use for other oil byproducts, including gasoline, so they were just basically dumped out. This practice continued for the following 30 years, most notably by the great monopoly that became Standard Oil. In 1892, the invention of the internal combustion automobile created a use for gasoline, and demand grew rapidly. By 1920 there were 9 million cars on the road, along with many thousands of stations providing gas, maintenance, and repairs. Gas was 20 cents a gallon, which is comparable to current prices, or at least where they were in 2020. Gas prices climbed to about 30 cents during the Roaring ’20s, but fell dramatically with the Great Depression of the 1930s. Demand shot back up with the onset of the Second World War, when the government controlled the price at 21 cents and allowed each driver to buy four gallons per week. Over the years since, the price has bounced around as the economy goes up and down, along with all sorts of other factors. A new refinery or pipeline might increase supply, a war or some move by OPEC might restrict it. Generally, though, a gallon of gas cost somewhere around $2.50 to $3.00 a gallon (in 2015 dollars) most of the time. Lately it has seemed to move in only one direction. As I write this the average gallon of regular in my area sells for $4.39, up 8 cents this week and $1.11 over the past month. (Thanks, Vlad.) Why is that important? Well, one reason is that we buy so much of it, around 338 million gallons per day. It affects everybody, even those who don’t drive cars, because it is built into the cost of almost everything we buy. (In the case of retailers, it also affects the price of everything they sell.) Another reason is that gasoline has, for the past century, been a sort of benchmark measure of inflation that hits millions of consumers at a visceral level. It’s one product that we buy in exactly the same form, every week or two, measured
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MindWare: Putting a Spin on Traditional Puzzle Play by Michelle Johnson
Puzzle lovers will delight in MindWare’s newest lines of Peaceable Kingdom puzzles. “Customers love our unique puzzles, and I’m excited for them to experience our newest launches,” says Kristin Gallagher, MindWare’s director of product development. New to the market, Puzzlescopes take traditional puzzles in a whole new direction – a circular one! They have three different sizes of round pieces and a suction cup to spin and position the pieces into place. “This unique puzzle is great for family time,” says Kristin. “The varying sizes of the circular pieces make it ideal for all ages and skill levels to complete together.” Peaceable Kingdom’s new Seek and Find Glow puzzles provide a fun and interactive way for kids to engage with a puzzle even after completion. Once assembled, the reveal light illuminates more than 40 glow-in-the-dark objects for eagle-eye explorers to find. Scratch and Sniff stickers have been popular for decades, so Scratch and Sniff puzzles are the perfect combination of two childhood classics! The brand’s eight multisensory puzzles come in themes like Candy Kingdom, Fruity Fairy, and Sweet Smells Bakery. Not only fun and engaging to put together, the final scene is a delight when the puzzle is complete. Even traditional styles like floor puzzles and shaped puzzles are anything but ordinary at MindWare. “We hire artists from all over the world with a wide variety of styles, so each puzzle has its
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own look with art that is compelling for both kids and adults,” explains Kristin. “And, as with all our brands, the puzzles are always made from high quality materials – a must for kids who love to play with them time and time again.” A childhood favorite, floor puzzles are Peaceable Kingdom’s best-selling puzzles with vibrant art and distinctive shapes and pieces that set them apart. They also help little learners with recognition, fine-motor skills, and problem solving. With more than a dozen styles to choose from, each is designed with a storage box and corded handle for small hands to easily carry and clean up. The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Shaped puzzles, wooden puzzles and even bath puzzles are all part of Peaceable Kingdom’s unique line. Regardless of the style, puzzles are a perfect way to get kids thinking while having a lot of fun. They provide hands-on play, challenge children of all ages and developmental levels, and give hand-eye coordination and critical thinking skills a boost. To learn more about these exclusive puzzle designs from MindWare, visit mwwholesale.biz or email info@mwwholesale.biz.
Your single source for best-selling toys and games! Visit MWWHOLESALE.BIZ to view our catalogs! Contact us or your local rep for specials
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The Original
Wordplay (continued from page 3) in precise quantity. Every day, we drive by giant signs that offer us a current quotation, down to one one tenth of a cent. These days, there is another element to the gas-price issue as well. Transportation is the biggest emitter of carbon in the United States, contributing about 29 percent of all greenhouse gases. Cars and trucks account for the majority of those emissions, which makes them a target in the effort to slow climate change. Ten years ago there were virtually no all-electric vehicles on the road in this country. In 2020 they made up 2 percent of vehicle sales, which is expected to exceed 4 percent this year, and to continue to double every couple of years through the next decade. The trend is not really being driven by consumers, who still tend to fear the newer technology, but more by government, corporations and the carmakers themselves. Each of those players has its own motivations. The carmakers simply see the handwriting on the wall. They know EVs will eventually dominate auto sales, and that the real question is who is going to build them. The upstarts like Tesla, Fisker and Rivian have a head start, and support from Wall Street, but the legacy brands have name recognition, dealer networks and manufacturing capacity. They will need all of that, plus an enormous amount of capital. Ford alone is putting $11.4 billion into plants in Kentucky and Tennessee that will build EVs and the batteries that run them. One of the vehicles that will be manufactured there is the electric version of the world’s most popular truck, the F-150. Ford stopped taking orders for the new “Lightening” when it hit 200,000, which is the most the company can possibly build in the next two years. It is just one of 40 new EVs that will come online by the end of 2022. Many of the vehicles will be snapped up by corporate fleets. A survey last fall of 28 major companies showed that they planned to purchase nearly 400,000 EVs over the next five years. Corporations are seeing a significant benefit to their bottom lines due to lower operating costs and less maintenance. No doubt they will also be quick to claim credit for their environmental commitment. It is up to government, however, to take the lead in reducing carbon emissions, because the other sectors will tend to act in their own short-term self interest. To that end, the federal government has long sponsored a $7,500 tax credit on the purchase of a rechargeable, battery-dependent vehicles, and Congress is negotiating with itself on an additional $4,000 incentive on union-made EVs assembled in the United States. Probably more significant, the so-called infrastructure bill includes the funding of a nationwide network of EV charging stations. It will be up to the states to “strategically deploy” the stations. One of the first toys I remember from my childhood was a racetrack with two cars that were powered by electricity that was run through the track itself. Recently I read in the paper that one state is looking to do the same thing with real roads and real cars. It strikes me as ironic that we used to build models of internal combustion cars and power them with electricity. Perhaps now we can build models of electric vehicles and make them rechargeable. So, what does all this have to do with the price of gasoline? Well, eventually it will reduce demand, which should drive down prices. Meanwhile, we’ll just have to ride it out.
