Toy World Magazine January 2020 by TOYWORLD MAGAZINE

January 2020 Volume 9 Issue 5

Heavy TV & Digital Marketing Campaigns for 2020

Lakeside Lodge

New Family Trip Range! Adventure Treehouse AW20

Baby Ropeway Park

Family Campervan

Baby Hedgehog Hideout Connect for Even More Fun!

Come & making toys

ÂŠ EPOCH

Limited

2nd Floor, Capital Court 30 Windsor Street, Uxbridge MIDDX, UB8 1AB

visit us at Toy Fair stand

B130

For more information call:

0208 049 1362

or email: sales@epochmakingtoys.com

TV Advertised

Star Friends Set

Brand New

STAR

Star Bead Studio

BEADS

3D Princess Tiara

AW20

Come & making toys

Â© EPOCH

Limited

2nd Floor, Capital Court 30 Windsor Street, Uxbridge MIDDX, UB8 1AB

Star Bead Pack

visit us at Toy Fair stand

B130

For more information call:

0208 049 1362

or email: sales@epochmakingtoys.com

The Team...

CONTENTS January 2020 Volume 9 Issue 5

John Baulch

45 Talking Shop

56 Hot Properties

Publisher and Managing Editor john@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 408 07932 651 207

Mark Austin

Sales Director mark@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 405

Anita Baulch

Circulation and Financial Director anita@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

News/Opinion News/Opinion Features 09 From the Publisher 10 News 20 Industry Moves 22 Marketing World 26 Licensing World 40 NPD column 45 Talking Shop

32 Special Feature: MGA 34 Q&A: NPD 52 Special Feature: Toyhub 56 Hot Properties 86 Q&A: Import Services 90 Nuremburg Preview 92 Q&A: Mattel

122 Viewpoint 278 Toymaster 284 Toy Industries of Europe 288 Retailer of the Year 294 Fresh 302 Allegedly

Rachael Simpson-Jones Editor rachael@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

288 Retailer of the Year

90 Nuremburg Preview

Lisa Currie

Assistant Editor Lisa@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 406

Mark Crowford

Design and Production Manager markc@toyworldmag.co.uk 01442 502 405

toyworld toy world The business magazine with a passion for toys

Alakat Published by

www.toyworldmag.co.uk @toyworldmag @baulchtweet

toyworldmag

Toy World 5

Toy World Magazine

61 Maxted Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 7DZ

CONTENTS Toy Fair Preview

Interviews

128 Toy Fair 2020 Preview

150 Nick Saunders - Brainstorm

164 Jay Foreman & Paul Fogarty - Basic Fun

132 Exhibitor List

152 David Allan - Toynamics

168 Marius Lang - Lego

136 Show Floor Maps

156 Clive Wooster - Geomag

140 Touching Base

160 Jonny Taylor - Jazwares

170 Toy Fair Exhibitor Guide

162 Ian Pritchard -Bachmann

toyworld toy world The business magazine with a passion for toys

See us at Toy Fair stand GH37 Toy World 6

O I N K ! A noth

y e g a i r b ahe r e

COME AND SEE THE NEW RANGE AT STAND E119 Peppa Pig Â© Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003.

T HE

ss e n i s r bu

o f n e op w o 0 2 sh 0 2 e y d r a a r u t o.uk* n c . R r a i a E J f y 3 ST 2 at to e N g 1 d a 2 O b n M itor o s i v d E n E R o F

L ou r y a i r o p f r Olym Pre-registe •

More than 250 exhibiting companies including the biggest brands to innovative start-ups

• Network with the whole toy industry under one roof and build relationships with new and existing suppliers

•

Thousands of new products including STEAM toys, tech, plush, collectables, games, construction plus many more

•

Be the first to discover the hottest new toys, trends and crazes

•

Exclusive on-site retail offers

Featuring Moose Toys Ltd, Wow Stuff, Clementoni, Playmobil, CASDON, Insect Lore and many more…

@ToyFairUK

For further information on exhibiting & sponsorship opportunities please contact +44 (0)20 7701 7127 or email Majen@btha.co.uk * Unfortunately members of the public are unable to attend

from the publisher

John Baulch - @Baulchtweet

fter something of a rollercoaster 2019, we’ve made it through to a new year – and a new decade: we’re now ‘back’ in the roaring twenties. As far as 2019 goes, retailers were still very much chasing the winners, placing orders and taking in stock right down to the wire. Within a few days, we will find out how the year ended up and whether the predicted late surge in demand materialised. With one extra sales day after the final weekend before Christmas last year, there was certainly sound reasoning behind the (wishful) thinking. Whatever happened in the final few days of trading, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. The decisive result of the election has delivered clarity - a definitive path now lies ahead of us, with any potential disruption likely to be at least 12 months away. Within hours of the election, the pound rose sharply against the dollar, which no doubt delighted the supplier community. While many people were in the fortunate position of winding down as Christmas drew near, the entire Toy World team was at its most frantic – putting the finishing touches to the ‘legendary’ January Toy Fair issue of Toy World which you now hold in your hand (well, if the Radio Times refers to its Christmas edition as legendary, and this issue is even bigger, I figure we can appropriate the phrase). But we wouldn’t have it any other way: the buzz that we get from uploading and signing off our January issue must be similar to the way retailers feel when they finally close the doors on 24th December. Hopefully they were all feeling as ecstatic – and relieved – as we were to finish the year on a high. Because despite the challenging and unpredictable trading conditions, 2019 was our best year ever and this is our largest-ever stand-alone January edition - packed with the freshest content, featuring a host of enticing new product launches and extensions to successful ranges. As we enter a new year, there is a lot to be excited about - never let it be said that the toy industry is anything other than resilient. As ever, the fulcrum of this issue is our exhaustive preview of the London Toy Fair. Starting on page 128, you’ll find everything you need to make the most of your trip to the show: a full list of exhibitors, show floor maps and, most importantly, an extensive round-up of the unmissable new product which will be unveiled over the three days. If it’s hot, it’s in here. This is your essential guide to the show, and the perfect way to prepare for your visit to this fantastic event. But that’s not all – far from it. This issue also includes a round-up of all the latest, hottest character licences in our special Hot Properties feature, which starts on

page 56. Licensing has had a bit of a bad rap in recent years, but there are signs that the sector is getting its mojo back. There is certainly much to look forward to this year in terms of new movies and fresh TV and digital content, but more than that, I get the impression that many people in the licensing community are beginning to adopt a more realistic and pragmatic approach, reflecting the trading environment we all find ourselves attempting to navigate. Other notable articles this month include a fascinating selection of Viewpoint submissions, encompassing everything from the changing media landscape to how to make the most of trading with Amazon; an exclusive interview with Toymaster’s Brian McLaughlin on how the buying group can support independent retailers in these challenging times; Import Services’ Mike Thomas walks us through the post-election Brexit landscape and looks at the potential logistics implications for UK importers and exporters; the NPD team gives us an exclusive insight into some very interesting new developments which it will be introducing this year, while Toy Industries of Europe president Catherine Van Reeth unveils its latest initiative – the Play for Change Awards. More information on this exciting new venture will be revealed over the coming months, and I am personally delighted to be playing an active role in the process as chair of the jury. The awards will offer recognition those toy companies leading the sector on issues of societal concern. Despite what some in the media may try to suggest, I believe that many toy companies are ahead of the curve and doing great work in these areas, so it will be great to highlight those players – both large and small - which are really pushing the boundaries. In short, there is an awful lot to read in this mammoth issue, so settle yourself down with a large mug of your favourite brew, and maybe even a pack of biscuits if you didn’t over-indulge over Christmas, and delve into all the delights that have taken the Toy World team months of hard graft to pull together. That said, we literally couldn’t have done any of this without our readers and advertisers, so thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support, especially during such uncertain times. The Toy World team looks forward to seeing as many of you as is humanly possible over the coming weeks; we’ll be represented in Hong Kong, London, Nuremberg, Birmingham and New York, and we’re all hugely excited to get up close and personal with the new lines which will be driving the toy market this year. Let’s hope 2020 is a year to remember – this time, for all the right reasons.

HARDWORKING PR FOR TOYS & GAMES B2B & consumer-facing PR Hands-on, bespoke approach Award-winning team of senior PR professionals Specialist understanding of the toys, games & fun sector

CONTACT +44 (0)1908 299 088 www.playtimepr.com Playtime Strip Advert_v4.indd 1

Toy World 9

16/03/2018 10:13

News Re:Creation files for administration

BTHA Toy Retailer of the Year 2019 finalists shortlisted The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) has announced the finalists for the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards 2019. The shortlist is: Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (single store): • Enchanted Wood Toys, Farnham • Thomas Moore Toymaster, Exeter • Wigwam Toys, Brighton Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (Multi Store): • Ken Black Toys • Midco Toymaster • Toy Barnhaus Department Store Toy Retailer of the Year: • Morleys Stores • Selfridges & Co • W J Daniel & Co Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year: • Sainsburys Argos • Smyths • The Entertainer Online Excellence Award: • Sainsburys Argos • Shop Direct • Smyths The winners of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, including Overall Toy Retailer of the Year, will be announced along with other special BTHA awards at the annual Toy Industry Awards evening held at Olympia, London on Tuesday 21st January 2020. The event, which takes place on the first evening of Toy Fair, is organised by the BTHA with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA), who will also present the Toy and Supplier Awards for 2019 on the same evening. Go to page 288 to read more about the Toy Retailer awards, including profiles of the finalists.

Toy World 10

The company was placed in administration in early December. Citing what he described as “unprecedented trading conditions,” Re:Creation owner Mike Lehrter offered some insight into the deteriorating financial situation which ultimately proved impossible to weather: “We started the year positively, with high hopes. However, a number of our principals shipped spring summer orders late, which didn’t help, while our biggest challenge came from the very different approach taken by Argos this year. We were well stocked up for summer, but sales didn’t materialise in the way we had hoped.” The challenging market conditions led to KPMG being appointed several months ago to work with Re:Creation in an attempt to sell the business as a going concern. Two companies registered significant interest, but ultimately neither deal came to fruition. With sales showing no signs of picking up in November, the bank declined further financial support, leaving the company with no option but to file for administration. Mike commented: “In recent years, conditions have been getting increasingly tougher for small and medium distributors. There is a lot you have to get right and little room for error, given the tight margins which distributors work on.” Re:Creation has been working closely with KPMG to clear remaining inventory and tie up loose ends.

ÂŠ 2020 Mattel

News Plum Play welcomes Injusa to its portfolio

Mothercare to sell products in Boots Mothercare’s stores and website are set to close in the early part of this year, but Boots will offer its products online from the middle of 2020 and in stores by late summer. Under the deal, Boots will stock Mothercare-branded clothing – expected to include own labels such as Jools Oliver’s Little Bird and Myleene Klass’s My K – as well as home furnishings and travel items such as pushchairs and car seats. In the future, Boots stores will host Mothercare shop-in-shops under an initial five-year deal expected to be finalised within the next three months. The deal extends a long-term partnership between the two retailers established through the Mini Club childrenswear brand, sold in Boots stores and on boots. com. Mark Newton-Jones, the chief executive of Mothercare, said: “Today’s announcement is fantastic news for the brand and the millions of Mothercare customers across the UK. It is also great news for Mothercare and our wider group of stakeholders after what has been a tough period. This partnership between Mothercare and Boots UK brings certainty and scale to our continuing group.” Mothercare made a pre-tax loss of £87.3m in the year to the end of March, compared with £72.8m in the previous year, as sales fell 11.8% to £336m. Only 50 UK head office staff now remain to deal with running the group’s international franchise business, which has more than 1,000 stores in more than 40 countries.

From January, Plum will become the official UK & Ireland distributor for the leading ride-on manufacturer. Injusa ride-ons are an engaging expansion to the Plum wheeled category, offering a new concept to traditional ride-on toys. Operating for over 70 years, the Spanish family-run business holds licences for the likes of Mercedes, Porsche, Honda and Kawaski. The Injusa range creates childfriendly replicas of popular car and motorbike models, ranging from batteryoperated vehicles to foot to floor products. Paul Schaffer, Plum managing director, commented: “Injusa is an amazing brand to be adding to our expanding distribution range. An important part of our brand is to encourage outdoor play, and by growing our offering with this latest deal, we hope that customers can find everything they need at Plum.” Injusa is the second distribution deal Plum has announced in 2019. Happy Hop Inflatables was also welcomed earlier in the year, as the company continued with its goal to expand the product offering and grow new categories. Plum will be hosting the new line on its stand (F20) at London Toy Fair, where visitors are invited to meet the team and take a look at the latest editions. For more information, contact Rosie Gissing on r.gissing@plumproducts.com or call 01522 737 126.

Spring Fair announces new award for supply chain transparency Spring Fair is launching the ‘Power of One’ Transparency Award for its 2020 event. Spring & Autumn Fair’s #PowerOfOne campaign supports and encourages retailers and their suppliers to make changes that will protect the planet and inspire sustainable behaviours. Show organiser Hyve Group is now extending the initiative to supply chain ethics with the Power of One Transparency Award, supported by Sedex, one of the world's leading ethical trade service providers working to improve working conditions in global supply chains. Entries are being accepted from Spring Fair exhibitors through the show’s website. As well as responding to a series of questions, entrants are encouraged to upload evidence that showcases their efforts to ensure their supply chain upholds the highest standards of responsibility. Julie Driscoll, Hyve Group regional manager for Spring Fair, said: “Retail brands are under pressure from governments, consumers, NGOs and other stakeholders to divulge more information about their supply chains, and the reputational cost of failing to meet these demands can be high. Concurrently, consumers are rewarding retail businesses that are championing socially responsible behaviours and taking action to elevate their ethical behaviours in all the communities they impact." Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the winner will be announced on the Inspiring Retail Stage. Supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, the Power of One campaign seeks to demonstrate how a combination of small, individual changes can create a more sustainable future for all. The campaign has been adopted across Hyve Group’s portfolio of fashion and retail shows.

Toy World 12

ÂŠ 2020 Mattel

News Ruth Clement celebrates 30 years in insight, strategy and marketing for kids, youth and family brands

Spin Master acquires Orbeez from Maya Toys

Ruth founded her own consultancy in 2013. It was re-named Consumer Fluent last year, and has being going from strength to strength, expanding internationally, aided and abetted by Ruth’s fluency in three languages (French, Spanish, Italian), and a strong network of talented colleagues and associates. Together they test and develop physical and digital products, services, innovative concepts, marketing campaigns and brand strategies; they optimise packaging and page design, copy and SEO, to create impact and drive conversion off the physical and digital shelf. “Consumer Fluent’s strategies are all rooted in consumer insight, econometrics and performance analyses.” said Ruth, “As an experienced marketer, as well as being a researcher, it’s an approach which I know works. It’s produced transformative growth with every brand I’ve ever managed. At Consumer Fluent, with each strategy we recommend or research we conduct, we incorporate deeper insights into how kids and parents influence each other and ultimately influence the purchase decisions made for the whole family. We develop strategies which work effectively within the constraints of kids’ memory structures and the system one behaviour of their parents.” She added: “I’m excited about the challenges ahead in 2020, both for Consumer Fluent, our partners and clients.” Ruth will be attending London Toy Fair in Olympia, Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg and speaking at Spring Fair, NEC on 2nd February. To arrange a meeting at any of these events, or a telephone conversation, please email ruthclement@consumerfluent.com. For more information visit www. consumerfluent.com.

Spin Master has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Orbeez brand and other select brands from Maya Toys, complementing its growing Activities segment. Orbeez are water beads that begin as tiny seeds and grow to a round form when water is added. The versatile technology is applied to a variety of toys, ranging from arts and crafts sets to pampering products. The popular activity brand has captivated children, letting them explore and create unique experiences that stay fresh and stimulating, long after the package is opened. "Orbeez represents a universally-appealing play pattern and as a result, this amazing Maya Toys property has stimulated the imaginations of millions of children globally," said Anton Rabie, Spin Master's co-founder and co-CEO. "We're thrilled with this acquisition, which further strengthens our vibrant and growing Activities business, providing recurring revenue and opportunities for integration into our existing product lines, as well as for further innovation." Arlene Biran, vice president Marketing and Activities Global Business Unit Lead, added: "With a 10-year history of entertaining kids, we believe the possibilities with Orbeez are endless. Our design teams are excited about how we can grow the brand and bring new creative executions to market." The acquisition of Orbeez marks Spin Master's 21st acquisition since the company was founded in 1994 and the 11th since its initial public offering in 2015.

The Toy Trust seeks athletes to take part in the Vitality Big Half The Toy Trust has secured a number of places for members to run in the Vitality Big Half on Sunday 1st March 2020. The half marathon, organised by the team behind the London Marathon, is a fun day out for all the family. Beginning and ending at the Vitality Big Festival, which features music on The Vitality Big Stage, deserving runners can enjoy great food options, health and well-being classes, and plenty of additional opportunities to keep active throughout the day. The Toy Trust is looking for members to sign up to run at the event, securing their place in a great central London half marathon whilst raising money for the industry’s charity. Places in the event are free (subject to availability) and provided courtesy of the Toy Trust, with a fundraising target of £500 per runner. The Toy Trust supports hundreds of charities that better the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children, and all monies raised are distributed to these worthy charities. Among those taking part in the race will be the BTHA's director of fairs and public relations, Natasha Crookes. Natasha commented: "I have (possibly very stupidly) agreed to run the London Vitality half marathon for the Toy Trust next March. I am not a natural runner and having done nothing for many years, so I've had to start from scratch from the couch to 5k in the hope I can get to the end of that and then... simply quadruple it!" Regardless of if you’re a seasoned runner, or are simply looking for a new challenge for 2020, the Toy Trust wants to hear from you. Please get in touch with Matt Jones to register for a place in the event - matt@btha.co.uk.

Toy-filled advent calendars appeal to all ages, according to NPD Sales of toy-filled advent calendars were up 5% on 2018, based on sales to 23rd November, making the UK market worth £16m per annum. In the run up to Christmas, many children – and adults – found a new toy every day in their advent calendar from favourite characters including Star Wars, Harry Potter, L.O.L. Surprise!, Marvel and Playmobil, giving a welcome boost to the toy sector in the all-important ‘golden quarter’ of the year. The Lego Group ranked four different versions amongst the top 10 toy-based advent calendars in the week ending 23rd November. The Harry Potter Advent Calendar ranked first, followed by the City Advent Calendar in second place, and the Star Wars Advent Calendar. Lego Friends came in eighth. Frederique Tutt, global industry analyst, Toys, NPD, explains the growing popularity of toy-filled advent calendars in the UK: “Already established in France and Germany, the trend was a little slower taking off in the UK, but it gathered momentum. One of the reasons sales were strong is that it’s not just children that are excited to open toy-filled advent calendars from 1st to 24th December. Our research suggests that the ‘kidult’ population helps to drive sales, with older children, teenagers, young adults and toy collectors treating themselves to a Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel or Fortnite toybased advent calendar. With average prices in the best-sellers ranging from £15.07 for a Playmobil calendar to £29.34 for the Funko Pop! Harry Potter for 24 toys, this growing sector is providing a welcome revenue lift to the UK toy sector.”

Toy World 14

ÂŠ 2020 Mattel

News Casdon reveals new website Casdon launched the new website just in time for Christmas, showcasing the company’s extensive collection of role-play toys and licensed lines. The new site features all-new branding and easy to navigate icons under the Little Helper and Little Shopper brands and more, allowing consumers to move effortlessly through the site to see all the ranges. Plus, for the first time, users can benefit from retailer links direct to shop, to help with their buying experience. Newly redesigned and redeveloped, the site is also mobileready, faster, full of appealing visuals throughout, can support high levels of traffic and features a direct link to YouTube. Phil Cassidy, managing director, commented: “The new website provides an easily accessible snapshot of what Casdon is all about. Consumers can learn about our history as a family run business while viewing our product line, and easy access to buy will also support our valued retailer customers.” In addition to the consumer facing website, Casdon launched a separate trade area for B2B customers. The trade site enables customers to place orders and has instant access to pricing, stock availability and invoices. For more information visit the new site at www.casdon.com, contact the sales team on 01253 608428 or email roger@casdon.com

Make It Real acquires Three Cheers For Girls Make it Real, the Baltimore based girls craft and activity company, has announced that it has acquired tween lifestyle company Three Cheers For Girls. From 1st January, Make it Real and 3C4G have been operating as one company offering a full complement of tween lifestyle, creative play, activity, cosmetic and licensed products throughout its global distribution network. “3C4G has been a toy and gift industry fixture for years, and we are thrilled to be continuing the legacy of quality, affordable, ontrend products that Cinthia and her team have built under the Three Cheers For Girls brand,” said Isaac Wolman, CEO of Make it Real. Cinthia Russiyan, president of 3C4G, commented: “We have great confidence in Isaac and his team to continue growing 3C4G into an internationally recognised brand. We are looking forward to working with the MIR team and couldn’t be happier.” Three Cheers For Girls (3C4G) has grown to become a leader in the tween girl industry. Driven by the diverse lifestyles of young girls, 3C4G believes in creating products that support the choices of girls and embrace their creativity and desire for self-expression. Offering stationery, cosmetics, jewellery, accessories, seasonal products, room décor, novelties and gifts, 3C4G products are ideal for kids age five to twelve.

Lazar Vukovic sets up new digital marketing agency Having learnt a lot about business and the toy industry over the last eight years, Lazar Vukovic has now set up his own digital marketing agency – www.ilovedigital.co.uk - which is a full service marketing agency offering everything from web design, app development, content creation, social media management, SEO, marketing campaigns and more. Lazar’s journey in the toy industry began with his independent store Toy Town. He opened the store in November 2011 in Corby, Northants, next to the former Woolworths store. Lazar said: “Being introduced to the toy industry was amazing, and a breath of fresh air from the other sectors I’d been previously involved in. Everybody I met was polite, pleasant and very down to earth, and all willing to help. It was at this point I knew that the toy industry environment was where I wanted to stay.” After feeling the impact from a difficult trade period, Lazar pursued a career with Winning Moves in 2015. His role was to build up the business in Russia, Greece, Serbia and Croatia, to name a few. Top Trumps and Monopoly quickly began to catch the eyes of these toy markets and Lazar said this role alone has given him great connections from the industry and friends all over the world. His new digital marketing agency reflects his own passion for toys and the industry, offering the right services needed to build a business. Lazar added: “I’ve learnt a thing or two about business and how to launch and grow a brand, product and business, so I wish to share my skills with companies I’m passionate about, helping them deliver creative and strategic marketing while they stay focused on growing their business.

Sixteenbynine media and strategy agency launched With over 40 years combined experience working in the toy and games market for both UK & international broadcasters in a variety of roles, co-founders Elizabeth Anyaegbuna & Dan Salem felt the time was right to focus on what they consider to be the most powerful and profitable advertising medium: TV. They believe that the emotional effectiveness of screen-based story telling is unrivalled, which is why it will be at the heart of what Sixteenbynine does. "TV builds brands, drives sales, provides unrivalled scale, draws the audience in and is still the most profitable medium for advertisers - and there’s plenty of proof to that effect." commented Dan. Using their expertise in marketing, advertising and licensing, as well as in partnerships, sponsorships and production, the aim is to create a fresh, independent media and strategy agency specialising in TV and video advertising. Liz and Dan believe that their ex-broadcaster perspective in the media agency world gives a powerful insight and will allow them to use their media know-how to offer innovative screen and experiential driven media opportunities for clients. The Sixteenbynine co-founders are passionate about the need for more diverse and inclusive representation amongst UK agencies. By creating their own agency, this has enabled them to build an agency which is transparent, inclusive and representative of the world today. The agency will also partner with Superawesome for digital screen media opportunities. For further information and contact details, visit www.sixteenbynine.com.

Toy World 16

ÂŠ 2020 Mattel

News US SANTA Act welcomed as important step forward for consumers The Stop All Nefarious Toys in America (SANTA) Act will require marketplaces to display a seller’s full name, full business address, working phone number, and working email address and notify buyers if the product shipped is supplied by a seller other than the one detailed in the product listing. The new bipartisan bill has been widely lauded by The Toy Association and members of the US toy industry in general, as an important tool to improve the safety of products in the US toy market. Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association, commented: "The Toy Association applauds Senator Bill Cassidy for his leadership on the SANTA Act. The legislation is an important step forward in empowering families who shop online. By providing online shoppers with information on who, and from where, they are purchasing toys, they will be better able to make smart, informed decisions about the toys and games being purchased online for their loved ones." Under the SANTA Act, third-party sellers will also be required to disclose whether they are a manufacturer, importer, retailer, or reseller of the children’s product. They will also be required to display all warning labels. Toy industry experts around the world have been awaiting developments in the US with interest. It is hoped that the SANTA initiative may pave the way for other legislators around the world to introduce more stringent requirements for online marketplaces.

Department store chain Beales in refinancing talks

Bandai UK secures McFarlane Toys distribution

According to Sky News, Beales, one of Britain’s oldest department store chains, has drafted in advisers to explore refinancing options. The retailer has tasked KPMG with leading a strategic review which could lead to the closure of a small number of stores. Sources said that Beales is seeking to negotiate rent reductions with some of the owners of its 22 stores, while it is also thought to be keen on exploring debtraising options that would enable it to accelerate its restructuring process. An outright sale of the business, while plausible, is not thought to be the preferred option. The retailer employs around 1,300 people directly, with a further 300 staff working in branded concessions across its store estate. According to insiders, Beales' stores in market towns are thought to be performing well, while a number of new formats previously introduced by its management team have also produced encouraging results. Beales is majority-owned by a vehicle led by Tony Brown, an experienced retail professional who has held senior posts at 99p Stores, Peacocks and BHS. Tony Brown led a management buyout of the business last year, and is understood to be seeking a conclusion to the refinancing process by early in the new year. Beales was a public company until its shares were delisted in 2015. It has since been owned by several different private investors. In 2016, it secured creditors' backing for a Company Voluntary Arrangement, paving the way for substantial rent reductions at 11 of its 29 stores.

Bandai UK has announced that it has acquired the distribution of McFarlane Toys product range for the UK and ROI markets. McFarlane Toys has become an industry leader in the action figure market and boasts a portfolio featuring the best of today’s pop culture. Grammy and Emmy-winning producer/director Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn and Venom, is the creative force behind McFarlane Toys. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with McFarlane Toys, as we have long admired their product range”, said Nic Aldridge, managing director at Bandai UK. “They are experts in finding and securing exactly the right properties for the high target collector market, while also providing a high quality, playable toy with more mass market price points.” Customers will begin seeing the line at upcoming previews and can book appointments to see the range on the Bandai stand at London Toy Fair 2020. Bandai is also inviting customers travelling to Hong Kong to view the range in the McFarlane showroom. For all Bandai UK sales enquiries, please contact sales@bandai.co.uk or call 0208 324 6160.

Alpha Group UK welcomes Julie Ball to the team Alpha Animation Group has welcomed Julie Ball as marketing consultant, at a time of growth for the global animation and entertainment group. Julie joins Alpha Group’s UK head office as the team readies for the important Q1 trade shows and its major new master toy launches in 2020. Having spent 20 years in the toy industry, Julie has a wealth of experience gained at some of the major players including a 15-year tenure at Mattel where she held a variety of senior positions across marketing and consumer products. She has also conducted consultant roles at Hasbro and Spin Master and more recently held the position of head of marketing for IMC Toys. Patrick Potgiesser, general manager, N.E. Europe, Australia and New Zealand said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Julie to our marketing team. Her appointment as consultant comes at a key time as we build for further growth in 2020. With her extensive industry knowledge and marketing expertise, she will be a perfect fit as we expand our brand portfolio with new master toy signings.” Julie Ball, director of Ignite Consulting added: “I am thrilled to join the Alpha group at this exciting time and have the opportunity to drive impactful initiatives across its broad product portfolio.”

Toy World 18

ÂŠ 2020 Gullane (Thomas) Limited ÂŠ 2020 Mattel

Industry Moves Bandai welcomes Kirsty Mackenzie as new head of marketing Bandai UK has announced that Kirsty Mackenzie has been appointed as its new head of marketing following her promotion from marketing manager. Kirsty joined the Bandai UK team in 2018, having previously held marketing positions within the toy industry for 13 years. “Kirsty’s promotion is testament to her commitment and the impact she has made during a fundamental period of evolution for the company”, said Nic Aldridge, managing director, Bandai UK. “Kirsty has vast experience in strategizing and implementing marketing campaigns and will be instrumental in heading up the department to drive growth and market share for all Bandai UK brands. “It’s an exciting time to be part of the company,” added Kirsty. “As we head in to 2020, our portfolio continues to grow with an assortment of own IPs and strong, global licences, all of which I’m looking forward to developing and supporting with strategic marketing and tactical campaigns.”Steve added: “It’s a great time to be joining Cheatwell as the company’s plans are so strong. We have many fantastic new lines to introduce in 2019 and joining the company takes me back to where I feel I belong, with a British games company offering quality games and toys.”

Hunter Price hires Tim White as trading manager Hunter Price International has appointed toy industry specialist, Tim White, to join its Manchester based team as trading manager for the leading consumer products business, which specialises in toys, stationery, homewares, bags for life, seasonal and licensed products. With over two decades’ experience within the toy industry, Tim has worked with the likes of Poundstretcher, James Galt and Pyramid International. At his most recent role at Sambro, he managed range and category management for toys and novelty lines, working closely with Disney, Nickelodeon, Universal and Hasbro. As part of his new role, Tim will focus on new product development and distribution, particularly around Hunter Price’s licensed offering, with key partners including Warner Bros and Orb, as well as own label ranges. This is the latest addition to the Hunter Price team following many high-profile hires across all areas of the business over the past 12 months, from buying and design, to sales and marketing. Talking about his new role, Tim said: “There’s such a buzz about Hunter Price – and you feel it as soon as you walk through the door. With so much potential for growth, personally and professionally, it’s a really exciting move for me. We’ve got some great retail and brand partners and we’re already working on some truly innovative and engaging product launches over the next year.”

Topps Europe announces three new appointments Topps Europe has announced three new appointments at its Milton Keynes offices. Ché Booy, Dave Chapman and Jonathan Marsh all join the company, bringing with them a wealth of experience. Ché Booy has joined as digital marketing & social media manager. Ché’s expertise includes marketing experience across a wide range of industries. Topps also welcomes Dave Chapman as trade marketing designer. Dave is a specialist in graphic design, with skills ranging from print, digital, 3D and motion as well as video editing. Jonathan Marsh has also been appointed as Topps national accounts & business development manager for UK & Ireland. Jonathan joins the sales and circulation team, which forms part of the EMEA Sales and Marketing Group, headed up by CMO Patrick Rausch. Jonathan brings a wealth of experience to Topps, having worked previously at Comag & Seymour.

Magic Box Toys appoints Laura Bull as UK & Ireland sales manager Magic Box UK, has announced the appointment of Laura Bull as UK & Ireland sales manager. With a strong background in the toy industry spanning almost a decade and working for leading manufacturers such as Schleich and Posh Paws, Laura will be responsible for developing distribution in the toy channel and managing the sales team. Julia Cake, commercial director at Magic Box Toys, said: “We are delighted to welcome Laura to Magic Box. Her sales and marketing experience will be a great asset to continue building the growth of Magic Box in the UK and Ireland.” Laura added: “I am thrilled to be joining Magic Box, a company renowned for pioneering the collectibles market and for producing creative and original brands loved by children across the globe. The company is at pivotal growth point and I am excited to be extending our distribution into the toy channel.” Laura can be reached by email at l.bull@magicboxint.com.

Toy World 20

Marketing World Vtech unveils new animated pre-school series based on Toot-Toot Drivers VTech has announced the launch of a brand-new, animated pre-school series based on the successful toy line Toot-Toot Drivers. Partnering with Netflix, the first series of Toot-Toot Cory Carson was launched worldwide on the 4th January 2020, with subsequent series, shorts and specials planned throughout the year. Netflix has enlisted the best creators in film and TV, collaborating with Kuku Studios. Targeting children aged above two years old and their families, Toot-Toot Cory Carson follows the adventures of a kid car named Cory Carson, who has an engine that runs on fun. Cory and his family live in the town of Bumperton Hills, where adventure is just down the road. The show will feature characters including Mama and Papa Carson, Chrissy (Cory’s baby sister) and friends such as Freddie Firetruck and Halle Copter. In autumn/winter 2020, VTech will be launching a range of products based on characters from the show. The interactive, electronic vehicles will feature light-up character face buttons, motion sensors and action buttons that have different effects for each vehicle. These will trigger the voices and sounds effects from the characters in the TV series, making them instantly identifiable for children. The vehicles can be used alongside electronic play sets, which will be based on Bumperton Hills environments from the show. Each play set will come with two mini vehicles of favourite characters, which when placed on the play set’s PlayZone location, will trigger phrases and sounds from the show. Rebecca Lazarus, senior brand manager at VTech, said: “Being in the majority of households in the UK, viewership of Netflix is higher among families with children. The content will be based on the popular vehicles theme and will have relatable story lines. Combined with the strong heritage of the Toot-Toot brand, we know the show and products will be popular with both children and their parents.” There will be a comprehensive marketing campaign, including TV advertising to support the toy range launch in autumn/winter 2020.

Alice Morrison returns to Diaframma Alice Morrison has re-joined Diaframma as international sales director. Alice previously worked for Diaframma from 2015-2017, before joining Moose Toys as one of its international account managers, where she managed southern and northern European accounts, helping to spearhead the company’s European expansion. Alice will be attending all the major international toy fairs in January and February, starting with the Hong Kong trip, and looks forward to catching up with Diaframma’s existing and potential customers during Toy Fair Season.

Let's Be Kids brand campaign celebrates Fisher-Price brand Fisher-Price has debuted a new multi-year 360-degree campaign entitled Let’s Be Kids, which celebrates seeing the world as a kid does; with openness, optimism, humour and enthusiasm. Let’s Be Kids includes a series of video spots that feature Fisher-Price toys from its almost 90-year history, including a hero 60-second brand anthem video starring actor John Goodman. John, cast as the classic farmer from Fisher-Price’s Little People collection, walks through a fantastical world amid a treasure trove of nostalgic characters inspired by toys such as the Chatter Phone and First Words Puppy. Additional spots focus on specific products and portray the magic of what a child is seeing and feeling when they’re engaged with a toy. The campaign launched in the UK on Monday 25th November with a TV campaign supported by a weighty digital campaign across social media and muminfluencer talent. The campaign will run through 2020 as Fisher-Price leverages Let’s Be Kids during its 90th anniversary celebrations, which will span public relations, events, digital and retail moments. Chuck Scothon, senior VP-general manager of Fisher-Price says the push is a multi-million-dollar investment that will run for years. “We needed to stay relevant, stay modern, and get people to feel the brand—not just be aware of the brand,” he commented.

Toy World 22

THE ALL NEW

A MONOPOLY GAME

YOU’LL ACTUALLY

FINISH

IN UNDER 10 MINUTES!

RACE THE

CLOCK!

EVERYONE

ROLLS AT ONCE!

Opinion

Decent exposure This month, Jonathan looks at the importance of a content-led strategy in today’s marketing mix.

W W

ith Toy Fair season well and truly upon us, the industry is in the midst of identifying the key toy trends for 2020 and beyond. Perhaps more than ever before, content will be at the heart of many of these discussions. The importance of leveraging compelling content when launching, building and sustaining a brand has always been a vital element of the marketing mix; be that an engaging or impactful TVC, or long form episodic content. Product associated with episodic content has long been a staple of the industry, with classic examples such as Transformers, My Little Pony and Thunderbirds setting the benchmark. However, the toy industry’s chicken and egg conundrum has always been where does the IP originate – with content or product? The reality is that both cases offer valid and successful routes to market, albeit with shared and unique challenges. In the modern media landscape, there has never been a greater opportunity to use content to promote original and existing IP. So what are some of the key considerations to ensure that brands make content a vital and commercially successful component in the marketing mix? Where the content is placed is arguably the most critical decision, particularly given the fragmented nature of children’s viewing habits. Linear TV remains the natural choice for many brands due to its ability to deliver the largest reach in the shortest timeframe, and it still retains the largest share of content viewing occasions by UK children aged 2-12 (41% - Giraffe Insight’s ‘Kids and

Jonathan Chambers

the Screen’). Critically, in the majority of cases, it is the biggest driver in helping a brand to sell product at retail. This can come at a cost though, especially as the standards required by most broadcasters remain incredibly high in terms of production values. This is why TV is used by many IP originators who have a content first strategy. It is also why digital channels have become a more prominent route for many. SVOD channels (18% of 2-12 year old viewing occasions) such as Netflix and Prime Video are chosen as natural extensions to linear TV; these channels retain the same requirements in terms of production values. We are seeing them increasingly chosen before linear TV, primarily due to the global potential of the platforms’ reach. YouTube remains the most likely route to market for most brands in 2020 (c.25% of 2-12 year old viewing occasions). The ability to publish content with fewer expectations on production value has enabled more companies to test a content led strategy. By demonstrating success on a small-scale production, brand owners can then make strategic decisions as to whether to upscale investment. This is a route most commonly used as part of a product first IP strategy, and is attractive to multinational companies due to the global nature of YouTube’s audience. Finally, following a year of unrivalled success for family films on the big screen, cinema remains an interesting consideration as part of the windowing strategy. The medium still retains the ability to deliver a level of fame and prestige not yet associated with its digital counterparts, and audience attention levels are unparalleled (little to

Toy World 24

Director of AV Investment, Generation Media. Tel: 0207 307 7906 Jonathan.Chambers@generationmedia.co.uk

no second screening here!). Of course, the phasing of cinema means it is unable to drive the repetition necessary to build a brand in isolation. However, in conjunction with other platforms, aggregation of episodic content into a feature length piece can be an exciting way of delivering incremental exposure. Beyond where to place content, how to monetise the content is an increasingly important part of the mix. It has been years since broadcasters have regularly paid top dollar for content. In fact, some now require commercial incentives in exchange for placement, but new opportunities mean new revenue streams. Cinema will not only provide fantastic brand exposure but also a share of box office revenue, whilst YouTube will provide the opportunity to earn advertising revenue (so long as companies comply with the FTC and COPPA imposed regulations). In recognition of the ever-growing importance of content, we launched Generation Entertainment in 2019 to help our clients better navigate this complex route to market, and can offer expert advice to help deliver tried and tested results.

Licensing World Siso Toys to distribute new Disney Classic plush in UK in 2020

Wilton Bradley announces new partnership with Nadiya Hussain Since winning the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain has gone on to release bestselling books, star in multiple TV shows and is currently making her way around the UK as part of her ‘Finding My Voice’ tour. A new partnership with Wilton Bradley will see the release of kids cooking and baking sets under the Nadiya brand, due to come to market for autumn/ winter 2020. Featuring a host of colourful baking and cooking utensils for kids, each set comes with easy to follow recipe cards created by Nadiya from her bestselling ‘Bake Me a Story’ cookbook. Working closely with Wilton Bradley, the GBBO winner has been closely involved in all stages of product development from concept creation to final designs. Nadiya said: “I love to cook with my family, and I am a true believer in involving children in cooking from a young age; teaching them a valuable skill whilst enjoying some family time together. I am proud of what we have created with these sets and am excited to think that they may encourage more children start their cookery journey.” Nadiya will also be working with Wilton Bradley to promote the new range to her fans, including posting videos on social media to her followers. The videos will feature Nadiya showing children how to make the most out of the kits. As part of the launch, Nadiya will also be visiting London Toy Fair 2020 to visit the Wilton Bradley stand and showcase the new range.

Simba Toys, a Simba Dickie Group company, has announced the addition of new territories in the UK, Italy and Spain for the distribution of Disney plush, which was effective from 1st January 2020. The company already distributes Disney plush in France, Benelux, Nordic and Germany. The expansive range of plush, based on much-loved Disney content, brings treasured and iconic Disney characters to life. New lines include characters from Frozen II such as Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Sven. The new ranges will include diverse and innovative product to suit a multitude of retail needs. The autumn/winter 2020 range will be introduced at London Toy Fair and at Spielwarenmesse in January. Martin Whitaker, managing director at Siso said: “This is a significant opportunity for Siso Toys UK to really grow and establish itself in the UK market as a premier toy supplier. Siso Toys was ranked the number nine supplier for October 2019, according to NPD. This followed strong performances across our doll, RC and roleplay ranges as well as the Jada acquisition delivering strong numbers. By adding Disney plush to our product range, we can offer UK retailers strong plush ranges from across Disney’s vast property portfolio that includes Frozen, Winnie the Pooh and Disney Classics. For the second half of the year we will offer a wider range from across the property portfolio as well as ranges from new movies Onward, Soul and Raya The Last Dragon. This is a really exciting time for Siso, as we truly believe we have a strong product range and marketing support package for 2020 that will generate great value for retailers."

Wow! Stuff to launch Trolls range of toys and gifts Known for its innovation in licensed toys and live in-store demonstrations, Wow! Stuff has welcomed Trolls to its portfolio. New for 2020, and launching from this month, is a unique range of Trolls toys and gifts to commemorate and support the new Trolls World Tour movie, which is released in cinemas in March. Wow! Stuff’s CEO Richard North commented: “We aren’t a master toy type company; we love creating a meaningful differential to the usual master toy offerings. Trolls has been a dream to work on and we think the range of a dozen products or so that we’ve created hits the key price points, delivering something very different while on-brand and in-universe." Richard added: "We love finding innovative ways to bring great brands to life and the Universal stable is a hotbed of brilliant brands to work on. Universal has got a great team of people which definitely gets the somewhat weird way Wow! Stuff works as it brings brands to life with TV advertising and demo programmes at retail. We look forward to meeting retailers new and existing at the forthcoming trade shows in Hong Kong, London, Nuremberg and New York. If you haven’t booked to see us, we’d very much like to invite you to email ella.wood@wowstuff.com."

Toy World 26

Introducing the Amscan X Warner Bros. Dress Up Collection!

Available Now!

See the full range online at www.amscan.co.uk

Licensing World Trends UK and Ravensburger secure licensing agreements for The Adventures of Paddington Trends has signed an agreement with The Copyrights Group to launch a range of electronic learning toys based on the highly anticipated pre-school TV series The Adventures of Paddington. The range will introduce young fans to early learning and items will begin to appear late 2020, with further products scheduled to follow into 2021. “We are delighted to be developing learning items based on this lovable bear and his world” commented Lindsay Hardy, marketing director of Trends UK. “Paddington’s experiences with his family, friends and home will definitely appeal to pre-schoolers and parents; the TV series looks fantastic.” Ravensburger is also set to develop a collection of pre-school puzzles for the TV series. The company will create a range of jigsaws scheduled for launch in autumn 2020, including popular formats such as My First Floor Puzzle, 35 Piece Puzzle and Four in a Box puzzles. Rachel Clarke, SVP Licensing and Retail UK at The Copyrights Group added: “I am delighted that Ravensburger is extending its partnership on Paddington with a brand new range of Paddington TV puzzles. We believe Paddington TV is a great new adventure for the brand and are pleased to be working with Ravensburger to bring its fabulous Paddington TV lines to the UK market.” Set to air on Nick Jr. from March 2020, CG-animated series, The Adventures of Paddington will introduce viewers to a younger Paddington as he writes letters to Aunt Lucy celebrating the new things he has discovered each day.In March 2019 Panini is due to launch its much-anticipated Harry Potter Contact Trading Card Game. Harry Potter remains a firm favourite amongst collectors and presents strong opportunities for retailers in the toy channel in particular. The trading card collection launch will be supported by a robust multi-channel marketing campaign with investment at retail as well.

Warner Bros Consumer Products acknowledges UK licensee excellence Warner Bros Consumer Products has enjoyed another strong year in the UK, growing its business by double digits for the third year in a row. The next few years are set to see that trend continue: a strong slate of movies including Scooby Doo will bolster the portfolio in 2020, while Warner will also take over licensing for the Cartoon Network brands from January 1st. Looking ahead to 2021, a new Batman movie will no doubt deliver a boost to the iconic brand. In December, Warner Bros welcomed licensees to Television Centre in West London to recognise a host of outstanding licensee achievements over the past 12 months. General manager of the Warner Bros Consumer Products division Rachel Wakely and her team gave out a selection of awards which saw several toy companies including Mattel, Lego, Wow Stuff and Asmodee among the winners. The full list of recipients was: • • • • •

DC Product of the Year – Global Licensing WB Product of the Year (Classic Animation)– Rubies (Scooby Doo dress-up) Wizarding World product of the Year – Lego TV Product of the Year – Brands In (Riverdale apparel) Vault Product of the Year – Paladone (It / Gremlins)

• Product Innovation of the Year – Wow Stuff (Invisibility Cloak) • Marketing Activation of the Year – Mattel (exclusive Imaginext promotion with Smyths) • Newcomer of the Year – Asmodee (Harry Potter Dobble) • Licensee of the Year – Aykroyds / TDP

Redan celebrates milestone anniversaries with new titles 2020 is set to be another action-packed year for Redan. Not only is the company celebrating its 30th anniversary, but Fun To Learn Friends magazine celebrates its 20th birthday too. Activity to mark this milestone year will include a Birthday Bash celebration day in the summer. The majority of Redan’s magazines feature popular children's characters including Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Moon and Me, The Gruffalo, PJ Masks, Bing, My Little Pony, Hatchimals, Barbie, Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom and many more. Titles range from standalone character titles like Peppa Pig to the popular multi-character titles, Fun To Learn Friends, Fun To Learn Favourites and Sparkle World. In every issue there are opportunities for toy producers and retailers to partner with Redan for competition giveaways and advertising opportunities. The newest addition to the range is a fun and educational magazine called I Know! This title has been designed to bring to life core STEM subjects for Early Years and Key Stage 1, in an engaging and entertaining format. Redan has created the Smart Squad to guide children through the many crafts, puzzles, fun facts, experiments and activities. New titles this year include a Moon & Me standalone magazine for the property which has already built plenty of momentum. There are also specials being published in the first half of the year, including Peter Rabbit 2 and Rainbocorns.

Toy World 30

Q&A

Little Baby Bum

Twinkle Twinkle Little Tikes In November last year, Little Tikes announced that it had been appointed master toy licensee for Little Baby Bum, a British YouTube channel that specialises in 3D animation videos which combine traditional nursery rhymes and original children's songs. Toy World spoke to Andrew Laughton, senior vice president UK at MGA, about what the property offers and how the initial toy range has been received at retail.

we don’t see anything else out there that ties in with Little Tikes in this way. This is a really interesting partnership, and we’re very excited about it.

What’s the retail reaction been like?

MGA owner Isaac Larian has always been famously anti-licensing – what makes Little Baby Bum the exception to the rule? The fit between Little Tikes and Little Baby Bum is perfect. I personally wouldn’t call it a licence in its purest form; we’re not taking a TV or film property and creating a product line based on it. As a YouTube channel, Little Baby Bum takes perennial, beloved nursery rhymes into the next century by updating them and creating unique animated content to support the words and music. Little Tikes is simply acting as a fulcrum for this. One of the main strengths of Little Tikes is that there is huge brand awareness surrounding it. Take L.O.L. Surprise! off the table, and Little Tikes is the MGA brand everyone knows best; it’s the classic yellow and red car, or the turtle sandbox in your back garden. We have to be mindful of the history of Little Tikes. We can’t just go slapping anything into the portfolio and hoping it works. The traditional elements of Little Baby Bum mean it aligns incredibly well with our own brand, and

It’s been very positive. Little Baby Bum is wellknown amongst parents as a popular form of entertainment media for children, and retailers who know the channel completely get the toy range; kids love it and parents approve of it, so it’s a win-win. Those that aren’t familiar with Little Baby Bum are a harder sell; shelf space is at a premium, after all - but when you give them the numbers behind the channel [which has 22.6m subscribers] they quickly come around. The viewing figures are eyewatering, some 21b views to date, which makes people sit up and take notice. The biggest challenge in the Infant and Pre-School sectors is space. There’s a lot of product coming through for Little Baby Bum: we are sticking with a tight launch range of eight SKUs for the January launch and we’ll be extending the range for autumn winter.

Can you tell us about the hero products within the initial launch range, and what the autumn range will comprise? We’ve already launched products in the US, including the Twinkle Plush, the Singing Story Book, Old McDonald Farm Blocks and a Singing Piano. Twinkle is a major character within Little Baby Bum, as is the Yellow Bus, but there’s plenty of scope for other product coming through. We didn’t see the point in overloading the market with 20 SKUs launching in spring; we need to manage our own expectations, and there’s less space available at this time of year. While most viewers will be familiar with Twinkle and the Yellow Bus, the channel is creating a lot of content

Toy World 32

for other key characters. We’re fast to market so we can respond quickly to new characters that are resonating with the audience. Smyths is onboard at launch, along with Argos, Amazon, Shop Direct and a number of independent retailers. Grocery channels are much tougher; you have to range a decent number of SKUs or it’ll get lost. The autumn launch will include lower-priced items based on several vehicles from Little Baby Bum, which will be more suitable for grocers, but the initial launch follows on from what’s been happening in the US. We didn’t want to jump into the market in November or December, when shops are at their most cluttered, trying to launch a range mid-season. It wouldn’t work in the UK market. With this in mind, we made the decision to delay the initial release to this month, giving both ourselves and our retailers the breathing room required to make this launch sing from the word go.

What marketing and retail support will the range benefit from this year? We’ll be running an event at Hamleys in London, supported by a major window display. Given the nature of the property, online and social media coverage will be hugely important. A lot of digital activity has been planned across Facebook and Instagram, because we’re targeting parents, not kids. Thankfully, many parents – traditionally the most difficult, and the most expensive, people to reach – already know about the brand, so we feel that we’re on a strong footing already. We’ve enjoyed a lot of success with influencer gifting campaigns too, where we’ve put the products in the hands of popular celebrities. This always leads to a lot of eyes on the products, as we’ve seen with L.O.L. Surprise! and Poopsie. Little Baby Bum, as an online medium, lends itself well to this kind of approach, and we’re very confident it will pay off.

Q&A

NPD

Crunching the numbers

The NPD Group recently announced plans for a sample upgrade in 2020 and the introduction of a new e-commerce service amidst changing consumer habits and marketplace trends. Toy World spoke to Melissa Symonds, director UK Toy service, François Klipfel, president EuroToys, and Frederique Tutt, global industry analyst, Toys, NPD, just before Christmas, to get the low-down on how the UK toy market fared in 2019 and how its new service will benefit the trade. With only a couple of weeks to go until Christmas 2019, how do you see the UK market finishing up this year? Melissa: As highlighted by NPD’s Weekly Tracking Service, each year we notice that Christmas sales seem to happen later in the fourth quarter. This year, the festive shopping season is possibly even more complicated as the general election has been monopolising so much attention. Christmas falls on a Wednesday (versus Tuesday in 2018) and once again we expect a lastminute surge during the very last weekend and even up to Christmas Eve, itself. There is a lot at stake with 14% of annual sales happening in the last three weeks of the year. I would say that we are likely to finish between -5% and -7% down if we consider the entire retail landscape – e.g. beyond the sample we cover with our point-ofsale feed. As we write this (7th December), sales are down -8.6% year-to-date in Sterling. This is rather disappointing but shouldn’t surprise anyone. Even the retailers which had

been driving growth over the last few years, either like-for-like or through store openings, are feeling the strain.

How does this compare with the other main European territories? François: The UK toy market is currently under-performing its neighbours. France is flat, Germany is up 3% and Spain is down 1% (with 40% of annual sales still to come) year to date after Black Friday week. Quite frankly, in 25 years of tracking toy sales in the UK, we have never seen anything like this. Toys is not alone though; and if you look at the BRC figures, non-food sales in the three months to November are down -4%. We’ve been hearing that the weeks both before and after Black Friday 2019 were pretty dire, both in the UK and globally. Are these reports correct? Frederique: It’s difficult to compare 2018 to 2019, because in 2018 Black Friday fell in week 47, and last year it fell in week 48. If we take weeks 47 to 49 together, in order to cover both Black Friday and Cyber Monday weeks in both years, the UK market was down -10% for 2019.

Toy World 34

Melissa: Both the 2018 and 2019 UK Black Fridays were down on the preceding years, which is reflected almost across the globe, with one exception, Germany. Consumers on the whole, regardless of the category they are looking to shop in, are waiting for Black Friday hoping to bag a significant deal, and because they may not see the same reduction in toys as in something like household electronics, they don’t purchase much during that week and end up buying their toys later. This moves sales further into December. Historically week 51 is the biggest week of the year for toy sales, with more sales in that one week than in any full month from January to September.

There have been some significant changes in the UK retail market in recent years, especially the growth of both the value and online sectors; do you feel that your panel coverage in these areas has given you a robust overview of what has been happening these sectors up to now?

A New Decade of Marketing for Children

The leading independent specialist in media buying and marketing communications for Children, Young People and Families.

