Toys n Playthings January 2014 by Lema Publishing

toysnplaythings.co.uk

4 ry 201 a u n a J 3 No.4 Vol. 3

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,195 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

Helping everyone sell more

CONTENTS P70

Regulars 14 ry 20 Janua No.4 3 Vol. 3

5 6 9 10 12 12

TEAM TnP Group Editor Mirella Cestaro mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

13 14 16 18

Editor Mairead Wilmot mairead@lemapublishing.co.uk

76 79

Writer Rhys Thomas rhys@lemapublishing.co.uk

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

Features 24 58 70

Advertisement Manager Julian Richings julian@lemapublishing.co.uk

20 Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

23 54

Production Director

56 66 68

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

22 Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

19 Lema Publishing Ltd

1 Churchgates, The Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 2UB Telephone: 01442 289930

At the heart of retail 78 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Spielwarenmesse – Your deﬁnitive guide to the Nuremberg Toy Fair Character licensing – Find out what’s happening in this market-driving sector Always ride on time – Learn more about boosting your sales with this fun sector

Retail Interview – Jessica King, Selfridges Childrenswear and Toys Buyer chats to Rhys Thomas Cover Story – we shine a spotlight on MV Sports new lines Telling the toy story – Su Gill of Morleys and Judith Dayus of Great Gizmos look at great merchandising From laces to looms – we catch up with Martin Grossman Family Ties – we chat to the Belﬁelds about Simba Smoby Taking a bite out of the big apple – Team TnP catches up p with Marian Bossard of the TIA to chat New York Toy Fair

P66

Columnists

Circulation Manager

PUBLISHING

P68

Special Report

Publisher

Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

Leader with Mirella Cestaro News - what’s the latest? Quick Coffee Break with Guy Orr, MD of Mookie Exhibition news - the latest on the global fairs Media news – the hottest cross-platform info Media Charts – the latest kids’ TV viewing ﬁgures and toy TV advertising spend People news – looking at the movers and the shakers What’s new – new products that you need to get your hands on Toy Talk – the retailers have their say Trade Talk – we give suppliers the chance to talk business Licensing News – the hottest news from the toy licensing industry Step Back In Time - a slice of history from the toy industry’s longest running trade magazine

Shop Talk - columnist John Ryan gives us the latest lowdown from off the high street The Independent– the toy trade’s most controversial columnist lets rip NEW! TnP Ambassadors –The Coens and the Ralhans tell you what kids and parents REALLY think about toys and TV The Media Whisperer – Clive Crouch examines the current pay tv landscape Licensing Opinion – LIMA’s Kelvyn Gardner chimes in on licensed goods and sales

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Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,195 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Helping everyone sell more

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game of iPieces to see who will be crowned the overall iPieces champion. The afternoon sees Tottenham Hotspur football player Clint Dempsey C hild Toy on the Jumbo Games stand from 2pmren s up pick Award ’s B n e r re 4pm speaking about new collectible In pa atm ay G f the Yea K rt ’s obil o laun nersh rday eU asbro football product SoccerSuckers. H c ar e to h yeste d that th ye ing ip with toys BTH yw ap in its fi Warn ale t le n . TV presenter and nature expert Nick Baker will be at Toy ve a A ce re rst li ill d er to P Chairm ry had of 65 per n s T st e ebu lu u of B Bros, M laym an, Fair tomorrow to celebrate the launch of the revamped a he sta ind is, p les Th sa a V Sp . t at n tm c 2 ar obil Fran h d 1 e ild’s -ou an li orts k ’s Ja r on-y of 20 per cent t Interplay My Living World nature range. e 2 li s c p 5 t u fe e t is k rod mie Martin m th nse ail A e h ur er, size uct dw Dic in we ase of fo Decemb eo Ba rece utu in th hee Original favourites in the collection have been refreshed kin presen st nig of cre of la ntly riginal tmobil just son led e ou ts m a g p an in e month n in o e 1 n 20 d it (US tog the B t ill la oy and updated using Nick’s expertise and three excitingwnew n T finish ’s ce th $4.2 960s B car. In tdoor eth r 2 o s 1 u C ve t 1 s 0 a n p o rt hris er w est Sta a m), The c u 3 ch a Autu d in 2 rd o e a tma ain to MV tmobil ontras lay ran . n c ith e B lo lted kits will be joining the range. ar w m T n n su m H ye ’s ca h ge is A be o Sim d Awa u n/W t to e fe gsid re a o Phil s!” y c Play A hav r whic n r e full tc on P th rd t in n T o e e is th n s h h r p R e te e a e ss u very atcli Speaking of Nick’s relationship with Interplay, Ross MV hug cho illin sb s a y In d stan mobil ry at c e collec r in tim Batma priced ed at a f Euro NPD’s a a acro n o st S ff n e s b g u H w p st e e ’s w d o u h £ d o n , Sa tion n bik ‘F y’s w ctio ilto 149 e fo rts c o the dre by y In T the re ined the market nt do les a r Ainsworth, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted of it , with it ort Bra their b a To .9 n e r is ce u e n o an is ls B 2 r C s 9 h m F la a e 1 (£ h a o a th hris K s to nd M p ime ged s men list inclu tt a so fa tman e 20 Furby a the tma 119.99 and etter cent,” exp at the U y co s comm ve’ wo est sta one d b th M th r d 5 s a ts t ’s have Nick on board at Toy Fair to launch the new kits in d k + ra rk a a is an a n : n ateb r s. es a u rketi ) th e and d a “That two per ans th rope ll. in p has be nge an “We re eting D is ning lebrated sc oa ng a nterpa nding the aw s of th the e n the Y vera all is me ket in Eu art e d r eve ro rt a irec ard es en the My Living World collection. He has played awhkey nd D ich rolerdinand ooter, dec dow o ce les o . “Th up th r. cula tor rece icular n incre the re y had a are ry was safe ispla nd ins try gate for be how. y mar e Tutt ion sa for ecta t as Hasb f the Yea , picking Retail acti fun dib “We ision. is ived set dust Pauforward p ty s yM the development of the range and we are looking eriqu largest to £2.9 bill on de h y o s a sp alw ed inte genera ly pos ent in ana iration s, and fa t open Fred and Man l Bufto to hit re helme ays It wa s last nig eted Toy with tertainm itive from re signing mph Overall To rest ting . Jam s the ger, exh d n iu t, th ithfu rl a n ta ai tr tr o g v to showing the fi nal products. My Living World was the ” , a . rd fr taile y to il so a lo Gen Play The er, W t ta ie D om has rem Con l rep ibition the w an the En t decline. n Awa g the co yths also Year and kes t of on. rs UK mim o e m B ic in a a d e ti ra a s h rn k o n o lica u ia tm n th th in l a lo buz in bil U um m merand to e ic o he collection that started Interplay all those years reco ne th ob fourt tter “MV ago ild er ce lain why ssoc ardsis set to host a plethora of Olympia t of ber z winn ch and S lier of th ne K w son, Tra tion Pro r Bros. is g so be d a 12 p by A S of m and w ile per ch re as e duc de pp it’s ju nise ev year is man ho of our . Hob – the aw V Te o It is al a fa portsinvolved to exp e spend u e ive y. see the range develop with such a great naturalist ly a la ts n S & ’v m e ce jo o r y te y v k e t h a UK ) nta eryb u urs r re e from the worlds of children’s maz as d st g dw h re en the says stic g: “th rds fo respecti British To on (TRAcelebrities taile and y prod ers b in re o a n ith re e in whic erique w m yi d w v T a ld fl g a raan is just fantastic.” elo y’s h : r ak t.” e ti rs.” ec , so ucts plan g sa consu ocia ard Fred y the e Yea it ent h lyfootball and science as the top toy you ing the stron mpia as o ts Batm ge tha ped . UK an work ’s incre ning. W for the of th anised b ilerss Ass ious ev TV, t tru don nScience Drummer and comic Brad Gross of Punk awa to 14 pe.” ’s O t is so awill ir, e of n re th cted n ro ke o o ig ta y d h Fa ’s . ar rg d ’t ly e ze e to m rd I st ib a y s rep ro O a m thin t th upe nee the -ear, ly sa for descend on Kensington for aged buys .50, refle uta al To Toy R at a pre all of Lon ncompanies of Eu e te r, d st k rh u w 4 K e b be adding his own explosive form of entertainment to the e 4 ti n st U S v a o 2 e e ti th s W is h re e d rl am st s ro big fy o will £2 ine uall th is £ “My the with resente r West H e 60th a mpia in ts of and b a es. Th d’s coo n y it’s ing to that bos r’s Jam stand hell sta than the start of the 60th Toy Fair. p Thames and Kosmos stand (B49) when poin e B theirles ly th his pe aled ccess kidsheedemonstrates d so s s Ka toys to n es C id reve were new Up t day of lace at O r price a huge su ea of trik who ream c atmob t owle make d was rs p ing, It was the lowe h of ro ea to g rl Mart d om the kits using his own special Shin wan a big d the sc were e other ar s for hig o e tr ile in y’re bran ing the fi y taking ll er L t to unce s, ue fo pe at s, which imp the tl awa er skate with th ez is g omme w nopresenter sale td t, n . “Th m o n n e Euro rd at TV and parenting guru Dr Miriam Stoppard will ll ty a brand of scientifi c magic. a ., a C o a rr n ce ag r ili rd ct. G e ro fo p k u ing in ape ts s, w db fo n is th ight per ctab ll ar Aw Awards , set to b : d C e-belie rinn roving Mart h is c Yeat in blin ge colle cessio r sa ru it up r it is cra hich w er-disc ows e ov ve the n show today ing il to launch a range of toys she has There will also be an whic n. rank of thebe by e e th o th ura der the re earnitio toy reta his sh rew an F zy! tho o o er Sim oug yths enco eme er the m It spite 50 also g ug ue. “T ecog nt for The Good Toy Guide are ers d in Galt) Toys. d Lond A Chairm y Retail cial Rdesigned f Smout the opportunity to th de £ to deriq consum o agre on Pilli h so I was me ht wa p an Miriam will be at the Galt Toys stand th fiond me BTH of the To es’ Spe grow ms over ,” said Fre s gre matc on. It w thin ng, Smy ed 1 ieveto and unveiling their new Bear Grouthe range. the h r ig n e g c h e 1 e (E9) discuss it k S state of play in the industry ra a d 1 a a rs perc st 00 our how d we my t; bu s price ed to 20 r ght th oney.” inne g two Ju tanding (Toyma d Pa all d n e c e ri n w O t o li n e today. Since October, the GTG a is w p ll w t p eag this ese sM ch as BTHA Chairman Frank yea par upat the Golden Bear stand (E69), the star uct over line ir m uts din aus Meanwhile, ue C inning rve ana r fo com f VTe prod with the the S n inclu ted for o y Barnh re. r th team have held auditions for the a ger, a ng o h iin t e first iledkids itshow if the g n o To McCreadie, who CBeebies Martin unveils the Market com bit of th antell n that Cann n io Wooly and Tig, Betsyam artin ti unve co prese went to bridge st pof ew men role and just before Christmas, a winner was ind p e son e g John a pri me; iit’s h ts Grah ts, “M credit ho d making a personal appearance to unveil the Statistics this morning at not m cial Rwillsbe v whic s’ Knigh Alan Sim plays .” SpeTig, y an to b ilege e an awarded the coveted position of being the face A d To n R o a T C e dM o newtoWooly iM and Tig toyrlrange. f. 10am. Harr Chairm ajen to a able s. Tw d of the Good Toy Guide for the coming year. This e ea w TRA ar Award resente Jumbo Games rn ov With all this action, the inno ard rs, tu (E46) will be hosting the exciting has been a closely guarded secret until now. e Ye lso p v inne of th s were a the ation a Challenge of w Cherry this morning where TV presenter Cherry 60th Toy Fair looks set to be Go and enjoy a champagne reception at stand rd Fair t d list n Awa s.. . a ” Healey will be taking on visitors, challenging them to a the best yet! rage G154 at 12 noon to meet the new star! Adam full cove For Fra

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Toys ‘n’ Playthings is helping you sell more! By advertising in the only ofﬁcial London Toy Fair Daily Paper, guarantee your message is seen by quality buyers and retailers who mean business.

Call Ryan Horwood Now! 01442 289930 ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

LEADER

A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,195 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

hings are ramping up in the toy trade and we are all exhausted but still running on adrenaline, aren’t we? The mixture of the biggest retail time of the year, previews, preparing for trade shows and squeezing in a bit of Christmas and New Year cheer is taking its toll on everyone, but still we soldier on! The reality is, though everyone has a little whinge from time to time about how busy it is, there is nothing really comparable to the intoxicating mix of excitement, anticipation and panic that

of the woods! And as Phil Mirella Ratcliffe, Sales Cestaro and Marketing Director of the company explained to Team TnP’s Rhys Thomas, next year will see some great new lines featuring some of the biggest and most-loved properties including all out action with Transformers 4; everyone’s favourite cartoon family, The Simpsons; and the hardest working postman in the world, Postman Pat. This issue, we bring you our detailed guide to the Nuremberg Toy Fair – Spielwarenmesse 2014. The show is the world’s biggest Toy Fair and anyone who has, like In the past year me, walked the Fence Club has (or run) from Hall 1 to Hall raised more than 12 will be £100,000 and nodding and donated many simultaneously, though subhundreds of pallets consciously, of toys to worthy rubbing your feet! children’s charities in Check out page 24 for lots of information and to find out who is and around the UK exhibiting what and where to find them we all in the toy industry all! experience in the final weeks of Another must-do on the Team TnP one year and the first four or so of a new year. For calendar is the Fence Club’s annual Ladies Night. A Team TnP, rushing around from preview to preview terrific evening was had by all, thank you so much to all around the UK at the same time as preparing Chairman Phil Green, and it was superb to note that the issues which will serve as your definitive show in the past year the Fence Club has raised more than guides and getting ready for the shows as well as £100,000 and donated many hundreds of pallets of putting together the London Toy Fair Daily paper toys to worthy children’s charities in and around the means we are frantic, but always with a smile on our UK. Well done to all the members and to all those faces! And we love popping into your stores and who have donated! seeing what is working well and what is selling and And I must urge you all to read the interview with of course how you display your stock. Jessica King, Selfridges Childrenswear and Toys With this in mind Mairead Wilmot caught up with Buyer. Su Gill from Morleys to learn a little more about The store’s toy department is always buzzing and her approach to merchandising and how much abuzz with kids laughing and playing, and asking importance she places in the displaying of their parents to buy them this or that. all her products – Su is achieving a great It really is going from strength to strength. deal of success with Great Gizmos’ NICI In fact our columnist and retail expert John range because if her commitment to Ryan, sings its praises in his article this merchandising a range well. Read our month. They really are doing something interview with Su – as well as Judith right – have a look at what Jessica has to Dayus MD of Great Gizmos to learn say and see if some of it can be applied to a little more about this great working your business. relationship which is mutually beneficial! And lastly, I want to wish you all Our cover this month is brought to you a marvellous start to 2014, may it be by MV Sports - the one stop shop for all prosperous and full of joy for you all. things outdoor! And if you see us on a plane They are renowned for having to HK or at any of the shows, a terrific range of licensed and come over and say hello and unlicensed wheeled toys and tell us what is happening in looking in the gardens and your business. After all, we playrooms of my friends and are your magazine, and are family I can definitely see how here to tell your story! popular they are in my neck Happy new year!

“

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”

NEWS

MAKING TOY SAFETY MATTER Bureau Veritas’ Warrington ofﬁce played host to guests for their very informative Toy Safety Open Day. TnP were there to ﬁnd out a little bit more

Safety experts Bureau Veritas threw open their doors at the end of November for a very special two days. The team tasked themselves with explaining the complexities of toy safety through a series of talks by their very knowledgable experts at their Toy Safety Open Day. Coming under the banner of “Navigating the Future of Toy Chemical Compliance”, guests to Bureau Veritas’ Warrington ofﬁce were skillfully and patiently led through the complex world of toy safety. Due to the extraordinary level of demand from their clients, the world leading experts were compelled to extend the open days to run over Tuesday 19 November and Wednesday 20 November. Special guest at the event was Michael Drewry , Trading Standards Institute VicePresident. The day began with Bureau Veritas’ Leyou Goodall introducing proceedings which was followed by TnP’s editor Mairead Wilmot who presented ﬁndings from a survey TnP compiled on behalf of Bureau Veritas. A diverse range of companies from Hasbro to Sainsbury’s all took part and along with being presented to guests

at the Toy Safety Open Day, the results were also published in December’s edition of TnP which is available online. Toy Technical Consultant Malcolm Horner then addressed the gathering with a very informative talk entitled: “Chemical requirements of the Toy Safety Directive: Where should you focus your attention? An overview of the key areas of focus, test failure statistics and current enforcement”. Malcolm’s years of expertise in the industry were clear for all to see as he advised guests on the ultimate do’s and don’ts in toy testing while also imparting vital must-know information. He was followed by Travis Norton, Director of Global Technical Services Europe, who spoke on “Global Chemical Compliance: Industry Best Practices”. Travis provided those in attendance with vital guidance on how to structure information from suppliers along with advising on how to manage the extraordinarily important Bill of Materials and he also advised on how to leverage some of the industry’s best practices. Technical consultant Claire Franco also took the reigns

and spoke to guests about the art of making chemical assessments easy. Claire imparted her knowledge – along with some useful hints and tips - on how to conduct a chemical safety assessment using technologies which are on the market, along with what to do when an assessment is flagging up compliance issues. After lunch, guests were invited behind the scenes for an eye-opening and definitely fascinating guided tour of the Bureau Veritas testing laboratory. The day finished with guests being given the opportunity to grill Bureau Veritas’ experts during a question time session. Speaking after the event, Andrew Oultram from John Adams said: “For any business wishing to control their compliance budget, the Bureau Veritas Toy Open Day was a must attend” while Andy Walker from Galt Toys added: “The open day was really informative; the difficult subject matter was communicated very well.”

toysnplaythings.co.uk7

MOVIE

NEWS

FAO Schwartz highlights A Girl For All Time A Girl for All Time has had a successful year building strong key accounts in the USA for 2013. The deluxe British doll brand was heavily promoted by toy retail leader FAO Schwartz, not only in their Fifth Avenue ﬂagship location in New York City, but also in their Christmas catalogue with a 1.5 million distribution, and on-line at FAO.com which has over 10 million registered users. Frances Cain, owner, says: “It’s been incredibly satisfying to see the entire range taken up by FAO Schwartz and promoted in this way.”

FENCE CLUB AGM ELECTS PHIL GREEN AS 2013/14 CHAIRMAN TnP Founder and MD Malcolm Naish reports back from the Fence Club AGM in November: “The Marriott Grosvenor Square was the setting for a most lively AGM that saw popular Phil Green take over the Chairmanship of the Fence Club for the following year from outgoing Chairman Steve Wells, (our picture shows Phil receiving his chain of ofﬁce.) Two stalwarts of the Fence Club – Robert Anslow and Geoff Smith were presented with a beautiful inscribed sherry/port decanter each for their sterling work over the years as Social Secretary and Secretary of the Club. It is always great to see new members elected to the Club and Simon Pilkington of John Adams Toys and Dave Howard of Drummond Park fame collected their Fence Club badges and ties. Much of the success of the Fence Club is electing new members who bring a fresh point of view to both the club and its fund raising activities. Who would have thought a few years ago that a fresh look at the Fence Club golf day and the organising of a footy match in Hong Kong could raise such fantastic sums of money for our many children’s charities?

Disney Infinity adds to lineup

DISNEY’S FROZEN HITS THE BIG SCREEN Critics are certainly lauding Disney’s latest cinematic offering Frozen. The story of two sisters Elsa and Arendelle, is loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic favourite ‘The Ice Queen’. The film, which is performing well in the box office, seals a good year for Disney whose global box-office receipts are expected to come in well over $4 billion. This is after Thor: The Dark World earned nearly $550 million worldwide. Apparently, some critics are saying Frozen is Disney Animation Studios best release since The Lion King!

Feel the Jurassic Fear! We all know H. Grossman Ltd has a pretty epic range of dinosaurs, so they surely be well in demand as preparations for Jurassic World amp up. The Universal Pictures ﬁlm is due for release in June 2015.

Transformers: Age of Extinction about to burst onto screens With Hasbro having the toy line for Transformers, we’re sure they are looking forward to the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction. The ﬁlm is directed by Michael Bay and sees the war between Autobots and Decepticons once again ﬂares up and is set for release in June 2014.

Disney Interactive has released the largest line of new characters since its August debut. Among the exciting new character additions to the game’s signature Toy Box mode are Rapunzel from Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph, and Anna and Elsa from Frozen. In addition, 20 new Power Discs are now available in the UK, including three new ‘rare’ versions.

JANUARY 2014

NEWS

SPEEDCUBER SENSATION AT RUBIK’S UK CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday 17 November saw a new King of the Cube crowned at Leicester University. This year the UK Rubik’s Cube Championships, sponsored by John Adams, attracted over 100 competitors from 14 different countries. The two-day event took place at Leicester O2 Academy, where some of the best Rubik’s Cube solvers came together to compete in over 10 traditional and non-traditional ofﬁcial cubing events. Thom Barlow, 25 from Manchester beat off tough competition to be the new UK Champion with an average time of 10.64 seconds! “I’m pleased with my win,” said Thom, fresh from his victory. “It was a nerve wracking ﬁnal, but a fun competition and I am

2013: A big year for Galt Galt Toys enjoyed a promising 2013, with sales hitting record numbers and the release of new ranges of traditional toys performing strongly. “2013 has been a record year for Galt Toys . We have seen an increasing demand for traditional toys that inspire children, stand the test of time and offer true play value, a trend that has been gaining momentum alongside the Slow Toy Movement,” said John McDonnell, Managing Director, Galt Toys.

Rainbow Loom nominated for three TOTY awards H. Grossman’s Rainbow Loom is nominated for the 2014 Toy Of The Year (TOTY) by TIA Rainbow Loom has been nominated in three categories awards:

In memory of Barry Brandon Malcolm Naish rembembers Barry Brandon: “I am sorry to report that Barry Brandon passed away last month. I ﬁrst met Barry when he was joint M.D. of the family cycle company ‘Bantel’. In the 70s Barry’s Bantel cycling team were top-class professionals. Barry became team manager of the British Professional team and his good friend Hugh Porter would later go on to win the 5000m individual pursuit world competition. He joined the Fence Club in 1972, becoming chairman in 1986 and was charity secretary for many years, preceding Geoff Smith. In retirement Barry spent a lot of his time at his apartment in Spain and also in his time owned numerous race horses. Our thoughts go out to Barry’s wife Jean and his children Jason, Lisa and Anita along with their grand children.”

looking forward to defending my title next year!” Matthew Sheerin, 22, from Airdire, Scotland, took the stage by storm by solving the most iconic puzzle blindfolded in an incredible 57.99 seconds. Chrisi Trussell, VP of Rubik’s Brand Ltd. says: “The event was a tremendous success; it is great to see so many Cubers come from all around the world to compete for this prestigious title.” The Rubik’s wave continues into 2014 with the Rubik’s Void leading the way for the Rubik’s brand in the spring. Featuring a cool new style and a hole in the middle.