Specialty Toy Magazine
since 1994
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You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com
The Fast-Growing Kids’ Tech Segment is Transforming Playtime Engagement Whether they’re dolls, puzzles, or outside games, bestselling toys have always shared a simple hallmark: the undeniable ability to engage kids. But with the rise of kids’ tech, playtime interactivity is reaching new heights – thanks to the power of artificial intelligence. “Over the last two years, social and emotional intelligence have become even more important for parents,” said Sneh Vaswani, cofounder and CEO of the kids’ robotics company Miko. “Through AI, robots can foster emotional connections with kids, and that’s transforming how families think about playtime.” The kids’ tech market encompasses a wide range of AI-powered products including coding games, interactive apps and robots like the Miko 3 that Vaswani’s company launched in October. Miko 3 uses
AI to form unique bonds with children that deepen with every playful learning interaction. Although a little robot companion might sound out of reach for some families, the kids’ tech space is gaining momentum in the U.S. and global markets alike. The sector is expected to reach $18 billion by 2023, fueled in part by AI’s growing affordability and accessibility. Toy insider Richard Gottlieb, CEO of Global Toy Experts, predicts that AI will become “progressively important to play” in the future. As he recently told CNBC, “I don’t think any of us have any doubt that the world these children are going to live in is going to be a world that’s enhanced by artificial intelligence.” As a seasoned roboticist, Vaswani is excited to actively shape a future where play
is more immersive and emotional than was once thought possible. “A mere decade ago, most families wouldn’t have been able to imagine a robot friend engaging their kids in fun learningbased conversations,” he said, “but we’re proving that AI can help kids develop emotionally, socially and intellectually – and do so safely.”
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Creating Family Fun Game Nights One Game at a Time
By Jenna Schroeder Content Writer for Dolphin Hat Games
D
olphin Hat Games creates fun, fast, action-packed card games that fly off the shelves! Perfectly packed for portable parties, camping trips and stocking stuffers, our attractively designed games pack a lot of punch. By focusing on easy setup, fast game play, and silly antics, we make games that are approachable and family friendly. The instructions are easy to understand, making the games enjoyable for all ages. We pride ourselves in removing obstacles to game play because we believe, simply, that fun is for everyone! Our games are affordable (with an MSRP of around $9.99 each), making them appealing to a large array of consumers. Our mission is to be catalysts of memory-making by creating innovative products designed to be enjoyed with loved ones and friends. Our unique game designs pull teens away from screens and back to the table-top game experience. Nothing could be better than several rounds of our staple crowd pleaser, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. We’ve found a way to cater to all walks of life with this wildly popular game. There are no small pieces, and it comes in a compact, sturdy storage box (like all Dolphin Hat Games), so it is easily transported just about anywhere. Players race their friends in this hand-slapping, laugh-inducing and action-packed social card game. There are no complicated strategies and the fast-paced nature of the game elicits loud belly laughs.
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Parents love to give this game as a birthday gift, and teens love to play it at parties with their friends. It is a hit with youth groups and school leaders. Twenty-something hipsters bring our games to the bar, and working professionals take them on lunch breaks. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza has a standalone expansion pack called Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza – On the Flip Side, which introduces a crazy reversed twist! Stock your shelves quick, because this game and its expansion pack, go fast! We’ve also added holiday themes to the classic Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Every season, Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman sells quickly, as well as the Halloween version, in which the characters are dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes! Dolphin Hat Games has a portfolio of other witty games, such as Steal the Bacon – another hot ticket item. Players vie for slabs of bacon to accompany their scrumptious stacks of pancakes. However, be on the lookout for Awful Waffle and Clap Clap Flapjack. If they show up, all the bacon breaks loose! Gimme That! is our freshest yet. This hilarious group game has a blistering fast roll that causes antics for all ages and will be available in Q2. Join us as we strive to bring people together. We’d love to partner with stores who are interested in eliminating the stress and complications of bringing families together for game night, one game at a time. Take a look and you’ll see, our games are Fast, Fun and Friendly, the Dolphin Hat Way!
e r i w n o g p K m i ds E
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y Thro a l ug h P by Michael Nocella
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ippi Longstocking, the nine-yearold adventurer in Astrid Lindgren’s beloved books, has inspired pretend play for more than 75 years. From her home base of “Villa Villakulla,” Pippi cooks up daring escapades, fun-filled celebrations, and delicious treats that include buns, cakes, and a kind of swedish cookie called pepparkakor. Theresa Duncan, owner of a toy store in Florida called Villa Villakulla, could be Pippi grown up. They have more than the red hair in common. As a developer and implementer of afterschool programs, Theresa created adventures for at-risk youth. She marvels at the power of play for teaching kids of all ages, and loves the ways quality toys support learning. “Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a toy store here?” was a question she and her dad Todd Duncan asked – and answered – one day over lunch. “By the time we finished, we had plans to open one here on Amelia Island,” she told us. The 1988 film, “The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking” was filmed on the island, in Fernandina Beach’s Old Town neighborhood. “We try to embody Pippi’s courage, open-mindedness and playful spirit every day,” says Theresa, an ASTRAcertified Play Expert. “We are really passionate about providing quality playthings to the kids in our community, and about promoting the importance of play in general.” Here’s how they do it.
Edplay: How would you describe your product mix? Theresa: It’s “classic” and “unique.” We have toys for all ages – from teethers and loveys for infants to complex puzzles and games for adults. We lean toward the quirky and distinctive, and only a few of our items are battery powered. After Christmas our shelves were bare, but I went to the January Gift Market in Atlanta and restocked with lots of fresh, new items. Many of our backorders from last year came in also, so at this point we are in a good place with our inventory. We do very little in the way of TV and movie licenses – one of our main goals is to provide screenfree play opportunities. That being said, we took a risk on carrying a tech toy with licensed products, and it became a best seller. Tonies have been a huge hit for us! Spooner Boards are also popular – they give little surfers something to do when it’s too cold to get out on the water. Amelia Island is one of Florida’s barrier islands on the Atlantic Coast. Downtown Fernandina Beach, where the store is located, is absolutely magical. We have the most beautiful sunsets on the East Coast, over the Amelia River. It is a well-preserved Victorian railroad town full of little locally-owned shops and restaurants. We share an entrance with one of the neighborhood’s many awesome art galleries, and are perfectly placed near a beer garden and the three best restaurants in town.
Left: Theresa Duncan, owner of Villa Villakulla toy store on Amelia Island in Florida.
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We have lots of demos everywhere and we encourage our customers and employees to play.
