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Smooshzees
Character Options
0161 633 9800 • sales@charactergroup.plc.uk
Smooshzees, from Character Options, is a brand-new range of squeezable, stretchy and soft characters that are both cute and highly collectible.
The Smooshzees characters come in a range of trending styles, such as an axolotl, a unicow and more, each with its own colourful personality to stimulate kids’ imagination through play. The combination of super-soft filling covered with a velvety stretchy outer skin make them a perfect cuddle companion for children. Wave one will include 24 characters to collect, the smallest of which are the 3.5” Cutezees. Priced for pocket money sales, there are 10 Cutezees to collect, including two Chasezee characters.
All Smooshzees come housed in stackable try-me packaging so kids can feel the softness before leaving the store.
Monopoly Go!
Hasbro
0208 569 1234 • www.hasbro.co.uk
Hasbro has launched a brand-new, official version of the world’s most popular family board game – Monopoly Go! Edition, in collaboration with Scopely, the global interactive entertainment and mobile-first video game company. This special edition game transforms the popular digital gaming version of Monopoly into tabletop form, giving fans of the app a new, exciting way to experience and enjoy with friends and family.
Created for 2-4 players, ages eight and up, Monopoly Go! Edition is a great choice for anytime play, family game nights and makes a cool gift for those who love Monopoly board games.
The Monopoly Go! game is a quick-playing board game version of the Monopoly Go! digital game. In this family board game, the first player to build a landmark wins. To get started, each player chooses a mini gameboard with a favourite location, plus a matching-coloured die. Then players take turns, each rolling all the die at once and moving their token around their board. If a player lands on a colour space, they take a landmark block from the tray and add it to their board. Bank Heists, Shut Downs and Mega Shut Downs can be used to sabotage rivals, and the first to stack four matching-coloured landmark blocks on their board wins.
Power Saber
Vivid Goliath Group
01483 449 944 • www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk
Goliath has unveiled the long-awaited Power Saber, the first of its kind to automatically fully extend and retract.
Power Saber launched globally at retailers on 21st July and made its debut to fans ahead of San Diego Comic Con at an exclusive party hosted by Den of Geeks on 25th July.
Available in red or green, this action-packed toy saber features a strong light source and motion-based SFX, including a flash-on clash feature and an in-hilt LED. Fans can easily extend the Power Saber to 35” and get ready for battle. Between play, the saber can be carried in the belt clip for easy transport or displayed on the included stand. Designed with durability in mind, and able to withstand duelling and active play, its premium feel and smooth, reliable extension and retraction make it the perfect choice for fans aged six and over.
2024 has been a year of steady growth for Goliath. Earlier this year, the company announced its worldwide licence and distribution agreement with Funko Games, as well as its expansive category launch into toys. The launch of Power Saber marks another pivotal milestone for the company as it further cements its position as a predominant player in the global toys and game industry.
Furlings
Funrise
01908 555 640 • www.funrise.com
Surpported by a comprehensive marketing campaign from next month, Furlings interactive plush toys will captivate children with its cute design and lovability.
There will be three different versions to choose from: Aspen, the loving dragon; Finley, the adventurous Yeti; and Cleo, the mischievous jackalope. With their long whimsical tails, animated eyes and fluffy fur, Furlings are both adorable friends and treasured companions. Packed with over 80 interactive features that include grins and growls, each Furlings character reacts to a child’s play patterns.
The more a child interacts with their Furling, the more the Furling toy will interact with the child. Children can tickle their Furling’s belly and watch as giggles turn into uncontrollable laughter. Pressing the Furling’s nose will make its eyes go red, and it will display its annoyance with a growl. If kids continuing to press the nose, the Furling’s eyes will turn bright red and the angry creature will let out a loud, grumbling roar.
Marketing promises to be a major pillar in the launch. Funrise’s heavyweight marketing campaign is comprised of four-levels to create major demand for Furlings. This will include TV, streaming, influencers and an out-of-home campaign.
Bing arts & crafts
Sambro
www.sambro.com • sales@sambro.com
An award-winning global supplier of licensed and own-brand toys, Sambro International offers unrivalled expertise in the licensed pre-school sector. Bing is one of several licensed franchises which has been brought to life via a series of exclusive arts & crafts products, following a collaborative partnership with licensor Acamar Films. The range comprises a selection of products to stimulate learning and educational play patterns amongst children and is available in the UK, Netherlands and CEE territories.
The range includes a variety of products designed to stimulate early learning, focusing on developing new life skills such as hand-eye coordination and motor skills. My First Work of Art supports children's development in these areas. With features such as finger painting and cardboard cut-outs, children can explore colours and enhance their creativity whilst having fun and learning.