• Activity Toy of the Year • Girl Toy of the Year • Speciality Toy of the Year

The ballots for voting will be opened until January 13, 2014. To support Rainbow Loom and cast your vote visit ToyAwards.org, and tell your Rainbow Loom customers! The result will be announced during an awards ceremony held on Saturday 15 February, 2014 to kick-off the 111th American International Toy Fair.

Hy-Pro wheel out to Europe As part of the company’s aggressive growth plans, ZINC the UK’s number 1 brand in wheeled toys are seeking key distributors and retail partners throughout Europe. The ZINC brand is the leading wheeled toy brand in the UK market and has built up an enviable reputation for innovation and quality. Product categories include Scooters, Pro Scooters, Skates, Gliders, Skateboards, accessories and Bicycles. 2014 sees the launch of Rollers the new pre-school brand of ride-ons, trikes, balance bikes and new 2-in-1 tri scooter an adaptable safe range that aids children through key stage development. Hy-pro will also enter the growing children’s luggage market with the launch of Flyte, a 2-in-1 suitcase and innovative fold out scooter. This is unique and comes in a range of boys and girls designs. Flyte will be unveiled for the ﬁrst time to European customers at ISPO and Nuremberg trade shows. Hy - Pro are also a leading manufacturer of footballs, outdoor sports and games with licensed merchandise from Manchester United, Chelsea and Barcelona among others, UEFA Champions League FIFA and an own label range direct from the Far East. The company will be exhibiting at ISPO Munich 2014 A3 stand 229 &Hall 7 Stand C25 at Nuremberg International Toy Fair 2014 Hall 7 Stand C25.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

COFFEE BREAK LEAPFROG GOES BACK TO SCHOOL

Guy Orr, Director of Mookie talks to TnP about his favourite products from their range and what retailers should look out for in 2014

A team of LeapFrog employees visited Granton Primary School in Streatham in November 2013 to help children develop their understanding of business and the toy industry in particular. The fun-ﬁlled day saw year six children carefully guided through a bespoke series of tasks, designed by LeapFrog’s team, in the south London school.

Guy, what have been Mookie’s top three products of 2013? The top three products for Mookie this year have been Pillow Pets Dream Lites, Pillow Pets Minnie Mouse and Swingball as a whole. The reaction to Dream Lites since the launch in May 2013 has been fantastic, children and parents really love this cuddly nightlight proven by NPD ﬁgures and we are hoping to continue this success with the introduction of new and exciting Pillow Pet innovations throughout the end of this year and into 2014. Minnie Mouse licensed Pillow Pets seem to also be a ﬁrm favourite with Minnie licensed character list. Swingball also had a great year, seeing retailers completely sell through of all stock in July.

Flying fast! Flying Gadgets have been busy creating what will be the worlds fastest ready to run radio controlled car in the world. The car will have a large brushless motor with one of the latest in technology speed controllers, built speciﬁcally for the car allowing it to reach speeds of over 127mph! The batteries alone are nearly the size of a house brick with over 30v ﬂowing through them. The car will be run in its Guiness World Record attempt in late December and will be attempting to break over 5 world records. Joshua Farleigh Managing Director of Flying Gadgets “The car looks fantastic, sounds incredible whilst wizzing past at 127mph. It really is something special and we are so excited to be launching this car early next year and we have already pre sold most of the years stock of this car.”

Mookie Pillow Pet

What has been your biggest surprise in the past year product-wise? It has to be Swingball. We acquired the rights in 1993 and have not looked back since. 2013 was a great year for our whole Swingball range which was helped by Andy Murray’s historic win. We completely sold out of all stock in 2013 and are set to expect great things of the expanded range into 2014.

Golden Bear surpass sales expectations Golden Bear has reported a 79% increase on orders YTD and a substantial increase in profitability, with the success of the Woolly and Tig and Something Special ranges being major contributing factors. The Woolly and Tig collection launched last May, two months earlier than expected following huge demand from parents across the UK. The Something Special collection rolled out to all retailers for A/W 13 following an exclusive launch in 2012. Golden Bear has battled to keep both ranges in stock throughout Q3 and Q4. Barry Hughes, General Manager, commented: “The team at Golden Bear are feeling extremely positive about the results for 2013. We’ve been selling over our forecasts for some ranges, so much so, that keeping some lines in stock has been a challenge. As a year that has been difficult for the industry as a whole, the quality of our ranges have ensured sales figures have remained strong.”

JANUARY 2014

What is your absolute favourite product from your range currently? I would have to say the Scooby Doo Pillow Pet. Scooby is such a great characters, has been selling large quantities and as a ﬁrm dog lover, has to be my favourite.

What sets Mookie apart from the competition? Mookie offers a broad range across multiple categories including, outdoor, plush, pre-school toys and wheeled and ride-ons and this is what sets us aside. Also our great in house product development team are constantly designing new and innovative products to bring to market.

Mookie Swing Ball

What should retailers be looking out for from Mookie for the new year? Our new innovations in our award winning Pillow Pets franchise next year will see the biggest year so far on Pillow Pets with new characters licenses and three new TV lines including Dream Lites Minis and Glow Friends. Tell us about your working relationship with independents – are they important to you? They are heavily in tune with the needs of our consumers and are able to meet these needs through appropriate ranging and product advice. Many of our customers were there at the beginning with Swingball and it has been a real pleasure to watch Swingball sales grow as the brand has expanded and celebrates its 40th anniversary next year.

EXHIBITION

NEWS CONGRATULATIONS AND JUBILATIONS Danilo Promotions celebrated 35 years in business recently with a celebration party in the Serpentine Sackler Gallery and Magazine Restaurant in London’s Kensington Gardens. Laurence Prince is pictured celebrating with his wife Josephine.

Toys that sparkle! Thames & Kosmos are preparing themselves for a busy year ahead. The team are heading to London Toy Fair and Spring Fair and they have lots to show clients! They have 40 new kits in their 2014 catalogue, offered in addition to 56 existing kits. There are three brand new ranges which contain 34 of their new kits. The ‘Spark’ range is a 12 piece range of pocket-money blister packs that cover a wide range of scientiﬁc subjects from growing crystal geodes to making kitchen chemistry experimentation. These kits take the guilt away from impulse buys, as they have an educational focus and make experimentation fast, fun, easy and inexpensive. The second and third ranges are more complex kits which take on various subjects from yarn-storming to making a slime clock. With 12 kits in the Science range and nine new Crafting kits, the Thames and Kosmos’ offering has become more commercially focussed, and will appeal to a much wider market. Thames and Kosmos will continue to offer the current educational ranges and have added three new kits to the Ignition series, including a Bubble robot. There is also another chemistry kit ‘Glow Chemistry’ on offer. With all these changes and more in the catalogue, why not take a look for yourself at their London Toy Fair stand B49 or Spring Fair stand 3P39. Feel free to drop by and be entertained by Brad Gross, their science presenter - but if you would like to guarantee a timeslot with a member of staff, call Jo or Emma on 01580 212000, tweet @ScienceKits or e-mail jo@thamesandkosmos.co.uk.

NEWS

US Toy Of The Year Awards 2014 nominees unveiled The Toy Industry Association (TIA) in America announced the 84 toy, game and property finalists for their prestigious 2014 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY). The annual awards program is sponsored by the toy industry itself to recognise the top toys available across 12 categories – from e-Connected and Activity to Educational and Outdoor toys. Because the finalists have been nominated from within the industry and winners are selected by a combined vote of toy manufacturers, retailers, media and consumers, the TOTY Awards are known as the “Oscars” of the industry. “This year’s TOTY finalists embody the innovative spirit of the toy industry and transport children to magical worlds through play,” said Carter Keithley, TIA President. The winners will be announced during an awards ceremony held on Saturday 15 February at the kick-off to the 111th American International Toy Fair.

BLE changes its dates for 2014 Brand Licensing Europe, the Advanstar organized exhibition, has announced that is it moving the dates of its 2014 show forward by one week, to be held from 7-9 October 2014. This is a week earlier than the dates previously announced at the recently completed 15th edition of Europe’s premier Licensing forum. Event Director Darren Brechin explained the move: “Our primary motivation was to avoid a direct conﬂict with MIPCOM’S new dates for 2014, as many of BLE’s core customers participate in both shows and this move will facilitate that. We will also be working more closely with the MIPCOM team in future to align our dates for the beneﬁt of all our exhibitors. In addition, we have received feedback from licensors and retailers that retail buying patterns are moving earlier, and that bringing BLE forward could be a welcome move.”

Big brands return to Spring Fair Spring Fair International 2014 (2-6 Feb) will showcase one of the UK’s largest and most eclectic selection of Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets in Hall 3 of The NEC. A treasure trove for independent retailers in search of traditional toys and beautiful children’s gifts, this important sector of Spring Fair will be home to a wide category of products. Over 220 exhibitors had already booked into the show at the time of going to press, with many more on the way between now and the exhibition opening in February. Also returning to The NEC in February will be Halsall Toys Europe (HTI), which supplies quality, innovative toys, many produced under license from some of the biggest brands in the world, such as Hello Kitty, Disney Princess, Me to You, Peppa Pig, Mamas & Papas, Spiderman, JCP, Winnie the Pooh, Lego and many more, as well as an impressive stable of in-house branded products.

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Products: Eddingtons Limited, Fiesta Crafts, Lanka Kade, WOW Toys, Sonia Spencer, Fiesta Crafts

THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND TRENDS FROM 3,000 EXHIBITORS, ACROSS 13 SHOW SECTORS 2– 6 FEBRUARY 2014, NEC BIRMINGHAM, UK REGISTER NOW AT SPRINGFAIR.COM/REGISTER USING PRIORITY CODE SFEM20

PEOPLE

NEWS Asobi makes strategic appointment David Bottomley joins Asobi as Commercial Manager. With over twenty year’s experience David brings with him an enviable wealth of knowledge in this marketplace. Thanks to his previous role as UK Sales Director at Hasbro, he has a unique and unparalleled understanding of the toy world. Having also been a founder partner in the Trends UK business; that turned into the country’s largest producer of science toys, David has unrivalled expertise at every level.

LEGO employee celebrates over 30 years in the brick trade One of the longest-serving employees with LEGO UK is set for retirement at the end of the year. Senior National Account Manager, Darrell Shoob, joined the company 31 years ago and has seen the business progress from a relatively small toy manufacturer based in North Wales to the world’s secondbiggest toy maker.

EPOCH thrilled with new appointment EPOCH Making Toys Limited are delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Beaman as National Account Manager. With 20 years of experience in the toy trade, having worked previously for Tomy, Playmobil, and Flair, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge

and experience with him. Beaman is another appointment in building a fully operational sales division to support the EPOCH making toys Limited brands of Sylvanian Families, Aquabeads and Charmies with UK and Irish retailers.

NEW BRAND MANAGER AT POSH PAWS Lauren Hayward joins Posh Paws with 10 years experience in both in-house and agency marketing and PR roles. Her career showcases successful multi-channel marketing campaigns for both B2B and B2C brands.

MEDIA NEWS

Cloudbabies app hits iTunes Hoho Entertainment and Studio Liddell have announced the release of the first official Cloudbabies App. The app, created under licence by Studio Liddell, the animation company behind the popular CBeebies series is now available to download on iTunes. Featuring six simple games designed specifically for young children to enjoy, the Cloudbabies app allows toddlers to play alongside all their favourite characters from the series. Oliver Ellis, joint MD of Hoho Entertainment said: “The creation of this very first Cloudbabies App has been a labour of love over many months but we are really pleased with the result. With the TV series continuing to prove popular, I look forward to this App enjoying the same level of engagement with the Cloudbabies’ fans.” The Official Cloudbabies App is available now to download from the Apple App Store for iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, iPad2 and above, iPad Mini, and iPod 5th generation. It will be available for certain Android devices later this year.

Get ready for some Lego action – Hobbit style! Lego fans, Hobbit fans, gaming fans – we’ve got just the thing for you! Warner Bros has confirmed that Lego: The Hobbit will hit shop in Spring 2014 in game format. This means fans can play the game on 3DS, PS Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC and Mac. However, it will only include levels based on the first of director Peter Jackson’s two films from the trilogy - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the Desolation of Smaug which is released this December. The third film – There and Back Again – will not be covered, since it won’t be released in cinemas until December 2014. Artwork from the game was leaked online, forcing Warner Bros to reveal their plans. Players ‘will also be able to mine for gems, discover loot from enemies, and craft powerful magical items or build immense new LEGO structures’ say Warner Bros. Lego regular TT Games is handling development of Lego: The Hobbit.

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MEDIA

CHARTS

The ups and downs of the business

his issue we are focusing on the November 2013 data. The total TV market place shows an increase of 7.8% which in monetary terms represents some £28m, while the toy trade is only showing an increase of 6.4%,. When we look at the ‘All Kids’ viewing levels we can see that there have been some changes year on year. For example we can see that Nickelodeon Junior and Cartoonito has lost over 30% of their viewers, with Tiny Pop showing an increase of 56.6%. Channel 5 is down 24.41%, although this could be due to the closing down of commercial breaks in the Kids segment. Boomerang is down 13.14%. Looking at the viewing levels for the Pre School market we again see some major changes. Nickelodeon Junior is a preschool station and yet we see a decrease of 27.47%, Cartoonito is down 59.80%, CiTV is down 56.90%, massive changes in this market place. On a good note Disney Junior continues to grow and do well. The Housewives with Children’s market shows some major changes, for example Nickelodeon Junior, Cartoonito, CiTV all show drops in audience levels for this period. ITV Daybreak continues to hold its own, and again Disney Junior is doing well. As mentioned in previous reports, Kids and Mums with Children are now demanding better quality programming or they will look elsewhere and this is exactly what they are doing. Again as mentioned in previous reports TV stations be warned, improve or lose viewers! When we look at the reported expenditure ﬁgures for November we can see that Hasbro UK Ltd are in the number one position and have dramatically increased their expenditure for this period compared to 2012, as have John Adams Leisure Ltd. It is surprising to see John Adams Leisure Ltd out spending Mattel UK Ltd and Lego UK Ltd. It will be interesting to see how the full year ends up.

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Housewives with Kids TVR’s November 2012 vs November 2013

Nov-12 Nov-13

4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

All Kids TVR’s November 2012 vs November 2013

Nov-12 Nov-13

6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0

Housewives with Kids Pre-School TVR’s November 2012 vs November 2013

T: 01753 889 630 e: mike@globalmedia.me.uk

JANUARY 2014

Nov-12 Nov-13

N Nov 2012 Toy Company TV Expenditure T

Nov 2013 Toy Company TV Expenditure

Co Company Name Hasbro (Uk) Ltd Ha Mattel Uk Ltd Ma Lego Uk Ltd Le Mga Ent Mg John Adams Leisure Ltd J o Vtech Electronics Ltd Vte Fisher Price Toys Ltd Playmobil Uk Ltd Drumond Park Ltd Flair Leisure Products Ltd

Company Name Hasbro (Uk) Ltd John Adams Leisure Ltd Mattel Uk Ltd Lego Uk Ltd Flair Leisure Prod Ltd Vtech Electronics Ltd Playmobil Uk Ltd Drumond Park Ltd Character Options Ltd Fisher Price Toys Ltd

All graphs and information supplied by Global Media Services

TV Expenditure £1,656,658 £1,425,579 £818,359 £760,308 £757,901 £690,465 £678,434 £572,653 £544,889 £479,325

TV Expenditure £2,012,866 £1,456,073 £837,474 £676,802 £667,314 £632,093 £611,023 £592,475 £578,243 £486,468

WHAT’S NEW

NEW LAUNCHES TO HELP YOU SELL MORE

Have a ball! TOMY

Jumbo’s hat trick!

02087227300 www.tomy.co.uk

JUMBO

Following the phenomenal global release of the must-have Pokémon X and Y video game, Tomy is pleased to announce the launch of its eagerly anticipated new generation of toys inspired by the game. This ultimate collection includes the new X and Y characters from the Kalos region. Bring epic battles to life with the highly detailed articulated ﬁgures varying in size from 2” to 8”, all featuring solid bodies and incredible levels of authenticity. Recreate the experience of capturing Pokémon with the Clip ‘n’ Carry Poké Ball – capture, store and carry the character in the Poké Ball, keeping them close at all times thanks to the handy belt clip. Children can test their ability as a Pokémon trainer using the Catch ‘n’ Return Poké Ball. Hero products for 2014 are the revamped Trainer Gloves, complete with sound effects when the Pokémon is thrown into battle, and the new-to-market Clip ‘n’ Play Poké Ball Bandolier.

01707 260436 www.jumbo.eu Jumbo Games’ ever-expanding product portfolio is set to be even bigger and better next year with an exciting hat-trick of major new product launches. In January, it’s time to think big as Jumbo Games introduces Disney Giant Foam Floor Puzzles. Comprising all the Disney favourites, the fun-ﬁlled range features everything from the high-ﬂying Disney Planes and the magical world of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, through to the action-packed adventures of Jake and The Never Land Pirates. Set to be another big hit, March 2014 sees the launch of the Peppa Pig Giant Muddy Puddles

Get creative! FLAIR PLC 0208 643 0208 www.flairplc.co.uk The New Year will see an emergence of more creative play kits under Flair’s new banner of Cool Create. With existing brands and totally new concepts sitting alongside each other, Cool Create will provide retailers with the perfect planogram for their Arts and Crafts aisle. Daisy Chains is a new creative workstation where girls can design their own daisies using colourful fabric flowers and beads that link together to make delightful flower necklaces, bracelets and hair accessories. Alternatively, the

Swap Watch kit creates a cool new time piece for every occasion. With interchangeable plastic straps, dials, trims, as well as cords to plait and colourful beads to thread through, there are over 70 swappable pieces and endless combinations. These new kits will all complement perfectly, the existing creative lines. For more information call 0208 643 0208 or email sales@ﬂairplc. co.uk Floor Puzzle from Jumbo Games. Games Little ones get to puzzle and enjoy creating Peppa’s largest muddy puddle as part of Peppa’s 10th year anniversary celebrations. This enormous 35 piece puzzle is perfect for Peppa Pig fans, measures 100x70cm once completed and is suitable for children aged 3 and above. Finally, ahead of highly-awaited World Cup, Jumbo Games is kick-starting the football frenzy with the launch of the new Wasgij 21: Football Fever 2x 1,000 piece puzzles. Ideal for puzzlers with a passion for the beautiful game, the ‘solution’ can only be ﬁgured out by piecing together the clues provided. This World Cup themed edition also comes with a free football wall chart, ideal for keeping track of the tournament scores.

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WHAT’S NEW

NEW LAUNCHES TO HELP YOU SELL MORE

HELLO TRUNKI! TRUNKI 01179542781 www.trunki.com

Wheels of steel HTI

Kids’ travel experts Trunki have an exciting new Hello Kitty licensed Trunki launching in early 2014. The new glittery pink Trunki based on the ever-popular Hello Kitty brand will retain all of the known and loved Trunki features - children can ride on it holding onto the horn grips and be pulled along by the tow strap. It has an extra wide wheel base for superb cornering, internal pouch to keep bits and pieces organised and even a teddy bear seatbelt. Hello Kitty is the latest licensed case from Trunki, following on from Moshi Monsters Poppet and Katsuma cases released in late 2013.

01253 778888 www.htigroup.co.uk Max Steel, the teen super-hero franchise from Mattel, is truly ‘going Turbo!’ with fantastic broadcast platforms and high ratings across international territories. Targeted at boys aged 5-11 years, HTI have secured a deal to manufacture and distribute Max Steel sporting goods across Europe from 2014. The full wheeled toys range of bikes, scooters, streetboard, skateboard, skates and helmets features awesome graphics and use of metallic colours – guaranteed to turn heads and turbo charge sales! The awesome Max Steel ‘Go Turbo’ 16” bike provides the ultimate set of wheels for any Max Steel fan. The cool shaped frame cover that incorporates the bike seat has an aerodynamic line that will inspire boys to ‘go turbo’ as they play out adventures on two wheels. The bike also features an enclosed chain guard, rear suspension and calliper brakes. Check out Max Steel wheeled toys from HTI at Nuremberg, Hall 12.2 stand P-09 and at UK Toy Fair, stand E125 and Spring Fair NEC in Hall 3, stand N06-P07.

Good as gold INTERPLAY 01628 488 944 www.interplayuk.com An exciting new brand for Interplay in 2014 is GoldieBlox, a fantastic concept that combines a book series, featuring Goldie the inventor, with a variety of fun construction sets. Developed by female engineer, Debbie Sterling, the range is designed to inspire other girls to follow in her footsteps. Each set includes a beautifully illustrated story book and a sizeable construction project based on the story line. The launch series will have three GoldieBlox sets to choose from; Spinning Machine, Parade Float and Dunk Tank! For more information about these and the entire Interplay portfolio email sales@interplayuk.com or visit them at Toy Fair stand G10.

JANUARY 2014

RETAIL

OPINION

Toy talk

TnP loves to hear your views. This month we speak to key wholesalers and suppliers to learn what’s on their minds. We explore the hottest topics!

TnP talks to retailers around the UK this month about their retail new year’s resolutions and how they keep an eye on fair business

AMANDA ALEXANDER Giddy Goat Toys, Didsbury, Manchester, Lancashire When Amanda’s friend Jo expanded from one toy shop to two, Amanda took over the original store and is now heading into her second year at the helm of Giddy Goat Toys Do you keep up with all that’s happening at Nuremberg Toy Fair, even if you don’t attend yourself? I do read about it in the magazines, but because I’m so new I don’t think it’s for me just yet. My friend Jo went to ﬁnd new suppliers, so perhaps in the future when I’m a little more established, I’ll do the same. What is your retail new year’s resolution? Again, because I’m new, my main job in the New Year will be making sure that all the products I stock are earning their shelf space. So streamlining my offering, and hitting the books to do my analysis and research. What percentage of your business is down to character licensed products? Anything particularly popular? We don’t do huge amounts, but we did stock Despicable Me 2 minions earlier in 2013 which ﬂew out the door, so that was a welcome surprise. If you were a child today, what toy would you be nagging your mum for? I’ve always loved LEGO, and I think the LEGO Friends are just fantastic, so I’d be more than happy building away with that.