Tell us about your location. It was built as a grocery store in the 1880s. Over the years it’s been everything from a car repair garage to an Italian restaurant. It has its fair share of quirks and complication. It’s slightly off the beaten path, but gets a lot of foot traffic. We have about 1,000 usable square feet, and big, bright windows that used to be garage bays! We want our store to be accessible to all, so we have big wide aisles for wheelchairs and strollers – a rarity in an historic downtown. The space is sunny and colorful, and we tend to organize our inventory by age group. We have lots of demos everywhere and we encourage our customers and employees to play. How do you curate your selection? First, we try to work only with companies who are doing good in the world. We love a great toy story so we want to know if their toys represent all children, or if sales benefit someone in need. Are they taking measures to lessen their environmental impact? Are they a small company? Who makes the toys and are employees compensated fairly? It’s also important to support the brands that support us; brands that take care of their small independent accounts
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by enforcing MAP, supporting marketing, and offering specialty-only SKUs. Those companies will always get our shelf space first. For finding new toys to bring in, we love ASTRA Marketplace. If a brand is exhibiting at ASTRA, we already know that it supports independents like us. The game and craft nights ASTRA hosts are a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with new products – we’ve often discovered items there that we overlooked on the trade show floor. At the end of the day, we want a store that’s filled with great toys we are proud to carry. What’s “new” that you’re excited about? We don’t think fidgets are going anywhere, but we do think pop-its are a bit saturated. As a result, we are looking for new and interesting fidget toys. And birthday parties are back! We are stocking up on lots of fun new things at the birthday-gift price-point. We just brought in a line of USA-made, all-natural bath bombs from Musee, a company that aims to lift people out of poverty through meaningful employment. We love that! We are also really excited about the Wild Republic Ecokins line of plush, made from recycled water bottles. And, (continued on page 16)
The Mission is Mutual by Ahren Hoffman “Crazy Aaron’s support of brick-and-mortar specialty stores has never changed,” says Mary Lewis, owner of Learning Express Brookfield in Wisconsin. “Their customer-service team takes a handson approach, which makes it easy to be a customer.” Since the company began in 1998, its products – ranging from Thinking Putty to Land of Dough – have been staples in neighborhood toy stores across the U.S. “I bootstrapped Crazy Aaron’s from my parents’ basement, so I’ve always felt a connection to those jack-of-alltrades store owners and their commitment to excellence,” explains its founder, Aaron Muderick. “It’s a labor of love for them, and I totally get it. Their mission – to keep Main Streets vibrant, and kids and adults smiling about exciting products – is ours as well.” After teaching himself chemistry, learning a bit about physics, and experimenting a ton, Aaron created the first batch of Thinking Putty. With its unique composition and sensitive production process, he quickly realized he’d have to build his own factory to make it. Today you can find it on Main Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
The company works with Philadelphia-area vocational centers that employ exceptional individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. “We have been a customer of Crazy Aaron’s from the very beginning,” adds Mary Lewis. “Our customers love the fact that the products are made in the USA with support from people with disabilities. We can’t wait for the 2022 product to hit our shelves.” There are more than 100 different tins of Thinking Putty with 30-plus unique colors and effects. To wholesale Crazy Aaron’s products or learn more, contact: orders@crazyaarons.com or call 866-278-2845 x301. Visit crazyaarons.com to learn and explore more.
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Playmobil has some really fun new beach-themed products that we love – including a swimmer that sun burns when exposed to sunlight!
We realized how much we missed in-store events, and will never take one for granted.
Are there other toy stores on Amelia Island? A few other shops carry some children’s items, but they don’t feel like competitors. We believe a rising tide lifts all boats so if we can support other small businesses, we love to do that. In fact, I am pretty passionate about it. I could talk all day about the many ways small businesses make the world a better place. Our biggest competitor is screen time, so we spend a lot of time educating our customers and the public about the importance of screen-free play. What long-lasting lessons did you learn from the pandemic? We learned that community involvement makes a difference when times are tough. Our customers went out of their way to make sure we were okay. The pandemic showed us how resilient and creative we really are. Customers appreciated the new services we offered, which included private shopping, curbside pickup, local
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delivery, and our wildly popular, custom-curated Easter baskets. We introduced them in 2020 and got a great response. Last year they were even more popular. We realized how much we missed in-store events, and will never take one for granted. Like many other stores, we also shifted focus to e-commerce. It remains just a small portion of our total business, but by improving the user experience it’s grown – from not always paying for itself to about 5 percent of our revenue. Our strong web presence really helps to bring shoppers to the store. What are you most excited about right now? We are looking forward to growing our Easter basket business. We all enjoy using our Play Expert skills to put together a special selection for each individual kid. One of our biggest challenges has been making strategic purchases while also dealing with supply chain disruptions. We are learning how to plan and budget without always knowing which products are going to come in. We chose to increase the amount of inventory we have on hand, and while the initial financial outlay was a bit scary, it has proven to be a good choice.
Have It Your Way by Kevin and Susan McGrath, Founders and Owners The Original Toy Company
The Original Toy Company was founded – and operates exclusively – to support specialty toy retailers in North America within the specialty toy trade. We not only make that our mission statement, we live and breathe it 365 days a year. There are some companies who say they follow the specialty path, but the McGrath family has demonstrated their true belief and support of specialty since the company’s inception. The Original Toy Company offers consumers and specialty retailers a unique and diverse line of toys, and it has been recognized within the specialty toy industry for its commitment to craftsmanship, quality and design. The company also works closely with specialty retailers throughout North America to provide them with the understanding and support they need to be successful in this ever-changing market. It has been said that the company is truly a specialty toy partner to its customers.
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30 years of 3D Puzzles
In 1991, Paul E. Gallant created a jigsaw puzzle with three dimensions by attaching a foam backing to each piece along with tenon-and mortise joinery. His invention sparked a whole new industry. Passionate about his creation, the Canadian entrepreneur shared it by launching a brand new company with a funny name based on the frog croak, Wrebbit. Its success was instantaneous and phenomenal. Since then, more than 30 million threedimensional puzzles have been sold worldwide, and the term “3D puzzle” is now deeply rooted in the toy industry vocabulary. Today, WREBBIT is the 3D puzzle authority, offering the only “real” 3D jigsaw puzzle experience 18 April 2022 — edplay.com
on the market. Its use of actual puzzle pieces – crafted of foam, not plastic – continues to distinguish WREBBIT from the pack. And unlike flat-picture 3D puzzles, WREBBIT3D puzzles are freestanding structures that elevate the puzzlebuilding experience to the most compelling, satisfying and challenging degree in all the land. WREBBIT3D expands on its unique Canadian invention by continuing to be the gold standard when it comes to genuine 3D puzzling. Even more important, it aims to pursue a passion for creative excellence and unmatched quality for many years to come so that your customers may continue to puzzle happily ever after.
