The Daily News

NEWS

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The Toy Fair’s ONLY official daily paper

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DAILY

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

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• Glitz a nd glam ou • Big int erview w r of awards nig ht • Show it stoppin h Epoch g produ cts

Smiles all round as MGA and Spin Master win big MGA scored a hat-trick at last night’s Toy Industry Awards with its L.O.L Surprise range picking up the Toy of the Year title – plus both the Craze of the Year and Creative Toy gongs.

And the 53rd TIAs, organised by the British Toy & Hobby Association with the Toy Retailers’ Association, saw Spin Master crowned as Supplier of the Year, while Toytown triumphed as Overall Toy Retailer of the Year.

A BTHA Golden Teddy Award was also presented to Character Options’ Colin Rossiter for outstanding achievement during his career in the toy industry that has so far spanned 40 years.

The 25 toy, supplier and retailer awards were revealed at last night’s gala event in Olympia’s Apex Room where the great and the good of the industry gathered after a bustling opening day of the 65th annual Toy Fair.

Golden Shimmer Bush Babies were boogying on down on Golden Bear’s stand, E69, where the magnificent Shimmer Palace was the star of the show.

Princess Melina and her fabulous dancers got the whole crowd going with their singing and marvellous

moves, including company Vice-Chairman and Director Christine Nichols.

Christine says:“This year we’re so excited for what is to come from Bush Baby World.

We’re releasing products throughout the year culminating in the launch of our new hero Shimmer Palace playset. We also have the US launch in March and it’s starting to make waves in Australia.”

And she adds that her personal favourite “has to be Princess Frostina and her supercute Snowy Bush Baby (pictured) both launching later this year”.

Stars are game The celebs who visited Toy Fair didn’t let down yesterday as they added oodles of glamour to the show. Actress Kara Tointon enthralled all with her personal connection to the Arokah game on Asmodee’s stand (E109), while Ian Waite brought the elegance of Strictly to John Adams’s stand (G100) for it’s new game. Contd. P6

Awards 2018 The Cavan Toymaster team are delighted with their top award

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Brian Simpson thanks Jon Diver in his own special way as he and the SMF Toytown gang pickl up their trophy

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Retailer of the Year winners Brian and Alan Simpson of SM F Toytown

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high standard of entry was praised by BTHA chairman Jon Diver at last night’s Toy Industry Awards, while Toy Retailers’ Association chairman Alan Simpson said they had a hard task selecting the winners.

MGA was the big winner on the night as its L.O.L. Surprise range of collectables and accessories was named Toy of the Year, as well as taking the Craze of the Year trophy, with the L.O.L. Fizz Maker named as Creative Toy of the Year.

Honoured as Supplier of the Year, Spin Master made it four awards in total with Collectable Range of The Year, Doll of the Year, and Pre-School Toy of the Year to add to its haul of silverware.

And Toytown was the toast of the retailers with the Overall Retailer of the Year Award alongside its Specialist Multiple Retailer Over 25 Stores trophy.

e Jazwares ar Ferguson of m gs Sa d lin er an Fing Jonny Taylor r award for pick up thei delighted to

Ben Hogg and the Asmodee team are thrilled to win Game of the Year with Dobble

Character’ s Colin Ro ssiter rece for Laser ives the aw X — Elect ronic Toy of the Year ard

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Stephen Hartfield of Kids’ Stuff wins the Up to 25 Stores in the Specialist Retailer Award Another win fo

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Having presented the retailer awards, Jon said: “Congratulations on behalf of the BTHA to all the winners of this year’s Toy Retailer Awards – as always, it is a great pleasure to see such a high standard of entry and judges debated long and hard to determine this year’s winners. Recognition must also go to our worthy runners-up and big thanks must go to everyone for taking part.”

And Alan, who handed out TIA trophies, added: “On behalf of the TRA, our congratulations to all the award winners, and those with shortlisted products too. It wasn’t an easy task selecting winners for categories which stood out in 2017.

“We can now all look forward to a successful 2018. I have no doubt it will be challenging, but together we can make it a success.”

gston, SVP of “Blown away” Mark Kin , Nickelodeon and his International Licensing for Licesnor of the Year team pick up the award

Trophies came thick and fast for Spin Master

Team Pla ymobil p ay tribute the late Uffe Klo to ster Special R ecognitio for their n award

Jarrold’s Selina Clarke is over the moon to be recognised

Awards 2018

Party people!

One of the best bashes of the biggest bash of the year got off to a flying start with beers, bubbles and of course pizza! The Daily News caught up with a few of the evening’s revellers and awards hopefuls

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The Vivid boys were almost caught bread-handed on camera, before hiding their pizza snack

Lema Publishing’s own Malcolm and Joan Naish had a chinwag with Ross McDonald from Drumond Park, part of Vivid

Who won what…

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Teams from B andai and Tomy wer e in high spirits en joying a laugh after the first day of Toy Fa ir

Toytown collected the coveted Toy Retailer of the Year Award and L.O.L. Surprise earned MGA the Toy of the Year title. There was a Special Recognition Award for Playmobil, plus Rubik’s Cube won John Adams the Retro Toy of the Year title – the other deserving winners are in the list below:

TOY AND SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS: • Toy of the Year: L.O.L. Surprise, MGA • Action Toy of the Year: Stretch Armstrong, Character Options • Pocket Money Toy of the Year: Pokémon Cards, Esdevium • Interactive Toy of the Year: Fingerlings, Jazwares • Craze of the Year: L.O.L., MGA • Collectable Range of the Year: Hatchimals Collectables, Spin Master • Retro Toy of the Year: Rubik’s Cube, John Adams • Game of the Year: Dobble, Esdevium

• Doll of the Year: Luvabella, Spin Master • Creative Toy of the Year: L.O.L. Fizz Maker, MGA • Pre-School Toy of the Year: Paw Patrol Vehicles, Spin Master • Electronic Toy of the Year: Laser X, Character Options • Licensor of the Year: Nickelodeon • Special Recognition Award: Playmobil • Supplier of the Year: Spin Master

TOY RETAILER OF THE YEAR WINNERS: • Overall Toy Retailer of the Year: Toytown

• Small Independent Toy Retailer of the Year: Just Williams Toys • Large Independent Toy Retailer of the Year: Toymaster Cavan • Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (up to 5 stores): Toy Galaxy • Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (up to 25 stores): Kids Stuff Toys • Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (over 25 stores): Toytown • General Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year: Argos • Department Store Toy Retailer of the Year: Jarrold • Online Toy Retailer of the Year: Smyths

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No1 and Still growing...

VTech are No1 in the infant and toddler V catergory for 2017!

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NEWS UK still on top

Her MAJ-esty says Lost and confused at Toy Fair 2018? Don’t worry. Majen Immink, Director of Fairs and Special Events, will help you out! Each day at Toy Fair, Majen will be sharing her wisdom on what to expect, what to do, and what not to miss Welcome to day two of Toy Fair 2018! One day down, two to go. It’s been an incredible show already, but there’s so much more still to do and see. As always, the first day of Toy Fair was press day – so did you spot us in the papers?

Toy Fair was featured on BBC Scotland, Radio Yorkshire, London Live, and BBC South among many more.

Our thanks to all our exhibitors for your help in making these incredible stories happen. Every year we are bowled over by the support of the industry, and this year is no exception. Thank you.

Congratulations to all the winners at last night’s Toy of the Year Awards it is great to see such creativity rewarded by the wider industry – well done to all!

In all the excitement of yesterday, I hope you heard that we announced Toy Fair’s Hero Toys? It’s our re-branded

media showcase of some of the most innovative and exciting toys at the show this year.

If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you pop along to see all the winners outside the Press Office, on the Upper Gallery.

There are some truly inventive, brilliant toys on display and who knows, perhaps they will be some of the winners driving the business in 2018!

Of course, nothing beats a good stroll around the floor at Toy Fair. There are more than 250 exhibiting companies for you to meet, from the biggest brands to the most ambitious start-ups in our Greenhouse Area including AugmentifyIt, Holibob Bear and Jumini. Many of you will have your meetings planned out for the day, but my advice to you is to find some time to wander the floor. You never know what toys you might find, or who you might meet!

If you’re lucky, you might even spot the Toy Fair TV team. Hosts Anna Williamson and Gavin Inskip are always on the hunt for the coolest toys and announcements.

If you need a few moments to rest your weary feet, then make sure you can see one of the big screens dotted throughout Olympia. Anna and Gav will make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Look out for this and more on your second day at Toy Fair! Keep it up – there’s so much to see, and I hope you have a wonderful time!

“It’s been an incredible show already, but there’s so much more still to do and see.”

Let’s dance Strictly Come Dancing star Ian Waite waltzed onto the John Adams stand for the dramatic unveiling of Strictly Come Dancing The Board Game yesterday. Shimmying across John Adams’ dancefloor to the BBC show’s real Glitter Ball trophy, Ian joked, “This is as close as I’ll ever come to winning the trophy!”

Excited for the launch, Bruno Gallone, Sales Director, says: “This is a family game first — gameplay was always important so the rules allow anyone in the family to give it ago — and they might even learn a dance move or two. Given that five million people apply to go see Strictly live every year, we know this is going to be phenomenally popular.”

A dip in UK toy sales still couldn’t knock it off the top spot in Europe, retaining its crown as the largest market in the territory.

Though sales did decline 2.8 per cent, NPD’s Global Toy Analyst Frederique Tutt noted that it was a particularly tough year for all non-food retail sectors – and also stacks up worse against an exceptional 2016.

Bright spots include a buoyant collectables category, growing 17 per cent in 2017, and strong performances from Doll playsets, Pre-school Figures and Action Figures. PJ Masks, Cars 3 and LEGO Batman were “After three good years of growth for the UK toy industry, 2017 saw a decline as did other territories such as France and Australia” says Frederique Tutt, who opened Toy Fair yesterday with the annual media briefing.

“Collectables have seen significant year on year growth.

This continued growth highlights the year-round appeal of toys and less reliance for the industry on seasonal sales.”

Kara shapes up The Asmodee stand (E109) was swamped yesterday as actress Kara Tointon shared her personal connection to new game Arokah.

The TV starlet has been involved with the project for around five years and credits the shape game with helping overcome her dyslexia. Chatting with buyers and media to help them understand why the games is unique, she brought a real buzz to the new launch. Marketing Manager Ben Hogg said the game was received extremely well.

Alan Marquis

The Wharf Toy Shop – St Ives Having visited Toy Fair for a number of years, it was imperative that we pre-planned our visit to ensure we get the most from our time while here.

We have seen some great products from Playmobil, who have fantastic price points. Of course, an absolute must is Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty from Green Elephant Trading — this is amazing and sells extremely well and as such this is the ‘big thing’ that we’ve ordered so far.