AMBER HANNEY Jumblies Toy Shop, Wotten-under-Edge, Gloucestershire Jumblies had been trading for 11 years, when Amber bought the trading name and added a toy section to her family’s kitchen business Do you keep up with all that’s happening at Nuremberg Toy Fair, even if you don’t attend yourself? I don’t go to the fair myself, we’ve only been here for a year, so it’s all quite new. I do use Twitter as a way to check trends and news, and I do try to keep in the loop. That’s a very important part of what we do here, and if I don’t know what’s new, my customers certainly do! What is your retail new year’s resolution? Hopefully, everything will be bigger and better! There’s potential for us to move premises and expand the business in 2014, which would be great, but nothing is certain yet. Christmas is so busy, seven-days-a-week, so it will be nice to have some time to evaluate things. What percentage of your business is down to character licensed products? Has anything been particularly popular? We are a very traditional toy shop, specialising in ages 0-8 and we mainly stock wooden toys and puzzles from Bigjigs and Orchard Toys, that sort of thing. But as I said, I’m always looking for something new. We make sure that there is something new in the shop every six weeks, which our customers love, and maybe as we get bigger, we will look to add licensed lines. If you were a child today, what would you be nagging you mum for? Deﬁnitely a Roboﬁsh, they’re great fun and have been doing amazingly well for us in-store!

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NEM SHAH

MOIRA GING

Gordon’s Toys & Stationery, Croydon

Mojo, Alnwick. Northumberland Moira and her husband are heading into their third successful year with Mojo.

Nem is a partner at Gordon’s Toys & Stationery and has been at the shop for 30 of the its 80 year history

Do you keep up with all that’s happening at Nuremberg Toy Fair, even if you don’t attend yourself? We don’t speciﬁcally keep up with Nuremberg, but it is important to know what’s new and hot from all over. We are very happy with our current suppliers so I’ll be looking to make sure what we currently have is working for the time being.

Do you keep up with all that’s happening at Nuremberg Toy Fair, even if you don’t attend yourself? Absolutely, it’s important to stay up to date with all of the fairs, and Nuremberg is a big one; TnP magazine is a good way to read up on the news from all the shows. I do attend the NEC and London Toy Fair, but Nuremberg can be a bit tricky being an independent. What is your retail new year’s resolution? Things look a bit quiet in the New Year, so we have to do something to drum up excitement! I don’t think we will do anything special, but as ever I’ll be looking for the best new products, and taking best advantage of our window display.

What is your retail new year’s resolution? We won’t necessarily be buying new stock this year, so my resolution is to see what is performing well for us, and looking at ways to promote those ranges further. It’s a good time to look at store ﬁxtures, do some forward planning, and catch up with general house keeping that can be forgotten at busy times of the year.

What percentage of your business is down to character licensed products? Anything particularly popular? We have a good mix of products, and that includes current licensed and collectable toys, especially Thomas, Skylanders and Ben 10. Nothing stands out as bigger than the others, but we like to stock licensed product to have a nice balance.

What percentage of your business is down to character licensed products? Anything particularly popular? None really, we will stick with traditional products for the time being as they work well for us.

If you were a child today, what toy would you be nagging your mum for? Deﬁnitely LEGO, probably Star Wars as it’s still popular and everybody’s favourite.

If you were a child today, what toy would you be nagging your mum for? I think I’d probably be involved with some technology, probably a ﬁrst tablet from LeapFrog or VTech, or something similar.

See us on stand

B49

at Toy Fair... ...or on stand

3P39

at Spring Fair

10% OFF

orders over £1,000 placed at the shows

Visit THAMES & KOSMOS SCIENCE KITS on stand B49 at Toy Fair or on stand 3P39 at Spring Fair to see their 50 new kits for 2014. Feel free to drop by and be entertained by our Science Presenter Brad Gross, or to book a timeslot with a member of staff, call Jo or Emma on 01580 212000, tweet @ScienceKits or e-mail jo@thamesandkosmos.co.uk. We’d love to see you. www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk

JANUARY 2014

Thames & Kosmos UK is a licenced distributor of Thames & Kosmos, LLC

RETAIL

OPINION

Trade talk

TnP loves to hear your views. This month we speak to key wholesalers and suppliers to learn what’s on their minds. We explore this month’s hottest topics.

As the toy industry looks towards 2014, we chat to those in the know about the year ahead and what they think will be big news! RICHARD SMYTH National Account Director, Traditional Garden Games

SAMANTHA WILSON Head of Marketing Communications, Leapfrog What product do you have high hopes for 2014? We had two milestone brand launches in 2013 - the Wi-Fi enabled LeapPad Ultra learning tablet, and LeapReader, the brand’s interactive and complete learnto-read-and-write solution. We plan to build even further on these success stories. Our new 2014 software additions will further bolster LeapFrog’s extensive library of educator approved content. A whole host of brand new games, apps and videos is set to be launched for LeapPad Ultra, including popular licensed properties such as Soﬁa the First, Moshi Monsters and treasured characters from Aardman Animations, the British studio famous for bringing us Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. What trends do you predict will take off for 2014? I think personalisation will really take off in 2014. Rather than targeting children en-masse, we are seeing a move towards ‘tailored play’. Personalisation is an area that LeapFrog is already heavily invested in and in 2014 we will continue to launch ‘ﬂexible’ learning experiences that help all children unleash their true potential through play. Next year LeapFrog will be embracing this personalisation trend with the launch of LeapPad2 Custom Edition. The No.1 children’s tablet of 2012 can now be customised in 100+ different ways so that children can make it their own.

What product do you have high hopes for for 2014? We believe that 2014 will be a bumper year for the Garden Games sector in the outdoor toy marketplace. Products such as Traditional Garden Games Jamanga, and Giant 5 in 1 games compendium will continue to be the growth stars for the company. How vital are Toy Fairs for your company and for European trade? Toy Fairs, put simply, are the essential showcase for products like ours. They allow us to meet with our customers, past and future, in the ideal business environment, as well as giving us the opportunity to expose all new and exciting developments for the upcoming season. What trends or predictions do you have for 2014? We have seen a continuing trend towards re-engaging with outdoor traditional toys in general. There is a growing realisation by parents that when the sun shines the best place for their children is outside. As this continues, and with hopes high for another excellent summer, we are conﬁdent that we shall see another year of double digit growth for our business.

NEIL BANDTOCK Managing Director, Vivid What product do you have high hopes for for 2014? Our Strange Hill High collectables line launches in the Spring and with sky-high ratings on CBBC we expect a big start from this range. Likewise our Animagic Rescue Hospital range which is supported by TV advertising and a magazine launch. Moshi Monsters sales should also enjoy a good spike in January following the release of the Moshi movie in December. How vital is the Nuremberg Toy Fair for your company and for European trade? We sell our toys in every European and Middle Eastern country. Nuremberg is the perfect place and perfect time to meet all our customers and ﬁnd new ones What trends or predictions do you have for 2014? I think the toy market will probably have another ﬂat year as tablets and electronic gadgets continue to take money from our sector. Vivid’s most exciting new launches for next Autumn are Cayla, the most intelligent interactive doll ever launched; several stunning new Crayola lines and the exciting launch of Moshi Karts.

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THE INDEPENDENT

OPINION

Make Way For New Products! The Independent harks back to a simpler time and takes a trip down London Toy Fair memory lane

s 2013 came to a close, I sat in my ofﬁce one afternoon with the same realisation I get every year; that the process never ends. The 1 January doesn`t bring a blank canvas, it simply follows on from the day before, and tomorrow doesn`t look like it`s going to be any brighter than today. With that in mind, I am still always excited, albeit with a certain amount of trepidation, when Toy Fair rolls around again. My stores are all very similar in size, and not large enough to house all of the ranges and products I would love to offer to my customers, but every year we make do, picking what we feel is the best of product, at the best price points to ensure we cover off most of what our customers may come in looking for. But am I the only person that feels overwhelmed every year walking around Toy Fair, being shown all of the “latest and greatest” new launches, most of which look exactly the same as each other but in a slightly different guise? I have been in the toy trade for some time, and can remember the days when I used to be able to place most of my orders for the year at Toy Fair! Toys were streamlined, highly sought after and to the best of my knowledge never did any child any real harm through lack of choice or play value. I remember bringing one of my staff along to Toy Fair with me a couple of years ago. She had earned the opportunity to step up and see what went on behind the scenes, and I could always use a hand during the busiest three days of my calendar year.

The Independent’s top-selling toys for November 2013 By volume 1) Lego Miniﬁgures Series 11 (Lego) 2) Fun Snaps (Peterkin) 3) Hot Wheels Singles (Mattel) By value 1) Teksta (Character Options) 2) Furby Boom (Hasbro) 3) Flutterbye Fairy (Spinmaster)

JANUARY 2014

So off we went, and by lunch time of day one she was slowing down and couldn`t stand the “electric pace” I was setting. She later admitted to me that she thought I went to London every year and sat around having tea and buns while having pointless conversations about who the best retailer was! And I suppose it is only fair if I be truthful now and admit that holding back my wry smile was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, it is always so enjoyably rewarding to see someone proven wrong without even having to say a word. I can see how she found it so difficult though, we are bombarded with so much crap these days, it is as if some suppliers just keep throwing random ideas at the walls and wait until something sticks. And over-ranging is a huge problem and waste of everyone`s time in this industry. I wish we could simplify things, not just to make my life a bit easier (although it would be a welcome natural consequence), but to make it easier for everyone. If I think back over the last year, and go through each new brand that was launched across all of the suppliers, I need a couple of tablets to take away the throbbing in my head. There is always so much going on, I just wish someone could point out the real benefit of it all, because it certainly is not to do with the end user. To my knowledge some of the best suppliers for this are Lego, who come out with a high turnover of stock every 6 months purely to maintain their monster sales volumes and keep the shelves of our store fresh and appealing. Bandai, who are the best at keeping a brand alive with re-launches and solid product development, Flair, who have done a phenomenal job at growing their other brands (especially after the loss of Sylvanian Families) and becoming quite a large player in the Boys Section of our stores, and finally Character Options, who, if it wasn`t for their product innovation, wouldn`t see brands such as Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam and Scooby Doo see year after year solid sales data. With the way our media is expanding

(and if anyone has been lucky enough to enjoy Dara O`Briain`s comedy skits you will know it is referred to as Moore`s law) it scares me to think how many more avenues we will have to entice our children within the next few years. To think it was only a few years ago that we had four channels available on our TV, and the introduction of Channel 5 was a major new dynamic in television, and realise that now we have thousands of channels at our finger tips (with even less interesting shows to watch), I wonder can our industry continue to go this way? If we keep getting new channels, that means new programmes, which means new toy launches! Will there come a time that the smaller retailers who have less shelf space and more confining cash flows get penalised (more than we already do) because every month requires you to have unlimited space just to cope with the amount of new blockbuster movie launches to hit the big screens?

RETAIL INTERVIEW SELFRIDGES

Selfridges – there Toys came back to Selfridges in 2013 – the entire fourth ﬂoor of the dynamic London store is now dedicated to the wonderful world of toys. TnP sat down with Jessica King, Selfridges Childrenswear and Toy Buyer, to ﬁnd out a little more...

Are you the toy buyer for all stores, or just the London flagship? Yes, all four stores and online too! How have toy sales been for you in general in 2013? We’ve had very strong sales driven by newness and key lines. Our toy department is broken into themes such as tech toys, nostalgic and retro toys, our character area, which features the likes of Spider-Man and Iron Man, which makes the shopping experience a little more exciting and easier to digest. What have been your top three sellers of 2013? In terms of value, it’s been the Atom car, Furby Boom and Cuddles the Monkey. In terms of units it’s been Robofish, Playdoh Pots and LEGO Minifigures. Has there been anything surprising that has taken off and exceed expectations? Our pocket money toys have done really well. We thought it was crucial to have toys at a lower price point that children can buy themselves with their own pocket money (like

the old days!) and it’s become a huge volume driver as well as a credible cash number.

Hasbro and Mattel are two brands that we particularly enjoy working with for their vision and creativity.

Are there any manufacturers/ distributors that you work particularly closely with? Working with brand partners is the key to delivering an exceptional environment and we work closely with many brands to do this.

You revamped the toy department in the summer this year, what was the impetus behind that? We wanted to re-engage the domestic market and make it a family destination. It’s a year round concept with a large but very

A little bit about Selfridges The business was founded by American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909 and was widely regarded as the ﬁrst and best example of a modern department store. Gordon Selfridge ran the store himself until he retired in 1940. After several ownerships the company was de-merged from the Sears Group in 1998 and ﬂoated on the London Stock Exchange. In 2003 W. Galen Weston purchased Selfridges and under his ownership Selfridges has become

a unique UK destination for fashion, luxury and retail theatre known for its worldclass yet egalitarian customer approach. In June 2010 Selfridges was named Best Department Store in the World by the IGDS (Intercontinental Group of Department Stores). The title, which Selfridges held until June 2012, is the industry’s highest accolade. Selfridges won the title again in June 2012, for an unprecedented two times consecutively.

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is no place like it! selective buy and we wanted to make it a one-stop destination for anyone looking to buy toys. It’s also impacted on fashion because it seemed a natural fit to put toys next to kidswear on the fourth floor making it the ultimate kids area. Have toys become a bigger focus for Selfridges as a result of that? We have a more focused edit with a wide price range to ensure the area is accessible to everyone. The prices range from 99p to £24,499! In terms of merchandising, how do you categorise toys in-store? We categorise by separating our buy into key zones. Barbie and Friends, Plush, Wooden and Retro, The Garage, Tech Toys, Create and Play and Character. This makes it easier for the customer to explore the space – whether they’d like to browse or if they have one specific item in mind. Is your typical toy customer a ‘Selfridge’ customer, or are you looking to become an alternative destination to specialist toy retailers? We don’t really have a ‘Selfridge’ customer as such because people who visit our store tend to be of diverse and dynamic variety but we hope that the space has become a destination for all things toys!

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Our pocket money toys have done really well. We thought it was crucial to have toys at a lower price point that children can buy themselves

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The Selfridges Toy Shop Last year, 2013, marked a huge year for Selfridges. In August, the iconic London store’s fourth ﬂoor was transformed into a veritable mecca for all things toys with the opening of their Toyshop. The store, which is also open online, stocks over 2,500 products with price points from 99p to an eye-watering £24,499 – that accolade belongs to the limited edition Atom car! The Toyshop is split into seven different zones – the garage, girls world, soft toys, wood and retro, tech toys, create and play and characters – each offering shoppers something a little different. Explaining the concept of the new store, Erin Moscow, Head of Childrenswear and Toys at Selfridges, said: “We so often hear that department store shopping can create really cherished memories for families – we’ve taken that to heart in creating this new concept, and have thought incredibly carefully about what unforgettable toy shopping means. This offer is an authoritative and incredibly vibrant edit of what we believe to be the most covetable and exciting toys in the industry. The project has been over a year in the making, and our team have worked hard to ensure that what our visitors will ﬁnd at Selfridges is put together in a way that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Do you attend London Toy Fair? Yes – it’s a great source of inspiration to ﬁnd out about new and exciting product. It’s the go-to place for a toy buyer. Are there any categories or trends you predict will do well in 2014? 2014 will be about exclusive launches, extraordinary events and a complete refresh of the space. We aim to keep our customers as engaged and excited as we are about the space. And ﬁnally if you were a kid today, what toy would you be nagging your mum for? The Barbie Digital Mirror, the Atom car and the Furby Boom- they’re all dream presents for any child, particularly at Christmas!!

JANUARY 2014

RETAIL

OPINION

Are you experienced? This month, retail expert John Ryan advises you on how to wow your customers and keep them coming back for more!

ometimes shops are like old-fashioned museums. Customers walk in, are presented with a range of artefacts, most of which they are unable to touch, and then, with quite a lot of luck, a purchase may follow. As an experience, it is an exercise in sterility, overlooking the fact that anything that is bought will never again be displayed in an environment of this kind. Even when a product is sold it is likely that the shopper will not automatically return, surely the lifeblood of any retail operation, for the simple reason that everything was so very neutral in feel. This may be the case in any retailer’s premises, but never is the need for creating an experience more pressing than in a toyshop. Think for a moment of a well-known toy retailer (without naming names) that is found on the edge of towns and cities and usually consists of a large shed on a retail park. Walk into this one and it is chock-full of unhappy people. Parents are wandering around inspecting the offer that is displayed in long, high bays where the toys, irrespective of what they do, are stacked in piles. They are stressed and this is usually less the result of a lack of choice and rather more to do with the fact that their offspring, who almost invariably seem to accompany them on these shopping trips, are complaining. They complain because they want to play with what’s on offer and a combination of sealed packaging and overwatchful staff means that they are unable to do so. Tears are likely to follow and a quick round of unhappy families ensues that continues all the way to the car park outside and probably for most of the return journey home. What this retailer has succeeded in doing is offering a non-experience, one that will have no appeal either to those that the toys are aimed at or indeed those who will be paying for this. So what is to be done? For an alternative to this, look no further than the top floor of Selfridges’ Oxford Street flagship where the toy department, which opened in its current form in mid-2013, is an object lesson in what can be achieved to keep children and the keepers of the purse-strings contented. Just a couple of weeks ago the department, on the stores’ uppermost level, was a very busy place indeed. And as shoppers arrived at the entrance to the area they were greeted by a blackboard that purported to tell those who might be interested what the “Top Ten” toys were. As a call to action it was doing the trick as parents seemed, to a man and woman, to be heading straight for the Furbys, Makies and Robofish without a pause for thought. The blackboard, which owing to the

fact that it had been chalked that day and therefore had a temporary air about it (a positive, things do change), was merely serving to confirm that which was probably already top of mind, but it was effective. The real point about this simple piece of wayfinding however was what happened when you arrived at the relevant toy area. Whichever toy you wanted to look at, there appeared to be someone on hand to give you a complete top to toe benefit audit of why this was a good thing to buy and, more importantly, to show how it worked. In our hi-tech days, it is actually quite easy to look at a toy and be almost totally oblivious to how it will be used. Even kids, unless they are shown, may not see the playtime potential of something unless there are staff on hand to show how. What in fact this is a matter of is a store that acts as an emporium where children can play, as well as a place where adults are made to part with their money. The payoff for grown-ups is that they can actually get to see which toys will prove best for their loved ones, purely by seeing how their children react to products that they may not have seen before. Selfridges is also wise to the fact that children tend to give the thumbs up to people who are dressed as toys and/or characters that they may be familiar with. This Disneyesque technique is relatively cheap and simple to achieve and will pay dividends in terms of additional sales. And if this all sounds like a blinding glimpse of the obvious, consider this. There are many toyshops where the needs of children, and they are the end users, are almost totally ignored. The ‘experience’ of toy shopping is about the interaction between parents and children and how they deal with the matter of being in an environment where there are objects of desire for the children. If they are given free rein to work play with what’s on display and to be shown how to ‘play’, then all will be well. If, on the other hand, this is denied, then it’s a racing certainty that shelves, even at busy times, will remain resolutely well stocked, with markdowns to follow. Toyshops need to be an experience rather than supermarket-like interiors where the emphasis is on shifting volume. The latter approach will only work if things are cheap and this may be fine if you operate from a large shed, but for smaller operators, it just won’t wash.

John Ryan is Stores Editor at Retail Week. He has worked for the magazine for more than a decade covering store design, visual merchandising and what makes things sell in-store. In a previous life he was a buyer.

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COVER FEATURE MV

Keep on rolling! MV Sports will look to innovate and up the ante in 2014. With a host of new licensed and own label wheeled and outdoor toys, MV is the destination for all things wheeled

rom ride-ons and trikes for pre-schoolers to BMXs and stunt scooters for teens, MV Sports is a one-stop shop for all wheeled and outdoor product needs. Choosing the perfect wheeled toy for kids is a big decision, and with the size and price of these outdoor favourites, parents are keen to have their say and pick a product that will stand the test of time. MV Sports dedication to working with the musthave licenses, as well promoting own label brands such as the hugely successful Stunted range of stunt scooters, means that whatever a customers needs, MV Sports can deliver. Picking the right licence in this category is key, and with wheeled goods at the end of the licensing chain, the choice of licence can make or break a quality product. One Direction fever is sweeping the globe, and the popularity of the company’s 1D licensed wheeled goods proves that pop is hot. And with Peppa Pig continuing to dominate the pre-school market, a range of ride-ons and outdoor toys means that kids can take their favourite Peppa characters with them on their adventures. In 2014, MV Sports will release new lines featuring some of the biggest and most-loved properties including all out action with Transformers 4; everyone’s favourite

JANUARY 2014

cartoon family, The Simpsons; and the hardest working postman in the world, Postman Pat. On top of its licensed offering, the breadth of MV Sports’ lines means they’re a go to destination for a full wheeled and outdoor offering for retailers. Buyer conﬁdence in MV Sports’ own brands, backed by advertising and marketing campaigns, also means that they have become well known consumer names in their own right. For example MV heavily supported their Stunted brand on TV leading to rapid market share growth within the stunt scooter category. With double digit growth in the outdoor market set against a declining market, MV Sports are keen to bring innovation to the category.

Bespoke battery operated rides such as the Batmobile, Thomas Train and Fireman Sam Fire Engine are all scaled down versions of the real thing providing an authentic role play experience. MV’s scooters, trikes and bikes often feature added value extras which inject an element of a character’s DNA into the wheeled toy. As an added bonus, the breadth and ﬂexibility of the product range means that getting the right mix of products is easy. Able to ship a bespoke mix of products, MV Sports make it simple to order a selection of different outdoor and wheeled toys - from bikes, scooters, ride-ons, licensed or unlicensed and more – and receive it all in one order, making delivery convenient and potentially money saving.

Ready to roll in 2014: Choosing a strong licence is a big part of what makes MV Sports tick. Next year the company will focus on innovation and range extension of key, existing licenses such as One Direction, Peppa Pig, Thomas and Fireman Sam, as well as the roll out of tried and tested favourites Transformers 4, The Simpsons, and Postman Pat.

PREVIEW NUREMBERG

The Biggest Toy Fair Ever As we gear up to the 65th Nuremberg Toy Fair, TnP spoke to the organisers and exhibitors to give you the low down on the show and why this year’s fair is particularly special

SHOW FACTS Where: The Nuremberg Exhibiton Centre, Nuremberg, Germany When: 29 January – 3 February 2014 Who: Visit www.toyfair.de for a full exhibitor list Ernst Kick, CEO Spielwarenmesse

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2014 is a milestone year for Nuremberg Toy Fair, as it celebrates 2014 is a 65 years since it first opened its milestone doors. But the show won’t be year for collecting its bus pass and resting on its laurels anytime soon. With this Nuremberg year’s inclusion of the new hall, 3A, Toy Fair, as the show floor sprawls as far as the it celebrates eye can see. With each of the 18 halls separated into different sectors, the 65 years since it first event plays host to 2,800 exhibitors from 60 countries, all showing off opened its their freshest products. doors That’s a lot of impressive numbers, and this year’s show is set to be the biggest toy fair ever. We’re not just talking the biggest Nuremberg Toy Fair ever either; according to Roger Sherman of Spielwarenmesse, the addition of hall 3A means that this year’s show is the biggest of it’s kind ever held, anywhere in the world. “The new hall, designed by Zaha Hadid (of the London Olympic Aquatics Centre fame), adds 9000m2 to the show in 2014, incidentally making it the largest toy fair ever held,” he says. Despite the increase in size, the show hasn’t lost any of it’s gemutlich – which, for those who speak as little German as Team TnP, roughly translates to warm, friendly, family atmosphere. But how has Get about! Nuremberg Toy Try to avoid taxis; they’re expensive and there will be long lines at the Fair remained fair. The fair has its own tube station – Messe. And 90% of those on so popular for board will be from the toy industry. all these years and continued

uremberg Toy Fair, Spielwarenmesse, Nürnberg Toy Fair, whatever you call it in your neck of the woods one thing’s for certain, it’s the only place to be between 29 January and 3 February. An unmissable stop on the annual, fair-season tour, those who make the trip to Bavaria’s second largest city are joined each year by a whole host of toy manufacturers, distributors, buyers and retailers from across the globe. With more than 75,000 visitors from across the industry, you’re in good company.