Mapping the Future Linear TV still remains the most effective way to reach a ‘mass' audience of Children (4-15). However, with continued and measured TV audiences in serial, double-digit decline, media and marketing strategists need new ways of thinking in an increasingly complex media landscape. Generation Media are here to navigate your campaigns through this New World of advertising to Children, with fresh ideas and, ground-breaking audience measurement and performance tools.

The Media Aggregator

M A

Getting the correct budget split for your advertising is critical to increase the effectiveness of your campaign. Our proprietary tool - The Media Aggregator, delivers just this. Combining external market factors, internal insight, and unique marketing variables, we can tell you where your budget should be spent for maximum return.

Introducing Jigsaw With YouTube taking an increasing share of advertising budgets, understanding the impact of your investment on TV coverage and frequency is critical. For 2020 we have enhanced the features of ‘The Media Aggregator’ with Jigsaw, to piece together the combined coverage and frequency of cross platform audio visual campaigns.

GM Checkout

GM CHECKOUT

As online sales continue to grow, let our experts review your eCommerce strategies. Our GM Checkout team can facilitate lower ACOS on Amazon, reduce cost per click on Google and increase return on ad spend with Criteo and Citrus. Our experience and full funnel approach is focused on maximising return at point of sale for every penny spent on advertising.

Content The importance of having compelling content to leverage on when building or sustaining a brand, is critical. However, challenges around how to window content, what platform to use and how to monetise it, are still up for debate and require serious strategic input. Our content distribution team can work with you to produce, distribute and market your content to the right audience, wherever they are.

Have you seen our Digital Map?

Copyrigh g t Genera Gene eration Med M ia 2019 9

Kids, Youth and Family Specialist Insight Agency How can your 2020 budget work harder for you? Book in for a free, no obligation consultation. Tell us what questions you have as a business and let us remove the guesswork to ensure your budget allocation is informed, rather than predicted. Call +44 (0)207 637 9970 to book your free consultation now! Qualitative and Quantitative research across the UK and internationally

Online Surveys and Dashboards

Online Communities

Focus Groups and IDI’s

Digital Diary App

We deliver bespoke research to answer individual client needs and fill gaps in industry knowledge through flagship studies: Kids and the Screen and Little Voices Kids and the Screen: Changing the Channel

Little Voices: Big Impact

Capturing real-time viewing behaviour amongst 2-12 year To keep you finger on the pulse with kids aged 2-12 and their olds, whether it be a 3 minute clip on YouTube or a 20 parents, we explore areas such as image, brand affinity, purchase minute TV show on Netflix – it’s all recorded here! influence and you can add your own bespoke questions too! Please get in touch to find out more and to get involved with these flagship research studies. info@giraffeinsights.com

+44 (0)207 637 9970

www.giraffeinsights.co.uk

NPD Melissa: You’re absolutely right. The retail landscape in the UK has dramatically changed over the last two years. It’s not only the wellpublicised retailers like Toys R Us that have been struggling. We have seen a major re-distribution at retail; and it’s larger than what we saw with Woolworths all those years ago. Toy sales at grocers have declined by 20%; grocers are now approaching toys in a different way. In fact, I would say all retailers are changing their approach. Where we used to have retailers that were happy to take full ranges, the focus is now very much on profitability - retailers are increasingly stocking only the best-performing SKUs, rather than looking at ranges from a total-brand point of view. This is probably helping some bottom lines - even though sales may be down, we may find that retailer margins are actually up. So, who are the winners out there? According to NPD’s Consumer Tracking Service, value retailers have gained a 2-point market share over the past two years, and now represent just under 10% of the market. In order to help our clients, we ran a special consumer report on this growing channel to understand its dynamics and perspectives. In the same period, online sales have also grown from 31% of sales to 37% in the 12 months ending September 2019. This is via pure-players and marketplaces, of course, but also through the bricks and mortar retailers’ online sites. This is a considerable jump, yet not unique to the UK; it’s something we witness in all the countries we track. We’re always looking to improve our service by continually adding retailers in markets and increasing the number of attributes globally to allow clients to get the most out of the data. Recruiting is an ongoing effort across all of NPD, and we are continually recruiting new retailers and adding retailers to the panel. We cannot speak for all retailers, but we do believe that now, more than ever, it is critical to have market information to understand the shifts in the marketplace that could help them grow their business. NPD has excellent relationships with all its retail partners, and they value and use our services to help inform their decisions. One major retailer spoke to us recently of a huge

‘paradigm shift’ that he feels is on its way in the toy market; do you think we need to start seriously considering that this is a real possibility? Frederique: Yes, I think they could be right. There’s a lot of noise in the US at the moment about having too much ‘stuff’, replacing objects with experiences and different ways of consuming. For example, the Board Games category continues to grow as people are increasingly putting down their screens and sharing in social moments together. For a long time, the UK market grew faster than the others, especially during the Tony Blair years, because people were consuming and putting everything on credit. This has changed. We’ve been told by a major toy retailer that they are receiving letters from kids about plastic. In the UK, children are really driving a culture shift when it comes to the environment. Every year we survey parents after Christmas to find out what they bought and this year we included a question on whether they changed their Christmas shopping habits, based on environmental concerns. It’ll be fascinating to see the responses. We also need to factor in the number of children in the marketplace. Ten years ago, growth was partially driven by an increasing population, but this isn’t necessarily the case nowadays. In the UK, growth was also being driven by European migrants entering the marketplace, but again, this has slowed. There are less children under four today in the UK than there were five years ago, and less children means fewer toys being bought. Looking ahead to 2020, what can you tell us about your plans to extend your coverage? Melissa: We are working on a sample upgrade for 2020. We have a number of retailers ready to come on board including a specialist chain, a big marketplace and another grocer. Until those agreements are locked in, we cannot communicate any names. But we’re also working to integrate DTC sales for some suppliers, as we recognise that is a growing channel right now. François: We are also launching a new e-commerce service. Right now, in some countries, we’re able to provide an online/offline split (this is the case in Russia, Mexico and we have workaround solutions in place in Germany and

Q&A

in France). But in the UK, the weight of the main player prevents us from doing so, even though we are seeing strong development in the marketplace. With that in mind, we are therefore launching a new consumer-based service to track toy sales online through all market players, big or small. This service will be complementary to our regular data set.

What have been the biggest challenges in bringing this about? François: We had to innovate and re-think how we gather data. The service is non-intrusive for the consumer; we call it “passive tracking.” Over 100,000 individuals have agreed to let us mine their email inboxes, which gives us the ability to access what they have purchased online. The quality of the data is extremely good. Some of our competitors rely on web-scraping, while we prefer using e-receipts. We have gathered thousands of transactions for shoppers who have actually bought toys; and through this source of information, we are able to run studies on loyalty, repeat purchase, cross-purchase (they bought into your brand, what other brand do they buy, etc.). This new service is as valuable for retailers looking to grow their online share as for manufacturers, since both retailers and brands can see their share for a given category. As online sales continue to grow, the data will only get more and more robust.

Given the dynamic and everchanging pricing landscape in the online arena, what impact will that have on your capacity to factor in pricing fluctuations to your reports? Melissa: We don’t factor in prices. The prices we get from retailers are ‘live’ prices and nett prices; this means they take promotions into account. With that, we run specific analyses on-demand called Promotion Studies (PPS) for our clients. It helps them measure promotion efficiency remember the big debate around the timing of the 3-for-2 at Argos? It’s striking to see that the UK is the most promoted market in Europe, and this keeps increasing, unfortunately. Consumers are literally hooked on promotions and that’s not helping the health of our industry.

Weekly Sales % of Annual Toys sold in 2018 In 2018 week 51 accounted for 6% of annual toy sale – largest week of the year and equivalent to whole month sales in August 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0%

Week 40 w41

w42

w43

w44

w45

w46

w47

w48

w49

w50

w51

w52

Source: NPD Group | Retail Tracking Data | Week 40- 52 2019 | UK

DocumentThe classification: Client/Third Party Confidential NPD Group, Inc. | Proprietary and confidential

Toy World 39

NPD Insight

Counting our blessings Rory looks back on a challenging 2019 for the toy market and finds that certain categories are bucking the overall trend and have provided cause for celebration. At the time of writing, as we approach the end of best performers. Funko is a key part of the Action 2019, the UK toy market is currently sitting at -8.6% Figures success, with a range which is focused on vs. the same period from 2018. With only three one category and growing in popularity, tapping weeks to go until we know the full year result, we into key trends like collectibles and kidults, as well can say with almost total certainty that the market as spanning the most popular licences. A sign of will see its third year of decline in a row. There are this popularity is that Funko had distribution of a number of reasons for this decline in what has 63% in the EPOS panel for the comparable quarter been the success of Strategic Trading Card Games been a very tumultuous year overall. If we look in 2018, while this increased to 94% in 2019. Funko - another collectible trend. Driven by the Pokémon at the current data on a category level, only two Pop! is the No.1 property in Action Figures in Movie release, the property has seen strong growth of the supercategories are not in decline: Action 2019, with Marvel, Toy Story and Fortnite taking in 2019, comparable to 2016 when Pokémon Go Figures, which is growing at +8% and Games up the next three spots. The top property lists pushed sales to heights we hadn’t seen before, & Puzzles, which is flat. The market has seen also show the collectible influence, with Roblox, and most of this value is in the Strategic Trading consistent declines across the board this year, so Treasure X, SuperZings, Bakugan and Ryan’s World Card Games category. Another nod towards the what makes these two categories different? It’s all featuring in the top spots. The Action Figures collectibles trend is the growth of football-based worth examining them to see what lessons can be supercategory has benefited from being heavily properties, with World Soccer, Match Attax and learned - and possibly applied going forward to licenced in 2019, with a mix of new and current Top Trumps all growing this year. Dobble from 2020. lines that have been popular and on trend. The Asmodee looks set to be the No.1 Games item in Action Figures is comfortably the top NPD Christmas Study last year highlighted that 2019, which continues the strong growth we’ve performing supercategory in the UK toy market in boys 5-8 were being lost to video games, so could seen over the last few years, and the addition of a 2019, adding nearly £9m to market compared to these ranges be bringing them back to toys? Harry Potter version this year has contributed to 2018. In a market which has lost £160m this year, Games & Puzzles has shown a flat trend versus the game’s success. Another game that has enjoyed how has the category bucked the trend? The first last year; not quite as impressive as Action Figures, considerable success is Pictionary Air from Mattel; big factor is the licence trend for 2019: licences but still well ahead of the toy market and the only taking an old favourite and giving it a modern made up just under a quarter of all toy sales, and other supercategory which isn’t in decline. One of twist has seen the line enter the top 10 Games & have declined by -7%, but they make up over 70% the main areas of growth in Games this year has Puzzles items for 2019. Adult Puzzles has enjoyed of Action Figures sales strong growth this year too. and have grown by +10%. This isn’t a category that Licences have driven the often gets into headlines, category, with growth but with Ravensburger, above the total for the Gibsons Games and Jumbo Action Figures and Games & Puzzles the only two supercategories not in decline supercategory as a whole. all growing ahead of the The growth in Action market, the category has -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 Figures is not down to any a trend of +8% compared Action Figures & Acc £7.4 one manufacturer, though to 2018. It should be noted Games/Puzzles £0.6 there are some standout that anything can happen Plush -£3.0 successes. Looking at the in the Games & Puzzles Vehicles -£8.0 top 10 manufacturers, eight category – at the time of You th Electronics -£12.3 of them are growing this writing, we still have the Arts & Crafts -£15.6 year, with seven of those Building Sets -£16.3 last three weeks of the Dolls -£22.3 showing either double year to come and with a Outdoor & Sports -£26.4 digit or triple digit growth. category that generates Explorative & Other Toys -£27.4 This is not a trend we see around 50% of its sales in Infant/Toddler/PS Toys -£34.5 in any other category, with the last quarter, those sales Value Change £m collectibles helping growth could make a big difference DocumentThe classification: Client/Third Party Confidential here too. Funko, Magic to the overall picture. NPD Group, Inc. | Proprietary and confidential Source: The NPD Group | NPD EPOS YTD Nov 2019 vs 2018 Box, Jazwares and Moose Toys have been some of the

Rory Partis

Director UK Toys & EuroToys NPD

Toys Category Trend 2019

Toy World 40

w e N l l A

W NE

FULLY POSEABLE

Fashion Dolls

NEW

SERIES TWO

#hairdorables hairdorables.com

To monitor what’s happening in the ever-changing toy market, NPD collects point-of-sale information from all major toy retailers. This information, combined with our analysts’ industry perspectives, delivers a comprehensive view of what’s selling and where. We also field over 12m consumer surveys annually to help industry leaders understand why consumers shop where they shop and why they buy what they buy. For more information visit www.npd.com. Follow NPD on Twitter @npdgroup.

FastestGrowingLicences Fastest Growing Licences

Fastest Growing Licences

Movie licences take 5 of the top 10 spots £0

Toy Story is the No.1 gaining licence in the UK so far in 2019. With the movie in June and the DVD now on general release, we have seen strong sales as we move towards Christmas. Fortnite has continued to sell well after a strong start to the year, although the recent release of Disney Frozen II might just pip it to the No.2 spot. Ryan’s World takes the 5th spot in terms of gain, with the online videos still racking up millions of views. In total there are five movie-based licences in the top 10 gaining licences, pointing towards an improved year for movie-based properties.

Toy Story Fortnite Harry Potter Disney Frozen Ryan's World How To Train Your Dragon Peppa Pig Disney All Other Chevrolet Spider-Man

£5

Sales Gained £M £10 £15

£20

£25 £23

£16 £10

£6 £6

£4

£2 £2 £2 £2

M o v i e l i c e n c e s t a k e 5 o f t h e t o p 1 0 s p o t s Item Progression: DocumentThe classification: Client/Third Party Confidential NPD Group, Inc. | Proprietary and confidential

Source: The NPD Group | Retail Tracking Service | YTD Wk 49 2019 vs. 2018

SalesGained£M £0 £5 £10 £15 £20 £25

2019 has been an outstanding year for the Barbie property, and in November it was ranked as the No.2 property in the total toy market. This performance has been helped by a strong performance across the range; in November there were two Barbie items in the top 20, as well as the Barbie Dreamhouse moving from No.177 in October to No.24 in November.

ToyStory £23 Fortnite £16 Har yPot er £10 DisneyFrozen £6

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT LONDON TOY FAIR, PLEASE EMAIL

Toy World 42

SALESUK@SKYROCKET.COM

2020

Collection

Leading the way in musical play... London Toy Fair Stand E90

Nuremberg Spielwarenmesse 12-E-06

Spring Fair

Hall 5 Stand M33

New York Toy Fair

Stand #2903 (Edushape)

To make an appointment please contact Tel: 01254 872454 E-mail: sales@halilit.co.uk

Talking Shop

Cheers to a New Year! Toy World’s Lisa Currie caught up with a selection of independent retailers to look back on 2019 and hear about how Christmas sales went. Retailers also discussed which items stood out as top sellers and the plans and hopes they have for 2020.

Steven Scott - Langleys Toy Shop, Norwich we are a long-standing, established business is another reason why we stand out in the local area and appeal to consumers. Grandparents know the shop from when they were kids and they feel a real affection towards the business. It is as much part of Norwich as Coleman’s Mustard used to be, and that gives it a real character of its own.

The original Langleys Toy Shop is the second oldest continuous free trading toy shop in the country and has been in private ownership since its inception in 1883. Since then we have opened a second store in Chapelfield which, unlike the first one, is not a member of Toymaster, and a smaller collectibles store, also in Norwich. We sell a huge range of toys, games and crafts with brands including Lego, Playmobil, Schleich and many more. For us, Langleys is like the Norfolk equivalent of Hamleys; there is a very high level of awareness of the business and we have many regular customers coming back to see us.

The manager of the Chapelfield branch, Chris, recently had a customer who wanted to confirm that the new store was affiliated to the Langleys in the Arcade, because they didn’t want to do business with anyone else but us; that level of dedication is a real testament to the Langleys name. Since opening, I have visited the new shop many times to listen to what customers have to say and read the comments book we keep by the counter. When in the store, you see the delight in customers who are thrilled to see an independent toy shop standing its ground in a big shopping centre. It’s a different kind of shopping experience at Langleys and there is a tremendous charm to an old fashion toy shop, which you don’t get in many other businesses. Langleys is quaint even though it is modern, and seeing the look on kids’ faces when they enter is priceless.

The oldest Langleys shop has been located in the Royal Arcade in Norwich since the 1920s. The Arcade has had a difficult year, with 10 of the 16 units in the centre becoming vacant, which ultimately prompted me to seek another location for a second store. We opened the second shop in September 2019 at the Intu shopping centre in Chapelfield. The shop was opened by the Lord Mayor of Norwich and we gave out goodie bags promoted by the shopping centre. Overall, we had a delightful first day, with plenty of high-profile publicity, which we have been pushing with extensive radio and local newspaper advertising. This initiative was supported by a number of our suppliers to whom we are very grateful – particular mentions go to Orchard Toys, Galt, Playmobil, Epoch and Ravensburger, who each gave us great support, enabling us to take on an ambitious advertising campaign. It was extremely busy toward the end of last year. The location of the new shop, being central within the shopping centre, has attracted a high volume of trade. We expect that we will level out to our usual steady footfall toward the end of January, after the Christmas rush has died down. The reaction to the new shop has been very promising, and customers love the bright and fresh new look. The new store also comes with very easy access and an undercover carpark, which we are conveniently right next to. Intu Chapelfield is a prime shopping location, as the main shopping centre in Norfolk, and we pay a lot to be in such a prime spot. The colossal footfall since opening day makes it all worth it – we certainly get what we pay for. All of these factors make me think 2020 will be good year for the new store. The only real challenge we found ourselves confronted with in 2019 was the plummeting footfall in the Arcade, which facilitated moving, otherwise we have been very fortunate to not feel any major impact from the challenges that have

been affecting some retailers over the last year. Opening the second Langleys shop on time, with such huge expectations and standards set from the Intu branch, was also a big challenge for us, but we got there in the end and have thoroughly enjoyed the success of the new store since opening. I am a wholesaler in my own right, as well as a retailer. As Get Retro, we wholesale toys, and sales of our own products accounts for 15% of the sales in the new shop, which has been the difference between success and failure. In addition, Lego, Galt and Orchard Toys have been some of the bestselling ranges across the board. Orchard Toys sells well because it has good price points. We also get positive margins from it, so I like to give Orchard products a prominent position in the shop to boost sales. Another product that has been consistently good for us is Timberkits, a wooden construction product from a small, private company that we are pleased to support. The staff are a real asset to Langleys - we have some part-time staff and younger members who help us during the busier times of year, but most of them have been with the business for over 15 years. This creates a family atmosphere which lends itself perfectly to making Langleys a destination shop. They know the products well, and they care about offering the best customer service. I think the fact

Toy World 45

For 2020, it is really a case of consolidation. We want to make sure we are thriving in the quieter parts of the year by keeping our offering interesting and running promotions when we can. Because of the high levels of footfall, we expect to sell more products under promotion in the new store than we would do at the Arcade. As we go further into 2020, I hope to liaise with suppliers who are interested in promoting products with us. We have always been very strict about removing product lines where the margins do not justify the space given over to the product; we are very margin driven. However, we always look forward to seeing what else is out there and integrating new lines into our product offering. The time of year I most look forward to as retailer and wholesaler is Q4 – I am adrenaline driven and that is when I think things really start to get interesting. We will be attending London Toy fair as an exhibitor with the wholesale business and will hopefully speak to other retailers who would like some guidance on the lines that have worked really well in store. We also attend Olympia as a buyer and welcome any wholesalers who would like to discuss promotions or special purchases with us. I will also be going to Spring Fair and Autumn Fair at the NEC in Birmingham this year, both as a buyer and a seller and will consider going to Harrogate as well.

Talking Shop Emma Higgins - Fagin’s Toys, Muswell Hill We are a long-established business, having been located on the high street in Muswell Hill for 53 years . We aim to appeal to people aged 0-99, as toys are for everyone. We look quite small from the front exterior but upon entering, our store is like an Aladdin’s Cave, stocking everything from toys for baby and pre-school children right up to puzzles for adults, and everything else in between. Business has been going very well and we have been consistently busy with good footfall. We find that people in the area enjoy shopping at independent stores, rather than at larger establishments, which is always great news. On reflection, 2019 as a whole has been a really good year, helped by a very busy summer. Seemingly, not as many local people went away as usual, so our footfall remained very steady throughout the holiday period. There are two other toy shops nearby, but we stay comfortably afloat because of our central location on the high street and our long-standing presence in the area, which means we get a lot of regular customers coming back again and again. We also sell big brands, like Lego and Playmobil, that our competitors do not, so many consumers choose us based on that fact alone. Recent best-sellers for us have been our range of puzzles and Lego, especially the Star Wars and Lego City sets. Lego is always popular with both kids and their parents, while puzzles are great for all ages and as an indoor activity for this time of year. Being the only independent toy shop in the area that sells Lego, many customers prefer to take advantage of the personal service we can offer, rather than buy from bigger stores. Across the whole of 2019, a stand-out product range has been Disney Princess dolls. A more recent addition was the Frozen II dolls from Hasbro which, like the classic Disney Princess dolls, have been flying off the shelves. Despite some reported shortages in Frozen II stock, we have been lucky enough to get a consistent supply coming in, and always on time.

Other consistent year-round sellers include Orchard Toys, Galt Toys and Playmobil. The Paint a Tea Set from Galt is hugely popular, as well as the Shopping List game from Orchard. I expect these brands will continue to remain strong sellers for us throughout 2020. Christmas is always the highlight of our year and is the time we most look forward to - we’re already looking forward to next Christmas! In December 2019, we ran our first Christmas Tree Appeal with the Metropolitan Police for kids in Haringey who don’t get any presents at Christmas. We used our store as a collection point where people could come in and donate toys, which we then passed onto the police. It went really well, and we collected plenty of donations as well as bringing people through the door, so I think it will become an initiative that we will introduce on a regular basis. Christmas is also the time of year where we bring Frosty the Snowman to our community, which is always a highlight for us; everyone in Muswell Hill knows about Frosty. There was a Muswell Hill event on the second weekend of December where the character made an appearance, and we gave out sweets and staged karaoke outside the front of our store.

Other than a successful Christmas, the general highlight for 2019 was how busy we were year-round and our overall sales increasing from the year before. Christmas shopping started earlier, which helped sales increase compared to 2018. Despite 2019 being a challenging year for a lot of retailers and industries, we were fortunate not to feel too much impact from the likes of Brexit, toy safety and the increase of online shopping. On the contrary, business improved and hopefully 2020 will be the same, if not better. Since we have so many regular customers, we don’t find the threat of online shopping to be a big one. Our customers prefer to see a product first before they commit to buying. We also see a lot of people who have lost faith in online purchases because of orders not turning up. At least with shops like ours you can take away a product the same day and, crucially, know exactly what you are buying. My only real concern as we begin the New Year is Brexit having an effect on stock delivery from the EU. I think our store stands out because it’s a traditional toy shop, which I think both parents and children like to see. We make sure to constantly change our window displays and update our social media pages, so everyone knows exactly what Fagin’s has to offer. Social media is a great platform for us as so many of our customers use it. All our staff are very knowledgeable on everything we stock and are always on hand to help customers, and we believe this fact is fundamental to our success. We remain quite busy in January because many kids come into the store to spend their Christmas money. We will be going to London Toy Fair later this month to source new stock to attract even more customers. We attend every year to look at new products and try some out before buying. With all the new ranges unveiled at the start of the year, it’s a perfect time for us as a retailer to see everything under one roof. 2019 has been a great year for Fagin’s Toys and we hope 2020 brings us the same success.

Stewart Jamieson - Harry’s Toys, Lerwick, Shetland Harrys is a department store retailing in toys, bikes, nursery, housewares, linens, gifts and cards. Originally the store was a barber shop run by my late father Harry Jamieson, hence the name. The business expanded with a toy department when my father began selling Matchbox cars and also masks for a local festival; it was a natural progression. Gradually the toy department grew, and the hairdressing side of the business was closed. From there, Harry’s evolved into Harry’s Department store. The business is now over 50 years old and remains a family concern: my sister manages the household department, while I look after the toy department. Business in the toy department towards the end of the year has been encouraging. October and

November were very busy – we always expect this around Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night, because we stock a wide range of fancy dress. Both business and footfall increased massively around the festive period; this upturn kicked off around Black Friday, when a lot of Christmas shoppers began hitting the shops in earnest. In Scotland, footfall can be hugely affected by poor weather conditions, but this year we remained really busy throughout the run up to Christmas despite the weather. From November onwards, we extended our opening hours to seven days a week, with late night shopping on a Thursday to accommodate the Christmas shopping rush and offer more flexibility to customers. When reflecting on business across the whole of 2019, I would say most months mirrored 2018 and

Toy World 46

remained fairly consistent. October and December were once again our busiest times, as we would expect. We made a number of changes to the toy department last year to update its look. We moved products round and reorganised the shelves, to make the space bigger and more open. We are stocking fewer products overall in order to accommodate this change, but our offering is now more focused and each range is more visible in store. This makes it easier for customers to shop, which is a top priority for us. The changes have worked out extremely well so far, with customer feedback on the new look being really positive. This year we seem to have got the product mix right: I believe that offering plenty of choice and

indie viewpoint

Mark Buschhaus and Stephen Barnes Toy Barnhaus

All I want for Christmas is poo something to suit everyone is what makes a great toy shop. As a toy retailer, Christmas is a time I most look forward to as everyone is in high spirits and there is always a buzz about the high street. The new L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G dolls have been very popular at Harry’s. The L.O.L. brand as a whole has remained in demand in the toy department since its launch and continues to sell out. The Pictionary Air game has sold through well, as well as old favourites like Battleship. Lego is always a top seller and the Land Rover Lego Technic set was a huge success, as well as the Lego City and Frozen II ranges. Other new products that sold well for us in 2019 included product ranges for Frozen II; the Hasbro Anna and Elsa dolls were a particular favourite with customers, and I had order more before Christmas due to their popularity. The singing Elsa Doll from Jakks Pacific has also been a top seller. Retail is always challenging and 2019 was no different, however we have enough experience to keep things running smoothly and maintain a steady footfall. Although online shopping has become increasingly popular, purchasing online cannot match the level of customer service that we can offer, so that is ultimately what we strive for; offering fantastic customer service, the products customers want and attractive deals. Online shopping has impacted many retailers, but by following the right steps, independents like us can work alongside it. I think being a well-established store helps. Harry’s name makes us stand out, and our prime spot on the high street in the main centre of Lerwick is a huge advantage. Harry’s has built a strong reputation and a loyal following over the years. As it gets quieter in January, it’s time to stock take and tidy up after our Christmas sales. For 2020 I expect our ranges from Lego, Orchard Toys, Sylvanian Families, Barbie and our vast collection of jigsaws will remain popular – come the New Year these are always our mainstay products, primarily because they are long-standing, timeless favourites amongst kids and parents alike. In terms of big crazes and collectibles for 2020, it is hard to predict what these will be. We’re looking forward to visiting the Toy Fairs to see what’s on offer. We’ll be visiting London Toy Fair, which we haven’t done for the last couple of years, and look forward to seeing what’s new to the UK market. We also plan to attend Spring Fair in Birmingham and will also be in Harrogate for the Toymaster show in May. I enjoy seeing new products and placing orders; it’s always exciting bringing in something new and seeing it sell. For 2020 one of our main goals is to improve the toy shop even more, following the positive feedback on the work we have done so far. We will eventually extend this across the entire department store to give Harry’s a fresh new look.

As we write this, there are just two weeks left until the big day, and an awful lot of sales still to make, but hopefully by the time you read this it will have all come together. We were very pleased with our November trading figures, which were about on a par with last year - a result we are happy with in the current environment. The month ended strongly with Black Friday weekend, and we traded well over that period. Whatever your thoughts about it, Black Friday is here to stay, and in our opinion, you really have to participate in it. The timing this year at the end of the month, in line with most people’s payday, really translated to an increase in footfall. This tailed off a bit the week after, but overall, we are delighted with how things went. In the final few days before Christmas, various categories really came into their own. The “How to Spend it Well at Christmas” programme is undoubtedly one of the best marketing tools in the toy industry, and it showcased a wide range of products. However, the standout was clearly the stretchy poo from HTI. This has been a popular line for a couple of years now, but recently has become even more so. It has got to the stage where we are ordering pallets of poo – whatever next?! But seriously, it’s refreshing to see products at the lower end of the market getting a mention, as lines like that, along with other pocket money lines such as whoopee cushions, bouncy balls and squishy mesh balls are massive sellers every year, and act as great stocking fillers. In December this area is a real focus; it is good margin and really drives up the total basket spend. With Disney Frozen 2 now released, the products are really taking off. We expect sales to continue into 2020 and be a good boost to business. Our diaries are getting booked up for Toy Fair; one of our favourite shows of the year. After the madness of Christmas, it is good to start again and see what will be coming out in the coming months. Although we do have appointments with a lot of suppliers, we are making a conscious effort to spend more time looking around for new suppliers and different products. With recent NPD figures showing that the majority of the top 10 suppliers are in decline, while the suppliers under this are holding their own, it is definitely worth looking out for something different. New products are the lifeblood of our industry and are what keep customers coming back to us time after time, so it is up to us to walk the aisles and see what else we can find. It will be interesting to see what is hot for next year from a licensing perspective. After Marvel enjoyed a phenomenal few years with superheroes, the current era has come to an end, and going forward, it remains to be seen if the new films can generate quite the same level of sales. By the time you read this, the latest Star Wars film will have been released, and we will have hopefully seen an uptick on sales of the merchandise. However, with this being the last film for a while, there is certainly space in the market up for grabs. Minions should help next year, and we expect Trolls to be popular again. Peter Rabbit will provide a boost around Easter once again, and we think the new Sonic the Hedgehog could be a bit of a surprise hit. Happy New Year to everyone, and hopefully we’ll all have a fantastic 2020.

Toy World 48

2020

COLLECTION

2020 COLLECTION

Distributing Top Brands and Products

Hape Wooden Railway

Large Range Great Prices

p 0 2 r 0 o 2 d g u n c i t t i s c x E EW Don’t miss Toynamics Ranges on Stand B50 , Olympia London and stand 5G39 NEC Spring Fair

Top quality craft, jewellery and activities

For All Languages: ©[2020] The Pokémon Company International. TM, ® Nintendo.

|10b Nursery Court, kibworth Business Park, Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, LE8 0EX

Special Feature

Toy Hub

A fond farewell to Toy Hub At the end of a tumultuous 2019, news came that on the 14th December, after 10 years of trading, Toy Hub would be shutting its Dunblane premises. Rachael Simpson-Jones caught up with co-owner Helen Gourley, a regular contributor to Toy World, to reminisce about the good times, the role the business played in its local community, and how shifting retail conditions are creating new challenges for retailers.

“

Gez and I gave the business everything we could, but we still couldn’t make it profitable,” Helen Gourley tells Toy World, the morning after Toy Hub broke the news on its Facebook page that is was closing its remaining Dunblane store. “No one is to blame; not our suppliers, not our customers, not our colleagues. Its just one of those things. We hung onto Toy Hub longer than we should have done, but in the end we had to do what was right for us and our family; our son Jake is going to university and with Toy Hub still open, we couldn’t offer him the life and the opportunities that he deserves.” This is no tale of woe, however; speaking with Helen, the overwhelming feeling is one of optimism and contentment. When asked to list some of her favourite memories, there’s no hesitation. Winning an all-expenses-paid trip to the New York Toy Fair is a particular highlight, but meeting actor, singer and author John Barrowman, after inviting him to visit the store (and check out her Christmas jumper) on Twitter, takes the top spot. “As a result of that, I

got to know his uncle and aunt really well, and his nephew lives just around the corner now too,” Helen adds. The story is a perfect example of Toy Hub’s place within its local community; not just a toy shop, but a destination beloved by its customers for what it offered beyond the products on its shelves. The store was a favourite haunt for a local boy with additional learning needs, whose parents knew that he was accepted, understood and always welcome. Gez and Helen made sure that he was offered appropriate toys, helping to create many fond memories of playtime at the shop. When one elderly Lego fan passed away, Helen and Gez had a special commemorative Lego decoration created for his funeral, much to the delight of the gentleman’s daughter. “What you have to remember about a community shop is that it’s not just about what you sell – it’s about the people, the relationships you forge, the charities you support and the groups you help,” Helen explains. Always willing to share knowledge and experiences with toy

Toy World 52

industry colleagues, Toy Hub was a popular and oft relied upon member of Toymaster. When a toy shop opened in Linlithgow, some 30 minutes away from Toy Hub, Helen and Gez helped the owner source a low-cost EPOS system and offered valuable advice and tips on setting up and running an independent business. Toy Hub also helped establish a Christmas event in Dunblane some seven years ago, which is still going strong; this, Helen says, is part of the amazing legacy the business leaves behind. Toy Hub was also one of the first retailers to introduce the Lego Swap Box, a concept which has caught on in retailers nationwide, and was the only shop in Scotland to launch Skylanders Giants. Helen freely admits that the couple’s love for the business led to their ‘selfish’ decision to keep the store open longer than they should have, noting that there are lessons she wishes they had learnt sooner. She also acknowledges that today’s kids are living a different life to that of their parents. Gone are the days of visiting the shops every weekend to check out the latest toys, she

Reach O ver

1.5

MILLIO

CHILDR

Award-winning Pre-school Magazines

No.1* Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Magazine

No.1* Primary Girls

* .2 o N ol Pre-scho Magazine

Loved by children, trusted by parents. *ABC January - June 2019 (average net circulation)

Tel: 01743 364433 www.redan.co.uk

Special Feature

Toy Hub says: “Kids don’t know what it’s like to receive the amazing customer experiences I remember from when I was younger.” “The next year is going to be turbulent, and the high street is changing” she adds. “I listened to a programme recently on Radio 4 about Edinburgh, one of the only cities that’s actually investing in a shopping centre at the moment. But it’s not just shops. It’s also a hotel, a space for theatre performances and for having your nails done. The developers are making it a place where people can go and spend time, and this is the key thing - people are looking to spend time as much as money now, time with their friends and families. That’s what counts. Whenever we sold a toy, we knew that the sale didn’t begin and end with the physical product. We worked hard to pick toys that we thought people would really enjoy, and that’s why we always had such a good time at the trade fairs. We’d play with toys and games like our customers would play with them. Retail is now about giving an experience, not just an object.” Helen finishes: “We have had the most amazing time, and we appreciate the love and support of every single person who has made the past 10 years so incredible. We’ll treasure the memories we’ve made forever.” Toy World would like to thank Helen and Gez for all their time and contributions to the magazine over the years, and wishes them both all the best for the future.

Contact Gavin Lawler at gavin@innov8academy.com Mobile: 00353831053017

This product is built to empower children to tackle some of the more challenging life experiences. Empowerment Courage Calm Self acceptance

Toy World 54

Hot

Properties

John Baulch casts an eye over the current licensing landscape, and sees many reasons to be cheerful.

ast year, Toy World undertook a ground-breaking survey which looked at how the toy community viewed the licensing category. The results were fascinating, to say the least, underscoring the inescapable fact that the licensing sector is undergoing a period of significant change.

Licensed product share of toy market not including Disney:

The issues are well-documented: a majority of licensees felt that only a select few licensors were taking current trading conditions into consideration when setting guarantees and royalty rates; that the overall cost of taking on a licence was becoming too high, resulting in an excessive price premium over generic products; that the often labyrinthine approval process was in many cases over-complicated; that embargo strategies were frequently a barrier to conducting business with retailers and that the practice of ‘slicensing’ was either a minor or major irritant (depending on the category).

Licensed product share of toy market including Disney:

The net result was that almost half the survey respondents said that they planned to invest less in licensing deals over the coming year, and many were actively reappraising the role that licensed products play in their overall product portfolio. Without doubt, the winds of change are also blowing through the licensing community itself. One licensing stalwart who recently lost his job in a merger reshuffle got in touch with a specialist recruitment consultancy, only to be told that they wouldn’t be taking on any new licensing contacts – apparently their books were already full. With several acquisitions and mergers already completed (Warner / Cartoon Network; Nickelodeon Viacom / CBS and Silvergate / Sony), plus the eOne / Hasbro merger due to complete over the coming months, there are fewer players in the market, and the big are unquestionably getting bigger. However, it is certainly not all doom and gloom. Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room; the oft-quoted statistic that the share of the toy market attributed to licensed merchandise is in decline. Interestingly, if you compare the numbers from the past four years with and without Disney, a rather interesting picture emerges:

2016 = 13.2% 2017 = 13.7% 2018 = 14.4% 2019 YTD = 14.8% 12% growth 2016-2019

2016 = 24.6% 2017 = 23% 2018 = 21.5% 2019 YTD = 21.6% 12% decline 2016-2019 Essentially, when you take Disney out of the mix, the rest of the licensed industry has been relatively robust – and this doesn’t include toy brands which have moved into licensing such as L.O.L. Surprise! There are even mitigating factors behind the Disney market share; the past four years has seen the company attempting to anniversary numbers from the initial Frozen boom. That it failed to do so should not come as a huge surprise. Equally, the fact that a significant shift has taken place in the girls’ category since the launch of the aforementioned L.O.L. Surprise! is undeniable. The launch of Frozen II late in 2019 may yet see the balance tipping back towards licensed merchandise in the girls’ sector. Whilst sales may not yet have hit the giddy heights they reached the first time around, licensees and retailers have still been posting some solid, highly respectable numbers - and the best may still be to come. Disney also has reason for optimism on the much-maligned Star Wars franchise, with the highly-anticipated launch of Baby Yoda products later this year. Elsewhere, there are many other ongoing movie franchises to be excited about: the welcome return of both The Trolls and Minions to movie theatres should see Universal enjoying its best year yet, while other big films to look out for in 2020 include Warner’s Scoob! (Scooby Doo),

Toy World 56

Nickelodeon’s Spongebob and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Batman licensees are already planning for 2021, when a new film will be expected to invigorate this timeless classic. Toy companies are also mining their rich portfolios to grow their brands’ retail footprints through licensing deals; Mattel, Hasbro and MGA all offer strong franchise opportunities for licensees and retailers, while even specialist players such as Magic Box have shown that successful toy ranges can be extended through targeted licensing partnerships. The Pre-School licensed sector remains as competitive as ever, but with exciting new entrants such as Boat Rocker’s Love Monster, eOne’s Ricky Zoom, Rainbow’s SOS Pets and 44 Cats joining evergreens like Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Thomas and Friends, PJ Masks and Timmy Time, there is a rich selection of options to choose from. At the older end of the market, WWE is set to have another great year with its powerful ‘always on’ content strategy, while the ongoing success of Warner’s Wizarding World franchise illustrates that a strong evergreen licence is not dependent on a new book or movie for its enduring popularity. Some retailers are beginning to look beyond the ‘obvious’ big hitters to provide a balanced product offering which covers the major hot properties, in addition to some properties which may not be quite as ubiquitous (a polite way of saying ‘over-licensed’). One advantage of this strategy is that a retailer can get a larger slice of the cake by working with a less widely stocked property, while the obvious benefit of avoiding fierce pricing competition cannot be under-stated in a retail market where profit is often becoming as important as volume sales and market share. When it comes to licensing in toys, there is no ‘one size fits all’, and certainly no magic formula which guarantees success, either for licensees or retailers. But I sense that 2020 may be a year when a more pragmatic and realistic approach to the licensed category from players on all sides may just see the pendulum swinging back towards licensed merchandise once more.

Hot Properties

Pre-school PJ Masks Entertainment One PJ Masks has cemented its position as a leading global pre-school property since launching on TV screens in the US five years ago, and now boasts a licensing programme with over 700 global partners across 85 markets worldwide. Series 3 currently airs on Disney Junior, bringing its trademark mix of fast paced, action-packed and aspirational storylines along with a host of new locations, vehicles and characters. Fans of the show can look forward to more adventures in series 4, which is in production and will kick off with a 4-part 44-minute special in 2020. A combination of expanded categories and fresh product lines has resulted in continued retail penetration. Driving this strong retail push is an ongoing investment in new episodes, digital content creation and extensive creative asset development. With 71m app downloads, 37m streams on Spotify to date, and The Moonlight Heroes app reaching No. 1 in the ‘5 and Under category’ in 77 countries on the Google Play store and 103 countries on the iOS App store, the numbers speak for themselves. Live events are a strategic growth area for PJ Masks. The IP’s vibrant visuals, dynamic characters, familiar catchphrases and popular music combine to make a powerful live experience. A robust calendar of experiential activity will boost the brand’s profile in 2020, including a Merlin partnership that will bring the brand to life at 38 Sea Life centres in international markets including the UK. Other highlights for 2020 include the brand’s popular touring stage show which will debut to UK theatre audiences, the world’s first PJ Masks theme park attraction (set to open in Leolandia, Italy’s leading theme park destination) and a special charity partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Ricky Zoom Entertainment One Ricky Zoom made its broadcast debut in international markets late last year and is already proving to be a hit show around the globe. The CGI action comedy series for kids aged 3-5 years hails from the producers of PJ Masks and follows the adventures of Ricky, a little red rescue bike who shares his experiences with his enthusiastic Bike Buddies Loop, Scootio and DJ. The licensing programme will reflect the show’s colourful cast of vehicle characters and will be spearheaded by Tomy’s toy range, which arrives at retail in selected territories from spring. Further rollout throughout the year will include figures and playsets featuring the four core characters. The brand’s first app, Welcome to Wheelford, has also been a success, generating 1m downloads internationally within just eight weeks of launching. New games and locations are on the way, as well as a creative new app in March.

Peppa Pig Entertainment One Peppa Pig’s 15th anniversary celebrations marked a busy 2019 for the brand, which benefitted from heightened engagement stemming from year-long marketing activity, a strong retail presence, the launch of its first album, a Christmas charity single with Save The Children, and a licensing award win for Best PreSchool Property. Entertainment One enjoyed strong retail sales for Peppa Pig in 2019, with UK toy sales up 11% (YTD). eOne will build on this momentum in 2020 with a raft of new and existing partners. Brand and retail marketing initiatives and product launches will be united under the theme of Perfect Day, alongside a stage show production that will continue to tour throughout the year. eOne’s longstanding commitment to new content will see a slate of 26 brand new episodes air from February, launching with a Valentine’s Day special.

Toy World 58

Hot Properties

Pre-school Love Monster Boat Rocker Studios A key property in the Boat Rocker portfolio, quirky new 2D animated pre-school series Love Monster is based on the bestselling books by award-winning author Rachel Bright, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. The 54 x 7’ series premieres on CBeebies in this month. Warm and witty, showcasing the importance of kindness, empathy, connection and instinct, the show follows the hairy, googly-eyed hero Love Monster as he searches for the right thing to do in a world in which he is one of a kind. With a lot of help from his friends – a host of vivid and engaging characters – plus a little serendipity, Love Monster learns to follow his heart rather than his ‘over-thinky’ head, while building his inner confidence. By watching his adventures, kids learn to cope with difficult emotions. The show’s prestigious cast was announced in December; Star Trek’s George Takei will play Elder Panda, while Tamsin Greig and Darren Foreman will take the roles of The Narrator and Love Monster respectively. Golden Bear has signed as master toy partner for the UK, Eire and Australia across a wide range of categories including plush, plastic, figures, role-play, bath and wooden toys. Additional categories and international sales are currently in discussion, with further announcements due soon.

Kingdom Force Boat Rocker Studios Boat Rocker Studios has signed an international multi-territory deal with Boomerang for Kingdom Force, its new pre-school animated action series from Industrial Brothers, produced in association with CBC Kids and Radio-Canada. The 52 x 11" series broadcast on Boomerang in key EMEA markets across the region, including UK, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Israel and Africa from spring. Kingdom Force made its world premiere on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service in Canada in December, and will air in French on Radio-Canada in January 2021. A high-octane, 3D animated action show for kids aged 3-6, Kingdom Force follows the thrilling, fast-paced exploits of five mighty animal heroes as they serve and protect the citizens of five unique animal kingdoms, with the help of their giant rescue robot, Alpha-Mech. Kingdom Force is created by Matt Fernandes, of Industrial Brothers, and produced by Industrial Brothers and Boat Rocker Studios, in association with CBC Kids and Radio-Canada. Boat Rocker Studios will manage global franchise development including content distribution and consumer products. Fisher Price has signed as master toy licensee.

Dino Ranch Boat Rocker Studios The 52x11' CG animated pre-school series Dino Ranch was created by Matt Fernandes of Industrial Brothers and will be produced by Industrial Brothers and Boat Rocker Studios. Dino Ranch is currently in pre-production and set to premiere on Disney Junior US in 2021, followed by an international roll-out. The series follows the action-packed adventures of the Cassidy family as they tackle life in a fantastical, ‘pre-westoric’ setting where dinosaurs still roam. As the young ranchers learn the ropes, they discover the thrill of ranch life whilst navigating the great outdoors through unpredictable challenges. This thrill-a-minute series, packed with comedy and adventure, introduces kids to problem-solving, the foundations of forging life-long friendships, strengthening family and community bonds, and taking care of animals. Jazwares is on board as global master toy and is planning a wide range of engaging and inventive toys across a variety of categories.

Toy World 60

Hot Properties

Pre-school Spot Penguin Ventures Penguin Ventures, together with Puffin, will be celebrating 40 years of Spot throughout 2020. Author and illustrator Eric Hill started to make up stories about the adventures of a small puppy to read to his young son Christopher at bedtime. Eric incorporated a flap to cover the pictures and noticed how much it amused Christopher, and so Spot was born. Where’s Spot? was the first book of its kind when it was first published in 1980, and started a new publishing concept - interactive books for babies. 40 years on, Spot remains as popular with pre-school children and parents as ever, with over 65m copies of Where’s Spot? sold around the world to date. The simple but bold illustrations, with their clean backgrounds and picture book aesthetic, have a timeless appeal, whilst themes of discovery, friendship and first experiences continue to resonate with young children and their parents. These illustrations have translated perfectly from paper products to apparel and plush fabrics, and to television screens and handheld devices. Spot has been shared from one generation to the next, yet still manages to be relevant to today’s generation of pre-school children. To celebrate Spot’s anniversary Penguin Ventures has secured a number of impressive partnerships to deliver high profile activations. An integrated marketing and PR campaign will kick off with influencer activity to celebrate World Book Day in March and May will see the culmination of key activities, including a weekend of birthday celebrations on the 16/17th May in bookstores nationwide. A partnership with Sport Relief will see Spot feature as the ambassador for its nursery fundraising campaign, reaching over 15,000 nurseries, whilst Fit for Sport will be developing a programme to promote fitness within pre-school settings throughout spring. Existing Spot licensees include Rainbow, which launched a range of plush in 2019 and will develop wooden toys for 2020. Dennicci’s apparel range has seen significant success with grocers, and will be rolling out infant apparel across key accounts in Q1. Smiffy’s will launch a range of dress-up costumes for babies and toddlers in February in time for World Book Day. In addition, the anniversary has attracted a series of new licensed deals including award-winning licensees Play Press Toys for greeting cards and Boxine for audio figurines, both of which will launch in 2020. Puffin continues to be the home of Spot publishing, and will be releasing a commemorative edition of Where’s Spot? next year as well as a range of new pre-school publishing. Spot has now been translated into over 60 languages including Dutch, Finnish, Italian and Korean and even has a Braille edition. Where’s Spot? was recently included in the launch of StorySign, an innovative app which helps deaf children to read in a collaborative way with their parents, using real children’s books to create a connection to the written word. Spot has grown his digital presence via the launch of a dedicated Instagram channel in 2019, while a series of influencer campaigns delivered Spot to an audience of new parents. Facebook remains a highly engaged online community for Spot, whilst Penguin Ventures is in the process of establishing a presence on YouTube for the existing Spot animation. Finally, a new stage show is in development for Spot with live theatrical partner Selladoor. The show will tour the UK in August 2020 and, together with the other key brand activity planned for the anniversary year, will ensure that families can share in the special celebrations.

Paw Patrol Nickelodeon Paw Patrol continues its momentum with the launch of Paw Patrol: Ready Race Rescue, in cinemas on 24th January, following the success of Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups in 2019. The property will expand further in the summer, with a new Paw Patrol Live! making its way across the country, including lifesized Paw Patrol show for fans of all ages to enjoy. The launch of the Nickelodeon Adventure experience at intu Lakeside this month enables fans to immerse themselves in the Paw Patrol universe, with an accessible Adventure Bay, alongside a whole host of other iconic Nickelodeon brands and properties – further reflecting Nickelodeon’s mantra of being everywhere kids are. Dino Rescue is a brand-new theme for the property, and will launch in retail stores and on Nick Jr. in August this year, supported by a strong above the line campaign. There will be a new pup character joining Paw Patrol, helping with the new rescue missions in a lost world filled with dinosaurs. The Paw Patrol Little Heroes Paw Awards will also return this year for its third consecutive year, recognising and rewarding the achievements of little heroes throughout the country.

Toy World 62

Special Feature

Warner Bros

Back to Hogwarts Toy World spoke to Rachel Wakley, general manager, Warner Bros., about the enduring success of Wizarding World and how it’s planning to keep the momentum going for 2020.

How did the franchise fare in 2019? 2019 has been another blockbuster year for the Wizarding World in the UK. After the successful Home Entertainment release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in March, April saw the biggest expansion to date of The Making of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Leavesden, with a walk-through of the wizarding bank of Gringotts, the Lestrange vault, a gallery of goblins and much more. Investment in the franchise has been at all all-time high with the launch of several new digital initiatives. The Harry Potter Wizards Unite mobile game enjoyed a successful launch in the summer and has amassed over 18m downloads globally. This will continue to be a key ‘always-on’ touchpoint to the franchise in the years ahead. In October we saw the launch of The Official Harry Potter Fan Club, which can be experienced through the first ever Wizarding World app and a new, interactive website – WizardingWorld.com. These new digital experiences will offer fans an amazing breadth of content and a truly connected experience across the Wizarding World universe.

What were the stand-out successes for you last year? 2019 saw the most wins ever for the Wizarding World at the Licensing Awards, as Warner Bros. and our partners came away with three awards. The Lego Wizarding World Collection took home

the award for the Best Licensed Toy or Games range, Wow! Stuff’s Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak won the Innovation award, and Harry Potter won the award for best Childrens’ or Tween Licensed Property for Ages 5-12. We’ve firmly cemented ourselves as a top 10 toy property YTD, which is testament to the strength of the franchise in a challenging market. This has been driven by continued product innovation from our partners, with product staying true to favourite fan moments, characters and vehicles. The Lego Harry Potter Knight Bus has been a stand-out performer this year.

Are you pleased with the support you’ve received from retailers? The support we’ve received from the market has been truly exceptional. We’ve worked closely with these retail partners to deliver memorable activations across our tentpole moments; from our Back to Hogwarts campaigns to celebrate going back to school, to our iconic Christmas in the Wizarding World activations, we’ve landed numerous events that have delighted our fans. Our licensees have done a great job of securing strong distribution alongside exclusive products and promotional items, ensuring that our fans can access the franchise in many different ways.

What plans do you have to keep momentum behind the franchise in 2020? We’ll activate around our franchise tentpole moments with PR, marketing and digital activity, continuing to build on the success of previous

Toy World 64

events such as the Back to Hogwarts campaign which saw thousands of visitors descend upon King’s Cross station on the 1st September. We’ll also be activating around externally run tentpole moments, such as Harry Potter Book Night in February and World Book Day in March, which sees Harry Potter remain one of the most popular go-to characters. We’ll have an ‘always-on’ presence in 2020 through the following activity, which will ensure the Wizarding World is top of mind for consumers and continues to remain fresh and relevant: The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Leavesden, Harry Potter Wizards Unite and Hogwarts Mystery mobile game updates and events, and activity happening at specially branded retail spaces across the likes of Harrods, Hamleys and our own Platform 9 ¾ Retail Group across train stations and airports in the UK. In addition, the Harry Potter films will be available on Sky Cinema throughout 2020.

How can retailers get involved and support the franchise this year? Retailers should continue to partner with us and our licensees to deliver best-in-class Wizarding World activations for our fans next year. Iconic tentpole moments will occur throughout the year, coupled with new product and retail execution which will deliver magical moments for consumers. Retailers should also continue to liaise with our retail team to build the right plan for their customers, as well as ensuring they’re well stocked with the fantastic new products coming through from all our licensees.

Special Feature

Warner Bros

Here comes the Mystery Machine It’s set to be a big year for the Warner Bros. Scooby Doo franchise, with a new feature film set for release in May. Rachel Wakley, general manager, tells Toy World what to expect over the coming months. After a great reception to the movie trailer, what are your expectations for the new Scoob! Movie? We can’t wait for everyone to see the new movie and we hope everyone will love it as much as we do. We all have our own image of Scooby-Doo, so this film really plays on nostalgia for parents whilst also being inviting for new fans who are learning about and loving Scooby-Doo for the first time.