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r e v i l e d d n a d n a t S itement on lenty of exhcibitors p h it w y a g yesterd a few ex was buzzinews caught up with 18 0 2 ir a F N y To Daily stands. The

Gently toes it Contortionist Orissa Kelly has a unique take on firing Petron UK’s guns on stand Gallery 308, and she’s shown below the right way up with Martin Saunders, Doreen Hill, and Claire Hornbuckle Majella O’Dwyer and Ian Minford at Irish Fairy Door on stand Gallery 630

Schleich’s Karen Ionescu on the Gallery 100 stand Izzy Wren, NIkki Morgan and Cait Brogdon are all smiles at VTech on stand Gallery 500

The Elizabeth Tower and Westminster by Magformers’ David Kelly and Matthew Donald on stand Gallery 540

Snapdragon’s Rachel Jones reads the news on their Gallery 505 stand

Riding high Bruder, the manufactured-in-Germany vehicle brand that’s part of The Sales Partnership Stand E21 is riding high this year with its delivery of 23 brand-new products, including the new Volvo A60H Hauler, due out this September. “Bruder has more than 300 lines across some 40 to 50 different licences, including UPS, Mercedes and JCB, and we are constantly updating,” says Florian Loh, area sales manager (pictured left) with James Triptree, UK agent for Bruder (pictured right).

NEWS The Daily News caught up with Mark SlaterHyndman, Country General Manager UK & Ireland at Alpha Animation & Toys, to find out what will be on show this year at Stand Gallery 144 What are you most looking forward to at Toy Fair 2018?

Personally, I’m looking forward just to being there at all! From an Alpha point of view, we’re showing our full Super Wings line-up on the Kayes of Cardiff stand. This is our first opportunity to show the full independent trade and majors alike how exciting our line-up is for 2018.

How would you sum up the last trading year?

AW 2017 was our initial trading season, and I’m pleased to say we achieved all the goals we set ourselves – we received some excellent support from the trade and look forward to widening our reach in 2018.

Tell us a little about your stand this year, anything new and exciting?

Due to logistical challenges in our first few months of trading, we’re not in full exhibition mode this year, but watch this space for 2019! As mentioned, Kayes of Cardiff are showcasing our awesome Super Wings line-up for us. In addition, we’re launching our new boys’ action brand in Screechers Wild! and girls’ collectable in Miximals, all of which can be viewed at our Gatwick showroom.

A Jumbo milestone Team Jumbo grabbed a slice of cake yesterday to celebrate the puzzle specialist’s 165 year anniversary year – yes one, six, five! Still going strong after all those years, the company continues to raise the bar and is launching more than 65 adult puzzles for spring/summer.

Sales Director Steve Washborne says: “Heritage is a word often bandied about, but you don’t get much more heritage than 165 years in the toy industry. Jumbo Games is as timeless as the appeal of our products, and we proudly continue to raise the bar with Wasgij holding on to its title as the UK’s number one adult puzzle brand for more than 10 consecutive years.”

Monster debut First-time exhibitor Money Monster is having an incredible first show. The unique money saving toy with the backing of Santander has opened up plenty of opportunities for suppliers and retailers alike. Creative Director Mark Warrick tells Daily News: “It’s our first toy show, and out first foray into toys – and what an experience! We’re looking to work with all links in the toy chain, and we’ve already had plenty of fantastic feedback.” Get on board this exciting new brand on Gallery 200.

Name one hero product that you and your team are very excited about showing at the fair?

Jett’s Super Robot suit. Check him out, he is super cool!

And finally – we must ask – what’s your brew of choice?

There is ONLY one, it’s God’s own country’s Yorkshire Gold tea. Nothing else comes close.

For the record… … Yo-yos are back. Yo-yo legend Hans ‘YoHans’ Van Dan Elzen was on the Wilton Bradley stand yesterday for a Guinness World Record attempt. The victorious stunt saw him complete 159 tricks to smash the previous record of 151, although he “usually does even more in practice”.

Buyers were wowed by the performance and it brought a real buzz to the YoYofactory range, available from Wilton Bradley. Hans was at the centre of the yoyo craze in the late 90s – and he thinks it’s back for 2018. “There’s been huge effort put into yo-yos this year and it’s set to be a huge phenomenon,” he says.

Bloc stars Great Gizmos has some amazing gizmos on the stand this year from 4M. Logiblocs is the genius new STEAM line that brings elementary programming to kids through colour-coded blocks. Each block powers, reacts or produces a reaction and seamlessly connects together to let kids create their own gadgets. Creator Tony de Rivaz likens it to “programming with your hands” – and the best part is its simplicity. Be sure to stop by the stand, G20 to see the range for yourself.

Great Gizmos Director Judith Dayus and Logiblocs creator Tony de Rivaz

TREND FOCUS Great British Sewing Bee Vampirina GP Flair/Just Play Stand E39 Disney pre-school property Vampirina is joining the mix at GP Flair/Just Play. The fully articulated 15cm Vee Doll looks just like the show character and wears her signature outfit.

Wilton Bradley Stand E89 The GBSB range of Sewing Machines, inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee television programme, includes a full range of accessories kits with everything needed to create the perfect item.

Looking Licensed for…

Toys Big Wheeler Joey Golden Bear Stand E69 The award-winning My First JCB range will be showcased by Golden Bear, with its popular Big Wheelers taking centre stage in the vehicles category, offering both indoor and outdoor play value.

A major driving force of the toy industry is of course the licensed toy.

The show is brimming with fabulous toys collaborating with excellent licensors — here’s a little round-up

Flymo Turbo Lite Lawnmower Casdon Stand E30 Kids can have that garden looking ship shape with the Flymo Turbo Lite Lawnmower — another exciting replica from Casdon Toys. The Flymo features a foldable handle for easy storage and a mechanical click when the mower is on the move.

The Disney Collection Posh Paws Stand B90 Posh Paws is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the most famous Disney star of all, Mickey Mouse, with a raft of new Disney merchandise including blockbuster movie collections and sparkly-eyed Squads of favourite characters.

Heart Pendant & Tiara and Sparkle Sword

Vac-Man

Vivid Stand B70

Character Options Stand E119

Vivid’s Nella the Princess Knight includes role play, plush, dolls, and figures. Role Play presents unique opportunities for a pre-school girl’s property. The Transforming Rose Shield joins the range this autumn/winter, alongside the Heart Pendant & Tiara and Sparkle Sword.

Joining the Stretch Armstrong range is the miniature 8-inch Vac-Man. This new version of the classic villain may be mini but still packs a punch when he mutates into a rigid monster!

M6092 UK_TnP Daily AD_HI.pdf

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NEWS

Full of character The famous Toy Fair character parade didn’t disappoint on the opening morning of the show, as the wave of costume characters brought a wave of colour to the showfloor. From Playmobil to PJ Masks, Peppa to PAW Patrol, all the biggest names in kids’ entertainment were there.

Come see the freak show Emily Polglase, Head of Sales at Big Potato Games, wants you to meet the two-headed potato, bearded lady potato and three-breasted potato in a special freak show on their H46 stand. Oh, and check out the games too!

Lights, Revell, action There are plenty of highlights on the Revell stand, but none quite as illuminating as the latest introductions to the Technik range.

With working lights to bring a variety of vehicles to life – from VW Beetles (pictured) to battleships – these plastic construction sets are sure to go down a storm. See them in their full glory on Gallery 110.

Time to grow Toy industry veteran Martin Grossman shows a Growing Alien some love. “They take seven to 10 days to grow,” he tells the Daily News. “And, even better, they’re made in Britain.” Visit H Grossman on stand E49.

Puppy love!

Launching on the Wind Designs stand, H52, Sweet Pups is a new range of plush puppies cleverly hidden inside sweet-scented foods, from croissants to pastries to macarons. Turn the pastry inside out and, voila, your very own plush pup! There are 12 to collect, and they are available in June. Stop by for a sniff and, while you’re there, get your caricature done by an expert caricaturist with Wind Designs’ Paint Sticks and Chalk Sticks. Lindsay Hardy, Marketing Director, is pictured (right) with National Account Manager Sabine Dix.

Baby boom Having secured the Innovation Award 2017, the Bee Crawl Toy is the latest launch from Skip Hop UK, stand F66, a three-stage toy that caters to precrawling and crawling babies. This motorised toy, which encourages babies to crawl, features flashing lights, textures, a teether and rattle, as well as a sensor to stop it bumping into objects.

“There is nothing quite like it in the industry,” says Gemma Stokes, UK Marketing Executive.

Also brand-new, and part of the Explore & More range, the Jumpscape is a clever foldaway jumper featuring 20 developmental activities and detachable toys, along with a cloud jump counter that cleverly counts how many jumps baby makes, with a round of applause sounding once they reach 100.

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Product Spotlight

Spotlight on Revell Launched at the very end of 2017, Flitt takes the selfie image to new heights... literally! Ready to fly in moments, Flitt lets users take the best aerial selfie or HD video and then instantly upload to their favourite social media platform!

Clip-on propeller guards give added secu rity for drone an d user

olled Contr OS or ei via fre pp using id a t Andro phone, Flit g rt in a sma to fly, lett ct rfe ple is sim me the pe fra HD users e or shoot ng i selfi e shar r o f e b video ocial media via s

ller Prope d ol arms f tly nien conve body e into th ot in n when use

See this at: Revell Gallery 110

Three selectable speed levels make Flitt suitable for use indoors or out

Fitted with an P, ble 1.3M a t s u j d a D video s H P 0 2 7 e t featur t i l F , a r came a timer a camer burst geand ima n as functio d standar

Flitt folds down t oa pocket -sized 145mm for eas y transp ortatio n

Retail Interview

Ten years of toy trading Owner of South London’s Just Williams toy shops and winner of small independent toy retailer of the year at last night’s awards, Vicky Brown talks product, predictions perseverance – and Toy Fair!

Vicky, h ow did you come to work in the toy industry?

Rewind 10 years and my husband Matthew and I were working in the city, doing ridiculous hours and barely seeing our children. Then we were suddenly handed this amazing opportunity of running a toy shop.

A friend of mine, Jacquie Williams, had opened the original Just Williams shop in Herne Hill, and I was her sounding board when she was setting up the business. Then a year later she had to move abroad, so she called me up one night at 10pm and asked if we’d like to take the shop over. Instantly, Matthew and I knew that we were up for Toy the challenge.

Fair is The date we officially took over was becaus great during a skiing holiday in France with How many of you touch, e…you can f our two sons. One morning our youngest are in the business?

What have been your biggest out neweel and try produc Isaac, then just four, announced he It started off with challenges over the decade? t I s r . e a l l was too tired to get out of bed to hit just Matt and I and There was a huge flood in unders y like to the slopes, so we told him that if he tand ite three employees, but Herne Hill, caused by a burst ms we sto got up, we’d buy him now there’s a mains water pipe, and that c k . a toy shop! Isaac is big team of 18. devastated the high street. We “I think it’s an now 14 but he can still Matthew is now lost 80 per cent of our stock. We remember that magical much more behind did re-open but the customers just occupational phrase’s motivational the scenes, and he deals weren’t coming back as so many other hazard when factor! with the financial side and the shops remained closed. It was very sad you run your website, while I’m involved in all but we finally decided to shut the doors business – areas – buying, visual of the original store in January 2016. Now working 24/7” merchandising, of course we have stores in East Dulwich serving customers. and Beckenham and they’re thriving.

I’m very hands on, but I’m trying hard to delegate more and I have two fantastic managers – one in each shop. I think it’s an occupational hazard though when you run your own business – working 24/7.

YEARS OF POWER!