ROGER’S TOP TIPS

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to grow? Roger believes that it is the international focus that draws exhibitors and visitors year after year. “I think it’s the sheer internationality of the show, plus the fact that so many exhibitors don’t show anywhere else. There is also a family atmosphere about the show, despite its size, which is not apparent in the bigger cities.” Ernst Kick, CEO of Spielwarenmesse eG, stresses that a balance between quality and quantity is of paramount importance to the show’s aims and continued success. “The 65th Toy Fair is going to be the largest in its history. However, most importantly, we want it to be the best toy fair ever.” With so many exhibitors, products and visitors, the event organisers have worked hard to make sure that whatever visitors are looking for, they can ﬁnd it. “We know what our customers want, and that’s what we focus on at the toy fair,” says Ernst. “Exhibitors bring their new products to Nuremberg to tell the market about them. We put together a targeted offering of products and knowledge so that every retailer or buyer can access and assess a vast information package covering a million products and 2,800 exhibitors from all over the world.” Coming at the end of January, Nuremberg Toy Fair is situated just after the key Christmas selling period, and slap bang in the middle of fair season. So, should retailers make this show a priority?

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PREVIEW NUREMBERG

Ernst believes that the show is an integral part of any retailer’s calendar. “Quite simply, the next season always comes up faster than you expect,” says Ernst. “The only way to best prepare your business success is to know what is in demand, and to stay up-to-date with current trends. Business today is like professional top class sport; professionals have to stay on the ball, and attending the toy fair gets you up and ready for the upcoming season.” It’s a compelling analogy, and as more than a third of visitors to Nuremberg don’t attend any other exhibition, Nuremberg has become a key event for the launch of new product. “Of course, since it’s the most important thing of all, you can’t forget the thousands of new product launches which are made in Nuremberg every year,” says Roger. “It is calculated that over 70,000 products and ideas are seen for the ﬁrst time there, so go to Nuremberg and stay ahead of the curve!” Green Board Games is one such company that sees Nuremberg as a perfect opportunity to showcase new products. Sarah Winter, the company’s International Sales Manager, says: “It is the biggest Toy show, so it is really important to be there. This is the opportunity to launch new products internationally. I have been at Nuremberg for 4 years and although it changes slightly each year, it is always a busy show with lots of meetings. Visitors are genuinely looking for something new

GLOBAL TOY CONFERENCE AT SPIELWARENMESSE 2014 The Global Toy Conference at Spielwarenmesse 2014 takes toy retailers on a journey into the future. On Saturday, February 1, participants will ﬁnd out who their customers of tomorrow are. Only toy traders with a bricks and mortar shop can offer a unique shopping experience for their customers by inspiring all senses. If they meet their customers face-to-face, it is the perfect opportunity to personally advise them. At the Global Toy Conference retailers can learn how to strategically steer the core marketing tools of their business: pricing strategy, product presentation und sales methods. If interested in only one topic, trade fair visitors can book each module separately. The complete programme is available at www.globaltoyconference.com.

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With so many exhibitors, products and visitors, the event organisers have worked hard to make sure that whatever visitors are looking for, they can ﬁnd it

and are interested in what is there.” And this year is extra special for Green Board Games as the company launches Green Board Education, a stand-alone business dedicated to providing focused educational resources, at the show. Sarah Bullivant, Head of Green Board Education, says: “This fair will provide the opportunity to meet the decision makers from school distributors and introduce the Green Board Education brand to them. Hopefully they will like what they see and want to add it to their catalogues.” With exhibitors and visitors from

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all four corners of the world making the trip to Nuremberg, for some companies, Nuremberg is quite simply a great opportunity to catch up with existing customers and open up new business opportunities with people from across the globe. Mignon Klerk, Marketing Director at Montreal-based Wooky Entertainment says: “Nuremberg is the place to be for all involved in toys. It is the platform to meet all our worldwide customers and relations. Nuremberg is so huge, so you need to prepare, but if you are searching for great, innovative products you must come and see us!”

READER OFFER Readers of TnP, which is a member of ITMA – International Toy Magazine Association – can exclusively buy tickets at a special price. See ITMA coupon below for more details.

Saturday, 1 February 2014

GLOBAL TOY CONFERENCE

How to Get Customers into Your Shop – Successful Pricing, Presentation and Selling The Global Toy Conference at Spielwarenmesse® 2014 tells you how to successfully control the three most important aspects in your company. Experts reveal their recipes for success for Pricing Strategy, Product Presentation and Sales Methods. Be there and ﬁnd out how to make your shop an attraction for customers. You’ve already planned your visit to the fair and have no free day left? Or you’re particularly interested in one focus topic? No problem, because this year you can book separate modules for the ﬁrst time. As a reader of the magazine you can exclusively buy tickets at a special price. Send an e-mail with the reference “ITMA special” to i.krawtschenko@spielwarenmesse. de and get your tickets at the special price. More information on www.globaltoyconference.de inte rna tio na l toy ma g a zine s a sso c ia tio n

60/$ 85 module: € Booking 1 at ticket desk € 80 normal price 110/$ 155 module: € Booking 2 at ticket desk € 150 normal price 5 € 160/$ 22 modules: ll a 0 g 2 2 in k € o k Bo at ticket des normal price

With kind thanks to our media partners: Lelualan ammattilehti

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PREVIEW NUREMBERG

Spiralling fun! GOLDFISH & BISON 02083 262626 www.goldﬁshandbison.com

Hall 5 Stand A34 Goldfish & Bison are announcing exciting new additions to the popular range of Spirograph toys for 2014. Goldfish & Bison re-launched Spirograph in 2013 under licence from Hasbro. Introducing new innovation into the iconic creative play system that enables kids to view their drawings in 3D, the new Spirograph range from Goldfish & Bison has been a fantastic success. Goldfish & Bison will continue to support the Spirograph brand with new play options in 2014, building the range with hot licenses, creative style ideas and other innovative solutions. There is exciting news for Laser Pegs in 2014. Goldfish & Bison will be revealing a strong line-up featuring innovative new developments for the illuminated construction system. Introducing

technological advancement into the range, Laser Pegs fans can look forward to portable play solutions that can be constructed on the go. The new Laser Pegs sets each build several models, so kids can be continue to be creative when out and about or visiting friends. The Megableu portfolio continues to be a phenomenal success for Goldﬁsh & Bison. The current range includes the ever-popular titles, such as Ghost Hunt, Creepy Hand, Enchanted Ball and Chase Zurg featuring Buzz Lightyear. Goldﬁsh & Bison will also be unveiling new additions to the line-up from Megableu at the 2014 Toy Fairs.

Forever blowing bubbles DULCOP +39 051 625 0711 www.dulcop.com

Hall 5-C-23 Founded in 1938, with over 300 licensed and generic products, Dulcop is the largest manufacturer of soap bubbles and bubble toys in Europe. Dulcop premium soap bubbles is present in over 50 countries through a consolidated and historical sales network, highlighting the company’s reliability and the quality of its range of soap bubbles. Moreover, Dulcop soap bubble solution successfully passes over 1,600 tests every year, carried out by European independent and accredited certification bodies of International Standards (IISG, a UL/ICQ company). Dedication and care in the manufacturing process has enabled Dulcop to obtain the EC Type Certificate, the highest level of certification achievable. Dulcop is the only soap bubble manufacturer in the world to have received such a certificate. During the past decades Dulcop has established a very closed relationship with the most successful licensors such as Disney, Marvel, Sanrio, Nickelodeon, Mattel, I.M.P.S.

EDUK8 and play! EDUK8 WORLDWIDE LTD 01434 672 336 www.eduk8worldwide.com

Hall 12.0, Stand C-01-2 Eduk8 Worldwide is an independent family company established over 12 years ago, committed to creating unique, high quality, educational toys and resources that help engage children’s imaginations. As well as a great range of exclusive wooden toys and our hands-on science range for inquisitive minds, they are delighted to launch their Belly Bump Balls - durable inflatable balls that are a great, fun way to encourage children (and adults alike!) to be more active. Kids have a blast with these robust play balls that get them moving and laughing, bumping and bouncing off each other. And bigger kids and adults have a ball too! Available in two sizes, the junior ball measures 54cm and is suitable for children from age three to eight years. The larger ball measures 92cm and is suitable from ages six to 106. Sold in packs of two because one just isn’t enough! Also launching at Nuremberg are their 3D Play Rugs that add a fabulous three dimensional aspect to children’s play. Exclusive to Eduk8 Worldwide, they are 100 x 100cm and produced in thick, wool-like pile with realistic woven images, available in two designs. Not just a play rug – it also looks fabulous in any bedroom or playroom as a decorative rug.

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PREVIEW NUREMBERG

Time for licences! ZEON 0208 208 1833 www.zeonltd.co.uk

Hands on fun! FIESTA CRAFTS 020 8804 0563/ sales@ﬁestacrafts.co.uk www.ﬁestacrafts.co.uk

Hall 1-B-09

Stand H5/A72 Zeon Ltd of London are delighted to announce the launch of a new range of timepieces and gifts based on Disney’s Marvel characters, to be shown at Nuremberg 2014. The product line-up will consist of: ceramic mugs, including 3D and 2D-relief designs, ceramic cookie jars, teapots, coasters, salt and pepper shakers and money boxes; stress relief moulded heads, tin lunch boxes, novelty pens, iPhone cases, gift sets, clocks and a full range of children’s and adult watches will complete the range. Also new for Nuremberg will be Adventure Time from Turner. Aimed at kids aged 7-11, Adventure Time has been picked up by students and young adults and has rapidly achieved cult status. The company’s new range of watches, clocks, cookie jars, mugs, timepieces and gift sets will bring Jake and Finn to life in a perfect way. One of Zeon’s biggest licensing successes in 2013 was with One Direction. The public needs no introduction to the biggest boy band phenomenon in two decades, not just in Europe, but on a global level. To complement the range of One Direction timepieces, Zeon are delighted to announce the signing of a contract with Syco for watches and clocks based on UK X-Factor finalists Union J. Zeon will also be launching new ranges of children’s timepieces based on Doc McStuffins, Jake & the Never Land Pirates and Sofia the First. These three pre-school licences from Disney are exciting consumers and retailers alike.

Fiesta Crafts has unveiled a number of brand new and exclusive toys to add to its growing collection of fun, playful and innovative toys which will be available in 2014. Three beautifully crafted rotating wooden music boxes will help sooth small babies and toddlers to sleep thanks to the carefully chosen Brahms Lullaby which plays for three minutes at a time. For children who just love to shout ‘all aboard’, the new Teddies Train is a perfect way to take their fun and imagination to a whole new level. Compatible with other train sets in the range, the Teddies Train has been designed to encourage toddlers to match numbers and colours while helping to develop their counting skills. Also new for 2014 is the Animals Threading Toy, designed speciﬁcally to improve co-ordination and concentration skills. Suitable from age 3, the threading set features 30 animal pieces and 10 different coloured laces. The animals are bright and detailed to appeal to young children so that they’ll want to thread for hours at a time.

Get on board TREFL

07850 779797 sales@sjr-associates.co.uk

Hall 10.1 F-34 Treﬂ is a manufacturer of jigsaw puzzles, board games and playing cards manufactured in Gdynia in Poland. The company was established in 1985 and presently runs two factories and employs 450 people. Treﬂ’s products are delivered to over 50 countries worldwide with products based on most popular objects and places. They also have most of the major character licences in Poland, including favourites from Disney, Marvel, Warner Bros., Hasbro and Mattel to name just a few. They are pleased to present their ranges to UK buyers attending The Nuremberg Toy Fair at their stand. Contact Steve Richardson, Head of UK and ROI Sales, for catalogues or more details of their ranges, or to arrange an appointment at Nuremberg Toy Fair.

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Innovative designs with Hauck HAUCK 07770 608858 www.hauck-toys.de

Hall 2 Stand B-03, C-04 A big investment in product development will be evident on Hauck’s stand at the 2014 Nuremberg Toy Fair. Innovative designs and functions feature in the many new dolls prams, strollers and other doll accessories being shown, with all products sporting fresh eye-catching fabric designs. There will also be an exciting brand new concept in kitchen and bath-time play plus a new range of stylish and practical Disney furniture. That’s not all: there are also exciting introductions to Hauck’s very successful range of ride-on toys. Featured here is Hauck’s “i’coo Grow With Me” dolls play-set. The set, a miniature version of Hauck’s top selling nursery collection, offers outstanding value both in terms of play and price with no less than six different doll accessories included in the one box. The set includes a pram that can be converted into a push chair. Even the car seat can be clicked into place directly onto the pram frame just like the real thing. The set also comes with a static frame that creates the basis for indoor play situations - the car seat converting into a high chair and the pram body into a cot. Also in the “i’coo” range is the doll’s travel cot “Starlight”. This cot is an accurate replica of the real “i’coo” travel bed of the same name whilst the “i’coo Pluto” stroller is another faithful reproduction of the nursery buggy. All “i’coo” products come in a range of colourful and fashionable fabric designs with each item endorsing Hauck’s view that a modern doll’s world should be a faithful reﬂection of the real thing.

Play smart TTS GROUP

Bigger and better BIGJIGS TOYS 01303 250400 www.bigjigstoys.com

07908 134071 www.tts-group.co.uk

Hall 3 Stand A39

Hall 12, Stand A-04-1

The start of 2014 sees the launch of the new Bigjigs Rail packaging, designed to provide a powerful and engaging in store presence. Key features of the packaging include modular box sizes and multiple selling faces to ensure effective merchandising for retailers, distinctive graphical features including safety symbols, development factors, key USP’s, lifestyle imagery, and interactive features such as QR codes and Cut & Play. The re-brand also welcomes the introduction of a variety of rail based characters including Station Master Sam who can be found on the packaging and will be used to develop consumer marketing initiatives.

TTS Group is the developer, manufacturer and supplier of award winning, innovative educational resources. With over 28 years experience in supplying schools, nurseries and distributors worldwide, they have the knowledge and understanding of the education market to help you grow your business. Focusing on key areas of the school curriculum and speciﬁc stages in child development they have an outstanding range of high quality resources available. All of their products have been researched, developed and tested with close involvement of the end users; teachers and children. Our products range from resources that encourage speech and language development, to remote control cars and programmable Bee-Bots; there is always something new to be found!. It’s not just TTS who think they have got great products! They are proud to have be recognised by numerous organisations and governing bodies.

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Bump, Jump and Bounce with Belly Bump Balls! Fun and exercise for the whole family. B0p!

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www.eduk8worldwide.com

MADE IN ITALY

THE WORLD OF THE 1ST SOAP BUBBLE BU UBBLE MANUFACTURER M

29 Jan - 3 Feb 2014 HALL 5 / STAND C-23

JANUARY 2014

Dulcop International S.p.A. +39 051 625 0711

www.dulcop.com

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Colourful new concept CARTAMUNDI 01268 511522 www.cartamundi.co.uk

Hall 10.1, Stand C-11, B-06

Moving with the tech times VTECH

01235546810 www.vtechuk.com Hall 12.2 Stand P-06 In 2013, VTech rose to number four manufacturer in the total toys market and number one in Infant toys for the first time. The kids’ electronic company will show off its new ranges at Nuremberg toy fair in 2014. Toot-Toot Drivers has seen 90% growth year-to-date (NPD October 2013) putting VTech in a strong position for another outstanding year with continued development and innovation. New vehicles and playsets will be introduced in Spring to build on this popular collectable range. InnoTab has sold more than any other children’s tablet (YTD October 2013 NPD). The InnoTab 3S has been a huge success with one of the stand-out features being the Kid Connect app created by VTech. Kid Connect is a safe way for kids to connect with their InnoTab 3S to their parents smartphone/tablet – anytime, anywhere! New software and apps for InnoTab will continue to be released throughout the year. The software library exceeds over 20 titles and there are hundreds of apps available to download from VTech’s Learning Lodge. As well as this, there is also a growing library of chart music titles available on InnoTab from artists like One Direction, Little Mix, Union J and more! InnoTab will be supported by strong TV advertising throughout 2014. Furthermore, there will be some exciting new range additions to the KidiCreative line, as well as a very special launch to the Girls specific market, a first for VTech.

With a history of printing playing cards for over 300 years, Cartamundi UK has firmly established its position as a trusted retail supplier and global brand for bringing families together. Retailers can look forward to a bumper 2014 with a fantastic array of licensed family card games, fun and educational Trumps games and an exciting interactive card game concept. Come and visit them at Nuremberg Toyfair,. A long-standing relationship with Disney continues with several preschool card games in an attractive mixed counter display unit, including Dr McStuffin‘s Dominos; Jake and the Neverland Pirates Donkey; Sofia the First Pairs; and Mickey Mouse Happy Families. With a movie sequel to the blockbuster Planes lined up next summer, Cartamundi is set to fly high with the Planes Fire and Rescue game in Tuck box and game box. World Cup fever hits home with an official range of FIFA14 card games including the FIFA 14 World Cup Facts Game, FIFA 14 Illustrative Playing Cards, FIFA 14 Memo Game and FIFA 14 Playing Cards. Meanwhile young children can sharpen up their act with a colourful, creative range of Ace Junior card games. Numeracy can be improved with Counting Fun; literacy skills are honed with Learn English; creativity is nurtured with Colour and Shape; and classic titles for all the family include 4 in a Row, Domino and Rummy. The trump card falls as Cartamundi launches an exciting interactive card game range in the summer. The new concept will be unveiled at Nuremberg Toyfair 2014.

On an upward Ark ARK DIY +353 91 521857 www.triqo.com/www.arkdiyproducts.com/triqo

Hall 6, Stand A-03 What started in 2011 as Triqo, a triangle and a square that can be used to build abstract shapes, has evolved into the world’s most versatile and ﬂexible construction system in 2014. Many children have already taken to the delight of the Triqo toy construction system and will be able to enjoy the endless construction possibilities in a full line of new products. This new Triqo line will be launched at the Toy Fairs in Hong Kong, London and Nuremberg.

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Gosh! oh golly PMS INTERNATIONAL GROUP +44 1268 505050 www.pmsinternational.com

Hall 1-B-18

Fairytales and ﬁtness at Nuremberg CHICCO 01623750870 www.chicco.com

PMS International Group Plc is delighted to announce the launch of Gosh! Designs at Nuremberg Toy Fair 2014. “We decided it was appropriate and timely to introduce the rejuvenated brand that had enjoyed, in years past, much respect and goodwill within the toy and gift licensing and retail business communities” said John CostiMouyia. Gosh! Designs projects a bright and fun image, reﬂecting playful innovation and desirable value for money and quality within its wide toy and gift collections. This includes newly acquired and ongoing character licences, including Mister Maker, CBeebies’ top rated pre-school series. Gosh! Designs will also be previewing Mr Maker along with many other character properties at the Spring Fair at the NEC in February.

Hall 12.2 Stand P-04 Chicco will be previewing its exciting new 2014 toy collection at the Nuremberg Show with some brand new innovative lines and new additions to its existing popular ranges. One new range that will no doubt prove popular with retailers, and mums and dads, is the new Fairytale Toy range. Featuring popular characters from fairytales including Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the range offers a cot mobile, a music box and a crib panel. All of the toys in the Fairytale range are suitable from 0+ months. Expanding the Chicco toy offering further is the introduction of the Fit & Fun range; a new line of active sports toys that have been created to develop motor skills, accuracy, balance and coordination. Featuring bowling, an angling game, an electronic goal post, and a 4-in-1 balance board, scooter and skate, the range is perfect for outdoors fun and games. As well as the fantastically fun new lines, Chicco will be adding further toys to many of its ranges. The Radio Control toys will be increased with the help of four new RC vehicles, while the Chicco trikes will be introduced to a familiar face – the Chicco Pelican Trike. All of the new 2014 toy collection will be on the Chicco stand at the Nuremberg Show, so be sure to visit and join in the fun!

Sonic Youth SONIC GAMES www.sonicgames-uk.com 0044(0)1743242999

Hall B-03-4B Sonic Games UK, specialises in designing, prototyping, manufacturing and distributing innovative puzzle and electronic game products for the retail market. Andrew Reeves, inventor, designer and the managing director of Sonic Games formed the company in 2009 which now produces some of the highest quality puzzle on the market today. Sonic Games has made signiﬁcant progress in developing its design capabilities as well as developing a more cost effective manufacturing supply chain for existing and new product lines. The new iball4 game is an electronic memory, speed and strategy game, and includes the iball3 game that won 3 UK toy awards in recent years. The Iball4 has been signiﬁcantly improved with 2 new additional games. The ultimate speed game ‘Light Speed’, is a particularly compelling game which requires incredible speed, lateral thinking and dexterity in order to challenge for the latest world record high scores now being achieved. See www.iball4.com for the latest world record scores.

ball 4 toysnplaythings.co.uk

Grow with me

Lightning

Typhoon

Preview Show in Hong Kong by appointment only Jan. 04 – 11, 2014 visit us at youtube.com/haucktoys www.hauck-toys.com

Contact: Malcolm Cook malcolm@mc-international.co.uk Mobile: +44 (0)7770 60 88 58

Nuremberg Toy Fair Hall 2 / B-03, C-02 Jan. 29 – Feb. 03, 2014

New York Toy Fair Hall 18 / 5671 Feb. 16 – 19, 2014

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We are exhibiting at Nurnberg Toy Fair 2014 29th January to 3rd February 2014 Exhibition location: Hall 12 A-04-1

With over 27 years experience TTS, is a leading manufacturer resources for kindergartens and primary schools in the UK and worldwide. We supply

Putting The ‘New’ In Nuremberg! HTI 01253778888 www.htigroup.co.uk Hall 12.2 Stand P-09 Following the successful multiterritory launch of Barbie & Me role-play toys last year in partnership with Mattel Consumer Products, HTI present new, exciting lines at Nuremberg. New for 2014 is the Barbie & Me Colour Change Glam and the Barbie & Me Cupcake Creations and Ice Cream Creations sets, a super cute Sweet Stylin’ Hair Rollers Set and Hair Band Designer Set. Following a strategic long-term international licensing deal with Hasbro for the Tonka brand, HTI continues to reestablish the brand into the world of pre-school boys. The Tonka Town offering incorporates vehicles playsets and characters. The new Tonka Town Air Rescue Set enables pre-schoolers to recreate the excitement of a real air rescue. The result of a multi-territory license partnership with Hasbro for role-play cases in 2014, HTI also showcase an exciting new range of My Little Pony cases taking the theme of personal ‘grooming’ and beauty. Brand new for 2014, HTI present Transformers vehicle track sets under license from Hasbro with EMEA distribution rights.

and teaching resources. At TTS

children. Come and visit the TTS stand, you can be sure of a warm welcome!