Kick Down the Door, Fight the Monsters, Grab the Treasure, And Win! by Amy Zwick Retail Liaison, Steve Jackson Games
That’s the core of every great role-playing game. Munchkin has taken this concept, added some tongue-in-cheek humor, and become one of the best-selling board games of the last 20 years.
Created in 2001 by Steve Jackson, this game has gone on to sell nearly 12 million copies of Munchkin – and all its various expansions – since its first printing. Munchkin has made its way worldwide and has been translated into 20 different languages. In the past several years, as the tabletop game hobby has expanded, many hobby gamers have cited Munchkin as one of their “gateway” games. In other words, it’s one of the games that introduced them to the broader world of tabletop gaming. Because of this, Munchkin has earned a space on store shelves next to classics like Monopoly and Sorry. When you decide to carry Munchkin for the first time, the
catalog of titles can be intimidating. There have been at least 40 core themes of Munchkin (not counting deluxe sets) and about the same number of expansions, plus more than 60 miniexpansions! If you’re just adding Munchkin to your store, we recommend starting with Munchkin Deluxe. If you want to add more variety, there are eight expansions just for the core game! After that, you can add individual core games that will appeal to your specific customer base, such as Zombies, Cthulhu, Babies, Tails, and many more. I will be happy to work with you to make the best choices for your store. For more information, please reach out to us at retailers@sjgames.com.
munchkin.game
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The Ukulele for Everyone! Kala doesn’t make toy ukuleles. It’s a company that makes real ukuleles for the toy market – and that’s important for your business.
High-quality, entry-level musical instruments provide value for your customers. In 2016, at Toy Fair in New York City, we recognized a real need for an actual, playable ukulele in the toy market. Our ukuleles are made with real strings and real tuners, and they are made to stay in tune. When someone has a great first experience, they will continue to learn and, at some point, upgrade or buy another ukulele. To provide even more value, Kala offers learning materials at little or no cost to your customers. They can learn to play right out of the box! With every purchase of a Kala ukulele, they have access to free online lessons and our free app with tuner, with the option to subscribe to learn more than 2,000 popular songs. Kala is the world’s largest ukulele brand, so selling our instruments benefits your store in two ways. 1. Brand recognition – we are an established, well-known brand in the music industry. 2. Instrument quality – selling a quality ukulele means happier customers and fewer returns. The ukulele is a hot seller in toy stores – a trend that is here to stay. Many young people pick it up to emulate popular artists from around the world who have made the ukulele their main instrument. The most effective way to sell ukuleles is to let your customers see it, touch it and hear it. Make sure shoppers can reach them! Get the instruments out from behind the counter and down off the top rack. If you are worried about small children, put the ukuleles on a shelf that tweens, teens, and adults can reach, but also have 20 April 2022 — edplay.com
at least one as a floor model for everyone to touch and play. A kite store in Southern California displays a Kala on a string outside its door. It hangs at waist level so that people walking by can stop and play it. We are happy to work with you on how-to-sell ideas, and we offer a variety of wonderful, creative display options. When you order from us, we will help you brainstorm display solutions and let you choose from our selection of POP displays.
Kala ukuleles are for everyone. They are small, portable, and easy to take anywhere. It is not uncommon to see them being used in preschools and classrooms and with parents and kids together. Children can start learning as young as 3 years old, and teenagers and adults love them, too. They make a great musical, educational and brainpowered gift for anyone on your list!
Bright and shiny, these mid-sized concert ukuleles offer a bit more playing range than their soprano counterparts. With an array of vibrant color choices wrapped in high gloss “hard candy” shells, these high quality instruments look and sound sweet enough to eat. KA L A B R A ND.CO M
Blackberry
Cotton Candy Blue
Key Lime
Lemon Drop
So Orange
Candy Apple Red
Play the Rainbow!
The Proven Solution for Impulse by Michelle Johnson
“Toysmith Joy Towers are a key part of our selection. The footprint is small for the volume of sales that comes from them,” says David Castillo, Red Balloon Toy Store, with eight locations in Utah. Here, Manager Maggie Pocotte poses with a Joy Tower at the Red Balloon’s Fashion Place location.
For merchandising Toysmith’s impulse toys and gifts, Joy Solutions have an unrivalled track record. A one-stop-shop destination of best-selling, quality items in your store, each of the Joy Solutions (Small, Medium, and Large) creates a predictable, steady stream of incremental profit. They’ve been the go-to selling solution for decades. You might know these iconic units as Toy Towers, but Toysmith believes they do
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more than sell toys – they provide joy for kids, families and retailers. Each Joy Tower maximizes retail floor space averaging profit margins of 50 to70 percent and high product turnovers of up to 3.4 times per year. Choose from three sizes of kits – each comes complete with a curated selection of proven best-sellers, a contemporary header sign, and individual item information cards.
New for 2022! Building on a foundation of success, Toysmith’s Joy Solutions continue to evolve for customers with exciting new programs, like the compact, corrugated Joy Tower POP and the robust, show-stopping Joy Tower 360°. With its slim and sleek profile, the Joy Tower POP is economical and ideal for small spaces. It includes 11 best-selling products. Measuring 17 inches wide and 18 inches deep, this display can fit just about anywhere. When space is limited, add a POP of joy to your store with this simple and efficient program. Turn heads and sales with the Joy Tower 360°, a premium impulse toy display made of acrylic bins and pegs on a sturdy metal frame. The Toysmith purple metal frame rests on sturdy casters for mobility, and boasts 68 best-selling Toysmith toys covering all play patterns. And like its name, it features a full 360° of merchandising space. Eye-catching from any angle with no wasted space, the Joy Tower 360 holds just over 1,000 products on one merchandising display – a footprint that’s just 40 inches wide by 27 inches deep. Whichever program you choose, Toysmith Joy Solutions offer successful impulse merchandising options, even in the most limited of spaces, and encourages spontaneous moments of joy each and every day. For more information visit Toysmith.com.