TM & © 2018 SCG Power Rangers LLC

CELEBRATING

INNOVATIVE RANGE OF TOYS ON SHELF JULY 2018 Bandai UK Ltd

IMMERSIVE 360 ° BRAND CAMPAIGN INCLUDING TV, DIGITAL & PRESS ACTIVITY 25TH ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITY FROM SABAN

MEET US AT TOY FAIR IN GALLERY 600

Retail Interview

What are you looking forward to at this year’s Toy Fair?

This is our tenth anniversary attending Toy Fair and I can’t wait to reconnect with old friends and discover a wealth of new and innovative product at London Olympia.

“We’re not at all about clean lines in the shops - I want children to be able to try things out and play with the products”

The first show I attended was January 2008, a couple of months before we officially took over the business – and since then I’ve always come here for ideas. Putty is one example of something I saw first at Toy Fair and knew Day2_TFDaily_HalfPage_BRIO_FINAL.pdf

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and come across plenty of new and exciting toys.

would be great for us, especially as we’re known for our pocket money product range. I also now stock a great toy called Zoobookoo – which was made for children with dyslexia – because I met the lady who invented it at the show.

How do you approach buying at the show?

It’s a fantastic event for networking and to build relationships with suppliers, and there’s a fun, relaxed atmosphere which is exactly what it should be in this business.

I always make some appointments as well as allowing ample time to just walk round

In addition to putty and slime, what’s been selling well for you?

We sell a lot of arts and crafts products, with plenty of art cases by Great Gizmos and Tiger Tribe by Bertoy.

In addition, we sell a huge amount of LEGO, Brio toys and an Irish brand called Lottie Dolls has also been doing very well for us. We also sell a lot of adult puzzles

Fingers crossed!

Just Williams were nominated for the third time as Independent Retailer of the Year (under 150 sq ft) in the Toy Industry Awards - and won last night!

9:22 AM

Discover the full range on stand E140

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The number of years Vicky has been attending Toy Fair. and a wide range of board games as well as a lot of educational and STEM toys.

Ultimately we stock a wealth of different brands so we can keep things fresh and interesting for our regular customers.

We’re quite traditional in our shops, with pastel coloured shelves and fittings that encourage our customers to try things out and play with the products. We’re not at

all about clean lines in the shops - I want children to be able to try things out and play with the products.

What suppliers do you particularly enjoy working with?

We’ve got a great relationship with Great Gizmos, Brio Toys, The Puppet Company, Tobar and Flair and we also work with really big brands like LEGO as well as supporting local companies. A good example of this is Little Wise Toys who make lovely educational toys and are based in Forest Hill.

What are your predictions for big toy trends in 2018?

Last year at Toy Fair we were introduced to Magformers and they’ve sold really well

in the shops, so I’m hoping they’ll have some new products at Toy Fair. I also think squishy toys are going to be a big trend, following on from the success of slime last year. Lots of products are being launched in this area and children love them – they’re even bizarrely collectable.

We asked…

What were your besetsellers last year?

“We sold lots of slime and Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, distributed by Green Elephant, it flew off the shelves.”

The BIG Interview

Family fun!

Stan d B130

Neil Bandtock, MD Epoch making toys tells The Daily News about the company’s commitment to evergreens, new and exciting launches and how they’ve hit the number one spot in craft kits

Neil, Toy Fair is a great start to the year, what is it about the show you look forward to and why?

Toy Fair is a great opportunity to meet our customers face-to-face and show our exciting new products for 2018. Especially this year, we have some truly exciting new launches coming up across our brands!

You’ve been to a great many shows - what makes the London Fair special and stand out?

London Toy Fair comes at a great time, just a few weeks after Christmas, so we can review what’s gone, while also presenting the full year ahead. It’s a perfect environment and size to properly meet as many customers as we can. It is an opportunity for us at Epoch to show off the best of ourselves and our brands with our exciting new stand.

What highs have you been proudest of in the past year at Epoch making toys?

2017 was another record year for Epoch; we have had the highest turnover for our brands, Sylvanian Families and Aquabeads, with double digit growth across the board.

Sylvanian Families has cemented itself well within the top five playset doll brands, and Aquabeads is now the UK’s number one craft kit brand!

“London Toy Fair comes at a great time, just a few weeks after Christmas, so we can review what’s gone, while also presenting the full year ahead”

Neil says: Our mission at Toy Fair is to meet as many customers as possible, and have a direct opportunity to talk with them about their business and how to grow that with the introduction of our new ranges.

And what about products, what have been your runaway successes this past year?

Many lines have worked well across the range, but Cosy Cottage Starter Home and Beechwood Hall from Sylvanian Families have seen great sales increases year on year. Even more encouraging, they are both evergreen products, that continue to attract new consumers, with their iconic red roof house designs and high play value.

Why have they worked, in your opinion?

It all comes down to the product designs. Cosy Cottage Starter Home is the perfect introduction set for any beginners or consumers who want to try Sylvanian Families for the first time. Beechwood Hall is the perfect Christmas purchase, because of its large size, detailed features, price point, and the immense play value that comes with it.

And are they continuing in to the 2018 ranges?

Yes, they are included in the 2018 range.

What’s great about the Sylvanian Families range, is how many core items increase their sales year on year, enabling retailers to plan their growth on these ranges with confidence.

You are launching some real game changers here at London Toy Fair. Tell us about them.

We are launching the new Town series from Sylvanian Families; our biggest launch in 30 years! Previously, Sylvanian Families has always been associated with woodland creatures and wholesome designs based on nature. The new Town series however, has a

The BIG Interview “We are launching the new Town series from Sylvanian Families; our biggest launch in 30 years!”

whole new outlook; the products look more sophisticated, elegant, and have a different, slightly more grown up design element compared to the normal range. The retail reception has been excellent! We have had very encouraging feedback from customers, who are excited about the Town range looking fresh and new.

Sylvanian Families had just welcomed its 30 years in the UK last year, and we felt that it was time to introduce a range that looked quite different, which can excite both our new and existing consumers.

How do you keep something like Sylvanian Families relevant?

Sylvanian Families’ product design and concept of nature, family, and love are what keeps the brand very much relevant to children and their parents. We offer traditional play, which will

never get old because it won’t be affected by trends and always allow space for a child’s imagination.

What has been critical in the growth and success of Epoch making toys?

Both the evolving product development by our head office in Tokyo and the UK team’s total commitment to our brands, have been critical and are the drivers to our growth as a company.

Industry boost came from…

Undoubtedly the new trends that emerged spiced up the industry.

Tell us a little about the new additions to the Aquabeads line?

Aquabeads will have exciting new set with girls’ favourite theme – Unicorns! We have also added sets that look very different from the existing lines, and new licenses such as Disney Tsum Tsum, Elena of the Avalor, and Rapunzel.

How do Epoch making toys achieve its goals at London Toy Fair?

We have a dedicated team of passionate people who are always happy to show customers around our stand, which is bigger and better than ever before! We also offer a nice cup of coffee!

How do you feel trading will be in 2018, versus last year?

With our new ranges, our trading is expected to be very strong this year. Last year was extraordinary for both supplier and the retail environment, but we are optimistic that this year will have a more positive outlook and opportunity of growth for everybody.

Back to the Fair for a moment, how important is it to keep the stand itself looking fresh, exciting and inviting?

It is extremely important for us to offer a stand that is exciting from the outset, is interactive, and beautifully showcases our

new products. We always look from a customer’s perspective when designing the stand, so that it will be interesting, easy to use and try to offer some elements of fun!

What can retailers expect from partnering with Epoch making toys?

As well as exciting, innovative and successful products, that can really build year on sales, our customers can expect integrity, fairness and honesty in the way we conduct our business together.

What exciting promotions or initiatives can we expect?

Our plans this year are more exciting than ever before! To celebrate the launch of our new Town series, we are planning massive PR activities/Roadshows, strategic TV campaigns, influencer campaigns, and a lot of experiential campaigns for our consumers.

“We offer traditional play, which will never get old because it won’t be affected by trends and always allow space for a child’s imagination”

My favourite Epoch product is.. the Chocolate Rabbit Family, our heroes of Sylvanian Families!

What do you personally enjoy about London Toy Fair?

For me, Toy Fair is the only time in the year I can meet almost all of our customers in one place and in just three days. It’s hard work, hectic, busy, but also good fun. Much like our industry!

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NEWS Meet the BTHA Toy Fair wouldn’t happen without the hard work of the amazing people that make up the British Toy and Hobby Association. The Daily News hears how they support the industry not just every January but all year round.

Chris Baxter Fairs and Special Events Manager Throughout all three days the show is open, as well as during build-up and break-down, you can find me in the Organiser’s office, on hand to answer all exhibitor and visitor queries. Applications for Toy Fair 2019 also open on the first day of the show, so I’m busy answering any questions regarding stand space for next year’s show too. Or if you just fancy a sit down away from the chaos on the show floor, then we have a comfy sofa calling out for you!

Natasha Crookes Director of Public Affairs and Communications As one of the lead spokespeople at Toy Fair a lot of the first day at the show is taken up with interviews with the media - on the exciting new toys showcased on the show floor, as well as putting across the BTHA’s key messaging regarding important issues affecting our members and the industry as a whole. I will also be discussing these issues with MPs who we have invited down to the show as part of the BTHA’s public affairs strategy.

And of course, it’s always great to catch up with the friendly faces in the industry and listen to their successes and concerns that can feed back in to the work of the BTHA!

Roland Earl Director General Toy Fair for me is a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues not just from across the industry but from across the world too. The show provides a great platform to develop existing and cement new relationships and a wonderful chance for me to meet up with many of our BTHA members under one roof, to hear how their year has been and listen to concerns that we might need to be aware of in the coming year. We are always looking to improve the show to best suit our exhibitors and visitors, so if you see me wandering around the aisles then please do grab me for a chat with any feedback on the show or the toy business.

The Daily News had a brew with Green Board Games’ CEO Keith Grafham to find out how they’re making the most of Toy Fair 2018 What are you most looking forward to at London Toy Fair 2018?

That’s a tough one, as we enjoy so much about London Toy Fair! We’re able to meet with numerous existing and prospective customers, showcasing our fantastic new products, we also get a chance to use it as a sense check by asking for feedback on any new games and products that are still in the developmental process.

How would you sum up the last trading year?

It was a difficult year both for our industry and the overall retail arena. We had to work smarter, with our resilience really being put to the test, but we managed to pull it together quickly, learning to be more innovative and agile in the way we worked.

Tell us a little about your stand this year, anything new and exciting?

There’s too much to mention! BrainBox Marvin’s Magic, Shaperise, travel games

Froggy and Catch-a-Roo, Draw Back, Fat Brain, Mindware, Gigamic and Re, CycleMe range - the newly- announced Young Games Inventor winner for 2017 will be making a guest appearance at the stand.

Name one hero product that you and your team are very excited about showing at the fair?

That’s like choosing between your children, but if we had to pick just one, it would have to be Shaperise - which came out of our 2016 annual Young Games Inventor competition.

Invented and designed by the winner, 11-year-old Sebastian Fleming-Smith, the game challenges your visual memory, shape recognition and pattern play. The feedback has been outstanding!

And finally – we must ask – what’s your brew of choice?

Rebellion Beer, but only at weekends! During the week it would have to be a proper coffee before 11am and then decaf tea thereafter.