Snap ‘em up! THE PUPPET COMPANY 01462446040 www.thepuppetcompany.com

Hall 1 F-09

Award winning resources!

TTS is part of RM Education

Tel: +44 1623 887068 Email: trade@tts-group.co.uk Fax: +44 1623 887062 www.tts-trade.co.uk

The Puppet Company is looking forward to exhibiting at the upcoming Nuremberg Toy Fair. They are excited to introduce the Snappers; a fun and funky range of eight bird glove puppets. Their designs take inspiration from Venetian Masks, pop-art and the circus. Each Snapper features an expressive, working beak with a squeaker. They’re made from boldly patterned plush in a range of cosmic colours. Each features bright expressive crystalline style eyes, on a fun embroidered background. We can’t wait for you to get your hands in these! Also new are our 3 in 1 Wooden Puppet Theatres. Inspired by classic toy theatres they are an exciting addition to our Wilberry Wood range. They are an update of our already popular Floor Standing Theatre redesigned to be multifunctional. They can be adapted to be used in three different ways: as a full height free standing theatre, a table top theatre or as a top access marionette performance stage. They are available in either, blue and white or red and yellow stripes.

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Leaping forward! LEAPFROG

Wonderfully Woolly GOLDEN BEAR

01702200244 www.leapfrog.co.uk

Hall 4 Stand A-20, B-21 LeapFrog, the pioneering toy manufacturer behind the Number 1 kids learning tablet, will once again be making its mark at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2014. New innovations are currently being kept ﬁrmly under wraps and as well as unveiling a wealth of ‘top secret’ new concepts and products at the show, LeapFrog will also be celebrating the ongoing success story of two of its milestone 2013 launches – the Wi Fi enabled LeapPad Ultra learning tablet, and Leapreader, the brand’s interactive and complete learnto-read-and-write solution. Since launch in summer 2013, both products have already scooped up a host of awards, receiving fantastic feedback from parents, industry professionals, educators and press alike. LeapReader, showed its potential just one month after its launch when it claimed the number 3 spot for new items in Pre-School toys** whilst LeapPad Ultra also hit the number 3 spot in August in the Top 50 items in total market category. LeapFrog will continue to drive momentum and appetite for these innovations in 2014.

01952 608308 www.goldenbeartoys.com

Hall 5 Stand C-15 Golden Bear has much to offer international distributors at Nuremburg, including new lines for Woolly and Tig, In The Night Gar and Go MINI, plus an exciting new toy range for pre-school brand, Henry Hugglemonster. Having recently been granted the master toy licence for the new Disney preschool property Henry Hugglemonster, Golden Bear will launch a collection of toys in 2014. Talking plush toys will be key to the range and available as both Henry and Summer Hugglemonster, come complete with familiar phrases from the show. Twin Pack Figures will also be available, perfect entry level purchase for Henry Hugglemonster fans.

Inspiring playtime TOMY 01271336155 www.tomy.co.uk

Hall 12.2 Stand P-11 TOMY is known for its thoughtfully designed range of infant and toddler toys, some new great toys and a whole new look for the brand will be coming in 2014.

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Preparing for an exciting year I-SPY www.magicchoc.co.uk www.gellibaff.co.uk 0845 459 1818

Hall 10.1 Stand C-13 Sold by:

Brain training, memory skills, critical thinking, visual perception, coordination Fun to play, a perfect travel toy companion for everyone. Come and see us at: UK PAVILLION HALL12 STAND NUMBER B-03-4B

Sonic Games Limited Tel: +44(0)1743242999 www.sonicgames.uk.com

i-Spy is responsible for the management of all worldwide distribution partners for Magic Choc and Gelli Baff. Magic Choc, the range of chocolate toys includes Chocolate Picture Maker and Chocolate Model Making Kit. With numerous toy awards under its belt already, Magic Choc will not fail to impress visitors who stop by to have a go creating and tasting the 100% Belgian chocolate toys. Their brand tagline, “Bringing Fun to Chocolate” outlines exactly what you can expect from their stand at this year’s show.

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Flying Gadgets Ltd., Unit 6 Mill Yard Industrial Estate, Edgware, London, HA8 5EF

Henes M7 The world’s most advanced ride on car

battle UFO Flying Gadgets world exclusive Battle UFO

Velocity The world’s fastest remote controlled car

www.flyinggadgets.com E: sales@ﬂyinggadgets.co.uk T: 0208 9520471

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Stepping into the future Developing hits STUDIO 100 www.studio100.tv

LEXIBOOK www.lexibook.com 07501770855

Hall 10.1 Stand E 16, F 37

Hall 12.0 Stand I-17

Studio 100, the global family entertainment company, will exhibit at Nuremberg Toy Fair 2014, where it will be showcasing its global animation brands including Maya the Bee and Vic the Viking. On 28 January, the Studio 100 team will present their new product highlights at the Press Preview, and on the ﬁrst day of the show Maya the Bee and Vic the Viking costume characters will be welcoming visitors as they arrive. The 2014 show will also see Studio 100 looking to secure new licensing partners for Studio 100’s new CGI animation series Vic the Viking, Heidi and Maya the Bee. Studio 100 is looking to secure further licensing and distribution partners for the new CGI series, with its broad international licensing appeal.

Pop by the Lexibook stand at Nuremberg and learn all about the the Lexibook Tablet XL. The tablet provides maximum content with more than £400 of services and applications included, as well as optimal comfort with its giant HD screen! Its customisable interface enables each user to create his or her proﬁle and his or her own content. For younger children: access educational and interactive applications, with animated stories, favourites videos, and more! For older children: discover more than 500 lessons covering the school curriculum and quizzes to make improvements at the user’s pace in all subjects, as well as the most currently popular games and a maximum of multimedia content. The time management feature enables parents to control their children’s tablet use.

Exciting new ranges HABA 0161 304 9555 sales@haba.co.uk

Hall 2 Stand E-07 Role play is once again high on HABA’s agenda this year and the exciting new ranges which will be on display at Nuremberg have been designed to stimulate young imaginations as well as provide motivating learning experiences. The Animal Care Station allows little ones to care for zoo animals when they are sick and help them feel better. This great set includes mini wooden animals that are beautifully hand painted, a nurse character plus a fold out backdrop of a hospital to help set the scene. The hugely popular My First Play World series is set to extend its portfolio with the introduction of a new line that mixes traditional play with a biblical story. The My First Noah’s Ark allows little ones to re-enact the famous story and includes pairs of wooden animals including lions, zebras, giraffes and elephants as well as Noah and his wife, Emzara. This new world joins ﬁrm favourites My First Play World Farm and Horse that launched in 2013, and Fire – the winner of a Slow Toy Accolade. This successful series combines both role play and building blocks plus additional accessories to enhance the play experience. Finally, HABA’s Toy Shop and Play Food range was one of its best sellers for 2013 and retailers can enjoy this continuing success with the introduction of new play food items and accessories to keep little ones entertained. New for 2014, the Curry Sausage is presented on a tray and includes a chip fork, curry shaker and even a splash of ketchup on the side, whilst the Hot Dog comes in a roll with fried onions and cheese.

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Putting the VIP into toys IMC TOYS 01904720908 www.imc.es

Hall 12.2 Stand P26 IMC Toys has a reputation for driving innovation in licensed products, and after being awarded the Global Master Toy Licence, IMC Toys will be showcasing its hugely exciting toy range based on the successful Sony video game franchise, Invizimals – set to be the next ‘must-have’ brand.

Playing with numbers Driving growth and innovation MATTEL 01628500303 www.mattel.com

Hall 7 Stand A68, Hall 12.2 Stand P15 Mattel starts the year with an impressive portfolio of core brands and key licensing properties. As number one in infant and pre-school, Fisher-Price leads the way in 2014 bringing innovation within its Babygear, Newborn and Infant ranges with the introduction of Laugh & Learn products featuring new Smart Stages technology, whilst continuing to build on the emotional connection with mum through extensive marketing initiatives. A fully integrated European brand campaign will include a Mum Ambassador programme, mum targeted communication plus a campaign celebrating first birthdays. It’s full steam ahead for Thomas & Friends with the roll out of Fisher-Price’s Thomas & Friends collection including the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway line plus My First Thomas & Friends pre-school range, while harnessing the momentum of key tentpoles and building on Take n’ Play and TrackMaster. Barbie has an exciting new energy in 2014! The number one fashion doll has a fantastic new look, new style and new packaging. Through captivating content and real life experiences, she continues to engage and inspire girls of all ages, letting them know that ‘Anything Is Possible’. Monster High has a new freaktacular brand campaign, We Are Monster High, inviting current and new fans to fly their freaky-fab flags! There’s also scary new content in 2014, and two new entertainment titles; Frights, Camera, Action and Freaky Fusion. Ever After High introduces new characters and spellebrates True Hearts Day in the spring and Thronecoming in the autumn. The beautiful Disney Princess line builds on existing titles plus new additions, Sofia the First and Frozen. The adventures of Maxwell McGrath and his out-of-world friend Steel continue with new product and content including Turbo Morph Max Steel, Team up Basic and Deluxe Figures, with programming on CITV and also look out for Series 2 in spring. Hot Wheels introduces its great new track system, action packed track sets that all connect together. There are even more cool cars to collect following four great themes.

LEARNING RESOURCES 08452410484 www.learningresources.co.uk

Hall 4 Stand A05 Introducing around 100 new products every year the Learning Resources team are always eager to unveil the toys and games being added to the existing range. First up is the I Sea 10! game, the perfect way to reel in number sense by catching combinations of 10! This numeracy game comes in a sea-themed compact box and is suitable for 2-4 players ages so let the under the sea fun begin! Meet the Under the Sea Shells Word Problem Activity Set, a great way to bring word problems to life with clamshells and fun little crab and sea-star counters. This set is an ideal way to practice combining, separating, adding, subtracting and ﬁnding the missing number! From the sea bed to a bugs life Learning Resources introduces the Shapes Don’t Bug Me Activity Set allowing children to create masterpieces while becoming familiar with geometric shapes. Last but not least is 10 on the Spot! Making Ten Game, a bingo style which focuses on making 10! Cards feature frames on one side for beginners and numbers on the other for advanced players.

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ADVERTISED

Hall 5 A34 Stand

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Lighting the way SILVERLIT 01923835018 www.silverlit.com

Hall 6 Stand C10 For Silverlit 2014 really begins at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. This arena allows them to showcase their new ranges in their full glory, our booth is over 18,000 sq ft. This year their lead line is Digi Bird, a colourful collectable range of interactive birds, this is not just tweet, tweet this could be the must have item for 2014. This range will have a full marketing programme for the year. Robots also make an appearance with the Blutooth Robot on show, a high tech item for a high tech world. They are also pushing the bounds on technology with our hovering range of helicopters, three new styles and colourways. Innovation continues to be their bloodline and IFIDO their pet interactive dog will be guarding the booth!

Toot toot! SAKAR 02476518500 www.sakar.com

Hall 12.0 Stand B-08-6 Toot toot! Next stop: your local toy store for Thomas & Friends gear! Sakar International has expanded its licensing agreement with HIT Entertainment’s popular Thomas and Friends brand in the United Kingdom and across Europe. The line will include an extensive collection of electronics ranging from walkie-talkies, text messengers and boom boxes to digital cameras, ﬂashlights, and video game and computer accessories. Sing along to your favorite songs with Sakar International’s line of Hello Kitty karaoke machines! From wireless karaoke microphones that remove the vocal track from ANY song on your MP3 player/smartphone to karaokes with enhanced vocal effects and lyrics display, Sakar offers a karaoke machine for every purr-fectly talented karaoke enthusiast! Sakar’s collection of Hello Kitty products also includes: earbuds and headphones, walkietalkies, and digital cameras and camcorders! All of the ghoul kids will love Sakar’s lineup of Monster Highbranded electronics and accessories! Sakar’s portfolio of Monster High products include walkie-talkie sets, audio accessories, karaokes, smartphone cases and more!

Enjoying the early years ORCHARD TOYS www.orchardtoys.com 01953 859525

Hall 10.0 Stand H13 Educational games and jigsaws manufacturer Orchard Toys are delighted to be launching six new lines at the show, aimed at both the pre-school market and children aged four plus. Following on from the success of award-winning Pirate Shapes and Post Box Game, there will be further additions to the range aimed at children aged two plus, amongst these new releases. Designed with support from educational advisors including teachers, nursery practitioners, Early Years professionals and children themselves, Orchard Toys strive to produce games and jigsaws which are interactive, fun and appealing as well as enhancing learning and educational development.

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Find us at: The London Olympia Toyfair Booth B75 Nuremberg Toyfair Booth H5/A72

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A MEGA SHOWCASE MEGA BRANDS 01844 35 0033 www.megabloks.com

Hall 4 C-81/D-80 Mega Brands is ready to showcase its brand new Autumn/Winter line up at the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2014. Covering all markets from preschool to girls and boys to collectors, there truly is something for everyone in the Mega Brands portfolio. Preschool: As a global leader in pre-school construction toys, Mega Brands offers more than 25 years of creativity and fun for young children. The Mega Bloks First Builders range provides fun learning and developmental beneﬁts through stacking and building with big blocks that are easy for little hands to assemble. Girls: A world of building, designing and decorating fun awaits girls of all ages, with lines including Mega Bloks Barbie, Mega Bloks Hello Kitty and Mega Bloks Smurfs. Boys: You can guarantee that action packed adventure is just around the corner, with the Mega Bloks boys range. There’s something for every boy to enjoy, including Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends, Mega Bloks Hot Wheels, Mega Bloks Power Rangers, Mega Bloks Skylanders, Mega Bloks CAT and Mega Bloks John Deere. Collectors: When it comes to the collectors range, Mega Brands is home to construction sets based on some of the globe’s most popular properties, including Call of Duty and Halo. Mega Brands brings authentic buildable sets to life in detail that will satisfy even the most avid gaming fans.

Poppet on the mind TRUNKI 01179542781 www.trunki.com

Hall 8 Stand D09 Trunki teams up with Moshi Monsters, plus other new licenses from Lotus and Hello Kitty. Trunki is adding some exciting additions to the Trunki ride-on portfolio in the coming months and will be showing off a selection of new suitcases based on new licenses at Nuremberg. First is a partnership with Mind Candy to create two Moshi Monsters cases Poppet and Katsuma. Both come with all the usual much-loved Trunki features including teddy bear seatbelts, locking catches, elasticated bits pouch and secret compartments. Poppet comes complete with her trademark big eyes and bright blue boots (wheels!). Katsuma is packed full of attitude and ready for a big adventure, whether it’s a trip to gran’s or a long haul flight. Both are available to buy now in time for Christmas and the first Moshi Monsters cinema release. Coming in 2014 and also on show will be the F1 Lotus Trunki, perfect for budding young drivers with a need for speed. A sleek carbon finish, sporty metallic gold detail and shiny red horns stands this Trunki out from the crowd. Finally a Trunki based on the global phenomenon Hello Kitty will be revealed for the first time at Nuremberg giving a sneak peak ahead of its release next year.

Happy history SCHLEICH 01279 870000 www.schleich-s.com

Hall 6 Stand B-20, C-21 The Schleich stand in Nuremberg is where retailers can see the largest collection of beautifully crafted collectible figures and playsets, that have the distinct hand-painted individuality and quality expected of the brand. 2014 will see a further extension to the World of History Knights collection, including six new figures each modelled in a dynamic fighting position all wielding their weapons and wearing armour. The new knights have moveable arms and wrists, and horse riders will be magnetised to their horses for added play value. Central to the display will be the new Big Knights Castle, a strong

looking fortress with modular walls so kids can create numerous building arrangements. It has a large working drawbridge, a dungeon with trap door and a secret entrance. The castle can also be tailored to each of the orders of knights by changing the corresponding emblems and ﬂags. Germany will also be the place to see the new Horse Stable and many accessory sets which will complete the World of Nature equine play world for any young horse fan. The stable has a naturalistic look and feel with plenty of space to house Schleich’s horses, of which there will be 15 new breeds.

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Feeling HY! HY-PRO 01582500846 www.hy-pro.co.uk

Hall 7 Stand C25

Timeless classics RAINBOW DESIGNS www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk 01329 227300

Hall 1 Stand E24 Exciting new nursery toy arrivals on show from Rainbow Designs feature a host of much-loved characters from the pages of children’s literature both classic and contemporary. Peter Rabbit may be 110 years old but he’s more popular than ever. Making its show debut, this gorgeous new collection includes My First Peter and My First Flopsy plush toys, Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny Bean Rattles, and a Pull Down Musical Peter Rabbit, a Peter Rabbit Comfort Blanket, Beatrix Potter Stacking Blocks, Peter Rabbit Jack in a Box and a Peter Rabbit Pull along. Also on show are the timeless spring/summer additions to the Guess How Much I Love You Nursery range which include the Little Nutbrown Hare Comfort Blanket, Nutbrown Hare Plush, Little Nutbrown Hare Rattle and a cute Activity Spiral. The World of Eric Carle is getting set to celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2014 and to mark this momentous occasion, Rainbow is launching an array of new arrivals to this best-selling collection. New products include the Let’s Count On-theGo Book, Twist and Click Animal Blocks and the Wooden Shape Sorter Clock.

HY-PRO INTERNATIONAL is ending 2013 on a high, with the year having seen the company move into new areas, growing in both turnover and the breadth of its portfolio. Hy-Pro released their exciting new electric scooter range at Nuremberg 2013, which generated huge interest and went on to be a successful line for Hy-Pro. Building on the excitement from 2013, Hy-Pro are preparing to exhibit a stunning display at Nuremberg 2014 with the introduction of highly anticipated new ranges including an exciting pre-school range, additional feature scooters and Official licensed FIFA 2014 World Cup products. Hy-Pro will be introducing a new pre-school wheeled range at the show, ‘Rollers’ brings pre-school wheels to the next generation, designed to build confidence as the child grows! Great for developing balance and gross motor skills, the R1 converts from a trike to a tri-scooter and the R2 converts from a balance bike to an inline scooter. The range uses an innovative transition concept bringing the most out of play. There are new additions to the Zinc feature inline scooter range, including the GTX-R, Outlaw and Ignite. The process of looking at play patterns and applying that to products has always been a real passion for Hy-Pro. The GTX-R features a real working digital speedometer and flints on the rear wheel which emit sparks when the brake is used. Another exciting addition to the range is the Zinc Ignite ‘Real Smoke’ inline scooter, featuring a ‘real smoke effect’ exhaust, which is sure to be a hit. Hy-Pro has also secured a worldwide agreement with FIFA to handle the launch of a range of products for the 2014 World Cup. The agreement sees Hy-Pro developing a range of footballs, accessories and luggage items. The full range is available for preview. They are welcoming people to their stand at Nuremberg to take a look at their developed range of wheeled and sports products. For appointments please contact ying@hy-pro.co.uk

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PREVIEW NUREMBERG

Ready to impress! HEXBUG/INNOVATION FIRST 01925 453144 www.hexbug.com

Hall 12.0 Stand I-02

Two stands strong REVELL 01442890285 www.revell.eu

Hall 12.2 Stand P-13/ Hall 7A Stand D-161 (Hobby RC) Revell is returning to Nuremberg Toy Fair with two supersize stands. The Revell stand in Hall 12.2 showcases all their ranges for the toy market, the Hobbico stand in Hall 7A specialises in the fast-growing hobby RC sector. The Revell Control brand goes from strength to strength with breakthrough releases including the exclusive Nano Quad, an incredibly small (4.5cm!) and fast mini Quadrocopter. Stop by their stands to ﬁnd out more about their incredible ranges.

Hexbug has brought some outstanding innovations to the toy and gadget arena in recent years and will be showcasing its latest products at the 2014 Nuremberg Toy Fair (Hall 12.0 Stand I-02). The micro robotic creatures vary in their offerings from the new incarnation of the Nano, the Nano V2 that can now climb vertically and upside down, to the Aquabot, a robotic fish that activates when it comes to contact with water and Tagamoto, the robotic cars that read codes on the road. Nano V2: In the most exciting development since Hexbug burst onto the UK toy scene in 2007, the latest version of the nation’s favourite robotic bug-like creatures can now climb vertically. The three new rubber spines on its back allow the Nano V2 greater response to its environment by moving upwards, as high as its habitat allows, as well as being able to move on its back. Aquabot: The perception-shifting Hexbug Aquabot is the first water-born Hexbug micro robotic creature, complete with smart fish technology, providing the ultimate futuristic addition to the toy category. XL Bugs: The new Hexbug Spider and Scarab XL are much larger versions of Hexbug’s popular Spider and carab remote controlled bugs which allow the user to maneuver around objects and control precisely where they scurry. Tagamoto: Tagamoto hightech motorised micro-sized cars combine patented Hexbug Nano motion technology with a new code reading system, allowing the vehicles to read and react to codes on the road with lights, sounds and movement, making each driving experience bespoke.

Swinging into the new year MOOKIE 01525722722 www.mookie-toys.co.uk

Hall 7 Stand C9-D8 Mookie Toys welcomes customers to see the latest ranges from their award winning brands including Swingball, TP Toys and the fantastic Scuttlebug and Scramblebug ride ons. Mookie will also be showcasing interactive playsets and plush for The Hive, one of Disney Junior’s best performing new preschool programmes. Swingball celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2014 and remains one of the bestselling ranges not only within outdoor but across all toys. New to the range is the 3 in 1 Swingball consisting of football, tennis and basketball which

all packs away in the base, the Championship Swingball exclusively for international customers and not forgetting the Tiny Tailball sets, now with a patented ball to help improve tennis play. TP Toys will showcase its new Bubble Bouncer with fun bubbles, perfect for developing balance and co-ordination skills for children just 12 months+. Another introduction is the new TP Zoomee 2 Trampoline range, a quality trampoline with excellent entry price points, available in 8, 10, 12 and 14ft. Come and see the enhanced range of TP retail products in new full colour retail boxes and our educational sand and water play on display heritage lines from new TP. Hop on the Scuttlebug – an insect inspired innovative trike for toddlers. Portable and easy to use, the simple 3-step folding system allows the Scuttlebug to be ready in seconds. No patience required from either toddler or grown up! The Scramble Bug is the perfect ﬁrst ride-on for pre-schoolers.

