Vol. 27, No. 4
Games & Puzzles
July/August 2011
ABC Kids Expo page S4
Games and puzzles is one of the most competitive categories in the toy industry. The category was down 9 percent in 2010, according to The NPD Group, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers from introducing hundreds of new games for 2011.
From Baby Dolls... ...to Teen Heartthrobs: page 20
Dolls Span the Spectrum page 28
page 31
Game Inventors:
No Longer an Untapped Resource
page S20
Dolls Showcase
page S30
table of contents
July/August 2011
Published by Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.®
Volume 27, Number 4 www.toybook.com
International Toy News
P UBLISHER
Features
Jonathan Samet jsamet@adventurepub.com
The Toy Book Chats with Marc Shinderman
China Toy Expo Welcomes International Attendees Page 68
Page 18
E DITOR
IN
C HIEF
Jackie Breyer jbreyer@toybook.com
It’s All Fun & Games A SSOCIATE E DITOR
Page 20
Elizabeth A. Reid
Tocatì: Ninth International Festival of Street Games
From Baby Dolls... ...to Teen Heartthrobs: Dolls Span the Spectrum
Page 70
Page 28
ereid@toybook.com C ONTRIBUTING W RITERS /E DITORS Marian Bossard, Mary Couzin, Bryan Joiner, Andy Marken, Kathleen McHugh, Melissa Tinklepaugh
Departments Editor’s Viewpoint
E DITORIAL I NTERNS
Keep On, My Keepon Research Robot Turned Toy Rocks into Retail
Jill Feigelman Erika Graham P RODUCTION D IRECTOR
Page 66
Anthony K. Guardiola
Page 10
aguardiola@adventurepub.com C ONTROLLER /O FFICE M ANAGER
Stat Shot Page 12
TIA Perspectives Page 13
Industry Update
Robert Forde
Specialty Toys & Gifts: Page 31 New nter MedPiaageCSe35 Page s S3 Games & Puzzles Page S22
Page 14
Talking Social Media Page 16
Industry Marketplace Page 72
Flashback: July/August 1991
Page 74
Insights ASTRAP’asge S2 ed Up l l o D All age S30 P
ABC K ids Ex po Page S 4
Game Inventors: No Longer an Untapped Resource
rforde@adventurepub.com O FFICE A SSISTANT Jazmin Idakaar jidakaar@adventurepub.com U.S. Corporate Headquarters Laurie Schacht, President laurieschacht@aol.com
Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® 307 Seventh Ave., #1601 New York, NY 10001 Phone: (212) 575-4510 Fax: (212) 575-4521
Page S20
Cozying Up with a Collection of Characters Wha t’s N Key Licenses Dress Up Delta Children’s Pag Products’ Furniture e S3 ew 4 Page S8
Member, International Toy Magazine Association
Editor’s
Viewpoint
Get in the Game
W
hat’s your favorite game? Everybody has one. As a child, mine was The Game of Life. As a child, it’s fun to pretend you’re an adult with a job and a carload of kids, spinning a wheel to determine your fate. As an adult, I enjoy card games, particularly when there is some strategy involved, and silly games, like Quelf, that get everyone laughing and playing along. The games category offers something for everyone. There are so many games being introduced each year, it is essentially impossible not to find one (or many) you enjoy. I feel lucky that part of my job involves playing games—how many people can say that? Marc Shinderman, general manager of Briarpatch, can. Check out my chat with him on page 18. To check out a number of new games being introduced this year, turn to page 20. We also take a look at the dolls category in this issue. This category is probably the most criticized by the media and everyone else. From Barbie’s unrealistic body type to the makeup and attire of MGA’s Bratz, the idea that fashion dolls are role models for young girls has sparked controversy about exactly what example these dolls are setting. Maybe I don’t remember correctly, but I’m pretty sure all I cared about when playing with dolls as a girl was dressing them up, braiding their hair, and putting on a fashion show. Then there’s the Breast Milk Baby Doll. Talk about controversy! Check out our array of (mainly) non-controversial dolls on page 28. This issue also covers All Baby and Child’s ABC Kids Expo. This show, to be held in Louisville, Ky., September 23-26, covers the vast juvenile products industry. More than 900 exhibitors are expected to fill one million square feet of space at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more
10 • THE TOY BOOK
Jackie Breyer editor
information about the show and to check out some of the innovative new products being introduced for tots, turn to page S4 in the Specialty Toys & Gifts section of this issue. Our next issue will turn its focus to new products for 2012. Where has the time gone? As we head into the 2011 holiday selling season, make sure your shelves are stocked with the latest dolls and games—the holidays wouldn’t be the same without them! ■
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S TAT S HOT A MAZON . COM
TOP 10 FAMILY E NTERTAINMENT & CASUAL GAMES TITLES R ANKED BY T OTAL U.S. U NITS , J UNE 2011
RANK TITLE
PLATFORM
1 JUST DANCE 2
WII
B EST-S ELLING T OYS J ULY 1–31 11 CRAYOLA 24 CT. CRAYONS
1 SYMA R/C HELICOPTER
2 RORY’S STORY CUBES
12 ANGRY BIRDS 5” PLUSH RED BIRD WITH SOUND
360
4 ANGRY BIRDS: KNOCK ON WOOD GAME
14 F-P OCEAN WONDERS SOOTHE & GLOW SEAHORSE
6 WIPEOUT: IN THE ZONE
360
6 STOMP ROCKET JR. GLOW KIT
16 THE SETTLERS OF CATAN
8 MICHAEL JACKSON: THE EXPERIENCE
360
10 MARIO PARTY
NDS
8 SPOT IT
18 NERF SUPER SOAKER THUNDERSTORM
10 F-P BRILLIANT BASICS BABY’S FIRST BLOCKS
20 CRAYOLA WASHABLE FINGERPAINTS
2 MICHAEL JACKSON: THE EXPERIENCE
WII
3 PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES
NDS
5 JUST DANCE
WII
4 DANCE CENTRAL
7 WIPEOUT: THE GAME 9 WII PLAY MOTION
WII WII
Source: NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service
13 MANHATTAN TOY WINKEL
3 INTEX RIVER RUN I
15 PERPLEXUS MAZE GAME
5 INSECT LORE LIVE BUTTERFLY GARDEN
17 INTEX SIT N FLOAT LOUNGE
7 BANANAGRAMS
9 NERF SUPER SOAKER SCATTER BLAST
19 QWIRKLE BOARD GAME
Average Age of First Use for Many Devices Has Declined Significantly Decline in Average Age of First Use of Selected Consumer Electronics Devices Change vs. 2005
Average Age of First Use 2011: 8.4 Years
Average Age of First Use 2011: 7 Years Average Age of First Use 2011: 7 Years Source: NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service
12 • THE TOY BOOK
“While some like to use the acronym KGOY (Kids Getting Older Younger) to explain the phenomenon of kids using technology at ever younger ages, the truth is that kids are naturally attracted to technology. As newer devices are introduced into the home, younger children have access to these devices, and over time the average age that kids are first using these devices declines. Kids arenʼt getting older at younger ages, theyʼre just using the same technologies they see their parents and older siblings using. They arenʼt afraid to experiment and play around with buttons with the same trepidation older consumers might feel. The instant gratification and endless exploration many of these devices provide to kids have implications on all other product categories that kids come in contact with.” —Anita Frazier, industry analyst, NPD Group
JULY/AUGUST 2011
Toy Industry Association Perspectives
Fall Toy Preview 2011 to Attract Top Toy Retailers by Marian Bossard, vice president of meetings and events, Toy Industry Association (TIA)
W
ith the 2012 holiday buying season just around the corner, the toy industry is already gearing up for Fall Toy Preview 2011. The Toy Industry Associationsponsored event attracts toy companies to Dallas, Tex. to privately show their newest product lines to toy buyers from long-lead and mass-market retail outlets from around the world. Fall Toy Preview provides buyers with a central marketplace to broker business deals with their vendors 12 to 15 months in advance of in-store delivery. Retailer registration opened in early July, and nearly 400 buyers, including powerhouses such as AAFES, Barnes & Noble, Big Lots, BJ’s Wholesale, Costco, Sears Holding Corp., Target, Toys “R” Us, and Walgreens have already registered for the by-appointment-only event. The event takes place October 4-6 at the Dallas Market Center. “Thirteen of the world’s top 25 toy sellers, as well as retail establishments from close to 30 countries, have so far signed on to meet with hundreds of exhibiting toy companies at the Dallas Market Center,” says Kimberly Carcone, director of trade show and event marketing at TIA. “In 2010, 700 buyers from 37 countries flocked to Dallas, and we’re expecting similar—if not greater—numbers for 2011.”
Retailers have called Fall Toy Preview “an essential stop” on their buying circuit, allowing them the time and opportunity to meet with many of their vendors under one roof. To participate, exhibitors must currently sell to mass-market accounts, and all products shown must be available for fourth quarter sales in the following year. Booth space applications, as well as a constantly updated roster of buyers and exhibitors, can be found at www.FallToyPreview.org. In addition to vendor/retailer appointments, participants will have a chance to network during Fall Toy Preview at the opening night party on October 4. Each exhibiting company will receive two complementary tickets, with additional tickets available for $25. All proceeds will benefit the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF). ■
TIF Gives Back to Toy Industry with “Play Connects” Grant Program
T
he Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) is pleased to announce the creation of a grant program that will help TIA member companies support worthy children’s charities in their very own communities. The Play Connects grant program, launched in early June, will provide up to three $10,000 grants to local charities that are nominated by members of TIA. Funding will be awarded annually to 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing. “Throughout the year, the foundation often calls upon toy companies to donate their products to support TIF’s partnerships and programs,” says Amanda McDorman, senior manager at TIF. “Play Connects is our way of giving back to toy companies, by providing them with the financial
JULY/AUGUST 2011
resources they need to help the children’s causes they care about the most.” TIA members, both full and associate, can nominate a local charity by visiting ToyIndustryFoundation.org (the foundation’s website), following the links for Play Connects, and completing the required forms. All nominations must be received on or before September 15. The Program Grants Committee, composed of members from the TIF Board of Trustees, will then review each qualified nomination and select up to three grant recipients. Winners will be informed by December 15 with formal announcements at the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards event in February. ■
THE TOY BOOK • 13
Industry Update FanTOYstic Fact
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Labyrinth, the wooden game by Ravensburger that has been puzzling kids and adults for years. To celebrate, fans can play the life-size version in Ravensburger Spieleland, an amusement park in southern Germany. The structure stretches 98 feet long and its walls reach 6.6 feet high. More than four million people have already wandered through the maze. For those who like their games in a handheld size, Ravensburger is launching new versions of the puzzle, including the Labyrinth Anniversary Edition, with 12 added maze cards with encrypted messages on the back, specially packaged in a collector’s tin.
INNOVATION FIRST SUES Innovation First International (UK) Limited has filed a lawsuit against Clinton Cards plc, a UK greeting cards and gifts retail chain; its supplier, Only 4 U Limited; and the supplier’s managing director. The lawsuit, issued in the UK High Court of Justice (Patents Court), asserts claims of intellectual property infringement against the Micro-Insect and Jitterbugz products in respect to Innovation First’s Hexbug Nano micro robotic toy.
14 • THE TOY BOOK
CTA RENAMED AS CHINA TOY AND JUVENILE PRODUCTS ASSOC. According to a letter released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, the China Toy Association (CTA) has been renamed China Toy and Juvenile Products Association. The change took effect on June 24.
JAKKS PACIFIC TO ACQUIRE MOOSE MOUNTAIN TOYMAKERS Jakks Pacific, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Hong Kong-based Moose Mountain Toymakers Limited, manufacturer of sports arcade products, foot-to-floor ride-ons, tents, soft play environments, arcade pinball games, and wagons. Jakks Pacific will acquire all shares of Moose Mountain’s stock and its affiliate, Moose Mountain Marketing, Inc. The business includes licenses for characters and brands. The transaction is scheduled to close in Q3 2011, subject to third party approvals and other customary closing conditions. Jakks Pacific has also announced a master toy licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to manufacture, distribute, and market a line of toys and products based on the upcoming Men in Black 3. The licensing program, due to launch next spring, will include action figures, accessories, play sets, role play, youth electronics, novelties, games and puzzles, Halloween costumes, and more. The agreement covers the entire Men in Black franchise. The 3-D action comedy, slated to open on May 25, 2012, is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin.