3000

The number of limitededition sets of the new Deluxe Box of Tricks from Marvin’s Magic, Stand H65, an ultimate set with hidden features that “is a tribute to our early executive magic set”, says Marvin Berglas, magician, entrepreneur and founder of Marvin’s Magic. And, the first 300 sets include bonus features like a signature and certificate. Other new box sets include Wicked Pranks & Outrageous Jokes; the Big Top Circus Set, everything from juggling balls to balloon modelling; and Phone Magic, ready-to-go mobile magic tricks. “It’s been a magical year, with our international export growing to 60 countries.

No worries, be happy!

Following on from the huge success of the worry plaque, The Irish Fairy Door Company has introduced The No More Worries Kit. This mini worry plaque works the same way as the worry plaque but is portable enough for kids to take it wherever they go. Packed to the brim with magic the Mini Worry Plaque takes kids’ worries and sends them directly to their fairy - leaving you worry free to go do your best on your test, be super brave at the doctor or enjoy their trip away.

The kit also includes 15 conversation cards for adults to best chat with their beloved little ones, and a feeling journal for kids to jot down their thoughts and feelings. All this lets the fairies do their job and kids are left worry free!

Toy Fair Daily 2018.indd 2

05/01/2018 16:50:41

LICENSOR SPOTLIGHT

Where the magic happens!

Disney licenses are big business – they are the world’s biggest licensor after all! London Toy Fair is packed to the rafters with Disney’s blockbuster properties in toys and games in every category.

Disney rounds up, exclusively for Daily News, just some of the ones to watch in 2018 MARVEL Vampir ina This year will be the biggest ever sales ha VAMPIRINA ve alread year for Marvel as they become the y gone

beyond our exp Vampirina premiered e young fa ctations and o u on 11th October last ns (age d 2 – 8) r clearly keen to are year and is now the imitate as the d Vee ress up number one rated show are the costum best se es [with individuals 4+ and ller, wit interact h t he iv e young kids] reaching singing toys like the d oll 1.6m individuals 4+ in microph and the one als the first six weeks. We o selling well. have just announced a second season, coming soon to screens! Our toy ranges allow fans of the shows the opportunity to extend the story away from the screen and in their own imaginations.

GP Flair / Just Play will launch a fantastic range of products for Vampirina across UK retailers, on line, specialists and grocers and given the success of the show we are confident that this will be our most successful Disney Junior launch since Doc McStuffins.

STAR WARS

21%

of kids tell us (in our kids’ tracker Sept ’17) that they ’re favourite thin g about Marve l is becoming thei Super Hero, w r favourite hich is perfec t for our role pl ay innovation from Hasbro launching for Avengers Infin ity War later in the year

“super hero franchise of choice”, driven by a massive box office releases and record sales of Marvel consumer products in the UK. Entering their 10th anniversary at the movie theatres with four new movies, and an abundance of TV and digital content, we expect sales of Marvel merchandise to explode.

With more super heroes than ever before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, each with unique attributes and new tech and suits, it allows us to offer a diverse product range which lends itself to a variety of play patterns. Franchise will drive sales in merchandise as everyone’s favourite superheroes are brought to life in the form of mini collectibles, plush and interactive toy ranges.

Hasbro’s Black Series ha d year in 20 a great 40th ann 17, with the iv collection ersary limited and intro duction of the Ke nn packagin er vintage g selling fast.

s finished the year We are delighted that in 2017 Star War es it three years mak That erty. prop as the number one toy thanks to all of in a row, and its phenomenal success is . ners our licensee and retail part characters that And The Last Jedi also brought us new The Porgs rs. ume cons of ts quickly captured the hear themselves lent and lm fi the to were a brilliant addition unt amo huge a ing Gain s. perfectly to toy creation Posh Paws sold from ion vers h plus the n, of social media attentio brilliantly.

Han Solo will give us more Looking forward to 2018, the release of t fans, to take home their opportunity than ever for kids, and adul fly their very own pieces of the Star Wars world with and on and other new Falc m nniu Mille versions of the ‘original’ will remain an iconic er tsab Ligh the vehicles. And, of course, from Hasbro. part of the franchise with exciting launches

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ly 2018 sees the relea se of the most anticipa ted sequel from Pixar sin ce Toy Story 2, Incredibles 2. As well as a great film, there will be a fantastic ra nge of product, appealing to all audiences, available from May onwards.

Thinkway have got some fantastic interactive figures that will really surprise and de light the fans of the brand plus Rubies will be supp lying the iconic dres s up . This will be for all characters and age groups, inc lud ing suits, so we genuine muscle ly look forward to se eing our customers – adults as well as children – embracing our creative content by taking home charac te rs, costumes and everything in be tween.

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Character Options coordinators Jackie and Becky, are pictured with Senior Secretary Sharon on stand E119

Galt is game!

No stranger to Toy Fair, John McDonnell, managing director of Galt, has done more than 20 London Toy Fairs, though he’s especially excited about this one. “We’ve had a really good year, partly because we have a lot of legs, but also because we’re doing really well in export, especially in America and the Far East,” says John. Particularly well-known for its Creative Craft range, Galt is extending its Fairy-themed products this show, as well as launching a brand-new range, Crafty Club.

Aimed at younger children, the craft kits are focused on knitting and sewing. Six new Activity Packs and a giant Snakes & Ladders puzzle are also among the 35 new products Galt is unveiling on stand E9

Stand C45

Sales and Marketing Director David Allan on DKL’s stand E66

John Adams Sales Director Bruno Gallone on stand G100 European Sales Manager Ray Carthy, and Felix Jauman, Business Development Manager for GSA Markets, on stand E130 for Funko

Eduk8 MD Christine Lawson and Sales Manager Adrian Leafe on stand F1

Flair Customer Service Executive Lee Dangerfield on stand E39 Funrise Commercial Director James Dixon on stand G90 Great Gizmos Graphic Designer Lauren on stand G20

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Welcome to Toy Fair

Max Mindfulness

Bear necessities Toy Fair 2018 is a first for Max Mindpower and Managing Director Nikki Collins introduces the mindfulness bear to the Daily News This is your first time exhibiting at Toy Fair, for those who are unfamiliar with you, what’s your story, in a nutshell?

GH 2

9

as a tool in everyday situations to put things like emotions into perspective.

As humans we learn through storytelling, so I felt that the books were a necessary addition, so I wrote them using rhyme, as I found children really enjoyed it.

Well, in a nutshell, we are a start-up from Ireland that produces a range with an emphasis on wellbeing in children. My background is psychology, so I felt there was a gap in the market for new educational toys that focused on mindfulness, What made 2018 the perfect among other things, time for you to take and tried to make it “I felt there was a fun and put it into your first stand here at context for children, gap in the market Toy Fair? to show them how It actually worked quite well for new educational they could use it to to take a stand at Toy Fair, enjoy their lives. toys that focused on as my products are now

How did Max Mindpower come about?

mindfulness, among other things, and tried to make it fun and put it into context for children”

It was actually by accident. I was involved in an crash a few years ago.

I was quite badly injured and had a somewhat miraculous recovery, which could be put down to good psychological therapy and – mainly – mindfulness. So I suppose I was my own crash test dummy as I saw the benefits of it in every aspect of my life.

While I was studying psychology, I became aware of the growing problem that anxiety is posing to children. I felt I could be of help and introduce something that could be of benefit to every child. So I developed a bear that could be a cute and cuddly teacher and then, from the research, I started developing the books as I realised it’s important to show children how to use mindfulness to improve things like enjoyment and confidence. This enables them to understand that, with something like anxiety that can make us feel so isolated, we are, in fact, anything but.

It’s important to understand that mindfulness can’t exist in a vacuum and it’s much better used

retail-ready and all the initial market research is completed and extremely positive. I had planned to attend since the beginning of 2017, so I’ve been working towards this for some time!

What have you heard about the show that drew you to Toy Fair?

I heard it’s a wonderfully inclusive platform for members of the toy community and is one of the largest showcases for toys that Europe has. Seeing the list of other exhibitors, I know I’m in the right place!

You’re relatively new to the UK toy market, how have you and the team tackled breaking in with a new brand?

“It’s important to understand that mindfulness can’t exist in a vacuum and it’s much better used as a tool in everyday situations to put things like emotions into perspective”

We have an extremely small team, so it’s taken a lot of hard work, long hours and persistence. I travel to shows, and have done for the past few months, to conduct my market research. This involves a lot of driving and heavy lifting, as I build the stands myself and generally work at shows on my own. I do like it, as other exhibitors are so helpful; I love meeting people in the industry and the general public and getting feedback on the products. Talking is something I really enjoy! In general, I find the UK an incredibly helpful and inclusive place to visit.

Throughout the whole run-up to the show I can’t believe the number of people I’ve met who are so generous with their knowledge and time and are keen to offer me help getting out there. They talk about an Irish welcome, but I’d say the UK could give us a run for our money!

Tell us a little more about Max Mindpower, the products, and what you uniquely bring to retailers.

The Max Mindpower range comprises two bears at the moment, one for under six year old and

one for over sixes. Both play four exercises each, which is done by pressing each paw and the bears breathe along. Each bear comes with three books. One details his life and how he discovered mindfulness, and two other are about meditation and other techniques he uses, such as self-compassion. Each bear also has a book series – Max Junior has eight books, each containing a different story about a primary emotion. Max Senior has 30, but this time they have stories about both primary and secondary emotions which are all depicted as colourful characters that, we hope, will be made into toys themselves. We’re also working on producing animations of the stories and other interesting new products. The brand is pretty unique; I haven’t seen a product like this in retailers and I hope they like it!

Who should be sure to stop by the stand and see you – and what types of retailers are you hoping to see?

Anybody interested in the concept and the products should stop by and see me! I’m hoping to see all kinds of retailers from independents to large chains and I’m interested in seeing what opportunities there are for my brand.

And finally, what would make your first Toy Fair?

If my product was well received and we make loads of new connections within the industry. I don’t have too many pre-conceived ideas as I’m just taking it one day at a time.

PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT

Monster hit!

The master toy collection for Pokémon is to be seen on a new stand at Toy Fair this year: E119 — and the team at Character Options is delighted to be unveiling its very first range with this iconic license Pokémon is unquestionably one of the hottest properties in town and this year the toy industry is set to gain great advantage — and retail pounds — thanks to an exciting new collaboration between London Toy Fair exhibitor Character Options and the global master toy licensee, Wicked Cool Toys.

The partnership ensures that toy retailers will see 70 per cent more product across action figures, playsets, plush, and role-play based on the hit Pokémon animated series from summer 2018 — terrific news!

Among this product explosion will be four size categories in the action figure range, each

pocket money Clippies, soft Poké Balls, and plush characters right through to a Pikachu feature plush and super 18-inch, life-size, super-soft and cuddly Pikachu plush.

And that’s not all of course. Additionally, there’s a choice of fun role-play items will allow kids to really use and stretch their imaginations and get into the character by acting out the Pokémon

Gotta collect ‘em all!

Asmodee’s Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) are top-sellers too – head to stand E109 for the latest!

The continuing success of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) will be celebrated in style with the release of the new Sun & Moon – Ultra Prism expansion in 2018. This set of more than 150 cards is the first to spotlight the recently released Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon video games, and introduces a new mechanic while featuring amazing Pokémon such as Dusk Mane Necrozma and Dawn Wings Necrozma.

staying true to the characters scale: 2, 3, 4.5 and 12-inch. The 3-inch and 4.5-inch figures are fully articulated with unique action posing, allowing figures to hold different battles.