With a unique design of four castor wheels, the Scramble Bug moves in all directions - 360 degrees! A fun and stable ride for 1-3 year olds, it helps to develop the necessary pushing and steering skills to ride tricycles, so the perfect first ride-on vehicle for young children. With the brilliant playsets from The Hive, children can re-enact their favourite Buzzbee adventures; fly through The Honeybee Hive entrance, open the curtains and see flowers growing.

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SPECIAL FEATURE MORLEYS

Telling the toy story Department store Morleys do things a little differently and merchandising their stock is one of them – just take a look at Great Gizmos NICI range in store. TnP spoke with Su Gill, Group Buyer – Toys, to ﬁnd out a little more Su, tell us a little about Morleys? Morleys is an independently owned group of department stores in and around London. Every store is different and the merchandise ranged reﬂects the local demand and demographic.

You have seven stores in total, six of which sell toys – can you give us a idea of some of the lines you stock? We offer a wide range across many brands including the big guys Lego, Mattel and Hasbro through to more ‘boutique’ brands

“

With many products I like to buy in stories. This can involve either merchandising products together from a ‘licence’ story… or merchandising categories together

such as Hippychick and educational brands such as Learning Resources. We also have a very strong book range from Usborne.

Do you change your lines per season or per month? It’s a great mix of ‘core’ ranges with our main suppliers that are reviewed every quarter, and then drops of newness across other suppliers arriving constantly. There’s always something going on which gives our customers many reasons to keep coming back.

”

is the diverse range of product available in each collection, not just plush but mugs, stationery, cushions, even slippers & ice scrapers. The NICI range was merchandised so well by the Gizmos team at the fair that I knew I had to replicate that look in store to really showcase the collection. For the launch of the Wild Friends range we created the jungle theme with bamboo trees, hammocks, wicker hampers & safari hats lent to us by Gizmos with a huge ‘wild friends’ backdrop. It looked terriﬁc and resulting sales were great too.

When it comes to merchandising your products, how do you do this differently? With many products I like to buy in stories. This can involve either merchandising products together from a ‘licence’ story such as Hello Kitty with everything from TY plush, Blueprint stationery through to Flair pre-school or merchandising categories together such as bath toys from Tomy, Blue Box, Meadow Kids and Halilit. This not only helps the customer but can often mean they end up buying more than they planned!

What is it about the NICI range that lends itself so well to merchandising? What’s fab is the range is constantly changing so one month we’ll have Wild Friends, then the next we’ll have Horse Club and the next Dragons. I actually bought the Dragons range with impact in mind. I knew the 160cm green dragon would be a real eye catcher in store so I also bought the slightly smaller orange one and the huge double headed blue one too. The kids love them and always want to have their picture taken with them and usually end up buying one too, a smaller one that is!

You’ve had success with the merchandising of Great Gizmos NICI plush range – can you tell us about that? As soon as I saw the NICI range at Spring Fair last year I knew it was perfect for our stores. What I love

Why is it so important for retailers to invest time in their merchandising? If the department looks fun and inviting then customers will want to buy and also keep coming back to see what’s new. We need to create

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theatre in a department store to compete with online companies. We often merchandise our shelves at ‘child height’, their eye level. One of the most important things is to get stock out of the box, this really fires the imagination. We also create spaces in the department where children can sit and play with toys or read books. We even have a chalkboard where kids can draw on the walls! In terms of driving sales, how important is the position of the toy section in each of your stores? Toys are usually a destination department but when we moved our department in Elys, Wimbledon from the top floor to the 2nd floor at the bottom of the escalator sales increased dramatically. You can hear squeals of delight as families come down the escalator and see the department. It has also benefitted the whole floor by bringing a different customer to that level. With the introduction of childrenswear into more of our stores we have positioned this next to Toys which ticks lots of boxes. Are toys a growth area for Morleys? Yes, definitely. We have had a

terrific year so far so fingers crossed for main season! How do you react if a product is selling badly? We try to make sure it has been correctly positioned in the department or try it in a different area. As all my stores are quite diverse something could be selling well in one store but not another so we have the flexibility to move product between stores. Otherwise we try to get out of it as quickly as possible through markdown. What excites you about the toy industry? It is constantly evolving, there’s always something new. I have only been buying toys for a little over two years but I’m already passionate about it, probably because I’m a big kid at heart! How do you keep on top of trends? Continually keeping in touch with my suppliers with regular updates. I am also part of the AIS Playroom strategy committee which meets formally twice a year and at shows and supplier previews. This is great for catching up with other buyers and seeing how they’re doing with

“

As soon as I saw the NICI range at Spring Fair last year I knew it was perfect for our stores. What I love is the diverse range of product available in each collection

”

Judith Dayus, Director, Great Gizmos, speaks to TnP about the power of merchandising and the successful branding of the NICI range in Morleys stores Has the merchandising of the NICI range at Morleys improved sales? Absolutely yes. When customers see the entire range in its whole glory with the soft toys and accessories, such as mugs and stationery, next to each other they are inspired to make multiple purchases. The exciting theatre created by the merchandising using decoration and props helps to grab the consumer’s attention and generates enthusiasm for the products. Is it important for retailers to look at the entire range instead of products in isolation? We believe it is extremely beneﬁcial to see the range together as the items complement each another. This is how NICI displays its products in Germany and they have found it works really well and encourages multiple purchases. How well do you ﬁnd consumers respond to this type of merchandising? This type of merchandising is relatively

JANUARY 2014

new for our retailers. Morleys is a fantastic example of consumers responding extremely positively to this type of display, resulting in increased sales. Consumers tend to be more inclined to buy related goods from each range when they see the items next to each other. We never imagined that displaying soft toys next to pillows, mugs, stationery and more would work so well! Do all ranges beneﬁt from this type of merchandising? The NICI ranges change so often that each of the ranges beneﬁts immensely from this type of merchandising. Customers are waiting for the next big thing each month and kids can’t wait to buy the latest collection and have their picture taken amongst the displays.

products & suppliers. We’re all really open about what’s working and what’s not and we also bounce ideas off each other. Joyce and Miles from AIS Playroom have been incredibly supportive and are always at the end of the phone for help & advice. Being able to attend the AIS Playroom supplier previews gives a greater insight into the development of ranges and where a particular brand is going. In your opinion, could stores be a little more creative when it comes to merchandising? I don’t think it hurts at all. We shop with our eyes so the more appealing stores look then more they’ll sell. Which big name well-know stores (aside from Morleys of course!) really stand out in your view for their merchandising? I think John Lewis are great for their simplicity which appeals to parents and grand-parents. I really like Just Fun Learning Toy Shops which are more educational but display their product with real impact in categories for ease of shopping. And you can’t beat Hamleys for the craziness and whole toy shopping experience. Can you give us your top ﬁve merchandising tips? Look at product ranges as stories. Get product out of the box and use props. Keep your highest footfall areas fresh and exciting. Temptation and pester power work wonders. Highlight new products but don’t forget existing ranges. Don’t cram the shelves, less is usually better, let the products shine.

DISTRIBUTION

FOCUS

From laces to looms TnP’s Rhys Thomas speaks to Martin Grossman, to ﬁnd out about the history of H. ompany Grossman and what exciting things the future holds for the company H. Grossman has been in business for nearly 70 years, what’s the history behind the company? H Grossman was founded in 1946, not long after the Second World War, and I’m the son of the founders and still running the business today. The business started out as a smallware company supplying shops with shoe laces, stockings, shoe polish and similar things. Over the years the company sold toys, fancy goods and souvenirs throughout Scotland. Now, H. Grossman Ltd is probably Scotland’s largest toy company and has expanded into a nationwide distributor, supplying the whole of the UK and Southern Ireland. The company also has international clients in Norway, Belgium, Denmark and Australia to name just a few. Excitement is the name of the game and we are the forerunners in crazes and hot lines. Licenses held include Sponge Bob, Hello Kitty, Dr Who,

“

Ben 10, Ultimate Alien, Horrid Henry, Moshi I honestly Monsters and for 2014 think this is Despicable Me to name a going to be the few. We pride ourselvess in lity best year for us providing excellent quality outdoor and pocket money oney EVER lines at an affordable price. Over the years H. Grossman Ltd has led the way in product innovation and are well known throughout the trade for giving the public that little bit extra excitement. In addition to developing our own popular brand of HGL pocket money toys, I have developed a fantastic portfolio of Ozbozz outdoor products which includes the increasingly popular and award winning Ozbozz scooter range. All Grossmans products are developed speciﬁcally for the company. We rarely distribute for anyone else, however I will do this for craze lines.

What did the company stock originally and why did the company begin to stock toys? Originally we stocked fancy goods. When I got involved I wanted to concentrate more on toys as they are what interested me, and they were fun! Tell us about some of the stand out products and lines you distribute. Megasaurs, which is our dinosaur line, My First Scooter, an award winning scooter that grows with your child and Alien Eggs.

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What is your best selling product / line? How do you choose a winning product? My First Scooter – it’s been a real winner. I choose a product mainly by gut feeling, then the key is in development. As you develop the product you just know whether it will run or not. The trick is knowing when it’s not going to work and to quickly drop the line. Has there been anything that you suspected would be popular, but has gone on to be far bigger than anticipated? Alien Eggs, which has sold over 90 million so far and is still selling. I knew it would be good but not that good, and it still amazes me for a line that costs less than £1 retail. And what have you got coming up on the horizon that buyers should be excited about? Rainbow Loom, it’s sold over 1.5 million units in the States and we have the original. I think when this article appears it will already be storming off the shelves. It takes us into a different market too – the arts and crafts market is an expanding market so that is great for us. Also we have just got the licence for Despicable Me, and we have a massive range planned for this. With everything from scooters to skipping ropes, it is going to be amazing. We have now got the licence for Horrid Henry and will be producing some great pocket money lines, and Dragons by Dreamworks is coming up too. It’s going to be a big year. Tell us about the key companies you distribute for. How did these partnerships begin and grow?

We rarely distribute for others, most of our stuff is sourced and produced by us. We develop products, the rare exception is when we see a line that we just have to bring into the UK and that is mainly down to networking and keeping up to date with news in the Far East. And what about the key retailers you work with? We get on well with our retailers by delivering great products at a great price when they want them. What makes H. Grossman stand out? M. Grossman makes H. Grossman! No seriously, we have a great team with a very low staff turnover, and this loyalty means that we all know how to work together and produce the best

“

I choose a product mainly by gut feeling, then the key is in development

results. People know who they are dealing with and people always do business with people.

You have a lot of licensed product, how do you select a successful licence? This is very hard. Sometimes a property can be just brilliant but doesn’t translate onto toy products. Others are a runaway success. Ben 10 was brilliant for us in its time and now Moshi is storming ahead. We have got some great licenses for 2014 too including Despicable Me and Horrid Henry. How are the next 12 months shaping up for you? I honestly think this is going to be the best year for us EVER. I don’t say this lightly; I think 2014 is going to be our best year. Your animatronic dinosaurs have certainly made an impression at the various shows these past 12 months, can we expect anything similar this year? You can expect a dynamic stand which will certainly be eye catching, that’s all I’m prepared to say at the moment. You’ll have to come along and take a look! And ﬁnally, Martin, if you were a child today, what toy would you nagging your mum for? A pogo stick, I think it’s a great product, it teaches balance and control and gets you outside in the fresh air. I’d be pestering her for a pogo!

JANUARY 2014

FEATURE

CHARACTER LICENSING

Full of Character As one of the strongest categories in toy retailing, we look at how character licensing fared in 2013 and what to look out for in 2014…

What The Kids Are Into…

ilms and TV shows have a huge impact on children and teenagers, something that is understood and used by the studios that develop the shows and their characters. Related merchandise is a huge money spinner, not only for the licensor and licensee but also for the retailers. A recent study discovered that ‘pester power’ cost parents £460 million a year in the UK, which is a huge chunk of cash for ‘unnecessary’ items! License shares went from 29.5% ytd October 2012 to 27.5% ytd October 2013, a decline of eight per cent in value according to NPD. While the top five performers towards the end of 2013 were Moshi Monsters, Star Wars, Disney Princess, Hello Kitty and Peppa Pig. Licensed characters have always had a large influence in the toy industry. “Licensed characters can generate a tremendous playground ‘must have’ factor,” says Laura Corbacho, International Licensing & Marketing Manager at Dracco. “A hit TV show for example leads to demand for all associated products. And characters can bring with them parental approval as parents may be familiar with a character from their youth and therefore feel that they trust and understand them.” Darran Garnham, Chief Business Development Officer, Mind Candy added: “Licensing has not only added some nice numbers to the bottom line but also helped to establish Moshi Monsters as a power brand. Licensing and our consumer product business has brought Moshi Monsters into the homes of consumers across a number of platforms from digital, animation and toys through publishing and music.”

While some characters perennially do well, some new properties can take the market by surprise. “Peppa Pig is huge and has grown considerably on last year,” Phil Ratcliffe of MV Sports tells us. “This year’s phenomenon was One Direction which is flying out everywhere!” But he reminds us that a character license is not a guarantee that things will do well. “When a license catches fire there it makes a huge impact on sales and profit. Licenses are vital but only if they are the big hitters with pre-established awareness. At M.V we are fortunate to have a portfolio of licenses that are tried and tested with both parental and child awareness in spades (One Direction, Peppa, Thomas, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam, Simpsons, Transformers, Power Rangers). Of course some licenses are cyclical but consistency” While traditional properties with years of heritage are still the main bulk of popular toy merchandising in the character arena, new emerging trends include digital and app characters that can dominate a market or playground craze are making operating in a previous stable market, a little more difficult. “The tricky aspect of mobile game and app’s, online communities or web-videos licensing based on such digital sources is that it’s virtually impossible to predict in advance which are going to be a success virally,” Laura tells us. “So by the time product can be developed and shipped to retailers, it’s probable too late.”

RETAIL COMMENT

“Poppy’s really into Jake & the Neverland Pirates. She likes the girly pirate ‘Izzy’ but also probably because she can relate it to classic Disney tales. Doc McStufﬁns (she loves the cute toys and the songs) and Mickey Mouse clubhouse (the songs, dancing and all the exaggerated characters) are also strong favourites.” Clare, mum of Poppy (2) “Daniel loves his superheroes, Spider-Man in particular. He also thinks the Minions from Despicable Me are great.” Sam, dad to Daniel, (6) “Jasper loves Abney & Teal and Mr Tumble but he’s also discovered Nemo, Toothless The Dragon, and Pingu” Heather, mum to Jasper “Ethan is a fan of The Gruffalo & Mickey Mouse!” Sheela, mum to Ethan, (5) “I like Spider-man for the obvious reasons, he can spin webs and leap from buildings!” George, (4) “ LaaOopsy dolls - l don’t know why I love them but I do.” Rosa, (6)

In my shop its always Peppa Pig for little ones, then a bit older Hello Kitty and princesses for the girls and Lego City and Spider–Man for the boys” Christine Lee, Celebration Studio, Anglesey

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CHARACTER LICENSING

Master of the cards

Planes, Trains and Autombiles

4K MEDIA

MATTEL

01753 271721 www.yugioh-card.com Through a licensing partnership with 4K Media, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Konami Digital Entertainment, WizKids Games welcomes the exciting world of classic Yu-Gi-Oh! to some of its most popular, award-winning games. Now Yu-Gi-Oh! fans can duel like they never have before -- with HeroClix. The best-selling tabletop game from WizKids uses miniature figures on a special rotating base. The base tracks a player’s progress and allows them to use special abilities, so there’s no need to keep score. The new Yu-Gi-Oh! HeroClix figures are fully compatible with HeroClix core rules. Yu-Gi-Oh! HeroClix: Series 1 set debuts in January beginning with a Starter Set that contains 6 collectible mini-figures two exclusive maps and everything else a new or experienced player needs to enjoy the game right out of the box. The full Series 1 consists of over 50 figures from the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! series, which will be available to retailers in March 2014 as individually blind-boxed HeroClix mini-figures in gravity feed displays. WizKids will also offer a Yu-Gi-Oh! Series 1 Organized Play Kit to stores that would like to host a Series 1-themed event. Yu-Gi-Oh! HeroClix: Series 2 will arrive in May, bringing more than 50 additional figures to the line. Series 2 will be released as individual blind-boxed figures in a gravity feed. An Organized Play Kit for stores will also be available. Adding even more tabletop fun to the world of Yu-GiOh!, WizKids will release Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters in mid2014. Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters is a dice-building strategy game patterned after WizKids’ award-winning Quarriors! game. Players build a team and battle for supremacy using custom Yu-Gi-Oh! dice representing characters from the classic animated series. Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters will be available as a Starter Set that includes 44 custom dice, 38 cards, 2 dice bags, and a core rulebook. Supplementary dice will be available in a blindboxed gravity feed display.

01628 500500 www.mattel.com Mattel’s character licenses go from strength to strength in 2014. It’s full steam ahead for Thomas & Friends in 2014 with the continued roll out of Fisher-Price’s Thomas & Friends collection including the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway line. Fisher-Price welcomes the launch of the My First Thomas & Friends pre-school range, while harnessing the momentum of two key tentpoles, Thrills & Spills and Tale of the Brave, with new playsets in the popular Take n’ Play and TrackMaster product lines. The core Disney license ranges Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Minnie Mouse and Jake and the Never Land Pirates, continue to grow with the introduction of new ﬁgures and playsets. There will be an exciting new vehicle scale for Octonauts as the Gups become mini collectables, while Dora The Explorer continues to delight pre-school children with new launches in 2014.

Best of friends Jumbo Games www.jumbo.eu / www.foreverfriends.com 01707 260436 Jumbo Games has signed a new license deal with Hallmark for Forever Friends and will launch two puzzles next year within the Falcon de luxe portfolio. Founded by Hallmark Cards, the popular Forever Friends brand is famous for helping spread love and friendship through its delightful depictions of adorably cute and cuddly bears. Bringing the beautiful bears to the puzzle market, Jumbo Games will ﬁrst launch a special 500 piece puzzle complete with a free greetings card in January 2014. Next, June 2014 will see the introduction of a 1000 piece puzzle with a free Forever Friends plush bear, offering further gift inspiration.

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FEATURE

CHARACTER LICENSING

Today is a Filly Butterﬂy day! Dracco ad@dracco.com/aschrei@dracco.com.hk www.dracco.com Dracco, the inventor, developer and manufacturer of the top-selling brand FILLY, is eager to announce the newest line for 2014, Filly Butterfly. Launching at the start of the year with regular releases in each season, Filly Butterfly will excite consumers of all ages with its bright colors, enchanting characters and beautiful translucent wings. The line is supported by a wide range of products at a variety of price points and packaging styles. As fans have come to expect, all Filly Butterfly figurines feature at least one Swarovski crystal element, and also have golden crowns with antennas and velvety-soft flocking. Filly Butterfly will be introduced to consumers through a robust TV marketing campaign, point-of-sale in-store marketing, along with a strong digital component. Each single-figure foil bag includes an online code for a virtual gift to be redeemed at Filly.com. Filly Butterfly will be prominently featured on Filly.com illustrating their magical garden home. Filly is consistently the number one Girls Toy Licence in the NPD charts and was number three in the overall market for all toys. To date, Filly figurines have sold over 65 million units worldwide and the fans eagerly await the news of the latest series. Dracco and Universal Trends will present Filly Butterfly to the market in January during the Hong Kong Toy Fair and at International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

The Chronicle continues .

PLATINUM FILMS 01753 651275 www.matthatter.com. The unveiling of the Simba Dickie Group as Master Toy Partner for Matt Hatter Chronicles last August crowned an impressive period of growth for the brand. Since Matt Hatter debuted on Nicktoons and CiTV in 2011, the show has achieved phenomenal international TV exposure and consistently high ratings that have led to the appointment of a global network of licensing agents and a powerful brand base. Now, with a new third series and a carefully coordinated multi-territory consumer products rollout scheduled for 2014, the Schoolboy Hero is perfectly positioned to be a major player among global boys’ brands. The Simba Dickie Group and its UK subsidiary Simba Smoby will showcase the highly anticipated Matt Hatter toy range at London Toy Fair and the International Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg ahead of a mid-year UK retail launch and a wider rollout across EMEA in Q4 2014.

Cheeky Monkey SABAN BRANDS (310) 557-5230 www.sabanbrands.com Character licensing is a huge part of Saban Brands, with many core properties including, Julius Jr., Digimon Fusion and Power Rangers Super Megaforce, that lend themselves perfectly to the licensing business. Julius Jr. is the company’s new animated preschool series inspired by the lovable characters of Paul Frank, which premiered in the U.S. on Nick Jr. in September 2013 and will roll out internationally in 2014. Secondly, Digimon Fusion is the sixth installment of the hugely successful 250+-episode Digimon franchise, which debuted on Nickelodeon in the U.S. in August 2013 and will be air internationally in 2014. Lastly, the upcoming season of the Power Rangers franchise, Power Rangers Super Megaforce, will premiere in the U.S. in early 2014, followed by a global roll out. In this new season, the Power Rangers must face a massive alien Armada sent to conquer Earth and are given special morphers and keys, allowing them to morph into SUPER MEGAFORCE RANGERS with the added ability to morph into any team of Rangers from the past!

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North America: Jennifer Coleman at jcoleman@4kmedia.com • 00 1 212-590-2100 Europe: Sandra Arcan at saukar255888@konami.com • +44 1753 271 721

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FEATURE

CHARACTER LICENSING

A Moshi for everyone Mind Candy 020 7501 1900 www.mindcandy.com Moshi Monsters: The Movie officially launched in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 20 December and will be followed by a DVD release in Easter 2014. With the movie launching theatrically in Australia from 20 February and other regions in the pipeline, our global relationship with Universal Pictures opens up the Moshi Monsters brand to new audiences. For the first time, the six core Monsters have been given a voice broadening the appeal of the characters to kids around the world. 2014 is the year of the tablet as the Moshi Monsters IP is branched out to a number of rich experiences. Moshi Monsters Village launches January 2014 on iOS with Android to follow. Fans embark upon a fun filled quest to rescue captured Moshlings and personalise their own village. Creating your very own world, the game is complete with adorable Moshling houses, crops, trees and paths - all in stunning 3D. Fashionista Poppet steps into the limelight as they develop her stand-alone brand further and firmly place her feet as a Moshi on a mission. Talking Poppet launches early next year on iOS and Android and is sure to capture the imagination of girls around the world. Not forgetting the boys, Moshi Karts will also be available early next year and as well as aiming at the core Moshi fans, it will engage with an older audience of boy’s aged 12+. The game is a free to play action racer for mobile and tablet and there are multiple tracks and karts featuring popular Moshi Monsters characters. With Katsuma as the lead and a range of additional vehicles, the game is rich with opportunities for merchandising next year.