LIMA TO HOST RETAIL & BRANDING CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) will host its inaugural Retail & Branding Conference on September 13 in New York City. The LIMA Retail & Branding Conference: Driving Impact Through Consumer Touchpoints event, to be held at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, will bring together a lineup of leading retailers, brand marketers, and thought leaders to explore the future of branding, collaboration, and shopper-centric strategies. The half-day conference will merge forward-looking insights with practical strategies and applications in an intimate setting that will encourage networking and the open exchange of ideas among attendees and speakers. Each presentation will include time for a question-and-answer session with the speakers. Attendance is limited so LIMA encourages potential attendees to register early.
Get the latest toy industry news delivered straight to your inbox each week for free! Subscribe to The Toy Book’s Toy Report. Just send an email to subscribe@adventurepub.com, and add that address to your address book to ensure delivery. For up-to-the-minute news, follow The Toy Book on Twitter: twitter.com/ToyBook, and “like” The Toy Book on Facebook: facebook.com/TheToyBook. Visit our blog at www.toybook.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
SKECHERS SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR YOUTH ELECTRONICS
DEFIANTS 4X4 GETS GAME
Skechers USA, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Sakar International to produce youth electronics and accessories featuring Skechers branding and Skechers Kids’ animated characters. The line is scheduled to launch in Q1 2012 at retailers across the U.S. Under the agreement, Sakar will design, produce, and distribute a wide range of Skechers-branded elecZevo-3 tronics and accessories, including MP3 players, molded earbuds, speakers, digital cameras, cases, skins, and USB flash drives inspired by Skechers Kids’ footwear styles. Products will be designed for boys and girls from elementary through high school with artwork from Skechers’ Zevo-3 animated television series, the Twinkle Toes by Skechers collection, as well as additional Skechers Kids’ characters and Skechers branding.
Redwood Ventures’ Defiants 4x4 has partnered with Miniclip for an online game, Defiants Danger Rally, available at Defiants4x4s.com and Miniclip.com. The game virtually embodies the stunts, jumps, runs, and climbs of the motorized toy cars, and includes the vehicles as well as elements from the line’s play sets and accessories. The collaboration was developed through media agency Blue Plate Media Services.
NPD RELEASES GLOBAL TOY SALES, BRAND LANDSCAPE REPORTS Based on its “Global Toy Market Estimates: 2011 Edition,” The NPD Group reported that 2010 global toy sales were $83.3 billion, up nearly 5 percent from 2009. This increase was largely due to the market in Asia, which nearly doubled the world growth rate at a 9.2 percent increase in sales. However, the U.S. continued to top sales in the toy market, at approximately $22 billion. American sales combined with Japan, China, UK, and France sales added up to just more than 50 percent of global sales. Europe suffered a 4 percent drop in sales from 2007 to 2010, partially due to fluctuating exchange rates. The emerging BRIC toy markets (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) reported a growth of 13 percent. The NPD Group expects a continuing positive trend this year, although not as dramatic as previous years. NPD also predicts a rebound in European sales. NPD also released the 2011 edition of its Brand Landscape Report, a syndicated market research report that takes an in-depth look at purchase decisions. For women, the first reason for making a toy purchase is kids. For women, reasons for purchasing toys included: (1) the child is a fan of the character, movie, or TV show, (2) the toy is growing in popularity, (3) they collect the brand, (4) the toy has the features/benefits they want, (5) the toy is trendy or “in” right now, (6) the toy has a broad selection, (7) the toy has a latest trend feature, (8) the toy is on sale, (9) the toy is a good value, (10) the toy is a good gift idea. Men reported that their No. 1 reason for purchasing a toy is because they collect them, followed by: (2) a child is a fan of the character, movie, or TV show, (3) the toy is growing in popularity, (4) the toy is trendy or “in” right now, (5) there is a broad selection, (6) the toy has the features/benefits they want, (7) the toy has a latest trend feature, (8) the toy has the latest technology, (9) the toy is on sale, and (10) the toy is a good gift idea. ■
JULY/AUGUST 2011
Speedin’ Sand
CHA OPENS TRADE SHOWS NON-MEMBERS
TO
The board of directors for the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) voted to remove membership requirements for CHA trade show exhibitors and attendees, beginning with the 2012 winter show, to be held January 29 to February 1 in Anaheim, Calif. To participate, all non-member exhibitors and attendees must provide valid business credentials. Non-member attendees will have unrestricted buying access to the entire show floor and may upgrade to CHA membership onsite, which will allow them to participate in CHA Conference programs. For enrollment, email Anthony Licata, CHA’s senior sales manager, at alicata@craftandhobby.org.
THE TOY BOOK • 15
Talking Social Media
Social Media:
All About Customer Relations by Andy Marken, Marken Communications
P
ick up the latest issue of BusinessWeek and there is sure to be a great article on the hot new job: social media director. Social media jobs sound awesome—all that viral outreach, all those neat ideas just waiting to be spread across the market, across the globe. So, you set up your company and personal Facebook pages. You get your company and personal Twitter accounts. You update your Facebook pages and Tweet constantly. You are basically an expert. Your corporate press section has a form media folks can fill in for quick publicity assistance and information. The section has all the HTML releases and authorized images. A few comprehensive press sites have contact names and office numbers. If a customer has a problem, or is really ticked off, and happens to reach you—begging, pleading, crying, and screaming—you simply send them to customer service. Another great customer contact! Everyone is promoting his or her social media marketing/communications expertise. Or as Forrester’s Sean Corcoran has said: “You can’t walk out of your house without bumping into a social media expert today.”
WE MISSED THE CLASS The truth is that social media isn’t overly challenging, which may be why there are so many gurus. All you have to do is know when and how to engage with other people. Many seasoned folks make the point that social CRM (customer relations management) and marketing/sales may be difficult to get your arms around, and difficult to integrate into business operations. Social media and sound relationships really start and end with the customer. If you don’t understand your customers or your audience, it will be tough to develop a social strategy that makes sense for your organization. You cannot control the conversation. Customers control the conversation about your company, your product or service, your support, and you. Try to take control, or steer and manipulate it, and you lose the battle. That may be why only 41 percent of respondents in a 2010 Digital Brand Expressions survey claimed to have a strategic policy or plan. The rest are just fak-
16 • THE TOY BOOK
PART 6 OF A SERIES
ing it, shooting from the hip, inventing as they go.
COMPANY EFFORT, NOT YOURS Management may not have a strategic social media plan, but they know they should have some type of presence in social media. Experience has shown them that satisfied and repeat customers keep their doors open, and they know that the best, most satisfied customers are the ones who talk up and support the company’s products and services—even over the rough bumps. If a question, problem, or issue arises, and people are writing all over your “wall,” you can’t just ignore it. I know you’re a “social media specialist” and interacting with customers about their issues is a dirty job for social media experts. But they came to you, and customer service or support shouldn’t have all the “fun.” Your social media efforts should be about stimulating and driving customer loyalty, and at the end of the day, that counts more than the number of “likes” your Facebook page has or the number of followers you have on Twitter. Social media is about working with customers, talking with them, and assisting them. Yes, real one-on-one customer service! Sometimes social media isn’t very “social.” Just ask the people who work with and help customers daily! ■
This is Part 6 of a series. Andy Marken is a marketing and communications consultant with more than 30 years of experience, and has written more than 400 articles. In addition to consulting with and being a spokesman for major clients, he also speaks on industry subjects, including management, marketing, and consumer relations. He can be reached at andy@markencom.com.
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The Toy Book Chats with Marc Shinderman, general manager, What’s new at Briarpatch? How are you innovating in the games category? There are many new innovative products and game concepts at Briarpatch. We are thrilled to be expanding our categories and product offerings. In 2011, we added to our portfolio with an introduction into the impulse and novelty category with Wonder Tubes, which is a new twist on an old toy. Wonder Tubes are tactile, captivating, and fun to look through as you watch the mylar moons, stars, hearts, colored glitter, and miniature pictures floating by. With every twist and movement a new wonder is before your eyes. Our Mini Game Case Collectibles with backpack clips provide a child the opportunity to take a fun Briarpatch experience on the road with them anywhere. They feature popular licenses including I Spy, Marvel, and Fancy Nancy, and retail for less than $5. Our new Tic Tac Turn Game offers a new twist on a classic game with transparent levels that make four in a row diagonally, horizontally, and vertically. A new element offers the ability to turn an entire level, changing the game in just one move. Our new I Spy Spectacular Game, in honor of the 20th anniversary of I Spy, offers a
18 • THE TOY BOOK
triple-tiered spinner that locks at three different levels, making it a challenge to solve. We are introducing greater consumer value and play in all our products. What changes are you seeing in the games industry? The largest impact I see is that fine retailers are waiting longer to commit to products, carrying less inventory, expecting just-in-time deliveries, and reducing shelf space and product offerings due to the challenging economy. Many of the game category leaders are cutting their manufacturing quality with cheaper materials so they can offer lower prices and drive sales through promotions. Their classic products are becoming footprint drivers and are only purchased during the later part of the fourth quarter on promotion. It seems the days of building quality that lasts is changing. Label slapping with licenses on inferior products has become a staple of the game industry instead of game concepts and play patterns that are related to the licensed characters or storyline. How are you dealing with the increased challenges of CPSC’s testing requirements? Like most companies, we are absorbing the costs, which have tripled in the past two years. One issue that the industry needs to address is the variation of testing requirements from retailers. Each key retailer is applying their own
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requirements on top of the federal regulations and demanding testing with higher standards than required by statute, with different interpretations of the requirements. There should be one standard for all applied reasonably. Briarpatch has never had a recall or issue with our products, and we have always met or exceeded the safety standards. We will continue to comply with the standards and support safe product initiatives. As a TIA member, I believe we need our association to address the retailer requirements so there is one set of testing standards for the entire industry. How much of your product is manufactured in the U.S.? How does that benefit the company? Briarpatch products have primarily been manufactured in the U.S. since our beginning 19 years ago. For many years, we were 100 percent U.S. made. We still manufacture 90 percent of our product line in the U.S. The 10 percent of our line that is made in Asia is due to plastic component parts or technologies that are available or cost effective to manufacture in Asia. We strive to support our economy and U.S.-based companies first, and have relationships that go back to our beginning. We stay loyal to our vendors, and where possible we buy and make in the U.S. An added benefit of U.S.-made products is the delivery time from production floor to retail shelves. This allows us to provide better just-in-time deliveries, carry less onhand inventory, and keep our products reasonably priced. We enjoy a 99 percent fill rate annually due to the highest percentage of our
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product being made in the U.S. Our overseas vendors produce top-quality components and products to our standards, and while a small portion of our total product line, are important to our company. How important is licensing to the Briarpatch lineup? Licensing is still a key element to the Briarpatch legacy. Nineteen years ago, we were an industry leader in literary-based licensed properties for the game categories. Over the years we have featured and promoted hundreds of book properties, movie properties, and TV properties, and that remains core to what we do. We give life to characters through our game play. Each license is embedded in the gameplay; we do not just slap a licensed character on our products. All of our products have a social, emotional, and educational value, and the licenses we choose reflect this. How does Briarpatch maintain its place in the games category? We spend a lot of time listening to our key retail partners, walking the retail aisles to see what the industry leaders are manufacturing. We attend trade shows; conduct market research; hire creative, innovative staff; utilize consultants; contract with quality vendors; support the trade publications; conduct consumer focus groups; test products with kids; support the game inventor community; listen to our licensors; and spend mountains of cash on product development. The world is ever changing and so must Briarpatch to keep our products relevant. â–
THE TOY BOOK • 19
It’s All Fun & French Toast Forgets His Lunch is the first game in The Haywire Group’s new The French Toast and Friends line of games. The games are targeted to preschoolers and require no reading skills to play. In the game, French Toast left for school without his lunch and his friends try to help him fill his lunchbox before he gets there. Each player receives a lunchbox playing card, and the first player to match a row of food on their card wins the game. Players need to wait their turn to roll the die and move their playing piece, but on every turn a player can match food from the board to their playing card. The gameplay was designed to keep children’s attention during the entire game, while teaching them patience in waiting for their turn to roll. Included with the board game is the French Toast Forgets His Lunch mini book.