How will you continue to build excitement for the movie over the coming months? We’re keeping tight lipped - in true Scooby-Doo form, there’s an element of mystery surrounding what’s in store. Rest assured though, we’ve got many exciting activations with our existing partners in the pipeline, which we know fans of all ages will love. We’re making sure to hit the nostalgia spot for parents whilst still being fresh, exciting and cool for kids. Our initial pretheatrical campaigns kick off this month and will lead all the way up to the theatrical release in May. Our broadcast partner Turner also continues to promote and push new episodes of Scooby Doo Guess Who, and our YouTube channels will benefit from new content that we’ll be pushing out on WB Kids.

What can you tell us about master toy partner Character Options’ range? The range looks fantastic and the feedback from retailers has been amazing. The updated look and feel of the characters and packaging looks great and is sure to make an impact on shelf. The product line-up itself focuses on all the key characters from the film along with an updated

look for the iconic Mystery Machine. The range of figures and vehicles will also include plush, playsets and everyone’s favourite, Stretchy Scoob. By combining this new look and feel with sharp pricing and strong out-ofaisle plans, we’re geared up to deliver a fantastic year for Scooby and the Gang.

When will the new lines be reaching retail shelves? The new range from Character Options will be on shelf from April in time for the film release on the 15th May. At a similar time, we’ll also be launching our new Scooby Doo range from Playmobil, which is a really exciting partnership and great fit for both brands. The range will launch with a tight selection of products in the first half of 2020 with a wider expansion into autumn/winter, and will focus on core Scooby vehicles, characters and play patterns. As with DC, we also have Hunter Price coming on board this year to deliver core Scooby Doo product across arts & crafts, pocket money and outdoor toys. The team at Hunter Price has done a great job of bringing innovative ideas to these established categories, and we can’t wait to see its product range on shelf soon.

What plans do you have for the brand in the second half of 2020? We know that Scooby-Doo is a much-loved 365 franchise, so we’ll be continuing with tactical activations leading into our Home Entertainment

Toy World 66

window, followed by an extraspooky Halloween. We firmly believe Scooby is a franchise brand that can perform all year round at retail, and we have the partners and product proposition in place to deliver this. New product from Character Options, Playmobil and Hunter Price for autumn/winter will continue to drive the brand forward, and we’re keen to continue working with retailers to build best-inclass campaigns with them.

What impact do you hope the movie will have on the Scooby Doo franchise going forward? We’ve always had a strong 365 business on Scooby, with our TV programming always ranking amongst the top shows on CITV alongside a comprehensive digital and physical content plan. With this in mind, we very much see the movie as a great moment in time which will deliver fans a brand-new story line and become a family favourite. For us, the vision is to keep driving the brand 365 days of the year with fresh content and new products, alongside a great movie.

SCOOB! and all related characters and elements © & ™ Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: © & ™ WBEI. (s20)

Special Feature

Warner Bros

Fire up the Batsignal! Rachel Wakley, general manager, Warner Bros., gave Toy World the lowdown on how the company is developing its DC Batman franchise for 2020 following a major landmark anniversary.

Were you pleased with the results from the 80th anniversary ‘Year of the Bat’ campaign? Absolutely; it was a testament to all the teams within Warner Bros. UK which came together to deliver incremental increases in brand engagement, awareness, partnerships and sales. There was such a vast and varied amount of activations, from new social channels launching, fan events such as the Bat-signal, new charity partnerships, new products, and partner support online, instore and across media platforms, all of which super-served the UK Batman fan.

What plans do you have to build on that momentum in 2020? We’re really excited to have a new toy partnership with Spin Master launching this month, which we are sure our DC fans will love. As well as new products, we’re going to have new content on our DC Kids YouTube channels every

Saturday, which will help deepen the affinity and engagement with kids. These Caped Crusaturdays will help drive engagement every week, ensuring that we have an always-on content plan throughout the year.

Which new lines should retailers be keeping an eye out for this year? We have a plethora of new product coming through this year, most notably with our new partner Spin Master across action figures, vehicles and role-play. There’s also newness from our existing key partners; the likes of Funko, MV Sports and Mattel, through Imaginext, continue to bring innovation to our young DC fans. We also have another new partner, Hunter Price, which will be launching its great range of arts & crafts, pocket money and outdoor toys for DC early next year. Each of our partners has done a fantastic job of delivering innovative product at a great price for all of our DC consumers.

I gather that the Spin Master range received a very positive response in LA during the previews - when can we expect to see the new lines hitting retail shelves?

Toy World 68

Indeed, the reaction in LA was amazing! Spin Master did a fantastic job of showcasing the product in its very own Batcave, through which partners were taken on a tour of this incredibly well thought out and well-priced range. This has been followed up by some fantastic previews back here in the UK, indicating that we should get off to a strong start this year - product is on shelf now.

What impact will a new master toy partner have on the brand as a whole? It’s certainly given us renewed impetus at retail; the reaction we’ve had will give us such a quick start to 2020. We know that if the master toy partner’s range is flying then other partners will benefit, and we’re already starting to see this in some of the plans for next year. We know newness is what drives the toy market, so to have an entirely new Batman action range coming to market gives the franchise an incredible boost. Spin Master has long been known to deliver amazing marketing campaigns and, as you can see from what they’ve pulled together for the DC café at Toy Fair, it’s going to be such an exciting year.

BATMAN and all related characters and elements © & ™ DC Comics. WB SHIELD: © & ™ WBEI. (s20)

Hot Properties

Pre-school Monkey with a Tool Belt Silvergate Media Silvergate Media’s new animated action-adventure comedy series, Monkey with a Tool Belt, follows lead character Chico Bon Bon and his engineering crew, the Fix-It Force, as they solve engineering problems in the mechanically challenged town of Blunderburg. Based on the picture book series by author and illustrator Chris Monroe, the show balances entertainment for pre-schoolers with a strong educational STEM narrative that is sure to earn parental approval. The bright sets, cast of zany characters, range of vehicles and CG animation have clear toyetic potential. Season 1 is set to launch globally on Netflix in spring 2020, with Season 2 already in production.

Octonauts Silvergate Media Octonauts is an award-winning pre-school series for 2-6 year olds that combines impressive visuals, educational themes and plenty of action to transport young children into an undersea universe unlike anything else in pre-school TV. Silvergate Media is readying the launch of the fifth season of Octonauts in 2020, which will be followed by a new spin-off series, Octonauts: Above and Beyond in 2021. The spin-off follows the Octonauts as they take their mission from the sea onto land. Combining the action and creatives that fans of the show have come to expect, each episode will focus on the dramatic moments of change that water creates for all the creatures of planet Earth, and the challenges it poses. The 156 x 11-minute new episodes are in production through to 2024, with a major global brand relaunch from 2021. This spin-off will feature new characters and Terra Gup vehicles, offering licensees a rich vein of fresh content to inspire consumer products.

Timmy Time Aardman Younger fans of Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep have been enjoying the rebooted, narrated Timmy Time series which rolled-out internationally on pre-school channels throughout 2019. The refreshed Timmy Time series received an outstanding reception in France and Germany, transmitting on WDR and Kika (Germany) and France 5 (France) and has also performed well on CBeebies since the series launch in October. To support the series reboot, Vivid has renewed its licensing programme with master toy rights, launching a range of Timmy Time plush toys for the pre-school market. Additionally, licensing partner Ladybird Education is to launch a range of books this year to complement Aardman and the British Council’s Learning Time with Timmy initiative, which helps children around the world aged 3-7 to learn English.

Toy World 70

NOW MORE THAN A BLASTER!

DIGITAL TARGET

HOVERING TARGET

STORAGE RACK

PARTYWARE LUNCHWARE

GIFT SET

For more information please contact Hasbro Consumer Products team: caroline.spooner@Hasbro.co.uk

Hot Properties

Pre-school

S.O.S. Pets Rainbow Studios Global entertainment specialist Rainbow recently announced its new brand S.O.S. Pets, a forward-looking property which has been taking its first steps onto the web and into the toy market since September 2019. S.O.S Pets webisodes, which are hosted on a dedicated YouTube channel, follow each pet as they perform a variety of jobs and help solve amusing situations. The YouTube platform allows children and families to meet each individual pet, of which there are 48 in total. The series is gaining in popularity, both on YouTube and other social media platforms such as Instagram. As a property, S.O.S Pets offers substantial multiplatform potential, delivering positive messages about the importance of every kind of profession, with an inspirational overtone and plenty of comedy. Product is currently available; alongside a range of collectible figures and several picture books, Rainbow is launching a colourful licensing programme in autumn to complete the offering.

44 Cats Rainbow Studios With more than two decades on the market, and 15 years of success for the fairy-themed Winx Club brand, Rainbow Studios is now looking ahead to its Netflix animation 44 Cats, a property with high TV ratings and a licensing spread to the five continents. After first landing on screens across the world with season 1, 44 Cats has been growing at a steady pace, emerging as a new kids’ phenomenon thanks to its compelling qualities. This latest animation from Rainbow group is a CGI 52 x 13’ show starring a band of four musician kittens, the Buffycats, and their Granny Pina. An explosive mix of original songs and comedy, the show promotes can-do attitudes for a young target demographic. Major partners are offering top broadcast coverage and a comprehensive consumer product range is in the works, which will allow the brand to spread its universally appealing attributes worldwide. Strong ratings are being driven by kids’ and families’ love for 44 Cats, and Rainbow is riding this first wave of success both on free-to-air and pay TV worldwide. Global SVOD partner Netflix picked up the show after its TV debut in Europe and overseas, where the strong results are pushing the show toward season 2. In the UK, 44 Cats is airing daily on two slots on Nick Jr, Nick Jr too and Pop, the latter of which is also supporting the media coverage with fan contests, adding to the digital success and BTC initiatives promoting the appeal of the show. A number of other platforms across the globe are on board too, including Discovery Kids in Latin America and Brazil, Gulli in France, Super RTL in Germany, Tencent and Youku in China and many others, already covering more than 100 countries. Valuable licensing partnerships were signed before the show even debuted. Lisle Licensing is paving the way for success in the UK as licensing agent. Toy Plus is master toy partner, boasting an extensive product line based on the show’s key elements - music, creative play patterns and collectability. Simba Dickie Group is distribution partner for Europe and the Middle East, Unitoys is exclusive distributor for Russia, and Bandai America distributes the toy line in the US and Canada. Simba Dickie subsidiary Siso Toys UK will launch the toy range in February, starting with 3” figures of the cats accompanied by an accessory such as the instrument they play in the show. The twin pack figures have a colour change feature that reflects the superpowers of each cat. Play sets themed around each character will include an exclusive 3” figure plus a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, the favourite dish of the feline bandmates. A plush line comprising four 5” basic plush will be launched, along with four 8” musical plush that play the show’s theme. Siso Toys will be supporting 44 Cats with an extensive marketing plan comprising TV, YouTube, influencers, digital and PR campaigns, and will be partnering with retailers to drive sellthrough. Multi-territory consumer product deals are already in place, with leading partners Artsana, Ravensburger, Clementoni, John Toys, Amscan, BIP Holland and PEZ all developing a wide range of products, while Aykroyds TDP, Dreamtex, Redan Publishing and Fashion UK are on board in the UK.

Toy World 72

FOR LICENSING AND RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT:

ViacomNickelodeonCP@Viacom.com

THE BEST © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. ©&TM Spin Master Ltd. Viacom International Inc. © 2019 Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Created by Stephen Hillenburg. © 2019 9 Story Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved. TM & © RTR-PW

BRANDS

© 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Spin Master. Viacom International Inc. © 2019 Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.

EVERY AGE. EVERY AISLE. EVERYWHERE

Hot Properties

Kids & Families

Sonic the Hedgehog Sega

Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise launched in 1991 and continues to be one of the most-popular gaming brands of all time, with over 800m units sold or downloaded to date. With a methodical and organic approach, Sonic the Hedgehog has expanded its footprint across multiple platforms including games, mobile, TV, comics and other entertainment areas. This year, Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated live-action feature film, Sonic the Hedgehog, will be released in cinemas on 14th February. Ben Schwartz voices Sonic the Hedgehog and Jim Carrey plays Sonic’s nemesis Doctor Robotnik, alongside James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Neal McDonough and Adam Pally. In the film, a small-town sheriff assists Sonic as he attempts to escape the government. Sega has announced a curated collection of unique Sonic-branded products inspired by the movie. Sonic fans of all ages can look forward to an array of merchandise including toys, collectibles, apparel, publishing and more, all in celebration of the ‘Blue Blur’s landmark debut on the silver screen. Beginning this month, Jakks Pacific will offer playsets and plush in select territories. Additionally, to coincide with the movie release, select Build-a-Bear Workshop locations will launch specialty plush items and accessories, while Toy Factory and Sega Amusement will release novelty products for amusement parks and attractions in North America and Europe. Beyond toy products, Sega has partnered with Penguin Publishing to support the release of a variety of children’s books. Diamond Select Toys and Sega will launch a highly detailed premium statue featuring an iconic scene with Sonic, available in specialty retailers worldwide in spring. Sega Shops e-commerce sites will also introduce a capsule collection of items beginning this month through to the film’s release. Adult fans can choose from a selection of apparel and accessories from Bioworld, with youth apparel from Bentex also available at select retailers in spring. Internationally, TVM Fashion Lab and Cooneen will release a wide selection of apparel and accessories for both kids and adults across EMEA in early 2020. Sonic bedding from Franco will be available in spring from select e-tailers. Global partners Snapco and Latin American partner Ping Solutions will offer in-cinema concessions premiums including drink toppers and popcorn buckets to select theatres, in conjunction with the Sonic the Hedgehog movie release.

Minions Universal Since the break-out success of Illumination’s Despicable Me, the Minions continue to deliver cross-category success. The muchanticipated sequel, Minions: The Rise of Gru, will premiere in July 2020. New collaborations tied to the upcoming film will feature first-of-its-kind partnerships and activations from across the globe, complemented by an all-new toy line from master toy partner, Mattel, as well as first-time construction partner, Lego, and much more.

Look out for the next supplement of

licensing world

Publication date: 1st May

•

Advert deadline 14th April

Contact mark@toyworldmag.co.uk for more information Toy World 74

Season two launches on CBBC in 2020 Nominated for International Emmy® Kids Awards 2019

For licensing opportunities, please contact: Angeles Blanco T: 0207 400 1071 E: angeles.blanco@beano.com

52 x 11”

ADDITIONA

L EPISODE S NOW IN PRODUCTION

A BEANO STUDIOS PRODUCT © DC THOMSON 2020

Sold to 80+ countries; broadcast partners include Super RTL Germany, Rai Italy, France Televisions, Netflix and many more

Hot Properties

Kids & Families WWE WWE WWE is a global media and entertainment company whose mission is to put smiles on faces across the globe. At its core, WWE is all about storytelling, with protagonists and antagonists - no different than a movie or television series - settling conflicts inside a ring. The ultimate mashup between reality, drama, sitcom, and sports, WWE’s programming is available in more than 800m households worldwide in more than 180 countries and 28 languages. In January 2020, WWE will begin a new partnership with BT Sport. The multi-year agreement will make WWE’s weekly flagship programming available exclusively on BT Sport in the UK and Ireland. BT Sport will air both Raw and SmackDown exclusively live every week, delivering edge-of-your-seat action and showcasing the world-class athleticism from global superstars including Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston and Charlotte Flair. WWE and BT Sport will also partner across digital and social media platforms to create new content for fans that will increase reach and drive engagement across the UK and Ireland. On the consumer products side, WWE achieves nearly $1b at retail annually, with more than 175 licensees on board and products in more than 85 countries across multiple categories. With live TV and retail listings 52 weeks a year, WWE is an evergreen brand with more than 250 Superstars and Legends on its roster that pave the way for a variety of assets catering to fans and consumers of all ages. Last year, Mattel launched the Wrekkin Slam Mobile line, which was unveiled by WWE Superstar Braun Strowman during an episode of WWE’s flagship programme Monday Night Raw. The Wrekkin line continued with a Performance Centre playset, inspired by WWE’s state-of-the-art training facility, as well as an assortment of figures and accessories. Furthermore, the Alpha Group launched its Airnormous oversized inflatable toys that featured Deluxe Muscle Arms inspired by WWE Superstar John Cena and WWE Deluxe Titles. Character Options also debuted Stretch figures featuring WWE Superstars John Cena, AJ Styles, Roman Reigns and Finn Bálor.

Shaun the Sheep Aardman As Aardman gears up for the in-home release of its most recent feature film, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, the team will be at the London Toy Fair to meet with new and existing partners, and to present its exciting IP and product style themes for 2020 and beyond. The Shaun the Sheep brand continues to flourish with episodes broadcast in over 170 territories worldwide. A new season will premiere mid-2020, alongside a newly launched Nintendo Switch game - Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition. This ongoing production will bring Shaun’s adventures to another new generation of international fans. At the same time, the team continues to develop an engaging licensing programme for the brand, with recent new partners including Aurora for plush, Sweet Cherry for publishing and Funko for gifts.

Toy World 78

Hot Properties

Kids & Families The Next Step Boat Rocker Studios Tween reality-style dance drama The Next Step returns to CBBC in January for its highly anticipated seventh series. Live Nation’s recent tour saw the cast perform to sell-out crowds across UK, Ireland and Australia. New dates in 2020 are scheduled for the popular themed workshops at London’s iconic Pineapple Dance Studio, while several styles in the co-brand apparel range sold out within six weeks of launching instore and online in October. Further discussions are underway with other leading retailers across the dance, health and beauty categories.

Dennis & Gnasher Beano Studios Beano is one of the most recognisable British brands of all time and has established itself as a national treasure since its launch over 80 years ago. Beano Studios had a successful 2019, with a host of partnerships including the National Trust, Apple and Royal Caribbean, and a strong presence at BLE. In 2020, Beano expects to grow its reach at retail with new licensees and products, making this its biggest year yet. The hit TV show Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! is currently in production for its second series following the successful debut on CBBC in the UK, becoming the No. 1 show across all kids’ TV at launch. The international Emmy nominated show has been sold to over 80 countries, including primetime slots on public service broadcasters including Super RTL in Germany, Rai in Italy and France Télévision. The show is now available on Netflix both in the UK and the US. Beano’s global reach has led to agents being appointed in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with more to be announced soon. This summer, Beano’s most popular characters took centre stage in a bespoke exhibition at the UK National Trust’s Mottisfont House in Hampshire. The exhibition included original artwork, landmark issues of the comic and items from the Beano archive. Visitors enjoyed an interactive outdoor trail featuring Beano characters and an exclusively designed range of gifts in the Mottisfont shop. The exhibition welcomed over 45,000 visitors. As part of a partnership with Happy Monkey Drinks, a quarter of a million drinks featuring Dennis & Gnasher hit the shelves in major supermarkets and retailers nationwide, in time for back to school. In autumn 2019, Beano announced a new partnership with Royal Caribbean International which saw the creation of a bespoke comic strip to celebrate the $165m makeover of the family-focused cruise ship Allure of the Seas, which saw Dennis and his extended family treated to a VIP experience aboard the vessel while highlighting the many features the ship has to offer. Five creative Beano Workshops ran during October half term in the Apple Covent Garden store as part of Apple’s Family Camp programme. Presented by Beano talent, the sessions encouraged kids to create Beano-themed digital artworks using Apple technology. Beano has launched new products with licensees, with adult novelty, kids’ pocket money toys and games landing in TJ Morris, as well as a series of Dennis & Gnasher themed limited edition prints available from the anonymous street artist Sleek. Ahead of Book Week in spring, Beano has been working with Rubie’s on new children’s costume designs including Dennis and Minnie, along with several accessories. A range of nightwear will be available from Aykroyds in 2020, with plans to announce further apparel lines later in the year. Smiffy’s will soon be offering paper plates, bowls, cups, napkins and straws, as well as paper decorations and bunting to complete the Beano party set-up. Finally, Beano will be marking Dennis’ 70th birthday in 2021; celebration plans will be announced soon.

Toy World 80

Hot Properties

Kids & Families Back to the Future Universal Pictures Universal is going back in time to celebrate 35 years of the Back to the Future film franchise. Over the 12 months, fans around the world will be treated to new, ‘inspired-by’ merchandise across a variety of categories, theatrical re-releases, anniversary celebrations, digital content and more. YouTube Originals and Ample Entertainment have partnered to launch Could You Survive the Movies, a series dedicated to exploring the magic and science of cinema’s most iconic pop culture films, including Back to the Future. In each episode, YouTube creator and host Jake Roper takes viewers on an immersive journey into the world of a different movie, blending unscripted scientific exploration with narrative storytelling. In the premiere episode, Jake steps into the original 1985 film to find out if the massive pressure wave generated by a giant guitar amp, the time travel paradoxes and the electricity from a lightning strike were survivable, all while trying to get back to the future. Could you Survive the Movies? is available to stream on YouTube.com/Learning and on the Vsauce3 YouTube channel. New toy partner Playmobil has created a collection featuring fan favourite characters and vehicles including Marty McFly, Dr. Emmett Brown, the DeLorean Time Machine and more, all set for release in May. Popular Funko Pop! figures, a themed board game from Ravensburger, collectible movie prints from Classic Stills, plus other surprises from Hasbro, Mattel and more, will debut next summer. The publishing programme expands with new novelty formats from Running Press and Insight Editions, as well as a new comic series from IDW Publishing, all joining existing fan-favourites from other partners including the Back to the Future: DeLorean Time Machine – Owner's Workshop Manual, Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History, William Shakespeare’s Get Thee Back to the Future, and Back to the Future: The Classic Illustrated Storybook. A lifestyle collection of apparel and accessories includes fun, retro looks that are still relevant today. Expected partners include Criminal Damage, Box Lunch, Dumbgood, Haus of JR, Hot Topic, Just Hype, Primark, Suavecito, Super 7, Zara and more. Rubie’s and Fun.com will have costumes for fan celebrations beyond Halloween. With a nod to the nostalgia trend, Universal has once again partnered with the Otis School of Design for a special Back to the Future collection designed by students, which will be presented at the annual scholarship and benefit fashion show in spring. Theatrical events, and the debut of the Back to the Future trilogy in 4K from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, will take place later in 2020, along with a celebration from Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Back to the Future The Musical, directed by Tony Award winner John Rando, opens for a 12-week run at the Manchester Opera House on 20th February. The musical features a book by the film's co-creator and co-writer Bob Gale, plus new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri (who composed the score for the original 1985 film) and Glen Ballard. The anniversary of the movie will also be commemorated by Universal Parks & Resorts, key retail partners and more. Visit the Back to the Future page on Facebook for details.

Trolls Universal DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls has grown to become one of the largest girls’ entertainment brands worldwide. Trolls World Tour is the sequel to the first blockbuster film, and lands in cinemas globally in spring. In an adventure that will take them well beyond what they’ve known before, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) discover that they are but one of six different Troll tribes scattered over six different lands and devoted to six different kinds of music: Funk, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop and Rock. A member of hard-rock royalty, Queen Barb (Rachel Bloom), aided by her father King Thrash (Ozzy Osbourne), wants to destroy all other kinds of music to let rock reign supreme. With the fate of the world at stake, Poppy and Branch, along with their friends, set out to visit all the other lands to unify the Trolls in harmony. New to the cross-category programme, Lego will be joining master toy licensee Hasbro to launch collections inspired by the upcoming film. The new Lego collection will hit retail shelves this month and will give fans the opportunity to build and recreate some of their favourite moments from the film. New construction sets include Poppy's Pod, Techno Reef Dance Party and Volcano Rock City Concert. Trolls also continues to inspire high-end fashion collaborations as well as fast fashion. A capsule collection, designed by Jeremy Scott for Moschino, has inspired further fashion partnerships celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Good Luck Trolls, which has just launched globally at retail. The popular Netflix original animated series, Trolls: The Beat Goes On! has become a big hit with fans; series two recently launched on Pop TV.

Toy World 82

Hot Properties

Kids & Families Monopoly Hasbro Celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2020, Monopoly is the world’s no. 1 gaming brand. The cross-generational appeal of Monopoly, combined with its innovation in gameplay, keeps the brand relevant and top of mind. Despite the rise in digital gaming, people still enjoy the authentic connection of face-to-face games. Limited edition Monopoly releases tie into popular culture, engaging with young fans around the globe. Hasbro is building on the brand’s popularity taking it out of the toy aisle and working with best-in-class partners to bring together strong lifestyle collaborations. Coming to London in 2020 is Europe’s first immersive Monopoly experience, in which players will team up to complete challenges in order to move around the Monopoly board. The experience will also feature a Monopoly themed bar and retail store.

Nerf Hasbro Starting out as a foam ball in 1969, Nerf has consistently re-imagined, re-invented and re-ignited the way consumers play, making it a top toy brand. Nerf blasters continue to lead the way for the brand, but, as a forwardlooking company, Hasbro has been focusing on growing Nerf further, transcending the toy aisle to transform it into a leading lifestyle brand. This expansion into the lifestyle arena is reflected in the growing Nerf licensing programme, which now includes over 20 licensees across 11 categories across the UK. Licensees are tapping into the Nerf brand’s vision - to empower kids and fans as they engage in active, social and exhilarating play.

SpongeBob SquarePants Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants’ 20th Anniversary continues in 2020 with the release of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run, by Paramount Pictures, coming to cinemas this May. Meanwhile, the popular series returned to free-to-air television on Channel 5 in November 2019. After the huge success of BrickLive events for other Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. flagship brands, the partnership has grown to include a SpongeBob SquarePants exhibit, which will launch early this year. With displays made up of brightly coloured bricks, in a variety of shopping centres and attractions across the country, each event will showcase some of the programme’s most beloved characters, including SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward. Additionally, the continued roll out of the iconic property across Nicktoons, Channel 5, Netflix and Amazon will ensure that 2020 will be another memorable year for SpongeBob.

Toy World 84

Q&A

Import Services

Planning for all scenarios

After months of heated debate, uncertainty and political goings-on, there may now be some light at the end of the Brexit tunnel. Toy World caught up with Mike Thomas, director at Import Services, in the days immediately following the General Election, to gauge the mood in the logistics industry. Last year, the UK was granted another Brexit extension by the EU, despite assurances that we would be out by the 31st October – did this cause any issues for UK businesses? Import Services, along with a host of other businesses, has invested a significant amount of time and resources in making contingency plans to manage Brexit in any form, and maintain open supply chains to our clients’ customers across Continental Europe. Whereas Brexit planning has created a distraction, we believe the exercise has also been worthwhile and I know our clients have appreciated the support and advice we have been able to provide, during an already tough trading period. We now have certainty in leaving the EU, to be ratified by the end of January followed by trade negotiations. The objective is to forge mutually conducive terms of trade by the end of 2020.

customs regime, and to facilitate checks, paperwork and other disruption this would cause at customs borders. A pragmatic trade agreement should now see us leave the EU on much more favourable terms at the end of next year. In the interim, I would not envisage any changes to supply chains until after the transitional period,

The general election outcome now sees Boris Johnson heading up a majority conservative government, which seems to be cracking straight on with Brexit planning once more. What are your thoughts on this? This is just my opinion, but I consider Boris Johnson to be more liberally minded than perhaps he’s generally perceived. He’s no longer reliant on political factions influencing his approach to the EU, specifically trade negotiations. Therefore, I think his team will be able to strike a good trade deal with the EU, which will benefit both trading partners. I’m pleased we didn’t end up with a hung parliament and that the government can now set about sensible trade negotiations, which is in the economic interest of all vested parties. Import Services has already set-up contingency arrangements to manage a completely separate

Toy World 86

e.g. until 1st January 2021. Import Services is in the privileged position of offering bonded distribution centres close to the container port of Southampton, with AEO Customs accreditation. This advantageous location enables trade and support of international supply chains for our clients.

FOR LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT: EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: Jason Rice Email: jason.rice@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4568 www.sonicthehedgehog.com/uk

@Sonic

Social icon

Rounded square Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

US, CANADA & LATIN AMERICA: Michael Cisneros Email: michael.cisneros@segaamerica.com Tel: +1 (747) 400-2410, ext. 204 @sonic_hedgehog

/sonicthehedgehog

/sonic

REST OF THE WORLD: Shigefumi Tanzawa Email: shigefumi.tanzawa@sega.com Tel: +81 3 6871 7122 Â©SEGA

Q&A

Import Services

It seems all but certain we will ratify the process to leave the EU on 31st January. Do you think this new level of surety will help things along? I think it will focus minds and get the next stage of the Brexit process underway. Boris Johnson is looking to create a statute, I believe, which will prevent us going beyond the end of 2020 within the EU, potentially as a negotiating tactic rather than a finality. This could be reversed, if necessary. However, the PM will push to close a favourable trade deal by the end of this year and could still deliver control over our own borders and trade policies from January 2021.

Has it become any clearer what the potential implications of Brexit might be for UK companies and their logistics? This depends on the pattern of trade over time. Currently there’s an imbalance, with more trade/ transport loads running into the UK than back out, hence transport capacity and rates are keen for distribution back from the UK to EU markets. Current supply chain models might change over time, during a period of trade adjustment between the UK and EU, but this is unlikely to be abrupt, with supply chains following business flows which are naturally linked to economic conditions, borne from the trade agreements reached in this next decade. As we also look to open new trade deals with the US and rest of the world, we will need to be mindful of deviating from EU standards. This torsion will be the most challenging to manage in trade talks, but the good news is we are starting from a strong trade partnership position. For the logistics industry, we would wish to see a light touch regulatory regime in place, particularly when it comes to moving goods from the EU to the UK and vice versa without the need for stringent border checks. The last thing the toy trade needs is more costly disruption, as I am sure we can all agree 2019 was tough enough.

Do you think a post-Christmas Brexit is welcome for the toy trade? Leaving the EU before Christmas would have been chaotic for the toy trade at the end of 2019. Being so preoccupied with delivering orders to customers in the peak Christmas period, we were all relieved to know Brexit had been moved to a more sensible timeframe. A post-Christmas Brexit is certainly a better prospect, particularly avoiding a Hard Brexit: there was a great deal of angst last year. This malaise over Brexit with economic uncertainty adversely affecting Sterling also negatively impacted the cost of imports for our clients and general consumer confidence. Combine this with the changing face of retail, and it’s no wonder the latest NPD figures looked pretty grim. At least now we have some clarity moving forward. Agreeing on a fair and equitable trade deal is achievable by the end of 2020, and this should lead to a bounce back of growth and prosperity.

What is Import Services doing specifically to help its clients during the further Brexit negotiations? Import Services has already developed a contingency plan for its clients, to maintain open supply chains to customers across Continental Europe. During this preparation we have consulted widely and invited key input from HMRC, relevant Government and EU departments and with the our key warehousing industry trade body the UKWA, which, together with our distribution partners, has collectively enabled us to provide advice in planning for all scenarios. With Brexit proceeding following the General Election, new rules of trade will eventually emerge, and we will adapt accordingly on all aspects, including trade with the Republic of Ireland - a key market for our industry.

Toy World 88

What if we leave at the end of next year with No Deal? What can we expect the biggest issues to be surrounding imports? I really can’t see either the UK or the EU allowing this to happen now. Boris Johnson’s government has a clear majority with which to set trade talks on a mutually conducive pathway. However, in the very unlikely event of a No Deal scenario, the more challenging aspects will be for UK exporters trading with the EU. Import Services can offer processes to assist, such as holding stock under bond and enabling swift movement of product across the UK jurisdiction to clear customs into the EU. Operating under an AEO accreditation will really help in this respect. Import Services holds a key locational advantage for international trade and logistics, situated adjacent to Southampton’s container port, the first call for Far East container ships plying to Northern Europe. All our DCs are capable of storage, order processing and handling products VAT and Duty free, until sold to market in whatever customs jurisdiction our endcustomers reside. We’re also helping EU-based businesses seeking to place buffer stocks in the UK as a contingency too. In this respect, Import Services is well-placed to help keep retail supply chains flowing successfully. Personally, I’m looking forward to 2020 with optimism.

Feature

Nuremberg Toy Fair

It’s showtime!

Lisa Currie caught up with exhibitors and discovered more about the upcoming show from Spielwarenmesse director of marketing Christian Ulrich.

ith the Spielwarenmesse fast approaching, preparations are well under way for the opening day on 29th January. Spielwarenmesse continues to be a pivotal event for toy companies across the globe; at last years’ show, a total of 2886 exhibitors from 68 countries collectively showed around 120,000 products. 76% of those exhibitors were from the international market and the UK had the third highest number of exhibitors. The scope of the show has expanded in recent years, with categories such as Showtime, Toys meets Books, Baby and Infant products and Tech to Play introduced. These new categories offer ideas to toy retailers about how to expand their product offering, in addition to attracting dedicated buyers from these sectors. “We introduced several new features at the 70th Spielwarenmesse last year, including the launch of the new product group, Electronic Toys, and the special Showtime area in the Carnival segment,” explains Christian Ulrich. “Our objective now is to consolidate these features. This year, trade visitors and buyers can look forward to 12 product groups across 18 halls. We intend to expand our digital services for 2020 and the LicenseTalks will also take place for the first time over four days.” Expanding show categories offers a broader opportunity for many exhibiting companies, as well as visitors. Dominique Peckett, director at Smiffys, told Toy World: “The Baby and Infant category for Nuremberg 2020 is a promising one for Smiffys, particularly as baby dress-up continues to be a hot trend for 2020. Toys Meets Books is another innovative category that aligns with our new designs for 2020, including the introduction of new licences The Tiger who Came to Tea, Mog the Forgetful Cat, Fun with Spot and Thomas & Friends.” Last years’ show attracted a total of 67,000 attendees from 132 countries. At this years’ event, there is much to look forward to from those exhibiting, including Mattel which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Pauline De La Riviere,

UK marketing director at Mattel, commented: “For our 75th anniversary, visitors can expect to see much excitement across the Mattel portfolio. Barbie will continue to drive momentum in 2020, by continuing its mission to show girls “You Can Be Anything”. We have some great content coming up, including working with some of the top UK girl influencers. Fisher-Price is also turning 90, with new products across the portfolio, and Thomas & Friends will also celebrate its 75th anniversary, for which we have the new Limited Edition Metallic Motorised Engines and the Small Push Along 75th Anniversary Diamond Thomas.” On top of the celebrations, Mattel will be launching new brand Cloudees at the fair. Pauline explains: “Cloudees is a fun new collectible which lets kids discover a surprise pet in a soft cloud they create for a magical play experience. Minions is another brand new to Mattel for 2020, and we have an exciting range of action figures that will support the film release in the summer. We also can’t wait to show what’s on offer for Hot Wheels, Polly Pocket and our ownbrands.” Guidecraft will be showcasing its new product ranges for 2020. Lorna Smith, director of sales EMEA, told us: “This year we are particularly excited to unveil Coral Connections. Made from 100% recycled plastic, this unique construction range is in keeping with our environmental stewardship efforts. We are displaying Coral Connections in a live environment with live seacreatures on the stand. We hope everyone will come and check it out - it will be beautiful. We are also donating $2 of every sale to The Coral Reef Alliance, to support its admirable mission to save the world’s endangered coral reefs.” The show organiser has introduced a host of new digital services for 2020, including the LeadTracking app facility, which enables exhibitors to collect visitors’ details on a smartphone. “The Spielwarenmesse is a great platform for forging new business contacts,” comments Christian. “In the hustle and bustle of the trade fair, the LeadTracking facility helps

Toy World 90

our exhibitors manage and analyse customer contacts as efficiently as possible. The data stored on the VCtrack app makes it easy to follow leads up after the event.” A new Visitor Experience Zone will also enhance the show experience. “The Visitor Experience Zone, located in the passageway between Halls 3A and 4A, offers an interactive Social Media Station,” explained Christian. “We want to give trade visitors the chance to take a short break between meetings, which can often be intense. Five additional quiet zones or VisitorLounges are also dotted around the fair, offering free water and mobile charging stations.” The TrendGallery is back this year in Hall 3A, showcasing new products and start-ups, along with current toy trends. A strong line up of speakers at The Toy Business Forum will cover the topics Trends, Change, Digitalisation, Retail and Marketing. With preparations for the show reaching the final stages, Lorna sums up what exhibitors like Guidecraft most look forward to each year: “Our customers from all over the world come to Nuremberg and we look forward to reconnecting with them at the fair each year. It’s great to see how they have grown, to better understand how their needs might have changed or to simply meet in person and make new connections. Whether you are a company in business for over 50 years like Guidecraft, a new start-up, or a customer, we all learn from each other in so many ways.”

Q&A

Mattel

Winning ways Despite the gloom that settled over much of the toy industry last year, Mattel emerged from 2019 with a spring in its step and plenty of good news to share. Toy World sat down with Michael Hick, UK & Ireland sales & country manager, and Pauline de la Riviere, marketing director, to understand how it bucked the trend.

How did Mattel fare in the ‘interesting’ trading conditions we experienced in 2019? Michael Hick: If we go back a little further, 2018 was quite transformative for Mattel. We made several changes to the team and overhauled the way we invest in retailers and brands. Rather than just spreading our bets, we started focusing more on select areas which promised the biggest return on investment. We also significantly upskilled our teams in several areas. The combination of these new approaches resulted in a very strong 2019 for Mattel. We wanted to help grow the toy market this year, but instead we’ve taken a large share of a declining category. As a manufacturer, Mattel has moved from No. 4 to No. 2, which is nice but wasn’t what we set out to do. Our aim was to invest heavily in the category, growing our brands and delivering higher footfall and traffic to retailers, ultimately becoming part of the resulting growth story. As you’ve alluded to, 2019 was one of the toughest years we’ve seen for the industry, with expectations for the year being way off what has actually ended up happening. It’s certainly been a very interesting few months.

What brands have been the biggest success stories for you over the past year? Pauline de la Riviere: Our whole portfolio has been performing well. Barbie’s 60th anniversary in 2019 was a major growth driver for the brand, which benefitted from a high volume of media coverage and awareness, and we also saw double digit growth for Hot Wheels. Fisher Price’s performance is improving all the time in a category that is undergoing huge declines, and Mega continues to grow too. Toy Story was a massive hit for us thanks to the hugely positive reception to the fourth instalment of the Disney Pixar franchise. In addition, Pictionary Air was the best-selling game title in the weeks leading

up to Christmas, and was difficult to keep in stock. We couldn’t believe how strong the reaction to the game was. Michael: We took maybe 10 strategic decisions last year, and you know how it goes; four usually don’t pay off and everything ends up hinging on the success of the other six. However, in a rare turn of events, all 10 came off for us. As Pauline mentioned, Pictionary Air Michael Hick has been huge. We haven’t been a massive player in the Games category to date, but Pictionary Air marked the start of us taking it far more seriously, and we’re delighted with the results so far.

Were there any stand-out bright spots in 2019 In terms of the overall retail market? Michael: With our retailers, as well as our licensing partners including Disney, Universal and WWE, we’ve gone into listening mode. We’re hearing what they want from us, what we’ve done well in the past - and where we need to improve. We’re also making a concerted effort to understand each retailer’s consumer base, so that when we visit them, we can go with a specific, individualised joint business plan that’s relevant to that particular business. Using a one-size-fitsall approach across a variety of retailers won’t work. We’ve grown with virtually all our retail partners; it’s not just one single brand or one individual retailer we’re seeing success with. Our aspiration is to be the first vendor that retailers pick up the phone to, but there are of course others in the way of that call. We need to work towards strategic alignment with key retailers to

Toy World 92

Pauline de la Riviere place ourselves top of that list, and I think we’re making good progress.

You talk about the shoppers’ needs; are there any areas of consumer attitude or behaviour that surprised you last year? Michael: The most surprising thing is how late everything is getting now. Black Friday week (week 48), versus the same week last year (which didn’t have Black Friday, in 2018 it fell in week 47) was only 2% up, according to NPD. This is supposed to be a major shopping week! Nowadays, Black Friday seems to serve more as a reminder to start your Q4 shopping. A lot of consumers seem to breeze through Black Friday itself and ignore all the marketing surrounding it. It’s also worth noting that it’s an event the press isn’t particularly kind to; Which? issued a report revealing that some of the ‘deals’ on offer were the same price as three months before. I think consumers are getting quite wise to it now. We’re keeping a close eye on how late things will continue to get. Retailers and manufacturers in the supply chain network need a few weeks’ leeway to work through the system and get

Q&A

Mattel most of her growth is stemming from years of continuous messaging and advertising. Hot Wheels will benefit from a lot of activity this year; Monster Trucks has been performing really well and will be supported with an even bigger line-up of live events, increasing the visibility of the franchise and growing the brand beyond toys to bring other revenue to the business. Product supporting Monster Trucks will strengthen the breadth of our portfolio too, and we’re also relaunching our Track Builder range. Michael mentioned games earlier - this year we’ll be extending the range and the associated marketing support, substantially increasing our presence in this category. We’ve got several new launches to look forward to across 2020, including a major new girls’ collectible launching for autumn. We’re pretty excited about the robustness of our portfolio. Alongside our core brands, Minions is going to be huge, and Jurassic World and Toy Story are going to play a big part in our success this year too.

products out. I think we’re going to see the last week of each year becoming increasingly important, but the big question is how much companies leave on the table because they can’t get key products out there in time. Of course, as far as the shopper is concerned, they expect to find what they want the second they walk into the store. The way things are going, retailers are going to be unbundling pallets and just getting products into their shops - I think the turnaround on shipments will have to be that fast. Pauline: We’ve adapted our advertising strategy and have increased our marketing investment for Q4. This is a new approach, which means we can now shift our marketing activity to adapt to consumer shopping patterns. Michael: Mattel finds itself in a very different situation to a large majority of the toy community. Usually, when you’re in decline or under budget, you are forced to make cuts to improve the bottom line. We’re in the opposite situation, in what I would call an up cycle, in which we’re actually able to invest ahead on our brands. The recent Let’s Be Kids Fisher Price campaign, for example, was supposed to be launched in Q1 this year, but we decided to bring the investment forward to November, to keep the wheel spinning. Historically, Mattel hasn’t been known for its nimbleness, but we’re hoping that this new strategy will see us reap the rewards.

Looking ahead to 2020, what are Mattel’s major aspirations and key new ranges? Michael: We believe the toy market will be 2-3% up in 2020. We hope (and I know hope isn’t a strategy) that things will settle down this year and the market will stabilise. Mattel is on track to grow significantly and outpace the market. We won’t say what we’re aiming for, but safe to say it’s a fair bit more than 2-3%. Key to this growth are our core brands. We have some major anniversaries coming up, along with Minions in the summer. The movie slate this year is not congested as it was in 2019, but with fewer major family releases, we should find that more people flock to the cinema to see Minions. Retail

Sounds like you’ve got a big year planned. Do you think the consumer outlook will be more positive in 2020?

reception so far has been very positive. Pauline: As Michael says, this year is a big anniversary year for us. It’s Mattel’s 75th anniversary, so we’ll be celebrating this milestone alongside the strength of our portfolio. It’s also Fisher Price’s 90th anniversary and Thomas & Friends’ 75th. Major anniversaries help us to home in on the marketing and visibility of the brand. We’ve already started on Fisher Price with the launch of the Let’s Be Kids brand campaign, which will help get the momentum going for 2020. Last year was Barbie’s 60th birthday, but

Toy World 94

Michael: I’ve been talking to people both inside and outside of the toy business, and it seems that people have really been holding off on spending recently. Political uncertainty last year affected consumer spending, and whether you like the outcome of the election or not, a decision has been made and it will hopefully now galvanise people into getting out there into the shops. While we took risks and made some pretty big bets last year, we also underwent a culture change at Mattel, into one of a more winning mentality. We’ve allowed ourselves to be guided what we call our Wonder Values. We’ve spent a lot of time with our teams, motivating them and getting them behind what we are trying to achieve, and they’ve realised that the vision and strategy laid out by the leadership team is paying off. On the whole, we’re looking forward to a very good year.

Halle 7 Stand B-50

ALL-TERRAIN ADVENTURE! SUV DRIVE FOR REAL ADVENTURERS! Authentic features: padded seats, radio and LED front headlights.

Rollplay celebrates its exclusive MINI license for 2020 with the launch of the all NEW MINI Countryman

ORDER NOW

Rollplay vehicles for children aged 1 to 12 years old. Includes drop shipment and after-sales service for 100% customer satisfaction.

www.rollplay.com

Q&A

Nikko

And they’re off at Nikko In August 2018, Toy State ceased trading. Just a few months later, former Toy State senior management including Philip Redmond launched Nikko Toys, a new venture focused on creating innovative and high-quality toy vehicles under the Nikko and Road Rippers brands. A little over a year later, Toy World caught up with Nikko Toys’ CEO, Philip, to find out how the venture has fared.

After the events of 2018, how was last year for Nikko? 2019 was an exciting year for the team and also for me personally. It was always going to be a ‘setup’ year, but things have progressed positively and more quickly than we had originally anticipated. The pre-existing legacy of the Nikko and Road Ripper brands meant we needed to be at the top of our game. We were aware that consumers and trade partners have high expectations of our brands, and wanting to not only live up to these expectations but surpass them came with a lot of self-inflicted pressure. One of our biggest challenges was finding manufacturing partners who shared our passion and dedication to quality, and thankfully they have not disappointed.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in bringing the brand back to market? Bringing the brand back was not that difficult; it wasn’t away from the market for more than one season. Nikko is, after all, the leading RC brand (especially in Europe). Many people grew-up playing with Nikko, making it a timeless consumer-recognised name. Naturally, there are more and more competitors in the market ready to knock you down at every juncture, and - at the risk of sounding patronising - they are improving year after year. However, while many have targeted the space that was left in 2018, they could only fill it by presenting items which were, in most instances, ‘parallel developed’, or just blatantly copied. We saw very little new innovation in the Light & Sound category, and this is why we’re so excited. We’ll be introducing some very cool items this year and beyond - and protecting them against such parallel development.

experienced OEM partners, we generally maintain the same principles that grew Nikko and Road Rippers into category leaders. We’re determined to deliver exciting, innovative, high quality toys that last a lifetime. However, we’ve also instilled operational disciplines that are designed to guarantee on-time shipping, everytime, as well as a fast turnaround time on orders. The sales team and sales admin team are highly experienced and capable of responding quickly to customer requests. We understand that our trade partners need us to react quickly, and our supply chain set-up now gives us that efficiency. I’m very proud of our 2019 shipping record. The real excitement for us continues to be the product; this remains our number one focus. Everyone wants to engage with the product development process and is excited for every step, from the latest version of a graphic to hand samples, and, of course, the arrival of finished product. We all derive great inspiration and energy from the development process.

What were last year’s stand-out products for you? In 2019 we focused on the evergreen Nikko and Road Rippers ranges. It was important to regain and maintain market presence with the

best-sellers Nikko Velocitrax, VaporizR and Nano VaporizR, as well as the Road Ripper Maximum boost and Street Beatz. There was no doubt that the market was excited to have them back; the response was fantastic.

What new lines are you excited about for next year? Road Rippers will bring some sorely-missed innovation back into the Lights & Sound aisle. We have witnessed an overabundance of Road Ripper ‘inspired’ items hitting the market in the last 12 months (and I’m being extremely polite when I use the word inspired).This space has more and more competitors eyeing just a few feet of available shelf space, but this competitiveness is what drives us. As a bit of a speed freak, I’m excited that Nikko will be bringing back the high-performance Pro and Elite lines. They look awesome and the performance is incredible. They are definitely worthy of the Nikko name, and I can’t wait to get my hands on production versions in February.

What are your key aspirations for 2020? The key for us is to build on the back of what we achieved in 2019, both in terms of operations and product. However, in 2020 and beyond we are going into overdrive, with total dedication to bringing more and more quality, innovative and fun products to market. You may have dreams of top line or bottom line growth, but if the product is successful everything else will be there, and that’s what we will be focusing on.

Where can retailers see the Nikko range over Toy Fair Season? We’ll be in Hong Kong from 3rd -11th January in the Royal Garden Hotel (Suite 934), and at the Spielwarenmesse from 29th January to 2nd February, Stand C20, Hall 4A. For those customers that can’t travel, we would be happy to set-up a ‘home visit’ in order for us to personally present our 2020 range.

How does the new operation differ from the previous set-up? While we’re a smaller team, with a supply chain that is entirely comprised of highly

Toy World 96

Nuremberg

Mattel 020 8324 6160 www.mattel.com Hall 12.2, Stand P15 Mattel’s iconic portfolio will look to innovate and excite in 2020 as Fisher-Price turns 90, Thomas & Friends turns 75, and Mattel celebrates 75 years of creating world-class play experience for generations of kids. Barbie is flying after a bumper year celebrating the brand’s 60th Anniversary and will continue to drive momentum in 2020 by continuing the mission to show girls “You Can Be Anything”. Barbie will kick off Q1 with new Barbie and Chelsea Sports Dolls and play sets, featuring Football, Boxing, Swimming and more. Also new is fresh diversity in the Fashionistas range, with a new wellness product theme and a new segment, Barbie Colour Reveal, that re-imagines the doll as a surprise doll, that is transformed by water; kids will see Barbie’s face, make up and outfit all transform. The dolls come with seven surprise elements to unbox; a doll with on-trend fashion accessories and themes is guaranteed, but each doll's look remains a mystery. 2020 marks a key birthday for Fisher-Price, which will celebrate making childhood more fun for 90 years and counting. A new brand campaign, Let’s Be Kids, will encourage parents to see the world as a kid sees it. An expansive and innovative range sees new products across the portfolio, from items suited to support baby at birth, to toys designed to entertain toddlers. New Baby Gear and Newborn products include the Twinkle & Cuddle Cloud Soother, the Signature Style Bouncer and Infant-ToToddler Rocker, in a new print from the new Terrazzo collection. The Infant segment introduces the Giant Rock-a-Stack, the Laugh & Learn Time to Learn Smart Watch and Click and Learn Instant Camera, while Little People introduces the Babies segment, bringing nurturing play to toddlers. Thomas & Friends will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2020 by introducing kids to the bigger world around them through dynamic new content and products. Through inclusivity, gender equality and a global outlook on life, the brand continues to resonate with children as they create friendships to explore and discover the world. Thomas will be creating break frame moments throughout the year that showcases Thomas as a beloved British heritage brand. To celebrate Thomas’ 75th Anniversary, fans can also collect new Limited Edition Metallic Motorised Engines and the Small Push Along 75th Anniversary Diamond Thomas. New characters will also be available in Trackmaster Push Along and Motorised Engines. New for Hot Wheels in 2020 is the Hot Wheels City Robo Shark and a variety of Track Builder packs with innovative new components and the Triple Loop kit to build, stunt and boost. New for January is an immersive live experience: The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks tour by Live Nation. Calling at venues in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, the tour is set to bring the thrills of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life, combining iconic jumps, stunts and all-inclusive crashing and smashing in true Hot Wheels style. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks brings new excitement to the range as it expands with new diecast trucks and the first ever Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Loop Play set. The world of Polly Pocket continues to expand. In 2020 a new theme, Tiny Fun in the Sun, will include a Popsicle cruise, Ladybug garden, Owl Camping and Cactus Ranch. This collection joins the Large Wearable Compact Assortments which feature a pineapple and rainbow theme; wearable purse compacts open to reveal a fun theme and each come with two micro dolls, eight fun features, two accessories and a strap so kids can carry it as a purse. In January 2020 Mattel will launch Cloudees, a fun new collectible that lets kids discover a surprise pet in a soft cloud they create for a magical play experience. Kids need to add water to the large cloud case and shake to create a cloud substance that reveals the Cloudees character and six surprises inside. Cloudees are weather themed and will launch with two different scales; core and a small pet friend. There are 28 to collect in Series One, Wave One. Mattel offers a dynamic portfolio of own brands that includes Scrabble, Uno, Pictionary and Creatable World, as well as partnerships with some of the most well-known licensed brands. In 2020, partners include Pixar, Universal and Nickelodeon. The Pixar range, which will incorporate Toy Story, Cars, The Incredibles and Monsters Inc, will include action figures, minis and role play items. Minions is a new brand to Mattel for 2020, with a range of action figures that will support the film release in summer this year. Mattel also continues to add new toy ranges to the Jurassic World and Shimmer & Shine portfolios.