As the season rolls on, regular waves of new figures will be launched ensuring retailers always have something new on shelf. Music to any retailer’s ears, of course.

Plush has always been an essential purchase for fans and the exciting new range offers an array of new and appealing toys. Among them are the

Stand E119

gameplay for themselves. Whether it’s launching Pikachu and friends from a Toss ‘n’ Pop Poké Ball or wearing their Poké Balls with pride (complete with 2-inch figurine) on the belt of their Clip ‘n’ Go Poké Ball Set — there’s something for every fan!

Jon Diver, Joint MD at Character Group, says of this newly developed range and partnership: “We are thrilled to be adding such an iconic and powerhouse property as Pokémon to Character’s product line up. Toys are a major part of the Pokémon brand and bring a tangible dimension to the fun for kids. The partnership with Wicked Cool Toys spells exciting times ahead and gives

“As the season rolls on, regular waves of new figures will be launched ensuring retailers always have something new on shelf” Character a tremendous opportunity to add further breadth and depth to our product range.

We cannot wait to showcase the range in London.”

The Character Options’ Pokémon collection launches in July and will be aggressively marketed with three dedicated TV commercials to support each product category, and presence in-store will be high-impact with POS and FSDU displays.

NEWS Simon Says…

Introducing Stella Chocolate, the main character in Sylvanian Families’ new Town range.

“Stella is Freya’s older sister,” says Simon Riggs, visual display manager. “A whole new town is opening in Sylvania, and Stella has opened her fashion boutique in the Grand Department Store.

The town is where Sylvanians visit on a special day out.” Visit the new town on the Epoch stand, B130.

Face painting made easy Pop along to John Adams on stand G100 to see just how simple face painting can be with Face Art. No need to have any art skills with this product – just choose your stamp design, paint it and apply for perfect results.

It’s easy for parents to apply on their child, for friends to do together or for a child to do by themselves.

Kids can enjoy creating their own festival-inspired Face Art with six stamps that they can mix and match for various design combinations.

Here come the girls Schleich is introducing a new quartet of characters to its Horse Club range at Toy Fair.

Sofia, Hannah, Sarah and Lisa are the four new characters set to drive the range forward in 2018.

The new rider figures are fully movable and can ride, sit and grip for realistic imaginative play.

Girls will also want to add the new Caravan For Secret Club Meetings to their toy box, and in September will be wishing for the new Large Horse Stable with House & Stable - see it at Gallery 100.

Full pedal ahead Looking for go-karts? Head over to Global Opportunities on stand B80 to view their new Monzi-RS. Two years in the making, little ones can feel as though they are the track racers of the future. With a foldable seat and steering wheels this neat pedal car needs no tools to fold flat, enabling it to be easily stored when not in use.

A USP is the patented tyres, with a rubber tread and EVA foam interior enabling a bit of soft give, but maintaining the grip of the rubber.

With both forward and backward peddling options this nifty little number is available now.

Chris W readies reghitt up to r ide

Wilton Bradley have got the X Factor Dave Shepherd, area manager, and singer Kathleen Anne Greene go head to head on Wilton Bradley’s stand E89, on the new X Factor Bluetooth microphone speakers.

“It’s a first-time licence from Simon Cowell for X Factor, and we have it for three years,” says Dave, who is the second best singer in the duo. “It’s got LED lights, 10 metre range, echo function and voice changer. Come and see it in action!”

When Sally met Shaun

Twenty years on and Shaun the Sh eep is as popula Sinco Creations r as ever over on stand Gallery 16 the 2.

“W e’re having a so items in the new ft launch for the range,” says sale key s director Sally movie coming ou Hunter. “There’s t in April 2019, an a bi g d we’re inviting business cards on visitors to drop the stand to win their a studio tour at It’s the first time Aardman Anim they’ve ever do at ions. ne anything like draw on the fina this. We’ll be m l day of the show ak ing the . These key item and there’s lots s are just the be more to come ne gi nning xt year.”

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NEWS The Daily News had a cuppa with Christine Nicholls, Golden Bear ViceChairman and Director of Product Development, to hear about their Bush Baby additions What are you most looking forward to at Toy Fair 2018?

Showcasing our brand-new additions to the Bush Baby World collectable range which took the world by storm last year! We’ve extended the collection significantly for 2018 with the AW hero line being the magnificent Shimmer Palace, home to Princess Melina.

And we have our exciting new Build-A-Bot range for kids from five years, taking Golden Bear into a whole new STEAM learning arena!

How would you sum up the last trading year?

We had a great year in 2017!

Along with our phenomenal success with Bush Baby World the company was also included within the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain list.

Tell us a little about your stand this year, anything new and exciting?

Our theme for Bush Baby World is Party at the Palace – you can meet a real-life Princess Melina and sit on her throne!

Visitors can get hands on with, and race our Build-A-Bot range too.

Retail Corner Bill Deakin, owner, Silly Billy’s Toy Shop, Hebden Bridge

Why do you come to Toy Fair?

I don’t understand people who don’t! We expect customers to touch product and see it in real life – we should do the same. You can’t buy by just looking at a catalogue or online.

What do you look for in new product?

Quality, packaging and price. There are a few new lines I want to see while I’m here.

Have you placed any orders today?

I have, unusually. Playmobil did really well for us last year and I’ve bought from the new ranges as we were low on stock. I also bought some good general stock from Ty. How’s the last year been for you?

I’ve been in business for 21 years and it’s been steady, a very good year,

And finally – we must ask – what’s your brew of choice?

Don’t miss

Errmm, that would have to be a cup of good old English breakfast tea!

Product: Black Widow – Monster Smash Ups Company: Wilton Bradley Tel: 01626 835400 Web: www.wiltonbradley.com Stand: E89

Leaps & bounds LeapFrog is back at Toy Fair this year, following its acquisition by VTech.

“Everything at this year’s show is brand new, we’ve got 29 new products for visitors to see,” says Product Manager Mike Lynch.

Demonstrating the Magic Window Globe, he adds: “It’s interactive and features high-quality video content from the BBC. Aimed at 5+, players can put their skills to the test in problem solving games, play competitive games and learn their Capital cities.”

Leap over to VTech’s stand, Gallery 500, to learn more.

Dinosaur roar!

Fizzing over Louise Ingram from Adventure Toys found the BTHA’s inflatable champagne bottle yesterday to bag herself a bottle of the real thing. The BTHA is hiding the inflatable each day to promote the fantastic Make Time 2 Play campaign.

Travel back in time on the Playmobil stand, Gallery 210, with the brand-new Explorers range. “Featuring three heroes and their dog, you can take a journey through time to Dinosaur Island,” says PR manager Suzie Crawford, “it’s my personal favourite.”

Unicorns and fairies are also making headlines on the stand, as well as new Aquarium, 2018 Fifa World Cup and Winter Sports collections.

Greenhouse News

STEAM-ing ahead Celebrating on Stand GH30 are Ahrani Logon and Brett Haase, who have just included in the 2018 Toy Fair’s Hero Toys list for their Augmentifyit Space augmented reality (AR) quiz game, which has just been updated. The pair, who have a background in science and engineering, also bagged a Madeformums award in October. At Toy Fair they have launched a new STEAM learning game based on the most important elements in the body. The cards can be used as flash cards for children as young as three and can offer a fun learning experience with a quiz game for older children, teens and adults, who can always keep on learning. Passionate about making science and STEAM fun, they are hoping to help other brands introduce STEAM and AR into their range.

Good to be green Cuddle up with Green Bean, the soft toy from the famous Green Bean Collection, which is filled with fun adventures for little ones. Green Bean is an adorable soft toy and the star of a collection that brings all the stories to life through exploring the world, learning new things and having fun adventures. Meet Green Bean on stand B99.

Make it up Sales D e Superv partment isor Ke nichi Iwasak i with t he Ninja F rog

Anime inspired Making its worldwide debut is the Bikko range of building toys from Keak Japan Co on stand GH34. Designed by developers inspired by Japanese animation, each toy has a dual personality, for instance transforming from a police car into a flying spaceship, and the Ninja Frog is a firm favourite. Created to be a build-and-play toy, with moveable joints and pieces, each toy in the range features a vehicle and figure, all at the same price point. Eight new toys will be released every three months, making them very collectable.

Building a house or castle is simple with the Bildy building system on stand GH46. Created from sturdy greyboard with small pieces to connect them, the beauty of these creations is that they are big enough for children to climb in and make dens, and yet pack away into a flat box – perfect for spacestrapped parents.

This is the first time Bildy has appeared at Toy Fair, as founder Jayne Bromfield has spent the past four years developing the product – which started out on Kickstarter. The starter set can make a house, car or puppet theatre. Chalkboard pieces allow children’s creativity to shine through, There are also smaller sets to make dolls houses.

Off on holibobs!

Laur a Nich olso n with Holi b Bear ob

Meet Holibob Bear, designed to make the long summer holidays more fun for kids and parents!

Holibob Bear on stand GH8 is the brainchild of Laura and Richard Nicholson, who found that, with three children, the six-week holidays were one long round of “what are we doing today”.

Holibob Bear comes with his own Pawsport and journal as well as Golden Ticket and Your Choice cards to encourage good behaviour. Each morning, Holibob Bear can help tell the children what will be happening that day, with the help of his blackboard and other accessories.

Elfing around As such a huge Christmas seller, The Elf of the Shelf was launched 12 years ago, and continues to grow with its latest addition – Letters to Santa.

Beautifully illustrated, each box contains eight pieces of special paper and pens. Having written your letter to Santa let the magic start. With the help of an adult, the paper can be placed into the oven for a couple of minutes and it then shrinks to elf size ready to be delivered to the North Pole!

Sales Director Lewis Finch is pictured elfing out on stand GH16.

TnP - Show Magazine Jan 2018 - Day2.pdf 1 04/01/2018 14:44:15

C

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GH36 Visit us Toy at Stand London Fair 2018

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SAFETY TESTING FOR RIDE ON TOYS

Physical testing of ride on toys to determine if the safety aspects meet the required standard.

MEET THE EXPERT

Simon Stokes – Technical Consultant

If you would like advice on Ride on Toys or any other Toy product, come and meet Simon on stand GH36. He has 25 years experience in toys and juvenile products, as well as being a member of several BSI committees responsible for juvenile product safety standards.

www.bureauveritas.co.uk/cps

Greenhouse Interview

: d n Sta 36 GH

Putting it to the t Safety testers Bureau Veritas help the toy industry keep their products safe and conforming to regulations.

Ian Staton, EMEA Digital Marketing Manager, explains more about what they do and the challenges facing toy makers and retailers in 2018 Tell us more about Bureau Veritas and what you do?

“

BUREAU VERITAS SERVES IN EXCESS OF 400,000 CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE WORLD.

”

Bureau Veritas is a global leader in testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services. We help businesses improve safety, sustainability and productivity, and our clients include the majority of leading brands in retail, manufacturing and other industries. Bureau Veritas serves in excess of 400,000 customers across the world. Our expert teams have the specialist professional expertise and vast experience to help reduce risks and improve performance, while our approach is innovative and tailored to every client we work with.

Have there been any new developments for Bureau Veritas since last year?