1st & Goal, R&R Games’ first sports-themed game, pits two football teams against each other in a classic gridiron match. Playable by two to four players, “coaches” call plays using the cards in their hands, and dice rolls determine yardage gained or lost. Strategic play calling is necessary; for instance, an offensive play might yield a lot of yardage, unless the defense sets up correctly to stop it. Dice Football League (DFL) expansion sets add excitement to the core game, with each of the 24 franchise teams supplying unique characteristics in passing, running, and defense. For hardcore players, R&R provides an online schedule for league play, allowing players to track scores and team statistics.
V-Cube products are 3-D mechanical cubic puzzles that rotate smoothly on the three based axes of the coordinate system. The products, by Verdes International, are manufactured under V-Cube technology, and invented and patented worldwide by the Greek engineer Panagiotis Verdes. The product line currently includes the V-Cube 2, V-Cube 5, V-Cube 6, V-Cube 7, and V-Cube 7 Illusion. To solve the puzzles, players must come up with a strategy to achieve uniform colored sides on the Cube. Also available are V-Cube Flags that represent various locations around the world.
20 • THE TOY BOOK
JULY/AUGUST 2011
Why use a remote when you can have the bowling ball hit a pin, which pulls a string, which lets the marble loose, which turns the TV on? Sandstorm Productions’ studio Glowfly Games has introduced The Impossible Machine, a game of impractical functionality. In the game, players build ridiculously complicated contraptions to do simple things. Players earn points by getting their parts, with the right type of momentum, into the machine as they work together to build ever bigger and better machines.
Logo is the game that puts players’ consumer knowledge to the test. In this pop culture game by Spin Master, contestants show off their knowledge of popular brands. You’ve seen the brands—from cereals and chocolates to football teams and flowers—but can you name them if you saw them? The first person to make it into the winner’s circle and answer all the questions correctly is crowned champion. Logo, for players ages 12 and up, includes 400 game cards, six mover pieces, one game board, and an instruction sheet.
Wiggity Bang! Games introduces Furt, a new party game filled with crazy stunts that may cause belly laughs. In the game, for three to eight players ages 13 and older, players race to be first into the fiery mouth of the Furt volcano with each roll of the color-coded die. Along the way, they might find themselves speaking like a robot, impersonating a stamp collector, doing fork acupuncture on their neighbor, acting like a sugar donut, and more. Categories include Straight-Faced, Guess What?, Truth or Fiction, You Are, The Volcano Has Spoken, and What The?!. The game includes one game board, 326 category cards with more than 1,000 questions, eight Hot Spot cards, 350 Funny Word Cards, one Truth or Fiction token, one multi-colored die, one 30-second timer, one “volcano,” and eight player pieces.
The DGT Cube and DGT Pyramid, by Digital Game Technology BV, are digital timing devices for any board, card, or quiz game designed for up to six players (Cube) or four players (Pyramid). There are five basic timing systems available with both the Cube and Pyramid, and different times may be allocated to individual players. At the end of a player’s turn, the timer is passed on to the next player by turning that player’s selected color to the top. This stops the time of the last player and automatically starts the timing for the next player. During the game, timing can be stopped and restarted by putting the timer on its base, a handy feature for consulting a dictionary during word games. The optional buzzer warns players of an approaching time limit.
22 • THE TOY BOOK
Pyramid
JULY/AUGUST 2011
In Phil’ Up Chuck, by Fundex Games, players roll the die and feed Phil. As chicken, broccoli, pizza, and more is stuffed into Phil, players watch as his cheeks grow, his ears pop, and his eyebrows raise. Then… blech! Phil’s head explodes and food flies out. The player who made Phil “upchuck” flips a clean shirt game piece to the dirty side. If a player has four dirty shirts, the round is over, and the player with the most clean shirts is the winner. The game, for kids ages 5 and up, includes Phil’s head as a game board, food pieces, dice, and instructions.
Pressman Toy Corporation is expanding its new teen to adult line of board games with Coffee Talk. In the game, a topic card is turned over and then everyone has 45 seconds to write down whatever they think about the subject. What do you think about New York? Jay Leno? Las Vegas? Players move their coffee bean up their container-shaped score card for every unique answer. A topic can be changed by “creaming” it, or to get the other players to accept an off-beat answer, sweeten them up with a sugar packet and score. The game, for two to four players, is contained in a coffee bag package.
FlashWordz, by U.S. Games, is a new word game that requires a keen eye and a quick hand. Each round starts with players placing seven letter cards, which are double-sided, in their card racks. Players combine letters from their own card rack with letters from another player to create words of four or more letters before the timer goes off. If time runs out, it becomes a free-for-all “Flash Round.” Players race to grab the Flash Round token and the chance for an extra turn. Every word scores points and the highest score wins. FlashWordz, for two to four players ages 8 and up, includes 100 two-sided cards, including five wild cards; four card racks; a FlashWordz Timer; a Flash Round Token; and instructions.
24 • THE TOY BOOK
Cardinal’s line of games and puzzles is expanding with new licenses and concepts. The company has added Super 3D puzzles to its range. These lenticular puzzles add a new dimension and depth, and are available in Star Wars, Disney Princess, and Cars themes. Currently, the puzzles come in multi packs of three, four, and five. Other Cardinal puzzle licenses include Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Spider-Man, Squinkies, and more, in fabrications including wood, lenticular, and cardboard.
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Phone Frenzy, by Buffalo Games, is a socially interactive party game that uses everyone’s mobile phone as the primary game piece. On every turn, players are given a challenge or activity that can only be completed with the help of one or more of their phone contacts. A challenge might be to race to receive a correct response to “Finish this lyric by Journey: ‘Just a small town girl’…” Players then pick who they think from their phone can answer that question and send them a text message. The first player to receive the correct answer wins the round. To win the game, players must successfully complete an activity from all four game categories, by calling, texting, or picture messaging a friend.
In Ravensburger’s Whoowasit?, young players are challenged to sharpen their communication and team-playing skills so they can work together as a group to defeat the evil wizard. In this “whodunit” board game, featuring an electronic unit, players must find the magical ring that was stolen from the wise king. Playing against a running clock, players move their playing pieces through the various rooms on the game board to uncover clues to who stole the precious gem. Along the way, talking animals help players solve the mystery. Designed for two to four gamers, players will win or lose as a group.
Techno Source’s new and improved 20Q has the same original gameplay—players think of an object, and the game magically reads their minds in 20 questions or less—plus new features. After each question, players answer “yes,” “no,” “sometimes,” or “rarely,” with their object in mind, and new feature buttons allow players to skip a question, or undo. The game’s glowing faceplate will brighten and dim as it senses what people are thinking, and the orb features a modern, sleek, and sophisticated design. The new 20Q is available in red, blue, and pink and comes with two AAA batteries.
From Harry Potter’s first days at Hogwarts to his spectacular, ultimate showdown with Voldemort, Scene It? Harry Potter: The Complete Cinematic Journey takes players on a voyage through all eight Harry Potter films, including both parts of The Deathly Hallows. The game includes tons of clips, trivia questions, and on-screen puzzles for Harry Potter fans ages 13 years and up.
The classic game of Simon has been updated with “Wonder-link” technology. Hasbro’s new single-player Simon Flash has four memorybusting games. To play the games, players shuffle and swap the Simon Flash tiles on command. In the game Simon Class, players repeat the growing sequence of colored lights. In Simon Shuffle, a pattern of lights is revealed in a flash and shuffles, then players have to get the tiles in the original pattern. In the 90-second game Simon Lights Off, players must line up all the cubes in the correct order to make all the lights turn off. In Simon Secret Color, players keep rearranging the tiles until they all light up as the same color. When game time is over, the tiles store neatly in a carrying case for easy travel and gameplay on the go.
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Harlequin is the global leader in romance book sales with 5.93 billion books sold, year to date. Great American Puzzle Factory has teamed up with the romance brand for a line of assorted puzzles. The Harlequin puzzles feature classic book covers in a collage style that creates puzzle zones, enhancing the creation experience.
In Winning Moves Games’ Pass the Pigs Pig Party! Edition, up to four players can play at the same time. Each player tries to be the first to roll the pigs pictured on the card. If a player makes a match on his or her first roll, the player earns a bonus roll with all eight pigs. Four pairs of pigs, eight in total, are included with the game. The game also includes a deck of 30 Pig Roll, bonus, and point cards; a zippered carrying case; and illustrated instructions.
For more games and puzzles, turn to page S22. JULY/AUGUST 2011
From Baby Dolls... ...to Teen Heartthrobs: Dolls Span the Spectrum
Cabbage Patch Kids are getting an update this fall with Cabbage Patch Kids Fashionalities, from Jakks Pacific. The line offers 12 different styles for boys and girls that range from skateboarders to girly girls. Each Kid comes with a birth certificate, a unique name, and a code to download the Cabbage Patch Kids video, “The New Kid!” Jakks is also introducing The Cabbage Patch A, B, C—Play with Me line and The Cabbage Patch Kids Dirty to Clean Bath Newborns.
The Goldberger Company has launched the Baby’s First brand, featuring dolls specifically designed for children ages 0 to 3. The new dolls in the line include Little Sleeper, Tiny Totes, Playtime Baby, Lullabye Baby, Happy Baby, and Tubbles Layette. The company’s bestselling dolls, including Giggles, Zip-ity, and Sing and Learn, will also be re-designed as part of the Baby’s First brand.
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There will be a total of seven fashion-forward tots in Hasbro’s new Crib Life line. Each of the dolls comes with a special code that will give children access to CribLife.com, where they can see what the dolls are up to in their online crib. They can also play games, check out videos featuring the crew, and customize a “crib” of their own.
The Bridge announces the release of the Justin Bieber Real Hairstyle Doll, featuring soft hair that is based on Justin’s famous locks. The doll is available in a variety of outfits that mimic the star’s style, from beachwear to the red carpet, and comes with must-have accessories including a skateboard, a backpack, and sunglasses.
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Playmates Toys is building on its Hearts for Hearts Girls doll line. Heart for Hearts Girls is a line of multicultural dolls that represent girls from real places all over the world. Updates to the line include new basic fashion pieces, such as Tipi’s two-piece pajama outfit, patterned after authentic Lao fabric; Consuelo’s dance dress, inspired by traditional Ballet Folklorico costumes; and Lilian’s fleecy, furry outfit, designed to keep her warm on cold winter nights in Belarus. The deluxe fashion assortment includes Nahji’s costume sari and tea set, Rachel’s school uniform and school supplies, and Dell’s dance outfit and accessories inspired by traditional clogging in Appalachia. A portion of the proceeds from the dolls and the fashion accessories goes to charitable partner World Vision, a nonprofit organization that helps real children from each doll’s region.
Nahji
MGA Entertainment introduces Moxie Girlz Art-Titude 3D. These dolls come with an outfit that girls can color themselves by using the two included washable markers. The doll also comes with a pair of 3-D glasses that can be decorated. Then, girls can use the 3-D glasses to view the fashion they’ve created.
30 • THE TOY BOOK
Architect Barbie, from Mattel’s I Can Be line, is meant to inspire girls. The doll wears a stylish outfit featuring a city skyline, and comes with an architect’s essentials, including a hard hat, a case for carrying Barbie’s latest designs, and plans for Barbie’s new dream house. Mattel consulted with two female members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to make the doll as realistic as possible. The doll will be available in both Caucasian and African American varieties.
Tollytots introduces two new Disney Princess characters to its My First Disney Princess Toddler line, intended for the youngest of Princess fans. Mulan and Snow White join the line, which already includes Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Tiana, and Ariel. The 15-inch dolls are designed as pintsized versions of the beloved adult princesses. Each doll is dressed in her iconic ball gown and tiara from the animated films. The dolls also feature rooted hair and poseable legs.