Toy World 98

Nuremberg

Moose Toys +441637 882200 www.moosetoys.com Hall 12, Stand EO5 (Toys) Hall 7, Stand C21 (Home & Accessories) Moose Toys will be showcasing its toy and home offerings across two locations at this year’s Nuremberg Toy Fair. The company will highlight top-selling brands across pre-school, girls, boys and licensing, as well as new entry brands in craft and trend collectibles. The show portfolio will include content-led property Kindi Kids, which has attracted over 35m views of its first webisode series on YouTube. Moose Toys’ Kindi Kids has seen global success since its 2019 launch. The property will be propelled into 2020 with new characters, playsets and the second webisode series in January. Autumn/winter 2020 then introduces a whole new area of the Kindi Kids kindergarten, where children will be invited to roll play with the Kindi Kids. The UK-grown Scruff-a-Luvs brand continues to achieve global success. In the UK alone, over £60,000 has been raised for the RSPCA, helping real animals find their forever homes. The innovative wash play experience takes on a new level for 2020, with new reveals, animals and nurture stories. Building from the brand’s nurture and transformation narrative is a new entry into collectibles, with a whole new world of Scruff-a-Luvs waiting to be found and looked after. The UK launch of Team Gem captured young girls’ imaginations, with a 360 marketing campaign including a two-day launch at a National Gymnastics Championships event, Olympic athlete endorsements and influencer YouTube activations. The range of collectible action figure dolls and play sets, where a magnetic ring allows the gymnasts to balance, flip and land, will be bringing a new level of play in 2020, inspired by the Tokyo Olympics. The brand partnership with British Gymnastics Association will continue into 2020. Moose’s new master toy range for Bluey will also feature at this year’s show. Created by Joe Brumm, Bluey follows the adventures of a loveable and inexhaustible six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy who lives with her dad, mum and little sister, Bingo. The master toy range will include feature plush and a variety of figures, vehicle and playsets featuring the show’s most memorable moments. In Hall 7, Moose Home & Accessories will showcase exciting new ranges for Disney Classics and Marvel Superheroes. The full range of Frozen products will be shown, including a beds and furniture range that will appeal to aspiring Annas and Elsas. With over 30 years licensing experience, Moose offers broad appeal of products in key licences with an age appropriate range of kids’ furniture, lighting, sleepover solutions and play tents.

Toy World 102

GALUPY FOILBAG ART.: 17739

NEW!

Special Galupy to collect: Lilly – with a Butterflycrystal from Swarovski®

GALUPY CAFÉ CREMA ART.: 18880

Every Galupy with glitter wings

With TV commercial

NEW! E XC

Original

LU SIV E:

CRAZE BANDZZ !

100 + Shapes

100%

Own Styles 20 + different series

SILICONE • Bracelets in great shapes • Also usable as hair tie • 100 % Silicone - skin friendly • 100 % recyclable

CRAZE BANDZZ! FOILBAG ART.: 26588

NEW! Visit us ... GALAXY MAGIC SINGLE BLISTER ART.: 24492

Stand C-11 Hall 6

s any • www.craze.toy 133 Karlsruhe • Germ 0 47 13 38 1 72 9 sales@craze.toys • +4

nstr. 9 • 76 CRAZE GmbH | Herre

Nuremberg

HTI 01253 778 888 www.htigroup.co.uk Hall 12.2, Stand P-09 HTI has a host of new lines and numerous popular licences on show at Nuremberg. Along with HTI brands Teamsterz and Evo, licensing is still very much an integral part of the ranges on display at the show across the role play and dolls prams categories. The new Peppa range for autumn/winter 2020 reflects the essence of Peppa with strong bespoke tooling. The range has already received a positive response in early previews in the last half of 2019, so HTI is confident it will continue to perform well this year. The hero line is the Peppa Deli Car - a Peppa Car styled as a sandwich truck. The expanded Peppa range covers all elements of classic role play patterns including beauty, shopping, cooking, music and home. In doll’s prams, the 2020 ranges flourish thanks to continued partnerships with nursery brands, Joie and Chicco, along with Baby born and Baby Annabell. The Joie Pact line functions just like the real thing and is perfect for on the go play with its unique folding mechanism. It will also encourage nurturing, role-play and imagination, aiding in a child's social and cognitive development. Chicco has seen a complete refresh with new fabric across the range. Teamsterz remains a key focus and an integral part of growth plans for the business. Significant planning and investment into the range throughout the year means a host of new lines will be showcased in January, including sub-category Motorisation, with seven new additions such as the Colour Change Jet Racers and Boom Box Truck, all of which feature interactive buttons with a mixture of sounds, lights and movement. Teamsterz Monster Moverz are character-inspired additions to the Motorisation range. Kids can press a button to awake the dinosaur or alien and see the cage rattle, watch the shark snap its jaws and pull a wheelie, or see the Night Crawler transform into a beast. A new addition to the JCB licensed offering; Teamsterz JCB Mighty Moverz, is the classic Excavator which will sit alongside the already popular Dump Truck and Wheel Loader. Each vehicle features actions and sounds that capture real-life construction at the touch of a button.

Craze (49) 721 38 13 47 www.craze.toys Hall 6, Stand C-11 Craze will showcase its portfolio of upcoming and established product ranges, from compounds to play sets and bath items, at Nuremberg this month. Craze’s original Galupy IP and its recently unveiled addition, Galupy Unicorn, will be one of the many highlights for the company at the show. Today the on-trend series of collectibles comprises 36 detailed winged horse figurines, as well as matching play sets. A rich and consistent background story links the original series with its unicorn add-on. A leaflet with pedigree and lore is included in every package. The target audience is girls aged 4-10. There are several Galupy play sets including Rose Tower, Butterfly House Mariposa, Café Crema, Flower House and the Palace Belle. Further existing play sets include the Pavillon and Carriage as well as three different Galupy Gold Edition boxes to collect, which feature special Galupys with gold, glitter wings. Galupys are available in a foil bag which comes with one Galupy collectible figurine and one collectors brochure. The original crystals from Swarovski that adorn the golden crowns of the Galupy Unicorns and the wings of some Galupys respectively, are characteristic for the trend series and add motivating rarity levels to the collecting experience. With a clear aim to further expand the Galupy universe, Craze will be boosting awareness with an upcoming TV commercial. The company will also present the original Craze Bandzz. These ultra-elastic arm and hair bands come in various forms such as Dinosaurs, Unicorns, Fashion Items and Animals. The Bandzz always return to their original shape and are made of 100% silicone, so they will never crack. Special effects include glitter and glow in the dark Bandzz, available across the 100+ different shapes exclusive to Craze. There are six Bandzz per foil bag and 24 foil bags per display. Shape themes include Ocean, Rainforest, Paris fashion, Miami Beach, New York, Princess, Fruits, Safari Another recent addition is the Galaxy Magic range - a foam-like compound that flows and melts like galaxy dust. Available in different colours and can sizes, from starter cans to mega boxes, this fleecy play experience is made to fall apart and create an endless loop of modelling fun, for girls and boys aged five and above.

Toy World 104

Introducing some of our

Latest Additions New educational items, wooden toys and the latest from our award-winning Animigos

Come and find us at

Nuremberg International Toy Fair 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2020, Hall 4, Stand F95, Nuremberg, Germany

A World of Fun!

Nuremberg

Eolo 0160 440 1719 www.eolo.com Hall 12 / H-03-6 Eolo has been providing outdoor fun for more than 40 years, innovating around classic play patterns. For spring/summer 2020, Eolo will further add to its offering with the new Slider Disc - a new innovation in the flying disc category, with the aim of adapting this classic toy to make it a musthave for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children. Slider Disc is the first transforming flying disc that fits into a pocket. Kids must catch, reset it and throw it back before it transforms to avoid losing the game. The built-in timer converts the flying disc into a time game experience for endless fun at the beach, park or in the garden. The disc has three play modes: Compact Mode is pocket sized, easy to carry and ready to play anytime. Free Flight Mode means kids can lock the disc and use it as a regular flying disc. Game Mode means players can set the timer and pass between each other before time runs out and the blades slide back in to signal game over. Eolo has confirmed 10 countries are on board for spring/summer 2020 for the new brand, with strong TV and digital marketing campaigns set to increase interest. Eolo aims to continue to bring retailers exclusive new products, just like the flying disc with its innovative mechanism. Slider Disc will be on display at Nuremberg and New York Toy fair, and international distributors or retailers visiting the shows can make an appointment with the sales team at sales@eolohk.com (UK & Ireland), usasales@eolohk.com (US & Canada) and sales@eolohk.com for other territories.

Pyramid International 0116 284 3645 www.pyramidinternational.com Hall 12, Stand A11-1 Pyramid International, which specialises in licensed products including posters, drinkware and accessories, will be showcasing its ranges for 2020 at Nuremberg Toy Fair. Key brands and products on show will include the upcoming film release of Trolls World Tour. The sequel to the 2016 Trolls film is tipped to be one of the biggest family movies of 2020 and Pyramid International is supporting its release with product across its complete portfolio, including Posters and Wall Art, Stationery, Accessories and Drinkware in bold and bright colour palettes to tie in perfectly with the characters. With further highprofile movie releases in the pipeline, the company will also have on show collections for the upcoming Birds of Prey, Onward and No Time to Die. Pyramid International will also be highlighting the continued development for one of its most popular licences; Frozen. Building on the success of Frozen II, released at the end of 2019, the company will be showcasing its complete collection for the franchise. This includes adorable fluffy Olaf and Sven notebooks, an on-trend eco-travel mug, a range of accessories and a space-savvy display unit, plus much more. Another evergreen property which will be a main focus for Pyramid International in 2020 is the Star Wars franchise. Collections for Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, the final part in the epic saga that started in 1977, will be on show, as will products for the popular Disney + show The Mandalorian. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the latest products for brands including Nintendo, Stranger Things, Call of Duty, Friends and more.

Toy World 106

E G N E L L CHA LIMITS R U O Y

Hauck Hong Kong Toy Show Jan. 03. – 11.2020 by appointment only! Nuremberg Toy Fair J a n . 2 9. – F e b. 0 2. 2 0 2 0 Hall 12.2 / P-19

For appointment contact Malcolm Cook malcolm@mc-international.co.uk Mobile: +44 (0)7770 68 88 58

XL GO KART

Nuremberg

The Desi Doll Company 07769 694 655 www.desidollcompany.com Hall 1, Stand B20 The Desi Doll Company is celebrating over 10 years of making learning fun, and is looking forward to its third successive appearance at Nuremberg. It is a leading company in the Islamic toy market, from concept and design to manufacturing and distribution. The company’s full range of interactive toys will be available to see at the show. The range, which caters for ages 0-12 years, includes wooden sound puzzles, sound and light plush pillows, talking books, talking plush dolls and more. Retail price points are pitched at an affordable level, ranging from £6 to £35, and meet margin needs for retailers. The Desi Doll Company launched its baby and toddler range in 2019, with the addition of the Moon & Stars Cot Mobile and the Buggy Cloth books, ideal for on the go fun, and both have been a success for the company. 2019 also saw record sales of the My Dua’ Pillow, available in three colours. 2020 sees the launch of My Little Muslim Friends - a range of talking and singing plush dolls promoting diversity, friendship and fun. The focus this year will be to drive The Desi Doll Company toys onto the high street and gain in-store presence all year round. This will be supported with ongoing marketing throughout 2020, especially in the run up to Ramadan/Eid which falls in April/May 2020. Ramadan and Eid are the peak gift giving seasons for Desi Doll Company toys, and the perfect time for retailers to trial these unique toys on their shelves. The Desi Doll Company toys are available FOB and also through domestic supply routes. The company is keen to talk to retailers and introduce them to its range of Islamic educational toys in a growing consumer market. Email Farzana@ desidollcompany.com to make an appointment.

Smiffys 0800 590 599 www.desidollcompany.com Hall 9, Stand D-29, E-28 At Spielwarenmesse 2020, Smiffys will be providing an exclusive first look at its new Children’s, Main, Halloween and Christmas collections for the season. New for 2020, the Smiffys Children’s Collection has over 250 new lines for baby, toddler and children’s costumes. Collections include the new Old Lady and Old Man costumes for toddlers. Smiffys also continues to expand its baby dress-up offering with some new licences. Where’s Wally continues to be a popular licence with its timeless appeal. Smiffys has announced new official Where’s Wally Baby dress up for 2020, set to launch in time for World Book Day. The new baby costume features a stripped blue, red and white all-in-one and corresponding hat. A new licence for Smiffys, Fun with Spot dress-up costumes are set to launch for World Book Day 2020 in a deal brokered by Penguin Ventures. Spot has been an integral part of early childhood since first appearing in the classic lift-the-flap picture book, Where’s Spot? created by Eric Hill. Smiffys costumes will launch during the 40th anniversary year for Spot. The new dress up costumes feature a yellow all in one, complete with a corresponding yellow hat with puppy detailing and are available for ages 0-6. Roald Dahl continues to be a popular choice among children for World Book Day and has become a pivotal dress-up theme at the event. Smiffys officially licensed Roald Dahl costumes include new baby dress up with the launch of the Willy Wonka Baby Costume. The design features a purple, yellow and green all-in-one with detailed Willy Wonka print and corresponding hat; great for pairing with its existing Adult and Kids Willy Wonka Costumes. Family dress-up remains at the forefront of design for 2020, with the focus on a look the whole family can wear. Smiffys has brought pop culture to life with its new family of Punk Rocker costumes. Featuring corresponding costumes for boys and girls and ladies and men, the tartan print and metal stud detailing of the punk rocker designs are ideal for any dress-up event.

Toy World 108

Nuremberg

Edx Education 0207 097 5173 www.edxeducation.com Hall 12, Stand E05 Edx Education has been working with educational experts around the world to develop quality educational products to fulfil children’s needs at different stages of their development, from 18 months - 12 years. Its Educational Range for 2020 looks at the key development stages of children for their foundation skills. Mathematics manipulatives and Early Childhood Active Play are Edx Education’s strengths for Learning Through Play. In 2019 Edx launched a new sustainable educational range made from FPC (Fibre Particulate Composite/rice husks) material. There are many benefits of using this material for the environment; it produces zero pollution with large savings in energy and water usage during the manufacture of the FPC raw material, decomposes naturally and is fully recyclable. The company will be expanding its FPC range in 2020. Rainbow Pebbles is a flexible and open-ended toy that can develop a child’s depth of knowledge through creative play. Ideal for developing fine motor skills, which are essential for learning to write, Rainbow Pebbles also encourages a child’s counting, sorting and creative abilities. There are a variety of Pebbles products suitable for 18months+ to three years+. The Pebbles can be stacked, sorted by colour and size and used to make fun pictures, among many other activities. As children select colours and shapes, and decide how many pieces they need, they cultivate their foundation skills in design thinking, problem solving and critical assessment. Educators have identified many types of valuable play for little ones, from Quiet and Creative to Social and Active, all of which are encapsulated in this fun activity. Rainbow Pebbles and many more educational toys are available from the Edx Education product range, available to view on the company’s stand in Hall 12.

Sequin Art 01760 721390 www.sequinart.com Hall 4, Stand C18 Sequin Art begins 2020 with 20 new designs and a new, stylish Sequin Art Purple range. The company will unveil these exclusive designs at Spielwarenmesse Toy Fair this year. The company has announced a further 20 new releases which will be added to its eclectic crafts portfolio. The launch includes five Festive Fun designs; four designs in the Red range; five in the Blue range and six craft sets in the new Purple range. Following the success of Sequin Art’s more adult-oriented designs in the Red and Blue ranges, the new Purple range will feature detailed floral pictures. Sequin Art enthusiasts can expect to see blossoming Tiger Lilies, Orchids, a floral Bird Cage and many more craft sets. The new range will also introduce a more elegant and previously unseen Sequin Art look. All craft kits in the Purple collection will come with a wrap-around design sheet, which will completely hide the polystyrene frame and eliminate the need to frame completed pictures. Finished Sequin Art Purple projects will have a contemporary and stylish appearance and look superb in any room. In 2020, the original Blue range will welcome five exclusive designs. The newest additions include Fox, Pug, Snow Wolf, Stag’s Head and colourful Geckos projects. All craft kits in the Blue collection come with a luxurious velvet base and are ideal for those who enjoy a challenge. New to the Red range are Baby Sharks, Simon the Sloth, Izzy the Fairy and Stardust the Unicorn projects. A bright mix of colours and patterns transform these designs into pictures that make a big impression. There are also five Festive Fun craft kits in the Christmas collection, which will include Santa himself and his four little helpers: elves Astrid and Sven, Norman the Snowman and Ruby the Reindeer.

Toy World 110

Coral Connections

Authentic and naturally-inspired children’s toys by Guidecraft, such as Coral Connections, Little Bricks and PowerClix Solids Natural sets, expand the possibilities for hands-on, tactile learning experiences while strengthening a child’s connection to the planet. New construction toys with fluid shapes, earthy textures and natural color schemes allow for smooth integration into play environments that feature sand, water, dirt and other organic elements.

Little Bricks

Through sensory exploration using loose parts, children can satisfy their innate curiosities about the natural world while building relationships with new ecosystems.

Spielwarenmesse® Nuremberg

Hall H4 Stand D50

PowerClix - Natural Solid

www.guidecraft.com

Sale Rep: Lorna Smith (EMEA) Email: lsmith@guidecraft.com

Phone: +44 (0) 7725833273 Skype: lorna.smith966

Nuremberg

Rainbow Studios +39 0717 5067 500 www.rbw.it Hall 12, F-11 With a commitment to creating animated and live action hits, Rainbow is constantly engaged in ambitious new projects combining entertainment and education. The company’s latest brand, S.O.S. Pets, has been well received by fans since it launched in September. The property is supported by a product range which has been developed by Rainbow to reflect the USPs of the brand and how it relates to its target audience. S.O.S Pets has been debuted in Italy and Russia, with a first wave of 24 webisodes featuring 24 individual characters out of a total of 48. As part of the launch plans, Rainbow has also released the first product line; a set of figures aimed at 3-8 yearolds. Each blind-bagged collectible figure comes in packaging which reflects the pet’s profession – from police officer to ice cream vendor – and offers surprises and accessories for kids to reveal. The property also benefits from professionally produced unboxing videos, involving toy videos and animated clips. S.O.S. Pets will soon hit the shelves as a picture book series too, after the editorial division of Rainbow Group successfully premiered the first publishing content for S.O.S. Pets at the latest Frankfurter Buchmesse. Rainbow has announced that the second wave of pet figures will be released in early 2020. A licensing programme is also due to launch in autumn.

Zuru 01604 401 719 sales@geemac.biz Hall 12, H-04-6 Zuru will be unveiling a host of new brands and innovations for the year ahead at Nuremberg. Following the success of Pets Alive Boppi, The Booty Shakin’ Llama, comes the pioneering So Soft Sloth called Cuddles. Zuru’s So Soft range from Pets Alive brings to market the first soft animatronic pets. The debut plush, Cuddles, is an interactive sloth that is soft and cuddly, while boasting over 100 lifelike sounds and movements. Utilising patented Air-Mazing technology, Zuru’s So Soft Sloth uses pressurised air to create a moving, lifelike sloth with no hard robotics, making it the ideal cuddly, interactive toy for children. Cuddles holds hands and speaks, sneezes, sings, shouts and characteristically spends time sleeping. He also burps and farts, plus enjoys hanging upside down just like a real sloth. As part of Zuru’s ongoing commitment to creating more environmentally friendly products, the company has partnered with One Tree Planted to enable every family who purchases Cuddles to plant a tree in the Amazon rainforest. Consumers can visit sosoftpets.com and insert a Do Good Code found within the So Soft Sloth packaging to plant a tree. The launch of Cuddles the So Soft Sloth will be supported by a robust creative marketing campaign across digital, social, TV and influencers.

Toy World 112

Nuremberg

Hauck 07770 608858 www.hauck-toys.com Hall 12.2, Stand P-19 At Nuremberg Toy fair Hauck will be showing new introductions in both its girls’ toys and ride-on ranges, supporting the company’s reputation as a leading supplier in both categories. Also new for 2020 is a highly anticipated range of licensed Playmobil playhouses. Hauck’s ever popular ride-on range, including licensed ride-on toys, is boosted by the introduction of the Hot Wheels go-cart, which is sure to be a big hit with Hot Wheels fans. Also new are Real Heroes - a trio of emergency response go-carts, featuring Police, Fire and Swat! options. The new Eco Rider balance bikes complete the range. These ergonomically styled bikes feature rugged powder coated steel frames with fully adjustable handlebars and saddles, aiding longevity. A brand-new category for Hauck is its range of official Playmobil playhouses. Boys and girls have the possibility for endless adventures with the fire truck, pet clinic, police station and princess castle. New introductions to Hauck’s ranges of Play ‘n’ Go and I’coo dolls accessories will also be on show, and with Mattel now taking on Hello Kitty, Hauck’s range of branded dolls prams and strollers are expected to be in demand. For appointments please email Malcolm Cook at malcom@mc-international.co.uk.

Rainbow Designs 01329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Hall 1, Stand E-22 For 2020, Rainbow Designs will launch a new collection, as part of the endearing and popular Guess How Much I Love You range, based on characters and sentiment from the much-loved classic children’s tale. The new sentimental gift collection includes Large Nutbrown Hare holding a red heart with the iconic heart-felt message ‘I Love You to the Moon and Back’, as well as two Little Nutbrown Hare gifts, both delivering sentimental messages and presented in illustrate plinth boxes. All are completed with a gift tag ready for personalisation. This beautiful gift collection is the perfect way to express love and is ideal for special occasions including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Birthdays. The That’s Not My… collection of infant toys and developmental comforters was launched last year to a great reception. Based on Usborne’s best-selling series of touchy-feely board books, and with new additions coming this summer, the collection will feature many best-selling characters from the picture books including Puppy, Flamingo, Monkey and Dinosaur. Also, on display at the Nuremberg Toy Fair will be the Once Upon A Time Peter Rabbit Nursery Collection, featuring many ever-popular lines: My First Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny, Jiggle Attachables, Comfort Blankets and gift sets. New to this nursery collection for 2020 will be an Unfold and Discovery Activity Story Book and the super soft Tummy Time Cuddle Pals.

Toy World 114

Nuremberg

MGA Entertainment 0845 0533 333 www.mgae.com Hall 12.2, Stand P-08 MGA Entertainment returns to Nuremburg Toy Fair showcasing its portfolio of the company’s hottest properties as well as new additions to its product range. MGA will be unveiling a variety of new brands ahead of launch, including the new Na! Na! Na! Surprise line. The new collectible doll brand takes the unboxing experience up a notch. To unbox, kids pop multiple balloons to reveal the surprises. They will discover a collectible clip-on pom, with a soft fashion doll inside. Popping another balloon reveals a confetti surprise, while a further balloon contains an outfit and shoes. The Na! Na! Na! Surprise launch range features an assortment of six characters (including one ultra-rare character), animal poms and fashions for the doll to wear. The fashion-inspired clip-on pom features a unique animal-themed clip which can be used to attach it to a backpack or purse. The doll is the first-ever soft, articulated fashion doll with a printed face and fashion details, and each plush has an information tag giving the doll’s birthday and bio. Dolls include Minna Moody, DJ Cuddles, Britney Sparkles, Sarah Snuggles, Aubrey Heart and Roxie Foxy, which kids will love to collect and unbox. Visitors to Toy Fair will also be treated to a first look at the new characters, ranges and playsets coming later in the year. Toy property L.O.L. Surprise! continues to go from strength-to-strength heading into 2020, supported by a host of innovative new ranges, including additions to the L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. fashion dolls and core collectible lines. Poopsie Slime Surprise will also be under the spotlight in spring, driven by product innovation to its slime and fashion toys. Bringing together popular trends of collectibles and slime, the brand has an ever-growing celebrity following and has captured the imaginations of children nationwide. The Little Tikes brand will be a key point of interest with a focus on the baby, toddler and pre-school markets, with the launch of Little Baby Bum licensed toys bringing the popular characters to life in a new range of plush and role play toys. Little Tikes, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, is launching the brand at the Nuremberg toy fair and to the wider market in spring 2020.

Guidecraft 0725 833 273 www.guidecraft.com Hall H4, Stand D-50 Creator of natural children’s toys for over 50 years, Guidecraft emphasises the importance of open-ended play and the significance of hands-on learning through children’s connections to nature. Through a range of toys that are inherently educational and STEM based, Guidecraft encourages children to use their imaginations in the classroom and beyond through inventive play. This year, Guidecraft’s booth at Spielwarenmesse’s international toy fair in Nuremberg will showcase new product offerings, including new wooden and natural play products designed to connect children with the world around them. The company’s new Coral Connections fosters opportunities for artistic expression through building, while pre-schoolers learn about the vast oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. Based upon the beauty of coral reefs, each pliable, recycled plastic piece in the Coral Connections set highlights the natural wonder of the ocean and helps children create environments in a toy-based format. Children aged three and up can explore as they build vertically, horizontally or in a web-like mesh using the snap-fit and ball and joint connections of the four differently-shaped components. Teachers and parents can supplement lessons about ocean life and conservation as children create narratives in sand, water or on the tabletop using the brightly coloured organic shapes. A treasure chest that opens and closes and a group of colourful sea creatures enhance the storylines children can imagine during dramatic play. Both indoor and outdoor arts and science lessons can be expanded with a large, inspiration poster that features example designs and corresponding aquatic imagery. Coral Connections is available in 32-piece and 64-piece sets. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Coral Connections will be donated to global organisations that work to save the world’s coral reefs.

Toy World 116

Nuremberg

Nikko Toys +852 2-111 9077 www.nikkotoys.com Hall 4A, Stand C-20 Nikko Toys will be showcasing its range at Nuremberg, including the Omni X model; a unique wheel-in-wheel construction that gives driving and drifting another dimension that will excite any motor enthusiast. Each wheel has eight little rollers incorporated into a big wheel which enables kids to perform extreme drift and spinning actions. The remote ensures easy handling and, as well as traditional controls, offers three instant access buttons for even more actions. The Elite trucks from Nikko are designed for off-road racing. With a quick charge 9.6 v battery and a 360 drive motor, the trucks pack a ton of power with a tough looking exterior to match. Kids can race at real speeds of over 20 Kmph (12 Mph). Under the strong, lightweight vacuum formed body lies a fully independent suspension chassis with metal steering linkages and a rear differential. Road Rippers Color Wheels brings patentpending colour change technology to the vehicle aisle. Kids can shift the colour of the whole vehicle by spinning the wheel on the roof, or push the buttons for a light changing display with music and motorised racing. Speed Swipe is a high-tech race car, and once it gets started up, kids can swipe their hands over the top of the car to activate the engine revs and lights. The more they swipe the more it revs and the further the Speed Swipe will race. Mega Monsters bring the ancient power of the Jurassic era to racing. The Beast Buggy combines the extreme off-road power and speed of a race buggy with the chomping mouth, eyes and tongue of a velociraptor. The mighty Tricera Truck is the perfect combination of Baja Truck with the head-butting power and glowing eye of a Triceratops. Each style includes lights, sounds, motorised driving and animatronic action. The Machine Maker City Service set lets kids build, take apart and rebuild their favourite city service vehicles. They can build a Fire Truck, Garbage Truck and Tow truck, then mix and match to invent their own new machine. Each vehicle includes vehicle parts, a screwdriver, a driver action figure and a manual.

University Games 03334 050120 www.university-games.co.uk Hall 10.1, Stand D-19 University Games celebrates 35 years of board games in 2020 with the launch of its new brand identity and redesigned logo. The changes come at a major milestone for the company and better reflect University Gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; evolved business and vision. The company expands its First 100 line of games and puzzles for toddlers with the addition of the First 100 Words, First 100 Animals and First 100 Alphabet matching card games, as well as the First 100 Shapes and Opposites Puzzle Cards set. Among the new introductions from University Games to be seen at the show are the newest Dog Man games and puzzles, based on the part man, part dog graphic novels by Dav Pilkey. Visitors will also be able to see Dumb Criminals, a hilarious game of heists gone wrong for players ages 12 and above, in which players work to collect $50,000 in cash and guess whether a ridiculous robbery tale is true or false. Rounding out University Gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; international offering is Kersplatt! - the fast-paced family board game of modelling mayhem.

Toy World 118

Nuremberg

Rollplay 07986 971902 www.rollplay.com Hall 7, Stand B50 Rollplay will kick off 2020 by celebrating its official exclusive takeover of the Mini licence for children’s e-vehicles with the launch of a Mini Countryman in summer 2020, which will be available to preview at the show. Kids aged three plus will be able to replicate their parents rides with the all new model which will include a range of authentic, premium features from a padded seat, radio and MP3 hub with screen and Bluetooth, working LED headlights and a 12V rechargeable battery, plus other new elements. Further adding to the company’s already impressive portfolio of licensed vehicles will be the new prestigious BMW X5 range due to launch in the Spring. Incorporating a push car for children aged 1-4 years, an electric version for ages 18 months - 4 years and a two seater for ages 3-6 years, the premium collection will boast authentic, realistic designs and will be packed full of features, including opening and closing doors, radio and Bluetooth, working LED headlights, remote control and engine and horn sounds. 2020 will also see Rollplay continue to expand and consolidate its high-performance offering. Following on from the success of the Nighthawk which launched in 2018, Nuremberg will see the brand showcase the Nighthawk NxtGen. Suitable for ages eight plus, the ride-on will offer the same thrilling, high-speed, close-to-theground experience as its predecessor but with greater portability thanks to an incorporated folding mechanism which will make it easier to carry and a lighter weight, faster loading lithium ion battery. With easy pop out arms for steering, a foot pedal, accelerator and hand break, it will reach speeds of up to 7kph, and give up to 50 minutes run time. Also on display will be the recently launched Wave Catcher. The brand’s first electric scooter, inspired by the art of windsurfing, provides riders with the unique sensation and challenge of surf-like moves to turn and steer. This original combination of scooter and skateboard accelerates up to 16 kph and features an adjustable handlebar, rear brake and an easy ride option for one-handed cruising. The scooter is suitable for children aged eight plus. Finally, Rollplay will also unveil new look branding, which will include a new website, logo and fresh colourways. The more modern, simple aesthetic is designed to represent the brand’s positioning at the forefront of innovation in children’s e-vehicles.

Make It Real 01613 024 100 www.makeitrealplay.com Hall 4, Stand B-11-C14 Make it Real starts 2020 with an extended range of DIY jewellery, fashion crafting, cosmetic and home decoration titles, plus a programme of new brand licence collaborations, merging toy and fashion licensed brands. The company has also just announced the acquisition of another tween brand and will be working with Toymaster for the first time in 2020, to grow its presence in the UK independent retail market. Make It Real collaborated with Los Angeles based fashion house, Juicy Couture, to create a range of DIY jewellery products in 2018. Building on that success, the company is now launching new cross-brand collaborations. Juicy Couture will see its range of titles expanded to incorporate Swarovski Crystals and pearls in the designs. Swarovski Crystals will also have new collections for 2020 with Disney, with products including Frozen II and Princess titles. Products will be available from summer next year and can be ordered directly from Make It Real UK. Make It Real recently acquired United States based girls’ fashion and lifestyle brand, Three Cheers For Girls (3C4G), whose assortment features an extensive range of stationery, apparel, accessories and seasonal products. With 3C4G, the emphasis is on finished product rather than DIY or crafting, so adding 3C4G complements the offer Make It Real can make to its retail and distribution partners around the world. In the UK, Make It Real has announced that it will offer all Toymaster members the facility to buy through the group. Orders are fulfilled from local UK warehouses, with low carriage paid thresholds set for members.

Toy World 120

World Alive S.L. +34 932852852 www.world-alive.net Hall 10.0 / Stand H-03 In 2020, World Alive S.L., the creators of science toy brand Aqua Dragons, will be entering into new territory with the launch of a new and innovative ecolifestyle brand, Soul Mates, which will be on show at the Nuremberg toy fair. Soul Mates mission is to help kids balance the effects of inactivity and overuse of screens with yoga and mindfulness. The company aims to tap into the international wellness trend towards yoga and mindfulness by adapting the traditional practice into fun toys and playthings for kids aged three and above. The initial offering includes child sized Eco yoga mats and storytelling plush pillows with nature themed characters; Sun, Moon, Cloud, Wave and Earth. The yoga play-mats have animal and nature themed poses embossed on-top. The Soul Mates Mindfulness Storytelling Pillows see the characters tell a whimsical two-minute story and include short mindfulness exercises. Kids simply squeeze the pillow to hear the story. The project is the culmination of many years of study by the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder Amy Holden in perinatal psychology, child development and mindfulness. The new programme and product range is designed the be fun, flexible and easy, and one that does not require reading, videos, classes or teachers. It can be played independently or in groups. Whilst the product range caters for kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; health and well-being, it also cares for the environment. All Soul Mates branded products are made ecologically and include materials like organic plush, recycled fillers, 100% biodegradable bioplastics and recycled packaging. The launch will be supported by a communication campaign, including influencers, and is competitively priced for a mass market. This is a cross category brand spanning across girls, sports, fitness, outdoor, games, plush and impulse, with more developments to come in 2021. The full initial line of Soul Mates will be on show at Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg. World Alive is actively looking for distribution partners and welcomes attendees to the show to see a demo at its stand. Please contact amy@world-alive.net for more information.

Toy World 121

Viewpoint When the going gets tough, the tough scrutinise their Return on Investment (ROI)

Ruth Clement Ruth is director of insight at Consumer Fluent, a UK based company with global reach, its own panel of family shoppers, industry experts and access to kids for qualitative and quantitative research in 15 markets worldwide: www.consumerfluent.com

n the last quarter of 2019, spend on market research fell by 17% according to the IPA, whilst PR, events, direct marketing and sales promotion have also seen budgets cut. Only digital marketing reports a budget increase, up 11%. Few brands, if any, are immune to the uncertainties facing the UK right now. Whatever the causes of uncertainty, businesses are having to scrutinise their investments now more than ever and the key question which they ask me to help them answer is: “How can we measure and improve the Return on Investment for each marketing activity, in a way that enables us to make real time adjustments to our plans?” Businesses want to understand how they can become more agile, able to identify and quickly divert spend on to the items which are responding to marketing, confident that their assessment of the situation is accurate and true, improving the quality of decisions being made in real-time within a season. It all starts with data. Data may not be the “sexy” part of running a successful business, but it is a powerful asset which can be transformative, removing barriers and unleashing profit potential. Used accurately, sales data is the ideal real-time and early warning system which makes businesses more capable of optimising ROI. 3 steps to develop an actionable real-time early warning system to improve ROI Step 1: Assign a “data champion” to centrally manage data and produce swift, meaningful and consistently designed reports which address all factors driving sales performance. So much of our retail customers’ POS data arrives in different formats - a portal download CSV or an excel file sent by email – but it needs to be processed consistently and centrally in order to be aggregated, analysed and interpreted correctly. This data can then be distilled into an early warning system which focuses attention on urgent and important actions, highlighting the “winners and bleeders” in any given product range at any given time, based on the “total value” impact of their losses or gains to the business.

Step 2: Your data champion should extract as many core metrics as they can from your retail customer. In addition to volume and value sales data, they should source data on the number of stores registering sales (to calculate a rate of sale per store), number of stores listing product (according to the retailer) and the location of inventory within the retailer’s distribution chain. Time is of the essence when making investment decisions mid-season. A disappointing sales performance on an item may be because “the advertising isn’t working” or “consumers just don’t like our product enough.” Alternatively, and more often the case, it’s because the item simply hasn’t made its way on to the shelf in all stores. No business would want to waste money advertising an empty shelf space. Knowing where your product is in a retailer’s distribution chain, and what the ROS per store is, will help you clarify the root cause of a problem or a greater opportunity to unlock. Step 3: Integrate, within your data and reporting, any shipments data and media metrics which measure your investment, including social media tracking and web analytics, CRO and GRP data. If there is a time lag in receiving actual metrics from your agency, your data champion should enter the spend and metrics which you forecasted, to serve as a benchmark until actual data becomes available. Long term, you may also want to add a seasonality curve so that you can measure the “true uplift” of your investment. The more data your data champion sources and extracts, the more they’ll want to automate its processing. Anything is feasible in Excel, but a bespoke software tool serves businesses better in the long run, saving time and money, and making reports instantly accessible via a portal to anyone within the organisation. If you don’t have the resources to follow the 3 steps featured, simply contact us at Consumer Fluent and we’ll design a simple, affordable solution to suit your business and your budget. At Consumer Fluent we provide interim and out-sourced data

Toy World 122

campions, the software tools and online portals. We audit the data you already use, manage the setup, training and implementation of reporting, with the option for you to re-integrate the entire process in-house, if you choose. We use data “smart hubs” for each business, upload weekly data from your multiple sources and with a simple click of a button, the hubs automatically map all data points in to a single report, allowing you to switch from a view of items and brands at an aggregated (macro) level or dive in to the granular detail of a retail customer. With shipments included, you’ll be able to track your sell through percentages at any time. Our online portals mean that any manager can access the metrics they need in order to make their daily, tactical and strategic decisions, on any device. Businesses know that fans are vanity, sales are sanity. Our data analysis monitors online sales as well as store sales. Knowing what your digital and social media marketing has achieved in driving search of and traffic to your product pages is hugely valuable, and your Conversion Ratings Online (CRO) for each product page provide even more powerful insights. It is often easier to respond to and implement the changes needed to improve product page conversion than to change any other form of product or brand communication, mid-season. We optimise product pages and copy based on CRO insights and can synchronise the roll out of those changes across multiple e-commerce sites, so that they are updated simultaneously, with just the click of a button. Our 3 Step approach saves time, effort and money. It ensures that your Return on Investment is maximised. Contact us to find out more or visit https:// consumerfluent.com

Viewpoint Welcome to the Age of Amazon

O Asha Bhalsod Asha has 10 years eCommerce account management experience, including at Amazon and managing the Amazon/ eCommerce businesses at Tomy UK and Melissa & Doug. She now runs Etopia Consultancy, to help brands create their eCommerce strategy and grow their Amazon business, and can be contacted on asha@etopiaconsultancy.co.uk for guidance with selling on Amazon.

ver the past few years, a profound shift has occurred for brands and retailer: the retail landscape is changing, and Amazon is shaking up the toy industry. We’re in a new age; The Amazon Age. Many toy businesses are trying to reconfigure their business model and work out how they can support - and grow profitably - with the largest global retailer. Amazon is not going away. Toys is a major product group for Amazon and its growth across Europe is bigger than its home country, USA. As of 2017, after the big four grocers, Amazon is the UK's 5th largest retailer. In toys, Amazon UK is second only to Argos, but the former is growing faster and expects that by 2020 it will be the number one toy retailer. As Amazon’s importance in the toy market continues, the importance of Amazon’s marketing platform shouldn’t be underestimated. Several consumer surveys have shown that more than half of eCommerce shoppers now start their searches on Amazon. Even consumers who have no intention of buying from Amazon are still visiting the site to learn more about products, compare prices or read customer reviews. Search result placement on Amazon is key; more than two-thirds of product clicks happen on the first page of Amazon's search results, with one-third occurring on the first two rows displayed. To succeed in this new Amazon digital era, brands must adopt an Amazon marketing strategy which understands best practices; one which brings traffic to Amazon product detail pages, resulting in eventual sales.

Amazon is a data-driven company, and products with better quality data will perform better. Unfortunately, too many product listings don’t go far enough, only including a basic product photo, title and description. That simply isn’t enough; each product requires detailed descriptions with features and benefits, making it engaging for the customer. Good images sell products online. Enhancing a listing with video content can add an additional 10-20% in conversion. Brands will achieve a major competitive advantage in this new era of eCommerce if they make better use of their data analytics. Amazon provides data for almost any of your questions; from sell out data to specific seller search behaviour, brands are equipped with information which allows them to understand their customer and their purchase journey. These insights can be very useful in implementing a winning sales and marketing strategy for Amazon. How well is your business equipped to trade with Amazon? There is no denying that Amazon’s dominance comes with a wealth of complexities. Many businesses identify the opportunity, but feel they are ill equipped to deal with the complexities working with Amazon brings. From difficult operational models, to the world of “self-service”, Amazon management has its own set of challenges – and opportunities. During my time working in the eCommerce landscape, I was frequently asked by manufacturers and brands which platform is better to sell on - 1P (First Party -Vendor Central) or 3P (Third Party- Seller Central). Many are reticent to sell on either, with concerns about low

or non-existent profit margins. For many brands, it’s easier to have a wholesale model through 1P. However easier doesn’t mean better. 3P can bring a wealth of advantages such as higher profitability; the ability to control retail price; control over channel conflict and improved brand control. In early 2019, Amazon announced Pan European Management. Many brands which operate across Europe were not ready or armed for this. With different P&L’s in each market, brands have lost momentum in markets in which they don’t dominate. Different pricing structures across each market is causing cross shipping across the territories, which in turn means that it is getting harder to have visibility of the true sales in each market. 2020 will be another interesting year of trading with Amazon. As some of the toy markets across Europe decline, Amazon continues growing and increasing its market share. As the dust settles on the first year of Pan European Management, some brands will be asking themselves if the lead market managing Amazon is the correct lead market for them. Brands will need to adopt a more strategic view of Amazon. The FFP & SIOC program will change how products are packaged. Spending on Amazon advertising will be pivotal in winning on Amazon against competitors. Brands will no longer be able to overlook the complexities of Amazon and will need to tackle these head on. Companies that continue to ignore the digital centricity of their buyers are likely to face steep challenges from competitors who decided to take action early on.

toyworld toy world The business magazine with a passion for toys

See us at Toy Fair Stand GH37 Toy World 124

Viewpoint The evolution will be televised.

Matthew Smith Matthew is head of AV at Arena Azure, a specialist media planning and buying agency focused on child markets

ith the recent arrival of several new streaming services and a seemingly endless supply of more on the way, the battle for content looks set to explode. The need for all these services to arm themselves against the Netflix behemoth, which has hoovered up a lot of their content in recent years, has led to a boom in new programmes. According to the Financial Times, there were 496 scripted TV shows made in the US last year, up 129% on the 216 series released in 2010. This need for content has created a war between the services. The likes of Disney and Warner are now taking their content back in preparation for their own streaming services. In the States, Friends will be moving to Warner’s HBO Max, while Disney has infamously removed all its content from Netflix in preparation for Disney +. With all this new content investment, where does that leave children’s content? Until now I don’t believe children - and the industry - have been seeing the benefit of this investment, but things look to be changing. HBO Max has commissioned a new series of Adventure Time, as well as new series of Sesame Street, plus three spin-off series. Also in the States, Viacom CBS has announced two original TV series - Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs and a new Danger Mouse - for its CBS All Access streaming service. Netflix recently announced an expansion of its relationship with Nickelodeon and the promise of new content. How long before there are more of these shared risk/reward partnerships involving the likes of Apple and

Advertise in the brand new February issue of Publication date: 23rd January

Amazon? Although early days for Apple, it has included a few children’s TV shows with the launch of TV+, with The Helpsters looking to capitalise on the success of Sesame Street. Ghost Writers and Snoopy in Space complete Apple’s child offering; clearly there is plenty of room for improvement. Amazon is leading the charge into children and family content, with Netflix not too far behind. Hopefully some of these programmes will work their way to traditional TV here in the UK.

times. According to the latest research, On Demand accounts for more than 19% of kids viewing in Sky homes, and with Sky having the largest portfolio of channels, it could help massively with supply. Alternatively, there are rumours that ITV will launch a dedicated CITV app, so the content will no longer be hidden in the depths of the ITVHub app. Other commercial opportunities exist with new channel Yaas, alongside its sister channel Ketchup.

The big players are investing billions of pounds in new content, and whilst it is great for the short term, no one believes it is sustainable. Consumers won’t support all the streaming services out there. They will, however, become used to this level of choice and this type of consumption. As we go down this wormhole, it will be normalised and come to be expected by younger generations. As such, broadcasters will need to change. This has already been seen in the recent Ofcom report criticising the BBC for potentially losing a generation of 16-24 year olds. Children in general do not need a new series to binge on each month, especially those at the younger end, so the investment in programming doesn’t need to be as high. However, children’s consumption of content is following the same pattern as their elders, with streaming services and YouTube increasingly competing for their screen time.

As far as I’m concerned, the more commercial opportunities develop in this area the better, as there is still no media advertising more effective than TV - it is just that the definition of TV is changing. I still believe in traditional linear TV: people will still want their content curated. However, On Demand will change the way we buy TV. No longer will you just be able to tune in to watch your ads go out, no longer will transmissions times encompass all the TV media buy. TV spot advertising will combine linear and On Demand to aid delivery. Media agencies will still look to access the best programmes live on TV, but this will need to be supplemented by On Demand to make up the numbers.

However, there is good news out there for toy advertisers. Sky look set to monetise its vast set top box inventory, which could unleash millions more impacts. It is unclear how big this area could be, but without doubt we live in exciting

There are two things that must happen before this future is realised. The first is that pricing needs to be consistent between TV and On Demand. Secondly, a new thirdparty measuring system will need to be developed, so all of this can be verified. BARB is trying with Project Dovetail, but in truth it is way behind schedule and far from perfect. However I don’t believe we will have to wait too long for these issues to be resolved. Keep the faith!

toyworld toy world The business magazine with a passion for toys

•

Advert deadline 9th January

Contact mark@toyworldmag.co.uk for more information Toy World 126

Feature

Toy Fair 2020

Bringing the toy industry together Taking place from Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23rd January 2020, the 67th Toy Fair at Olympia, London, is preparing to open its doors to more than 260 companies offering the very best in toys, games and other kids’ products. Toy World looks at what to expect this year.

aving sold out back in October, Toy Fair is in the final stages of preparation before opening its doors later this month. Spread across 22,000m2, this year’s event welcomes back big names including Spin Master, Bandai, Character Options, VTech, Flair, Tomy, Playmobil, Hornby, Vivid and Brainstorm, plus many more. “Toy Fair is our favourite show not only in terms of business written but also because the atmosphere is always so fantastic”, says Debra Tiffany, marketing manager at Brainstorm. “It’s great to catch up with familiar faces within the toy industry with everyone under one roof. We make new valuable contacts year in, year out and the organisers are always accessible and on hand to help us maximise opportunities throughout the show.” Press Day will once again take place on the opening day of the show, with attending journalists able to set up and work from the press office, which will now be located in Upper West. The press office has been moved alongside the Demo Zone to create a new media hub. Majen Immink, director of Fairs & Special Events, explains: “This year we have moved our Press Office, Demo Zone and Content Creation Zone to a new location at the back of the Upper Level to create a media hub on stands 320, 312 and 300. With a brand-new look, the Demo Zone will once again provide a vibrant and colourful setting

for our much-loved Toy Fair TV.” “We’ve also added a pop-up meeting room on the floor towards the back of the Grand Hall next to the West Hall Lounge (stand G122),” she adds. “This is available for any visitors wanting a private space to hold a meeting at the show. Anyone wanting to use the space can book in advance by contacting Tracey@btha.co.uk or by booking on site in the Organiser’s Office. Room hire is priced at £30 per hour.” Press Day also hosts the character parade, which all attendees have come to know and love over the years, and the announcement of the Toy Fair’s Hero Toys Awards, a prestigious recognition for market-leading toys. Winners of the 2019 awards included Alpha Group, Golden Bear, Schleich, Tomy, Playmobil and Learning Resources, which won with its Artie 3000 coding robot. Artie 3000 also won the Editor’s Choice Award, as voted on by the media who attend Toy Fair. The company will no doubt be hoping to replicate this success with its Coding Critters, a new range of cute animal characters that help intro kids to early coding concepts. The company considers Toy Fair an unmissable event in the yearly trade show calendar, as evidenced by its many years of exhibiting. “Learning Resources has exhibited at London Toy Fair for over 20 years,” explains MD and founder Dennis Blackmore. “It’s a fantastic way to kick off the New Year. It brings together everything we love

Toy World 128

about the toy industry: the buzz, the innovation, and the chance to showcase our new toys and games to retailers, buyers and the media.” Commenting on Smart Toys and Games’ return to Toy Fair this year, Karen Clarke, brand director, says: “This will be our sixth year exhibiting at Toy Fair, and each year it becomes an even more important fixture in our strategic planning, providing the perfect kick-start for the months ahead. We look forward to showcasing our new lines to the industry and engaging with the long-standing retailers we work with, as well as meeting potential new ones.” Toy Fair’s Greenhouse Area welcomes 50 exhibitors this year. The community feel of the location, which houses both first-time and returning companies, is favoured by many who choose to return to it year upon year, including the toy trade’s leading title, Toy World (GH37), The Source Wholesale (GH32) and Rachel Lowe Games and Puzzles (GH16). Rachel Lowe comments: “I love the Greenhouse Area as it showcases new releases and it has a real community feel. As a creator of board games and puzzles, which are mostly licensed products, I have new releases at every show, so this is a perfect location for my company to exhibit.” The Greenhouse will also be playing host to several first-time exhibitors. This prime location provides an opportunity to network with industry

Feature

Toy Fair 2020

leaders, discover other brands on a similar journey to their own and meet with the country’s top retailers and licensors. Those looking for a workout at the show should head to Little Athlete Games (GH28) for a game of Snapfit, a fun new twist on an iconic card game that’s designed to get everyone moving, while anyone wanting to put their brains, instead of their bodies, through their paces will enjoy a visit to Strategia Games (GH45), to play the innovative new Walled-In and Tri-Hand games. “The Greenhouse Area is a key part of the show, supporting and providing up-and-coming toy makers with a platform to showcase their products,” explains Majen. “We encourage visitors to explore all the exhibitors in this dedicated area to discover the variety of innovative products they have to offer. We encourage all attendees to pay a visit – they might just discover the next big thing.” The evening of Tuesday 21st January, the opening day of Toy Fair, will once more play host to the Toy Industry Awards. After a busy day on the show floor, guests can unwind with pizza and drinks before taking their seats upstairs for the awards. The gala event is organised by the BTHA with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA), which will also present the Toy and Supplier Awards 2019 on the same evening. On Wednesday 22nd January, Toy Fair will be hosting its first Influencer Day to support the ever-growing number of content creators - from YouTube stars to bloggers - that attend the show. YouTube is birthing an increasing number of celebrities in the kids’ space, many of whom are now being immortalised in toy form; just take a look at our exclusive interview with Jazwares’ Jonny

Taylor (p.160) for a sense of how big this market is becoming. “Toy Fair is constantly trying to adapt along with the ever-evolving toy industry, and the introduction of our first ever Influencer Day this year is recognition of the increasing popularity of companies using influencers and YouTubers within the toy industry,” Majen says. “Taking place on the second day of the show, the Influencer Day will consist of a schedule of events and guided tours round Olympia, with the opportunity for influencers to create their own content showcasing the toys from around the hall, on site, in our very own Content Creation Zone.” Thursday 23rd sees the 10th annual Student Design Seminar take place. The event is designed to encourage current design students to consider a career in the toy industry, and features presentations from leading industry experts. Talks cover diverse subjects from the process of designing a toy, to legal and IP protection. This year, speakers include Billy Langsworthy, co-founder of Mojo Nation, who will give an introduction to the world of toy design. “It’s integral that, as an industry, we do all we can do to encourage a fresh wave of product design talent to choose the toy and game space as a career destination,” says Billy. “The Design Student Seminar remains a brilliant means of showcasing the sector to the next generation of top inventor talent.” In terms of things to see and do around the show away from the hustle of bustle of exhibitor stands, the Gallery will play host once more to the Toy Fair Relaxation Garden, where visitors to the show can

What's on at a glance

take advantage of free reflexology, an Indian head massage, or a simple head, shoulders and neck massage. Readers are advised to book early each day to avoid disappointment. The BTHA Lounge, situated on the gallery edge overlooking the show, is open to BTHA members who are exhibiting at the fair and their guests, and offers ample meeting space, free wi-fi and refreshments throughout the day. The Toymaster Lounge, located in Olympia’s London Room just off the main hall floor, offers a cloakroom, free wi-fi, tea and coffee, and is staffed by experienced personnel who can give advice on the benefits of Toymaster membership (more on this on p.278/280). Comic book fans can enjoy Spin Master’s Gotham City Café (B149) at this year’s Toy Fair. The themed refreshments area has been created as part of a year-long schedule of brand campaigns for Batman by the brand’s master toy partner; visitors to Spin Master’s stand will also be able to view the new range of Batman figures, vehicles and role-play accessories. “Toy Fair is cemented in the industry calendar as one of the best and earliest destinations to discover the latest toys and trends for the year ahead,” Majen finishes. “With more than 260 exhibiting companies and thousands of visitors attending, it really is an unmissable event for the wider toy industry. Heading into our 67th year of Toy Fair is a great achievement for the show, which wouldn’t be possible without the incredible exhibitors and visitors we see each year. Thank you for your continuous support; we’re looking forward to seeing you at the show.”

Tuesday 21st January: 9am – 6pm Press day – Character parade

Olympia, Kensington, London W14 8UX Grand Hall, West Hall, Upper West Hall and Gallery

Toy Industry Awards gala event - 6pm Drinks reception - Pizza Express - 7:15pm – Awards Presentation – Apex Room

Wednesday 22nd January: 9am – 6pm Influencer Day

Thursday 23rd January: 9am – 5.30pm Design Student Seminar - Apex Room KidsOut Charity Trolley Dash – Close of play (approx.. 5pm)

Toy World 130

visit us at

london toy fair 21st - 23rd january 2020 | stand 520

discover our exciting new launches for 2020 explore over 30 games with our partner drumond park

PLEASECONTACT CONTACTUKCUSTOMERSERVICES@TOMY.COM UKCUSTOMERSERVICES@TOMY.COM| |01392 01392281927 281927 PLEASE www.tomy.com www.tomy.com

Toy Fair 2020 Exhibitors List Exhibitors

Stand Number

Exhibitors

Stand Number

8th Wonder Ltd

F110

Funko

E130

Aardvark Swift Recruitment Limited

GH10

Games Workshop

D109

A.B.Gee of Ripley Limited Alley Cat Games

Alpha Group UK

Andiamo! Language Services Ltd Ann Williams Group, LLC Arcade1Up

Asmodee UK

Aurora World Ltd

Bachmann Europe Bandai UK Ltd

Basic Fun K'NEX Bassett-Lowke BB Designs

Bburago International Ltd Big Potato Games

Big Tree Toys UK Ltd Bigjigs Toys Limited Bird

Bladez Toyz

Bliss Distribution Bontempi

Brainstorm Ltd

BTHA Exhibiting Members' Lounge Build & Grow .Co

Bureau Veritas CPS Button and Squirt The Brexit Game Canal Toys

Cartamundi UK Ltd Casdon

Character Options Cheatwell Games Clementoni

Click Distribution UK Ltd Cloud b Cobi

Coiledspring Games

Content Creation Zone Crystal Art

The Carat Shop

Depesche UK Ltd.