We have had a refresh of our marketing and sales support

material, using new images, which show the consumer as the focus of what we do. We have introduced new and exciting digital channels, creating interesting features to help show that working with Bureau Veritas isn’t just about regulatory testing, we help make our clients products safe for their consumer, have the highest quality and are reliable for their intended lifetime.

Who are you hoping to make contact with at Toy Fair?

We welcome everyone to our stand, we are all very warm and welcoming and love to hear about new innovative products in the marketplace. We particularly like hearing about the latest trends, exciting products and anything you want to tell us about you or your brand. So nip by and say hello.

Special Edition Ranges Spe HEAVYWEIGHT MARKETING CAMPAIGN

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- Lithographic Prints - Mugs - Keychains *CONCEPT ARTWORK

*SUBJECT TO LICENSOR APPROVAL

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Day 2.indd 1

CLICK Creations

(HK) Ltd.

10/01/2018 16:12

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e test

OUR EXPERT TEAMS HAVE THE SPECIALIST PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND VAST EXPERIENCE TO HELP REDUCE RISKS AND IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, WHILE OUR APPROACH IS INNOVATIVE AND TAILORED TO EVERY CLIENT WE WORK WITH

How could retailers benefit from stopping by your stand?

This year we have two leading industry experts on our stand and, between them, they have more than 45 years’ experience in the toy industry.

They will be on the stand to give the most up-todate regulatory advice, suggest improvements on product design and give general guidance on anything anybody wants to know. So come along, bring your products and show us what you are excited about this year.

What is your USP? UK-based testing with global standards.

Is there something that you offer that people perhaps wouldn’t expect?

Our laboratory in Warrington, Cheshire, is a UKASaccredited one-stop shop resource, which offers detailed testing for a wide range of products helping organisations meet standards in quality, safety, environmental protection and social responsibility. This includes physical, analytical and flammability testing for items such as toys, textiles, electronics and sports equipment.

What are going to be the main issues in the safety and legislation arena in 2018?

Simon Stokes Technical Consultant

”

We are seeing an increase in restricted chemicals used in consumer products where the retailer is unaware that these chemicals have been used during manufacture. In 2017 alone there were multiple news articles where products were recalled for safety reasons. We expect retailers will be running more due diligence testing in 2018.

In conjunction with the BTHA we have developed an online Chemical Toolkit, which is a set of guidelines for their members and for customers of Bureau Veritas CPS UK to help identify products that are at risk. Take a look at our joint website, www.toyograph.co.uk, for more information.

You have been coming to Toy Fair for a long time? Why is it such an important event for you?

We see Toy Fair as a fundamental part of our business and also an ideal opportunity to interact with our clients and future clients in their own environment.

Come and try out the full range at our stand Gallery 308 www.petron.info

Tel: 01296 632573

Email: martin@petron.info

jumini

made to play

r e v i l e d d n a d n a t S itement on lenty of exhcibitors p h it w y a g yesterd a few ex was buzzinews caught up with 18 0 2 ir a F N y y To Dail stands. The

Paint your own players in the freekick and penalty shoot-out game from The Minimaster Sports Company, with Directors William Harper and Simon Winfield on stand GH58

Greenhouse News

Playpress creators Mike Wyatt and Matthew Wright want to build a NewWorld with their eco-friendly play people and buildings on stand GH69

The shape of it Stems is a fascinating construction toy – all the pieces are the same shape and yet they can be used to make an infinite number of different models as Founder and CEO Euan Lind demonstrates on stand GH50. The pieces click together into mathematical and creative shapes, and also have potential as fidget toys. Euan is already getting the opportunity to sell directly into schools.

Bowling along Invented in their garden shed, Leeson and Sarah George have brought Push It Games to Toy Fair.

A kind of table version of bowls, the counters are wooden and have a retro feel. It’s the ideal game to play in a pub or round a kitchen table, and is really portable, as it comes in a small bag. Perfect for holidays try it for yourself on stand GH24

Arckit CEO Damien Murtagh makes architecture child’s play on stand GH2

Eve Horne and Sue Shackleton of Easy Read Time Teacher on stand GH5

Tahira Mian with Little Boffins’ anatomical models on stand GH13

Pretty putty

Forever Collectibles Account manager Byron Hennessy picks his favourite Eekeez character on stand GH13

You’ll be putty in their hands with the new Easter colours from Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, including colourchanging Blue Skies, Orange Blossom, Speckled Egg and pretty pink colour Sweetheart in time for Valentine’s Day. Green Elephant Trading’s MD Nici Wilcox and Operations Director Catherine Purdy are pictured here on Stand GH42

NEWS A Plum celebration!

“Lego is my favourite toy – it’s stood the test of time, is fantastic fun, but also safe, sturdy and long lasting. And doesn’t need a single battery either!”

Celebrating 30 years of outdoor play, active play specialists Plum has a number of new launches on stand C50. Much more than a play house, the fourth addition to the The Discovery range, launched last year, is the Nature Play Hideaway, a wooden structure that’s “designed to bring nature on to a terrace, and is a great for a small space”, says Paul Schaffer, commercial director. Providing “sensory messy play” with its mud kitchen and mini potting shed, the hideaway offers plenty of play value.

Christine Lawson, MD, Eduk8 Worldwide

60

The number of challenges in Smart Toys & Games’ brand-new Smart Game, Squirrels Go Nuts, which is aimed at ages 6+ and involves sliding pieces around a board to get the nuts into the holes.

The company offers Smart Games, Smart Max, which is all about magnetic discovery, and Geo Smart, which is focused on space this season. “Our USP with Geo Smart is our Patented Double Safety System,” says Julia Cake, national account manager (pictured). Find them on Stand F36.

MISS k-e DON’T t: Disc Joc

Produc s : TKC Sale o.uk y n a p m o C .tkcsales.c Web: www 9 Stand: E9

Toy Fair Gallery Stand 630

For Ireland enquiries please contact: Banaghan & Co. Ltd. · Co. Tipperary Tel. +35367 63800 · Fax +35367 63801 irishfairydoorcompany@banaghans.ie

For UK enquiries please contact: Alpha Toys Ltd. · Phone 0035367 63800 Fax 0035367 63801 · irishfairydoorcompany@alpha-toys.co.uk

Cleaning up at Toy Fair Melissa & Doug is all about “taking back childhood�. So says David Lubliner, head of customer marketing Europe. “Our products, which cover everything from puzzles and playsets, to dress-up and arts and crafts, are about fostering open ended play, offering toys that help develop creativity and imagination.�

And the latest launches on Stand D11/ D20 are no exception, with plenty of let’s pretend-style products, including a play food salad set, Fresh Mart Grocery Store and play house vacuum cleaner, all made of wood. It’s the new Pet Vet Playset, though, that David believes will “be really big for us this year.

Tiana unboxes at

Toy Fair

Tapping into the pr od industry is going rig uct opening experience, which is w he ht now, Vivid has teamed up with Yo re the toy Tiana, who has 7.7 uTube sensation, million subscriber s and 2.5 billion vie and Me channel, w w here she delivers an unboxing expe s on her Toys accessories. Tiana rience of toys and is on the Vivid Stan d of collectables – lit tle boxes, which po (B70) showing her new range before unveiling m p with confetti whe ini accessories ba sed around toys an n squeezed, on Tiana’s channe d accessories l, giving all childre n th playsets, which in clude a little doll of e unboxing experience. Mini Tiana and a YouTub children to film th em e experience of unbo selves with the mini phone stand, an Studio, allows xing. d get a real

Gaining royal status KidKraft is celebrating 50 years of play with its new Disney Princess Royal Celebration Dollshouse proudly on display on stand H30. To reach its royal status, this is the tallest dolls house to date to feature in the company’s range, with seven rooms (one being a secret) enabling up to five princesses to have a dedicated room in the house.

With furniture included and made with durable MDF this new Princess home will be available autumn/winter 2018 with a ÂŁ189 RRP. Teo Rangelova, Key Account Manager UK, has found her lovely new home.

ROCK UP & WIN ! e s i r e p Sha ith

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by Seba

see it, it, match win it.

Family

8+

2 - 4 Players

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Reiner Knizi

Reiner Knizia

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Can you catch and

7+

3-6 Players

ON THE HOUR, EVERY HOUR, FOR AN EXTRA SPECIAL DEAL!

'UGRX JOTR VG CRG OėGRKNI ěJG EJCNEG ěO VKN TP ěO (4'' ICMGS VKěJ CNX )$) ORFGR OUGR  VJKEJ KNEĚTFGS 5JCPGRKSG (ROIIX OR %CěEJ C 4OOĀ* 6O DG KN HOR C EJCNEG OH DOOSěKNI XOTR DTNFĚG CĚĚ XOT NGGF ěO FO KS DG ěJG ĂRSě PGRSON ěO UKSKě 5ěCNF ' Cě ěJG ěTRN OH ěJG JOTR CNF SCX ¢+¼8' 41%-'& 72 61 9+0Ā£

Includes 11 Kangaro o figures

Family

BY VISITING GBG AT STAND E15

Family

5+

2+ Players

[*] Terms and Conditions apply This offer can be used in conjunction with other GBG show offers!

This offer is running every day, every hour at Toy Fair (subject to availability).

There will only be one winner for each hour of Toy Fair.

Orders must include one of the following games: Shaperise, Froggy or Catch a Roo. Orders over ÂŁ250 qualify for 3 additional games per order.

Orders over ÂŁ500 qualify for 6 addtional games per order.

sales@greenboardgames.com 01494 538999 www.greenboardgames.com

Don’t forget to follow & like us @BrainBoxGames

NEWS My favourite toy Chloe Lamb, Orchard Toys Stand B12 My favourite toy without a doubt is the Sylvanian Families range. I used to play with these as a child and love their traditional style combined with the infinite opportunities for imaginative play!

Crochet characters

Retail Corner Jonathan Fulwell & Jeff Hill, De Havilland Aircraft Museum, St Albans “As an aircraft museum we’re looking for products that relate to aircraft or engineering.

One exhibitor who has really stood out for us this year has to be Cobi. Although they are new to the UK the company is 30 years’ old. For us they provide a new type of model for our customers from die-cast models for collectors through to little Airfix-style models aimed at children.”

trend in larity of the macramé Tapping into the popu brand-new tion has unveiled its Japan, Click Distribu t to launch Gallery 120, and it’s se IP, Meegos on stand with a TV campaign. in March, kicking off r of rtrade, the first orde All handmade and fai ngladesh. y 4,800 women in Ba Meegos helped emplo chet + Pups, features six cro The first series, Dogs llectable 12 Mini Meegos, all co characters along with minis to as a family, with two and designed to match one main. ld in

by Animals in the Wor This will be followed als, im cus on endangered an the autumn, with a fo ucation too. providing kids with ed telling with a neck booklet, “Each Meego comes ve website d we have an interacti the animal’s story, an nalities,” w habitats and perso too, where kids can vie rketing Manager. says Max Rodman, Ma

In a tangle

Celebrating 125 years of Britains!

Patsy Boyle, new account manager at Tobar, ties herself up in knots with the company’s exclusive new licence from Tangles. “It’s a fantastic line, offering a fresh look with both classic and metallic ranges, she says. “We have exclusive distribution, backed up with TV advertising.” Head to Tobar ’s stand, Gallery 305.