April 2022 — edplay.com 23
Let’s be honest, Kids Aren’t the Only Ones Who Love Making Forts! O
nce upon a time, a dad cobbled together a play fort for his daughter using an old bed sheet connected to a household box fan. Little did they know then that as a new toy, it would unlock childhood nostalgia for fort making and engage the imagination of hundreds of thousands of kids worldwide. “This is the best fort! First, as a parent, I am so pleased with how easily it sets up and folds up! It is so small when folded that it takes up no more space than a textbook. My three kids all love
it! They play board games, do puzzles, watch movies, and have sleepovers in it. It’s so easy to get in and out of, my husband and I have no problem joining them either.” From Paola, a Happy Customer
If you’re not familiar with AirFort, it’s the at-home, tech-free, imaginative play fort sensation that magically hovers off the ground using an ordinary household box fan. Not only is the AirFort easily transportable, it can be set up and taken down in just 30 seconds. As a soft, floorless tent, the AirFort can be set up just about anywhere. Its multiple designs allow families to take fort building to a whole new level. Ever wanted to travel to another dimension? Our new UFO AirFort can take you there. Maybe you’ve always wanted to travel to a tropical island or live in a castle? Our new Tiki Hut and Royal Castle AirFort can transport you there. With AirFort, the 24 April 2022 — edplay.com
possibilities are endless. AirFort captures a child’s imagination for an extended period of time. Something about having your own private little space really stimulates pretend play, and we’re really excited about that – especially during these challenging times in which kids are easily distracted with high-tech toys and screens. It’s nice to have a reprieve from that once in a while – for both children and parents. “We have been in quarantine twice, and you guys have, quite literally, saved the day nearly daily while I’m working.” My threeyear-old loves her ‘blue tent’ AirFort and I cannot thank you enough for inventing this. I have two co-workers who have also purchased this after I raved about it during a meeting. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This thing is awesome and is currently saving my mental health while I work and have my three-yearold at home with me!” From Jennifer Schmidt, a Happy Customer
Jennifer represents just one of many families who reached out to AirFort this past year; thankful for having a toy that not only held their child’s attention for long periods of time, but also provided them with a place of their own where their imaginations could run wild. The pandemic has presented challenges for families and businesses alike. Just as AirFort’s innovative product line has been adopted by families across the country for being an innovative and fun way to set up your indoor play fort, AirFort created an innovative B2B order management platform that has been instrumental to its sales growth. Retailers and reps can easily place, track and manage all of their orders online in one place with AirFort – from anywhere they like. AirFort’s order management tools enable stores and reps to maximize their time and make ordering and tracking their orders easier. As a relatively new brand and supplier in the toy industry, AirFort credits its rapid growth and success to its close network of specialty retailers and reps. AirFort feels strongly that there is no better way to gain authentic customer feedback than by working with these great businesses and people, continuing to learn from them every day about how to improve the product line and its order management system. We all remember making forts as kids ... forts that didn’t last very long, but the memories last a lifetime! For more information, call 1-800-619-1090.
Play: The Perfect
“T
he Great Play Escape” will be one of the top toy trends of 2022 according to the Toy Association. Toys that travel well, and toys with themes that simply “take you away” are expected to be hot sellers this year. They include a mix of portable toys and games for families on-the-go, and vacation- and international-themed toys, puzzles, and games that take players on imaginative adventures. “Genius of Play research revealed that 76 percent of parents believe play provided a positive escape from the reality of the pandemic,” explains Kristin Morency Goldman from The Toy
Kristin Morency Goldman Association. “We expect kids and ‘kidults’ to continue to turn to toys and games to de-stress.” Many products that embody the Great Play Escape Trend can be found in this issue of edplay. Read about Mindware’s new puzzles that take kids to a coral reef or to a “Museum at Midnight.” See the new 3D Gringotts Bank puzzle – part of the Harry Potter Diagon Alley series from Wrebbit 3D. Discover Munchkin Deluxe, a dungeon adventure in which players compete to kill monsters and grab magic items. Then take a look at the new releases from AirFort, including the new AirFort UFO – what a great place for escape. The trend also covers NFTs, AR/VR, 26 April 2022 — edplay.com
Getaway and toys tied to online and video games that transport players into the digital world. “They tap into the metaverse and the endless opportunities it presents,” says Kristin. As an example, she pointed to the new Squishmallows world on Roblox, where fans can collect virtual Squishmallows, play mini-games, interact with other Roblox users, and customize a Squishmallows-themed home. Trends based on the toys manufacturers are making The Toy Association’s team of trend experts meets with hundreds of toy companies throughout the year to preview what’s new and next in the world of toys and games. Their work culminates in Q1 when the team unveils the trends they’ve spotted, along with product examples from Toy Association member companies. A Q4 trend update will be presented in October. “Our trends are supported by an array of innovative products from companies of all sizes,” points out Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications for The Toy Association. “In addition to escapism through play, this year’s hottest trends will encompass sustainability and social justice themes, and next-level sensory toys. A strong focus across all trends will be on intergenerational and creative play driven by STEAM learning.” Here are three more toy trends they presented. “Next-Gen Creators” From role-play toys and fashion and food play, to artistic and building toys that inspire budding content creators, toys that encourage kids to create and share their own content (think stories, artwork, builds, videos, and photos) are on the rise in 2022. More toys will allow kids to flex their imaginations and customize their own play experiences. It’s also a trend that encourages intergenerational play – kids and parents can play, create, and build memories together. It taps in to crucial STEM skills.
“Sensory toys 2.0” Spurred by the growth of viral videos on platforms like TikTok, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) has become synonymous with creating warm fuzzy moments of Zen out of everyday events. Even though this trend is driven by social media, it’s grounded in physicality. In 2022, there will be even more toys that engage the senses in exciting ways, predicts The Toy Association, including light-up playthings that let kids express their changing moods, classic brands reinvented with new fidget play, and toys that provide calming social-emotional comfort to kids. Toys for social/environmental good From sustainability and the protection of endangered species to social justice issues, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, products that talk the talk and walk the walk are resonating with consumers across all industries. As this trend continues to grow at a rapid pace, toys have become proven tools for engaging kids in critical issues. Expect a surge of toys in 2022 that not only incorporates more sustainable materials, but also emphasizes a commitment to teaching kids how to be better global citizens. In fact, a recent Toy Association-commissioned survey revealed that 78 percent of parents said the sustainability of a toy for their child was important to them. Entertainment update The pandemic has continued to take its toll on traditional viewing habits as more studios opted for hybrid releases through most of 2021. While the toy trend team has seen a shift back to the “only in theaters” release model, they expect the brands that come out of non-linear channels (Disney+, Netflix, HBOMax, YouTube, Paramount +, and more) or that take a hybrid approach, to continue to dominate the toy aisles. In addition, social media influencers continue to reach beyond their channels to create new partnerships in the toy space and offer licensees immediate access to built-in audiences.