For more dolls, turn to page S30. JULY/AUGUST 2011
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T HE D EFINITIVE I NFORMATION S OURCE
FOR THE
T OY
AND
G IFT M ERCHANT
ASTRA’S INSIGHTS
Your Store’s Message
Communicating Specialty’s Competitive Edge
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by Kathleen McHugh, president, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) s specialty toy retailers gear up to maximize the business impact of Neighborhood Toy Store Day (November 12), strengthening customer relationships is one objective shared by most store
owners. Neighborhood Toy Store Day, which happens each year on the second Saturday in November, is a program of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). Its purpose is to help grow the specialty toy industry by promoting the advantages of shopping at a locally owned, independent toy store. Each participating ASTRA retailer creates a tailored “celebration” that fits the local market. Perhaps more important than in-store activities, however, is the opportunity Neighborhood Toy Store Day offers for communicating with your customer base. The tools for getting the message out are numerous and range widely from store to store: website postings, e-blasts, print or electronic newsletters, Facebook postings and conversations, Tweets, YouTube videos, press releases to local print and broadcast outlets, instore flyers, radio or television appearances, and advertising. But the message about the advantages of shopping at specialty toy stores can be consistent nationwide, and Neighborhood Toy Store Day is a great time to make it heard. There are excellent, compelling reasons for why consumers should choose specialty toy stores, and these reasons don’t vary much from store to store. All your messages—whether for Neighborhood Toy Store Day or any other purpose—should mention the specialty advantage. You should communicate them consistently, frequently, and loudly. Here are key points of your competitive edge: Expertise. As a specialty toy store owner, it is likely that you know more about toys than anyone else in your community. Intertwined with your toy knowledge is your understanding of healthy play and child development. Parents will not find this kind of expertise—especially when tailored to the needs of their child—at a big box store or online. Make sure your customers understand this and value it. Quality. You have better toys than your big-box competitors—toys with greater play value, and toys that are built to last through several children and even several generations. The quality of the toys you carry is represented by ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids award winners and all the
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other products you have chosen for your shelves. Let moms and dads know that, just like they are, you are choosy, and not every product earns the honor of being added to your inventory. Value. Your toys sustain children’s interest and they last. You may even provide free gift wrap, free ribbon, free cards, or free services, which add up to meaningful savings. Even if your prices are higher (and often they are not), parents are getting a higher value for their dollar at your store. Service. Nobody should beat you on service. Whether it’s the personalized attention to your customers’ needs, your ability to recommend products that fit a child’s developmental level, your free gift wrap, or other ways you take care of customers, remind moms, dads, and grandparents that this is the way you do business—and it’s different from what they will get from your competitors. Better shopping experience. Compared to high-stress, big-box shopping, your store is a relaxing haven. It’s a manageable size and scale for both grown-ups and children. Kids can occupy themselves with play, rather than with a “gimme” tantrum as they are being dragged past the latest heavily advertised toy from television. Compared to online shopping, your store offers the opportunity to see, touch, hear, and play with actual products. It’s fun for the whole family to shop at your store, and what oversized discounter or website can claim that? Locally owned. Shopping at your store keeps more dollars circulating in the community and creates local jobs. Profits benefit your neighborhood, and not some distant corporate headquarters that has no long-term commitment to your community. Make sure your customers understand that you, as an independent local owner, know your market and your store reflects your customers’ needs. ●
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NEWS SIDESHOW COLLECTIBLES
TO
PRODUCE LINE
FOR
DC COMICS
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), along with DC Entertainment, has enlisted Sideshow Collectibles to create a line of statues, busts, and other collectibles inspired by DC Comics’ iconic superheroes and villains, as well as the upcoming theatrical releases The Dark Knight Rises and Man of Steel. Sideshow Collectibles will also produce limited-edition art prints and 1/6 scale articulated figures. The figures feature more than 30 points of articulation, detailed accessories, real fabric costumes, and an array of switch-out parts for customization.
TREND LAB GRABS NICK LICENSE
Nickelodeon Consumer Products has signed a licensing agreement with Trend Lab, LLC for nursery and toddler products that will be based on Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Blue’s Clues properties. The products will include bedding, room décor, and storage items to be available at mid-tier retailers, department and specialty stores, and select e-tailers. Product concepts will be unveiled at this year’s ABC Kids Expo in Louisville, Ky., with the official launch in mid-2012. ●
ON THE COVER: Alpha Toys’ Alpha Beasts are designed to help children learn while playing. All 26 characters have a different name that starts with their letter of the alphabet, along with a different story/personality trait that helps define the characters. Each beast has a capital letter on the front, and a lower-case letter with reversed colors on the back. For more from Alpha Toys, see page S18.
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UNKL TO UNVEIL
SPONGEBOB VINYL TOYS
Nickelodeon has signed a new licensing agreement with Toynami, Inc. and designer vinyl toy brand UNKL for a line of co-branded SpongeBob SquarePants urban vinyl toys modeled after UNKL’s UniPo figures. The first wave of figures will include SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and The Flying Dutchman, which will be available to specialty retailers this fall. Toynami unveiled working prototypes of the figures at Comic-Con International in San Diego, which was held July 21-24.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
ABC KIDS EXPO O
by Erika Graham
ne of the largest trade shows in America is packing its substantial bags and exchanging the fast-paced Las Vegas life for the rolling hills of Louisville, Ky. The new site for the 9th Annual All Baby & Child, Inc. Kids Expo (to be held September 23-26) might seem a little less lively at first glance, but Louisville is offering unique additions to this year’s edition of the exposition that will help continue to shatter attendance records. All Baby & Child, Inc. (ABC) is anticipating another sold-out show, while diverse exhibitions expand. ABC reported that the 2010 show saw 64 countries represented, and the 2011 ABC team has announced that representatives from more than 100 countries are currently registered. More than 900 exhibitors are expected to fill one million square feet of space in the single level of the Kentucky Exposition Center. ABC’s mission to present “All the Products, All the People, All in One Place” can now be taken quite literally. For the first time since 2005, all participating exhibitors will set up shop in a single contiguous exhibit hall on one floor, a key feature in the relocation to the Kentucky Exposition Center. “We are excited about this move to Louisville and what it affords the industry with regards to exhibit space,” says Larry Schur, president, All Baby & Child. “We believe that everyone in attendance will find the city and its residents to be welcoming and warm.” The center is the sixth largest meeting facility in the U.S. and a natural fit for one of the fastest growing trade shows in the region. In order to welcome the influx of people during the course of the weekend, Louisville is creating the Very Important Badge (V.I.B.) as a gift to more than 14,000 trade show attendees. The V.I.B. system allows recipients to access exclusive deals and discounts simply by showing their badge at more than 50 participating retail shops, restaurants, and attractions in the city. Also new for this year is free shuttle service between the ABC Kids Expo and its contracted hotels, which are located downtown and around the airport. Not only has the ABC Kids Expo made great strides in new offerings outside of the showroom, but the setup and exhibition of the products has also been renovated to prepare for the expected unprecedented number of exhibitors and buyers. Last year’s Expo marked the introduction of Maternity Square, which has now been redesigned in response to overwhelming interest in this portion of the trade show. Also, there will be two runway shows once again, but with additional seating to allow for greater participation from a larger media and retailer audience.
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ABC KIDS EXPO The Incubator New Product Showcase will house more than 250 new products on display in an improved location that has been custom designed to provide maximum exposure for all participants. Each of the products accepted into this showcase has been on the market for less than one year. All media and specialty retailers attending the show have been invited to take a first look at these new products on Thursday, September 22, before the general showcase opens on Friday. The Naturally Kids exhibit area is also returning with a wide selection of environmentally friendly products. Each of the products in this area is made from at least 90 percent sustainable materials or compounds. In the spirit of what Naturally Kids represents, special recycled carpeting will mark this section of the exposition center. Product development consistent with 21st century trends and technology will be showcased in the Modern Child pavilion, which has doubled in size for this year’s show. The toys and gear displayed in Modern Child meet extensive criteria involving innovative ideas combined with original and creative product design for both parent and child. During breaks from the exhibitions, bloggers and other social media users will be able to keep their audiences informed with up-to-the-minute reports at The Blog Bistro, a new installation. Attendees will be able to plug in their devices and log on while overhead displays and screens broadcast all of the Tweets during the event. The annual Industry Reception, to be held Saturday, September 24, will provide visitors with a break from all of the action with a relaxing night of food and entertainment. The Unexpected Boys will take the stage to kick off the entertainment with a tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, followed by the show’s headliner, KC and the Sunshine Band. The reception will take place in Freedom Hall, which is connected to the convention center. Check out the show’s website, www.theabcshow.com, for a complete listing of exhibitors and a city guide to Louisville’s day and night attractions. ●
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Cozying Up with a Collection of Characters
D
Key Licenses Dress Up Delta Children’s Products’ Furniture by Melissa Tinklepaugh elta Children’s Products began more than 40 years ago as a manufacturer of infant furniture. The company now produces furniture for infants and toddlers and is expanding further into the category by launching a versatile twin bed collection and obtaining the Marvel Entertainment license. Louis Shamie founded Delta because of his desire to help new parents choose products for their babies, a desire that grew from his own experiences as a first-time parent. Delta has continued evolving in the infant division since Shamie secured a patent for a crib design in 1984, after his first grandchild was born. Now, Shamie’s sons, Sam and Joseph, run the company as co-presidents, and have led the company into the toddler furniture category. For its toddler products, Delta acquired licenses for Disney, whose Cars and Princess products produce top-sellers; Nickelodeon; FisherPrice; and Sesame Street, which was signed late last year for products shipped to Kmart in August. Delta’s main retailers include Walmart, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, buybuy Baby, and Burlington Coat Factory.
Launching New Collections
New Disney•Pixar Cars- and Princess-branded room collections will launch at Toys “R” Us this fall, and will include twin beds, dressers, nightstands, computer desks, vanities for girls, and beanbag chairs. Delta conceptualized the twin bed for toddlers by including removable safety rails and reversible headboards, says Louis S. Shamie, Sam’s son and director of production and product develop-
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The Shamie Family (L to R): Louis, director of production and product development; Presidents Sam and Joseph; and Founder Louis.
ment for the toddler division. “Bringing it down in age gives the consumer the ability to skip that toddler bed because the twin bed will give that feeling of comfort and security for the child by having the safety rails,” says Shamie. As the child grows older, parents can remove the safety rails. Once the child grows out of the Disney Princess or Cars theme, parents can reverse the headboard, leaving a generic bed.
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Delta is branching into additional categories, including an arts and crafts line this summer. The line includes a table and chairs set with an activity whiteboard, launching at Michaels, and easels that will be available online and at small retailers. Delta also has plans for entering the dressup category next year with a vanity, costume organizer, handheld mirror, and tray for small accessories such as barrettes.
Delta’s Super License
Delta’s new license, Marvel Entertainment, will help the company reach a demographic slightly older than toddlers, as the company plans to focus on the Spider-Man franchise and the 2012 movie The Avengers. “We’re looking to push the age up just by a few years,” says Shamie. While the company’s toddler lines center around a toddler bed and a smaller table and chair set, Delta differentiates the Marvel-branded collections by centering them around a twin bed headboard and a desk or beanbag chair. Delta will give the Marvel-branded products a soft launch
W
Safety First
While Delta has expanded to new categories and acquired key licenses, it has stayed committed to the quality and safety of its products. Its staff is involved in the production process, testing materials for safety. A toy or baby product company can’t afford any mistakes for the safety of the child, says Shamie. Parents look for juvenile furniture that will last and that their child will be safe in. In this challenging economy, “our products have been strong and stayed strong because people are still spending money on their children,” says Shamie. “They trust the safety and quality of Delta products.” ●
A Look at Delta Children’s Products
ith key licenses in the toddler category, Delta Children’s Products has developed a wide enough range of items to fill a little tyke’s room. Besides its top Disney Cars and Princess licenses, Delta also has Toy Story, Disney Fairies, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Dora the Explorer. These characters cover toddler beds, chair desks, table and chair sets, rocking chairs, and play tables. Delta’s other licensed toddler items include toy bins, standing and desktop easels, chalkboards, dry erase memo boards, and room décor.
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at the ABC Kids Expo in September and will showcase the full line at Toy Fair in February. “We tend to look at the Marvel license as an older category, so the products that we’ll be developing will not be in the same line as the toddler products,” says Shamie.
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The company’s room-in-a-box collections consist of three or four furniture pieces sold together, such as a toddler bed, a toy box, and a tableand-chair set. “That has always been a big winner for us,” says the younger Louis Shamie. ●
Items shown, left page: Dora the Explorer Toddler Bed with Canopy, Sesame Street Chair Desk, and Sesame Street Table and Ottoman Set; right page: Disney•Pixar Cars Rocking Chair, Disney•Pixar Cars Standing Easel, and Disney Princess Art and Play Table.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
ABC KIDS EXPO 2011 FUNTASTIC LIMITED, the manufacturer and distributor of the QuickSmart brand, is introducing the new QuickSmart Scramble Bug, a selfpropelled ride-on that provides an active way for toddlers to learn balance and pushing skills. The four non-scratch wheels swivel a full 360 degrees and allow kids to play freely. The Scramble Bug weighs just six pounds and folds in three easy steps for quick and compact storage.