Display or play Taking foam to creative and constructive heights, DKL Marketing is exclusively previewing its new Bloco line of construction kits featuring highdensity foam pieces that allows kids to make their own toys, everything from dragons and dinosaurs, to robots and elephants.

There are 18 kits, big and small, and each offers different design options, shown on the box. “So far, everyone is absolutely loving it,” says Emma Damerell, marketing executive of DKL. Once built, the pieces can be displayed and played with as connectors enable the pieces to be moved in different ways. Check them out on Stand E66.

This Toy Fair, on stand Gallery 520, Tomy is paying tribute to 125 years of farming heritage with its Britains brand, the oldest farming specialist in the UK and Ireland, which creates replicas of real-size machinery – tractors and other vehicles – along with accessories, animals and implements, all used on the farm.

“The Britains’ fanbase is big, particularly among the farming community,” says Brand Manager Pedro Sousa, “with the brand being popular with both children and adult collectors”.

Featuring 67 models, across the 116 range for children aged 3-8 years and the 132 range for children and collectors, Britains is unveiling 15 new models this year over a number of licences. New products include the JCB Fastrac 8330; the John Deere 6195M; and the Keenan MechFiber 365, set to launch in March alongside the real-sized version.

“We also have all-new packaging, all in red, but segmented by different colour brands and licence,” says Pedro.

Licensee Spotlight

It’s raining Mr. Men! Daily News caught up with Julian Garner, half of the team that founded Jumini, the wooden toys company that is showing off its licensed Mr. Men Little Miss toys at the show

How did the partnership come about?

There’s a story about that! We were at a show last year – it was our first year – and I was talking to a customer when the lady from Sanrio came and spoke to a member of staff. I finished with my customer and asked who it was. They said “oh they asked if we were interested in the Mr. Men licence and I said no”. I sent the staff member off after her, she grabbed her and brought her back!

What drew you to taking on the Mr. Men Little Miss licence?

The styles and colours of the characters match our brightlycoloured traditional wood toys.

We could see it would be a match.

GH 26

What does the Mr. Men Little Miss licence add to the range?

It is a trusted brand in its own right, which transfers to us so we in turn become a trusted brand. Grandparents will buy it and so will parents, which gives us a broader customer base. Everybody’s heard of the Mr. Men.

Does the fact that Mr. Men Little Miss is a heritage brand work well with your traditional products?

Yes. Nikki and I have six kids between us and they have all been brought up with Mr. Men Little Miss – it’s well recognised and a trusted brand. But also, the fact is that having licensed products gives us a point of difference and there aren’t many wood toys that fit in with many of the modern licences.

What makes Jumini such a great partner for licences?

We’re small but perfectly formed! We also have the ability to develop from start to finish very quickly.

We went from nothing to a sample in only three months – we signed the licence in March last year, and nine months later we have product available.

If someone tells me something will take 12 months, I want it done in six! The other key selling point is that we offer

TV318

Popcorn Machine

“We offer decent quality at a sensible price, and the addition of a licence still makes the product a good price” decent quality at a sensible price, and the addition of a licence still makes the product a good price.

The company name Jumini comes from the combination of our names, and the fact we’re both of small stature!

What are your hopes for the range? Do you see it as primarily for the majors or indies?

It’s nice if you can pull a major – that’s every startup’s dream, but we are basing our strategy on supporting independents.

There is no case quantity – you can order one of everything if you want so, for smaller shops with a small budget and little storage, they can fill their shelves rather than their storeroom.

You have a lot of product for a start-up company.

We’ve got some support from the manufacturer who was looking for someone to help distribute in the UK, so we work together, while it keeps orders sensible for us. It’s not a shortterm thing – we’re off to Germany next week as we have a European distribution agreement for the range. The factory will finance the Nuremburg show for us, which helps us extend the range quickly.

What licensed product do you have?

In the My First Mr. Men Little Miss wooden toy collection there is a Lacing Game, a Shape Sorter House, Mr. Bump Magnetic Puzzle, Block Puzzle, Stacking Train and Mr. Tickle Bead Maze.

Finally, what did you do before you started up Jumini?

I used to run a fireworks company with my brother and before that I was an IT and business change manager for Severn Trent Water. People often say fireworks and toys are very different businesses, but they have many similarities – both are sourced from China, both heavily-regulated industries, and it’s all about customer needs, selecting or developing the right product and getting it into the country with the right regulations.

Tell us more about Jumini We’re a small family business It started with just the two of us – Julian and Nikki Garner – we’re now up to three staff plus sales agents.

2018 EASTER ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Toy Fair Gallery Stand 632

Find out more by visiting DKL on stand E66 For Ireland enquiries please contact:

DKL MARKETING LTD 11 Deer Park Road, Northampton, NN3 6QD, UK tel. 01604 678780 email. sales@dkl.co.uk

www.dkl.co.uk

Banaghan & Co. Ltd. · Co. Tipperary Tel. +35367 63800 · Fax +35367 63801 info@banaghans.ie

For UK enquiries please contact: Alpha Toys Ltd. · Phone 0035367 63800 Fax 0035367 63801 · info@alpha-toys.co.uk

NEWS Cuddle and chew an lay Blankie is The Giraffe P ination ractive comb adorable, inte nket y, comfort bla to g in th e te a iendly of with a soft, fr y to y it v ti ac and d four soft body, an animal face, a aling p Visually ap e activity paws. ith entertaining w and tactually rated fabrics brightly-deco textures to and different eze, each feel and sque ething for the paw has som ct with – one baby to intera chew piece, has a teether/ d ly rattle, a thir another a jing and ul fabric tags, rf u lo co s rt o sp eak a push-to-squ the fourth has e ak m aranteed to stripy star, gu a st gle. From Fie any baby gig d D2.

Crafts on stan

Looking puzzled If you’re looking for puzzles, think Rubik’s. With the 80s currently on trend and picked as one of the 2018 Toy Fair’s Hero Toys, the new Rubik’s 500piece jigsaw is set to be a huge hit and will be available in April from Gibson. On stand E40 the company has 50 new products for 2018, including Spirit Of...

50s, 60s, 70s and 80s montage jigsaws. And they recently re-launched the Civilization game. Sam Goodburn, Marketing & PR Executive, says: “This game takes around six to eight hours to complete – so it’s not for the faint hearted!”

3.5

billion The number of views Zimpli Kids’ products Gelli Baff and Slime Baff have garnered in the past two years from independent reviewers worldwide. “Social media marketing has played a major role in getting Zimpli Kids to the fantastic position we are in today, particularly on YouTube,” says Eejay Enyi, Sales Director, pictured sliming around on stand B35 with Sales Account Manager Yamah Massaquoi.

My favourite toy My favourite toy of all time was the Sylvanian Families toy boat because I used to love collecting the little families of different animals to play with within the boat – and loved the fact it had a little washing line on top of the boat to hang the animals clothes out to dry! Emma Grant, Indigo Jamm, Stand H40

Wake up to wood!

Green day Twelve-year-old Hannah Padbury was announced as 2018’s Young Games Inventor yesterday on Green Board Games’ stand, E15, with her Alpha-Chase game.

“I’m so proud,” says Hannah (pictured), who won her 5’4” height in BrainBox games. Head of Sales Sarah Winter adds: “It’s a brilliant competition for inventors aged up to 16. The previous winner’s Shaperise game is being sold in China and Spain.”

Having seen its wooden product sales double in the year-to-date, distributor AB Gee has taken on toy brand Tooky Toys, which delivers a huge range of wooden toys mainly for pre-school that are “big, chunky, bright and natural, with FSCaccredited wood and waterbased paints”, says Alex Minchin, marketing manager. “We are running with the wooden ethos that is currently a strength in the market. We were especially struck by the colour and strong marketing and packaging and will be carrying 260 lines, distributing exclusively in the UK.” Also on stand B40 are the spring/summer 2018 lines from big-name brands such as Hasbro, Mattel, and MGA.

Getting Gruffalo Milly & Flynn has chosen Toy Fair 2018 as their chosen venue to show its new Gruffalo licensed gifting range, available from September.

Stand B115 has snap cards, puzzle playset, bamboo dinner set, height chart and also snakes and ladders.

Sales and Marketing Manager Sally Mason says: “We’re so excited to show our new range featuring the much loved Gruffalo licence. This is the first opportunity for visitors to view this range and we’ve received extremely positive feedback.”

Sally Mason standing proud with the new Gruffalo range

ASMODEE GOES

BANANAS! Games grown and picked by Bananagrams Inc. —coming soon to Asmodee UK! Toy Fair Stand Number: E109

01420 593 593 sales@esdeviumgames.co.uk

Bananagrams - Toy Fair Daily Newspaper.indd 2

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TREND FOCUS

Mission PAW Mission Cruiser

Dino’s Delightful Day Book LeapFrog Gallery 500 Children can follow Dino’s Delightful Day Book Dino as he enjoys visits to places such as the lake and the zoo.

This lovely story with letter sounds will help early reading skills.

Hide & Squeak Eggs Tomy Stand 520 Tomy Toomies bath and toy range has seen plenty of success from hero products such as Hide & Squeak Eggs, designed to celebrate the sheer joy of play while encouraging shared playtime between children and parents.

Spin Master Stand E131

Tummytime Ted Galt Stand E9

PAW Patrol keeps its fans up to speed with a new range of toys based on the latest TV theme Mission PAW, a highlight being the Mission PAW Mission Cruiser, a new moveable mission command centre.

Tummytime Ted is a soft, friendly teddy with his picnic for the all important tummy time play. This toy is ideal for home or for travel and is fully machine washable.

… r o f g n Looki hool Pre-sc A fun and competitive category, pre-school toys are at London Toy Fair in abundance, with everything from puzzles and stacking to great licensed toys — take your pick! Here’s just a smidge of what’s on offer…

Memory Hexagon Game Eduk8 Stand F1 This 3-in-1 game helps children match picture cards to the images on the hexagonal boards.

Perfect for matching and hand-eye co-ordination skills, it can also be used as a picture pairs memory game, and for identification of insects and animals.

Alphabet Activity Puzzle Orchard Toys Stand B12 The Look and Find activity puzzle range is a new way to learn from Orchard Toys.

Covering key pre-school topics, including the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colours, each box contains two jigsaw puzzles.

Pop-up Farmyard Friends Padgett Bros Stand E16 Say hello to the pop-up farmyard friends in this Funtime pre-school toy, which encourages fine motor skills as little ones push, slide, click and turn the buttons to make the animals appear.

Basket Activity Centre Clementoni Gallery 140 Start little ones shooting hoops from a very early age with the brilliant Basket Activity Centre. This two-in-one game with fun basketball hoop and activity centre is packed with lights, sounds and songs to add to the sporty fun.

Stacking Giraffe Fiesta Crafts Stand D2 Fiesta’s Stack & Play is the toy that combines wooden stacking rings with colourful flowershaped fabric pieces, allowing children to get creative with stacking and sorting.

BUILD AND PERSONALISE YOUR VERY OWN ROBOTIC PET WATCH IT COME TO LIFE! Build-A-Bot brings S.T.E.A.M learning to children 5-12

Dedicated TV advertising, digital and PR activity throughout 2018

LONDON TOY FAIR STAND E69

Hugely successful launch in the US and Australia

I’m really easy to build!