Banana Panda’s Bright Ideas for Curious Minds!
Created by Parents. Loved by children.
by Simone Parham Play is learning. In the world of toys, seasonal trends and obsessions come and go. Parents often regret their purchasing decisions due to displeasing noises made by toys, especially when the product does not possess educational value. However, certain types of games and toys are timeless; recommended by child psychologists and professionals who support kids in their development daily. Banana Panda offers puzzles, games, flashcards, and creative sets made of sustainable cardboard and paper, developing classic, proven forms for new ways of use. Our innovative team focuses on form, illustration, and understanding the deep determinants behind the mechanism of play and the resulting kid’s development.
Let’s Play Color Dominoes 2+ Let’s Play Dino Dominoes 2+
Let’s Play Yummy Bingo 18m+ Let’s Play Habitat Bingo 2+
Match the Farm Animals Puzzles 2+
The safety of creative play is essential! Banana Panda is known for its products for two-yearolds. Puzzles for such young children undergo quality safety tests. Manufactured in Europe, they are subject to the strictest requirements. In spring of 2022, we are introducing six midi-sized games and puzzles for kids between 18 and 36 months+. In addition, the Suuuuper Size Puzzle Alphabet Match is an excellent educational gift for three-year-olds. Among our premieres, we have two products with dinosaurs, a popular theme this year. We will also explore the line that started in 2018 with TOTY Rookie nominee Match the Baby, our all-time bestseller. Match the Farm Animals expands this line, and we plan to add more themes in the future.
Hands at Play Dinosaurs 3+
bananapanda.com To order: call: 856-720-0580 email: sales@bananapanda.com April 2022 — edplay.com 27
Toysmith Welcomes Yoobi to its Portfolio Toysmith is excited to partner with Yoobi – a playful, creative, and give-back company. Yoobi adds a joyful new category of play to Toysmith’s lineup: school supplies, arts & crafts, and journaling. Yoobi strives to make colorful, vibrant tools to spark learning and creativity every day. Its products are PVC free and use FSC-certified paper. They’re perfectly designed for kids ages 4 to 14. Yoobi’s mission is to not only bring newness and innovation to the school and art categories, but to also provide all kids in need with the proper tools to learn to be creative. Yoobi’s promise is this: WHEN YOU BUY, YOOBI GIVES. For every Yoobi item purchased, the company donates a school-supply item to a child in need right here in the U.S. Yoobi partners exclusively with the Kids in Need Foundation, an organization that provides free school supplies nationally to students most in need to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed. Thanks to the foundation’s incredible resources and amazing partnerships, they are able to distribute Yoobi Classroom Packs to elementary schools across the U.S. – schools in which 70 percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Since Yoobi’s launch in 2014, more than 81 million items have been donated to approximately 6.7 million children across the country. Visit Toysmith.com to learn how you can start ordering Yoobi today, and look for a new back-to-school collection in May. 28 April 2022 — edplay.com
April 2022 — edplay.com 29
Don’t Trivialize Arts & Crafts! by Kem Clark
Arts & Crafts activities aren’t just busy work! They are an amazing contributor to childhood development … and not just fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, but cognitive functions as well. Letting children create freely uses their active imaginations productively, and shows them that there is no right or wrong way to be creative. And that helps build self-esteem and confidence in newly developing skills. They also develop visual processing skills when recognizing colors, shapes and patterns. It doesn’t mean that each child is going to grow up to be Van Gogh or Andy Warhol, but that the creative side can grow and develop and be productive in myriad ways, including the design and implementation of software, or creating gardens and landscape settings …or designing airplanes! The cognitive functions that benefit from Arts & Crafts activities include focus and attention to the activity … planning and organizing the project, determining what artistic materials will be needed … and then problem solving when facing artistic challenges – how to make it look like what you want it to. Wikki Stix provide all of these elements, in a very friendly and forgiving way. Since they are so easy to peel up to change and re-create … there are no mistakes! And no tears! Just lots of fun and a sense of achievement!
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Ukidz: The Story Starts in Ukraine When Dmitriy Zverev became a father, he was eager to introduce his son to his Ukranian heritage. The mechanical engineer and his wife searched for Ukrainian toys and books in the U.S., but found very little. Then on a visit to Ukraine in 2015, Dmitriy received a gift: a Ugears wooden mechanical model. He was intrigued and delighted by the toy, and decided to bring it to America. Ukidz was born. Today Dmitriy’s company focuses on several brands from other countries that help children build small motor and STEAM skills. “UGears, the DIY wooden models, are our top-seller,” he told us. “They come in various levels of difficulty, so everyone from beginning builders to advanced can enjoy learning about mechanics and motion. “The models are best appreciated when they’re in action, so providing demos to our retailers is a must,” he adds. Ukidz also distributes creative and high quality toys from Babai. Made from sustainable wood, the line includes games, dollhouses, balancing and lacing toys, and timeless children’s furniture in natural and modern colors. Additional Ukidz brands – Matador, Mozabrick, Oncekids, and Pixio – focus on different aspects of building and construction. With small magnetic Pixio blocks, for instance, builders can create colorful figures that appear pixilated.
“Pixios’ open-ended-play potential makes your imagination come to life,” says Gwen Ottenberg, owner of Imagine That Toys in Wichita. “When they get Pixios in their hands, people from every single age group have fun with them.” Dmitriy agrees. “We believe building toys are ageless, and appeal to both the young and young at heart.” To learn more about Ukidz, visit ukidz.com
Scan me
to access
our catalog!