ALEX is showcasing My Busy Town, a large activity cube that focuses on discovery fun using colorful, interactive side and top panels. The cube includes activities such as curvy bead mazes, peek-a-boo doors, vehicle rollers, and spin-andmatch animals, which are designed to keep children ages 12 months and up entertained for hours.
BABY BLANKET MUSIC makes lullaby arrangements of classic songs. Its newest album, containing arrangements of songs by The Beatles, includes hits such as “Let It Be,” “Hey Jude,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Other artists covered by Baby Blanket Music include Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael Jackson, John Mayer, Madonna, and Simon & Garfunkel.
HEALTH SCIENCE LABS is partnering with Defenders of Wildlife, an organization devoted to protecting endangered species, for a line of environmentally friendly toys that educate children on disappearing species and their habitats. The Deluxe Animal Rescue Bath Set turns bath time into learning time with a wide array of educational coloring activities. The kit includes triangle-shaped, no-roll bath crayons; bubble bath formula; and stone paper that clings to a wall when wet.
CATE AND LEVI makes products from all-natural and reclaimed materials, including wall art, pillows, stuffed animals, and hand puppets featuring cute characters. The company is adding hats, mittens, and scarves to its mix. These winter accessories are made with reclaimed wool on the outside and soft eco fleece on the inside. The winter gear is machine washable. Available are a bunny scarf, monkey mittens, and a dog hat.
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ABC KIDS EXPO 2011
Kids can save the day when they ride in on their valiant steed. Positioned on a sturdy wooden pole with castor, the Hobby Horse is part of HABA’s Henry-Haba Strong line, which consists of armor dress-up gear, a spiked mace, a lance, a helmet, a shield, and a sword.
After being inspired by her own son, British nurse Fiona Neilson has launched WUDDLYWORLD, a brand centered around plush black-and-white characters. Dot and Dudly, shown here, are purposefully made with high contrast colors to be more enjoyable for a baby’s underdeveloped eyes. Neilson hopes to expand the line with an entire creative world of blackand-white characters.
The Doodle Roll, the product of a husband and wife’s imagination, is a travel-friendly art kit for children. The kit includes rolled doodling paper that can be easily torn off to create a canvas of any size, plus several crayons. Two sizes are available: four inches and 15 feet of paper, and six inches and 30 feet of paper.
COULSON’S CRIB, LLC manufactures and distributes Neatnik Saucer and other products that are meant to make it easier for parents to dine out with their baby. The Neatnik Saucer is a high-chair liner, placemat, and germ barrier that covers everything within a baby’s reach, and fits all standard restaurant high chairs. The Saucer also fits some boosters and chairs that are made for home use. New additions include a flexible rim to catch spills, suction cups on the underside of the placemat for stability, and straps to secure toys, pacifiers, and cups with handles. Neatnik Saucer is designed to fold easily into a small bag.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
The Baby’s Dreamland Soothing Projector, created by WINFAT’s WINFUN division, combines different lights and melodies to create soothing lullabies and sound effects to help an infant fall asleep. The projector can be set between 10 and 20 minutes to match a range of sleeping patterns. It also has three mode selections— melodies, instruments, or lights— and can be easily attached to a crib.
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LUCA AND COMPANY’s FunPod comes from the UK and is a kitchen safety stand for children up to 6 years old. The stand lets toddlers learn about and view cooking while still being safe. Made of a durable, high-quality MDF, the stand is laminated for easy cleaning. The FunPod is 13.78 inches wide. The footplate is slightly bigger at 20.47 inches. The FunPod fits under most kitchen countertops.
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THE PUPPET COMPANY introduces a new Sockette puppet. The new puppet body is striped with pink and yellow and has large red lips. It also has yellow fuzzy antennas and large eyes. The knitted puppets have large movable mouths with squeaker tongues and crazy hair. The puppets make it easy for any kid (or kid at heart) to put on a show.
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The Piggyback Rider is a standing rider that is worn like a backpack and features a shoulder-mounted foot bar. It also has four grip handles for the child to hold and a safety harness. The Rider, manufactured by FULL SAIL INTERNATIONAL, LLC, weighs less than three pounds. The product is made with high-quality climbing buckles, webbing, and a tempered aluminum bar, and folds into a multipurpose bag/mudflap.
SPECIALTY TOYS & GIFTS
CLOUD B unveils Snug Rugs, a soft padded play area rug that comes in an animal-shaped design. The character head serves as a built-in pillow, and the play area is great for tummy time. The rugs measure 30 inches in diameter, are machine washable, and can be rolled up to be taken anywhere. The rugs are available in giraffe, ladybug, turtle, and sheep designs. GREEN TOYS introduces the Green Toys School Bus. The classic yellow bus is made in the U.S. from 100 percent recycled plastic milk containers. The toy contains no metal axles, external coatings, BPA, PVC, or phthalates, making it truly eco-friendly. The packaging is made using only recycled and recyclable materials.
OGOSPORT introduces the OgoBild POD, a toy that is part play-fort and part giant construction toy. It comes with 12 bouncy rubber balls, 12 sockets, and 30 interchangeable 24-inch connector tubes that allow children to build forts, domes, balls, and more. The connectors stay in place so their creations can be bounced or rolled around, providing hours of creative building fun.
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ECOPIGGY will showcase its line of natural pacifiers. The nude colored Ecopacifier is made of 100 percent natural rubber and is BPA- , PVC-, phthalate-, and paraben-free.
POLAR GEAR BABY introduces the Go Anywhere Booster Seat, the only ASTM-compliant booster seat on the market, according to the company. The seat has a five-point harness, which holds a baby securely upright, and also has three sets of straps that attach to the chair. The seat can easily be packed away, making it travel-friendly. The seat, designed in a chocolate brown espresso color with blue circles, is for children 12 months and up or kids up to 40 pounds. The new BuckleyPanda from BUCKLEYBOO has a front filled with colorful buckles for children to practice pattern matching and dexterity. The stuffed toy is designed to help kids ages 18 months to 4 years learn developmental skills, including matching, buckling, and unbuckling. The BuckleyPanda is available in both 12 inches and 17 inches. Lion, monkey, cat, dog, and bunny versions are also available.
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ABC KIDS EXPO 2011 MOD MOM FURNITURE introduces the Maude Toy Box with Book Cubby, which is the same size as the company’s previously introduced Owyn Toy Box. The lid easily lifts off to reveal a large bin for storing toys. The toy box also features an open-air book cubby on the side of the box, and is made from eco-friendly birch plywood. The painted interior book cubby is made to match the lid cover. Winnie the Pooh is making a comeback with the recent release of a new animated film and an 11–inch organic plush line, manufactured by MIYIM. These soft plush toys have embroidered details, muted colors, and a chime to entertain and soothe. They are made from certified organic cotton and are colored with non-toxic, low-eco-impact dyes, which contain no heavy metals. The line also includes Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet.
To make mealtime easier, MUNCHKIN’s Easy Squeezy Spoon holds a four-ounce jar of baby food in its clear handle, and locks to prevent the food from spilling. The Silicone Feeding Set includes a silicone spoon and a bowl that are safe on children’s gums. The green dish is microwave-safe and the spoon has the word “love” stamped on it.
EDUSHAPE introduces a puppet for parents to use with their baby. Place a hand into Puppet Pal’s head and arms to bring the puppet to life. A multi-page large picture book is attached to the front of the puppet, with a teether incorporated into the front page corner. Puppet Pal’s legs have loose shapes on them, with one foot that squeaks and one that jingles. The puppet easily attaches to a crib, car seat, or stroller.
ALPHA TOYS is releasing a set of 26 books that helps teach children the alphabet. The Alphabeasts Alphabet Books depict the various beasts in action and show youngsters a series of words for each letter. The books come packaged in a carrying box.
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PIGGY WIGGIES have unique personalities and come with their own backstory. Each Piggy Wiggie is handmade with big ears and a button nose, and no two are exactly the same. Santa Snorz, the latest addition to the Piggy Wiggie family, is handmade from a pair of socks. Mini Piggy Wiggie key chains are also available. Keep children entertained in the car while eliminating messy spills and lost toys with The Snack & Play Travel Tray, by STAR KIDS PRODUCTS. The tray fits any child seat, car seat, booster, or stroller, and provides a safe, bordered surface for a child to play and eat on. It also comes complete with attached elastic mesh side pockets for easy storage of additional toys and snacks within the child’s reach. BEE MINOR’s Time to Play Baby... A Year of Baby Classes in a Box includes an interactive instructional DVD and 10 toys. There are more than 70 guided interactive activities for a baby and parent to do together in addition to six play sessions, which aim to promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. The kit offers more than 25 songs and 90 minutes of age-appropriate developmental play, and is designed to be an alternative to outside “Mommy and Baby” classes, bringing the experience into one’s own home. CHICCO’s D@nce Walker features a detachable musical play tray connected to the walker that invites the child to experiment with melody and rhythm. The walker includes an MP3 connection for a customizable selection of tunes, and is also equipped with six brake pads for an optional stationary setting. Three adjustable height settings are built in, the frame folds easily for compact storage, and the inner pad is removable and washable.
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GAME INVENTORS:
No Longer an Untapped Resource
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by Mary Couzin, president and founder, Chicago Toy and Game Group oys and games are crucial to a child’s development. Studies support this assertion, and we all have memories of a favorite toy or game that we played with as a child. I have even heard from some people that their playthings actually influenced their chosen occupation. But, as important as our playthings are, they are forced to compete for the same entertainment dollars as video games, consumer electronics, movies, books, music, and more. I have been advocating using toy and game inventors to raise the profile of our products and our industry. Authors, musicians, sports figures, and even chefs are celebrities. Why shouldn’t our inventors be just as well known? Attaching a person to a product can help increase awareness and drive more sales. The Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTAG) has long promoted inventors. In 2004, John Spinello, the inventor of Operation, was introduced by Tim Walsh, another game designer, in his keynote address. Fair attendees were very excited about the chance to meet Spinello and hear his story. There were long lines of people waiting for a signed copy of Spinello’s game. Since then, inventor signings have become an important part of the ChiTAG experience, and we highlight more and more inventors each year. In 2009, Reuben Klamer, inventor of The Game of Life, attended Hasbro’s booth, and the line waiting to meet him stretched around the booth and out the door. This year, courtesy of Top Trumps, ChiTAG (to be held November 19-20) will hand out a collectible Inventor Deck to attendees for autographs at the fair. Other shows, such as ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy, are also recognizing the value of promoting inventors. There were many inventors in booths at ASTRA’s recent show in Anaheim, Calif., and more
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manufacturers and retailers are using inventors in their promotions. Promoting our inventors is a win-win situation that has gone untapped for too long. I’ve asked some inventors to share their public and industry promotional experiences:
Peggy Brown—Outburst Jr., Mad Gab, Telephone Tag, Q-bitz, and much more:
“I’ve made appearances at a number of game companies’ booths at ChiTAG to meet kids and families. There are a lot of ‘A-ha!’ moments when people realize their playthings come from a real person, and not some anonymous factory. Then they immediately want to buy a game and have me sign it. Putting a face behind a game or a toy, much like an author is associated with a book, creates a human connection with the consumer.”
Joyce Johnson—Cartoon It!:
“Participating in ThinkFun’s ‘Beat the Inventor at Her Game’ event gave retailers a one-on-one experience with me, the inventor, which resulted in orders being placed during ASTRA. Sales reps, retailers, and ThinkFun seemed equally pleased with the experience.”
Bruce Lund—Fireball Island, Quack Shot, Dizzy Drier, Doggie Doo:
“I believe that putting a face and a story to our inventions definitely helps to create awareness and higher visibility in the industry, and this may translate into increased sales. But what’s even better is that exposure means that more people are coming to us and wanting to work with us and license more products! When our website and social media pages reach top rankings in Google searches for many of the products we have designed, we know the connection is being made to the inventor behind the toy or game. That definitely seems to create momentum in the market, and more business for us in the long run.”
Colleen McCarthy Evans—What She Said:
“We inventors fall in love with our games. They are our babies, and this passion is infectious. In the Shains booth at ASTRA, the buyers re-
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ally enjoyed hearing about tween girls play-testing my game, What She Said. Anecdotal stories that speak to the heart of a game’s essence and impact, whatever it might be, make an impression—and inventors can tell these stories like no one else.”