Super Sonic SEGA 020 8995 3399 www.sega.com Sonic the Hedgehog first appeared as a videogame character in June 1991 and instantly became an icon for a generation of gamers. Sonic is now a true global phenomenon with over 140 million videogames sold or downloaded worldwide across consoles, PC’s, mobile phones and tablets. The character is defined by his super-fast speed and cool attitude. These features have led to a huge demand from fans for Sonic inspired products, resulting in successful licensing programme in areas such as toys, apparel and comics. During the last 12 months the Sonic licensing programme has gone from strength to strength, with growth realised across numerous categories from apparel to publishing. The licensing programme is on course for certain success as Sonic’s popularity continues to rise with the launch of the new Sonic game Sonic Lost World last month. Sonic Lost World sees Sonic face his most powerful enemy to date – the Deadly Six and is available exclusively for Wii U and Nintendo 3DSplatforms. SEGA Europe Ltd. also expect the Sonic the Hedgehog brand to experience significant growth during the next 12-18 months due to the announcement of a new CG animated series. The action packed comedy series, Sonic Boom, aimed at children 6-11 will debut first on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and on CANAL J and GULLI in France in late 2014, with a global rollout to follow. The initial order of 52 eleven-minute episodes is co-produced by SEGA of America Inc. and Genao Productions. The Sonic the Hedgehog licensed range now spans toys, apparel, party ware, publishing, bedding, gifts and even cakes. Recently SEGA signed two new publishing deals with Egmont and Hachette. Egmont launched an All About Sonic the Hedgehog magazine in November and will release a range of books from May 2014 aimed at children 6-10 years old.

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FAMILY RUN

BUSINESSES

Family Ties Father and son Tony and Richard Belford talk to TnP’s Rhys Thomas about the joys and beneﬁts of being a family run business within the Simba Dickie Group How long has Simba Smoby been established? We were established in 2009, and very happy to say we are going into our ﬁfth year of successive double-digit growth. What’s the story behind the start of the company? After working with the Group for 25 years, Simba approached us to open a UK subsidiary of the Simba Dickie Group. This was to ensure that our extensive portfolio of in-house brands and licensed products could be fully supported by UK domestic stocks and comprehensive marketing campaigns.

One of our targets at the outset was to break into the UK top 10. Whilst that hasn’t been achieved yet, we’re getting closer and closer with a high of 12th in NPD earlier in the year. With the addition of Matt Hatter and the heavyweight marketing support we’re putting behind some of our other major brands and licenses, 2014 will be our strongest year ever. How many family members work in the companyand what are their roles? Two is enough! Tony Belford is the Managing Director, and Richard Belford is the Sales Director.

What’s the best part about working together? Quick decision making and trust are big advantages of working with family. It also helps to create a friendly, family atmosphere within the workplace. Are there any difﬁculties working with family? Only the fact that if anything goes wrong then the boss knows where I live! What’s your secret to keeping business and family life separate? Naturally we tend to discuss work whenever we are together, however, if these conversations take place in front of the true head of the family (Mum!) then there’s trouble!

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Simba Smoby is in many ways part of a larger family, the Simba Dickie Group, tell us about your relationship with other companies of the group. We are incredibly privileged to be a part of one of the largest and most inﬂuential toy manufacturers in Europe, and we have a fantastic relationships with both the Group centrally and all of the more than 40 Group subsidiaries across the world. Whilst each subsidiary is an autonomous business unit focussing on their own market, we work together very closely, highlighting successes with the Group and sharing best practice. To have such a huge network of international toy experience is very helpful indeed. We all meet up regularly at Simba Dickie Group gatherings or at international industry events. Recently it was great to see so many people from the group come to London for BLE and there was certainly a lot of excitement around potential new properties the Group is exploring. Perhaps most importantly, the Simba Dickie Group as a whole is still a family business, with the third generation now actively involved across many areas of the business. This means there is a real sense of shared values between the group and Simba Smoby UK, perhaps best illustrated by the length of the relationship that is now nearing the end of its third decade - stronger and closer than ever. How does being a part of the Simba Dickie Group affect the running of the business? On a day-to-day basis, there really isn’t that much impact. We operate independently and that decentralised decision making process makes us very responsive to our individual market, and is surely a major factor in why the Group as a whole performs so well in so many diverse territories. At the same time, we have all the advantages of being part of one of the world’s largest toy businesses. The product ranges produced by more than a dozen different manufacturing

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Perhaps most importantly, the Simba Dickie Group as a whole is still a family business

brands owned by the Simba Dickie Group include over 4,000 SKUs. Proprietary manufacturing, much of which remains within the EU, ensures all our products consistently offer outstanding quality and incredible value. The size and scope of the Group make us a very attractive partner for licensors, and it’s no coincidence that the Simba Dickie Group manufactures product for more than 100 different licensed properties. With our own brands, we have a huge product development and marketing resource that helps us assemble and launch ranges that resonate with the consumer and are universally successful at retail. What are your top three products currently? Quinny prams, Stefﬁ Love dolls and SpongeBob Squarepants have done particularly well this year, with exciting developments on all three coming through for 2014. What are your favourite Simba Dickie products ever? Stefﬁ Love is a favourite of ours her unique mix of top quality product, great design, excellent value for the consumer and outstanding retailer margins has led to her being consistently successful in the UK market for the last 25 years. We would also mention Smoby outdoor products, which have been a perennial favourite in UK gardens for many years and also not forgetting Dickie vehicles which continue to offer great value to both retailer and consumer year after year, leading to us becoming the second largest supplier of toy vehicles into the UK market.

What trade shows are important to you and why? For us in the UK, of course Toy Fair at Olympia is a massive event. We take one of the largest spaces in the show and it gives us a chance to show all our customers the exciting new developments and products that will help drive their businesses over the next year. Of course, as a Group, nothing is more important than Nuremberg Spielwarenmesse. The show is only a few miles from the Group’s headquarters in Fürth - which becomes one of the liveliest places in the area - and the whole town, as well as the show, becomes a statement for the Simba Dickie Group that starts as soon as you jump in a taxi at the airport! The Simba Dickie Group stands completely take-over a large part of Hall 6 and this really is the best environment to come and see the Simba Dickie Group ranges and we would encourage as many UK customers as possible to attend the show. What’s on the horizon for Simba Smoby? 2014 will be an incredibly exciting year for Simba Smoby. Our headline signing on an EMEA basis of the master toy licence for Matt Hatter Chronicles marks the first time the Group as a whole has taken the lead on a property generated in the UK. This will be the biggest launch of a new boys brand in 2014 and will be one of the key properties that every retailer will need to stock next year. We are also really re-invigorating Steffi Love in 2014. A brand that has been consistently successful for more than 25 years will in 2014 get a full and comprehensive consumer marketing campaign that will get young girls all over the UK enthusiastic and engaged with Steffi Love. We can’t go into too many details, but this is a hugely exciting project we can’t wait to tell everyone about at Toy Fair. In addition to this, the business continues to grow in our core vehicles and outdoor categories, as well as investigating new licensing opportunities on a panEuropean basis. There are also large sections of the Simba Dickie Group portfolio that have yet to hit the UK, including some brands that have seen unbelievable success on the continent. Our team here in the UK continues to grow, and all in all th e future looks very bright indeed for Simba Smoby.

FEATURE TIA

Take a bite of out of the Big Toy Apple Marian Bossard from TIA talks to TnP about the American International Toy Fair and reveals just why it is so special and why it should be a date in your diary Tell TnP readers a little bit of what to expect at the American International Toy Fair in 2014? Of course, visitors to Toy Fair can expect to see toys – more than 150,000 – from the innovative to the classics we grew up with. As you know, though, the go-tomarket event has come to include a wide range of youth products and speciﬁcally youth entertainment products. Related to that, the momentum of licensing and entertainment community participation we’ve seen in recent years is expected to continue especially with our recently announced cross-promotion relationship with Advanstar’s Licensing Expo. We look forward to that collaboration opening up new opportunities. Another new collaboration I’m particularly excited about has resulted in

Marian Bossard, VP Meetings and Events, TIA

ShopToyFair365, an e-commerce platform that extends our event experience by providing yearround commerce, content and connections between brands and buyers. The innovative digital B2B platform lets us empower every credentialed buyer and every company exhibiting play products at Toy Fair 2014 with a continuing opportunity to foster relationships and conduct business. Educational and informational programs at Toy Fair will be very, very robust for 2014. Toy Fair’s PR team is opening its Toy Trends Tea to more than just media for the ﬁrst time ever. And we are eliminating the non-member fee for Toy Industry Association’s Toy Safety Compliance Update. These changes will make it possible for more registrants to participate. There will also be presentations of

the ﬁndings of two TIAcommissioned studies on the toy industry and marketplace in China and Brazil. As always, everyone is welcome to attend free sessions focused on their speciﬁc business needs – from Independent Thinking geared toward specialty toy retailers to Creative Factor, for inventors, designers and the creative community. I’m thrilled to tell you Creative Factor will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at Toy Fair in February. We’re working hand in hand with Advanstar and Ira Mayer at EPM Communications, who you may know from The Licensing Letter and Youth Markets Alert, to develop a series of insightful sessions on the world of licensing for TIA’s Licensing Content Connection, which will be back for its second year. Plus Engage Digital’s Digital Kids Expo is again co-locating with Toy Fair and they’ll be offering a separate half-day program called Toys, Learning & Play Summit. There is so much more your readers can expect at Toy Fair in New York, but you did just ask for a little bit. Be sure to visit www. toyfairny.com for updates on our programs, special events, our collaborators and of course our exhibitors. How many exhibitors are we talking? We expect more than 1,100 companies will show product at Toy Fair in New York. And we’ve already

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to business to media to trends. Add to that Americans’ penchant for innovation and the fact that New York City is the “unofﬁcial” capital of the world’s largest toy market and you get the idea of the vibe that pervades the city and the show.

broken last year’s record-breaking exhibit space numbers. Toy Fair 2014 will cover a new recordbreaking 390,000+ net square feet of exhibit space at the Javits Convention Center. The energy around Toy Fair is unstoppable! And visitors roughly speaking? Here too, our numbers are tracking ahead of last year – international buyer registration is up 50% over this time last year and overall buyer registration is ahead by 37%. And how has the show evolved in recent years? One of the evolutions we’ve seen is increasing international Toy Fair participation – both on the exhibitor side and the buyer side. Even beyond exhibitors and buyers we’re seeing media from “Moscow to Manhattan”, as our PR team likes to say, and an increasing number of trade professionals in areas such as product development, licensing, advertising and certainly from the area of product safety and compliance to name a few. Toy Fair attracts visitors from about 100 countries each year. To build on that emerging trend we launched a representative office in Sydney for Toy Fair ‘14. Locals don’t have to be challenged by the time difference between New York and Australia; they can just call or stop by to find out more about Toy Fair. Australia generally ranks among the top five home countries of our international buyers as well as exhibitors – and we speak the language, so it seemed like a good place to start this kind of outreach.

And what of the exhibitors – what are the criteria to show at the fair? Well, if their product is designed to entertain the youth market, chances are, Toy Fair is a good ﬁt. Companies should have a marketing and distribution plan in place before exhibiting. More speciﬁc details are available on our website, www.toyfairny.com.

next best-seller? From Barbie to Skylanders Giants, so many of the hottest toys debuted at Toy Fair in New York City. The U.S. market is four and a half times greater than the next national marketplace so it makes sense that American International Toy Fair, the largest toy and youth product trade show in the Western Hemisphere, is a must-attend event for global retailers.

What brought you to American International Toy Fair? This is funny, but true. I was a Trade Show Operations Manager with another company when I visited Toy Fair to check it out. I looked around, was exhilarated by the industry and its focus on play and knew that I had to work on this show! The rest is history.

Are they going to see a lot of different product at the American Toy Fair than they have already seen at HK, London and Nuremberg? I promise attendees will see product never before shown. In fact, we estimate at least 7,000 products are unveiled for the ﬁrst time at Toy Fair every year. Most years we count about 200 ﬁrst-time exhibitors participating in Toy Fair excited to share their innovations with the world. It’s worth mentioning that the United States is the world’s largest consumer of toys. Probably for that reason many companies launch the products they expect to make a big splash around the world here, in New York, in front of buyers and, of course, more than 1,000 global media representatives.

Why should buyers and retailers pack their bags for a cold and possibly snowy few days in the Big Apple? What buyer would risk missing out on the launch of the marketplace’s

Is the vibe at New York Toy Fair different to those of say London or Nuremberg? How? Call me biased, but New York City has a vibe all its own. The Big Apple is a world capital -- from creativity

How long have you been at the helm? Next year will mark my 15th year with Toy Industry Association.

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And is it too late to get a space and if not, how can people book it? It’s definitely not too late. Interested companies should visit the Toy Fair website, www. toyfairny.com, where they will find contact information for our account executives as well as floor plans and exhibit space contracts.

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What is the highlight of the show for you personally? The highlight of the show for me personally is the building of this global marketplace; watching it come to life in 3D. I am constantly excited by the fact that we at TIA build a bustling marketplace in the course of three days for the business that takes place over the course of four days. I love seeing the passionate commitment people have to the products they are presenting and the enthusiasm you feel when a buyer ﬁnds a product that they know will be pleasing to their customers. There is something quite amazing about the inﬁnite number of opportunities and new personal contacts, the chance encounters, made at Toy Fair. I have witnessed on endless occasions that the simplest conversation on line in a food court or on line for the shuttle bus can turn into a conversation that results in something wonderful. The highlight of Toy Fair for me is knowing that magic lives in this place that we built.

Our numbers are tracking ahead of last year – international buyer registration is up 50% over this time last year and overall buyer registration is ahead by 37%.

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FEATURE RIDE-ONS

It is always ride-on time TnP’s Rhys Thomas looks at why kids love one of the most liberating categories on the market, how design choices means there is a ride-on suited for every child, and how to make these show-stopping products an attraction in-store

f variety is the spice of life, then the ride-ons category is certainly one of the spiciest on the market. What at ﬁrst glance seems like a simple enough category is actually a range of products with years of genius design under the hood - big on colour, big on developmental beneﬁts and big on fun. From toddlers to teens, there is a ride-on tailored to suit every child, and for good reason. From nipping around the living room on all fours to toddling out into the garden, exploring the house and environment around them is a fun and important step for growing children.

Re:creation

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That ﬁrst set of wheels is a liberating experience at any age and allows kids the freedom to explore their surroundings

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Ride-ons take this exploration to the next level, and can offer kids an exciting new way to get around with increased mobility, as well as helping to develop fundamental skills and fine-tune balance. “That first set of wheels is a liberating experience at any age and allows kids the freedom to explore their surroundings whilst developing important co-ordination and spatial awareness skills,” says Phil Ratcliffe, Sales & Marketing Director at MV Sports. Giulia Toselli, Brand & Strategy Manager at Chicco UK highlights the role that ride-ons can play in building children’s independence and confidence and encouraging the types of play that they love and benefit from. “Ride-ons give

children a sense of independence and allow them to explore the environment around them from a new viewpoint. This in turn helps to build their confidence and inspires more independent and creative play.” And on top of the potential developmental benefits, they’re simply fun! Everyone remembers clipping on a helmet for their first bike ride, and with an increasing amount of ride-on toys being designed for free-wheeling indoors, kids can get in on the action from an earlier age and all-year-round. Wilton Bradley’s Tom Ellyatt sees the ride-on as a melting pot for all the fun and colour that kids love. “Ride-ons allow children the control to interpret their own version of situations and generate unique independent experiences during playtime,” he says. “Of course there is also the fun factor of ride-ons to consider as well, such as the bright colours and funky looking designs that instantly catch children’s eyes!” With playtime making up a significant part of kids’ physical and cognitive development in their formative years, parents are eager to invest in any toys that offer an opportunity to get an extra leg up. The developmental benefits ride-ons can offer is of particular importance for many companies, focusing on clever design to maximise both fun and benefit in one attractive package. Chicco’s Giulia explains that the company’s best-selling Quattro offers four setups to support kids as they grow, from when they start to take their first shaky steps through to whizzing around on their own.

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Life in the fast lane Chicco 01623 750870 www.chicco.co.uk The new F1 Ride On car from Chicco is not only fun, it supports growth and development. When young children start to move around on their own, they need toys that assist them as they explore the world around them. The F1 Ride On helps them to reﬁne their motor skills, gain self-conﬁdence and develop balance and control. As with all Chicco toys, the F1 Ride On has been developed with Osservatorio Chicco, the Baby Research Centre dedicated to study the babies psycho-physical and emotional needs from 0 to 36 month – ensuring all Chicco toys offer babies the right stimuli for each growth phase. The toy is a 4-in-1 product that offers four play modes to accompany a baby’s growth and is suitable for ages 9 months up to 18 months. F1 Ride On can initially be used as a rocker for small children, moving then to Push ‘n’ Go mode as the child grows. The next step is the Push ‘n’ Walk mode, which is perfect for helping babies explore more of their world. The fourth mode is Sit ‘n’ Ride – ideal for 18 months plus when children can push themselves along freely with their legs. F1 Ride On is complete with a fun activity centre on the steering wheel, with sounds and noises, and a handy keep safe compartment under the seat.

“Suitable from 9 months as a rocker due to the safety bars and belts, Quattro then becomes a push ‘n’ go product with a practical handlebar for parents to manoeuvre the toy. As the child’s mobility develops, it can be used in the push ‘n’ walk mode to encourage walking, before becoming a sit ‘n’ ride toy.” Wilton Bradley’s 2013 offering from Toyriﬁc introduces ﬁre truck, police car and princess ride-ons, complete with some nifty design. Tom explains: “The new designs feature steering front wheels to help kids develop gross motor skills and as a handy bonus they come with under seat storage, a great place to store other toys! We’ve also taken the balance of the toy seriously with an anti-tip design and high back support.” This focus on design gives customers the value for money that they demand as well as adding play value to a category that often relies on having a relatively large space in which to play. Older kids already well versed in running rings around mum and dad certainly aren’t forgotten either, and there are plenty of products perfectly suited for them to whizz around on and tucker themselves out. MV Sports’ range of ride-ons mixes the best of fresh design with the hottest licenses. “We have a broad catalogue of wheeled and outdoor toys

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incorporating both classic and hot licenses, value for money branded solutions, and complete category cover,” says Phil. Licensing can work particularly well for this category, helping products to stand out and appeal to fans of the latest characters, and is prominent throughout MV Sports’ product lines. It is important though, as Phil explains, that these licenses are used to enhance and inform product design, rather than “simply decorate it.” Phil says: “We start from the ground up. We don’t start with a speciﬁc model or licence and then simply decorate it. We start with a licence or brand, look at its credentials and attributes and try to incorporate some of its ‘DNA’ into the product.” With all the beneﬁts and attractive features for parents, there’s a place for ride-ons in every toy retailer, regardless of size. As ever, it’s all about getting the most out of how the products are displayed and maximising their impact in-store. Wilton Bradley’s Tom Ellyatt explains that the company has gone to great lengths in order to support retailers, stand out and inform parents about its products. “Our designers have done a

Ride Ons allow children the control to interpret their own version of situations and generate unique independent experiences during playtime

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fantastic job on making the product packaging stand out to show the features and benefits of the ride-ons and catch the eye of the consumer. We are also offering new POS to help retailers to display the products.” With some of the most popular franchises from around the world, MV Sports’ Phil Ratcliffe explains that the company’s products can be a great entry point into the market for retailers, or boost an existing offering. He says: “It is a fact that the likes of Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends, One Direction and Stunted are sector driving ranges which enable our customers to buy into a proposition which is proven no-risk winners. We then back this up with exceptionally strong levels of quality and service.” Chicco’s Giulia says seeing is believing, and if you have the space, a demo area is the perfect way for kids to get hands on and see what the fuss is about for themselves. “We think the best way to show a ride-on is, of course, out of the box, so the consumer can admire the colours and product’s size. It’s also important to show ride-ons like Quattro in different configurations, to help the consumer understand the full value for money. Wherever possible, a test area in the store allows children to build their confidence with the products.”

FEATURE RIDE-ONS

Rolling out the licences MV Sports

0121 748 8000 www.mvsports.com The emphasis in 2014 will be to strengthen key licences which can inspire confidence at both retail and consumer level. Evergreens such as Peppa Pig, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Batman and Power Rangers are all refreshed and bolstered for 2014 with exciting and innovative new introductions. The successful Peppa Pig range has widened to include skates, helmets, and outdoor products such as inflatable hoppers and trampolines. Thomas is fortified with new trikes, ride ons and scooters, incorporating never before seen models, 3D features and sound effects. A major success in 2013 was the One Direction wheeled toys range, and new for 2014 are must have One Direction products such as electric scooters and dance rings. Skylanders, Batman and Power Rangers have all been given a design makeover and the successful stunt scooter brand Stunted has been completely refreshed with edgy new designs and introductions. New licences for 2014 include huge established properties such as Simpsons and Transformers 4 both of which are already attracting a lot of interest.

A VINTAGE RIDE

Cutting edge tech

Great Gizmos 01293 543221 www.greatgizmos.co.uk

Re:creation Ltd 0118 973 6222 sales@recreationltd.co.uk www.recreationltd.co.uk

Great Gizmos’ fantastic range of pedal cars and classic ride on toys bring a retro feel to a traditional play experience plus with PlanToys’ collection of eco-friendly wooden vehicles, there is a ride-on for every little one. PlanToys wooden collection of ride-ons are perfect for young children and feature classic designs such as a Fire Engine, a Car and a Pony that will appeal to both the parent and child. The Ride On Pony is a beautifully carved wooden horse that is mounted onto four caster wheels so girls and boys from the age of 18 months can whizz around with ease in every direction. For a more traditional ride-on experience, the Classic Racer is an authentic looking ride-on car, hand built in strong steel and more than sturdy enough for children aged one to three. Available in both red and silver these super sleek racing machines are ideal for a back garden Grand Prix! For those who prefer a fifties retro style, the Speedster Hot Rod and Speedster Fire Engine will keep little ones happy. The Speedster is available in painted yellow complete with red flames down the sides and the bright red fire engine has a real working bell to make sure all tots reach the fire first!

Razor the No.1 brand* is big business, and 2014 is going to be the year of the electric ride-on! Razor’s introduction of the Crazy Cart, already a global mega viral star, plans are ﬁrmly in motion to bring this amazing new concept to the UK market - which is set to naturally boost interest in the electric category too. Also new for SS14 in the kick category, is the S scooter for kids aged 6+ years. With bike sales on the increase, Fuze has seized the gap in the market for kids bike accessories. The brand offers a range of unique clever technology allowing kids aged 8+ to pimp up their ride. The innovative technology on the Wheel Writer, transforms a bike wheel into a real working speedometer, plus 12 different pictures scroll with bright LED’s. And there are loads more exciting Fuze developments on the way!

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5 star off-roading WILTON BRADLEY 01626 835400 www.wiltonbradley.com

Scoot in all directions ns INDIGO JAMM LTD 01483 201075 www.indigojamm.com Indigo Jamm have three stylishly themed Jamm mm Scoots, which have proven to be extremely popular opular and continue to win prestigious toy industry awards. wards. The Jamm Scoot indoor ride-on range is ideal for a younger, conﬁdently walking child to scoot around ound on, as no pedaling is required. Multi directional casters give free ﬂowing movement ovement in all directions for hours of great fun. There’s even a little compartment under the seat to transport ort a cuddly soft toy passenger. The Jamm Scoot makes a perfect ride-on toy! oy!