Direct Worldwide Ltd DKL - Beysal

Dolu Toy Factory Dynit SRL

EasyRead Time Teacher Eduk8 Worldwide Ltd Epoch Making Toys Eurofins

The Elf on The Shelf Fiesta Crafts Ltd

Flair Leisure Products Plc Foco UK

B40 162

B90 126

GH20 430

E109 D35 147

600 510

B53

GH50 420

H46

G125 H39 B99 123

F100 156

E79 205

GH71

GH36 GH3 B95 F90 H1

E30

E119 E20 140

120

122

B22

E35 300 144

GH78 H50

B100 E66

G101

GH30 GH5 F1

B130

GH23 155 D2

E39

GH13

Funrise International Ltd Geomagworld getretro.co.uk Gibsons

Golden Bear

Gosh Designs part of the PMS Int Group plc Great Gizmos Limited Green Board Games

Green Elephant Trading James Galt

H. Grossman Ltd Halilit

Hasbro heo

Hippychick

Hornby Hobbies

House Of Marbles

Hunter Price International Ltd Ideas International Ltd IMC Toys

Insect Lore

International Compliance Workshop Limited Interplay UK Ltd Intertek

The Imagination Tree & The Kindness Elves Jazwares

jiminy eco toys

John Adams Leisure Limited Jonathan's Toys Ltd Jumbo Games Ltd Jumini

Juratoys

kambo handicrafts Kapla

Keel Toys Ltd

Keycraft Global Kidicraft Ltd

Kids@Play Ltd KidsOut

K-Play International Ltd

K-Toyz / Educational Board Games Theo Klein Ltd. Lanka Kade LaQ

Laurence King Publishing Le Toy Van Ltd

Learning Resources

Legler OHG small foot company Lego Lego

Lexibook

Lissi Dolls & Toys Hong Kong Ltd Little Athlete Games

Toy World 132

G90 501

GH62 E40 E69 654

G20 E15

F120 E9

E49 E90

Gallery Suites B75

B35 B20 F40

G23 165

E129 G30

GH24 G10

G66

GH7 E125

GH42 G100 B80

E46

GH26 B121 149

143

F10

F46

H30 180 197

F16

GH44 B25

H36

GH58 GH6 E10

D36

B125 B98

Olympia Room B18

GH55

GH28

New

20 0 2 r

Discover more fun Explore the latest toy and game trends from the UK’s leading educational toy company. See over 100 innovative new toys and games including screen-free coding pets and robots, home learning toys, what’s new from the squishing, sculpting sensation Playfoam®, and much more.

New

20 0 2 r

Come and meet us on Stand D36, London Toy Fair and at Hall 5, B-06-C-05 Spielwarenmesse

Toy Fair 2020 Exhibitors List Exhibitors

Stand Number

Exhibitors

Stand Number

little Concepts

G65

Magic Box

B60

S-c Brands Schaefer Toy Company Schleich UK Seekers Games Limited SES Nederland B.V. Siso Toys UK Sixteen12 Collectibles Ltd Skip Hop Skyrocket Toys Smart Toys & Games SnapDragon Spin Master Spin Master Cafe Star-Images STC - Testing, Inspection and Certification Strategia Games Sunipa Pictures Toys The Source Wholesale Limited Tactic Games UK TFTV Demo Zone TG0 - touch sensing plastics Thames and Kosmos The Happy Puzzle Company The Insights People The Sales Partnership Ltd The Toy Project The Toymaster Members Lounge Tianchang Yihe Import & Export Co., Ltd. Time For Machine TKC Sales Ltd Tobar Group Trading Ltd Tomy Tonies Toy World ToyNews Toys 'n' Playthings Magazine Trends UK Ltd Turner Media Innovations Lounge TUV Rheinland Ty UK Ltd UGears Mechanical Model UL VS Ltd University Games / Paul Lamond Games Vivid Toy Group VR Distribution (UK) Limited VTech/LeapFrog Warcradle Studios West Hall Lounge Wicked Vision Ltd Wildcard Games Wilton Bradley Wind Designs Ltd Winning Moves Wow Stuff Wow Toys You Star Studio Kit Zappies Zimpli Kids Ltd

GH74 GH79 100 GH18 102 E135 GH67 F66 C42 F25 200 E149 B149 F44 GH15 GH45 GH72 GH32 D34 312 D105 F15 G22 202 E21 GH57 London Room GH46 158 E99 F50 520 B85 GH37 E2 E1 H42 130 218 119 GH41 B49 E50 B70 D131 500 145 G122 E100 H20 E89 H52 E115 190 GH11 D100 105 B56

Magformers

Make Time 2 Play Cafe Map Marketing Marbel Ltd

Marvin's Magic

Max Mindpower Melissa & Doug Melissa & Doug Micro Scooters Miss Nella

Mojo Nation

Mookie Toys

Moose Toys Ltd MTS Sport MURO

MV Sports & Leisure Ltd My Little World Limited myFirst

N Smith Packaging & Display

Ningbo Zuodeng Arts&Crafts Co.,Ltd. The NPD Group

Orange Tree Toy Ltd

Orchard Toys Limited OTL Technologies Oxford

Padgett Bros (a to z) ltd Paladone

Paper Engine Limited Papo

Petron

Playmobil (UK) Ltd. Plum Play

Portrait Card Games Ltd Posh Paws International

Press Office Lounge & Toy Fair's Hero Toys Professor Puzzle

Progressive Pre-School Magazine

The Quarto Group/SmartLab Toys Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles Rainbow Designs Ltd

Rainbow Eco Products Ltd Ravensburger

Red Robin Toys Ltd

Redlands Distribution Ltd Relaxation Garden Revell GmbH Rex London Ricco Toys

Ridley's Games

Risk & Rewards Board Games Roma

Room Copenhagen A/S

Sambro International Ltd

530 656

GH21 B50

H65

H23 D11

D20 B45

GH53 GH48 E131 210

GH4

GH54 B30

GH69 GH17 124 159 146

E45 B12

GH70 195

E16 175

GH39 128

H40 540

F20

GH34 D90 320

F101

GH31 150

GH16 E120

GH8 E140 G25

GH1 220 110

152

G120

GH65 GH49 E98 F36 400

Toy World 134

2.5

GH20

EXIT GH28 GH18

2.5

GH36 GH11

GH34

GH13

2.5 2.5 GH32 GH15

2.5

10 Persons LIFT 34

LIFT 35

STAIRS TO/FROM

GH10

GH08

GH07

LENGTH = 6.08m WIDTH = 3.00m HEIGHT = 2.80m CAPACITY = 6.120kg

2 GH06

FIRE EXIT

LIFT 34

Service Duct

GH05

GH04

2 2 GH03 GH01

GOODS LIFT No.35

H GATE

GOODS ENTRANCE HEADROOM 4.60m WIDTH 4.70m

Eighteen86

5 10 WEST GROUND 5

GH31

GH16

GH30 GH17

7.5

GH26 GH21

FIRE

Disabled Persons Refuge Point

SERVICE DUCT

WEST LEVEL 1

2.5 2.5 GH24 GH23

2.5

9.5

5.5

15.5

3.5

169.64

F66

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.4m WIDTH 6.05m

10 DKL-Beysal

27.5

FIRE

210

12 12

126

EXIT Paladone

30 10.5

Geomagworld

VTech/LeapFrog

501

3.5

Catering Services

17.5

100

IMC Toys

11 20

E129

E130

Funko

FIRE EXIT

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

189.64

Lift No. 4

51.64

D131

FIRE EXIT

TOBAR Group Trading Ltd

Epoch Making 13toys

2.5

152.64

B130

100

Catering Services

104

54.5

8 22

24.5

F120

F44

7.5

59.83

E115

7.5

74.83

Winning Moves

7.5

8th Wonder Ltd

2.5

H42

2.5

E109

7.5

104.83

Asmodee UK

7.5

2.75

100

FIRE EXIT

438.5

7.5

STAIRS TO GALLERY

FIRE EXIT

7.5

0.5

195.48

7.5

5.5

5.74

LEGO

ATM

B100

33.74 45

1.5

Medical Centre Upstairs

41.71

STAIRS TO GALLERY

9.74

2.5

FIRE 10 10.5 EXIT

2.5

F90

FIRE EXIT

Game 6

B95 The Brexit

B90

215 12

0.5

9.5

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS BETWEEN HALLS Headroom 4.1m

10 10

2.5

6.5

4 Brainstorm 6 Ltd

E79

6.5

GH37

GH62 GH39

GH42

2.5 2.5 GH58 GH41

2.5

GH57

31.5

B80

2.5

47.74

0.5

83.45

G23 15

E70

STAIRS TO/FROM GALLERY

GH10

GH08

GH07

5.5

110

303

28.5

2.5

5 5

27.5

E66

150

7.5

E50

TOBAR Group Trading Ltd

3.5

H20

Lift No. 4

B60

F20

2.5

9 72 119.71

9.5

Ideas International Ltd 5

2.5

Alley Cat Games

Trends UK Ltd

BABY CHANGE

FIRE EXIT

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

28.5

Plum Play

F46

F44

E49

E45

256

12.25

UL VS LTD

B49

3.5

B50

GALLERY LINE

10.5

Ningbo Zuodeng Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd

Spillage Kit

Time For Machine

Venue column

Feature

FIRE EQUIPMENT

DISABLED PERSONS EVACUATION POINT

VENUE MANAGEMENT OFFICES

FIRE EXIT

Lanka Kade

H30

Kidicraft Ltd

23.75

152

150

Rex Issue Number: London Issue Date: Updated by: 4 WATER POINT Scale: POINT WASTE

5.5

Quarto 3 Group/ SmarLab Toys

225 19 Dec 2019 WPhil DN.T.S.

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

Scale:

6. ALL PROPOSED LOADSFIRE IN EXCESS OF THE ABOVE LIMITS 4.5 All such proposals must be individually accessed by Olympia's EXIT 2 Consulting Engineers and approved by the Local Authority Engineer 149 can be given. Ther will be a charge for these before written approval Kambo 3 services, toHandicrafts be payable by th Event Licensee. 6

VENUE MANAGEMENT OFFICES

WATER POINT Fire Point WASTE POINT Hose Reel Riser Fire Extinguisher - Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher - Water Fire Alarm Call Point

Store

Catering

Green House

ORGANISED BY:

Venue column

Feature

Space

Shell

Unset

Feature 2

Gents toilet (available only when Olympia National is in use and for events using both Grand & National)

FP HR R CO2 H20 FACP

FIRE EQUIPMENT

DISABLED PERSONS EVACUATION POINT

3.5

H20

3.5

FIRE EXIT

ATM temp

F40

E40

B40

2.17

F15 Thames and

FIRE EXIT

2.73

2.69

D36

20.74

B35

6 1

9.5

Klein Ltd B25

B30

44.74

B22

F10

108

6.5

G B20

8.4

101.45

2.85

E15

109.71

FIRE EXIT

GATE B

STAIRS DOWN TO CLOAKROOM

35.5

16.5

Eat Street W14

5.5

LEGO

OLYMPIA ROOM

LEGO

WASTE POINT

OTL TECHNOLOGIES Build & Grow Co Sunipa Pictures Content Production S-c Brands E2Shop 19 Carat ATM 3 Toy Company Schaefer

Shell

Unset

OLYMPIA ROOM

DATUM POINTS 30m grid

LIGHTS

PIPES

BUS-BAR

LIGHTS

CABLE TRAYS

TYPICAL CROSS SECTION THROUGH GRAND HALL SECTION A - A

Green House

Feature 2

Fire Point Hose Reel Riser Fire Extinguisher - Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher - Water Fire Alarm Call Point

WATER POINT

FP HR R C02 H20 FACP

FIRE EQUIPMENT

LONDON ROOM

H H H

Is Is U S

6. All Co bef ser

5. a) b) c) If t usi Fo im W bri be so

4. Le

3. NB cra Ma su 50

2. Ma Ba

1. Ma 32 3.2 67

Hours allowance: 20 Hours used: 25 hrs 19 Hours remaining: -5 hrs 19

Hours allow 225 Hours used: 19 Dec 20 Phil Hours remai N.T.S. Issue Number: Issue Date: Updated by: Scale:

VISITORS ENTRANCE

THE TOY MASTER MEMBERS LOUNGE

ATM

LEGO

DISABLED ACCESS

STAIRS TO GALLERY

2.5

2.9

143.74

69.74

Sixteen12 Collectibles Ltd

2.01

Cloakroom

B12

D11

Galt

Melissa & Doug

63.74

7My Little World Limited

42.25

E10

Orchard Toys Limited 55

STAIRS DOWN CLOAKROOM 12 3 TO

E16

Le Toy Van Ltd 10

Keel Toys Ltd

F10

padgett bros (a to z) ltd

F15 Thames and Kosmos

F16

B18

Interplay UK Ltd

K-Play International Ltd

G10

GH67 GH69 GH70 GH71 GH72 10 GH74 GH78 GH79

Ltd

2.85

D20

LEXIBOOK

63.74 ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS BETWEEN HALLS Headroom 4.1m

215

E21

Hornby Hobbies

101.45

COBI

Melissa & Doug

GALLERY LINE

Aurora World Ltd

32 40

Keel Toys Ltd

E20

8. 49

4 Learning Resources

95.71

Cheatwell Games

F20

Plum Play

The Sales Partnership Ltd

10 10

13.5

100

F25 24

G20

1 Wildcard 2 Games 2

4.5

E35

Smart Toys & Games 4

CASDON

G23 15

Great Gizmos Limited

9.5

MV Sports & Leisure Ltd

6.5

119.74

A.B.Gee of Ripley Limited

K-Play International Ltd F16

Max Mindpower

H23

The G22 Happy 4 Puzzle Company 24

47.74

D35 Interplay UK Ltd C 11

165

D34

Tactic Games UK

H 11

E30

F36

E39

10 10

RED ROBIN TOYS LTD

G25

G30

Insect Lore

H36

Room Copenhagen 4 A/S

Coe's Bakery

Artisan Espresso Bar

41.74

Micro Scooters

G10

127.48

Flair Leisure Products Plc

H39

2.5

Petron 4

H4010

STAIRS TO GALLERY

Coe's Bakery

THE TOY FAIR British Toy & Hobby Association BTHA House 142-144 Long Lane London SE1 4BS United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7701 7127 E-mail: Majen@btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk

Store

Catering

Spillage Kit

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

FIRE EXIT

Green House

Feature 2

ORGANISED BY: L GATE

Venue column

Feature

Store

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS BETWEEN HALLS Headroom 3.48m

Space

Shell

Unset

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.7m WIDTH 4.04m

House of Marbles

Star-Images

Skyrocket Toys

B45

Jumbo Games Ltd

8 C42

16 16

Bigjigs Toys Limited

H42

Keycraft Global

13.5

STAIRS TO E46 130 GALLERY ATM temp

G20

FIRE7 EXIT

104

4.5

Big Potato Games

H46

87.74

Marbel Ltd95.7112

B56 B53 3 Bassett-Lowke Zimpli Kids Ltd

Magic Box

ACCESS REQUIRED TO LIFT MACHINERY ROOM

1 Wildcard 2 Games 3.5

H. Grossman Ltd

23.75

Depesche UK Ltd.

H50

University Games / Paul Lamond Games

F50

THE TOY FAIR British Toy & Hobby Association H BTHA House 142-144 Long Lane London SE1 4BS G United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7701 7127 E-mail: Majen@btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk F 7.5

littleCONCEPTS

10.5

45.21

WASTE POINT DATUM POINTS 30m grid

4 GH42 Jiminy Eco Toys Ann Williams Group, LLC Kosmos GH44 K-Toyz / Educational Board Games Map Marketing GH45 Strategia Games 32 Eurofins GH46 Tianchang Yihe Import & Export Co., Ltd. International Compliance Workshop Limited jumini 10 10 Cheatwell Games 10 GH48 Mojo Nation Le Toy Van GH49 Risk & Rewards Board Games Little Athlete Games GH50 BB Designs DYNIT SRL padgett bros (a to 6 GH53 Miss Nella Progressive Pre-School Magazine

FIRE EXIT

C GATE

2 B70

2.06 12

4.54

Wind Designs Ltd

H52

Skip Hop F66

10 DKL-Beysal

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 3.8m WIDTH 6.0m

F25 24

G66 Intertek

G65

Marvin's Magic

H65

ATM temp

ACCESS TheGATE Elf Bon DISABLED 4 the Shelf

FIRE EXIT

Width 3.05m Headroom 3.50m

Sixteen12 Collectibles Ltd FP Fire Point My Little World Limited HR Hose Reel OTL TECHNOLOGIES FIRE R Riser 20 ORGANISERS EXIT Build & Grow Co CO2 Fire Extinguisher -Hours Carbonallowance: Dioxide 25 hrs 19 mins H20 Fire Extinguisher -Hours Water used: OFFICE Sunipa Pictures Content Production Hours remaining: -5 hrs 19 mins STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR Feature FACP 2Fire Alarm Call Point Unset S-c Brands © Global Experience Specialists (GES) Carat Shop Floorplan subject to change Shell Green House Schaefer Toy Company Issue Numb 159 158 162 160 156 175 165 155 Gents toilet (available only when iCom S.p.A The Elf on Paladone Bontempi Issue Date: Shelf Catering Space National Olympia is intheuse and for Toy Trust Coffee Updated by: Loungeevents using both Grand & National)

4.7

iCom S.p.A Bontempi

Great Gizmos Limited

9.5

Smart Toys & Games 4

STAIRS TO

9.5

The G22 Happy B75 4 heo Puzzle Company 24 14

2 2 GH06

STAIRS UP TO GALLERY & HENLEY SUITE

KidicraftE69Ltd

Max 15 Mindpower 21.5

H23

GH05

GH04

7.04 (Ø2.99m)

2 2 GH03 GH01

Eighteen86

Golden Bear

GH13

2.5

GH36 GH11

GH34

H30

2.5 2.5 GH32 GH15

2.5

GH31

GH16

GH30 GH17

GH28 GH18

2.5

GH20

Vivid Toy Group

7.5

GH26 GH21

GH20 GH01 Redlands Distribution Ltd 39 Squirt GH21 GH03 Button and GH23 GH04 MTS Sport GH24 GH05 EasyRead Time Teacher GH26 GH06 Laurence King Publishing 10 10 CASDON GH28 GH07 The Imagination Tree & The Kindness Elves GH30 GH08 Rainbow Eco Products Ltd Games Ltd GH31 GH10 Aardvark Swift Recruitment Limited

Room Copenhagen 4 A/S

F36

2.5 2.5 GH24 GH23

Jonathan's Toys Ltd

RED B85 4 Tonies ROBIN TOYS LTD 9

G25

91.74

G30

GreenHouse 2.5 2.5

GH55 GH44

Insect Lore

100

GH46

2.5 2.5 GH54 GH45

2.5

GH53

12.5

GH48

GH65

2.5 2.5 GH50 GH49

Extract Points Height - 4.8m

Lanka Kade 3

H36

E89

Posh 8 Paws 8 International

52.5

E90

Alpha Group UK

127.48 12

D90

Halilit

GH67

5.35

3.25

G90

Wilton Bradley

H39

2.5

3.25

Direct Worldwide 9 Ltd

Bird

2 B98

Touch You Star Sensing Studio Kit Plastics

2 2 D105 D100 TGO -

Funrise International Ltd

H4010

32.74

Roma

E98

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 1.95m WIDTH 1.60m

GH74 GH78

GH72

L GATE

2.5

GH69

CAGE

2.5 2.5 GH71 GH79

GH70

Petron 4

32Sales TKC Ltd

E99

8.5

Wicked Vision Ltd

5.5

E100

29.74

Professor Puzzle

7.5

FIRE EXIT

K GATE ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.70m WIDTH 4.38m

FIRE EXIT

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.7m Bliss Canal Toys WIDTH 4.04m Distribution

F100

F101

B99

M GATE

FIRE EXIT

House of Marbles

CRUSSH

7.5

Games Workshop

FIRE EXIT

F40 GROUND GRAND 56

Greenhouse Stand Names Star-Images

Jumbo

3.5

GRAND GALLERY

G101 Dolu Toy Factory

E Trends UK Ltd 3

10.5

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

SnapDragon

John Adams Leisure Limited

G100 F110

Insights

3 5 202 Kids

2.73

Toy Trust Coffee Lounge

FIRE EXIT

GH67 GH42 Jiminy Eco Toys 93 GH69 GH44 K-Toyz / Educational Board Games GH70 GH45 Strategia Games GH71 GH46 Tianchang Yihe Import & Export Co., Ltd. GH72 GH48 Mojo Nation GH49 Risk & Rewards Board Games GH74 GH50 BB Designs GH78 GH53 Miss Nella GH79 180 GH54197 MURO 195 190 Oxford Wow Stuff KidsOut GH55 Lissi Dolls & Toys Hong Kong Ltd Kids@Play Ltd GH57 The Toy Project GH58 LaQ ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS BETWEEN HALLS Headroom 3.48m GH62 Getretro.co.uk GH65 Ridley's Games / Petit Collage

217

Bigjigs ToysD109 Limited

Keycraft Global

E GATE

LINK ENTRANCE ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.20m WIDTH 5.00m

E119

B121

59.09

Rainbow Designs Ltd

JURATOYS 7

F46

BABY CHANGE

13.5

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

149.5

G120 Ricco Toys

E120

Character Options

4.5

H46

Legler OHG small foot company C2

198.5

Jazwares

38.5

Big Potato 22 3 Games

ACCESS REQUIRED TO LIFT MACHINERY ROOM

E125

B12587.74

119.87

LIFT 33

LIFT 32

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

G125 Big Tree Toys UK Ltd

West Hall Lounge

Depesche UK Ltd.

161.64

VR Distribution (UK) Limited

Mookie Toys

H50

180

500

36.75

89.25

3.5

205 GH20 Ann Williams Group, LLC GH21 Map Marketing BTHA GH23 Eurofins STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR Exhibiting 654 Members' 600 Workshop Limited GH24 International Compliance FIRE Lounge GH26 jumini EXIT GOSH Designs part of GH28 Little Athlete Games the PMS International Group plc GH30 DYNIT SRL Bandai UK Ltd GH31 Progressive Pre-School Magazine 200 GH32 Source Wholesale Limited GH34 PORTRAIT card games Ltd GH36 Bureau Veritas CPS GH37 Toy World GH39 Paper Engine Limited GH41 UGears Mechanical Model 10

510

University Games / Paul Lamond Games

F50

FIRE EXIT

7.5

79.64

Siso Toys UK

G G122

Meeting Room

E135

littleCONCEPTS

2.5

10.5

45.21

2.5 109.5

INNER G GATE

8.5

Skip Hop

LIFT MOTOR ROOM

2.5

309.28

10.5

G66 Intertek

Gotham City Café

B149 G65

185.14

0.5

Marvin's Magic

Spin Master

17.5

TOMY

3.5

21 - 23rd January 2020 Grand Hall Ground Level Olympia

3.5

4.54

520

Wind Designs ATM Ltd temp E149 E131 H52 30

Ravensburger

H65

15.5

3.5

E140

STAIRS UP TO 6 GALLERY & HENLEY SUITE

110

180

Playmobil (UK) Ltd.

Magformers 530

3.5

Redlands Distribution Ltd Button and Squirt MTS Sport 656 EasyRead Time Teacher Laurence King Publishing The Imagination Tree & The Kindness Elves Make Time 2 Play Café Rainbow Eco Products Ltd Aardvark Swift Recruitment Limited WOW Toys FOCO UK STC - Testing, Inspection and Certification Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles myFirst LIFT 35 Seekers Games Limited

GOODS LIFT No.35 LENGTH = 6.08m WIDTH = 3.00m HEIGHT = 2.80m CAPACITY = 6.1 tonnes

GH01 GH03 GH04 GH05 GH06 GH07 GH08 GH10 GH11 GH13 GH15 GH16 GH17 GH18

enHouse 2.5 2.5

0.5

Greenhouse Stand Names

2.5

Kids@Play Ltd

11.5

Baby Changing

Ram

3.5

0.5

13.5

2.5

Catering Services

2.42

0.5

540

6.5

2.5

11.5

Green Elephant Trading

2.5

6.5

1.5

2.5

5.5

13.5

6.5

3.5 8.5

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5

6.5 1.5 2.5

Hunter Price International Ltd

2.5

Hunter Price International Ltd

GALLERY LINE

7.5

Orange Tree Toy Ltd

Gibsons

5.5

ORGANISERS OFFICE

3.5

8.5

2.53

5 GRAND GROUND

3.5

Hippychick

2.5

GALLERY LINE

ToyNews

10.5

Gibsons

Cartamundi UK Ltd

Coiledspring Games

6.5

4.5

Cartamundi UK Ltd

EDUK8 Worldwide Ltd

5.5

Toys 'n' Playthings Magazine

Fiesta Crafts Ltd

GALLERY LINE

Asmodee 2 6.5

EDUK8 Worldwide Ltd Width 3.05m Headroom 3.50m

5.00 5.15

Room Switch

ToyNews

4.90

Toy World 136

5.12 4.93 4.60

Width 3.08m Headroom 2.25m Width 3.08m Headroom 2.25m

155

The Elf on the Shelf

Spillage Kit

ORGANISED BY:

DISABLED PERSONS EVACUATION POINT

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

GOODS LIFT NO.1

4.5

10.5

302

102

220

Zappies

105

2 Content 3 Creation Zone

300

C2 SES Nederland 3 B.V.

Kitchen

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

4.5

110

TUV Rheinland

0.5

119

2.5

10.5

3.5

600

ER SHUTTER DOORS

10 Persons LIFT 34

197

LIFT 35

202

195 K-Play190

F16

656

BTHA Exhibiting Members' Lounge

SnapDragon

15 200

180

F10

3.5

63.74

FIRE 0.5 EXIT

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

180

2.85

169.64

520

17.5

TOMY

510

179.5

120 8

Disabled Persons Refuge Point

21 Person LIFT 33

21 Persons LIFT 32

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

Oxford 25

195

Catering Services

210

0.5

190

100

10.5

Geomagworld

110

5.5 LEGO

7 4.54

4.7

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

Wow Stuff

LEGO

180

500

36.75

89.25

175

SE1 4BSClick Distribution

LIFT NO 4

3.5

10.5

10 2

0.5

TUV

34.5

3 Rheinland

218

Schleich UK

100

210

4 2

Insights

5 202 Kids

SnapDragon

102

FIRE EXIT

KidsOut

197

9.5 3

2.5

165

0.5 Ideas International Ltd 5

4.7

190

4.54

10.5

175

Ningbo Zuodeng Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd

2.5

165

Time For Machine

FIRE EXIT

110

4.7

2.35

3.5

FIRE EXIT

4 93

159

Ningbo Zuodeng Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd

162

126

Alley Cat Games

10.5

N Smith Packaging & Display

124

165

ROOF

ENTRANCE TO PILLAR HALL CANTEEN

130 10

0.5

Ideas International Ltd 5

2.5

17.5

10.5STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

The Elf on the Shelf

Bladez Toyz 123 24

Paladone

3.5

Clementoni

PAPO

Toy Trust Coffee Lounge 5 155

160

LIFT NO 4

6.5

128

10.5

175

3.5

Cloud b

122

140

4.54

162

Alley Cat Games

5.5

2.5

iCom S.p.A Bontempi

156

Ideas International Ltd 5

2.5

9.5

158

0.5

120

Kids@Play Ltd

92.6

6 Andiamo! Language Services

FIRE 7 EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM 5 GROUND FLOOR

126

1.1

10.5

Click Distribution UK Ltd

3.5

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

159

STAIRS TO/FROM GALLERY

180

0.5

6.5

STAIRS UP TO OFFICES

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

Ty UK Ltd

119

Paladone

0.5

130

Revell GmbH 110

Toy Trust Coffee Lounge

160

Wow Stuff

7 GALLERY

GOODS 128 LIFT NO.1

Zappies

195

105

3 5.5162110 15

Andiamo! Language Services

Oxford

Alley Cat Games

SES Nederland 3 B.V.

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

217

3.5

FLOOR 10.5126 124GROUND

4.5

Kids@Play Ltd GRAND

200

BTHA Exhibiting Members' Lounge

205

Moose Toys Ltd

STAIRS TO/FROM GALLERY

220

Bladez Toyz 123 24

Paladone

180

3.5

N SmithFIRE PackagingEXIT & Display STAIRS TO/FROM

0.5

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR N Smith Packaging & Display

ROOF

Network E-mail: Majen@btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk PAPO Café

Kitchen

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

NO 4

2 Content 3 Creation Zone

400C2

149.5

600

VTech/LeapFrog

501

Bandai UK Ltd

Sambro International LTD

10.5

OLYMPIA ROOM

126

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

12 12

Kids@Play Ltd

9.5

312

0.5

6.5

STAIRS UP TO OFFICES

225 FIRE EXIT 19 Dec 2019 STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR Phil N.T.S.

128

3.25

10.5

Spillage Kit

Time For Machine

3.5

147

3.5

159

Ningbo Zuodeng Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd

140

Time For Machine

6.5

1.1

92.6

FIRE EQUIPMENT

DISABLED PERSONS EVACUATION POINT

VENUE MANAGEMENT OFFICES

iCom S.p.A Bontempi

156

2.5

HASBRO

155 20

The Elf on the Shelf

140

17.5

3.25

3.5

147

150

149

Quarto 3

OFFICE

Feature

Space

Shell

Unset

Venue column

EVACUATION POINT

R CO2 Store H20 FACP

Hours a Hours u Hours r

Issue N Issue D Update Scale:

ORGANI OFFI

W WATER POINT © Globa WASTE POINT Floorpl D Riser Fire Extinguisher - Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher - Water Fire Alarm Call Point

Fire Point

Catering HR Hose Reel

Green House FIRE EQUIPMENT

Feature 2 DISABLED PERSONS

OFFICES

Gents toilet (available only when Olympia Spillage National is in use and for events usingKitboth Grand & National) VENUE MANAGEMENT

WATER POINT Fire Point WASTE POINT Hose Reel Riser Fire Extinguisher - Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher - Water Fire Alarm Call Point

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

FIRE EXIT

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

4 ORGANISERS

Rex London

FIRE EQUIPMENT

DISABLED PERSONS EVACUATION POINT

EXIT

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

150

VENUE MANAGEMENT OFFICES

5.54

21 STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

3.5

HASBRO

GALLERY SUIT

HASBRO

GALLERY SUITES

149 FIRE

Rex152 London

152

Toys

FP HR R CO2 H20 FACP

3.5

147

4.5 3.5

Quarto 3 Group/ Group/ 6 SmarLab SmarLab 2 Toys

5.5

The NPD Group

146

1456 2

Kambo 3 2 Handicrafts Kambo 3 Handicrafts

146

Art

144 4

4.5

1456

Crystal Art

The NPD Group Crystal

144

KAPLA 2

143

KAPLA

143

Warcradle3 Studios

3.25

Warcradle3 Studios

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

Spillage Kit

110.5

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

FIRE EXIT

ENTRANCE TO PILLAR HALL CANTEEN

FIRE EXIT

Clementoni

ORGANISERS 5 OFFICE 155 The Elf on the Shelf

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

FIRE EXIT

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS BETWEEN HALLS Headroom 3.48m

22 158

17.5

GALLERY SUITES 6.5

HASBRO

STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

FIRE EXIT

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

Cartoon Network Café

16 9.4

Rex London

152

150

149

The NPD Group

146

5 Crystal Art 130

1456

2.5

iCom S.p.A Bontempi

156

0.5

144

5.5

Quarto 3 Group/ SmarLab Toys

Kambo 3 Handicrafts

KAPLA

4.5

92.6

1.1

143

Warcradle3 Studios

PAPO

Toy Trust Coffee Lounge

158

160

Andiamo! Language Services

110.5

ENTRANCE TO PILLAR HALL CANTEEN

21 - 23rd January 2020 Grand Hall Upper Level Clementoni Olympia Cartoon Network Café

9.4

STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

FIRE EXIT

21 - 23rd January 2020 Grand Hall Upper Level 21 - 23rd January 2020 Olympia Grand Hall Upper Level Olympia

5 5 © United GlobalKingdom Experience (GES) 4 Bladez Toyz9.44 3 UK Specialists Ltd 3 Cloud b 3 119 1234 122 124 120 to Floorplan subject change2.35 LIFT Cartoon 3.5 2 Tel: +44 (0) 202.57701 7127

10.5

300

3.5

Cloud b

122

302

2.35

110

TFTV Demo Zone

Switch Room

Basic Fun K'NEX

GOSH Designs part of the PMS International Group plc

654

STAIRS DOWN TO CLOAKROOM 17.5

Magformers 530

197 2 KidsOut

101.45

Bburago International Ltd

420

320

Make Time 2 Play Café

217

Playmobil (UK) Ltd.

540

330

Chaperone Lounge

Keel Toys5 Ltd Wow Stuff

Kids Insights

International Oxford 5 5 Ltd

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS

205

Coe's Bakery

Interplay UK Ltd

SERVICE DUCT

G10

GOODS LIFT No.35 LENGTH = 6.08m WIDTH = 3.00m HEIGHT = 2.80m CAPACITY = 6.1 tonnes

Disabled Persons Refuge Point

ATM temp

Baby Changing

WEST LEVEL 1

149.5

95.71

G20

8 um Play 5 KidsOut

i UK Ltd

1 Wildcard 180 2 Games

3.5

FIRE EXIT

STAIRS TO GALLERY

os Limited

H20

h/LeapFrog

36.75

89.25

400C2

8.5

3.5

THE TOY FAIR Hours allowance: 20 4 British Toy & Hobby Association ROOF25 hrs 19 mins Hours used: 8 BTHA House Hours remaining: -5 hrs 19 mins Ty UK Ltd 142-144 Long9 Lane

Revell GmbH London

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

Click Distribution UK Ltd

Disabled Persons Refuge Point

Press Office & Toy Fair's Hero Toys

7.6

105

Ty UK Ltd

102 Catering 5

6.5 SES Nederland 3 B.V. 4

ORGANISED BY:

210

3 column Venue 7

STAIRS UP TO OFFICES

9 Zappies Green House

Feature 2

218 6 Revell GmbH Store Feature

34.5

Schleich UK

100 Space 6

LIFT NO.1 Shell

7 GOODS

Unset

THE TOY FAIR British Toy & Hobby Association mbro International Moose BTHA House LTD Toys Ltd 142-144 Long Lane London SE1 4BS Geomagworld United Kingdom STAIRS TO/FROM GALLERY Tel: +44 (0) 20 7701 7127 E-mail:500Majen@btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk

Zone

34.5

bled Persons efuge Point

21 Person LIFT 33

ORGANISER'S OFFICES

5.75

21 Persons LIFT 32

5.75

FIRE EXIT STAIRS TO/FROM GROUND FLOOR

3.5

ORGANISER'S OFFICES

STAIRS TO GROUND FLOOR

10.5

Relaxation Garden

10.5

5.75

Relaxation Garden

THE TOY FAIR VENUE MANAGEMENT BY: British Toy & Hobby Association OFFICES BTHA House 142-144 Long LaneFIRE EQUIPMENT Hobby Association WATER POINT London SE1 4BS FP Fire Point WASTE POINT D HR Hose Reel FIRE R Riser United Kingdom EXIT CO2 Fire Extinguisher - Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher - Water Lane Tel: +44 (0) 20 7701H20 7127 FACP Fire Alarm Call Point BS E-mail: Majen@btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk Issue Number: m Gents toilet (available only when Issue Date: Olympia National is in use and for 7701 7127 Updated by: events using both Grand & National) Scale: ORGANISED BY: @btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk

TFTV Silverstream

11.5

8.5

3.5

5.75

8.5

S.p.A tempi

Catering Services

8.5 3.5

8.5

5.5

GALLERY LINE

Bachmann Europe

ORGA 11.5

Bachmann Europe

TFTV Silverstream 11.5

3.5

Cartamundi UK Ltd

Window

EDUK8 Worldwide Ltd

ORGANISERS OFFICE

OFFICE

ORGANISERS OFFICE

Toy World 138

Window

ORGANISERS OFFICE

Window

LENGTH = 6.08m WIDTH = 3.00m HEIGHT = 2.80m CAPACITY = 6.120kg

GOODS LIFT No.35

WEST GROUND

FIRE EXIT

LIFT 34

Service Duct

LIFT 35

Ram

GOODS ENTRANCE HEADROOM 4.60m WIDTH 4.70m

H GATE

Catering Services

LIFT MOTOR ROOM

10.5

2.5

309.28

E149

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.4m WIDTH 6.05m

INNER G GATE

8.5

2.5

FIRE EXIT

109.5

185.14

Gotham City Café

B149

15.5

Ravensburger

Spin Master

15.5

3.5

E140

13.5

3.5

161.64

E131

3.5

2.5

FIRE EXIT

152.64

100

B130

IMC Toys

Funko

E129

E130

Epoch Making toys

51.64

D131

VR Distribution (UK) Limited

Mookie Toys

79.64

Siso Toys UK

G G122

2.42

Meeting Room

E135

6.5

0.5

13.5

6.5

Catering Services

E125

5 1

11 22

198.5

Jazwares

38.5

54.5

24.5

F120

G120 Ricco Toys

E GATE

LINK ENTRANCE ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.20m WIDTH 5.00m

JURATOYS

100

FIRE EXIT

438.5

E119

B121

59.09

Rainbow Designs Ltd E120

3.5

Character Options

Legler OHG small foot company C2

119.87

G125 Big Tree Toys UK Ltd

B125

189.64

LIFT 33

3.5

59.83

7.5

E109

74.83

104.83

CRUSSH

7.5

195.48

9.74

2.5

1.5

5.5

8.5

LEGO

2 B98

ATM

B100 6

STAIRS TO GALLERY

Medical Centre Upstairs

9 10

Room Switch

Game 6

B95 The Brexit

B85

GH01 GH03 GH04 GH05 GH06 GH07 GH08 GH10 GH11 GH13 GH15 GH16 GH17 GH18

2.5

5 10

2.5

31.5

B80

2.5

9.5

GH13

2.5

E70

2.5

27.5

Skip Hop F66

9.5

72 119.71

10 3

Marbel Ltd

12.25

UL VS LTD

B49

3.5

B50

16 16

GALLERY LINE

256

E49

130

104

E45

E46

F44

F40

Star-Images

41.74

GH42 GH44 GH45 GH46 GH48 GH49 GH50 GH53 GH54 GH55 GH57 GH58 GH62 GH65

127.48

100

F25 24

10 10

Smart Toys & Games 4

F20

Plum Play

2.73

2.69

119.74

8 8

20.74

B35

B25

9.5

Klein Ltd

7 44.74

215

B30

B22

ROLLER SHUTTER DOORS BETWEEN HALLS Headroom 4.1m

COBI

6.5

B20

GH67 GH69 GH70 GH71 GH72 GH74 GH78 GH79

7 8

2.01

FIRE EXIT

Cloakroom

109.71

GATE B

63.74

3 2

5.5

35.5

16.5

Eat Street W14

2.5

2.9

143.74

69.74

DISABLED ACCESS

STAIRS TO GALLERY

B12

D11

Galt

E10

Melissa & Doug

101.45

2.85

STAIRS DOWN TO CLOAKROOM

WASTE POINT

Gree Cater Store

Space Feature Venue column

Featu Shell

Unset

DATUM POINTS 30m grid

Fire Point Hose Reel Riser Fire Extinguisher - Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher - Water Fire Alarm Call Point

WATER POINT

FP HR R C02 H20 FACP

FIRE EQUIPMENT

LONDON ROOM

2.53

TYPICA THROUGH GR

VISITORS ENTRANCE

LEGO

OLYMPIA ROOM

THE TOY MASTER MEMBERS LOUNGE

ATM

Sixteen12 Collectibles Ltd My Little World Limited OTL TECHNOLOGIES Build & Grow Co Sunipa Pictures Content Production S-c Brands Carat Shop Schaefer Toy Company

42.25

Le Toy Van Ltd 10

Orchard Toys Limited 55

E15

E16

Keel Toys Ltd F10

padgett bros (a to z) ltd

F15 Thames and Kosmos

Interplay UK Ltd

Coe's Bakery

K-Play International Ltd F16

B18

LEXIBOOK

D20

108

Hornby Hobbies

Melissa & Doug

GALLERY LINE

32 40

Aurora World Ltd

D35

D36 3

Learning Resources

E21 The Sales Partnership Ltd

9 13.5

E20 4.5

E35

MV Sports & Leisure Ltd

6.5

D34 55

165

E39

95.71

G20

G10

ATM temp

1 Wildcard 2 Games 2

3.5

Cheatwell Games

E30

F36

Jiminy Eco Toys K-Toyz / Educational Board Games Strategia Games Tianchang Yihe Import & Export Co., Ltd. Mojo Nation Risk & Rewards Board Games BB Designs Miss Nella MURO Lissi Dolls & Toys Hong Kong Ltd The Toy Project LaQ Getretro.co.uk Ridley's Games / Petit Collage

FIRE EXIT

G23 15

3.5

H20

Great Gizmos Limited

The G22 Happy 4 Puzzle Company 24

47.74

23.75

CASDON

E40

2.17

RED ROBIN TOYS LTD

G30 G25

9.5

Kidicraft Ltd

Max Mindpower

H23

H30

A.B.Gee of Ripley Limited

B40

10 10

Insect Lore

Lanka Kade

H36

Room Copenhagen 4 A/S

STAIRS TO GALLERY

FIRE EXIT

THE TOY FAIR British Toy & Hobby Association BTHA House 142-144 Long Lane London SE1 4BS United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7701 7127 E-mail: Majen@btha.co.uk Web: http://www.toyfair.co.uk

Tactic Games UK

Artisan Espresso Bar

H39

2.5

Petron 4

H4010

Flair Leisure Products Plc

Micro Scooters B45

FIRE EXIT

L GATE ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.7m WIDTH 4.04m

House of Marbles

Jumbo Games Ltd

Skyrocket Toys

C42

Bigjigs Toys Limited

H42

Trends UK Ltd

BABY CHANGE

Keycraft Global

13.5

F46

4.5

Big Potato Games

H46

87.74

ACCESS REQUIRED TO LIFT MACHINERY ROOM

Ann Williams Group, LLC Map Marketing Eurofins International Compliance Workshop Limited jumini Little Athlete Games DYNIT SRL Progressive Pre-School Magazine Source Wholesale Limited PORTRAIT card games Ltd Bureau Veritas CPS Toy World Paper Engine Limited UGears Mechanical Model

FIRE EXIT

28.5

13 13

H. Grossman Ltd

E50

Magic Box

University Games / Paul Lamond Games

F50

TOBAR Group Trading Ltd

littleCONCEPTS

10.5

Lift No. 4

B56 B53 3 Bassett-Lowke Zimpli Kids Ltd

2.5

B60

2.06 12

E66

150

B70

C GATE

45.21

Depesche UK Ltd.

H50

7.5

Wind Designs Ltd

H52

10 DKL-Beysal

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 3.8m WIDTH 6.0m

7.5

G65 G66 Intertek

Marvin's Magic

H65

ATM temp

28.5

303

E69

STAIRS TO/FROM GALLERY

GH10

GH08

GH07

STAIRS UP TO GALLERY & HENLEY SUITE

B75

83.45

2 GH06

GH05

GH04

2 2 GH03 GH01

7.04 (Ø2.99m)

Eighteen86

Golden Bear

21.5

2.5

GH36 GH11

GH34

GH20 GH21 GH23 GH24 GH26 GH28 GH30 GH31 GH32 GH34 GH36 GH37 GH39 GH41

heo

STAIRS TO

2.5

GH16

2.5 2.5 GH32 GH15

2.5

GH31

GH30 GH17

GH28 GH18

2.5

GH20

Vivid Toy Group

7.5

GH26 GH21

2.5 2.5 GH24 GH23

Jonathan's Toys Ltd

6.5

2 2

Brainstorm Ltd

6.5

GH37

GH62 GH39

2.5 2.5 GH58 GH41

2.5

GH57

GH42

GH55 GH44

2.5

GreenHouse 2.5 2.5

2.5

GH46

2.5 2.5 GH54 GH45

E79

GH53

12.5

GH48

GH65

2.5 2.5 GH50 GH49

Extract Points Height - 4.8m

Redlands Distribution Ltd Button and Squirt MTS Sport EasyRead Time Teacher Laurence King Publishing The Imagination Tree & The Kindness Elves Rainbow Eco Products Ltd Aardvark Swift Recruitment Limited WOW Toys FOCO UK STC - Testing, Inspection and Certification Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles myFirst Seekers Games Limited

Tonies

91.74

10 10

Greenhouse Stand Names

B90

Alpha Group UK

Posh Paws International

100

E89

E90

52.5

F90

GH67

5.35

3.25

G90

Wilton Bradley

D90

FIRE EXIT

3.25

41.71

Direct Worldwide Ltd

Bird

B99

5.74

Touch You Star Sensing Studio Kit Plastics

2 2 D105 D100 TGO -

5.5

32.74

Roma

E98

TKC Sales Ltd

E99

33.74 45

Halilit

Canal Toys

Wicked Vision E100 Ltd

GH74 GH78

GH72

Bliss Distribution 42

29.74

2.5 2.5 GH71 GH79

2.5

GH69

Funrise International Ltd

GH70

CAGE

10.5

7.5

Professor Puzzle

7.5

FIRE EXIT

K GATE ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 4.70m WIDTH 4.38m

2.5

FIRE EXIT

2.5

FIRE EXIT

2.5

F100

F101

G101 Dolu Toy Factory

ROLLER SHUTTER DOOR HEADROOM 1.95m WIDTH 1.60m

FIRE EXIT

2.75

2.5

M GATE

D109 Games Workshop

7.5

Asmodee UK

E115

Winning Moves

7.5

15 2.5

0.5

GRAND GROUND

7.5

8th Wonder Ltd

2.5

STAIRS TO GALLERY

0.5

John Adams Leisure Limited

G100 F110

10.5

LIFT 32

Green Elephant Trading

West Hall Lounge

7.5

3.5 8.5

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5

6.5 1.5 2.5 5.5

FIRE EXIT

8.5

Gibsons

Visitors Entrance

3.5

Orange Tree Toy Ltd

Hunter Price International Ltd

Coiledspring Games

6.5

ToyNews

GALLERY LINE GALLERY LINE

GALLERY LINE

Asmodee 2 6.5

Hippychick

ORGANISED BY:

Width 3.05m Headroom 3.50m

4.5

Cartamundi UK Ltd EDUK8 Worldwide Ltd 5.5

Toys 'n' Playthings Magazine

Fiesta Crafts Ltd

21 - 23rd January 2020 Grand Hall Ground Level Olympia

Width 3.08m Headroom 2.25m

touchingbase

Toy Fair 2020

Looking ahead

Toy World asked exhibitors what they believe 2020 holds for their business and for the toy market in general.

Mary Wood

Sabine Dix

UK & Ireland general manager, Tomy In the toy industry, every new year brings new product, new consumers and, therefore, new opportunities. Tomy is fortunate to have strong core brands like Britains, Aquadoodle and Lamaze, a dynamic and growing games business (including the launch of Logo 2nd Edition, which we expect to double the Logo unit sell-through, and a new Harry Potter Electronic Wizarding trivia game), a revamped Toomies pre-school range which is building on the huge success of Hide & Squeak Eggs and receives nothing but positive feedback from retailers, plus the launch of a new robotic toy, a new arts & crafts product and the eOne pre-school property Ricky Zoom. I expect trading conditions to remain tough, but we continue to be very supportive of high street stores while simultaneously ensuring our products are well presented online for consumers who choose that way of shopping. From a marketing perspective, reaching consumers is going to require a flexible approach and tough decisions about where to invest - but invest we will. In summary, Tomy is heading into 2020 with a strong base of core brands, some potential winners in new ranges, and a team that has the heart, determination and much-needed grit to deliver the best results we can for our customers, our consumers and our business.

Sales manager UK, Klein Toys Looking at the products on shelves, and NPD data insights for the fastest growing sub-categories like Action Figures and Collectibles, I believe that we will see the success of current trends continue in 2020. This makes it more challenging for suppliers of traditional toys, especially larger items, as we continue to fight for precious shelf space all year round and not just for Q4. Having said that, nothing will ever replace traditional role play toys; Klein Toys put in a solid performance in Q4 2019, ranking No. 44 in the Top 50 (NPD October). We had a fantastic 2019 and have seen our business grow 30% in the UK, which is quite an achievement in such a challenging environment. Klein has a strong product portfolio lined up for 2020, including wellknown brands. We will invest in full 360 marketing with substantial TV campaigns for Easter and Q4, and offer support in the form of exclusives and promo lines to bolster the business. Combined with our growing private label production, UK stock holding with Import Services and a team of experienced sales agents now on board, we are looking forward to a strong 2020.

Emma Weber

Marketing and licensing director, Vivid The industry has faced a huge amount of uncertainty again this year. Hopefully, with the political agenda more settled moving into 2020, we will see growth returning to the industry as we celebrate all the innovations toy companies have to offer. The Vivid Goliath group has some exciting strategic new launches across multiple categories. Spring/summer welcomes Power Pux, an addictive disc-based range with over 50 to collect. Building on a fantastic 2019, Crayola will also be celebrating another mess-free triumph with Glitter Dots, an innovative way to play with glitter and design key chains and accessories. Autumn/winter sees the launch of Vet Squad; kids can nurture and care for poorly animals, using our range of vehicles and playsets to go on rescue missions. Finally, the global Goliath games development hub has been in full swing, creating a range of new innovations across kids and family games, adult games and licensed titles to add to our successful portfolio.

Toy World 140

touchingbase

Toy Fair 2020

Ben Hogg Marketing manager, Asmodee After a few poor years, I would love to say it will be blue skies and rainbows for the toy industry in 2020. I sincerely hope the country can find a way to move past Brexit and understand what the new normal looks like. Hopefully we can get some kind of clarity on this and consumer confidence can start to rise, as I think people are sick of the uncertainty. Asmodee has been in a fortunate position; the downturn of the industry has not had a major impact on our success. We have, in fact, managed to grow during this time due to the ongoing popularity of the board gaming sector, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game continuing to flourish.

John McDonnell

Julia Cake

Managing director, James Galt & Co

Commercial director, Magic Box Toys Magic Box is on target to double its 2019 sales through extending its distribution into the toy channel and working with Lisle Licensing to increase the licensing partnerships for SuperZings and MojiPops. SuperZings is very much becoming an evergreen brand; Series 5, which launches on 24th January, promises to be the best yet. MojiPops adds to the excitement, with MojiPops Party launching in January and Series 2 planned for August. It will be an interesting year in the wider toy market; there’s no doubt there will be challenges ahead for the industry and a lot is dependent on the economy. However, pocket money collectibles remains a strong category, so we’re excited for another great year.

Shahbaz Khan

We are very optimistic for our business in 2020, which marks the first year of our merger with Jumbodiset. Our combined businesses now have a very strong footprint in the UK and Europe, with Spain, France, Germany and The Netherlands now home countries, and we export worldwide. We also have our own company in the US, which is a great platform to build on. With strong product development teams in the UK, Holland and Spain, we are looking forward to welcoming exciting products across all categories. As for the wider toy market, a year of transition in Europe should not impose any extra burden on trade beyond the usual difficulties, and I think there is enough creativity in the toy sector to keep us moving forward.

Country manager UK & Ireland, Clementoni I believe 2020 will be another tough year for the toy market, based on current trends. This means we must ensure our ranges are strong, offering innovation and value for the end consumer. We are currently working hard to build our ranges, which will allow us to continue providing strong educational products across our portfolio and sustain our growth trend. It’s also increasingly important to acquire the right licences, ones which will add value to our overall offering. In addition, I believe there will be a spotlight on toys in terms of sustainability; we’ve made steps in the right direction here by introducing puzzles and STEM kits into the line that are 100% eco-friendly, and we are placing a strong focus on this area for future product development.

