News - the latest toy industry headlines

Character Group reports £6.1 million profi t

The Character Group has reported £6.1m profit for the first half of its financial year, and says it anticipates continued growth in the second half.

The announcement came as the toy giant published its results for the half-year ending 28 February 2021. Turnover for the period was increased by 44% to £74.5m, with an underlying profit before tax of £6.1m.

The performance is attributed to its strong portfolio of brands, and growth is expected to continue through the second half of the financial year and beyond Christmas 2021. The Group reported that Goo Jit Zu is penetrating all major international markets, with distribution already achieved in more than 40 countries. The Character Group’s other major brands (Peppa Pig, Pokémon, Little Live Pets, Shimmer ‘n Sparkle InstaGlam, Stretch Armstrong, Fireman Sam, Scooby Doo) are also exceeding expectations.

In addition, there has been a focus on developing a sustainable, eco-friendly range of products over numerous brands with the new World of Licensed Wood range. The report stated that the Eco-Plush multi-licenced collection has also been enthusiastically embraced by the industry and consumers.

Also mentioned is Character’s partnership with Moonbug Entertainment and the Master Toy line for new preschool property My Magic Pet Morphle, set to launch later in the year.

New edition of virtual AsmoFair

Following the success of Asmodee’s virtual trade show in January, the games specialist - in partnership with sister company Coiledspring Games - has announced that a fourth edition of AsmoFair will run from 6 June to 11 June.

Asmodee claims AsmoFair was the fi rst toy industry event of its kind in 2020 when the pandemic forced the abandonment of inperson shows, and ‘took a level up’ with its biggest edition so far in January, thanks to the introduction of a virtual walkthrough tour of a fully built show stand.

“We were delighted by the overwhelmingly positive response to the January edition of AsmoFair,” said Anil Boodhoo, national channel director at Asmodee UK.

“Our team has created an experience that really is the next best thing to attending a trade show in person, and we’re excited to step things up once again to give retailers a valuable fi rst look at some unmissable products.”

Visitors to the June edition can head to asmofair.co.uk to book meetings with Asmodee’s sales team.

Magformers UK to distribute Puzzly-Do! distribute Puzzly-Do!

Magformers UK is expanding its business by becoming the exclusive UK distributor for new toy brand Puzzly-Do! Magformers UK is the ownerdistributor of Magformers and Stick-O magnetic construction toys.

Managing director David Kelly said: “I wanted to introduce a new toy line that offers high retailer margins, low SSPs, creative on-trend designs - and is environmentally friendly - while maintaining our core values of being fun and educational. Early reactions from retailers to Puzzly-Do! have been fantastic and I can’t wait to see the brand out in the marketplace alongside our ever-popular Magformers and Stick-O sets.”

Puzzly-Do! launches in the UK with fi ve Dubbl-Puzzls: themed jigsaws with illustrations on one side, which can be fl ipped over to reveal a line drawing on the back. Children can use the 10 felt tips included to colour in the reverse side. The launch contains fi ve themed sets: Ocean Friends, Farm Friends, Forest Friends, My Sweet Shops and My Vehicles. is expanding its business by becoming the exclusive UK distributor for new toy brand Puzzly-Do! Magformers UK is the ownerdistributor of Magformers and Stick-O magnetic

Puzzly-Do! launches in the UK with fi ve Dubbl-Puzzls: themed jigsaws with illustrations on

Mattel launches PlayBack programme

Mattel has unveiled details of PlayBack: a new toy takeback programme that will enable families to extend the life of their Mattel toys once they have fi nished playing with them. The scheme is designed to recover and reuse materials from old Mattel toys for future Mattel products, and supports the company’s goal to achieve 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials across all products and packaging by 2030.

To participate, consumers can visit Mattel.com/PlayBack, print a free shipping label, and pack and mail their outgrown Mattel toys back to Mattel. The toys collected will be sorted and separated by material type and responsibly processed and recycled. Materials that cannot be repurposed as recycled content will be downcycled or converted from waste to energy. The programme accepts Barbie, Matchbox and MEGA waste to energy. The programme accepts Barbie, Matchbox and MEGA toys, and other brands will be added in the future.

Mattel PlayBack will initially be available in the US and Canada.

It will extend to France, Germany, and the UK through third-party recycling partners.

“Mattel toys are made to last and be passed on from generation to generation,” said Richard Dickson, president and chief operating offi cer of Mattel. “A key part of our product design process is a relentless focus on innovation, and fi nding sustainable solutions is one signifi cant way we are innovating. PlayBack is a great example of this, enabling us to turn materials from toys that have lived their useful life into recycled materials for new products.”