Mary Jo Reutter—Laundry Jumble, Flip-ALongs, Sumo Ham Slam:
“I have a shared goal with my publishers: to get my games sold. I see demonstrating games at a show as an opportunity to be a team player. It’s invigorating to participate in the development process, going from concept to the sale of the final product. With the opportunity to demonstrate a game or two, store owners will have a much easier time selling to their customers. These buyers will have a story to pass on about playing the game with the inventor and the publisher.”
Leslie Scott—Jenga:
“Shortly after I launched Jenga at the 1982 London Toy Fair, Harrods decided to risk stocking this totally unknown game on one condition: I was to demonstrate Jenga in-store for four weeks in the run up to Christmas. I sold hundreds of games that month. Thirty years later, I still meet people who have shared to friends how they bought one of the very first sets of Jenga from the woman who invented the game. Harrods, ahead of its time, recognized that we love to know about the people that create the games we love to play.”
Kim Vandenbroucke—Scattergories Categories:
“I was lucky enough to be a guest on The Late Live Show at Second City in Chicago, and I played my game, Scattergories Categories, with the host, Joe Kwaczala, and his sidekick, Joe McAdam. Standing up and saying, ‘I invented this’ humanized the product; it was no longer a faceless game in a box by a company the consumer may or may not recognize. It was me, holding up my game, sharing its story, and, I hope, enticing a couple more people to buy it. And what person doesn’t want to be able to say ‘I met the inventor of this game’ to their friends while playing it? Like great actors, musicians, and authors, inventors are pretty cool.”
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Tim Walsh—Blurt!:
“Educational Insights really embraces inventors. I designed and licensed the game Blurt! to the company, and Educational Insights put my photo on the back of the game box and featured me (along with other inventors with whom they work) in its product catalog. They understand the power of a story. I have hosted a Live Blurt Game Show in venues all around the country, and Educational Insights has supported that tour.” Many in our industry may not see our inventors as celebrities (yet), but I’ll never forget when actor John Ratzenberger (Cheers, Dancing with the Stars, Made in America, Pixar movies) made his way through the crowd at last year’s Toy and Game Inventor of the Year Awards (TAGIEs) to ask Eddie Goldfarb to autograph a set of Goldfarb’s Chattering Teeth product. That was just one of the magical moments that evening. The hobby industry has long used inventors as a draw to their conventions. In Europe, games are purchased based on designers the way Americans buy John Grisham books. I suggest making inventors promotional partners. Put their stories and their faces on products. Use their stories in public relations and marketing initiatives. Host inventor signings in stores. Inventors want their products to succeed as much as retailers and manufacturers do, so who better to partner with than a stakeholder in the success of your business? ● Mary Couzin is president and founder of the Chicago Toy and Game Group, which is composed of the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (www.chitag.com); the Toy and Game Inventor/Industry Conference (www.tandgcon.con); the Social Media at Play Conference (www.tandgcon.com); the Inventor Summit; the Toy and Game Inventor of the Year Awards (www.tagieawards.com); Games for Educators (www.g4ed.co), in partnership with Live Oak Games; and DiscoverGames.com. She is passionate about promoting play, as well as toy and game inventors.
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The new deluxe edition of FAMILYTIMEFUN’s Racers Ready Game includes more challenges inside the big red whistle. For ages 8 and up, Racers Ready Game Deluxe Edition features 64 active family challenges and includes an electronic timer with a magnet and stand. Just like the standard version, the game tests a family’s coordination and teamwork by using household items in unique ways. For instance, King Tong challenges a player to catch a bounced ball with kitchen tongs. The player with the most points after five challenges wins.
The first thing kids must do to solve SMART/TANGOES USA’s Roadblock game is to choose one of the 60 brain-building challenges. After a challenge has been selected, kids position the “stolen red car” and building pieces on the game board to match the starting layout on the card. Then, they must carefully position the six police car pieces on the board to block in the stolen car so it cannot escape. There is only one solution for each challenge. The game is targeted to kids ages 7 and up.
SCHYLLING recently acquired the exclusive rights for all of SWINGSET PRESS’s tween girl sleepover games in the U.S. and Canada, including Dance Maker. In the game, kids have a “danceover” party where they choreograph and perform creative dances. Players use the Dance Maker Spinner to choose moves and then place the moves all around the room. Once the dance layout is set, it’s time to practice, perform, and applaud. The game includes one Dance Maker Spinner, three Floor Pattern cards, 36 Dance In Place cards, 24 Here to There cards, and 12 Final Spotlight cards.
Do you have the fastest, most accurate hand? In BLUE ORANGE GAMES’ Trigger, players answer “True” or “False” to various statements by slapping their right hand (true) or their left hand (false) on cards. Some statements need a quick observation (“At least two players are wearing shoes with no laces.”), some statements need more thought (“If I am your mother’s brother, then I am your aunt.”), and others are obvious (“A volleyball is oval.”). But in the rush to be the first to answer, players may choose the wrong answer or use the wrong hand, indicating a wrong answer. Answer correctly and collect the card. Answer incorrectly and lose a card. The player with the most cards wins.
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Obstacles is a new game from EEBOO that takes players on a path filled with hazards and barriers. Players use their collective cleverness to overcome the obstacles, armed with the unlikely tools they are dealt, imagination, and some silliness. Creative cooperation is needed to come up with solutions to get them home together.
Oversight is a fast-paced abstract strategy game that exercises minds. The four-in-a-row challenge, by GRIDDLY GAMES, is set on a board of movable squares. Two to four players compete to be the first to get four tokens in a row. On each player’s turn, he or she can place a token on the board or shift an entire row or column of moveable squares over by one space. The rules are simple, but the game can get complicated if players learn from their mistakes and anticipate their opponents’ moves. The game, for ages 7 and up, includes the game board, 34 tile squares, 48 playing tokens, and instructions in English, French, German, and Spanish. TWISTERZ TOYS are simple yet engaging non-electronic games that educate and entertain young children. The youngest of children can explore letter sounds with parents, and preschoolers can be more independent, developing phonemic awareness, fine motor skills, problemsolving skills, and hand-eye coordination. The Alphabet Matcher challenges children to choose a letter and find the five images that begin with that letter. Select “F” and kids find the fish, foot, frog, flower, and flag. The product includes three extra sets of rings, covering 24 letters and 120 images, plus an answer guide. Other products include the WordGirl Word Builder and the Clifford Category Matcher.
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Did you know that the ladybug is Delaware’s official state bug? Or that the graham cracker was invented in Kansas? BAKER & TAYLOR’s Fun Facts Puzzle: U.S.A. teaches kids these interesting tidbits and more, all about America’s 50 states. From Hollywood in California, to the alligators of Florida, to the lighthouses of Maine, inquisitive kids can discover many of our nation’s treasures. The puzzle’s colorful double-sided pieces, illustrated by Mattia Cerato, create the oversized floor puzzle. The pieces come in a sturdy box for storage.
Based on the hit website AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com, ALL THINGS EQUAL is releasing Awkward Family Photos, a new party game that celebrates the odd side of families. Players flip over the photo cards—featuring uncomfortable moments during vacations, weddings, and holidays—and read aloud the open-ended questions. If players know one another well enough they may impress, but hilarious answers may guarantee a night of awkwardness. The game, for four to six players ages teen to adult, also includes a 20sided die and a double-sided, oversized game board.
Dabble is a fast-thinking word game that doesn’t use a game board. The object of the game, by INI, LLC, is to be the first player to score 100 points by spelling five words (a two-letter word, a three-letter word, a four-letter word, a five-letter word, and a six-letter word) before your opponent. Tiles left unused score points for the other side. The game includes 142 lettered and point tiles (plus six additional tiles for Spanish); four five-tier, stadiumstyle racks; a sand timer; and rules of play in English and Spanish.
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For players ages 5 and up, BANANAGRAMS, LLC has released Fruitominoes, a fresh and fruity twist on dominoes. The game includes 28 colorful and crafted dominoes in a compact pouch. Instead of connecting the dots, players connect the fruit. The company has also debuted Zip-It, a two-player crossword race that can be played anytime, and in as little as 20 seconds. The game also comes in a compact pouch with scoring zippers.
New from WIGGLES 3D is Ding!, a family card game for three to eight players that combines trick-taking, card-trumping, and the card strategies of draw poker. Players race around the game board taking tricks or playing a Ding!, a special move that propels you forward while sending opponents backwards. Players start with five cards and exchange up to three of them for new cards, aiming to spell “Ding” or build a better tricktaking hand. Players must take at least one trick a hand or move backwards. They can opt out of any hand, but “if you aren’t in, you can’t win.” Ding!, for players ages 8 and up, includes 63 cards, featuring a mix of letter, number, and wild cards; eight In/Out tokens; eight game pawns; and a game board.
TALICOR’s new board game brings family and friends together to play in a noncompetitive way. LifeStories is a storytelling game, perfect for family gatherings, rekindling friendships, or renewing histories. Players advance through the game by answering questions such as “Where would you live if you could live anywhere?” While playing the game, family and friends talk and share opinions as they recall memories and reveal hopes and dreams. LifeStories, for two to eight players ages 6 and up, encourages self-expression, affirmation, creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork.
B. DAZZLE, INC.’s newest Scramble Squares brain teaser puzzle celebrates the San Marga Iraivan Temple being constructed at the foot of an extinct volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. The temple’s construction started in 1975 and is scheduled for completion in 2017. The unique whitegranite edifice is being built with hand-carved stones from south central India, and will contain the world’s largest six-sided crystal, carved pillars, a stone bell, golden doors, and more. No electric tools have been allowed. The object of the Scramble Squares puzzle game is to arrange the nine colorfully illustrated four-inch by four-inch square pieces into a 12-inch square so that the graphics on the pieces’ edges match perfectly to form completed pictures in every direction. Also new from the company is a Scramble Squares puzzle celebrating Ladybugs. Each puzzle package includes a panel of facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer.
San Marga Iraivan Temple
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THE PUZZLE POD is a storage solution for puzzle and game pieces, scrapbook items, and anything that comes with tiny objects. The product is a vinyl transparent envelope that adheres to the back of objects, including puzzles or game boards. Users place the components in the clear pouch and safely secure it by closing the flap. Square Shooters, by HEARTLAND CONSUMER PRODUCTS, takes your favorite card games and puts them on dice. The game’s patented nine dice feature a full deck of 54 playing card faces printed on the sides. A dice roll can achieve all common poker hands, including two pair, four-of-a-kind, straights, flushes, full houses, and more. Players can use the dice to play variations of most card games. In the feature game, players choose a game card that shows an example of a popular card hand. Then, players have three rolls of the dice to match the hand. Chips are won for matching the exact hand shown or even the type of hand, and “shootout” cards can change everything. J. BELL-JONES, LLC is introducing the updated, second edition of The County Fair Game, which simulates a day at the fair. Players begin with $85 to spend on concession treats, souvenirs, rides, animals, or show tickets, and move through the “fairground” to win as many ribbons and points as possible. Post Time spaces send players to the Grandstand for a harness race around the track, and there are four midway games in which animal cards can be won. There are also three feature buildings with prizes and three horse rings. The game’s vocabulary includes everything from elderberry jelly to Katahdin sheep.
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The ENI PUZZLE, available in a variety of versions, is a math puzzle without numbers that teaches sequencing and pattern recognition. In the early stages of using the puzzle, kids try to manipulate the empty spaces, learning simple pattern recognition. As the puzzle advances, and the empty space becomes more easily accounted for, the user can be more creative. The more tiles in the puzzle, the greater the opportunity to create complex designs with the empty space. The puzzle has multiple solutions. The Eni Puzzle is available in Braille, mini, mini with numbers, and a key chain.
Braille version
With more than two million games sold in Europe, Jungle Speed, developed by ASMODEE, is coming to America. The fast-paced game challenges players to think quickly and have speedy reflexes. Players look for identical cards (by symbol and not color) and when a match is found the two players who flipped over the cards make a grab for the totem pole that is in the middle. The fastest player then gets to dump off all their cards onto their unfortunate adversary. Certain symbols might trick players because they look almost identical, and just when players think they’ve mastered a strategy, one of three special cards can temporarily change the rules. The game includes a cloth bag, 80 cards, one totem, and one rulebook. For younger children, the 3D Shape Sorter Puzzles from RUBBABU offer tactile stimulation. Each themed puzzle consists of a one-inch thick, soft foam base. The Animal Shapes puzzle includes nine animals and the Geometrical Shapes puzzle features 15 shapes. Children can pick up the puzzle pieces, examine, play with, and learn about them, and then put them back into the base. The base and puzzle pieces are squishy and have a velvety surface.