The Bing Doodle Plush allows kids to doodle, play and wash away with their favourite characters from Bing. Each plush comes with three washable markers. Featuring beloved characters Bing, Flop, Sula and Pando, the Create Your Own Craft Character range let little ones make a new best friend from scratch. Children can stuff the plush toy and place the paper heart inside before zipping it up.
The range also includes the Creative Apron Set, which comes with colourful paints, a paper roll, shaped sponges, a paintbrush and a washable apron. This set encourages children to get creative with colours and embrace their artistic side. Affordably priced within the pocket money bracket, this product is perfect for painting without limits.
Sambro has continued to demonstrate its commitment to ESG and sustainability with the Bing range, with all plush items using 100% recycled polyester stuffing. Receiving full accreditation from Global Recycling Standards, Sambro also uses FSC-certified packaging across the product range following its successful transition from plastic, to further reduce waste.
Nerf Sports
Reydon Sports
0115 938 6444 • www.reydonsports.com • sales@reydonsports.com
Working alongside Franklin Sports, Reydon is the exclusive B2B European distributor for Nerf Sports and enjoys the full support of Hasbro UK. The deal includes the exclusive distribution rights to the Nerf Vortex Howler range. A best-seller in toy shops across the globe, Howlers are foam balls that can be thrown long distances due to their flight optimising tails. The collection is now in stock and ready to be distributed.
The entire 30+ SKU Nerf collection comprises a set of sporting product lines which fit perfectly into any Toy, Sport, Leisure and Multiple retailer. The premium quality, over-the-door Nerf Pro Hoop basketball set transforms any bedroom or living room into a personal basketball court. It fits most standard bedroom doors and assembles quickly so kids can start dunking almost immediately. Other products include ball, basketball, golf and tennis sets plus many more.
Combining sports with toys, Nerf’s innovative ranges are distributed via Reydon’s Nottingham-based distribution centre. The company’s B2B model allows Reydon to supply and service the world of retail across many sectors, while also making a huge splash in Europe for both Franklin and Nerf with its array of marketing support materials.
Lego Botanical Collection Chrysanthemum and Plum Blossom
The Lego Group
01753 495 000 • www.lego.com
The Lego Group has announced two new additions to its Lego Botanical Collection, consisting of the Lego Plum Blossom and the Lego Chrysanthemum. Timeless gifts for a plant lover or perfect for creating an elegant floral display for the home, both new sets are designed to provide an immersive building experience for adults.
The Lego Chrysanthemum comes with posable leaves and petals depicting the vivid-orange flower in various stages of growth, including one in full bloom, one blossoming and two in bud. The plant is nestled in a pastel green flowerpot with a golden band and wood-effect plinth.
The Lego Plum Blossom is an interpretation that depicts the iconic winter flora with its elegant stem and vivid red and magenta flowers. This 327-piece set comes in a pastel-blue flowerpot with a golden band and wood-effect plinth and is easy to assemble. Delivering a rewarding building experience, this set makes a beautiful, easy-care flower display for the home and office.
Glowy
Zimpli Kids
Zimpli Kids has announced the launch of its latest product, Glowy, a glow-in-the-dark slime jellyfish. Glowy lights up kids' imaginations and provides endless hours of fun, making it a must-have toy for every child.
This cute and functional container transforms into a magical night light, offering a comforting glow that helps kids feel safe as they sleep. Each Glowy set includes two sachets of glow-in-the-dark slime, providing double the fun. The slime is easy to mix and play with, stimulating creativity and imagination, while the unique glow effect makes playtime even more exciting, especially in the dark.
Glowy is designed with both fun and practicality in mind. The jellyfish container is durable and easy to clean, making it perfect for repeated use. Parents will appreciate the convenience of having a toy that doubles as a night light, while kids will love the engaging and interactive play that Glowy offers.
Zimpli Kids prioritises safety and environmental responsibility. All its products undergo dermatological testing by Dermatest, ensuring they are safe for skin use. Additionally, its slime powder is certified biodegradable by Intertek, in accordance with the OECD301B standard.
Zimpli Kids’ mission is to create fun 'just add water' products that enhance both children’s and parents' experiences of bath time and sensory play. Its textures, colours, sounds and scents make its products perfect for multi-sensory and messy play at home or in educational settings. Zimpli’s Gelli and Slime Baff are the first toys ever to receive skin safe accreditation from the British Skin Foundation (BSF), the UK’s leading skin disease research charity.
Glowy aligns with Zimpli Kids' commitment to creating safe, high-quality toys that promote imaginative play and sensory exploration.
Hello Kitty collectibles
KAP Toys
01423 368 888 • www.kaptoys.com orders@kaptoys.com
To celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th birthday year, KAP Toys is extending its Hello Kitty collectible range. Created by Yuko Shimizu 50 years ago, the iconic kitty has become a symbol of all things kawaii. With billions of dollars in sales already under its belt, Hello Kitty is one of the biggest IPs in the world and appeals to fans of all ages.