Toy World 142

touchingbase

Toy Fair 2020

Amy Saunders UK general manager, Skyrocket Toys 2019 was extremely unpredictable and, as we head into 2020, I don’t believe it will get better anytime soon. With so much uncertainty still surrounding Brexit, exchange rates and consumer buying habits, you’d need a crystal ball to accurately predict how this year will shape up. I feel 2020 will be a more cautious year, from supplier investment to retail support. The fact is that we will all need to work together more closely, take risks together and work through whatever the year throws at us as a supplier/retailer partnership. This year, Skyrocket UK enters its first full year of trading; I can’t believe we’ve only been in business for six months. We launched in a difficult climate, but thanks to some great retail support we’ve got off to a successful start. That said, product is king, and Blume has really captured imaginations. 2020 will see truly magical extensions to the Blume range, plus the launch of three completely new and innovative brands.

Nick Saunders Sales director, Brainstorm Making predictions is very hard right now with the retail scene so fluid. We’re having another solid year and our export has been particularly strong, and we hope this will continue after Brexit - if Brexit actually happens? All we can do is make our offering as strong as possible, and that’s what we’re focused on. We’ll launch new products from our own brands, licences and distribution agreements at Toy Fair; I like what I see from my co-director Rosanne Kenealy and her development team here at Brainstorm. Of course, our marketing department will continue to support our brands with TV advertising, instore display/POS, PR and promotion.

Jamie Dickinson Marketing Manager, Playmobil Over the past 12 months, Playmobil has been continuing its broader entertainment focus, growing our properties through YouTube and television and working with some of the largest studios and agencies around. This is set to continue throughout the coming year, as we release specific ranges for the likes of Scooby-Doo, Back to the Future, Spirit Riding Free and Heidi, as well as new concepts in the Knights of Novelmore and the Everdreamerz. The UK toy industry continues to be an exciting sector. We’ll be working with our retailers, whether they are nationwide or local independents, to create in-store experiences which bring the Playmobil Universe to life. For all of us in the toy market, the opportunity (and challenge) is to continue to innovate as current and future generations enjoy our toys.

Toy World 144

Graham Canning Sales director, VTech I think it will be a slow start to the year, until consumer confidence returns. Having said that, VTech is continually investing in product development and marketing for both the VTech and LeapFrog brands. There are over 100 products being launched in 2020, including new categories, range extensions with entertainment support and technology innovation. We’re looking forward to sharing these with our customers at the London Toy Fair.

touchingbase

Toy Fair 2020

Sara Taylor

Sue Barratt

General manager UK, Spin Master At the time of writing, we have just witnessed a decisive result for the General Election, which has had a positive effect on the strength of the GB£ against the US$. This has got to be good news for both suppliers and retailers looking to return to a stronger and more profitable FOB business in 2020, and the result will hopefully also have a steadying effect on the economy. Remaining optimistic, Spin Master is excited by the opportunities presented by continuing and new brands in 2020. Recently launched brands such as Bakugan, Monster Jam, Candylocks and Go Glam Nail Stamper are expected to continue thriving, helped by some excellent new product development within these ranges in 2020. We also have exciting new launches with Uni-Verse and our hot new licence, DC’s Batman. The second half of this year will see the introduction of our most innovative product and packaging developments to date. We anticipate this will bring further growth, excitement and innovation to the industry. We are confident that evergreen brands such as Paw Patrol will remain strong and steady. Paw is now in its sixth year, and we have a full 12-month line up of new themes, products and promotions to keep our pre-school fans happy. A new cinema release this month, Ready Race Rescue, should see the brand enjoy a strong start to the year.

Country manager UK, IMC Toys On a macro scale I hope that Brexit gets done one way or the other, and that the election is forgotten about, so we can get out of this mood of uncertainty and consumers can settle down with a degree of confidence in the future. This will make spending patterns easier to predict and restore confidence in investment which hopefully will bring growth to the market again. For IMC Toys, 2020 will be a year of consolidation and renewed focus on our own brands. We have several exciting new launches supported by extensive marketing campaigns, which include not only TV, PR and digital support but also our highly successful animated series. This will be airing throughout the year.

Meric PekcanButcher Marketing manager, Interplay Interplay is looking forward to another year of sustainable growth, fuelled by exciting new product developments and new brand introductions which are taking our business into new categories. This year will one of new opportunities for Interplay and the UK toy market in general.

Nic Aldridge Managing director, Bandai I think that 2020 will be a very interesting year for Bandai. We have some big launches planned in both the toy and collectors’ spaces. While the toy business was tough throughout 2019 - who hasn’t it been tough for? - our collectors’ business has gone from strength to strength. We’ve managed to inject a new level of focus and attention into this area, and this year we’re also adding the McFarlane Action Figure range to our portfolio. The range complements our existing line-up perfectly. There’ll be some very big movie and video game launches over the course of the year linked to the McFarlane range too. On the toy side, we’re working on a nationwide Dragon Ball tour and will also be celebrating our very own Pac-Man’s 40th birthday in May. Some exciting news on this will be announced soon. We’re also working on some other major developments behind the scenes, which we’re hoping to shed light on as soon as possible. Hopefully, with the General Election behind us and a new Government hell bent on Brexit, there will be a little bit more certainty in the market this year and consumers will feel like celebrating with a few toy purchases.

Toy World 146

touchingbase

Toy Fair 2020

The next big thing Toy world spoke to exhibitors from the Greenhouse area about their expectations for 2020.

Clive Robertson Founder, Little Athlete Games At Little Athlete Games we feel that there’s not enough emphasis on fun, fast, active gameplay. With ever-increasing numbers of overweight and inactive children, we knew the tables had to be turned on sedentary gameplay. To achieve this, we’ve added a twist to a traditional card game within our unique Snap Fit products. Our team possesses many years of experience and knowledge in children's physical development. Our aim when developing Snap Fit was to create a stealthier approach to fitness, by providing big laughs in a small box. We feel our games are on-trend and challenge the status quo of other snap-style offerings, which are either literacybased, mathematical/numerical or quizzical - and which haven't changed much since the concept was first thought up 153 years ago. We like to think the nuts and bolts of gameplay hasn't changed, but thanks to products like ours, the outcome certainly has. At Little Athlete Games, we hope to achieve three things the London Toy Fair; we want to increase our distribution, raise awareness of our brand, and expand our fan base. Distribution is just as important to us as online sales are. Positioning our games at retail sends a strong message to consumers that the variety and choice of tabletop gaming is varied and wide. We have a range of products that we feel fill a gap in the market, creating interactive gameplay that keeps the family active whilst having fun, and we would be happy to discuss this further at the show.

Stacy Guest Sales director, The Source Wholesale The Source Wholesale had a pretty good year in 2019 - we’ve seen growth with existing customers and also bought in new accounts. 2019 was very uncertain across the market, but now we have a decision on Brexit, I think people’s minds will be put at rest in terms of what the future holds. Regarding our business, we are optimistic about 2020 and have a positive mindset. Over the last 2-3 years, we have undertaken a lot of new product development in-house on our gift, gadget and toy ranges, as well as working with our branded partners. We look forward to continuing with this and to ensure that we can service other international territories as well as the UK. We are launching many new products, as well as brands and ranges that we are really excited about in 2020. SoHi is a new brand with international scope across a number of different sectors, including games, and we will be unveiling it at Toy Fair this month. This, along with lots more fantastic lines coming through, will give our current ranges a boost and help our international expansion.

Lee McAuley Founder and inventor, Strategia Games Now that the patents are secure for my strategy game, Walled-In, it’s time to let retailers know about it. When developing this game, I looked into the history of how the pencil-and-paper game Battleships became commercial. A prototype of the game was built, which I took to The Game Inventors’ Workshop in London. Dr. Wyatt from Wow! Stuff said it was the best game he’d seen at the event. I also acted on more critical feedback, making it a four-player game, and adding a twist with bonus tiles. I’ve had great feedback from the industry; it’s been said that the game’s mix of simplicity and strategy means it could be as big as chess or checkers. My card game, Tri-Hand, is also ready to release. It sits in a sweet pricing spot at £5 RRP, and has six different gameplays based on Rock, Paper, Scissors. Walled-In and Tri-Hand are both quickly recognisable and very nostalgiac, but also offer an extra, tactile element. Many customers immediately ‘get’ the basic gameplay just from their memories of family holidays and the schoolyard. Even better, they often make an emotional connection with these games. I believe the desire to remember your childhood again and have others experience the same feeling – encourages buy-in. It’s how classic games are born. I hope to have made new friends, new business and new opportunities by the end of the show. Beyond that, I’d especially like to connect with retailers who are looking to buy games directly from the inventor, and to see how that can be mutually beneficial.

Toy World 148

Q&A

Brainstorm

Winning silver and going for gold With Brainstorm celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Toy World spoke to Nick Saunders, sales director, about the company’s early years and future plans.

It’s fair to say the past 12 months have been challenging for the toy market - how has 2019 been for Brainstorm? Not so bad; in fact, we’re pretty happy given the market uncertainty. Ever since we assembled the current board of directors, we’ve had an ambition to achieve certain annual sales volumes. We managed this in 2015, and we’ve stayed ahead of it ever since.

The company is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. To what do you owe its success and longevity? We have a great team of colleagues based at our offices in Lancashire (sales and operations) and Hertfordshire (product team). People tend to stick with us; l like to think this is because we treat them fairly and manage expectations well. We all muck-in when required, and we have a laugh along the way. Otherwise, what’s the point? Of course, we’d be nothing without our product offering and we continue to put quality and value for money at the forefront of our selection criteria. Managing fixed costs has also always been a priority and has helped us through the growth phase of the business, allowing us to release funds for the consumer marketing that drives our sales.

had been here since day one, back when the offices and distribution facility were based in London. Rosanne is the cornerstone of the company and has a long history in the toy industry, having worked on Scrabble at Spears Games back in the day. At the end of 2003, we acquired the company and changed the name to Brainstorm. Julie Greenwood joined the business full-time in 2012 to direct operations and finances. In fact, Julie and Rosanne are sisters and I was their next-door neighbour growing up in the village of Higham, not far from Burnley. Rosanne always made the rules for our gang, and she’s still at it now.

How important are your distribution lines to the business model? What do they offer retailers? I often describe our company as a two-part proposition, but joined in the middle. We have our own brands and products which are sold globally - Brainstorm Toys and The Original Glowstars Company. Equally important are the brands that we distribute for other manufacturers for the UK and Irish markets; Aqua Dragons, StikBot, Addict A Ball and, more recently, Eugy. The distribution lines complement our domestic operations and have become an important element of our business in the UK and ROI. We love our distribution ranges; it’s whether or not the ‘love factor’ is present that’s the first and most important consideration when we select outside of our home-brands.

What is the history of the company?

What major changes within the toy industry have you experienced while with Brainstorm? And what big changes can you foresee?

We were originally established as European distribution arm by a US-based educational magnet specialist. I joined in 2003 to help out with sales and marketing, but Rosanne Kenealy

The move from bricks & mortar to online, certainly; it almost goes without saying. However, like other SMEs in our industry, online has helped us to grow and to be able to offer a better

Toy World 150

proposition for the larger traditional retailers that we didn’t deal with when I first got involved in the business. Going forward, I very much hope that there will remain a place for independent toy shops and department stores. There are some fantastic examples out there and we love to deal with buyers who own the business they are buying for.

Will Brainstorm be celebrating this landmark with events or other activities? I think we will keep it fairly low-key on the celebration front, especially throughout the show season, when life is so hectic and we prefer to concentrate on keeping well! In terms of other activities, we’ll keep pushing our StikBot store events and we now have a support package for retailers who want to host Eugy demonstration days too. For more information, contact Debra on dtiffany@brainstormltd.co.uk.

What are your main aspirations for 2020? More of the same, please. We have exciting range extensions for just about all the brands that we handle. Eugy was a real success story for 2019, so we plan to ramp up the SKU count and invest more in POS. StikBot has some exciting news for autumn/winter 2020; all will be revealed at Toy Fair. There are great new lines from Brainstorm Toys including a Light Up & Glow Space Man, and The Original Glowstars Company welcomes Glowstars & Mermaids, plus build-your-own glow-in-the-dark Dinosaur Skeletons.

Company Profile

Toynamics

The mechanics of Marbel Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hape group, has announced a significant rebrand for the company. Now known as Toynamics UK & Ireland, the company will be acting as an exclusive multi-brand distributor for ranges including Hape, Nebulous Stars and Nanoblocks. The rebrand, which is accompanied by a new office, new team and a purpose-built showroom, offers retail partners plenty to look forward to. Rachael Simpson-Jones and John Baulch paid a visit to David Allan, Toynamics’ managing director, to find out more.

“

Hape will be a major focus for Toynamics moving forward, especially its extensive Railway range. The company has tapped into consumer appetite for in-store theatre and fun shopping experiences by investing in a stunning range of POS shop-in-shop displays, which will be available to view at London Toy Fair (Stand B50). Options for retailers to take advantage of include a wooden walk-through railway tunnel, complete with light and sound features, and a play table in the shape of a train that lets kids (and their parents) enjoy railway play together while shopping. David’s enthusiasm for the Railway range is infectious; it’s immediately apparent how highly he thinks of it, and what he believes it’s capable of. Toynamics will be supporting the Railway line ‘aggressively’, as he puts it, both in terms of consumer marketing and retail support; as well as the shop-in-shop concepts its created, Toynamics will also be holding free demos and giveaways, and is set to appear at roadshows around the UK too, increasing exposure to the brand and driving awareness through public engagement. Hero Railway products include the Figure of 8 Safety Set, the Solar-Powered Train

I’m excited about what we’re doing, and my team is excited about what we’re doing,” says David Allan. “Now, I want the trade to be excited too.” He’s referring to the grand unveiling of Toynamics, the new name for what was previously Marbel. It’s fitting that David should be overseeing such a dramatic overhaul of the company, having only joined Toynamics from DKL in July 2019. Since then, it’s been all hands to the pump; light, glass-partitioned offices, including a new showroom, have been secured in Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, a central location which will allow the company to more easily serve its UK customers. An experienced and proactive new team has also been appointed. Daniel Coe, who has been brought on board as marketing executive, has been tasked with bringing the company’s approach to social media up to date, alongside developing print and online marketing campaigns that will raise Toynamics’ profile in the UK and Ireland. He’s joined by Georgie Grinling, finance manager, Jules Bramham and Miriam Petrufova, both customer service/ internal sales advisors.

Toy World 152

Company Profile

and the Remote Control Train, which kids can drive from a smartphone or tablet with a free app that puts them in the driving seat. It’s this level of technical innovation – the bonus features you wouldn’t necessarily expect from the range – that Hape particularly wants to highlight. “So many potential customers don’t know about these added play elements, so we need to shout it from the rooftops,” says David. Hape’s Baby Einstein range, the result of a 50% partnership with Kids II a couple of years ago, is another success story that David is keen to highlight; 20,000 units of its Magic Touch Piano, each of which retails for around £30, sold in 2019. Off the back of this item’s popularity, 12 new items will soon be hitting shelves, marking a major step up for the brand. One of the unique things about the Baby Einstein line is how it blends innovation and technology with wood to create aesthetically pleasing, sustainable products which will appeal to kids and parents alike. 2020 will see the introduction of a product which promises to merge traditional play with tech like never before. While we can’t reveal details at this stage, getting hands on with other toys within the range offers a glimpse of how big this item could be. “The Hape Infant range is also hugely important to us,” David adds, gesturing behind us to the extensive assortment of products arranged floor-to-ceiling on one of the showroom’s walls. “We’ll be pushing bread-andbutter lines like the Noah’s Ark, play benches, push & pull toys and our block sets. We’re excited to have the hands-on Junior Inventor line, which encompasses everything from 3-experiment toolboxes to 15-experiment workbenches. We also offer a great line of Bath and Outdoor toys, which, again, so many people aren’t aware of. We’ll be making big noise about our Music range too, which is a really under exploited category. John Lewis placed a big order for our wooden pianos recently; it’s incredible to think about how well these lines have been doing, despite the fact that they haven’t been pushed.” Following on from Hape, Nanoblocks is one of Toynamics’ biggest distributor ranges. The world’s smallest micro-sized building blocks, the line comprises animals, musical

Toynamics

instruments, planes and ships, right up to extraordinarily complex and intricate builds such as the Titanic and the London Bus. Another line which lends itself perfectly to in-store executions, Daniels of Windsor department store has installed a Windsor Castle display to promote the range. Toynamics is the exclusive distributor of Nebulous Stars: this Canadian arts & crafts range, developed by a husband and wife team who have ploughed many an hour into developing the offering, offers an extensive collection of kits to develop a child’s creativity. Craft based activities include water colour painting, glitter art, extensive sticker collections and secret diaries with of activity pages. DIY kits include porcelain painting, ready-to-decorate tiaras, dream catchers and night lights, all of which feature mystical graphics and illustrations. Following its successful launch, Nebulous Stars plush is now on the horizon. Hape also acquired Pintoy last year and now distributes the range FOB, while the company will continue to distribute Eureka Kids and Käthe Kruse.

David Allan, Managing Director One of Toynamics’ biggest focuses for 2020 is increasing its representation in toy stores across the UK; encouraging retailers stocking the

Toy World 154

biggest names like Lego and Playmobil to buy into the company’s brands and ethos. Although David is keen to support online retail, his heart lies with bricks & mortar, and he firmly believes that, ultimately, consumers will return in their droves to physical stores. “We know its tough out there, but we offer a huge range of products that are both great value and high-quality products, and we’ll service our customers’ stores too,” he explains. “Each and every retailer can benefit from an in-store package with POS solutions, and if they have a website or social media channel, we’ll support them there too. We have a good news story to tell with our toys, especially our ranges of quality toys that can be handed down through the generations. Part of our marketing plan for 2020 is to communicate how our toys cater to the changing ways in which we should all be buying and using items. Factor in how long they will be played with and enjoyed, and you’ll see that our toys also offer genuine value for money.” Indeed, with sustainability now a buzz word and the eco-credentials of companies under increasing scrutiny, Toynamics finds itself well placed to cater for the growing ‘green’ market. Several sets within the Hape Railway range, denoted by their Green Roads labels, are manufactured from plant-based materials, while the Hape Nature Fun range encourages outdoor play and exploration with a range of toys made from sustainable, fast-growing bamboo, including a telescope, a flower press and a detective set. A raft of new additions will be joining the range for 2020, and with retailers and consumers alike already buying into what’s currently out there, the range should go from strength to strength. In addition to London Toy Fair, Toynamics will also be in Hong Kong – and anyone who spends any amount of time speaking with the team will undoubtedly notice the passion and hard work the company is ploughing into everything it’s doing. “I’m aware that this venture lives or dies with me, but I’ve been given complete freedom to do it my way – and there is so much that can be done,” David finishes. “We’ve very much been a sleeping giant, but now we’re waking up.”

Q&A

Geomag

Geomag goes green Magnetic construction toy specialist Geomagworld is launching its Green Range at Toy Fair, a line of products made entirely from 100% recycled plastics. Rachael Simpson-Jones spoke to Geomag MD Clive Wooster to find out more. Geomagworld has been producing plastic toys for years – why is the time right to introduce your new recycled plastic range? When I first started in the toy trade, our main preoccupation - quite rightly - was making toys that were both safe and durable. At that time, an awful lot of them weren’t. As an industry we’ve been successful, and plastic has been a huge part of the solution. Previously, other materials like tin were used, and this created all sorts of issues. Plastic had, and still has, its place, but I feel that we have reached the next stage of the development curve. Geomag had two aims this year; to continue creating products kids enjoy playing and learning with, and to embark on a journey of producing sustainable and environmentally friendly toys. We’ve also been taking the necessary steps within our own factory and production processes to help reduce the overall environmental impact of our products. We’ve made toys safe, we’ve made them durable and fun to play with, and now we need to make them sustainable. It’s the next logical step.

Does Geomag have a strong focus on environmental and social responsibility, or has this range been developed to exploit a gap in the market? We’re very aware of our social responsibility and have set up a code of ethics that promotes the fundamental rights of everyone in and outside of our company. We guarantee gender equality and help employees with special family needs

whenever required. We were recently audited by an external group, and the feedback was hugely positive: conditions are excellent, pay is good, and it’s a healthy, socially responsible place to work. Geomagworld’s factory is powered using 100% renewable hydroelectric energy from the Alps and has been for a long time. We also have an initiative in place with a Swiss prison that gives inmates the opportunity to take part in a rehabilitation programme that allows them to actively be part of a wider community. Moving towards 100% recycled plastics is in complete alignment with Geomagworld’s company ethos and credible values. We’re not jumping on a bandwagon with this range; we truly believe it’s the right way to go.

Some might argue that plastic toys is still an area of concern; what would you say? Do you feel that recycling existing plastic into new toys is actually tackling this issue? We recognise those concerns, but we see it as a choice. There will be people who don’t wish to buy wooden or recycled toys for a particular reason - perhaps cost implications or availability – so to a certain extent we will be driven by demand. There is a lot of discarded plastic out there that needs to be dealt with; our new Green Range takes what is essentially waste plastic and repurposes it into toys which will last years and provide plenty of fun and enjoyment. Recycled plastic toys are indisputably one viable solution to the plastic problem. When we talk about the importance of

Toy World 156

durability, we mean that a toy should last at least as long as a child’s natural play period, ideally then being passed to a sibling or friend. If this can be achieved with recycled plastics, then we’re also extending the lifespan of that resource, keeping it in use for longer and reducing the likelihood of it being disposed of. We’re also contributing towards the reduction of plastic in our oceans. In September last year, we began working with LifeGate PlasticLess to fund a Sea Bin in Marina degli Aregai.

Q&A

Geomag

The Seabin floats in water and can capture around 1.5kg of waste per day, equating to over 500 kg of debris a year, including many microplastics and microfibres. The device is also able to intercept waste like cigarette butts. The plastic collected is not used within our production process, but, considering that a great deal of discarded plastic ultimately ends up in the ocean, we decided that this was where we needed to begin our environmental journey. Retail shelf-space is already at a premium; where do you see your new range sitting in store? I’m not sure the retailers know that yet! The ones we have spoken to are keeping their options open. My suggestion is that we follow the lead of major supermarkets and create a ‘Free From’ area in-store to feature recycled, wooden, biodegradable or bamboo toys, which will appeal to consumers seeking eco-friendly toys. Although the packaging tells the story, if the Geomag Green Range were to be ranged with normal plastic toys, consumers might pass it by. We’re in discussions with retailers about creating an area like this, specifically for these kinds of products. They wouldn’t take up much space and could include signage which really shouts the sustainability message. As well as highlighting such ranges to the consumer, retailers will benefit in terms of image and public perception. The issue of plastics and sustainability is in the spotlight right now and attention won’t be dying down any time soon. Those working within the toy industry, be they suppliers, distributors or retailers, need to be playing their part in tackling this issue in any way possible. As special ‘Free From’ sections in supermarkets expand rapidly, especially in food or pharmaceuticals, this is the ideal time to look at what we can do in our industry.

items are available, each containing between eight and 64 cubes.

Does the packaging of this range align with its green credentials? The cardboard packaging boxes have a high percentage of recycled materials (>70%), and the new storage boxes included are also 100% recycled plastic. Durable as well as practical, they are pocket-sized for the convenient storage of the rods and spheres. The whole product, from the box right through to its contents, carries through the theme of sustainability and eco-friendliness. What’s the point in spending a substantial sum on a range like this, and then cutting down trees to make brand-new boxes?

And finally, what do you think 2020 holds?

Price wise, how does your Green Range compare to other Geomag ranges? Making the Green Range out of 100% recycled plastic has had a very small impact on the RRP, but we feel that the product offers excellent value for money, with recycled elements and the storage box included. We’ve spent a lot of time researching the best way to create this range without significantly affecting the price of the products. If you price consumers out of the market for toys like this, no one will buy them, and the range will never be successful. The Green Range will only be around 10% more at cost price, which will add somewhere in the region of 50p to £1 at retail. If you’re putting a product out there with a 30% uplift in price, you’re not taking your responsibilities seriously; you’re dissuading consumers and setting a precedent that sustainable equals unaffordable. Price parity, or as close to it as we can achieve, has been a huge driving force behind the development of this range.

Tell me more about the items in the range specifically. Included within the Green Range will be nine Geomag Classic and Panel items, all available from June. Each item has a different piece count, ranging from 24 to 200. The Green Classic and Panels sets will incorporate the highest standard of environmentally sustainable components, with magnetic rods, panels and bases made of 100% recycled plastic. In addition to the Classic and Panels sets, four brightly coloured Magicube

independent toy specialists are going to be a large part of this. Key retail partners will include those that we feel can do the best job of getting the core messages over to the consumer. Alongside TV ads and retail presence, we’ll also be engaging in a big digital push for the Green Range. I’m regularly told by parents with kids around seven years of age that they don’t watch as much TV anymore; they’re watching Netflix or YouTube. We need to ensure those consumers see our marketing. The Green Range, and the core Geomag brand, is aspirational to children of this age and above, so they need to be aware of what we are doing. We are offering four SKUs at the moment, expanding to nine this year, and long-term the goal is to move to recycled plastics across our entire range. There are challenges with this, some of them quite complex, but we are committed to finding solutions. When developing new ranges, there’s always a huge focus on safety and durability. The generation which followed mine didn’t grow up with the daily toy scares I remember from my early days in the industry. I sit on the Public Affairs Committee at the BTHA, which works diligently to ensure the toys and kids’ products available here are among the safest in the world, if not the safest. Toy safety scares are incredibly rare here nowadays. As a result of this focus on safety standards, developing a new range can take time, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. When we introduce a new line, consumers can be sure that it’s totally safe for their child.

How will you be supporting this range? New TV adverts for Geomag products have been created for 2020 and the Green message is a key highlight. The Green Range will feature prominently in our marketing plans for this year, alongside regular TV advertising for the rest of the Geomag range. At this point I don’t see the range going mass market; we need to make sure that the consumer messaging is clear, focused and unambiguous about how this range differs from others and what it offers. We’re therefore being quite selective about which retailers we’ll be working with on the Green Range;

Toy World 158

We doubled our business in 2019 thanks to new distribution with Bright Minds, Shop Direct and many others, and we invested heavily in advertising and marketing. We want consumers to go into shops and ask for our products. This approach is paying off; in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we had a slew of indie retailers contacting us to open an account as a result of consumer demand. We have a superb product range, our service is excellent, the pricing is attractive, and our marketing is strong, so we expect this success to continue throughout 2020. We’ll be travelling to events this year including CarFest North and South, Kidtropolis and Digital Kids Shows, which will put our products directly into consumers’ hands. 2019 was a good year for us, and we feel that we’re in strong position moving into this year. We are confident that 2020 will see us grow our ranges further, not just the new Green Range, but all three of our core platforms - Magicube, Geomag and Mechanics. I’d like to think that once Brexit is sorted, consumers can start spending again. Wage growth is holding up nicely - people are earning a little bit more than in previous years for doing the same job - but it’s not being spent. It’s in bank accounts and pockets, and people are being very cautious when it comes to parting with their money. I hope that people will be spending more by spring/summer, which will help us all, and the toy industry is due its fair share. Retailers are reporting that basket spends are the same, but footfall is lower. We need to look towards building on those baskets to make up the difference, and this is where our Green Range, with its ecofriendly point of difference, can really come into its own.

www.44cats.tv

Q&A

Jazwares

Powerhouse brands

Jazwares experienced a very successful 2019, despite challenging trading conditions. Talking to Toy World, Jonny Taylor, UK & Nordics managing director, looked back at 2019 and discussed the increasing importance of YouTube and gaming properties to the future of the toy market.

Do you feel that toy retailers are now fully on-board with products based on video games and YouTube stars?

How was 2019 for Jazwares? It was certainly an interesting year for our industry. The combined effects of Brexit, a soft market that was again in double digit decline, a Black Friday that came a week later than last year and a tonne of price activity resulted in a late Q4 and a lot of pressure on retail. 2019 certainly wasn’t a picnic. That said, we’re really pleased with where we ended up; we’ve shown a good level of growth, and finished the year in a great position from which to start 2020.

What were last year’s stand-out ranges for you? Our Fortnite, Roblox and Baby Shark ranges have been the top performers. It’s no surprise that Fortnite has proven to be a powerhouse of a brand. We’re really happy with the performance of our action figures and are also exceptionally pleased with the excellent results we’ve seen following the introduction of RC vehicles, drones and role-play. The game itself has recently had a major step-change, having moved into Season 10 and Chapter 2. Major changes to the Fortnite world are keeping the fanbase hugely engaged, adding to the demand for product. We’re now in our third year with Roblox, and with continuing growth year-on-year we believe that we’ll have an even stronger 2020. The platform’s popularity continues to increase, with monthly active users in the UK reaching 5.4m. Roblox has a hugely dedicated fanbase and benefits from constant new developments that keep the platform fresh and exciting. Baby Shark has performed very well since launching last year and we expect a great 2020. Product sales have been strong, with particular highlights being our plush sound cube and the puppets. There’s also a lot coming through the pipeline to support the brand, including content deals with Nickelodeon.

Yes, without a doubt. Video game properties have had a robust presence in the toy aisle for many years now and Jazwares is no stranger to this territory, with a heritage of making toy lines for Sonic and Street Fighter and, in more recent times, Minecraft, Roblox and now Fortnite. YouTube is changing how kids are consuming entertainment in a major way; what’s really interesting is that independent players are becoming global hits. Children are watching record-breaking levels of content online, with YouTube consumption sharply on the rise. It’s an evolving entertainment paradigm that’s changing at an ever-quickening pace. Manufacturers need to jump on new trends quickly, and it’s more important than ever to fulfil market demand. Companies that are agile, such as Jazwares, are able to react swiftly. We’re working with three You Tube stars - FGTeeV, Blippi and CKN - and based on their popularity we’re confident that all our toy lines will be a success.

What can you tell us about FGTeeV; what opportunities does it offer toy retailers for 2020? The FGTeeV family of YouTube channels includes FGTeeV, FUNnel Vision/FV Family and Doh Much Fun with an extraordinary 17+b views. They are known for gaming reviews, quirky comedy, fun animation, and family-friendly skits. FGTeeV brings trending games to life in its own wacky way with original music videos, and unexpected character mashups. There’s huge

demand for this sort of original content, and as a result the FGTeeV toy line has become a powerful brand within the boys’ category. Initial toy specialist sales in the UK are incredibly strong. We’re offering a comprehensive range of collectibles, action figures and unboxing playset environments.

We also understand Jazwares is working with Blippi. Can you tell us a little bit about what sets him apart from other YouTube personalities? His content focuses on entertaining education for pre-schoolers, helping kids to develop their understanding of the world in a way that is hugely engaging. Blippi has a high-energy presenting style that is loved by children, which is evident from his 18m worldwide subscribers and the 1.7b minutes of content viewed in the UK in the last 12 months. We’re confident that the demand for his content will translate into strong toy sales.

What other new ranges are you excited about for next year? We’re launching a toy range called CKN Toys, based on another incredibly popular You Tube channel. This is more of a traditional unboxing channel, with over 13m subscribers worldwide and 16m monthly views in the UK; Calvin and his brother Kaison, who are from Australia, create fun and entertaining unboxing videos together which hold wide appeal for pre-schoolers around the world. Their huge engagement on YouTube will also be underpinned by a very exciting content partnership that has recently been signed by Nickelodeon. Their love for superheroes and adventure are at the heart of the toy line we have developed – we’re both excited and optimistic about our launch next month.

Last year you acquired Wicked Cool – what does this add to the equation? We’re delighted to be adding Wicked Cool to the Jazwares group of companies. As well as having a very strong portfolio of products, the company also has a very strong leadership team and global operation in place. We’re confident that it will add a lot of capability to our overall business worldwide.

What are your key aspirations for 2020? We plan to grow our business this year, something we have managed to achieve every year since we launched our business in the UK.

Toy World 160

NEW FOR 2020

90 STUNT LOOP TRACK

VERTICAL STUNT RAMP

9 MULTIPLE TRACK LAYOUTS

BATTERY OPERATED 6xAA

TM & © 2020 RTR Production, LLC, RFR Entertainment, Inc. and Remka, Inc., and PocketWatch, Inc. Ryan ToysReview, Ryan’s World and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of RTR Production, LLC, RFR Entertainment, Inc. and Remka, Inc. The pocket.watch logo and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of PocketWatch, Inc.All Rights Reserved.

Come and visit us at London Toy Fair stand B20, or at Nuremberg Toy Fair in Hall 7A stand B-37.

NEW FOR 2020 Turn your smart device into a wireless controller DOWN LOAD

PLUG

RACE

WIRELESS CONTROL Control your car with your smart device. CHARACTERISATION Play as your favourite character from the Batman franchise. ENHANCE GAMEPLAY Supercharge your car or Restrict your opponent in Versus Mode. BATMAN and all related characters and elements © & ™ DC . (s20)

For more information please call 01843 233502 or email us at customerservices.uk@hornby.com To view the full 2020 range visit www.scalextric.com /officialscalextric

/scalextric

@scalextric

/officialscalextric

Q&A

Bachmann

Bachmann on track Model train manufacturer Bachmann Europe recently secured Mattel’s Thomas & Friends for the UK and European markets. Toy World spoke to Ian Pritchard, marketing manager, about what Thomas offers fans of the range this side of the pond. What does it mean for Bachmann to have secured the Thomas & Friends licence? Bachmann Europe is delighted to welcome Thomas & Friends to its established range of railway products for 2020. It’s a great privilege to be introducing our OO scale models of the hugely popular and universally recognised characters to the UK and Europe, and to enter new market areas with the Thomas brand. Railway modelling is a popular pastime for people of all ages, as evidenced by the success of the Great Model Railway Challenge TV series. With the 75th anniversary of Thomas & Friends taking place this year, it’s an ideal time to reflect the heritage and history of this evergreen property.

What were the key attributes about the brand which appealed to you? Thomas’ popularity in the books and TV series has made the railways of Sodor an arguably better-known offering than the real railways that make up our existing range. Thomas & Friends represents fun, friendship, adventure and shared experiences, spanning generations and engaging children, their siblings, friends and elders alike. The models support key learning and skills development in a context that has a realistic narrative at its heart. The property makes operating a railway accessible to youngsters without limiting their imagination, and we believe that this will encourage them to take up a fulfilling and rewarding creative and educational hobby; one that can last a lifetime.

How will your range differ from the previous offering? Bachmann has produced a very comprehensive Thomas & Friends range for the USA market for

several years. This has proved extremely popular and has its own devoted fan base, resulting in much clamour for a new line to be produced from the US tooling and be made available to a UK and European audience. This has been marketed as HO in America due to the 16.5mm track gauge on which the trains run; however, the actual models are to UK OO gauge and therefore will happily sit alongside grandad’s trains in the shed or loft. Because we are marketing Thomas as suitable for ages 3+ in the UK and Europe, rather than the 8+ of the American range, we’ve had to engineer some very minor amendments to the trains’ design to enable them to comply with these standards. The models in our range look very lifelike, and are faithful to the characters portrayed in the classic book art. Our engines will also have ‘tech’-ready features for extra play value. Digital Command Control (DCC) will be possible thanks to DCC chips, and the locomotives will come DCC-ready. All the engines have moving eyes, and the popular flashlight that Thomas and Percy have – which is actually a railway headlamp - will of course be featured.

What can you tell us about the product lines which will make up your Thomas range? The launch range comprises several classic engines plus the essential coaches and wagons needed to recreate the central characters’ familiar trains. With a family focus, we have a starter set featuring Thomas with his coaches Annie and Clarabel, along with a Track Layout Expander Pack enabling more complex layouts to be created. Also available will be a selection of individual characters including Percy, James, Toby and Henrietta, plus a number of tanks and accessories.

Toy World 162

What are your retail rollout plans for 2020? Our existing stockists in the model and hobby marketplace are central to our plans; they’ve been selling our railway range for over 30 years and have taken pre-orders. Thomas’ universal appeal means that we will be adding well-known high street names that attract mainstream family consumers in addition to modellers, collectors and hobbyists. Thomas complements our established railway ranges perfectly, so current retailers are excited to embrace him in his 75th Anniversary year.

What marketing plans do you have to support the launch, and where can retailers see the new lines over Toy Fair Season? In addition to Toy Fair, we take our railway ranges and creative hobby portfolio on the road throughout the year. We will be at Alexandra Palace in March, with an emphasis on making Thomas accessible to a young audience. We will also be attending Days Out with Thomas events at heritage railways, raising awareness of the range among the classic Thomas & Friends audience. There are also a number of exciting targeted campaigns that link to the 75th anniversary, but these are under wraps for now. We’re taking Thomas and Friends to hobby and trade shows including London Toy Fair, where our representatives will be introducing retailers to the new range. Thomas will also feature as a central brand in our marketing and events calendar. Thomas is an instantly recognisable brand and to reflect his profile we are taking our product into new areas. We welcome all interest in our Thomas and Friends range; everyone is invited to come and discuss our plans on the Bachmann Europe stand at Toy Fair.

For opportunities please come and see us on Stand B20 You can also contact customerservices.uk@hornby.com or 01843 233525 Products shown here are illustrative. The trademarks are owned by the respective companies concerned.

Q&A

Basic Fun

Making fun Basic Fun! acquired K’Nex early in 2018, the first in a series of major business moves which took place across the past 48 months, including the acquisition of PlayHut, securing the rights to the Tonka licence, and being named master toy licensee for Care Bears. Ahead of London Toy Fair, Toy World caught up with Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, and Paul Fogarty, VP UK, to find out what plans are in the pipeline moving forward. How did 2019 end up for Basic Fun! in the UK and globally? Jay: For Basic Fun!, it’s really a tale of two markets. One is a market that is growing and thriving for us, as we bring more new product lines directly to the retail trade and UK consumers. The other is a market which, like many, is in flux; the contraction of brick and mortar retail is occurring alongside the growth of online retail, and combined with the uncertainty of Brexit, is looming over the entire United Kingdom like a dark cloud right now. Paul: With the decline in the UK market, it’s fortunate that we’ve been able to tap into some of the key innovative products in the collectibles market, which Basic Fun! excels in. In addition, we’ve seen a very strong uplift in classic toy brands such as Fisher-Price Classics and My Little Pony Retro.

What were the stand-out ranges for you last year? Paul: Cutetitos has been phenomenal for us, not only in the UK but also on the worldwide stage. The Basic Fun! development team has a great ability to spot online and social media trends, and, through the development process, translate them into fantastic product designs supported by truly innovative marketing. Core K’Nex building sets and Kid K’Nex have continued to be strong for us and will remain a major focus moving forward. In addition, we’ve seen continued growth in our classic brands.

Last year you signed the Tonka licence – what are your plans for the brand this year? Jay: We’re over the moon about our plans to relaunch Tonka globally, and in the US, UK and Australia/New Zealand in particular; these markets were always at the heart of the brand. Tonka is a unique heritage brand which enjoys almost universal consumer recognition in key markets. It was and will be again a ‘rite of passage’ toy. There are only a few toys that you would find in the attic, garage or garden shed of any home in the English-speaking world; Tonka is one of those. It’s the type of toy a parent doesn’t throw away or give away, instead being passed down to the next generation or bought new in order to share the experience. And it’s one of the few toys that today’s kid, yesterday’s kid and yesteryear’s kids would still play with, offering a rare inter-generational play experience for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. Our relaunch plans will focus on reminding consumers how great this brand is, from the quality and durability of the toys to the importance of getting kids outside to play. Paul: As Jay mentions, Tonka has fantastic heritage in the UK. Tonka is also one of very few real toy vehicle brands in our industry and has the ability to go anywhere. It’s not confined purely to the world of construction vehicles by licence or design – any ‘tough’ vehicle concept can work within the branding, which brings almost endless opportunities. With our expertise

Toy World 164

in reigniting heritage brands, we’re confident that Tonka can reconnect today’s parents with their childhood memories, and that those parents will then want to share their experiences with their own children.

What other new ranges are you excited to introduce in 2020? Jay: In addition to Tonka, we have two lines that we will be bring to the UK in 2020; Care Bears and So Boss. We’re delighted to be reintroducing Care Bears in a new way with a new focus, and direct to retail as opposed to through a third-party distributor. Our approach is to position Care Bears as a collectible rather than a pre-school range, going back to what it always was. My experience from launching it when I was with Play Along, 18 years ago, tells me that collectability was what drove sales. That’s the heart of the brand - having a ton of different bears. We’re targeting boys and girls across a much more diverse age range; collectible figures, plush and interactive figures will be available at great price points and with a broad assortment of characters to choose from. So Boss is the first girls’ collectible doll that really focuses on empowerment. The brand is themed around girls which are running their own small business in the form of mobile tuk-tuklike trucks, from which they sell their products. Themes range from a fashion boutique to pet groomer and a mobile spa. The core doll and store lines are complemented by a range of Secret Shopper dolls, which buy products and run

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL

HORNBY HOBBIES SALES REP FOR MORE INFO

This new range from Corgi offers a variety of child friendly collectables which are suitable for 3 to 6 year olds. With moving interactive parts, free-rolling soft-tyred wheels, left and right hand drive vehicles and strong child proof build this new range is the perfect toy for the youngest of collectors! Corgi.co.uk

Corgi-USA.com

Q&A

Basic Fun team in the US are great to work with and are real toy people. Their experience and successes in the industry will benefit us hugely moving forward. For the UK, the Top 20 is our objective for 2020. We have plenty in our armoury which will help us get there, and in addition to our big new launches we’re also dedicated to keeping the push behind K’Nex. We have exciting plans to reignite in-store theatre and displays to showcase the unique talents of the brand, which we’ll be showcasing at Toy Fair. For our classic brands, we’ll be bringing Lite-Brite to the forefront with TV support for the first time in the UK. Lite-Brite is our single biggest-selling item across the whole company and we’re confident we can replicate this success in the UK. And we can’t forget Pound Puppies either. We’re taking this line back to its original look and positioning. Pound Puppies was one of the original pet adoption toy lines, and this concept still has huge relevance and meaning for today’s children.

their own businesses unboxing, posting videos and reviewing product online. The ‘girl power’ message is prevalent throughout the entire range.

Given developments in the US toy market in recent years, are there further major licence deals or even acquisitions on the cards for Basic Fun in the coming year? Jay: We’re always on the lookout for new products, lines and ranges, from licences to inventions and trending themes as well as potential company or product acquisitions. In 2019, we acquired the assets of PlayHut and brought that range into our line-up. The company had lost all its classic licences including Disney, Thomas and Marvel, so we’ve had to rebuild with new hot brands like Baby Shark, L.O.L. Surprise! and Ryan’s World, all which have put it back on the map. We’re always looking for strategic opportunities to grow our business and build scale, whether it be in the form of a thriving company, a challenged company or individual assets.

Where can UK retailers see the new lines over Toy Fair Season?

What are your key aspirations for 2020? Jay: At Basic Fun!, we aspire to be a Top 10 toy company globally in the coming years. For now, we’d like to move into the Top 20 in both the US and UK. We’re getting closer in both, and we firmly believe we’ll be there this year thanks to classic product lines like K’Nex, PlayHut and Lite-Brite, as well as several major new launches including Tonka, So Boss, Care Bears and Curli Girls in North America. Our UK team, led by Paul Fogarty, is doing a fantastic job of building our

business from a single focus on K’Nex to a multiline business covering a variety of categories. Paul: There are exciting times ahead for us here in the UK; joining the Basic Fun! family has been a huge positive for the brand. We’re all really enjoying the challenge of moving from singlefocus to a multi category toy company. The senior

Toy World 166

Paul: We’ve already had all our major previews through LA in September, Hong Kong in October and more recently in the UK. Of course, all our lines will be on show in Hong Kong in early January, but our biggest focus is still the London Toy Fair. This is where we’ll really highlight the Basic Fun! Portfolio, communicating and bringing to life the company’s focal points with all our retailers, large and small. Visitors to New York Toy Fair will also be the first to see any late-breaking opportunities; that period will be the start of the PR push behind our newest launches.

evolut inintt R Revolutioino!n! a P Pa

See us at stand G10

caece AaF

ADVE

RTISE D

, Easy on ipe easy w off!

s o o t t Ta r e t t i Gl

s o

RVEL

... s e ud l c n i w o N & ng i s i V T dvert A l a it g i D

+44 (0) 1628 488944 interplayuk.com sales@interplayuk.com

Q&A

Lego

Rebuilding the World at Lego The Lego Group is set to return to the London Toy Fair with a raft of innovative new products and its latest multi-player Lego Hidden Side range, which will be demonstrated exclusively at the show. Rachael Simpson-Jones spoke to Marius Lang, UK & Ireland head of marketing, to find out what can be revealed ahead of time and what the company hopes to achieve in 2020. How did 2019 shape up for the Lego Group? We are very pleased with how last year went for us; October NPD data placed us as the No. 1 toy manufacturer in the UK, with a market share of 11.6%, up 0.5 percentage points YoY. We’re also one of the best toy manufacturers for share growth performance in 2019, while in the NPD Top 100 Toys, 23 were from Lego - something we’re incredibly proud of. Our licensed ranges continue to perform very well; Star Wars is one of the top licences in the marketplace, currently sitting at No. 3 and it continues to form an important part of our portfolio. Lego Harry Potter is another phenomenal property for us, featuring very well in not only our top-selling items, but also in NPD listings; there are eight Lego Harry Potter SKUs in the NPD Top 100 Toys. Lego Super Heroes also had a very strong 2019 both from a Marvel point of view; Avengers and Iron Man performed well, as did our DC licensed products with Lego Batman. Super Heroes as a theme also features within the top five new

properties for 2019, giving us something extra to celebrate. But it’s not all about licences. Lego City is now the fourth biggest toy property in the market, moving up two places from 2018. Lego Friends finished 2019 at no. 16, having also moved up two places, and Lego Technic continues to be a major line for us. The Lego Technic Bugatti Chiron was followed up by several new models in 2019 - the Lego Technic Land Rover launched in October and went straight in at no. 35 in terms of topselling items. Finally, our augmented-reality Lego Hidden Side range launched in August and was number three in the top five new properties to the market as of October.

something for everyone across the generations. It’s almost become a universal language, one which can be passed on from parents to their children, along with a passion for the brand. I’d also say that our success is partly down to our continued innovation of the Lego System in Play. Lego Hidden Side is a perfect example of this, where - keeping the Lego brick at its core we introduced something completely new to the toy market using augmented reality to bring the Lego sets to life and expand the play experience even further. This is a concept you’ll see far more of from us in the years to come. We’re always looking for new and exciting ways to enhance Lego play.

It’s been a tough year, but Lego continues to buck the trend. What would you say is the main reason for this success?

What are the most notable highlights for you over the past 12 months?

2018 marked the 60th anniversary of the Lego brick, and over those 60 years Lego play has consistently transcended age, culture, gender and religion; it’s accessible to all and offers

Toy World 168

We kicked off 2019 at the London Toy Fair, just as The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part was landing in cinemas. The Lego Movie toy range, alongside the Lego Movie Maker (which marked the first combination of physical and digital Lego play, and was a Toy Fair Hero Toy), gave us a

See us at stand G10

Grow Play &

Garden w Gro & lay P

Sweet Peaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jo u Magica rney to th e l Unic or n G a r d e n

NEW for

2020

TV &

g n i s i t r e Digital Adv

n a D 3 New

V ad ! T d e t ima

+44 (0) 1628 488944 interplayuk.com sales@interplayuk.com

Q&A

Lego

strong start to the year. Lego Avengers: Endgame products were massive, boosted by the success of the movie, and we then launched the Lego Hidden Side range, our first ever mixed-reality play theme. We’ve been delighted with how this range has been received and the support it has had from retail. Our Lego Boost range welcomed the Star Wars Droid Commander set in May, which lets fans build and code their favourite droid characters from the Star Wars Universe. We followed up on our sell-out Harry Potter range with the Lego Harry Potter Knight Bus, which was a 2019 Dream Toys Dream Dozen winner in November. The Lego Technic Land Rover was also among those nominated at the event, alongside five other Lego products. In September we launched our biggest global brand campaign ever, Rebuild the World. As a company, we want to nurture the skills of the future generation, inspiring children to unleash their creativity. This is more important than ever before; the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report places creativity in the top three skills required by the jobs market of tomorrow. Children in nurseries today may end up in jobs that currently don’t even exist, so how and what they play with is crucial. The campaign was launched with substantial media coverage and followed by Rebuilder Workshops across several countries including the UK. These took place in Lego stores and discovery centres including Legoland Windsor and the Southbank Centre, in partnership with the London National Park City Foundation. The workshops challenged kids to reimagine their own cities and it was inspiring to see how engaged kids were with this idea. We also hosted rebuilds of famous landmarks in London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Nottingham, followed by a takeover of the iconic Savoy’s Christmas decorations with the Twelve Rebuilds of Christmas. Rebuild the World will continue in 2020. In the UK, the retail landscape has had a challenging time, but as the no. 1 toy manufacturer we’re totally committed to supporting our retail partners with exciting offerings that keep fans coming back time and again. Lego stores have opened in Southampton and in Birmingham’s Bullring, alongside a flagship location in Amsterdam too. These stores act as brand beacons, exposing people to the Lego play experience and creating excitement

and demand for the brand. We’ve also been experimenting more with how Lego play can be extended towards fans that we would call ‘young at heart’. We’ve seen the launch of iconic themes such as Lego Stranger Things, the Lego Ideas Friends Central Perk set, which commemorated the 25th anniversary of the hit TV series, and the Lego Technic Land Rover. While great sets for kids, they also tap into the specific passions and trends we see in our adult fan base.

How are your existing lines evolving for 2020? Will your current ranges be welcoming any new products? It’s a little early to reveal too many details, but I can say that we’re hugely excited by what’s to come this year. We’re introducing a range of new play experiences and new play patterns. The classic Lego brick will stay firmly at the heart of everything we do, but you can expect to see an expansion into new ways to engage with Lego bricks, adding to the existing options we offer. There’s much more to come throughout the year, and we’re sure our fans will be hugely excited by everything we’ve been working on behind the scenes. Our core ranges will likewise be expanded, with additions to the Lego City and Lego Friends ranges. There’s more to come on Lego Technic and we’ve partnered with Universal on Trolls and Minions so you can expect products for these properties to launch this year. In November we also announced a partnership with BBC Top Gear.

Toy World 170

A big focus for Q1 is Lego Hidden Side. This theme is here to stay and is a great example of what we mean when we discuss innovative play experiences with bricks at their core. Hidden Side was the first iteration of this, but 2020 will welcome more products to the range, and the ability to play in multi-player mode, both on and offline. This means the play experience has been extended as kids can not only build and use the Augmented Reality app to hunt and catch the ghosts that haunt them but can now also switch on multi-player mode to battle their friends. Children can take part in thrilling challenges with players online or in the same room in two game modes, ‘Play as a Hunter’ or ‘Play as a Ghost’. Those who have the first product range, released last year, will soon be able to upgrade their app and make use of the multi-player function too. The town of Newbury, where Hidden Side is set, offers plenty of places for fans to explore and the new products released this year are sure to excite. Combining great builds with impressive augmented reality elements, they’ll provide an experience that crosses both the physical and digital worlds. At London Toy Fair, as well as at Nuremberg, we’ll start revealing some of the major innovations in our portfolio, and there’ll be plenty more to come throughout the year. Trade fairs allow us to showcase our new products; while I can’t reveal too much, visitors to the stands at these shows will be able to see our latest brand and licensed lines, which will give a taste of what’s to come throughout the rest of 2020.

What are your hopes for the Lego brand this year? Our mission for this year is to continue to offer new and varied play experiences for the builders of tomorrow. We want the Lego brand to inspire children, and to help unleash their creativity. We’re focused on leading the way in this industry through innovation and our strength in marketing; Rebuild the World will continue throughout 2020 and our company ethos means we are committed to further innovating and globalising the Lego System of Play. In 2032 Lego turns 100 years old, and we’ll continue to break the boundaries of what the company can offer.

See us at stand G10

B ra n d N ew !

