TRENDS: FIDGET TOYS RISE AGAIN
Big Potato launches board game trade-In Big Potato Games has launched The Great Board Game Trade: a UK-wide scheme where customers can bring an old game to a participating retail store and in return, receive 20% off a new Big Potato game. The old game will be recycled and donated to a local charity or community group. Big Potato’s independent store account managers Laura Crumbley and Hannah Cornish said: “We wanted to do something to support our fantastic independent stores, who’ve been forced to shut up shop for the best part of a year. With the Great Board Game Trade-In, we can help drive footfall to the store, whilst giving board games to organisations that really need them.” The scheme launched on 5 July and runs until the end of August. More than 60 independent stores are taking part, with more expected to join. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact Laura or Hannah, depending on where you’re based: north - laura@bigpotato. co.uk; south - han-nah@bigpotato.co.uk.
Barbie hits the big screen Following the success of this spring’s Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday movie and last year’s musical Barbie Princess Adventure, Mattel Television has announced the latest chapter of the Barbie content story. Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams will be in cinemas across the UK & Ireland from 20 August, before debuting on 23 October on POP. To complement the film, Mattel will introduce a line of dolls, playsets and accessories. This new musical adventure follows Barbie Roberts as she says goodbye to the familiar beaches of Malibu and says hello to the hustle and bustle of New York’s Times Square. She’s enrolled in a summer programme at the Handler School for Performing Arts and, upon arrival, meets a fellow student named… Barbie Roberts! While they have much more in common than just their names - like their shared dream of making it on Broadway - the two girls really bond over their complementary differences.
BLE’s character parade is back! Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) has confirmed that its much-loved character parade will return in-person at ExCeL London this November, when visitors will once again be able to have their photo taken with some of the characters from the world’s biggest brand owners. BLE is launching a #paradeyourself campaign on social media during the run-up to the event and is inviting the industry to share selfies taken with the characters in the past. There will be a prize for the best selfie, with the winner being offered the opportunity to be photographed at the front of the parade at BLE 2021. Posts must include #paradeyourself #BLE2021 @bleurope.
Toys aren’t just for fun but can provide emotional support and relief in times of stress. The U.S. Toy Association’s trends team has identified ‘Zen-sational Toys’ as ones to watch in 2021, says senior communications specialist Kristin Morency Goldman Families looking to help develop their children’s social and emotional learning (SEL) skills and destress can look for toys that promote mindfulness as well as feel-good fidget toys that simply bring a smile to any kid’s face. Here are four examples of ‘Zen-sational Toys’ highlighted by the U.S. Toy Association’s trends team: Care Bears: Love-A-Lot Bear (Basic Fun!): Expanding the line of classic Care Bears characters, Love-A-Lot Bear comes with a collectable Care Coin so kids can share how much they care with others. Sensory FX ASMR Bars & Pods (Just Play): Each of these sensory toys creates unique, soothing sounds and effects that are ideal for keeping fidgeting hands occupied while triggering an ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) effect. Sensory Bins (Creativity for Kids): Featuring an entire line of themed sensory bins, Creativity for Kids offers self-contained, hands-on, tactile play experiences that allow children to explore, learn, and create. Themes include Ocean & Sand, Garden & Critters, Outer Space, and more. Glo Pals (Glo Pals): Inspired by a child with autism whose mother used the technology to help him overcome his fear of water, these water-activated sensory toys create glowing effects that engage children in fun sensory learning exercises for bath time.
Sensory FX ASMR Bars & Pods (Just Play)
Check out The U.S. Toy Association’s 2021 Toy Trends Briefing to get the lowdown on the top trends that will be driving global toy sales through the holiday season at www. ToyAssociation.org/trends. The Association will provide a Q4 trends update in conjunction with Toy Fair Dallas, which takes place from 5 October to 7 October in Dallas, Texas.
Founded in 1916, The U.S. Toy Association is a not-for-profit trade association representing businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The U.S. toy industry has an annual U.S. economic impact of $97.2 billion and its 1,000-plus members drive the annual $27 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development to consumers and the media. It has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on programmes to ensure safe and fun play. The organisation produces the world-renowned Toy Fair New York and Toy Fair Dallas; advocates on behalf of members around the world; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America’s widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard.
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