KAP Toys joins a number of top brands collaborating with Sanrio, all producing Hello Kitty ranges this year across Clothing, Accessories, Homeware, Food & Drink and Events. Hello Kitty episodes air on Tiny Pop TV, Amazon kids+ and YouTube every day. Alongside the highly rated Roblox My Hello Kitty Café, this licence is very visible to potential customers and Japanese culture is booming in the UK.
The KAP Toys collectible range consists of Hello Kitty Little Bags, Hello Kitty Purses, Hello Kitty Squishii Plush and Hello Kitty Cappuccino. With limited stock available, this range will launch in full from July for autumn/winter 2024. All items retail at an affordable pocket-money price point and combine Hello Kitty’s stylish cuteness with ultra collectible designs.
There are six Hello Kitty Little Bags to collect in themes including Mermaids, Unicorns and Rock. Each bag contains a stationery surprise and can be decorated and personalised. The Hello Kitty & Friends Purses range comprises six bright and cute purses made of tactile, versatile material. Each contains four surprises, and every purse is fun and unique.
In addition to Hello Kitty Squishii Plush, the collectible range also includes Hello Kitty Cappuccino. With eight to collect, each individual cappuccino cup simply needs a splash of water to reveal the Hello Kitty squishy character within.
Cry Babies
IMC Toys
01904 720 908 www.imctoys.com info.uk@imctoys.com
IMC Toys’ popular Cry Babies range sees significant developments this year with new introductions joining the collection. Building on its position in the special feature nurture dolls market, autumn/winter 2024 will see new additions to its best-selling core Cry Babies line. Combining its ages and stages strategy with its content first approach, the latest launches link in with the new Day Care theme, the setting of the new animated Cry Babies Playtime series currently streaming on the Kitoons YouTube channel.
Following the success of the Interactive Newborn Coney doll last year, new lines continue to focus on key nurturing moments, strong role-play and storytelling for children aged 18+ months under the Let’s Grow Together banner. This season, the core range focuses on bath time play as a central theme with the launch of the Cry Babies Newborn Bath Time Dolls. The Zoe and Dana dolls react when they get wet in the bath, making interactive baby sounds such as babbling and giggling. Both wear personalised animal swimsuits and come with a towel and matching dummy. Plus, as with all Cry Babies, they cry real tears when their heads are pressed.
Also launching this autumn are the Cry Babies Day Care Babies. There are three characters to choose from - Dreamy, Blake and Jenna - all of whom come dressed and ready for day care in their unique personalised hoodies, nappies, shoes, dummies and bottle accessories. When their dummy is removed, the doll will cry real tears and make realistic baby sounds, and heart shapes will light up in its eyes. Replacing the dummy will stop the crying.
The Tiny Cuddles Day Care Dolls also join the new collection and come dressed in personalised pyjamas with matching dummy, ready for a day at Happy Heart Day Care. With soft plastic heads and a cuddly body, they cry real tears when children fill them with water and press their heads. There are five different characters to collect: Hannah, Millie, Muffy, Ellie and Ashley. All make comforting companions for kids aged 18+ months at home or away.
P-51D Mustang Starter Set
Hornby Airfix
01843 233 500 • www.uk.airfix.com • sales@hornby.com
Airfix has launched its latest addition to the Starter Set series, the iconic P-51D Mustang, which aims to provide enthusiasts and newcomers alike with an immersive and accessible introduction to model building. The P-51D Mustang is celebrated as one of the most definitive variants of the North American Mustang, an aircraft renowned for its pivotal role in securing Allied air superiority during World War II.
The P-51D Mustang Starter Set encapsulates the aircraft's historical significance and technical advancements. This variant introduced several key enhancements that cemented its status as a game-changer in aerial combat. Among these improvements was the innovative bubble canopy, which granted pilots unparalleled visibility, crucial for dogfighting and situational awareness. Additionally, the P-51D featured the cutting-edge K-14 gunsight, which significantly increased targeting accuracy and combat effectiveness.
The aircraft's firepower was another standout feature, with upgraded weaponry and an improved ammunition feed system that minimised the risk of jamming, ensuring pilots could rely on consistent performance in the heat of battle. Furthermore, the introduction of lightweight external fuel tanks extended the Mustang's range, enabling it to escort bombers deep into enemy territory and maintain air superiority over vast distances.
Airfix's new Starter Set meticulously recreates these historical and technical aspects, offering a detailed and authentic build experience. The set includes everything needed to assemble the model, making it an ideal entry point for novice modelers while still providing a rewarding challenge for seasoned hobbyists.
This launch is particularly timely, as interest in World War II history and aviation remains strong among modelers and collectors. The P-51D Mustang's storied past, combined with Airfix's commitment to quality and accuracy, ensures that this Starter Set will be a highly sought-after addition to any collection.