Als o in t

: e g n a he 5 Second Rule r

+44 (0) 1628 488944 interplayuk.com sales@interplayuk.com

Toy Fair 2020 Editorial Index Exhibitors

Page Number

Exhibitors

Page Number

8th Wonder

260

IMC

244

A.B.Gee

204

Interplay

188

Alpha Animation

240

James Galt

212

Asmodee

192

Jazwares

242

Bachmann

270

John Adams

200

Bandai

198

Jumbo

224

Big Potato

214

Kidicraft

246

Bladez Toyz

268

Klein Toys

210

Brainstorm

220

K'Nex/Basic Fun

258

Bruder

234

Leapfrog

216

Canal Toys

186

Learning Resources

194

Cartamundi

242

Little Athlete Games

206

Casdon

204

Little Concepts

248

Exhibitors

Page Number

Character Options

174

Magformers

236

Smart Games

228

Cheatwell

228

Magic Box Toys

262

Spin Master

184

Clementoni

266

Marvin's Magic

218

Strategia Games

250

Click Distribution

224

Mookie

246

Tactic

214

DKL-Beysal

240

MV Sports

276

Thames & Kosmos

266

Dolu

272

N Smith + Co

276

The Carat Shop

256

Easy Read Time Teacher

232

Orange Tree Toys

238

The Source Wholesale

268

Eduk8

236

Orchard Toys

254

Tobar

226

Elf on the Shelf

232

Playmobil

234

Tomy

182

Epoch Making Toys

244

Plum Products

230

Tonies

272

Flair

180

PMS International

274

Toynamics

260

Funko

226

Posh Paws

222

Trends

256

Funrise

264

Rachel Lowe

218

212

Geomag

264

Rainbow Designs

254

University Games

270

Gibsons

216

Ravensburger

258

Vivid

208

Golden Bear

178

Redlands

248

VR Distribution

202

Halilit

220

Schleich

252

VTech

262

Hasbro

230

Siso

190

Wilton Bradley

176

HGL

210

Skyrocket

274

Winning Moves

208

Hornby

196

Schleich

252

Zappies

252

Hunter Price

250

Siso

190

Wow! Stuff

276

Toy Fair 2019

Toy World 172

MON + THS

Coney will help you fall asleep!

S CRIE E H S T UP H G I L RS! TEA

LY DD SO

10 MINS OF LULLABIE S

ACE HER F WHEN S UP LIGHT UT HER YOU P Y IN! DUMM

BODY

G o od Night

C ONEY

2020

Character Options 01616 339 800 www.character-online.com Stand E119 There’s a host of squishy compounds, stretchy collectibles and interactive pets in this year’s Character Options line-up, all of which can be seen at this year’s event. With many Toy Fair, Toy of the Year and DreamToys awards behind it, the Little Live brand continues to be a bankable property for retailers to invest in. There’s plenty of fresh choice for 2020 to look forward to. In the core small pets’ range, new birds will join the collection. The Sweet Tweets have a cute, chunky look and feature glitter eyes and eyelashes, and record and repeat whatever is said to them. Also set for a spring release are the Turtles, back as a new collection of Lil’ Heritage Turtles. Attractively priced at a key pocket money point, spring welcomes the Season 2 of OMG Pets. The OMG Got Talent pups love to sing and each of the six new pets has three unique musical tracks and a star-studded fashion to match including sunglasses, bejewelled collars and tiaras. To complete the collection, the OMG Got Talent Stage Playset transforms from a boom box-inspired carry case to a stage, and comes complete with the exclusive Pop Queen Pup. Autumn offers even more Little Live for kids to discover, including the laughing Koala. Tickling the soft Koala makes him laugh, but if he is left alone, he falls asleep and snores. Character continues to drive the Stretch toys market with a new girls’ collectible range. Stretch Q-Teez launches in spring with TV, digital and PR support. The stretchy, squishy and tactile toys will combine some of the industry’s favourite themes, Mermaids and Unicorns, with a tactile play pattern, plus shimmer and sparkle for Series One. The characters are available in two different colourways. Kids can stretch their arms, legs or tails, then release them and watch as they return to their original size. Series Two will add depth to the product range, with Sloths and Narwhals set to be introduced in the latter part of the year. Other squishy girls’ lines include Goo Goo Galaxy. The brand now offers a new season of outer space Goo Drops to collect, complete with light up features, plus the introduction of all-new Goo Critters. These single-piece pocket money packs emulate shooting stars and are packed full of slime and glitter, plus a squishy character that can slurp and burp the slime. New to the Orb Slimy line-up for 2020 is Flowtonia, a silky stretchy compound that kids won’t want to put down. Uniquely mouldable, this scented and sparkling sand can be transformed into anything kids can imagine; it can be squished, rolled, stretched and shaped, then watched as it flows. Alternatively, kids can bring a touch of the tropics into slimy play with Orb’s new Slimy Tropicalz, a multi-coloured slime with a neon striped colour effect. New packaging and CDUs for the popular Elasti Plasti and Xtreme Glitter compounds will add to the slimy choice. New 2020 collections for key brands such as Heroes of Goo Jit Zu, Treasure X, Peppa Pig and Pokémon, plus the 10th anniversary line up for Mash’ems will also be on show. For more information please call the Character sales team or visit the stand at Toy Fair.

Toy World 174

2020

Wilton Bradley 01626 835 400 www.wiltonbradley.com Stand E89 Toy Fair London will see Wilton Bradley introduce a selection of new subbrands to its Toyrific brand. The Playhouse sub-brand introduces a collection of interactive toys that replicate the everyday items used by grown-ups. 2020 welcomes a range of kitchens to the line-up; the Little Sous Chef Kitchen is packed with features kids would find in any home kitchen. Complete with a microwave, oven and hobs, a removable sink, two wooden pans and three stainless steel utensils, the kitchen offers the ideal roleplaying experience for kids. The Mucky Mud Kitchen and the Marvellous Mud Kitchen also join the Playhouse range. These messy kitchens allow kids to explore hands-on play and learning. Wilton Bradley’s arts & crafts collections are also expanding with the Sew Amazing and Knitting Circle sub-brands, as well as new lines joining the Made It range. This award-winning range encourages kids to express their imagination and creativity in a variety of different ways. The Yarn Animals kits allow children to use any colour combination they wish to create the wildest design possible on a variety of animal templates, including a unicorn and llama. New for this year are marbling kits. A great gift idea, the three new kits include a photo frame, a canvas and paint, giving kids complete freedom to create their own unique designs. The company’s award-winning Xootz bubble scooter has seen great success so far this season. Kids can leave a trail of bubbles wherever they go on this unique scooter; simply add bubble solution to the rear mounted bubble machine and watch as hundreds of bubbles blow away in the wind. Available in both blue and green and pink and blue, the scooter offers a unique twist on one of the nation’s favourite outdoor toys. Wilton Bradley will also be showcasing a range of its ride-ons, at the show. Launched last year, the Xootz Viper Go Kart and Elements Electric Scooters saw strong sales in the UK and worldwide. This year saw new products added to the range including the Typhoon Power Drift Trike, created using in-house tooling and 3D design, evolving the Viper design and colourway. With a run time of 60 minutes and max speed of 16km/h, this ride on provides endless outdoor fun. In the electric ride-on category, Wilton Bradley will be introducing its new brand Vroom. Also on show will be the Range Rover Ride On & Suitcase. This licensed product is suitable for travelling tots aged 2-6 years and is exclusively available from Wilton Bradley. Mi-Mic has attracted lots of attention at previous shows. The innovative karaoke microphones can be connected to phones or tablets via Bluetooth for a singalong session. The Mi Mic with phone holder is perfect for kids to sing along with music direct from their smart device and the Mi Mic Karaoke Disco Cube Speaker allows kids to create their own karaoke disco. The Monster Smash-Ups range of exploding trucks allows users to race, smash, eject and rebuild the monster trucks. The introduction of the Monster Smash-Up Carnage models this year sees a new collection of trucks, with two new, smaller models available, for a younger age group. Finally, Wilton Bradley has signed a new licence, Nadiya – Bake me a Story. Nadiya Hussain rose to fame after winning the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off. Her cookery books and cookery/story books for children have reached best-seller status and include Nadiya’s Family Favourites, Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, Nadiya’s Kitchen and the Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story trilogy. Inviting little ones to get creative with their cooking and baking skills, the Bake Me a Story range helps to bring the whole family into the kitchen. Including a host of baking and cooking tools made for kids, each set comes with easy to follow recipe cards created by Nadiya. Nadiya has been present throughout all stages of product development from concept creation to final designs, and continues to be involved as the product evolves. Three boxed Baking Kits will be available - the Simple Baking Set includes utensils and cupcake moulds; the Savoury Cooking Set includes a chopping board, bowl, utensils and recipes; and the Deluxe Baking Set includes a rolling pin, utensils, cupcake moulds and recipes. Nadiya will be on the Wilton Bradley stand at Toy Fair, where she will be happy to meet fans and answer questions about the new range.

Toy World 176

2020

Golden Bear 01952 608 308 www.goldenbeartoys.com Stand E69 Golden Bear is the UK distributor for Smart Ball, the kick-up counting football with lights and sounds. One of the best-selling football gifts in the UK for 2019, the Smart Ball has proved to be one of this year’s most popular Christmas choices for football fans of all ages. The new Speed Measuring Smart Ball launches in July, and includes innovative technology to measure the speed of each kick. Players can switch on the in-built sensor and kick the ball as hard as they can – their speed will register on the ball in kilometres per hour. No other football has speed measuring tech embedded. The Speed Measuring Smart Ball encourages children of all ages to be active outdoors; parents and friends can join in the fun too as players challenge each other to see who the fastest kicker is. Launching in July, Sassimals are the new feature plush from Golden Bear. With bright funky colours, quirky styling and a neck that never quits, these fierce and funny new characters are brimming with attitude. Kids can activate them by pressing the musical note symbol on the bottom of one foot to trigger their sassy signature dance moves. Surprising and delighting little ones, Flossi Flamingo or Ali Alpaca groove to one of three different upbeat songs. Sassimals will also talk back to their owners as their necks whirl wildly. Pressing the microphone symbol on the other foot causes each Sassimals to repeat kids’ words, laughs and giggles in their own amusing voices. The Duggee Adventure Bus is ready to take the Squirrels on adventures, just like in the hit CBeebies show. Duggee’s ears flap up and down as he’s pulled along, bringing the popular pre-school character to life. His hat also has a surprise in store; when kids press it down, a trap door slide will transport the Squirrel figurine into the bus, ready for the next adventure. Little ones can also have lots of role-play fun setting up the picnic, which comes complete with a basket, food, blanket and radio. The seats can be placed inside or on top of the bus, or alongside the picnic set. There’s also a seesaw and swing that clips onto the slide of the RV. Two Squirrel figurines and plenty of accessories are included with this fun pull-along vehicle. The pull-along Bing’s Lights and Sounds Train with Mini Playsets brings the world of Bing to life, from the television show to the playroom. Featuring lights and sounds, the train comes with two removable carriages that transform into portable mini playsets. Bing’s house playset opens to reveal Bing’s living room and accessories, while fans can also recreate scenes from the show using the second playset, which features Bing’s playhouse and garden. Bing and Flop character figurines complete the set. The opening credits of the hit children’s show In the Night Garden show Igglepiggle as he rides on the musical boat to the garden in the night. Now, fans of the show can have fun with their own soft toy, Igglepiggle with Wind Up Musical Boat. This toy is made of super-soft mallow fabric and filling with an extra squidgy feel, making it a superb bedtime comforter. He comes complete with a wind-up musical boat also made from super-soft fabrics. Featuring hand-stitched styling for an authentic feel, this product is perfectly sized for little hands. The boat can be wound up so it plays gentle music based on the theme tune from the show. At night-time, the boat can be placed in the nursery to soothe little ones to sleep whilst they cuddle their Igglepiggle toy. Suitable from birth, Golden Bear’s Igglepiggle with Wind Up Musical Boat doesn’t require batteries. The In the Night Garden Musical Activity Ninky Nonk Bubble Train is over 80cm long and is ideally suited to both indoor and outdoor play, thanks to its waterproof construction and chunky off-road design. There are over 15 activities for kids to enjoy. The front compartment contains a motorised bubble fountain that shoots bubbles into the air as it’s pulled along. The middle compartment is a spinning shape sorter which doubles as a storage case with handle, the perfect place to keep the Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka character figurines included with the playset. There’s also a rain shaker with waterfall bead sounds and a place to stack the colourful blocks. All these lines benefit from TV advertising campaigns.

Toy World 178

8 - C2 1D E89 6 T: D A N A2 GA ST LL 7 IN OW GIFT HA SH Y& TO N R G E NG DO KO O N E M B NG IR L UR HO YFA IR N A YF TO

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

01626 835400

2020

Flair / Just Play 020 8643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk Stand E39 Promoting fun and friendship, Just Play’s Hairdorables is a squad of sassy collectible dolls with big hair. Each comes with a surprise peel and reveal element and fashionable accessories to discover, which unwrap the personality, style and talent of the Hairdorable hidden inside. Spring sees the launch of the Hairmazing collection, which has been inspired by Instagram fans. Bella, Harmony, DeeDee, Noah, Willow and Kali are now available as 27cm fashion dolls with fully posable limbs and highly detailed, on-trend clothing. Remaining faithful to the peel and reveal element, there are six surprises to be found inside each pack, which transforms into a catwalk after being opened. Ensuring the core brand is kept fresh and engaging, the Hairdorables Scentables collection offers three style themes to discover; Garden Party, Beach Party and Carnival Fun. Each Pack comes with 11 surprises inside and themed scented hair (a new addition to the line), plus squeezy hairspray to top up the sweet-smelling hairdos. Presented in new and stylish carrycases, there are 11 Scentables girls to discover including three new characters - Saige, Eva and Phoebe. Each girl is available in all three themes. The Spirit Riding Free collection will have the Riding Academy as its focus for the main launch of autumn. The new range will reflect the storyline of the new season, which sees Lucky and her friends enroll in Palomino Bluffs Riding Academy. Each will train in new specialties including dressage (Pru), racing (Lucky) and horse therapy (Abigail). This new theme will open up a wealth of development for the master toy collection, alongside the roll out of all-new packaging for vibrant shelf appeal. New sets include a Stow ‘n’ Go Fold Out playset which opens out into a corral scene and doubles as a case to house collectibles, a Luxury Grooming Paddock and Abigail’s Pets and Vets set. With the impressive Walk and Wobble Horse, Governor the foal walks alongside Spirit for a nurturing play experience. Also from Just Play, PJ Masks Night Time Micros captures the DNA of the brand with Hero vs Villain play. Offering a complete all-in-one package play at a great price, there are 12 micro figures to collect. Each contained in a surprise blind bag, the figures stand 1.5” tall and are compatible with the four micro playsets, launching alongside the figures in spring. The Night Time Micros Trap and Escape playset assortment is composed of three character based playsets, each including two micro figures, a hero and a villain. Turning the nozzle on each set changes the scene from day to night. Alternatively, kids can discover the multiple features within the Night Time Micros Romeo’s Lair Playset, including a shrink chamber and a launch pad which lets kids eject the figures through the air. These new spring releases mark the start of a year of inspirational development for the pre-school brand, with even more to be revealed at Toy Fair. Power Players is an all-new action-comedy animation series created by Zag which features real stakes, large laughs and over-the-top action. Debuting on Cartoon Network in February, this fun show shifts between the full-scale world of lead character Axel and the world of his toy teammates, as he transforms into a living action figure for the biggest ‘small’ adventures a kid could ever imagine. Teaming up with master toy partner Playmates Toys, Flair will launch a product line including action figures of all the main characters from the show, developed to the same scale as seen in the episodes. The range will be joined by Super Feature figures with detailed articulation and electronic elements that will bring the toys to life. Vehicles with figures will add to the line-up, while the T-Force group vehicle resembles the huge Jeep seen in the cartoon. Axel’s Power Bandz and Sword will also bring role-play into the play pattern.

Toy World 180

8 - C2 1D E89 6 T: D A N A2 GA ST LL 7 IN OW GIFT HA SH Y& TO N R G E NG DO KO O N E M B NG IR L UR HO YFA IR N A YF TO

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

01626 835400

2020

Tomy 01271 336 155 www.tomy.com Gallery 520 Global toy manufacturer Tomy will be bringing its trusted brands including Lamaze, Aquadoodle, Britains, Toomies and Drumond Park Games to Toy Fair this year with new toys being launched across the board, as well as several new brand extensions. Across the pre-school toys category, Tomy’s infant range Lamaze will launch the 3-in-1 Airtivity Centre, extending the life of an activity table from the time a baby starts sitting until they can stand independently, encouraging both floor and table play. Tomy will also be showcasing the 2-in-1 Eggventure Train from Toomies, designed to grow with a child and featuring a variety of play patterns for each key milestone. Adding to its already impressive portfolio, Aquadoodle will launch new products such as the Grab n Mark Mat & Pen – sparking imaginations with a chunky, egg-shaped pen for easy grip, designed to inspire two styles of play. To celebrate 25 years of doodles, Tomy is bringing the original doodle bear back from the 90s and launching the 25th Anniversary Doodle Bear in the plush toys category. The bear is reimagined for a new generation with the compatible app, Doodle Bear Studio, encouraging kids to decorate, animate and share their Doodle Bear creations with friends. There are three new additions to its games section. Fill Your Pants is a comical game where players must race to collect items on their game card, stuffing a wonderfully random assortment of things into their giant pants as they go, with plenty of ridiculous combinations in every game. Greedy Granny in a Spin is the next instalment of the family-favourite Greedy Granny, the game of snap where players race each other to win biscuits from Granny. Tomy is also reviving another classic best-selling childhood game with Screwball Scramble two. The new version will be taking the challenge to the next level with players racing against the clock, challenging themselves, family or friends, with new gameplay using a bridge to connect the original game to level two. In its increasingly popular licensed toys portfolio, Tomy has partnered with Entertainment One, to bring to life three new licensed toys from Ricky Zoom and Peppa Pig. From the new and popular animated show, Ricky Zoom, Lights and Sound Ricky includes an articulated front wheel for multi-directional movement, superior stability so he can stand unaided, an etched light up visor and sounds. As Master Toy licensee, Tomy has also developed the Ricky Zoom Speed and Stunt Playset, inspired by the show and featuring three different ways to play. Children can load Ricky into a super launcher to watch him zoom into action, add the adjustable track with the Super Race badge and create a final Super Jump stage. Tomy’s partnership with Peppa Pig sees the launch of the Peppa Pull & Go Pedalo, with Peppa Pig and Daddy Pig peddling across the boating bath lake. The pedalo comes with removable exclusively dressed Peppa Pig and Daddy Pig squirters, guaranteed for great bath time fun. Tomy will continue to evolve to capture the times and produce quality products, alongside fully integrated marketing support and TV campaigns where appropriate.

Toy World 182

8 - C2 1D E89 6 T: D A N A2 GA ST LL 7 IN OW GIFT HA SH Y& TO N R G E NG DO KO O N E M B NG IR L UR HO YFA IR N A YF TO

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

01626 835400

2020

Spinmaster 01628 535 000 www.spinmaster.com Stand E149 Batman is set to make his mark at Spin Master, and visitors to London Toy Fair can see the real-life Batmobile used in the blockbuster movies, with an appearance from the Caped Crusader himself. Spin Master will be taking over the café area at the back of the hall for the duration of the show. Standout toys from the new Spin Master 2020 range include the 2-in-1 Batmobile and Batboat, deluxe 12-inch Batman Figure with Rapid Change Utility Belt, plus the new 4-inch figures line which features unique Secret Mission packaging, bringing the chance for fans to get fully immersed in the world of Batman. On the stand, Spin Master will share its plans for a full year of Caped Crusader marketing support which will include scheduled events and activities. Following Paw Patrol’s new cinema release on January 24th, Spin Master will be showing a range of toys straight from the entertainment, including a new team vehicle which sees the Paw Patrol ready to race and rescue with their Mobile Pit Stop Team Vehicle, equipped with everything the pups need to race to the rescue. Also on show will be Paw Patrol’s Chase and Marshall’s Split-Second Vehicles, which feature two characters. These 2-in-1 vehicles transform into two rescue vehicles with the push of a button. Other new introductions to the toy range include Chase’s Charged up Vehicle. This Paw Patrol deluxe transforming vehicle is packed with features like translucent light-up details, sound effects, a projectile launcher and rescue net, and it can drive in vehicle or hover mode. Visitors to Toy Fair can also look out for visits by the Paw Patrol Pups on the first day of the show. The latest instalment of Mighty Pups: Charged Up will air on Nick Jr. during Easter 2020 giving further focus to the new toy range. For spring/summer, Spin Master is adding to its Uni-Verse toy line. Collectible fans will have a new way to unbox the surprise collectible unicorns hidden inside every Uni-Verse cloud. Fans can dunk the emojiinspired cloud in warm water and watch as it dissolves, changing the water’s colour, hinting at the world their Uni-Verse unicorn is from. Once the cloud dissolves, the water will turn into a slimy texture. Kids can unwrap each bag to reveal their unicorn figure and all of its surprises and accessories. New introductions to the Hatchimals range are set for spring/summer. Each Hatchimal CollEGGtible now comes with its very own pet that kids can hatch from the printed heart alongside its Hatchimal owner. The spring/summer range will include single packs, doubles and a new Limmy Edish Glamfetti 12 pack Egg Carton with six characters with translucent confetti-filled tummies. There will also be a new series of the Pixies characters with a new theme. Spin Master will be supporting the launch with a full marketing campaign, influencer outreach and PR support. The newly launched Candylocks range is made up of a Doll and Pet Assortment of sweet-scented cotton candy-haired dolls, each packed with their own pet that also has hair that can be styled. The new Candylocks Pet Assortment has over 20 pets to collect, including one ultra-rare edition. Kinetic Sand enjoys two new introductions for spring, with Kinetic Sands Scents and Kinetic Sand Rainbow Mix sets. The different Kinetic Sand scented range includes Cherry Fizz, Sour Apple, Vanilla Cupcake and Chocolate Swirl, which can be mixed together to create a unique scent and colour combinations. Monster Jam will have another big year in 2020 with further live shows in both the UK and around Europe. New introductions to the range will include Spin Rippers and colour-changing Diecast Vehicles to Reveal the Steel. Support plans will include more chances for fans to get their hands on the vehicles through experiential activities throughout the summer. For Bakugan gameplay, fans can expect to see some early year launches including a full line of trading cards. April also brings an all-new Bakugan season: Armoured Alliance, where new BakuGear products will be featured in the Ultra and Battle Gear packs. Clappy the Monkey joins Flappy the Elephant and Flora the Bunny in Gund’s interactive plush range. Clappy has two different play modes. Press his left foot to play an interactive clapping game, and the right to hear the song If You’re Happy and You Know It. Clappy will be supported with TV and Digital activity at key selling points across the year. A spring standout at Spin Master is the new Rubik’s Perplexus. This new introduction combines the classic Rubik’s Cube and Perplexus in one puzzle. With Rubik’s enjoying its 40th anniversary year, retailers can expect a robust support programme which will see a combination of digital and influencer marketing as Spin Master embraces the opportunity that this innovative new item delivers.

Toy World 184

8 - C2 1D E89 6 T: D A N A2 GA ST LL 7 IN OW GIFT HA SH Y& TO N R G E NG DO KO O N E M B NG IR L UR HO YFA IR N A YF TO

MUCKY MUD

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

01626 835400

2020

Canal Toys 01904 379 123 www.canaltoys.fr/en Stand F90 Canal Toys UK is moving into its third year of operation and the brand portfolio has continued to grow in 2019, especially in arts and crafts categories. The company is looking to expand further for 2020, introducing new and innovative products whilst increasing marketing spend to support core brands. So Slime DIY SlimeGlam, So Slime Tie & Dye and So Sand DIY are part of the new line up for 2020, alongside the expansion of core lines including So Slime DIY and the hotly anticipated expansion of top selling So Bomb DIY. So Slime DIY has already seen the introduction of popular line extension: Slimelicious - a scented, food inspired range which includes the popular So Slime Shops. The shops make ideal collectibles and pocket money toys for impulse purchases in store. So Slime Tie & Dye also launches this year. This unique product gives slime fans the chance to create their own tie and dye patterns using a clear slime, vibrant decorations and multiple colourings. Slime fans can mix it, stretch it and tear it, after stirring in their designs using the tools provided. The slime comes readymade for fun straight out of the pot, and the addition of colours will create unique wavy patterns. So Slime Tie & Dye is available as a blind-pack, multi-pack kit or as the ultimate top of the range Tie and Dye Washing Machine. This new range will receive full digital marketing support and cover the main price points between £2.79 and £17.99. So Slime DIY SlimeGlam offers a unique range of DIY perfume and beauty slimes in bespoke containers with charming scents and decorations for texture. Being so simple to make, they are perfect for a wide age range. SlimeGlam is the second extension to the So Slime DIY range that has headlined Canal Toy’s line up since its inception. The new brand offers comprehensive variety including blind, single and three packs, as well as a Mega Case and Glam Studio at an attractive range of price points. Launching at London Toy Fair, the line up is ideal for any retailer searching for something fresh in the arts and craft sector. So Sand DIY is the latest product to follow the ASMR (auto sensory meridian response) trend. It delivers an immersive creative experience for children who can cut, shape and design the magic sand using the specially designed tools. Targeting the 7-11 age group, the line will give retailers the opportunity to bring ASMR magic sand to the arts and craft category. The line comprises of blind, single and three packs along with a ball case and a Sensory Studio. So Soap DIY is also set to debut at the London Toy Fair. This latest range offers children the chance to design, create and decorate their very own soap cupcakes. The range features cute animal themed characters to use as toppers to the scented soap cupcakes. This great value range includes single soap kits, gift packs, a vanity case that is perfect for storage when playtime is over and the key driver, So Soap Factory. The line will cover all main price points from £5.99 to £19.99. So Bomb Crystal DIY is an extension to the So Bomb DIY line, featuring a selection of crystal geode bath bombs. The range maximises the fashion for geodes and coloured rocks and is available in a range including single and twelve packs, case and factory options. The crystals will also magically turn the bath water a different colour, providing a more interactive experience for children in addition to the fun fizz when the Bath Bomb hits the water.

Toy World 186

8 - C2 1D E89 6 T: D A N A2 GA ST LL 7 IN OW GIFT HA SH Y& TO N R G E NG DO KO O N E M B NG IR L UR HO YFA IR N A YF TO

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

01626 835400

Â®

2020

Interplay 01628 488 944 www.interplayuk.com Stand G10 Interplay UK is looking forward to 2020, with predicted growth fuelled by engaging new product developments and new brand introductions which are set to take the company into new categories. A strong business strategy with increased marketing activity, competitiveness and distribution, combined with significant investment in the business, sets the company on track to outgrow the market this year. Interplay will be promoting the best-selling My Fairy Garden range with a fresh new marketing approach designed to enhance year-round business potential. By introducing new 3D animation for TVC, an influencer programme to build awareness, a sponsorship programme and YouTube advertising, alongside high-level PR activity and strong retail presence, the company will be executing extensive plans in its mission to promote this popular brand to consumers. The evergreen My Fairy Garden brand will deliver new grow & play patterns that are sure to prove popular with its target audience. Introducing new price points that appeal to the collectible pocket money and impulse purchase market, the new Flower Bed Babies are a new and innovative way of growing plants. Each features flower petals made out of plantable seed papers and cute baby fairies enclosed in a flower petal bed. A Fairy Teacup Garden will also appeal to the collectibles market. For autumn/winter, a new Fairy Nursery set will launch. Featuring a spacious Greenhouse School, the playset lights up and includes five planting areas and a plethora of games and activities for kids to explore. A refreshed Unicorn Garden playset with a highly detailed caravan will also be available. From 2020, Interplay’s FabLab range will include cosmetic grade Bio-glitter - the world’s leading plastic free, biodegradable, eco-friendly glitter brand. Interplay is also introducing new and innovative packaging designs across the FabLab range for autumn/winter 2020. Appealing to the modern young stylist, the products will offer a new unboxing experience that is user-friendly and eco-friendly. With beauty-box style packaging, the new FabLab Nail Art set features the latest nail art tools to let kids create Instagram-ready designs, and a built-in mobile phone holder so they can watch FabLab tutorials easily. Supported with an innovative marketing programme, influencer activity and a YouTube channel, plus PR and brand ambassador campaigns, FabLab will be securing awareness, followers and sell-through for the brand. The multi-award winning, 5-star consumer rated Fuzzikins sets are ideal for creative kids., and Interplay is introducing new collectible playsets for spring/summer. The new Fuzzi Babies Strollers and Fuzzikins Skaters Fuzzi Street Cupcake Bakery, Florist and Fashion Boutique offer tangible play value at low price points to fuel children’s creative development and imagination. Introducing a new play concept into the Fuzzikins range, the Ice-Cream Van can be coloured-in with the pens provided and doubles as a handbag. Autumn/winter also welcomes the new Fuzzikins Dress-Up Mega Pack. The Fuzzikins brand will be supported with TV, digital marketing, PR and social media activity, building awareness throughout the year. Following a successful launch, Interplay has extensive growth planned for its Games portfolio. Supported with significant investment as part of an integrated marketing programme that will engage the key target audience and encourage purchasing decisions, the company is introducing new titles to the line-up. Offering creative new game features, Interplay’s 2020 games line-up includes titles that encourage players to be creative, colour in, make silly sounds, be fast talking, fast thinking and much more. Featuring a real flying drone, Drone Home is a kids action game where sees kids racing to launch their four aliens to safety before the enemies knock them out. Following the successful launch of the Disney Frozen II Face Paintoos, Interplay is introducing new Disney Marvel Face Paintoos and Disney Princes Face Paintoos licences into the popular range for spring. The Face Paintoos brand will be supported with new advertising and sponsorships to cover both TV and digital platforms. An extensive PR and social media programme, featuring influencer activities, consumer events and product placement, is also planned to help spread the word, create awareness and encourage product trials.

Toy World 188

T: GA IN OW SH N DO ON NEC R L AIR AI YF NG F RI SP

89 DE 1 A N M1 S T 10 L D5

AN ST

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

01626 835400

2020

Siso Toys UK 01620 674 778 www.simba-dickie-group.de Stand E135 2020 will mark Siso Toys’ first full year of trading since it was set up in May 2018. With the acquisition of Jada Toys and new licences secured, Siso Toys is getting ready to unveil its new ranges at London Toy Fair. In February 2020, Siso Toys is set to launch a range for the animated show from Rainbow, 44 Cats. The new pre-school range comprises collectibles, figurines, playsets and plush. The autumn/winter 2020 range will expand into larger playsets, vehicles and musical roleplay. Siso Toys will be supporting 44 Cats with an extensive marketing plan including TV, YouTube, influencers, digital and PR activity. Siso will also be partnering with retailers on bespoke activity to drive sell through. Masha and The Bear had a strong year in 2019, with Siso expanding the brand to more major retailers and investing in a full, always-on marketing campaign. The 2020 line-up will offer new interactive Masha dolls and Bear plush as well as new playsets and collectibles. Siso Toys will showcase a wide array of Jada Toys items from popular licences including Marvel, DC, Fast & Furious, Stranger Things and Harry Potter, as part of the Hollywood Rides line. The Jada Toys Fast & Furious die-cast range comprises of the most popular cars from the franchise. This year, Siso will introduce new additions from Hobbs & Shaw and Fast 9, as well as offering firm favourites like Domenic Torreto’s Dodge Charger and Brian’s Nissan Skyline. The die-cast cars come in 1:24 and 1:32 scale. In celebration of Batman’s 80th birthday in 2019, Siso Toys has a range of 1:32 scale Batmobile cars from the Batman movies, including The Dark Knight and Batman Forever, and the popular animated series show. Each 1:24 scale Batmobile comes with a mini Batman figure. For Harry Potter fans, the 1:24 scale 1995 Ford Anglia featured in the second film comes with a Harry Potter mini figure. Following the Simba Dickie Group securing the licence for Hello Kitty, Siso Toys is releasing Hello Kitty stretch slime. Available in pink, rose and turquoise, the slime has a unique texture that is formable and stretchy. Also available is the shake and make Hello Kitty slime which forms pink glitter slime. Siso has a new range of plush Hello Kitty items, including an assortment of four 20cm Hello Kitty plushies all with different outfits and themes. This assortment and the larger 30cm Hello Kitty, dressed in an animal onesie plush, will be available from February 2020. Simba’s own IP, Chi Chi Poo Poo Puppy comes with a leash, doggy treats and a poo bag. Chi Chi owners can use the supplied dough to make Chi Chi dog cookies and the leash to take her on walks. Supported with a TV driver, Chi Chi Poo Poo Puppy will be available from February 2020. Siso will be entering the infant market with the ABC infant range. The range includes teethers, rattles, shape sorters and interactive toys such as a toddlers first tablet, first animal piano and first smart phone. The Majorette range of die-cast vehicles and playsets is highly detailed, with die-cast cars boasting opening doors, suspension, transparent front lights and interiors. The diecast vehicles are three inches in scale and have a strong licensing portfolio, including Mercedes, Lamborghini, Audi, BMW and more. The range includes various themes and sets for collectors, with the Creatix Playsets proving a popular choice in 2019. Siso is expanding the offering for 2020 with a greater selection of playsets including a Porsche die-cast theme. Forumla E has also been signed as a new licence. Siso’s Playlife range, based on an adventure/camping theme, includes Jeeps, trucks and ATVs that come with a mini articulated figure. Toy Story 4 was a major success for Siso Toys last year, with the1:24 scale Woody and Buzz top sellers for the company. The core Toy Story range will be on display, alongside the new ranges for 2020.

Toy World 190

01626 835400

sales@wiltonbradley.co.uk

www.wiltonbradley.co.uk

2020

Asmodee 01420 593 593 asmodee.co.uk Stands E109 and E15 Asmodee UK will be showing off the future of Dobble with a major presence at Toy Fair 2020. With the game of speedy observation now a household name, two new titles promise to mix up the format and provide new ways to enjoy Dobble. Dobble 360 is a mechanised spin on the game, in which two cards constantly rotate, making it impossible to see both at once – players must use their powers of memory to work out which image has been repeated. Receiving a full launch at Toy Fair, this game-changing variant will provide the next level of competition for Dobble veterans and new players alike, and is set to receive huge marketing support. The other Dobble title on show is Dobble XXL, a special giant-size edition of the game in which players will race to jump from card to card by finding matching images – due for inclusion in spring/summer 2020 ranges. Toy Fair attendees will be able to try it out themselves by visiting Asmodee’s pop-up demo of Dobble XXL outside the hall. 2020 promises to be a huge year for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), with the newly released mainline video games Pokémon Sword & Shield stirring up renewed excitement for the popular franchise. Visitors to the Asmodee stand will be able to preview the first TCG products to introduce the new Galar region into the card game, including the first Sword & Shield expansion set, which is to release in February. Pokémon fans can look forward to cards depicting Galarian forms of existing favourites, plus new characters native to the UK-inspired region, while a new Pokémon V mechanic will allow for cards that represent enormous VMAX forms of iconic Pokémon including Snorlax, Lapras and Meowth. The new set will be accompanied by Theme Decks that offer new players an easy way to pick up the game with preconstructed decks featuring the evolutions of Sword & Shield’s new starter Pokémon. A spotlight will be placed upon the BrainBox range of educational games, now under the Asmodee umbrella following the acquisition of Green Board Games in 2019. Asmodee is offering this successful range and visitors can discover anew the selection of quick-playing learning challenges that the whole family can enjoy together. Asmodee will also be taking the opportunity to share its revamped Party Games and Family Games ranges for 2020 which, alongside the perennial Modern Classics and Quick Play titles, offer selections of the modern board-games market for different audiences. The Party Games range, ideal for groups of friends playing together at a games night or dinner party, now features two new additions. One is Confident? - a trivia game where nobody needs to know the right answer to do well, they must simply suggest a range in which the answer sits, with the smallest correct range taking the win. The second is Hint, arriving in the UK after commercial success in Scandinavia. This team-based game sees players drawing, miming, humming and speaking to help their team-mates guess five answers based on a common theme, while avoiding a penalty answer that costs points if it’s called out. Meanwhile, the Family Games range is new for 2020 and spotlights fun and accessible games where the whole family can compete on the same level. Led by Dobble 360, Family Games also includes two titles new for 2020: the shadowpuppetry guessing game of Picture Show and a magnetically powered maritime adventure, Bermuda Pirates. The range is also home to the egg-balancing action of Crazy Eggz and Ticket to Ride: London, a streamlined version of the certified Modern Classic that launched successfully in 2019. The UK-centric edition features all of the acclaimed gameplay that has seen the original Ticket to Ride sell millions worldwide, condensed into just 15 minutes of playing time, as players compete to claim bus routes between London tourist destinations. Still going strong in Asmodee’s catalogue are the Modern Classics. With renewed marketing focus for the likes of Catan, Pandemic and Ticket to Ride coming in 2020, there’s never been a better time to check out these superlative products. The fourth key Asmodee range is the Quick Play series, rebranded for the new year, which highlights fun, fast games ideal for in-store demonstration initiatives. Headlined by the classic Dobble, the range includes the likes of Bananagrams, Rory’s Story Cubes and Cobra Paw – with newer titles Who Did It and Dice Academy.

Toy World 192

2020

Learning Resources 01553 819 386 www.learningresources.co.uk Stand D36 Learning Resources will launch over 100 new products in January at the London Toy Fair in the early years, creative play, science, maths, reading, home learning, coding and STEM categories. Learning Resources has become a go-to brand for screenfree and unplugged coding toys, offering toys that introduce coding to children as young as four through hands-on play. Building on the success of the award-winning Botley the Coding Robot (launched in 2018) and Artie 3000 (launched in 2019), Learning Resources launched Coding Critters in Q3 2019. The Coding Critters range has since won several prominent consumer awards and has benefitted from extensive coverage in high-profile UK trade and consumer media. In 2020, the company will launch cute new characters in the Coding Critters range to offer children more play options. Coding Critters Bopper Bunny and her pals Hip and Hop, plus the new Pair-a-Pets, have strong shelf appeal and offer retailers more choices for consumers looking to introduce coding to little ones. Suitable for children aged five and up, Learning Resources will be launching Botley 2.0. The next generation of the award-winning Botley the Coding Robot delivers even more screen-free coding than before. Botley 2.0 can be programmed to complete a sequence of up to 150 steps including 45-degree left and right turns, can put on a light show for kids to enjoy, play games and more. Botley has proven to be an ideal coding choice for both home learning and classroom use, and Botley 2.0 provides retailers with an engaging update to the popular predecessor. Botley 2.0’s new colour and packaging ensure the product will look eye-catching on-shelf. For over 25 years, Learning Resources’ classroom and teaching essentials have been a staple in schools across the UK and Europe. This year the company will launch a new teaching clock, marking what it says is the ‘first innovation in time-teaching resources in years’. The new 24-Hour Number Line Clock is an interactive teaching clock that helps children learn how to tell the time through hands-on learning. Developed by education experts, the clock lets students explore time and see for themselves how telling time on a clock is just like using a number line. The new clock will be available as a magnetic demonstration set for teachers and as individual students sets. Playfoam offers squishy, squashy sculpting fun that never dries out. Ideal for creative play and motor skill development, the brand is a popular choice within the compounds and sensory play categories for children aged three and up. The range, which sits at a pocket money price point, combines tactile compound play, surprises and collectibles. Each pod contains a generous amount of Playfoam and a limited-edition Pal for kids to find and collect. Once ‘unboxed’, the Playfoam can be used to create nests, accessories and more for the Pal, before being stored back in the pod. Learning Resources releases a new collection each year; for 2020, on-trend unicornthemed collections will be arriving in stores. While Playfoam is all about construction, Playfoam Pluffle is all about deconstruction. Consumer research undertaken by Learning Resources, as part of its commitment to ongoing consumer satisfaction, revealed that parents wanted something that provides sensory play without the stickiness. The resulting Playfoam Pluffle is a non-drying, non-sticky, soft and fluffy substance that can be squished and smushed. Its mesmerising, lava-like flowing action and eye-catching colours provides hours of sensory fun. Playfoam Pluffle It never dries out, doesn’t stick, and can be used straight from the packaging.

Toy World 194

HERO RA CE RS

ROCK 'N' L

HEROES L EA V E

AV A

SMA SH

H AS M

'N 'R

LAUNCHING MARCH SURP13RISES INSIDE 2020

MASH BUIL N' S ' DE R CK S

2020

Hornby Hobbies 01843 233 500 www.hornby.com Stand B20 2020 will see Hornby reach a key milestone as the business gets ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Having manufactured thousands of model railway products for a century, and to celebrate the occasion, there will be a whole host of marketing activity, including a golden ticket campaign, a Hornby Memories blog featuring interviews with some of Hornby’s dedicated customers as well as a Trip Down Memory Lane with some of Hornby’s most long-standing staff members. Pulling together the whole 100 year anniversary campaign, will be the Lifetime’s Journey, a short film showing a boy turning into a man and the various stages that he goes through in his life, all linking back to the love he has for Hornby trains. Scalextric has also announced the next generation of Scalextric Spark Plug, in a completely new app re-skin featuring the characters from DC Comics Batman. This will feature in the Batman vs Joker set that is controllable by an IOS or Android smart device. The set will include two Spark Plug dongles, a Joker Car and a Batman Car, plus an exciting track layout including a jump, crossroads and side swipe, creating a superhero must have set for 2020. Players can enhance gameplay by restricting their opponent or supercharging their car in Versus Mode and can personalise their race by playing as their favourite hero or villain from the Batman franchise or become their favourite character by adding filters to their photo. For younger fans, there is a series of new Micro Scalextric sets including: Ryan’s World, James Bond and Batman vs Joker. Each of these sets features over four metres of track with nine layout options, including a loop-the-loop and half pipe. New track packs are available so racers can build on their 1:64 Micro Scalextric layout and create their own new racing tracks. To mark the 35th Anniversary of the first Back to the Future Film, Scalextric will be releasing a brand-new DeLorean, complete with a working Flux capacitor light. Corgi will also be releasing a die-cast version of the famous time travelling vehicle in 1:36 scale. Airfix will be releasing a range of licensed Top Gun products in time for the launch of the new film. These include the famous Tomcat, ‘Mig’ and Skyhawk aircraft from the original film, as well as the P-51D Mustang and F-18 Hornet, both flown by Maverick. The new Airfix Beginners Set is designed to allow youngsters from eight years and above to be able to build their first kit. With fewer parts and less complication, the beginner can create a perfect replica of the iconic Spitfire or Red Arrows Hawk, and after painting, the aircraft can be placed on the specially designed stand to be displayed in flight. The models are also suitable for free play once built. The range also includes two tanks, which come with rotating turrets and easy build tracks. Airfix Quickbuild is expanding fast and appears with a new look this year. The Jaguar I Pace is the first release and is available in January, with other cars and aircraft arriving during the year. The Corgi Chunkies collection will expand early in 2020. This pre-school range, with its high level of diecast, makes for super-tough and long-lasting play, plus the Corgi range as a whole has additions to satisfy fans of James Bond, Mr Bean, Back-to-the-Future and many other pop culture icons.

Toy World 196

SE AS ON 1

For sales enquiries contact uksales@jazwares.com ÂŠ 2019 Laffter, Inc. FGTeev, FUNnel Vision, Dohmuch Fun and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Laffter, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2020

Bandai UK 020 8324 6160 www.bandai.co.uk Stand Gallery 600 A major focal point of London Toy Fair for Bandai will be the showcasing of action figure brands from McFarlane Toys. With a wide range of classic and current properties including DC Universe, Harry Potter and Stranger Things, McFarlane Toys forges strong partnerships with some of the world’s leading gaming, TV and anime businesses to offer premium lines from the best of today’s pop culture. Other film and TV ranges will also feature heavily at the show, including product lines for Zag Entertainment’s Miraculous and popular anime brand Dragon Ball, which brings a new dimension to its range of collectible Saiyan and Earthling figures. Bandai’s offering ranges from highly collectible figures in blind foil-bags to poseable 6.5” Dragon Stars figures. New action figures and Spin Battlers will also be introduced, further widening the range’s appeal to both existing collectors and new fans. The Timber Tots pre-school range brings younger children a host of outdoor scenarios and play themes via animal families and their woodland surroundings. A comprehensive range consists of animal figures to collect and interactive playsets; the hero SKU is the classic Treehouse playset. Bringing innovation to playground crazes, Toy Fair 2020 sees Bandai UK reveal the latest Foodie Surprise expansion with the new Yolkies line. Combining edible slime with collectible surprise toys encased in mystery eggs, Yolkies captures popular trends while bringing additional play value. New themed food carts and takeout boxes will be added to the core Foodie Surprise DIY Sweet Making Kits, as the line continues to combine collectability and crafting. The award-winning fashion toy Harumika gets a fresh new look with Bandai UK. The fashion design arts & crafts kits include mannequin torsos, fabric and accessories, all designed to inspire creativity and appeal to budding fashionistas. One of Bandai’s best-selling properties, Bananas, continues to grow with a wave of new series launches. The peelable collectible fruits include Bananas bunches and singles; new mummy Crushie collectible characters correspond with baby Crushies, both of which can be collected as part of the new Baby Bananas line. There will also be further new editions to the Bananas family, with all-new crushies and categories set to join the range. The new interactive pet range Nuzzy Luvs offers 65 unique sound and movement combinations within a collection of cute plush characters which fit in the palm of a child’s hand. With eight styles to collect, Nuzzy Luvs respond to one another as well as their owners, making it known when they feel happy, frightened, tired, or simply want attention. Tiny Tukkins are cute and collectible plush animal characters and families that promote the traditional play patterns of nurture, learning, and collectability. Encouraging imaginative play, the packaging opens to become playsets which can be used to create an entire Tiny Tukkins world. Each mini blind-packaged play crib includes one of 12 animal babies to collect. World of Zombies is the newest IP to join Bandai’s portfolio of collectible ranges. These humorous and collectible zombie characters are blind-packed in coffins, either as single or dual packs; the coffins can be used for storage or as part of the play experience. The figures come with swappable heads and gripping hands which allow them to hold onto objects or fellow zombies. A collector’s card and simple game are included with each of the 12 characters. Themed playsets in the range focus on the Zombie Olympics, with interactive features which let children pit their zombies against one another across a spectrum of sports. New to the boys’ collectible and action figure categories is Pocket Titans. The Battlebot playsets have been designed to be connected, collected and combined. Each blind packaged Cube doubles as a buildable battle base for extended play, and contains one of the 12 collectible robots available in Series 1. The robots come with water decals, stickers, weapons and bio cards. Freak Lab is a new addition to the Bandai portfolio. Children can pour water into a chamber and then watch it fizz and bubble, revealing the bones of an alien. There are six different monsters and a rare character to collect, each in a variety of colourways. Each monster collected can be combined to create a giant character. There are 24 to collect in Series 1. The award-winning National Geographic educational line is establishing its position as an evergreen, go-to science range within the company’s portfolio. Bandai UK will introduce a new Crystal Garden kit for spring/ summer 2020, while new Super Kits will be added to the collection later in the year at Christmas gifting price points. Six new collectible characters have been added to the squishy plush range, Squishimals, and are available at either 10cm, 20cm or 32cm. Smooshy Mushy enters its seventh series for Q1 ; the new series of minis includes a miniature Smooshy, and each is housed in packaging that becomes a shop or scene. The interactive family game Froggy Party will continue to feature heavily within the company’s games range, with a focus on getting children up and enjoying physical activities. Everything needed to play the game is included, and Froggy tells children what they need to do.

Toy World 198

THE GATEKEEPER IS BACK

Visit London Toy Fair to play Atmosfear, the international best-selling game returning in 2020, exclusive to TOBAR

Find us on stand F50 at London Toy Fair 21-23 January 2020, Olympia, Kensington, London

A World of Fun!

2020

John Adams 01480 414 361 www.johnadams.co.uk Stand G100 Continuing to build its successful heritage within the creative play category, the John Adams Leisure 2020 portfolio boasts over 30 new and refreshed product lines. Gemex transforms from gel to gems, so kids can create one-of-a-kind accessories including rings, necklaces, bracelets, hair clips, headbands and more; simply decorate, shine the magic light and then wear the resulting Gemex creation. The ‘magic’ formula is non-toxic and allows crafters to create something special in minutes, with guaranteed results. The Blopens range, one of the market leaders in colouring kits, is being extended to feature new Fashion Designer, Activity Workshops, Unicorn and Fantasy themes at key price points. When young artists blow into the Blopens, they can watch their drawings appear with airbrush effects. Rainbow lovers can create a world of colour with Rainbow Brush, the world’s first patented rainbow maker. The Rainbow Brush markers deliver vivid colours which blend seamlessly together. Kids can simply pop open the cap of their favourite colours, snap the pens together and draw to see beautiful, bright colours that blend as if by magic. Pixelo lets kids create vibrant, colourful artwork with dotted effects. The unique electronic pen is easy to use; artists can choose the marker they wish to use and insert it in their Pixelo pen, then turn it on to create satisfying dot-filled pictures. Frozen II fans will be spoilt for choice with John Adam’s selection of craft kits based on the blockbuster film; they can make a magical My Light-Up Glitter Globe, keep secrets safe in the Frozen II Secret Diary, make Frozen-themed accessories with the My Light-Up Jewellery kit, and create pictures with airbrush effects using the Frozen II Blopens Activity set. Glowpad also returns with a special Frozen II version. Fans can draw onto their Glowpad using the two neon marker pens to create their favourite Frozen II characters, before switching the pad on to see their pictures glow and transform. Seven light settings including a colour change light show really bring the pictures to life. Foodie Roos, plush characters that look, feel and smell just like their favourite foods, are back for Series 2 with all-new flavours and Food Trucks. Series 2 Foodie Roos are contained within cute Food Truck Playsets which kids can decorate with stickers. Tweet Beats love music and have their own style and sound. When kids place a Tweet Beat in the tree on one of the four branches, they’ll hear music. Each Tweet Beat has their own beat, bass, melody and vocals in their own musical style. Kids can create their own songs by combining the Tweet Beats, while switching birds creates Tweet Beat combinations. Following the success of brands such as Soggy Doggy and Bank Attack, John Adams’ range of Ideal games continues to grow in strength and volume with new additions such as Windy Knickers. Players help granny hang out her washing, but if they roll a storm the washing line will spin and granny will lose her clothes. In the World Series Stare Off Official Game, players go eye-to-eye in a tournament-style knockout. Every match is the best of three Stare Offs, which lets super-starers find out if they have what it takes to be a World Series Stare Off champion. Family favourite Rummikub, the fun numbers game that brings people together, celebrates its 70th anniversary. The brand benefits from a raft of celebrity fans and regular exposure on social media, both of which have helped it stand the test of time. The world’s no.1 puzzle and pop culture icon, Rubik’s, also has reason to celebrate; it’s 40 years since Rubik’s was named Toy of the Year and went on sale mass market. To mark the occasion, a new 3x3 Metallic Anniversary Cube is being introduced. The Anniversary Cube is just as mind boggling as the Classic 3x3, but offers a metallic finish. Erno Rubik, the creator of the original Rubik’s Cube, has also designed a new brainteaser puzzle to celebrate the 40th anniversary. The Pyramid will be just as challenging as the 2x2 Cube and is perfect for Rubik’s fans in the anniversary year. All John Adams’ key new launches will benefit from TV, VOD and digital advertising as well as full PR, influencer and social media plans.

Toy World 200

2020

VR Distribution 0330 088 0941 www.vrdist.co.uk Stand D131 VR Distribution UK is a wholesale distributor specialising in a wide range of games, including adult party games, board games, family games and more. Adult Party Games is the fastest growing category in the games industry at the moment, driven by a growing population of millennials with expendable income looking for fun ways to socialise with their friends. VR is well positioned to assist retailers in maximising opportunities within this sector, with an extensive range that includes best-sellers such as Cards Against Humanity as well as exclusively distributed titles such as What Do You Meme and Exploding Kittens, plus much more. Also on offer from VR Distribution’s party games portfolio is Beat That: The Bonkers Battle of Wacky Challenges. Players ned to limber up as they prepare to bounce, flip, stack, hop, roll, blow, balance, and catapult their way to victory in the wacky party game. Suitable for kids and adults alike, the aim of the game is for players to collect as many points as possible by betting on their own ability to successfully complete a series of ridiculous challenges using an assortment of seemingly random objects. All players attempt the exact same challenges, so the fast and funny party game guarantees plenty of fun and laughter. Due to rapidly expanding growth and consumer demand, VR Distribution is broadening its core business to introduce more strategy, family and board games to its portfolio. Recently, the company announced that it is now the official UK distributor for Gigamic, a French publisher and distributor of games and brain teasers for all ages. Gigamic has won numerous awards globally and several of its titles are already considered classics. Both occasional and expert players from around the world recognise the fun and strategic aspects of Gigamic’s Quoridor and widely consider it a must-have game. The rules are simple; players just need to make it through the labyrinths their opponent has created to get to the other side. This game requires strategic and quick thinking between two players and offers plenty of fun for four. Also from Gigamic, Katamino is a puzzle game featuring 2D and 3D challenges of progressive difficulty. A strategic game for two players, the game is popular in the educational space as it helps children to understand basic geometry. Katamino has received multiple awards worldwide. Family and mainstream gamers are also well looked after with Amigo Games, another exclusive range from VR Distribution. Founded in 1980, Amigo Games is a German manufacturing company focusing on kids’, family, strategy, and card games. The company is known for producing games that feature high quality components, excellent, well designed gameplay and themes that resonate with consumers, all at a fair price. Richard Garfield’s Carnival of Monsters brings the carnival to players’ own homes. As the master of their very own menagerie of unusual creatures, players aim to present their audience with the most impressive spectacle possible as they explore the magical lands where the creatures dwell and bring back the finest specimens in order to gain riches and fame. However, as not all the beasts are peaceful, players are advised to keep hunters on hand to prevent them getting loose. Clack! is both the name of the game and the sound the magnetic discs make when they are slapped against one another as players race to claim the right discs as quickly as possible. The game has high replay value and, being suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, is extremely popular with families with young children or those with additional learning needs. Readers are advised to contact VR Distribution to find out more about its quality games range, or to discuss trading terms. Visit the website or email sales@vrdist.co.uk to find out more.