Geometrical Shapes puzzle
For more games and puzzles, turn to page 20.
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All Dolled Up From the pages of the popular book, Pinkalicious, by Victoria Kahn, comes the newest Pinkalicious cloth doll from MADAME ALEXANDER, named Pinkatitis. After eating too many pink cupcakes, Pinkalicious turns completely pink and is diagnosed with Pinkatitis. Pinkatitis Cloth is 14 inches in size and has a printed face. Her yarn pigtails and bangs are two-tone pink, her dress is pink (with a white, dotted sparkle sheer layer), and her wand is trimmed with both soft and hot pink ribbon. Pinkatitis also comes with a silver lamé crown. Attached magenta shoes complete Pinkatitis’ “in the pink” look.
BERJUAN TOYS is bringing its Breast Milk Baby doll to the U.S. The doll simulates the breast-feeding process by including a halter-top that a young girl can put on like a vest. When the doll’s mouth is put near the embedded sensors in the vest, the doll simulates nursing sounds and motions.
MELISSA & DOUG is releasing Lindsay, a 14-inch bride doll. Lindsay’s wedding dress features sheer tulle overlay on a satin-style skirt and a ribbon-like waistband. She comes with a bouquet of roses and slippers, and her hair is styled in a formal wedding up-do. The doll has eyes that open and close. In addition, her arms and legs are moveable so children can pose her for wedding pictures. LILLIPUTIENS is in a classic fairy tale state of mind with the release of two puppet dolls based on the tales of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. The Reversible Red Riding Hood Puppet transforms into Granny, The Big Bad Wolf, and Little Red Riding Hood. On the colorful dress of Little Red Riding Hood, children can trace the heroine’s path in the woods, which can help them act out the story line.
COROLLE introduces Bebe Amour to its Les Classiques Collection. Bebe Amour is 20 inches tall, the size of an actual 3-month-old baby. The doll is fashioned in a purple jumper, striped coordinated leggings, a white floral-patterned top, and a knitted white cap. The doll’s outfit is based on current French fashions, and is intended for ages 3 and up.
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DANDELION adds the Brunette Baby Doll to its collection of organic and eco-friendly toys. The soft eight-inch doll has ponytails designed for tugging and teething. The stitched features and rattle inside make it a perfect first doll for a baby. Brunette Baby Doll wears a pink dress with a yellow flower design. The doll is made with organic cotton velour and has soft corn fiber stuffing.
TERRI LEE is celebrating its 65th anniversary with the release of the Terri Lee Winter Wonderland doll. This doll is ready for winter with a houndstooth coat, faux fur hat, and red corduroy dress. The Winter Wonderland doll also wears tights and shiny black shoes. Her coat is adorned with gold buttons. Terri Lee offers four other 15-inch dolls in different seasonal themes.
MANHATTAN TOY’s PJ Tots are cute and cuddly collectible dolls. Each small doll has its own colorful themed pajamas that match its personal sleeping bag. There are five PJ Tots available: Lola Ladybug, Bailey Beary, Bonnie Bunny, Kylee Kitty, and Franny Froggie. CHARISMA BRANDS introduces the Adora Nursery Time Babies line. These baby dolls are made of baby powder-scented vinyl, and are crafted in a soft doeskin-weighted body for a realistic feel. The dolls are handsculpted and designed so the baby can suck his or her thumb. The dolls are dressed in a drawstring one-piece nursery outfit and feature sculpted hair and hand-applied eyelashes. To complement its Princess Catherine, The Royal Wedding bride doll, Charisma’s Paradise Galleries division introduces Prince William, the Royal Wedding portrait doll. The 18-inch doll is dressed in the uniform of the Irish Guards, an excact replica of what the prince wore on his wedding day. The prince doll is crafted in exclusive Caressalyn vinyl and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a Collector’s box.
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JC TOYS unveils Lil’ Cutesies, a line of vinyl, collectible 8.5-inch baby dolls. Each doll is dressed in a different outfit and has a unique facial expression. Mimi, Bibi, and Lulu are dressed in either a pink play outfit or pink pajamas. The dolls also come with a hair accessory, either a bow or a sleep cap. Lil’ Cutesies can be bought separately or in a pack of three. KATJAN introduces a line of Kathy and Janet Best Pals dolls with exclusive Jim Shore-designed dresses. Each soft rag doll measures 16 inches high and features embroidered facial features and yarn hair. The dresses have a quilted skirt and embroidery details. Each doll comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity and includes a music CD with songs sung by Kathy and Janet Lennon. CHARISMA BRANDS introduces 18-inch play and display dolls that are dressed in Girl Scout-branded attire. The line features five dolls in a range of ethnicities. The collection includes replica uniforms that mirror the uniforms of Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior girls, and more casual Girl Scout attire, as well. The dolls are made with collector quality vinyl and feature lifelike hair.
For more dolls, turn to page 28.
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WHAT’S NEW The StinkyKids characters will soon appear on bikes by CYCLE FORCE GROUP. The bikes come in 12-inch, 16-inch, and 20-inch sizes for both boys and girls. The girls’ pink/magenta bike has a seat for taking a favorite StinkyKid doll along for a ride. The green/blue boys’ bike has a backpack in the front where a StinkyKid doll can be placed as well. The bikes also come with StinkyKids character decals, enabling children to truly make the bike their own. In addition to the decals included with the bike, more decals are available for purchase, allowing the bike’s décor to change with the child’s style. YOMEGA’s Kendama Star Catch packs hours of addictive play into a small, handheld device—no batteries required. Based on a Japanese game, the Kendama Star Catch requires players to catch a ball on each of its three cupped surfaces in sequential order. Advanced gamers can try to land the ball on the spiked end of the hammer-like object for an extra challenge. Yomega’s professional wood model of the Kendama Star Catch will be available this fall.
BRAVERY IN A BOTTLE, developed by Nancy Zazzaro, is a new line of 100 percent, allnatural children’s aromatherapy sprays meant to calm common childhood problems and fears, including doctors, dentists, haircuts, the dark, monsters, storms, homesickness, and separation anxiety. The sprays are multifunctional and can be used as hand sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and insect repellents. They are made up of purified water, essential oils, and citric acid (a natural preservative). The sprays, available in Courage Concoction, Monster Vapor, Storm Squasher, and Feeling Campy, come with a graphic and a rhyming story on the tag. The company also makes matching apparel to accompany the sprays.
SAFARI, LTD. is introducing the Krystal Blue Dragon to the company’s figurine line. The translucent dragon looks like it is crafted in glass but is actually made of durable plastic. A metallic crest runs along the dragon’s back for a mythical feel. The dragon is painted by hand and meets all children’s safety requirements. The 7.75-inch by 3.75-inch figure comes with educational information in five languages. Safari, Ltd. is a maker of fine figurines ranging in a variety of animal and people genres.
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MEDIA CENTER
DOUBLE FINE PRODUCTIONS has developed Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, a storybook adventure video game for the Kinect for Xbox 360. The game, published by WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, can be played with one or two players and lets fans join beloved Sesame Street characters—including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar, and Grover— plus new characters. Children enter the Once Upon a Monster storybook and help their new monster friends solve their problems chapter by chapter, page by page. The game is designed for drop-in and drop-out cooperative game play. Kids can also participate in other activities, such as flying, playing instruments, and running obstacle courses.
Children’s music label MUSIC FOR LITTLE PEOPLE is releasing its fifth DVD, Toddler Favorites: The Movie, inspired by the label’s 1998 album, Toddler Favorites. At a perfect length for kids, the sing, learn, and dance-along DVD runs 32 minutes long. Hosted by Little Teapot and Teeny Tea Cup, the film features a cast of toddlers singing along to the songs, and asks for viewer participation. Songs on the DVD include “Alphabet Song” (performed in different genres, from reggae to rap), “I’m a Little Teapot,” “Wheels on the Bus,” “1-2, Buckle My Shoe,” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” among others.
Will Chicken Joe remember that today is his birthday before the day ends? The newest book-and-CD release from THE SECRET MOUNTAIN, Chicken Joe Forgets Something Important, follows Chicken Joe (who is a cat that sleeps in the hen house) on his birthday. All of his friends know that today is his special day. Even Chicken Joe knows today is a special day, but he can’t seem to remember why. The new title is the sequel to the My Name is Chicken Joe book and CD, also by acoustic/folk/rock duo Trout Fishing in America. The CD includes 11 songs, including “Rock and Roll Roosters,” “16 or 17 Hours of Sleep,” and “Hello, My Chicken Thinks He’s a Dog.”
KIDS CAN PRESS new title My Name is Elizabeth!, written by Annika Dunklee, follows Elizabeth, who longs for people to call her by her full first name—yep, all nine letters. She despises when people shorten her name to Lizzy or Beth. And why shouldn’t she? After all she has a queen named after her! She stays silent until one day she changes things once and for all. Matthew Forsythe illustrates the book in two-toned images, making it an easy read for children ages 3 to 7, and reflecting the story’s humorous style.
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Keep On, My Keepon Research Robot Turned Toy Rocks into Retail
K
eepon, a yellow research robot, was first designed by Dr. Hideki Kozima in 2004 in Japan as a minimalist character to interact with children with autism. Later, Dr. Marek Michalowski of Carnegie Mellon University began working with Kozima and Keepon, installing beat sensors for his own research on the importance of rhythm in social interaction—and Keepon Pro was born. Each Keepon Pro, custom built from research-grade components, costs tens of thousands of dollars. And although several have been sold to universities and companies like Disney, Drs. Kozima and Michalowski had a dream of distributing them more widely. Then someone turned their camera on. On March 27, 2007, Michalowski uploaded a video of Keepon Pro dancing to Spoon’s “I Turn My Camera On.” Soon enough, Keepon was an Internet hit. To date, that single video of Keepon dancing has registered more than 2.6 million views on YouTube. Across the Atlantic Ocean, Richard North, CEO of UKbased Wow! Stuff, was looking for a toy that would propel a small company into the crowd of big-time toymakers. Instead of focusing on research data, which North felt would put them at a disadvantage against bigger firms, Wow! Stuff adopted an “outside-in” strategy of going straight to inventors all over the world, and tracking the popularity of their products through social media. This approach led Wow! Stuff to Keepon at the point Dr. Michalowski, working under the company name BeatBots, was looking to bring the character to store shelves. North saw the robot in action and the positive reaction on YouTube, and knew his team had found a winner. Though Michalowski had been approached by major toy companies previously to create a mass-market toy version, he and Kozima had particular goals for Keepon’s development. Wow! Stuff’s passion and enthusiasm for Keepon and furthering its role in autism research sealed the deal. Wow! Stuff got the contract to build the toys—with Drs. Kozima and Michalowski’s input. The toy, My Keepon, is designed for a general audience rather than for therapy, but it has retained the distinct look,
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movements, and interactivity of its predecessor. My Keepon sits atop a performance stage and offers “dance” and “touch” modes of play. In dance mode, My Keepon uses the microphone in its nose to detect the music being played (or any rhythm being generated) and dances in sync with the rhythm and beat. “With some toys—like dancing flowers—where they appear to bounce to music, they bounce exactly the same way regardless of what music you put on,” says North. “They do two beats forward, one beat to the side, in a nice, poetic rhythm, but they won’t dance any different than that, because it’s scripted.” My Keepon is different. “It genuinely senses changes in the music,” says North. “It’s not pre-programmed. My Keepon will match the beat, tempo, dynamic range, and amplitude. Even if you listen to the exact same music, it’ll rarely, if ever, dance the same way again.” In touch mode, My Keepon responds to poking, patting, squeezing, or tickling by looking around, showing its mood, and making expressive sounds. By interacting with My Keepon, you can discover what makes it inquisitive, annoyed, sleepy, sad, giggly, or content. My Keepon will be released November 1, exclusively at Toys “R” Us stores in the U.S. A portion of the profit from the sale of each My Keepon, which will retail for under $50, will subsidize the cost of creating research-grade Keepon Pro robots that will be donated to therapists and researchers. Learn more by visiting MyKeepon.com. ■
JULY/AUGUST 2011
The Voice Reaching Both Trade and Consumers
CONTACT: LAURIE SCHACHT OR JONATHAN SAMET ADVENTURE PUBLISHING GROUP 307 7TH AVENUE, SUITE 1601 NEW YORK, NY 10001 TEL: 212-575-4510 FAX: 212-575-4521 WWW.ADVENTUREPUB.COM
International Toy News
China Toy Expo 2011 Welcomes International Attendees
by the editorial staff of Toy & Hobby, China’s ITMA member magazine
T
he China Toy & Juvenile Products Association’s 10th International Trade Fair for Toys & Hobby Articles will be held in Shanghai New International Expo Center October 12-14. China Toy Expo (CTE) 2011 remains the largest event of its kind in the Chinese mainland. It is China’s preeminent trade event for buyers who are seeking to source directly from toy factories in China and elsewhere in Asia. CTE will be held concurrently with the China International Baby Carrier & Baby Articles Fair and China International Licensing Show, capitalizing on the synergy of the three industries and offering visitors a wide range of sourcing opportunities in toys, hobby, baby products, and licensing. In 2010, CTE grew 23 percent with 2,108 booths and 43,500 square meters of exhibition space. In 2011, CTE will offer 3,000 booths in 60,000 square meters of space. CTE allows buyers to meet with Chinese factories directly. In 2011, more than 86 percent of Chinese exhibitors will represent factories from more than 20 centralized production regions. Buyers will be able to communicate with the majority of leading toy manufacturers in each product category participating at the Expo, as well as many medium-sized manufacturers. There is also an opportuity to get to know many new exhibitors. No matter where a buyer is from, they can connect with the appropriate suppliers to suit their needs. The Star Supplier program is a highlight of CTE. With growing awareness of toy safety, buyers are looking for exhibitors with recognized quality standards. To assist international buyers find the right suppliers for their products, China Toy & Juvenile Products Association (CTA) has launched the Toy Supplier Assessment Service. The star ranking exportready suppliers are evaluated on their actual business performance. Buyers will be able to identify these reliable suppliers by looking for the Star Supplier logo at the show. More information about this initiative is available at www.toys-yourlinktochina.org. The group pavilions from various production regions are a distinctive spotlight of CTE. In 2011, 10 group pavilions represented the major production regions in China, including wooden toys, plush, playground equipment, plastic and electronic toys, and hobby models. Each pavilion showcases the achievements of products that are “made in China” and ensures that buyers can find everything they need in one place.