The newest addition to the wheeled toys category, the Osprey ‚ÄòDirt‚Äô Scooter , will take stunt scooter riding to the next level! As the name suggests this animal of a scooter just loves roughing it up in rugged terrain, packing more of a punch than regular freestyle scoot scooters. Featuring m mammoth Chromoly handle bars with lar large rubber grips, locked into place for fo superior traction in the rough and tu tumble of downhill runs, the Dirt is built with steadf steadfast durability at its core to withstand all the jarring a and impacts of off road riding. Its hardy aluminium deck de is designed to take the punishment of flying rocks and gravel on dirt tracks and the stainless steel rear brake is built to offer durable and reliable stopping p power in the most unforgiving of off road conditions. The strength, durability and an style of the Osprey Dirt Scooter has even surprised two of Wilton Bradley’s finest off road specialist Te Team Riders, when they put it through its paces in rugged terrain of Haldon Forest, Devon - they gave it a confident 5 star rating! Whilst it does offer beefier alternative to stunt ab scooters (especially in the sc winter), it‚Äôs in the unprewi dictable terrain of woodland dic runs that this scooter really run excels and where kids will get exce the most out of it.

Wheelie good fun Hauck 07770 608858 www.hauck-toys.de The Hauck range features over 20 different ride-on toys, whether it be the Prema and Nova trikes that adapt to the age of the child, from babies through to pre-school, up to the rugged off-road styled Thunder go-cart, there is something for all ages – boys and girls. Every Hauck ride-on toy is built to last, designed and engineered in Germany so quality and function is assured. The feature-rich designs include tool-free adjustable seats and non-scratch, low noise tyres on those ride-ons intended for indoor use. Each vehicle utilises a strong steel frame and quality moulded parts to ensure that it will stand up to the everyday knocks and scrapes of healthy enthusiastic play. All products are easy to assemble and come with fully illustrated instructions. Hauck even provide online videos showing the various models being assembled. The Prema and Nova trikes mentioned above feature removable parent poles, lockable steering and free-wheel facility. Other products in the range include the 1st Try trike, a foot to ﬂoor trike for the very young; balance bikes – the proven best way to learn to ride; the Besta scooter inspired by the

JANUARY 2014

iconic Vespa; Typhoon is a cool big-wheel easy rider style trike with laid back riding position. Also featuring in the range are three sporty pedal powered go-carts – Lightning, Hurricane and the aforementioned Thunder dune buggy. The entire range may be viewed in January at either Hauck’s showroom in Hong Kong or at their stand at the Nuremberg Toy Fair (Hall 2/B-03, C-02).

TNP

AMBASSADORS

Caring and sharing The family that plays together! The Ralhan boys show Dad Paul that they can play nicely and share in the fun Paul Ralhan is dad to Jaik (4) and Harry (2) and runs Glasstec Automotive, his own mobile luxury car windscreen replacement company in London and the surrounding home counties. You can get in touch with him on 0845 658 6545. “Our two little princes have discovered the beneﬁts of association recently. Whilst still somewhat mercurial in their claim for ownership of toys, they’ve been

coming up with some interesting combinations. The lumping together of micro toys in with larger scaled models seems to be harmonising the boys. Hurrah for coalition parties! Jaik’s birthday party was a huge success and we’ve had to combine how many, or which present he opens with his good behaviour; viour; this includes sharing, and generally being kind to Harry. Jaik opening his birthday gifts every day has brightened the cloudy and wet days with his beaming smile. A giant Tonka Toys helicopter unexpectedly ﬂies by, taking us all by surprise and casts its own shadow over the unwrapping ceremony. Yep, it’s Harry as he beginss to try and winch Igglepiggle gle from inside a Duplo LEGO bucket (giving H a giant chopper did the trick in keeping him from making claims on freshly unwrapped prezzies!). I can just imagine Derek Jacobi stuttering his softly spoken lines as the

WHAT THE KIDS SAY: Jaik night time toy - Spiderman Night Light Harry night time toy – Mattel’s Disney Holly Shiftwell Jaik favourite toy – Innovation First’s Hexbug Spiral Harry favourite toy – Mattel Disney Micro Cars Jaik most wanted – Robot(s) Harry most wanted – Tomy’s Chuggington

blue teddy is airlifted to safety by his bean-shaped head - and generally looking about as limp as his flagging aggin blanket. With a seemingly endless wish list, the birthday boy did di very well indeed. Spiderman made S numerous appearances, and most dramatically as he flew along the hallway and skidded across the floor getting some serious ‘air’ after being catapulted off Marvel’s Rocket Ramp, clamped to his hoverboard. Landing on the multiL level Spiral Hexbug Starter Set saw the nano robotic creepy crawly off into a bumper car bonanza as it bounced off each of the Disney Cars Micro collection (yes, the Hexbug spiral makes a perfect multi-storey car park for miniature Mater and company!). At one - very sudden - point during the improvisations, Harry decided that the micro cars would be much better off inside his giant helicopter after he discovered that it had ‘an inside’ behind a sliding door. Just as we prepared ourselves for another bout of Clash of the Ralhans, Jaik unfolded the plastic floor mat which came with the Disney micro cars and proceeded to show Harry the “best way” to navigate the numerous roads on it. Fingers firmly crossed, Harry will learn from his elder bro, and the smash ‘n’ grab ram-raiding will stop, right? Here’s to hoping.”

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WHAT THE KIDS SAY:

Share and share alike: The Coen girls swap toys but the fun factor is still high! Martina Coen is mum to Orlaith, (4) and Sorcha (1) and runs her own childcare business in Enﬁeld, Middlesex. “Envy. It’s a powerful emotion and isn’t restricted to us adults. No, I have witnessed the green eyed monster many times when children are supposed to be sharing, caring and playing together. Orlaith has been used to having full and unlimited access to all the toys in our house, even the baby toys that are meant for Sorcha however as Sorcha is getting older (bigger and stronger!) Orlaith is discovering that she no longer gets to play with what

JANUARY 2014

she wants. Lately they both just seem to want what each other has! No matter what it is, buggy, phone, doll, anything, there always seems to be a struggle between them. I’ve tried to ensure that we have a version of most things for each girl – Orlaith has her Quinny buggy for her Baby Annabel while Sorcha has her Fisher Price stroller for her My First Baby. But they always seem to want what each other has! It was Orlaith’s birthday recently and she was a very lucky girl, receiving lots of lovely gifts. Family members were kind enough to bring gifts for Sorcha too (so that she didn’t feel left out) and yet again, the girls ended up playing with each other’s toys. Toys that are not targeted at or designed for their specific age bracket or abilities yet they seem to get so much fun out of them, Orlaith sat happily playing with the Tickety Toc Clockhouse Playset and Pufferty train which was bought for Sorcha, while Sorcha was delighted to be able to play with Doc McStuffin’s Doctor’s Bag set. I witnessed the Princess Sofia a doll and Animal Friends nds set which Orlaith hass been desperately y asking for was left lying on the table! Every time the programme was on Disney Junior, every time she had a play date with Erin (who has a Sofia doll) and every time she looked through any toy catalogue, e, it was the same plea “Mummy, pleeeease ase can I have a Princess Sofia Doll pleeeease?!”. So I bought the doll and

Orlaith’s favourite toy - Mattel’s Disney Talking Princess Sofia Sorcha’s favourite toy - Fisher Price My First doll What does Orlaith want - Flair’s Interactive Doc McStuffin and Lambie What does Sorcha want - Fisher Price Little People Cinderella set Orlaith’s bed time toy - Mattel’s Disney Talking Princess Sofia Sorcha’s bedtime toy - ELC’s Betsy Bunny

was sure she’d be delighted and she was wa until she saw Sorcha’s gift. I confess there was a pang of disappointment disa when she left the w doll sitting in its d box while she played station manager with the Tickety Toc set but after a while (and after Sorcha screamed that she wanted the ttrain!) she took Sofia and her So (small) friends up (sm to the safety of her bedroom and played ffor ages, unlocking all the phrases the doll has. And the final sign that she loves her new doll.....she took it to bed!”

LICENSING

NEWS

Clementoni Signs Deal With Disney For Henry Hugglemonster Clementoni has announced that it has signed a deal to supply Henry Hugglemonster products in the ELA sector for 2014. This further strengthens the companies position as a recognised supplier for strong educational toys with great content. There will be a number of products launched for Autumn / Winter 2014 with stock available from August. A spokesperson from Clementoni said: ”We are really pleased to be taking this license on board and this now adds further variety to the license offering we have in our portfolio”.

SUPERHEROES STORM SCHWÄBISCH GMÜND Schleich GmbH based in Schwäbisch Gmünd, southern Germany, has signed a deal covering the worldwide licensing rights for the exclusive manufacture and marketing of toy figurines based on DC Comics superheroes. The licence agreement with Schleich is the first global partnership of its kind concluded by Warner Bros. Consumer Products on behalf of DC Entertainment. The market launch of the first series of Schleich superheroes is scheduled for January 2015. The line-up will feature characters familiar from the comics, such as Batman, Superman and their adversaries. The new heroes catch the eye in striking poses, and their unmistakable Schleich quality is rooted in their detailed modelling and hand-painted finish. The variety of the figurines will also be a source of delight for collectors in particular. They can be purchased individually or in specially assembled sets. The acquisition of the superhero licences sees Schleich GmbH – which has built up over 75 years of experience in the manufacture of toy figurines – pushing ahead with the ongoing expansion of its worldwide licensing business.

Subway Surfers Set For Animated Action Ink has announced that a new animated TV series is in development based on Subway Surfers, the smash-hit app that is one of the hottest new brands in the gaming sector. Subway Surfers is now one of the most played apps in the world - an astonishing achievement for a game that only hit digital shelves in June last year - and is available for download for iOS and Android. It has now topped the 300 million download mark and this success has led to a huge amount of interest from the licensing sector. A successful consumer product programme is already in place in North America, with all key categories signed, and a global network of sub-agents has been appointed to help facilitate the property’s growth. The upcoming animated series is a European/Canadian coproduction and will comprise 26 x 13 minute episodes, which will star the game’s cast of quirky characters and build on core themes such as travel and

exploration, as well as channelling the fun and vitality that has made the app such an enormous success. Ink Director Claus Tømming says: “Subway Surfers lends itself absolutely perfectly to animation – it actually started life as a short cartoon ﬁlm so, unlike many other games, it already has a rich back story. Combine this with the fact that it is whole lot of fun and you have a TV hit on your hands! We are really excited to see the ﬁnished product and given there is such a large existing fanbase I’m sure that it will create an enormous buzz when it hits the small screen.”

WOOLLY BAGS TWO NEW PARTNERS The continued rise of the pre-school children’s favourite show Woolly and Tig sees its licensing programme move forward in response to growing consumer and retail demand. Brands with Inﬂuence (BWI) added two new licensees to the existing range including Trade Mark Collections Ltd for bags and umbrellas, and MV Sports and Leisure Ltd for wheeled vehicles. This brings the total number of licensees to 14. The now infamous blue spider, Woolly, has enchanted children and parents alike and is

showing really strong retail sales this autumn across Toys, DVDs, Magazines, Nightwear, Books and Bedding. With signiﬁcant new product development and strong selections for 2014 the brands growth continues to exceed expectations. This retail demand is now further supported by a recent CBeebies’ announcement on the back of new 10 minute special episodes being delivered, that they will be broadcasting Woolly for a minimum of 3 more years, guaranteeing exposure up to at least 2017.

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MEDIA

OPINION

Reach for the Sky! A

s we look forward to 2014, the year ahead appears to hold good reason to view prospects with a good deal more optimism than in recent years. This mood swing may not be universally appropriate for one and all. To name just two prominent individuals in media, Rebekah Brookes and Andy Coulson both of whom will need more than the cunning of a Von Schliffen Manoeuvre (Google VSM optional) to turn their 2014 prospects around. To quote Oscar Wilde, “Experience is the name that everyone gives to their mistakes” - and that is a fine line! Last year I wrote about the high profile media competition between Sky and BT Sports surrounding the Premier League Football rights. Sky TV has all the experience in the Pay TV sector heavily weighted in their favour against the newcomer BT Sport. We soon discovered that the real story behind the round ball was centred on the chase for broadband subscription business. By September 2013, Sky had broken through the five million level of broadband customers, gaining 914,000 in a twelve month period, at a run rate of 111,000 in the last three months up to September. We should not forget that the experience in the broadband business rests with BT. BT has 6.8 million broadband customers, Sky are number two in the broadband market having only entered the sector in 2006. The run rate for BT in the three months up to September was a healthy 156,000 new broadband customers. In the month that followed publication of these numbers (October), Sky and BT surprisingly came to a wholesale agreement for distribution of Sky Movies on BT. This signaled a strategic positioning from Sky and was a maiden deal between the two companies. The deal ended a three-year negotiation between the two Pay Broadcasters as Sky agreed to provide their eleven Sky Movie channels to BT’s You View Broadband and Infinity TV package for a monthly fee. This tactical move by Sky was a clear demonstration of all their experience in the Pay TV sector, and certainly does not follow Oscar Wilde’s quote into the “mistakes” category, as the deal is too recent an experience to judge at this point in time. The benefits for Sky, BT and consumers are clear; more UK households can enjoy Sky Movies, Sky grows their wholesale content business, and consumers pay BT if they want to subscribe to the channels. So how and why after three years of negotiation was a breakthrough achieved to close this deal, at a time when the two companies were engaged in their Premier League / Broadband contest? Competition rules and regulations

“

exist in the broadcasting business as they do in all sectors. Sky know, along with everyone else, that they are never going to have a hundred per cent of households taking Sky content, direct from them as the provider. Carl Murdock-Smith analyst at JP Morgan identifies his reasoning that may well explain the “how and why” that a three year negotiation suddenly fell into an agreement. “’We think negotiating a further wholesale deal with BT may be seen by regulators or courts as further evidence that (further) regulated wholesale agreements in relation to Sky’s sport and movies channels are not required,’ he said.”(Source: JP. Morgan) Now that’s what “Experience” brings to the table, Sky resolve a three year distribution problem with a “white knight” deal move, and at the same time position themselves with goodwill to head off another issue that may well have been on the horizon. Surrounding that Sky/ BT movie deals are some impressive numbers outside of their respective broadband business. Sky increased telephone customers by 151,000 (up to 4.7m), TV customers by 37,000 (up to 10.5m) and profits by 7%. BT had increased its cost base by £140m but still reported a two per cent increase in profits, a “back of the net” experience for both. In the next month, November, a huge shift in Pay TV football hit the market. Just six weeks later BT came in and trumped Sky’s bid for the next Champions League Football Rights. Unfortunately we cannot ask Oscar Wilde to referee on this one to see if it fits his quote. These events are recent; indeed most recent having only occurred over the past three months. They are too raw to be judged as experience. Meanwhile forecasters are suggesting that the next contest for Premier League rights may well reach a bid of £5bn. The likely contest does make a great story as we wait to see what will happen next!

Our columnist Clive Crouch is quoting Oscar Wilde this month, read on to ﬁnd out why

By September 2013, Sky had broken through the ﬁve million level of broadband customers, gaining 914,000 in a twelve month period, at a run rate of 111,000 in the last three months up to September

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”

Clive Crouch www.clivecrouch.com info@clivecrouch.com mobile: 07831 670 453

LICENSING OPINION KELVYN GARDNER

Shooting straight from the hip LIMA MD Kelvyn Gardner delves into a girlie world of crossbows and arrows and sets about clearing up a few myths

014 it is and we’re already ‘in the he pink’. I refer to the favourite 21st century game ame of creating controversy out of this colour when we’re talking toys for girls. There’s nothing g new in this debate, and the arguments on both sides have been en thoroughly aired d on occasions too numerous to mention. ntion. However, the new ‘spin’ as I see it has been the end-of-year d-of-year fuss about out Hasbro’s Nerff Rebelle Heartbreaker artbreaker Bow. Nerf is a great selling ng range, of course, rse, and is normally mally associated with h the colours orange nge and purple. ple. Given that the play pattern is undeniably ndeniably connected to fun combat, the colours rs clearly distinguish Nerf from the typical boys’ ys’ role-play weaponry, which is more often then not turned out in more militaristic green, black and brown shades. Then for Christmas 2013 there comes es along the Nerf Rebelle range, squarely aimed at girls. thing, s A good thing too, many commentators noted, as why shouldn’t girls be encouraged to run about outdoors doing a bit of harmless blasting with their mates? What the commentators went on to suggest, however, was that Hasbro’s girl-appeal Nerf toys were probably inspired by last year’s blockbuster tween movie, The Hunger Games Catching Fire. In Catching Fire, the second in this film franchise, the heroine, the dynamic and far from girly-girly Katniss Everdeen, is seen using a bow and arrows. This is all good, rollicking stuff for an action movie, of course. Katniss’s bow is of classic design, no trace of bright pantones here at all, as befits the seriousness of the character. Had film distributor Lionsgate wished to license an official toy bow, you can be sure that its design and overall appearance would have been close to that of the real bow used in the film. If you ask me to speculate, I would surmise that they decided not to license a toy bow for

ethical reasons, among others, including the film’s target-market. Now Hasbro are no strangers to licensing, of course, but no one will ever know if they asked about licenses for The Hunger Games. Again, I reckon that it never crossed their minds, as it’s well known that the film studio here is trying to age-up, rather than age-down, the market for this movie franchise, which would rule out role-play fun products from the programme in any event. What this leaves us with is a big film franchise with a bow-wielding bow wielding heroine (Princess Merida, anyone?) and a range of girls’ outdoor toys in pink which includes both a bow and a crossbow. So let’s just split these two things up, please. Hasbro’s range has nothing to do with the films, nothing to do with licensed merchandise, and it’s really unfair of the critics to mention them in the same breath. It would appear that Hasbro has a winner on their hands with the toy, just as Lionsgate has a winner with the movie franchise (although Hunger Games fans I know have severe doubts about turning the final book Mockingjay, into two movies). As a proponent of licensing, and especially of good licensing, I’m pleased that this is how it’s turned out. For you guys out there, it’s a good business opportunity. For what it’s worth, my own twenty-six year old daughter leads a rock band, but is happy to be seen one day in full rock musician uniform, and the next in something pinker-than-pink or sparklierthan- sparkly. She’s been like that her whole life. Girls reserve the right to run the full gamut of tomboy to princess. She hasn’t turned up on stage with a bow yet – maybe that’s for next year.

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LOOKS S BAC BACK

Step back in time Even though Toys ‘n’ Playthings is very much a magazine for current times which looks to the future, as the only toy trade magazine with a history prior to the nineties, founder and MD Malcolm Naish looks back at some of the events and news stories that made our pages in December 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2009

January 2009 • Our rallying call to our readers is to support your trade show if you want our only stand-alone toy exhibition to succeed. With the results of our bankers folly affecting business big time, it’s time to rally the troops. • John Crane celebrates their 25th year. Champagne and cakes are in abundance on their stand during the Toy Fair. I say well done to one of the trade’s nicest companies. • Russ Berrie exits the toy business. What a shame as one of the stalwarts of the gift/toy plush scene. I’m sure their competitors are delighted! • ‘In the Night Garden’ takes the top spot as the number one infant licence, bumping Winnie the Pooh off the top spot. • Retailers tell us that Christmas 2008 was generally pretty good with Playmobil, Sylvanian, Ben 10 and Bakugan all selling through well. • Mike Ridge sadly passed away, yet another cancer sufferer. A really nice man died far too young from this dreaded disease. • Tomy close down their American company. • Some major accounts have openly questioned the wisdom of suppliers trying to pass on signiﬁcant price rises in the current economic climate. Yet some of these retailers are seeking greatly increased catalogue contributions that in some cases are up 20%. Words such as pot, kettle and black plus perhaps hypocrite spring to mind.

January 2004 • The Independents are still up in arms over the proliferation of 3 for 2’s and BOGOFS. We make the point “What is to stop the unscrupulous member of the public after having bought from a BOGOF promotion, taking one of his items to a different toy retailer and demanding his money back? • Gary Grant was most firm on this possibility. “No refund without a receipt as proof of purchase.” • Toys that might make the Toy of the Year awards I suggest are Badge It, Turtles, Bratz, Beyblades, Swan Lake Barbie and Yu-Gi-Oh. Another outsider we think might be the game ‘Cranium’. • Retailers generally aren’t believing that 2004 will be a good year for them and when questioned before visiting ExCeL all of those questioned had no great idea of exactly what they would be buying. • What was strong in licensing 10 years ago? The Incredibles from Disney would be making their debut in the summer. A live-action Thunderbirds film from Universal, the third Harry Potter film and Spider-Man 2 were among the front-runners.

January 1994 • I note that Sega and Nintendo are no longer enjoying major distribution through toy outlets. As we say toy retailers selling this type of product was consigned to history. Low margins plus staff who couldn’t offer kids information on play and the latest games saw these sales move elsewhere. Our W.H. Smith Top Forty selling games saw Pictionary a number 1, Trivial Pursuit at 2 and Atmosfear at 3. • Bandai introduce Power Rangers for the ﬁrst time at Toy Fair. • How is the memory?! Can you name the suppliers of these following new products introduced at Toy Fair 1994? Puppy in my pocket, Masterball, Forever Friends assortment, Donut Disaster game, TV Teddy, Attack Pack transforming ﬁghting beasts, Pingu plush? • We ask retailers to give their opinions on what will make ‘Toy of the Year’? Without doubt Captain Scarlet seemed a clear winner, with Tomy trains, Polly Pocket and Batman products all in the mix. Winners will be announced next month!

January 1984 • Palitoy win Toy of the Year for their ‘Star Wars’ products with ‘My Little Pony’ from Hasbro receiving the ‘Best New Toy’ award. Also in the list of winners – Mattel with Masters of the Universe. • During Toy Fair the news broke that H.M. Government in their wisdom had announced an immediate ban on scented erasers. No prior warning, no compensation and not even the various trade organisations involved had been advised in advance. • A ﬁne of £1,000 or three months in jail for anyone disobeying this directive. The thought of Barry Walker in clink was just too much to bear! The market was worth £12 million at retail in 1984 values. • Tomytronic makes its debut. • Paul Collinson was helping to run the family toy store in Harrogate. Being very much on the ball, Paul persuaded his father Ian to invest in a shop within a shop, namely ‘Tomorrow’s World Today’. Well ahead of its time this was laid out like a cockpit of a plane with banks of dials, digits, TV screens and computers. The locals kids loved it. We cover this with a two page story. • To prove we’re on the ball, T ‘n’ P start a new column written by Brian Williamson of ‘TV Gamer’.

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TOYFAIR GALLERY 146 • SPRING FAIR HALL 3 – 3P06

Email: sales@traditionalgardengames.co.uk