ukidz.com
April 2022 — edplay.com 31
new & true 1 3
4
2
1. Gimmie That! from Dolphin Hat Games is the wild potato-mashing, high-frying, pencilgrabbing party game. Your assignment is counting potatoes. But – watch out! Everyone else has the same job and there’s only one pencil! 937-974-0205 sean@dolphinhat.com
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2. Steve Jackson Games’ Munchkin Farkle marries the classic dice game with the Munchkin sense of humor and stabyour-buddy mentality. Rather than the traditional race to win, Munchkin Farkle is a race to win – and make your companions lose! Cheat, curse your friends, and occasionally Run Away as you push your luck on every roll. retailers@sjgames.com
3. The mysteries of the stars have fascinated us for thousands of years! To this day, we gaze up at the sparkling night sky for guidance. Crazy Aaron’s Horoscope Thinking Putty brings the future into your hands with knowledge from the signs. Retail: $15 Age: 3+ crazyaarons.com
4. Durable Watercolor Meranti Ukuleles from Kala Brand add a pop of color at a great price! Four brilliant colors: Fern Green, Adobe Red, Ocean Blue and Royal Purple. kalabrand.com
5. The UGears Hexapod Explorer from Ukidz Toys is part insect, part robot, part extraterrestrial rover. Driven by a powerful spring motor, the Hexapod Explorer can walk up to 9 feet on its legs. ukidztoys.com
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7 9 8
10
6. With the Royal Castle from AirFort, let the fantasy begin. Create a child’s indoor empire with a design that fits a royal family and friends. It provides hours of fun and imaginative play. airfort.com
7. MW WholeSale’s Art-chitect helps teach aspiring architects and interior designers about drawing, design and architecture while they create a 3-D home model. It incorporates real design tools including floor-plan grids and tracing paper. mwwholesale.biz
8. The Harry Potter Gringotts Bank Wrebbit3D Jigsaw Puzzle is available now! It contains 300 pieces for ages 12-plus. It’s the fifth addition to the the Wrebbit3D Diagon Alley Collection, which Harry Potter fans can collect and combine to recreate their own alley. MSRP $32.99. 855-787-8842, Ext. 11 wrebbit3dpuzzle.com
9. New from Amahi is the DDUK21 Under the Sea Ukulele. Inspired by everyone’s love of sea creatures, musicians of all levels can make waves with this swell design! amahiukuleles.com
10. Playmonster’s Latchkits Yarnimals Panda is an easyto-learn, no-sew craft activity that allows kids to loop their very own plush 3D friend! It’s fun and engaging for ages 8 and up. playmonster.com
April 2022 — edplay.com 33
new & true 12
11 13
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11. Hands at Play Dinosaurs from Banana Panda is a progressive puzzle set featuring a hot topic in 2022 – dinosaurs! It’s the perfect way to develop a whole host of skills among children ages 3+. bananapanda.com
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12. The Original Toy Company’s wooden Stacking Hamburger (item #51969) is fresh off the grill. Kids ages 24 months and older can stack the toppings any way they like! It’s ideal for helping build hand-eye coordination and motor skills. It’s 5 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, and packed in a retail colored box. theoriginaltoy company.com
13. The Outdoor Discovery Backyard Explorer Set from Toysmith features seven tools for observing critters up close. A portion of the sales of Outdoor Discovery support the Greening Youth Foundation. toysmith.com
14. Artificial intelligence. Genuine friendship. Meet Miko 3, the brainy little robot that brings the magic of playful learning to kids everywhere (for ages 5 to 10). miko.ai
15. Get ready to write at a moment’s notice with Yoobi Frenchie with Pen Journal – a journal and black-ink gel pen set from Toysmith’s new partner, Yoobi. toysmith.com
Get to Know Amahi Ukuleles by Sara Sadri Antonio Violin in Ohio is one of the brick-and-mortar storefronts/ instrument showrooms of Amahi Ukuleles & Amati’s Fine Instruments. It has excellent displays, seating for product testing and great lighting. In such a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the instruments are just begging to be taken off the shelves and played. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Take Daron, for instance. In addition to being one of Anonio Violins’ employees, he is an experienced cellist and educator. Originally from Texas, he just recently moved to Cincinnati. “Daron is a great teacher, knows his history, and has great stories!” says one of his students. Daron’s personal approach to customer service is “to ask as many questions as possible to get the necessary background information so customers make the best purchase possible.” His best advice is this: if you are investing in a string instrument, remember that it will be with you for a lifetime. The quality of Amahi Ukuleles will last you a lifetime! Welcome to the Midwest, Daron! Glad you’re here with us!
Steel Tongue Drums Under the Sea Ukulele
6”, 8”, 10” & 12” SIZES 5 COLORS AVAILABLE
AMAHI DDUK21 MODEL
INSPIRED BY THE LOVE OF SEA CREATURES!
MAP: $56.00
Starting MAP: $79.00 888 • 262 • 8471 | www.amahiukuleles.com | Order today! April 2022 — edplay.com 35
ADVERTISER INDEX Company
See ad on Page
Website
Company
See ad on Page
Website
AirFort
25
airfort.com
PlayMonster
Inside Front Cover
playmonster.com
Amahi Ukuleles
35
amahiukuleles.com
RN Chidakashi Technologies Inc.
9
miko.ai
Banana Panda Inc
27
bananapanda.com
Steve Jackson Games
19
sjgames.com
Catalog Solutions / Toy Collection
5
catalogsolutions.com
The Original Toy Company
17 theoriginaltoycompany.com
Crazy Aaron Enterprises Inc.
15
puttyworld.com
Toysmith
23
toysmith.com
Dolphin Hat Games
11
dolphinhat.com
Toysmith - Yoobi
29
toysmith.com
Ukidz LLC (d.b.a. UGears US)
31
ukidz.com
Wikki Stix
30
wikkistix.com
Wrebbit Puzzles
18
wrebbit3d.com
Fat Brain Toy Co.
Back Cover
FatBrainToyCo.com
Kala Brand Music Co.
21
kalabrand.com
MW Wholesale
7
mwwholesale.biz
Edplay Welcomes Five New Advertisers Air Fort
Invented by father/daughter duo Ed and Luciana Hanley, the inflatable fabric fort requires no assembly, just an ordinary household fan. It inflates to 71 inches in diameter and 50 inches tall, and fits three to five people. At their first show in 2016, ABC Kids Expo, the Hanleys held their meetings in an Air Fort.
Banana Panda
Banana Panda is a brand of puzzles, games and books that delight little minds and the grownups who care about them. The products offer family bonding and immersive independent play for babies, toddlers and growing kids alike. Diverse products, themes and play patterns provide something for every child from birth through age 7.
Dolphin Hat Games
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a game name and a mantra players repeat as they take turns flipping a card and placing it on the pile. The mantra continues until a card is revealed that matches the word the player is saying. Then it’s a free-for-all for players to slap their hands on the pile.
RN Chidakashi Technologies Inc.
Meet Miko, an Emotionally Intelligent Robot that playfully educates, engages and entertains kids. It is has an adaptive personality, dozens of emotions, and millions of topics and themes to learn from. Its roboticist inventors, former classmates at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, have been making highlyacclaimed robots together – like an autonomous underwater vehicle – since 2009.