China Kids Expo—More Rewarding Opportunities A spin-off from the China Toy Expo, the China Baby Carrier & Baby Articles Fair (China Kids Expo) responds to growing demand worldwide for quality baby products. With 10 years of development, China Kids Expo is the only international trade fair on the Chinese mainland whose exhibitors are actu-
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ally factories. This year, China Kids Expo will present buyers with a wide product selection, including baby strollers, car seats, toys, clothing, feeding products, furniture, and home accessories. There are more export-ready suppliers who produce quality and reliable products at reasonable price points to meet the diverse sourcing needs of all buying professionals. For more information, visit www.china-toy-expo.com and www.china-kids-expo.com. â–
International Toy News
Tocatì Ninth International Festival of Street Games Tòca-a-tì: the festival takes its name from the Veronese dialect voice which means “it’s your turn.”
S
pectacular traditional games, coming from various countries in the world and from all Italian regions, will be at the heart of the ninth edition of the Tocatì International Street Games Festival, which will be held September 23-25. Tocatì is organized by the Associazione Giochi Antichi with the collaboration and the support of the Municipality of Verona—Culture Department. Every year, groups of passionate players come to Verona to share customs and traditions from their region, together with the ancestral games of their homeland. Players will be involved in approximately 50 games taking place on the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and vehicles will not be allowed to circulate in the city center for three days. Every Italian region will be represented with its traditional games to remember the 150th National Unity anniversary. Among the international games are the world-renowned Brazilian art form Capoeira, the martial art Kabubu (DemoAt Tocatì: cratic Republic of Congo), El Matreg (an Algerian art form where long sticks are used —Games will be played eight to fight), Rope Skipping (a Taiwanese acrobatic rope skipping), Zurkhaneh (an Iranhours a day as a show for the ian rite with Persian roots), Ulama de Cadera (a Mexican ball game handed down public. The public will be able to from the Aztecs), the Varpa (a Swedish game played with a flying tool), and La Malha participate in the games and (Portuguese skittles). learn more about traditional Unlike previous editions, in which there was only one guest of honor (2006 Spain, games thanks to the players who will be at their disposal to share 2007 Croatia, 2008 Scotland, 2009 Greece, 2010 Switzerland), this year the event their passion and their experiwill host more than one nation, as it will be the inaugural session of the international ence. ITSGA Congress. Scholars and professors from all over the word will converge on the —In addition to the scheduled site to reaffirm the importance of the traditional game as part of the human world shows, there will be street conheritage in the presence of delegates representative of the UNESCO Agency. On the certs, aperitifs, and tastings in afternoon of September 25, a consquares and inns. —Visitors will be offered the vention open to the general public Facts About Tocatìʼs 2010 Festival chance to visit Verona from the will be held in Palazzo della Ragione. • 250,000 attendees in three days river Adige with a special rafting In this respect, it is worth rememservice. • 468 volunteer staff bering that the traditional game was —In the festival restaurant and in • 250 players declared a “UNESCO element of Inthe “Osteria del Gioco,” people • 130 musicians and dancers tangible Cultural Heritage” (Internawill be able to try wines and products from the region together tional Charter of the Traditional • 28 conference speakers with other international dishes. Games) in 2003.
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Piazza dei Signori Square will be named “Piazza Mondo” (“World Square”) for the occasion, and the public will be given the opportunity to explore the cultural and artistic traditions of four different continents. On the stage, a succession of artists involved in the fields of music, singing, and dance will present their repertory pieces. Parallel to this, another performance of Italian music artists chosen in collaboration with the Rete Italiana di Cultura Popolare (Italian Network of Popular Culture) will be staged at Lungadige San Giorgio. In addition, in the old church of San Giorgetto (S. Pietro Martire), a temporary photographic exhibition will showcase Italy’s history as narrated through powerful images of local traditional game artifacts. Various meetings and conferences will take place in different parts of the city, featuring a series of presentations given by experts in varying fields of research. The Tocatì festival is conceived and organized by the Associazione Giochi Antichi (AGA) in collaboration with the Municipality of Verona and with the Veneto Region. The European Traditional Sports and Games Association (ETSGA)
JULY/AUGUST 2011
is a partner of this year’s edition. The initiative is under the patronage of MIBAC, UNICEF, the Italian Touring Club, and the University of Verona. Banco Popolare is among the sponsors. AGA aims at protecting and enhancing the traditional game, which has been recently declared a “UNESCO element of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2003).” ■
For more information, visit www.tocati.it For tourist information, visit www.veronatuttintorno.it In case of rain the festival will be held indoors.
Organisation Office of Tocatì and of Associazione Giochi Antichi: tel. 045/8077082 fax. 045/8077668 info@tocati.it or info@associazionegiochiantichi.it www.associazionegiochiantichi.it Communication of Tocatì and Associazione Giochi Antichi tel. 045/8077863 fax. 045/8077668 comunicazione@associazionegiochiantichi.it or comunicazione@tocati.it
THE TOY BOOK • 71
Industry Marketplace
BUSINESS DIRECTORIES
2011 Trade Show Directory $39.95 Independent Sales Rep Directory $69.95 Toy Wholesalers & Manufacturers $29.95 We carry Salesman’s & Chain Store Guides 1-800-635-7654 www.forum123.com - Over 100 Titles avaliable
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72
• THE TOY BOOK
Classifieds Playtime Sales & Marketing Co. LLC A Toy Manufacturers Sales Representative Corporate Office
331 Piermont Road Norwood, New Jersey 07648 TEL: 201-784-7727 FAX: 201-784-1912 E Mail: murraybass@playtimesales.com // lensoyka@playtimesales.com The Playtime Sales & Marketing Company, LLC. is a Toy and Electronics Manufacturers sales representative organization. Our prime focus is to represent Toy and Electronics Manufacturers to the Mass Market Retailers. The principals of our Company are Len Soyka and Murray Bass. Our only vocation has been in the Toy Industry. We are dedicated toy professionals. Our geographical areas of sales coverage and accounts include: • NEW ENGLAND…Connecticut North to Maine and Upstate N.Y. Accounts… CVS Drug, BJ’s Whle. Club, Xmas Tree Shops, Benny’s and Ocean State. • N.Y. METRO…N.Y. City and New Jersey. Accounts… Toys R Us and their DOTCOM and Global Divisions, FAO Schwarz, Shepher Distributors and Supermarket Chains. •MID-LANTIC…Pennsylvania, Wash D.C., Northern Virginia and Western Ohio. Accounts…Rite Aid Drug, Group Sales and Lillian Vernon • K mart USA // JC Penney Catalog // Universal Studios Orlando // Gordman’s // Duckwall // Pamida // AAFES // Walmart // Variety Wholesalers • CANADA…Walmart, Toys R Us and Zellers’ We employ a staff of 5 toy sales specialists. Our contact information is listed on our above shown letterhead. We welcome your inquiries.
MARCH/APRIL 2011
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The Toy Book Volume 27, Number 4
THE TOY BOOK (ISSN-0885-3991) is published bi-monthly by Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® Editorial and advertising offices are located at 307 Seventh Ave., Room 1601, New York, NY 10001,
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Advertiser Index
Adventure Publishing Group.....................................................................67 ABC Kids Expo ......................................................................................S13 ALEX ........................................................................................................S5 Alphabeasts ...............................................................................................17 Ark Group .......................................................................................S10, S11 Bananagrams ...........................................................................................S23 Briarpatch ................................................................................................4, 5 Charisma Brands .....................................................................................S31 China Toy Association ..............................................................................69 Cloud B .....................................................................................................S7 Delta Children’s Products .......................................................................1, 2 Digital Game Technology .......................................................................S27 Family Time Fun ............................................................................S24, S25 Forum Publishing ......................................................................................72 HABA USA ..............................................................................................S3 Hosung ....................................................................................................S15 Jada Toys .....................................................................................................9 Lilliputiens ..............................................................................................S33
LuvMPetz International LLC..................................................................S16 Maisto........................................................................................................76 NPD ...........................................................................................................75 Ollie’s Bargain Outlet ...............................................................................72 Pacific Play Tents ......................................................................................11 Playmates Toys..........................................................................................29 Playtime Sales & Marketing .....................................................................72 Pressman Toy ............................................................................................26 R&R Games ............................................................................................S29 Regal Logistics........................................................................................S17 Sandstorm Productions..............................................................................21 Smart/Tangoes ...........................................................................................27 Spell Break Games..................................................................................S28 The Haywire Group...................................................................................25 Toys r Us .................................................................................................6, 7 Transmonde Marketing Group LTD. ........................................................72 Verdes Innovations ....................................................................................23 Wuddly World .........................................................................................S19
THE AD INDEX IS PUBLISHED AS A COURTESY. WHILE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO BE ACCURATE, LATE ADDITIONS AND CHANGES IN LAYOUT MAY RESULT IN ERRORS OR OMISSIONS.
MARCH/APRIL 2011
THE TOY BOOK •
73
Flashback: July/August 1991 2.
3.
4. 1.
1. Direct Connect showcases Eureeka, Batly, and Magellan, stuffed dolls based on Nickelodeon’s Eureeka’s Castle. 2. Hedstrom’s 1990 introduction, Sky Surfer, continues to be well received. 3. Mattel introduces its new Hot Wheels BigFoot Champions Crunch Arena set. 4. Just Toys launches a new figure in its Bend-Em line, The Rocketeer, based on Disney’s big summer movie of the same name.
NATIONAL BEST SELLERS TV PROMOTED TOYS
NON-TV PROMOTED TOYS
1. Super Soaker - Larami 1. Baseball cards - Topps 2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Playmates 2. Swimming pools - Intex 3. Barbie - Mattel 3. Water guns - all brands 4. WWF Action Figures - Hasbro 4. NASCAR model kits - Monogram 5. Fun Hydrant - Fisher-Price 5. Coloring books - Western Publishing 6. Little Mermaid Doll - Tyco 6. Baseball cards - Donruss, Classic, Upper Deck 7. Robin Hood figures - Kenner 7. Sqwish Balls - Cap Toys 8. Balzac - Milton Bradley 8. Blue Line - Playmobil 9. Skip-It - Tiger Games 9. Koosh Balls - OddzOn 10. Splash Out - Lewis Galoob 10. Bubbles - Strombecker
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