!

S U E E S D N A E M O C

Telephone: +44 (0) 1952 608308 All enquiries: customerservices@goldenbeartoys.co.uk www.goldenbeartoys.com Daily News_Jan 2018 Day 2_BuildaBot.indd 1

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TOP

NEWS

Jumbo

Playing with fire

•

5

Games

Stand:

E46

e Film Gam e h t s s e u G Weight 1. Disney pping the ro D 8 2 l a Origin 2. Wasgij e Puzzle 1,000-Piec ame rs Floor G e c a R y p x Set 3. Zip Puzzles Bo d e p a h S abbit 4 en 4. Peter R illage Gre V e h T e x de lu t 5. Falcon zle Box Se z u P e c ie 4x1,000-P

g ford (Marketin Lauren Woods s a turn on Manager) take o game, part an lc the Dino Vo Dino range of the growing Marbles (F40) from House of dinosaurs – don’t let your ! become extinct nst time in ai ag It’s a race with up to six Dino Volcano, their dinosaurs players moving ard, trying to around the bo n. Designed avoid extinctio arbles’ own

by House of M t this game is se creative team to be a winner.

Smart set

With Brio’s S mart Tech E ngine set with Acti on Tunnels, y oung train enthusi asts can arra nge the tunnels a nd station th en simply press go on the en gine and watch a new train ad venture unfold. Than ks to interac tive smart techno logy the eng ine will automatically detect each arch and do exac tly what is sh own.

The train sto ps, honks the horn, backs up or blinks its ligh ts . See it at Stand E 140

SS DON’T MnIod Mint

a Product: J Scooter UK : Juratoys Company 1 Stand: B12 uratoys.co.uk .j w Web: ww

Green Board Games puzzles of the day!

Stand E15 Our friends at Green Board Games have put together a cheeky little puzzle for you to entertain, train your brain and enjoy!

Game: BrainBox Spot the Difference Holidays

How to play the game: 1. You have 20 seconds to look at the images and find 6 differences. You should try to commit these 6 differences to memory, as you will be required to recall them without looking at the images after your 20 seconds is up!

2. After 20 seconds, cover the images and see how many of the 6 differences you can recall!

When is the game due to launch: Our two NEW BrainBox Spot the Difference games are due to land on shelves in May 2018.

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08/12/2017 13:50

TREND FOCUS National Geographic Crystal Lab Bandai Gallery 600 Making the perfect STEM offering, the National Geographic range combines a trusted and well-known brand with fun and exciting experiments, expert learning guides and simply fascinating subjects.

Science4you Vivid Stand B70 Vivid will be offering a full range of Science4you’s existing science and educational kits, as well as three new lines which will be TV supported during autumn/winter — a first for Science4you!

Robotic Kits Clementoni Gallery 140 The science category has always been strong for Clementoni, with Robotic and Crystal Creation kits.

Adding to the range for 2018 is the amazing RoboMaker — a laboratory to bring intelligent robots to life.

Botley Learning Resources Stand D36 Introducing Botley The Coding Robot, the hands-on, 100 per cent screen-free coding activity set. Use the remote programmer to enter commands and then press transmit to see Botley in action. Coding mats and accessories can be used to create unique mazes and challenges.

Looking for…

STEAM

Geosmart Flipbot Smart Toys and Games Stand F36

Toy Fair helps kids get smart and have fun — here is a sample of some of the coolest STEAM toys that will help every budding Einstein

Kidzrobotics Great Gizmos Stand G20 Kidzrobotics is a new range from 4M and combines advanced robotics with creative play. 2018 will see the launch of four fab robots: Fridge Robot, Spider Robot, Crazy Robot and Motorised Robot Hand.

This ingenious new toy will allow children (and adults) to create their own remote controlled Flip Bot, a super cool robot car they can enjoy driving and watching flip.

Sky Track Accessory Set Thrill Rides Bionic Blast Roller Coaster K’Nex Gallery 510 The K’NEX Thrill Rides Bionic Blast Roller Coaster has more than 800 parts to create an impressive build featuring an awe-inspiring motorised Ferris wheel lift and graphic panels.

Magformers UK Gallery 540 Magformers unveils its innovative Sky Track Accessory Set — a mono-rail system complete with a motorised shuttle model which uses Magformers magnetic pieces as its base.

Grow N Glow Terrarium West Design Stand C 45 Green-fingered fans will delight in creating their own world with the Grow N’ Glow Terrarium. Build the habitat in a mason-style jar, but by adding some glow-in-the-dark stickers it will also light up at night like it’s full of fireflies!

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

“A modern brand needs a media team who take campaigns very seriously indeed, and are seen as an extension of their own marketing team”

My generation Generation Media is a familiar name and a business integral to many exhibitors here at London Toy Fair. As the UK’s number one toys and games media planning and buying agency, the team really helps shape the toy landscape. The Daily News sits down with its CEO Dean Weller and discusses the changes in TV advertising and how to maximise the reach of toy brands Dean, let’s get down to brass tacks. Is living room TV still the key place to reach kids?

The simple answer is a resounding yes! Time spent in front of the main TV set has undeniably declined over the past 10 years, and that has even accelerated in the past two to three years.

However, children aged 4-9 still spend over 10 hours per week watching traditional linear TV on the main TV set (this doesn’t include on demand and other services viewed on the big screen).

Yes there are distractions, but in fact we’ve seen a slight decrease in the number of kids that are screen stacking while watching TV. We think that could be due to factors such as TV VOD making up a larger part of youngsters’ video day, and when ‘pull’ content is being watched, attention is increased. That’s a Daily News exclusive! Get in touch with us to find out more.

landscape. It is very easy to say digital, however this is such a broad term that in a short space of time will most likely be redefined. Video content has always provided proven return for entertainment brands, therefore online video should be the first and most significant port of call in this space to provide a truly integrated approach while managing creative costs.

What’s the most important factor for media buying? Placement, time, amount of TVRs, price - or is it a combination of one or two?

You’re asking me to give away the secrets to the company’s success gratis! Seriously, it is a combination of so many factors. In today’s complex and fragmented market where a 4-year-old is as likely to be an advocate of Tiana Toys&Me on YouTube as PAW Patrol on Nick Jr, effective media planning and buying Beyond the box, where should kids and is not something that one can do solo from a entertainment brands be focusing their time, spare bedroom. money and effort?

Any brand worth their salt needs to have a Every brand needs to treat their digital online committed agency — a team of experienced strategy with the same focus as their TV strategy experts with access to quality research that can — more so even because it is such a fast moving be into effective insight.

A modern brand needs a media team who take campaigns very seriously indeed, “Having recently rebranded from iGen Insight, and are seen as an our sister company’s new name is Giraffe extension of their Insights and is partnering with key industry own marketing team. stakeholders on a revolutionary piece of research That’s what I believe we have exploring kids’ linear and online video measurement. built over the past decade.

Kids and the Screen: Changing the Channel captures realtime viewing behaviour among 2-9-year-olds across all Does the type of brand or platforms, including data from the 2-4-year-old age group product impact when and which has never before been explored before — and that’s where advertising is best really exciting. Understanding the way that this group of placed — and how do you consumers think and behave is essential for marketers and quantify that? product developers in order to maintain relevance and ensure strategies are informed rather than predicted.”

Seeing into the future

It really does. Not all brands are born equal, in fact no two products are the same. We have developed our own system called The Media Aggregator. This examines every campaign individually, and looks at the specific requirements for the respective media campaign.

Why is Generation Media uniquely positioned to help toy companies best maximise their marketing spend?

I can immediately think of three factors that toy companies should note, although there are many.

Firstly, your market is our business — it’s all we do, so we are fully immersed every day in this unique and sometimes tumultuous world, and we have been for a decade now.

Secondly, our size in that market ensures that our clients benefit from market-leading prices — and that is more important than ever as media owners get to grips with shifting audiences.

Finally, our most unique selling point is that as a team we are the best at what we do.

We have industry leaders across the business and we are shaping the direction of the toys and games industry itself. I don’t think you can get more stand-out than that.

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11/01/2018 17:43

Movies are one of the biggest drivers of licensed toy sales each year, and there are plenty of reasons for families to stay glued to the silver screen in 2018. The Daily News takes a look at some of this year’s blockbusters

Black Panther Release date: 13 February

Did you know…

The top five grossing films of 2017 were: 1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi — 73.1m 2. Beauty and the Beast — £72.4m 3. Dunkirk — £56.6m 4. Despicable Me 3 — £47.8m 5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 — £41m

After the death of his father, T’Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king — and as Black Panther — gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk.

Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.

Peter Rabbit Release date: 16 March Featuring James Corden in the voice role of Peter Rabbit, this adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s classic tale shows Peter’s feud with Mr. McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) escalating to greater heights than ever before as they rival for the affections of the warmhearted animal lover who lives next door (Rose Byrne). Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, and Daisy Ridley perform the voices of the triplets, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail.

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NEWS Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Release date: 30 November

Release date: 25 May

Taking place six years after saving the arcade from Turbo’s vengeance, the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet has broken, forcing Ralph and Vanellope to travel to the internet via the newly-installed Wi-Fi router in Litwak’s Arcade to retrieve the piece capable of saving the game.

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in this adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future co-pilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the saga’s most unlikely heroes.

Tomb Raider Release date: 16 March Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared.

Tune into the Daily News tomorrow to hear about more 2018 movie releases.

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09/01/2018 15:38

NEWS NEWS

NEWS Group Editor Mirella Anstey mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

Acting Editor

Additional Reporting Tracey Bearton

Additional Reporting Penny Franks

Rhys Thomas rhys@lemapublishing.co.uk

Additional Reporting Kate Birch

Group Advertisement Manager Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

Additional Reporting Sally Norton

DoDo you have some breaking news you have some breaking news or or hothot stories? stories?

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Don’t miss at Toy Fair!

We bring to the fore a selection of the hottest and newest products that will help you sell more! Buyers and retailers, get in touch with your sales contacts!

Product: Geosafari Jr Talking Microscope Company: Learning Resources Web: www.learningresources.co.uk Stand: D36

Product: Disney Guess the Film Game Company: Jumbo Games Web: www.jumbo.eu Product: BrushPens Jungle Stand: E46 Company: Snazaroo Web: www.snazaroo.co.uk Stand: B150

Product: Tumblin’ Monkeys Company: John Adams Web: www.johnadams.co.uk Stand: G100

Product: Magic Gold Company: Thames & Kosmos Web: www.thamesandkosmos.com Stand: F15

Product: Cosimo Concerto Company: Tomy Web: www.tomy.com Stand: Gallery 520

Product: Aqua Crystals Creation Station Company: Mookie Web: www.mookie.co.uk Stand: E149

Product: Sureshot Pistol And Target Combo Pack Company: Petron Web: www.petron.info Stand: Gallery 308

Product: Black Widow – Monster Smash Ups Company: Wilton Bradley Web: www.wiltonbradley.com Stand: E89

Product: Cry Babies (Wave 2) Company: IMC Toys Web: www.imc.es Stand: E129

Product: Department Store Deluxe Company: Epoch making toys Web: www.sylvanianfamilies.net Stand: B130

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New Products Available for Spring 2018!

Come visit our stand B130 at London Toy Fair to see more exciting new products! Š EPOCH

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19/12/2017 15:15