Yoobi
Yoobi, a school supplies brand, uses dynamic designs and bright colors to make learning fun. When a Yoobi item is purchased, Yoobi gives an item to a U.S. classroom in need. Founder Ido Leffler from Australia is also the founder of Yes To Inc. (Yes To Carrots, Yes To Cucumbers, etc.), a leading natural beauty brand. 36 April 2022 — edplay.com
(continued from page 38)
Are we making employee well-being a priority? Mental health issues can no longer be in the closet when so many have moved past stress and into trauma territory. Psychological well-being impacts not just engagement, but also productivity, performance, and every aspect of culture. Keep an eye on this issue as you design benefits, career tracks, and work arrangements. And destigmatize mental health issues. It has to be okay to ask for help. What are we doing to move past DEI and create real belonging? We know diversity, equity, and inclusion matter, so don’t just give them lip service. Instead, work toward what DEI expert Tristan Higgins calls “metaclusivity.” Find ways to cultivate a true sense of belonging.
may be time to consider switching suppliers. Think carefully before jumping ship, though: You may realize preserving a relationship matters more in the long run than easing what are, hopefully, temporary shortages. “Right now is a good time to think about what you’re doing right, what you could do better, and what needs a total overhaul,” says Rick. “It’s so easy to overlook huge problems when we’re so buried in the day-to-day grind. Setting aside a little time to flex as needed and getting intentional about auditing yourself can change everything about your future.”
Supply chain disruptions are wreaking havoc in almost every industry.
Is it time to rethink our vendors and partners? Supply chain disruptions are wreaking havoc in almost every industry. If shortages are hurting your business, it
Rick Grimaldi is a workplace trends expert whose diverse career includes high-ranking positions in public service, human resources and labor relations, and as a lawyer with one of America’s preeminent management-side labor and employment law firms. For more information, visit rickgrimaldi.com.
A brand of Fahy-Williams Publishing About Fahy-Williams We’ve produced custom publications for organizations large and small, in addition to our own magazines, for 37 years. We fund them through advertising sales – that’s our superpower. Advertising is the reason all of the directories, magazines, and industry publications we create generate revenue for our partners. If you can imagine a publication that builds your brand, communicates with your members or customers, AND makes you money, we can deliver it. For more information, visit fwpi.com.
About edplay Founded in 1994. edplay is the original trade magazine for the specialty toy industry. With five printed issues and monthly enewsletters, it reports on new play products, interviews toy experts, and provides bestpractice advice. We also publish
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Around The Table a publication of the Game Manufacturers Association Art Materials Retailer for People Who Sell Art Supplies Educational Dealer for retailers who sell to teachers, parents and schools
Copyright © 2022
ASTRA Toy Times The Magazine of The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
April 2022 — edplay.com 37
Time to Reset and Move Ahead Seven Questions Business Owners Should Ask Themselves This Year
T
he past couple of years have been incredibly stressful and chaotic for business owners. If you’re like many, you’ve been on autopilot and in survival mode. In fact, you’ve been so busy trying to keep the doors open that you haven’t had a moment to pause and ask yourself, Does what we’re doing make sense for the way the marketplace is now? Workplace trends expert Rick Grimaldi has a suggestion: Before 2022 gets any older, set aside some time to work on your business instead of in your business. “Really, it’s a completely different world right now,” says Rick, the author of FLEX: A Leader’s Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the American Workplace. “Now is a good time to ask yourself what you might need to change based on evolving conditions.” Here are just a few questions you might ask yourself. Does our workforce match our current business needs? For example, do you need more service staff to accommodate new customer behaviors? Do you need to rethink their duties? Take a look at restaurants, for instance, that are struggling to handle both dine-in and takeout customers. Do they have too few employees, or employees who are assigned the wrong tasks? Is something similar happening at your retail business?
“Does what we’re doing make sense for the way the marketplace is now?”
38 April 2022 — edplay.com
Do we need new hiring practices given the diminished talent pool? With the talent shortage at a 10-year high, it may be time to rethink how you recruit, how much you pay, and what incentives you offer. It’s challenging to find good people now, but it can be done. You might need to think creatively, but you MUST ensure you’re a more attractive employer than your competitors. Are we putting metrics ahead of engagement? We’ve long known employee engagement matters. Still, the unspoken “but” has always been that metrics (especially performance and financial ones) matter more. Be sure you’re putting engagement at the center of everything – which means doing everything possible to make sure employees feel cared about and listened to; that they feel a sense of belonging, and that it’s safe to speak up when something is wrong. Are we as flexible as we could be in how, when, and where people work? Millennials and Gen Zers in particular value work/life integration. As much as possible, accommodate them with flexible arrangements. In light of the Great Resignation, it’s vital to give employees a work life that works for them. (continued on page 37)
Brain Games for the Entire Family Families are turning to games to fuel their competitive spirit, get the mental gears spinning, and instigate a raucous good time. These five games by Fat Brain Toy Co. will entertain multiple generations unlike any other activity.
Outsmart. Out Stack. Out Corner. Corners Up is a game of strategically stacking game pieces to try to collect the most corners. The game board is everchanging, building out from a 4-by-4 grid into a perfect pyramid. Planning, timing, and luck combine into one thrilling challenge with the tricky game of Corners Up.
A Battle of Balance Weight For It is a headspinning mix of strategy and physics! Players take turns placing the weights onto the wheel to try to make it rotate so the correct arrow is aligned with the number on their card. Line it up just right and you get to keep the card as a point. Get it wrong and you have to wait to try again on your next turn. Logic and reasoning are sure to twist and turn into knots of thrilling confusion with the fascinating game of Weight For It.
A Game of Flipping Madness In-SAND-ity is the fast-acting game of flipping sand timers to try to keep them flowing the longest. Using one hand, you’ve got to keep the sand flowing by flipping and moving the timers to an empty space one at a time. Stay focused and move fast ... the instant a timer runs out, your opponent gets to hit their button to stop your time and start theirs before jumping right into the sand-flippin’ action. This dynamic game encourages concentration, quick thinking, hand-eye coordination, and fast reflexes.
Block or Be Blocked GridBlock ... can you block without being blocked? The goal seems simple enough – just get your four pieces on the board. But pieces of the same color MUST touch, and pieces of the same shape MUST NOT touch, creating ample opportunities for blocking ... or being blocked. It encourages strategy skills, planning, critical thinking and logic.
Can you draw a trout with your snout? Pencil Nose is a hilarious party game where players have to use their nose to try to sketch the prompt and then hope their teammates can correctly guess what they’re drawing. Can you draw a rose with your nose? Pencil Nose comes complete with specially designed eyeglasses, marker, and a clear, erasable frame. It encourages family bonding, cooperative play, coordination, creativity, quick thinking, and communication skills. See our ad on the back cover.
April 2022 — edplay.com 39