Toy World 202

A RE

0+ RS 3 E K

LIM IT

NEW TOY RANGE LAUNCHING THIS SPRING!

DRAGO N 17C STA M R

17+

ECTABLES 5C OLL M C ER

OL Y3

3CM

POINTS OF ARTICULATION!

AG 12 O

E OLV V E N 5CM .

VISIT US AT TOY FAIR GALLERY 600

EPIC DRAGON BALL SUPER SERIES AIRING ON TV SHOW AIRING EVERYDAY AROUND 7PM! CONSTANT ROLL-OUT OF NEW WAVES OF FIGURES & COLLECTABLES SUPPORTED WITH TV, EXPERIENTIAL EVENTS, DIGITAL & INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT SALES@BANDAI.CO.UK OR 0208 3246160

2020

A.B.Gee 01773 570444 www.abgee.co.uk Stand B40 Visitors can expect to see new arrivals on the A.B.Gee stand from the many big name manufactures that the company represents. There will be new lines from Mattel, Hasbro, MGA, Zapf, Little Tikes, Playmobil and Make it Real, to name a few. Taking centre stage will be A.B.Gee’s exclusive ranges from Tooky, Jar Melo and Palz & Patchwork Collection – with an extensive line up of wooden toys, high-end arts & crafts and a huge varied selection of plush animals and ragdolls on display. Tooky Toy offers over 250+ lines of beautifully crafted, premium quality wooden toys, that are brightly coloured, educational and timeless. One of the top sellers for A.B.Gee is the Noah’s Ark set. Inspired by the story, the set includes seven animals and two people. Kids can open the ark door, turning it into a ramp, and lift the deck to easily access the inside, encouraging little ones to immerse themselves in imaginative and creative fun. It allows children to compose very different scenarios and to invent all kinds of stories using the characters. Making its Toy Fair debut will be Jar Melo, a comprehensive range of over 90 premium quality art supplies, craft kits and puzzles. The brand is designed for little hands and has proven to be a huge success for A.B.Gee in the last six months. In particular, the rock painting set has seen excellent sales, mainly due to the community activity of Paint me, Hide me which sees children painting and hiding rocks for strangers to find. There are 10 rocks included, as well as paints, brushes and stickers. Kids can display their painted rock art in their homes and garden, or hide them around the neighbourhood to spread joy and fun. A.B.Gee will have introductory offers on a variety of these exclusive products, and with dedicated display areas and out of box product on the stand, visitors can get a feel for the quality and variety of the company’s lines on offer.

Casdon 01253 608 428 www.casdon.com Stand E30 Casdon combines pretend play with renowned household names to bring replica appliances and role play accessories to the playroom. Whether children are little helpers, little cooks or little shoppers, there’s something in the Casdon collection for retailers across multiple categories. For springtime, kids can help mow the grass with the Flymo Lawn Mower. The Flymo features a foldable handle for easy storage and a mechanical click when the mower is on the move. It also features the mower’s iconic orange base. Continuing into 2020 is the collection of Dyson replica vacuums. The toy replica of the Dyson Cord-free Vacuum makes pretend play more realistic. The working suction picks up small bits, and there's a debris compartment to empty. The simulated cyclone action has moving colourful balls in a clear cylinder, so it looks and sounds like a regular Dyson. There are also different ways to play, by using the short nozzle or long handled 'twist & turn' cleaning. All the attachments have an easy release removal system. The Casdon Morphy Richards and DeLonghi ranges are the perfect partners to any pretend play kitchen. The Microwave, Kettle and Toaster set comprises a microwave with a realistic looking touch pad and lights, plus a kettle and pop-up toaster. The DeLonghi Microwave has a rotating turntable, flashing lights and cooking sounds. Another classic in the range is the Hetty and Henry Household Cleaning Sets. Henry’s striking red set and Hetty’s pale pink set feature a dustpan and brush, mop, sweeping brush and more. The Little Cooks collection will also be on show, including the Mr Kipling Cake Stand & Tea Set. This brightly coloured shape sorting cake stand includes a host of cakes, plus plates and cutlery to help with serving. Little ones can also create a make-believe breakfast with the range of Morphy Richards sets.

Toy World 204

VIS

TOYFAIT US AT IR GAL 60 LERY

Frutietd!

OUR CRUS Y HI AR

! ES

Scen

INTRODUCIN

G PIN EAP PLE S!

#7 New Property* Wave 4 available now! Future waves planned throughout 2020 Supported by heavyweight marketing campaign

Contact sales on 020 8324 6160 sales@bandai.co.uk for more information.

(*NPD, Nov, 2019, Total Market)

2020

Little Athlete Games 07549 537 225 www.snapfit.org.uk Stand GH28 Little Athlete Games, based in Northumberland, focuses on active gameplay for children. The company’s target market is children aged 3-11 years, but its games incorporate interactive gameplay that will appeal to the whole family. The company has created fun, fast games with a focus on fine and gross motor skills development in children, as well as socialisation skills, spatial awareness, creativity and problem solving. Active gameplay combined with traditional elements from the popular card game snap offers ‘the most fun you can have not being sedentary’, according to Little Athlete Games. By making play fun, imaginative and interactive, the company has seen success with schools and retailers alike. Little Athlete Games was awarded silver in the Best Cross-Curriculum Game category at the UK Games Expo awards 2019, with a prototype of its new Snapfit game. Now, retail-ready products are set to be showcased at the London Toy Fair. MD Clive Robertson’s favourite card game, snap, hasn’t changed for 153 years, so he set out to make it more adventurous, fun, fast and furious, with an emphasis on health and wellbeing that turns the players into the game. Having worked as a personal trainer for 30 years, Clive understands how to get people moving. Suitable for 2-4 players, Snapfit is a card game which challenges players to identify the match/action and shout “Snapfit!” to win the cards in the pile. The winner then counts to 10 whilst the other players carry out the action. A Water Break card allows players to opt out of the fun for one round, but this can only be used once by each player in the game. If a Sweat Pit card comes into play, the action on the winning card must be performed by everyone, unless they opt out by using a Water Break card. To ensure no one is left out, players who run out of cards can still take part in the game; everyone continues to carry out the actions until there is a winner - the player with all the cards. Snapfit does not exclude or segregate but includes and integrates too. Differently-abled or mobility-limited players can be catered for by slowing the speed at which the winner counts to 10, restricting the range of each movement, or allowing the use of a supporting mechanism; if a player can shake their body or spin around, then they are already a winner.

Jeremy Robinson - UK Sales & Business Development m. 0044-(0)7772-482255 w. www.redlandsdistribution.com Redlands Distribution

28th Floor Octa Tower

8 Lam Chak Street

Toy World 206

Kowloon Bay

Visit us at the London

Stand GH01

ThreeSixty Group Ltd. Head

70288 SCOOBY-DOO! Mystery Figures (Series 1)

70286 SCOOBY-DOO! Mystery Machine

70287 SCOOBY-DOO! Scooby & Shaggy with Ghost

70361 SCOOBY-DOO! Adventure in the Mystery Mansion

WWW.PLAYMOBIL.CO.UK - 01268 548111 - SALESUK@PLAYMOBIL.DE

2020

Winning Moves 0207 298 9507 www.winningmoves.co.uk Stand E115 With over a million packs sold every year, Winning Moves continues to bolster the arsenal of card game Top Trumps. 2020 is looking to be a big year for Top Trumps, with new licences including Trolls II, Minions, Justice League, Marvel and Star Wars, in new packs suitable for fans of all ages. At a reasonable price point of RRP £4.99, the packs are ideal for pocket money, gift, holiday and stocking filler purchases. Top Trumps can be displayed on a multitude of display units in store. A solution for any space is to hang 25 packs on a metal clip strip at the end of a bay; standing tall yet using little floor space with a metal FSDU; or catching customers’ attention at the till with a space saving fold-out counter stand. The stand’s versatile design enables it to stand on a shelf and even hang on a Euro Hook. Constructed from metal, the stands offer longevity and look good on display. They hold the full Top Trumps range to offer a range of products in a very small space. Products include Top Trumps, Top Trumps Quiz, Top Trumps Match and Top Trumps Collector Tins. At London Toy Fair, Winning Moves will have a show offer of 5% off £500 order and 10% off £1,000 order and one-drop delivery.

Vivid

Launching for spring 2020, Power Pux is Vivid’s new craze line, which the company says will take collectability and gameplay to the next level. Fans can collect 50 different discs, all of which have a unique popping action. The discs can be primed manually by hand, while the dedicated launchers (available as part of the new range) will send the discs flying into the air. Vet Squad is a new introduction to the mini dolls and collectible space. Building on proven play patterns - caring for animals, role-playing adventures and vehicle-based action – gameplay centres around four hero vet characters; a group of ordinary girls with extraordinary skills who go on adventures to rescue and care for animals. The brand will be brought to life through a programme of dedicated content including an animated mini-series, influencer videos, toy videos and more. The product range focuses on these characters in figure form, their collectible pets and a range of vehicles and playsets designed to allow children to immerse themselves into the Vet Squad world. The Goliath Games portfolio has undergone further development for 2020. Building on a strong 2019, a selection of new games will join the range across the PreSchool, Kids Action and Family Games categories. New introductions in Kids Games include the greedy and gross hippo feeding game, Burping Bobby, and the nerve rattling game for gold diggers, Rattlesnake Jake, which launch alongside favourites including Shark Bite, Gator Golf and more. Within the Family Games category, proven winners Wordsearch, On Your Marks, Escape Room and Sequence will be joined by the new BBC Planet Earth interactive game, as we as Unsolved Case Files – a game that’s perfect for budding super-sleuths. True to Crayola’s mess-free ethos, 2020 sees the launch of an innovative solution to popular but messy glitter play. Glitter Dots deliver all the sparkle with less of the mess, making them the ideal sparkly solution for parents and kids alike. The unique packaging format means each dot is sealed to prevent it drying out, and also offers a pleasing sensory element; kids can just squish to create. The new range features creation packs which can be used to make sparkly charms, keyrings, signs and sparkle stations. Glitter Dots launches this month, with TV and digital support planned throughout the season. Following its success in 2019, the popular Washimals range will be welcoming engaging new playsets. Options include the Washimals Pets Mobile Truck, which comes with a real working vehicle, and a Peculiar Pets foldable palace playset that features cute Unicorn and Yeti pets.

01483 449944 www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk Stand B70

Toy World 208

Join us for

Golden Bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FESTIVAL OF

London Toy Fair, Olympia - Stand E69 Inspirational toys for children of all ages. See our new innovation for 2020 and join in the festival fun!

L O O

BOYS

CH S RE

OWN

GIR

Telephone: +44 (0) 1952 608308 All enquiries: customerservices@goldenbeartoys.co.uk www.goldenbeartoys.com

2020

Klein Toys 07817295268 www.klein-toys.com Stand B25 Last year Klein Toys celebrated 70 years since the company was founded. From humble beginnings with a core product line of kids’ brooms, the company now offers an extensive catalogue of quality, fun and educational toys. The expansion of existing ranges has seen new innovations added to the company’s brand portfolio, which includes its licensor partners. Klein has worked with Bosch for more than 20 years and the power tools toys line is the company’s bestselling range. The toys are authentic replicas and fully functional, but also safe for small hands to use. There is a wide selection of power tools, work benches and gardening toys on offer, with new items added to the range. All products are supported with full 360 marketing, including Easter and autumn/winter TV Campaigns, digital and print advertising. Klein Toys is also launching new playsets in the Bosch Service range, such as the new Pit Stop & Car Wash play set, which includes a car with a colour change feature so kids can see the dirt wash off when they go through the car wash. The company is adding Caterpillar to its brand portfolio and is launching a range of roleplay toys, including the new Cat Sand & Water Table and a Cat truck engine. The play table has an eye-catching design, sturdy build and comes with two removable basins, snap on accessories for digging, pipelines for water play and a construction vehicle. Klein Toys will support the launch with full 360 marketing including an Easter TV campaign, digital media and print advertising. The truck engine with realistic engine sounds is an ideal hands-on learning product. Children can learn about the workings of the engine, dismantle it and put it back together. A range of Ford play sets will include vehicle construction kits and multi-storey parking garages with different levels. Klein Toys is also adding the Michelin brand to its product portfolio. The company is adding new products to its roleplay ranges and will be launching a new Princess Coralie Make Up & Styling Head, household appliances, new vintage styled products to tap into the retro trend, as well as new products in the Barbie and Hot Wheels ranges. It has also announced its new product range: Klein goes Bio. These products are made of bioplastic using sugarcane, to conserve steadily shrinking oil resources and ensure sustainable production. The range includes outdoor, gardening and roleplay items.

H. Grossman 01416 132 525 www.ozbozz.com Stand E49 Grossmans is ‘going with the flow’ this January as it invests further in new pocket money lines. The Go Flo Bucket is filled with foam which seems to have a life of its own; flowing through fingers and moving slowly along, it really looks like it’s alive. The unique melting texture makes it irresistible, so adults and children alike won’t be able to put it down. The Go Flo Bucket is just one of several new pocket money lines, and multi coloured putty in a mega-pot is also on offer. Retailing at under £5, this play putty makes for an ideal pocket money offering in-store. HGL is set to bring back Loom Bands for a new generation which can’t wait to stretch them, knot them and knit them. The long, multi-coloured bands can be turned into all sorts of craft creations, from friendship bracelets to fashion accessories. Loom band gift sets will be available from less than £3, while larger sets will be available as gifting items. The Ozbozz brand is renowned for outdoor toys and this year welcomes new items targeting younger users, including two new balance bikes with adjustable handles. Perfect for pre-schoolers, the bikes come in two themes - dinosaur and unicorn – and offer sturdy and safe ride-on play to help develop coordination and balance. The colourful balance bikes will be popular with both parents and kids. Scooters have always been a core part of the Ozbozz range, and this year sees the introduction of a new light up scooter. The Poop Scoot has images of poo, and features wheels that light up when on the move. Toilet themed toys have proved hugely popular, so this is a natural extension on the theme for the brand. Also new for 2020 are remote control cars. Offering great play potential and value for money, the chunky vehicles have been developed to retail at an attractive price point of sub-£10, making them both an ideal gift and a strong impulse purchase option. Toy Fair would not be complete without some top-secret items being introduced at the last minute; visitors are encouraged to visit Grossman’s stand to view the full range.

Toy World 210

2020

UL Sevices 01256 312100 www.crs.ul.com Stand B49 Increasingly, toy manufacturers, retailers and buyers are under urgent pressure to respond to demands for improved sustainability. To address waste from end to end, more toy manufacturers are using recycled or bio-based plastics, reducing material use in both product and packaging, and designing toys to be more easily recycled at the end of their usable life. Companies have begun to use naturally derived colorants or plastics recycled from milk cartons in the manufacturing processes. UL is helping to address some of these challenges through a Horizon 2020 project that is developing a grading system for mechanically recycled polymers to identify and preserve high value and high-quality plastics entering the end-of-life phase through advanced recycling processes and quality management approaches. Furthermore, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100 Mass Balance Co. Project, of which UL was a member, established parameters for a recycled content accounting process for chemically recycled materials. Chemical recycling of plastics is an emerging and immensely powerful tool for addressing difficult to recycle plastics or inserting recycled plastics into demanding industrial contexts. Addressing sustainability challenges in materials, consumption patterns and end-of-life is an important goal. Companies beginning their sustainability journey may start by reducing carbon emissions or improving transparency in the supply chain. They may decide to improve their reporting capabilities for stakeholders and regulators. Any step toward sustainability is important and the outlook is bright for sustainability in the toy industry. Visitors can talk more about sustainability in toys at UL’s stand at Toy Fair, or send a message to TOYS@UL.com.

James Galt 0161 428 9111 www.galttoys.com Stand E9 Galt Toys is showcasing a fresh new look this year for its popular First Years range, including new characters. Additional wooden toys and classic products with a twist will be revealed at Toy Fair, including Soft Dominoes, wooden Magnetic Farm Puzzles and Linkies – linkable farm animal teethers. These new products will sit alongside existing popular products such as the patented Playnest, which provides multi-sensory stimulation while supporting babies during rest and play, and the classic Ambi Toys range which encourages early years development. The Explore and Discover range of science kits is an ideal introduction to STEM. Featuring fun, illustrated lab books containing simple experiments and engaging components, these kits aim to build a love for the world of science from a young age. The Giant Science Lab joins the range for 2020; this bumper science kit includes a lab coat and 30 experiments covering chemistry, biology and physics. For 2020, Galt Toys is revealing a range of new Horrible Science licensed kits including Mighty Magnets and Ugly Bugs, plus a brand-new Horrible Science Game. Germ Attack! sees germs and scientists battling it out around the body as they attempt to be the first to reach the heart. Featuring facts and questions guaranteed to both turn stomachs and blow minds, this game is based the best-selling Scholastic books written by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles. All Galt Toys puzzle packaging has been redesigned for 2020, while six new products join the range for children from 18 months and up, covering topics such as size grading, colour matching, shape recognition and counting. The Construction and Active Play categories include Marble Run Reactions. These sets let kids build chain reactions for their marbles, promoting early STEM learning. A new Active Play game, Hop, Skip & Jump, turns any floor into a giant game board. The 3 Little Pigs Game and Antarctica Game join the Play and Learn category; chunky wooden playing pieces make them ideal first games for 2-year-olds. Galt Toys has a strong reputation in the Arts & Crafts category and is launching new craft kits in 2020 to inspire creativity and imagination. From making ribbon-weaved bracelets to baking cookies and cupcakes, Galt Toys offers everything kids and parents need for a rainy-day activity and school holiday fun. This year, Galt Toys will also be showcasing the Learn to Draw and Travel Learn to Draw – two sets with simple step-by-step templates and a light projector to introduce early drawing skills. As a new member of the Jumbodiset Group, Galt Toys is looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

Toy World 212

TV &

W E N

DIGITAL

ALL YEAR !

s r e n n i w b u l C Horse g i B w e N e h t at Horse Show!

42466 Big Horse Show

42467 Pony & Trap for the Big Horse Show

42443 Horse Club Mia‘s Vaulting Set

London Toy Fair, Upper Gallery, Stand 100 | Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hall 6, C-21 For more information, please contact your Schleich® representative, visit www.horseclub.com, or call us on 01279 870000

2020

Tactic Games UK phil@tacticgames.co.uk www.tactic.net Stand D34 Tactic is broadening its choice for 3, 4 and 5-year-olds, and is on a mission to engage families earlier in their children’s lives so they can grow up with the Tactic brand visible in their homes. Set to challenge the accuracy and acting ability of preschoolers, Beach Bounce and Spotlight Slam will join the already popular Speedy Beedy in March, further expanding Tactic’s range of fun and energetic games. Also new to the family games offering is the bright and colourful parrot themed game Jolly Polly, in which players have to place their parrots on the tree carefully, without them falling off.

Big Potato 07472 824 526 www.bigpotato.co.uk Stand H46 Big Potato Games is back for another year at London Toy Fair, fully equipped with a brightly coloured stand and brand-new party games on show. This year, two games in particular will be in the spotlight. Following last year’s Blockbuster Game, Big Potato will launch another new retro style party game: Top of the Pops. Just like Blockbuster, this is a party game where players assemble a superstar team for a two-round showdown. Players kick things off with a quick-fire buzzer battle, then race to collect an artist from all eight categories by describing, humming and kazooing tunes for their teammates to guess. The more they get right, the more records a player can collect – and the closer they get to hitting the number one spot and winning the game. From Blink-182 to Blondie, the game has something for everyone, and players do not have to be well versed in pop culture to play - they just need to have heard a couple of songs, be aware of some famous bands and be willing to test their kazoo skills in front of friends and family. The next party game on the list is Herd Mentality, another new arrival for 2020. This is a family party game with one simple black and white mission: write down the same answer as everyone else. The game begins with a random prompt, such as: name the largest fruit you could fit in your mouth, write down a noise an animal makes, or name a food with a hole in it. Players secretly write down an answer, and if a player’s answer is part of the majority, they can take a cow from the pen in the middle of the table and add it to their herd. However, not all cows are good news and if a player’s answer is the odd one out, they will need to pick up the Pink Cow and their herd will be worthless – until they manage to pass it on to another player. The aim of the game is to collect eight cows and become the farmyard champion. Herd Mentailty is easy to learn and quick to play, and suitable for both children and adults. To book an appointment or find out more about the 2020 range from Big Potato, get in touch with Emily Bond at emily@bigpotato.co.uk.

Animals of the World will sit alongside the best-selling Flags of the World and Wonders of the World from early spring. The third instalment to this family of educational games contains 200 cards, six continent boards and a world map, and will test players’ knowledge of species of animal from a variety of different countries. Tactic’s 8+ audience is well catered for the second half of the year, with three new board games set to test how players handle high pressure situations. 15 Minutes to Self-Destruct is an edge of the seat, app-enhanced game, in which players work together to override a computer running a self-destruct sequence following an asteroid strike. Players roll code combinations and plan routes to try and escape, but the game will throw up curveballs to frustrate their plans. It will take courage, leadership and teamwork to try and win in time. Hack My Password is another countdown-inspired game; one player tries to spread a computer virus around the world whilst their opponent tries to stop them by guessing their password. In Land of Clans, players build and battle their way to victory by balancing luck and strategy. Featuring quality wooden components, this game lets kids build and storm castles, collecting the most victory points to win. No Way Jose is a party game suitable for kids 10 year and above. In this game, lies are discovered and swindlers exposed. Up to six players take it in turns to be Jose, aiming to fool their opponents into believing that the six facts they say are either true or false. A new gifting range of games for the 15+ market launches in early spring. There are four themes to choose from, each featuring 200 cards. Who Has…? is a fun guessing game with pointing fingers, Wrong Is Right celebrates wrong answers, and Crazy Laws invites players to spot the bizarre laws from around the world. Finally, You Think You Know Me? challenges friends to find out how much they actually know about each other by guessing which claim suits them best. Also on show at London Toy Fair will be Tactic’s refreshed collection of popular dice games, a new I Love Britain board game and the latest additions to the Lumo Stars plush family. For enquiries, or to book an appointment, please contact UK sales manager Phil O’Nion.

Toy World 214

f o t r a Be P ! n o i s s i M e h T & V T AL T I DIG Q4 Q3 &

41462 Large Dino Research Station

41464 Off-road vehicle with Dino Outpost

41465 Tyrannosaurus Rex Attack

London Toy Fair, Upper Gallery, Stand 100 | Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hall 6, C-21

41466 Quad Escape from Velociraptor

ÂŽ representative, For more information, please contact your Schleich London Toy Fair, Upper Gallery, Stand 100 | Nuremberg Toy Fair, Hall 6, C-21 visit www.horseclub.com, or call us on 01279 870000 ÂŽ For more information, please contact your Schleich representative, visit www.schleich-s.com, More dinos are lurking or call at us www.schleich-s.com on 01279 870000

2020

LeapFrog Toys 01235 555 545 www.leapfrog.com Gallery 500 LeapFrog’s brand-new range will see nine new LeapFrog Learning Toys released in 2020; five in spring/summer and another four in autumn/winter. Spring/summer will see the launch of the Yum-2-3 Toaster, Level Up & Learn Controller, Busy Learning Bot, Lullaby Lights Lion and the 100 Animals Book. The Yum-2-3 Toaster joins the role play range that already includes the Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart, Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket, Musical Rainbow Tea Party, Smart Sizzling BBQ Grill and more. The Yum-2-3 Toaster is suitable for kids aged 12 months and above. Children can pretend to serve breakfast using the nine different foods and utensils, turn the dial to choose how they would like their toast, and press the three breakfast food buttons to learn numbers 1-3, colours and foods. The toaster mouth lights up for phrases and five sing-along songs. The Level Up & Learn Controller, for ages 9-36 months, features six touchscreen learning activities that introduce colours, counting, rhyming, French phrases and more. Kids can move the joystick to trigger animal phrases and sounds, listen to the questions from the animals and let the light guide them to the correct answers. The four colourful shape buttons introduce shapes and encourage exploring numbers. The music button plays three learning songs and one dance track, and a tiger pops up to encourage play and introduce opposites. Busy Learning Bot is part fidget cube and part robot, designed to help kids aged 9-36 months discover colours, opposites, ABCs, counting and music; all by sliding the slider, spinning the three interactive gears, twisting the key and pushing Learning Bot along. Little ones can press the friendly, light-up face to hear robot phrases. Other features help to develop hand/eye coordination and motor skills. Also new is the Lullaby Lights Lion plush learning toy for babies aged above six months. In day mode, young children can enjoy a kaleidoscope of colour with each press of the lion’s soft plastic light-up tummy. The colours change to the five colours on Lion’s mane, playing a variety of songs and phrases to teach shapes, colours and numbers. The Lion also helps baby fall asleep with four different sleep timer options, offering soft gentle lullabies, lullabies and lights, or just lights. Kids aged above 18 months can learn more about animals and habitats in the 100 Animals Book. They can touch each picture to hear the animals, their sounds and habitats, along with facts. By sliding the language switch, kids can hear the words, songs and instructions in French.

Gibsons 020 8661 8866 www.gibsonsgames.co.uk Stand E40 Gibsons is exhibiting an array of its jigsaw puzzles and games at London Toy Fair this month, with a brand-new stand design and a chance for customers to win prizes when they place an order over £450. From January 2020 all of Gibsons new puzzles will be in smaller boxes, and shrink-wrap will be removed in an effort to reduce negative impacts on the environment. On average, boxes will be 29% smaller and removing the shrink-wrap will save 521,096m of plastic film per year - the same as the length of 4,300 football pitches. In addition, the puzzle boxes have a fresh new design which will be gradually rolled out across the entire range. Gibsons will also be adding to its Little Gibsons range of fun and quirky children’s puzzles and games in January, and the seven news designs will be available for the first time at Toy Fair. Pool Party is a 100-piece puzzle packed with animals hanging out around the pool – images of a flamingo riding a unicorn, a conga line of mice and a happy swimming panda make this puzzle great fun for little jigsaw fans. Piecing Together is a special collection of large piece puzzles that Gibsons has developed. The large, easy to handle pieces and beautiful images have been carefully designed to be age-appropriate for adults, yet accessible for all. The images are great for reminiscence and sparking conversation, making them suitable as a rehabilitation activity, especially for those living with Dementia. There are 10 designs available ranging from 12-24 pieces, and the puzzles can be completed inside the box, which provides a frame to work within and makes it easy to store. Gibsons will also be expanding its Pass the Bomb range with Pass the Bomb - The Big One. This is a fast-paced, frantic and fun game, harnessing brain power and testing skills with weird and wonderful challenges. This action-packed version of the classic game Pass the Bomb provides family fun for all ages and can be viewed by visitors at Toy Fair.

Toy World 216

2020

Rachel Lowe 07957 186 064 www.rachellowe.co.uk Stand GH16 Rachel Lowe has been in the toy industry for 17 years, and her company, Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles, creates products based on popular film and television properties. Rachel has seen great success with the Jumanji Board Game, under licence with Sony, which was awarded Game of the Year by the Toy Retailer Association at DreamToys in London in November. She achieved a No. 1 ranking on Amazon for the game when it launched in 2017, and went on to volume distribution with Heathside Trading. Rachel is confident that her new releases will experience similar uptake with retailers in 2020. Alongside Jumanji, Rachel has also released board games and puzzles for Call the Midwife, Hotel Transylvania and Laurel & Hardy. The BBC recently announced that there will be three more series for Call the Midwife, which is great news for Rachel’s Call The Midwife range. The Call the Midwife Christmas Special has consistently been the most watched TV programme on Christmas day, with viewing figures of 10m, making the board game and puzzles a perfect Christmas Gift. The new WWE: Road to Wrestlemania Board Game takes players on a journey through NXT, Raw, SmackDown and a major pay-perview, where players will use their best moves to defeat opponents and taste victory on the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’. WWE benefits from a passionate and devoted global fanbase which is drawn to the athletes and the dramatic, action-packed storylines. Rachel Lowe has also created a Wrestlemania Jigsaw Puzzle and deck of playing cards. 2020 will also see the release of a new collection of advent products for Elf on the Shelf. A massive Christmas fan, Rachel says she is delighted to be working with Elf on The Shelf, creating a range of products that any child will enjoy at Christmas. The products will tie in nicely with the brand’s concept, and will help to give parents alternative ideas on how to make the month of December an exciting one. Beano, the studio behind Dennis & Gnasher, is also working with Rachel Lowe on a new board game and jigsaw puzzle.

Marvin’s Magic 01582 849 000 www.marvinsmagic.com Stand H65 For over 30 years Marvin’s Magic has built a reputation as the brand leader for magic worldwide. Marvin Berglas, the creator of Marvin’s Magic, is passionate about inspiring the next generation of magicians through innovative sets that allow everyone to perform magic tricks. The sets contain high quality props and instructions and each trick has been selected to be age appropriate, guaranteed to amaze and build confidence. Marvin’s Magic Made Easy range, suitable for children aged 6-8 years, has been updated with a fresh new look and enhanced content, making it the best start for any budding magician. A delightful addition to the range is Marvin’s Treasured Magic Tricks, a fun and colourful collection of quality wooden props in a beautiful keepsake wooden box. For older children, Marvin’s Magic presents the Ultimate Magic Collection: a bold and exciting collection of its very best magic tricks. Combining a rich magical heritage with cutting edge technology, these impressive sets are designed to excite every magician’s audience. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rubik’s Cube, Marvin’s Magic has worked in collaboration with Rubik to produce a new magic set based on the world-famous puzzle cube. The special set allows magicians to shrink a Rubik‘s Cube, make one apparently float or melt and even predict which colour a spectator will choose. Along with the magic inside each set, Marvin’s Magic introduces the second-generation Marvin’s Magic app. Available free from the Apple and Google app stores, the app brings video instructions to every set, plus a host of bonus tricks and augmented reality illusions. The app can also be used to gain access to the Marvin’s Magic Academy - an online archive of exclusive magic lessons featuring hundreds of tricks and tips from professional magicians, including Marvin himself. Visitors are invited to the Marvin’s Magic stand to witness its magic being performed live and close-up.

Toy World 218

2020

Halilit 01254 872454 www.halilit.co.uk Stand E90 Halilit Music has introduced new packaging design to the range, with a new look which showcases the premium musical products perfectly. Halilit’s blend of innovative design and musical quality make this global brand an ideal choice for parents, pre-schools, nurseries and specialist toddler music groups. The Halilit Baby’s 1st Birthday Band Gift Set provides an introduction to music making. The brightly coloured set contains a selection of age appropriate instruments, including an Ocean Drum, Baby Maraca, Ring My Bell, Rainboshaker and Clip Clap. Each instrument has been specially designed for young children with easy-to-grip handles and rounded edges, with jingles and visual effects to captivate budding musicians as they watch the colourful beads cascade through the transparent Rainboshaker and Ocean Drum. The rich sounds produced by each instrument in this set will help a baby recognise rhymes and songs more easily. The set comes in a sturdy gift box with a carry handle. The company is also introducing the new Hi-Lo range, a new professional standard aimed at older children and teens. Halilit also distributes Taf Toys, and for 2020 introduces the Taf Hunny Bunny Stacker. This stylish take on stacking rings includes handles for easy grip, flat profile sides for rolling and added bead features, with a cute bunny on top and a cleverly designed base to reduce the risk of tumbling over. The Koala Car Wheel Toy is designed to entertain little ones whilst travelling in a forward-facing car seat. Features include a clicking steering wheel, ratcheting gear lever, a baby-safe mirror and lots of buttons to press with car sounds, lights and melodies. New items from Edushape include the Sensory Shapes & Balls gift set - a collection of colourful textured balls and shapes designed to aid development, and Textured Pop Blocks - a collection of 10 interlinking and tactile cubes that can be used from birth. With a soft form and 3D textures, the cubes are perfect for sorting, stacking and developing skills.

Brainstorm 01200 445 113 www.brainstormltd.co.uk Stand E79 Brainstorm has extended both its product offering and Toy Fair space for the 2020 show. The Light-Up & Glow Astronaut is a nightlight that can be hung on a wall or placed on a bedside table. The astronaut stands at 150mm tall, with realistic styling which makes it a perfect addition to any spacefans bedroom. With auto-shut off feature, the astronaut also glows in the dark when the light goes out. My Very Own Fairy Jar is an interactive toy that brings a fairy’s world to life with light and sound. Kids place the enchanted forest background in the jar and decorate it with flowers and accessories including a toadstool, acorn and a fairy. They then sprinkle it with ecofairy dust and make a wish. The set includes a letter to the fairy and five mini notes and envelopes. At bedtime, the colour-changing LED turns the fairy jar into a nightlight. The set also features a secret sparkling sound compartment with a key to unlock fun fairy activities online. New to Brainstorm Toys Outdoor Adventure range are the compact Monocular and Monocular Mini, perfect for little hands to hold and ideal for exploring. The new DeskTop Microscope has up to 450x magnification with three prepared slides, blank slides, magnifier, Petri dish and more. My First Telescope is great for budding astronomers and nature-lovers with 42mm diameter objective lens and 20x to 40x magnification. It can be handheld or used with the table-top tripod. StikBot Megabots is the latest incarnation of the innovative social sharing toy. Three Megabot sets will be showcased at Olympia: Avalanche, Knockout and Turbo. Each set includes an original StikBot figure in colourways exclusive to that pack. Megabots come with accessories that can be used across the range, and the Megabots themselves have moving parts to transform the character in up to four different ways. The huge StikBot character will be making regular appearances on Tuesday and Wednesday of Toy Fair. Eugy was introduced by Brainstorm in 2019 and has been a success in the toy, craft and gift markets. 2020 sees Brainstorm add more eco-friendly animal characters, as well as an investment in unique POS for bricks and mortar retailers. The 100% recyclable craft toy allows children to create a collection of creatures and animals. New for 2020 is a Sloth, Humpback Whale, Mermaid, Tricera, Turtle, Tiger and Zebra. Brainstorm will continue to grow the range as the year progresses. The Original Glowstars Company brand will launch five new lines for 2020. This includes an assorted three pack of Glow-in-the-dark Colour Pens and Glow Stars and Mermaids. New to the range are three Glow-in-the-Dark Dino Skeletons, which kids assemble to create either a T-Rex, Triceratops or Stegosaurus. Each skeleton stands up to 115mm tall and glows brightly in the dark.

Toy World 220

2020

Posh 01268 567317 www.

Posh Paws Paws

01268 567317 www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk poshpawsinternational.co.uk Stand D90

Posh Paws comes to Toy Fair with a wealth of new brands for retailers to explore including Minions, Trolls and the Sunny Bunnies, which are new for this year. 2020 marks 10 years since the Minions first graced screens, and now they are back in Minions 2 – The Rise of Gru. The film picks up where Minions left off, and follows Gru as he rises through the ranks of villainy with his faithful followers. In line with the film, Posh Paws has created cute, soft and cuddly renditions of the three main Minion characters; Kevin and Bob, plus new character Otto. Also back are the Trolls, in time for the spring release of Trolls 2: World Tour. In the movie, Poppy and Branch discover the six different troll tribes scattered across six different lands, as they attempt to unite the trolls and save diverse melodies from becoming extinct. To celebrate the film’s release, Posh Paws is launching a collection of detailed, soft and cuddly plush toys including Poppy, Tiny Diamond, Branch and Cooper in a variety of sizes and price points. Another new collection for retailers to consider is the YouTube and TV sensation, Sunny Bunnies. These bright characters spread fun and laughter wherever they go. Posh Paws’ collection of soft and fluffy toys includes a variety of different sizes and features; small slammers emit an infectious laugh when thrown, the medium sized toys giggle and wiggle, and the large bunnies giggle and hop. The collection includes all five fluffy Sunny Bunnies - Turbo, Big Boo, Shiny, Iris and Hopper. Making its debut at Toy Fair is Ragtales. The Ragtales collection offers a variety of toys from baby ranges to ragdolls and teddy bears to wooden toys, all centered on friendly and cute animal characters who love to tell stories. For more information on these ranges, as well as collections from Love Hearts, BBC Earth and Pirata & Capitano, please visit the stand or call to book a tour.

Toy World 222

toys â&#x20AC;¢ jouets

spielwaren

BY BRU DE

EU ER

R DE

just like the real thing

MAN

The Sales Partnership Distributors Ltd Chiltern House, 45 Station Road Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1AT Tel.: + 44 1491 412415 Fax: + 44 1491 412915 Contact Name: James Triptree sales@thesalespartnership.com

www.bruder.de

2020

Jumbo Games 01707 289 289 www.jumbo.eu Stand E46 In Q4 last year, Jumbo invested in its largest digital marketing campaigns to date. Alongside increasing brand awareness and the loyalty of fans to its Falcon de luxe puzzle range, Jumbo set out to encourage existing puzzlers and new audiences to try Wasgij, thereby ensuring continued growth for the brand. Having seen the growth and increase in awareness that both the digital marketing campaigns delivered during the festive period, Jumbo is continuing to invest heavily in its Falcon de luxe and Wasgij brands, with over 25 new releases for this spring/summer. Available now are 10 new Falcon puzzles that continue to focus on the quintessentially British illustrations that the brand is renowned for. New titles include The Toy Shop, Another Day on the Farm, Owls in the Woods, The Water Gardens and The Viaduct, all in 1,000-piece formats. In April, Jumbo will be releasing a further 10 new puzzles, making sure that retailers have fresh new selections quarterly and that consumers are offered plenty of choice when looking for their next puzzle. New releases on show will include Looking Across the River in a 500-piece format, The Quilt Shop, The Florist, The Car Show and Country House Retreat, all in the most popular 1,000-piece puzzle formats. New for Jumbo’s leading puzzle brand, Wasgij, are five new releases. The Original 33 Calm on the Canal!, Destiny Highway Hold Up! and Mystery 18 Grabbing a Quick Bite! join Original 4 A Day to Remember! and Mystery 4 Live Entertainment! in retro style packaging. In April, puzzlers will be able to get their hands on the new Original 34 A Piece of the Parade! as well as Retro Destiny 4 The Wasgij Games!, which is based on the upcoming Olympic Games. Joining Jumbo’s popular Jan van Haasteren puzzle portfolio, the leading brand in The Netherlands with a fast-growing fanbase in the UK, are two new 1,000-piece puzzles; Cruise Ship and The Art Market. Jan’s distinctive style and collectability continue to appeal to UK fans and offers something different to the market. There will be a further seven new Jan van Haasteren puzzles released throughout 2020. Jumbo’s pre-school Moon & Me puzzle offering has proven popular with parents and children. With its 4 Shaped Puzzles, Shaped Floor Puzzle and 4-in-1 Puzzle Pack, Jumbo has a format and price-point that will appeal to everyone. Sustainability continues to weigh heavily on consumer buying habits, so Jumbo’s range of pre-school games made from 100% recycled materials is available to fulfill ongoing demand for eco-friendly lines. The range of four games - Catch the Mouse, Colour Chameleon, Peek-A-Boo and Honey Yummy – is ideal for retailers starting their own eco section in-store and online. Visitors to London Toy Fair are invited to visit the Jumbo stand for a look at the full range and enjoy a refreshing hot drink. To book an appointment and walkaround, readers are advised to speak to their Jumbo sales rep.

Click Distribution (UK) Ltd 0330 123 2559 www.clickdistribution.co.uk Stand G120 Click Distribution will be showing its ranges for the coming year, including the company’s strong portfolio of licensed toys and collectibles for 2020, which features the launch of The Official Euro 2020 Adrenalyn XL Trading Card Game and Sticker Collection and a range of Minecraft products. Panini will be supporting the Euro 2020 Adrenalyn XL Trading Card Game launch with a huge marketing campaign, followed shortly after by the launch of the Euro 2020 Sticker Collection. Panini will also introduce a strong portfolio of entertainment collections, including Harry Potter, L.O.L., Fortnite and more, all of which will include additional SKUs especially designed and produced for the toy trade. Following on from the huge success of this season’s collections, the company will also be unveiling plans for the exclusive Premier League 2020/21 Adrenalyn XL Trading Card Collection and Panini’s Football 2021 – the only Official Premier League Sticker Collection for the new 2020/21 season. On the toy side, Click Distribution’s exclusive partner Phatmojo is offering a portfolio of products for 2020. Together, the two companies have strong licences to offer in the gaming genre including: Fortnite, Baldi’s Basics, TABS, Borderlands 3, Showdown Bandit and the ever popular FGTeeV, as well as the new series of Bendy and The Dark Revival. In addition to a great gaming portfolio, Click is introducing a range of toy and collectible products for Friends, IT and Minecraft, plus more. Email click@clickdistributionuk.com to book an appointment.

Toy World 224

The Biggest Names for Little Helpers

See us at:

Hong Kong Toys and Game Fair: 6-9 Jan 2020. HKCEC , Booth No. 1A-F32. London Toy Fair: 21-23 Jan 2020. Olympia, London Stand No. E30. Nuremberg International Toy: Fair 29 Jan-2 Feb 2020. Spielwarenmesse Hall 12, Stand C-04. UK Spring Fair: 2-6 Feb. NEC Birmingham Stand 5L29. New York Toy Fair: 22-25 Feb 2020. Jacob K. Javits Center, Level 1 Exhibit Hall â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 6269.

Real life fun & play Casdon Ltd., Cornford Road, Blackpool, Lancs FY4 4QW Tel: +44 (0)1253 766411 Fax: +44 (0)1253 691486 Email: toys@casdon.co.uk www.casdon.com

Visit our new website:

www.casdon.com

2020

Tobar 01603 397105 www.tobar.co.uk Stand F50 Tobar is heading to Toy Fair with a strong focus on pocket money toys. The company’s new Squiggle Bandz range offers multi coloured bands which can be worn as bracelets or knotted together. When they aren’t stretched out, each forms a squiggly animal shape. Available in an assorted CDU, and in neon, glitter and glow in the dark, Squiggle Bandz should prove popular on the playground. Rainbow is a similarly priced pocket money line featuring rainbow pens, rings, hairclips, snap bands and putty, all in eye-catching packaging. Embryonics is a collectible new fusion of alien and slime. There are six coloured eggs to collect, each containing one of six aliens in three different colours - 18 permutations in all. The packaging has a ‘heat reveal’ sticker on the front, and each alien has its own story for kids to enjoy. The Embryonics family will grow throughout the year. The Tobar stand will be alive with all manner of creatures this year. Hot on the hooves of Pets Alive Boppi the Booty Shakin’ Llama comes Fifi the Flossing Sloth, also from Zuru’s Pets Alive range. Boppi will be back for 2020 with a new Rainbow coloured coat and will be joined by new Robo Alive Raptors in red or green. Atmosfear, the best-selling nineties game, is back. Updated and fully interactive, with the famous Gatekeeper appearing more lifelike than ever, the game provides fast and frightening fun. The new version is linked to an app, and can be played on the TV, tablet or mobile. The Gatekeeper will be making an appearance on the Tobar stand at Toy Fair. Also joining the portfolio are new traditional push puppets, squeaky cars, a pullback & go unicorn and dragon, squeaky roly-polys, noisy farm animals, puzzle blocks and a rainmaker. Pre-school and nursery lines will be available in primary colours and with a Scandi-style design that has both eye and play appeal. The award-winning Animigos animated plush range now covers a range of domestic animals and last year moved into wildlife with the World of Nature range. This year, Tobar is adding a limited-edition Magical Rainbow Bunny which will be available in time for Easter. Other additions include a cat, sheepdog, lion, giraffe and lamb. For 2020, Zuru is also introducing Cuddles the So Soft Sloth, which it says will lead the way in soft animatronic pets. Cuddles features over 100 lifelike sounds and movements, while the patented Air-Mazing technology allows smooth flowing movement; something which is bound to create a real emotional bond with the toy’s owner. Model car collectors and motor enthusiasts will be delighted with the 2020 range from Maisto and Bburago. A classic Ford Capri 2.8 Injection will appeal to petrol heads young and old, whilst the new Radio Control X Ranger offers a strong gifting option, retailing at under £15. Celebrating 110 years of the Bugatti, the Bugatti Chiron Sport special edition celebrates the famous Bugatti blend of sophistication and sportiness. Further celebrating Italian motor vehicle design, the iconic Vespa is recreated in model form with the Vespa Primavera 150 available in red, white or blue.

Funko 020 3376 3223 www.funko.com Stand E130 2020 is set to be another successful year for Funko across EMEA, as the company looks to extend its well-known Pop! category as well as expand subbrands like Loungefly and launch new IPs. Funko’s ever-expanding choice of Pop! includes super-sized variants, which join the introduction of chrome, clear, metallic, flocked and even glitter options. Paka Paka will be making its debut at the Toy Fair, which pays homage to Japanese gashapon culture. Gashapon toys are small figures available through coin operated arcade machines in Japan and more recently, Korea. Paka Paka is inspired by this growing trend. Launching in January 2020, in innovative dispensers, Paka Paka will initially have three product lines – Soda Kats, Kawaii Village and Munchies. The machines will showcase a host of new and captivating digital elements, created by Funko’s in-house animation team. Customers will be able to choose which line to collect but will not know which character they will get. Whilst Pop! remains as Funko’s most well-known range, 2020 will see increased focus and attention given to other sub-brands in the Funko portfolio. This includes softlines such as Loungefly and the company’s growing apparel line including Pop! and Tees, Funko Home & Gift and the newest category extension, Funko Games, which debuted with the Funkoverse light strategy game during the run-up to Christmas 2019. London Toy Fair will be showcasing new and hotly anticipated Funkoverse boardgame licences, which will come as a delight to all gaming fanatics who have enjoyed the previous iterations this Christmas, as well as the introduction of new unannounced signature games. Funko acquired board game creators Forrest-Pruzan Creative in early 2019, to form Funko Games. The company specialised in game invention, game design and playtesting, all of which they will continue to action under the Funko Games banner. New Loungefly items will be introduced at the show, including must-have accessories from Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Mulan and Pixar. Attendees will get a sneak peek of several of the upcoming exclusive Pop!, complemented by the premium tee with its head-turning Funko stylised artwork. Funko Home & Gift is dialling up its collection by marking the 70th Anniversary of Cinderella with a nod to the classic Disney princess. Similarly, Mickey Mouse is getting a revamp with a Mickey Rainbow range and there are Rick and Morty must-haves on the horizon to complement the new season.

Toy World 226

New Ranges Exclusive Distribution Come and see us on stand B40

Premium Quality

A.B.Gee of Ripley Ltd, Asher Lane Business Park, Asher Lane Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3SW Tel: 01773 570444 Email: sales@abgee.co.uk www.abgee.co.uk

2020

Smart Toys and Games 01903 885669 www.smartgames.eu Stand F25 Jumping onto the game scene for 2020 is Froggit, Smart Toys and Games’ hero title at this year’s show. Suitable for ages six and over, this new multi-level family game is fun for the whole family. The aim of the game is to guide the frogs across the pond while blocking other players from doing the same. The ﬁrst player to get his or her entire frog family to the other side, without being scared by the fish, wins the game. Flexible thinking, clever planning and the ability to annoy opponents make this an engaging game for two to six players. Shooting Stars encourages players to discover the magic of logic. The challenge is stacking the blocks to recreate the image shown in the challenge, while watching out for shooting stars. The colour of the stars changes when the blocks are turned. Shooting Stars is a unique magical puzzle game, with 80 challenges to enjoy, from easy to expert. Zigzag Puzzler is a 3D puzzle game with two playing modes. Players can build a pyramid on the blue side of the gameboard or a zigzag on the white side. With a transparent lid for easy storage, any of the 80 challenges (40 challenges per side) can be solved on the go. The best-selling IQ range is expanding once again with the launch of IQ-Arrows, offering players a whole new direction in puzzle games. Players see if they can place all the puzzle pieces on the gameboard and point the arrows as indicated in their challenge. However, when a puzzle piece is rotated, the direction of the arrows will change. IQ Arrows features 120 challenges, from easy to expert, to enjoy while on the move. Toy Fair 2020 will also see the launch of new lines from award-winning magnetic construction brand, SmartMax. The best-selling My First collection welcomes My First Animals. With four new animals to collect, including a Bear, Elephant, Seal and Horse, the toys offer little ones from one year and up a creative approach to understanding the basics of magnetism. The extra-large animals are soft to touch, easy to grab, and connect using the signature magnetic bars. Like all SmartMax products, all parts are 100% compatible with all other sets, so kids can mix & match animals to create weird and wonderful combinations.

Cheatwell Games 07770 651670 www.cheatwell.com Stand E20 Toy Fair will see Cheatwell launch new games, puzzles, toys and gifts for the year ahead. Top-selling board game Tension has expanded with the launch of three new Tension Extensions. Each stand-alone game focuses on a single category; Music, featuring 10 Queen Hits; Movies with categories such as Films Featuring Dogs; and Foodies with titles like 10 Pizza Toppings and 10 Male Celebrity Chefs featured. Crown The Unicorn is a search and find game for children aged four and above, which is easy to set up and simple to play. It follows the story of the lion and the unicorn who fought for a crown; won by the unicorn, who was chased by the lion into a forest, where the crown was lost. Players aim to return the crown and avoid the angry lion. With the Bubbles game, players throw the dice and match the colours to the cards. Kids need to spot the correct combination and bag the bubbles. This fast-moving matchand-grab game is the perfect way for kids to improve their observation skills. Plop Trumps continues to be a top-seller for Cheatwell and this year it is joined by two new card games - Snot and Puke. With Snot, players lay their cards in order, from Ah-choo to Tissue. They can change direction, or flick a bogey and miss a turn, but if they can’t go, they have to pick from the pack. The winner is whoever plays their last card first. Puke is the game in which players fill up on food by flipping over one food card at a time – but if they turn over a Puke card, they will lose their lunch. The first player to fill their boots, but not their bucket, wins. Card games are perennial performers for Cheatwell and the range is extended with two new family titles: Go Ape! which sees players make a monkey of themselves to win cards and collect a set, and Go Oink! where players try to collect matching animal cards by making animal noises. The game lets kids explore animal sounds and learn how to create matching sets. The Top Trivia cards have a thousand category questions in each pack. 2020 sees the launch of a brand-new series covering four decades - from the Swinging Sixties to the Nifty Nineties; each deck is a challenging quiz pack that offers a trip down memory lane. Engenius Contraptions is a flat-packed marble run that is a puzzle to assemble but a delight to see in action. Powered by an electric motor, the marbles rise to the top before descending down the spiral and then the zig-zag track. Three new designs will be launched at Toy Fair.

Toy World 228

2020

Hasbro 0208 569 1234 www.hasbro.co.uk Gallery Suites In 2020, Hasbro will be showcasing its latest selection of products across its portfolio of brands, including Nerf and Hasbro Gaming. Monopoly Speed, the latest twist to the iconic game, allows players to finish a full game of Monopoly in under 10 minutes. Players can satisfy their need for speed with updated gameplay features that keep the game short and sweet. All players roll and buy at once so there’s no waiting for turns. Everyone races against the timer to buy, trade, and sell properties faster than ever, and with two Go spaces, players can collect money in no time flat. Hasbro’s new Nerf Ultra blasters feature advanced design and performance to deliver impressive distance, accuracy and speed. Ground-breaking Nerf Ultra darts are the farthest flying Nerf darts ever to be created; featuring lightweight foam material, these darts also possess an innovative flight tip and Aerofin Technology. The Nerf Ultra One motorised blaster has a high-capacity 25-dart dart drum and comes with 25 Nerf Ultra darts. Nerf fans can fire more than two-dozen darts with the high-performance advantages of the Nerf Ultra blaster, sending darts flying up to 120 feet (36 meters) through the air. There's also on-board dart storage for quick reloading. Fortnite fans can immerse themselves into real-life Fortnite battles with the Nerf Fortnite SMG-E motorised dart blaster. The SMG-E blaster captures the look of the blaster that appears in the popular video game, from its colour scheme to the spikes and iron sight. Users can take on opponents and try to avoid the Storm as they unleash one dart at a time with motorised, clip-fed blasting. New for 2020, Hasbro will be launching the Marvel Spider-Man and Marvel Avengers Bend and Flex Figure Assortments. These stylised superhero action figures have bendable arms and legs that can flex and hold in place for the picture-perfect pose. Each bendable figure also includes an accessory, which helps kids enhance the pose as they play out their favourite Marvel scenes.

Plum Products 01522 737 126 www.plumplay.co.uk Stand F20 2020 will see Plum expand vastly across new toy categories, with two newly signed distribution deals and licensing making their debut on the stand at London Toy Fair. Leading brand Happy Hop Inflatables, Injusa ride-ons and the Universal Licence have all recently become part of the ever-growing family-run brand. Plum welcomes the Universal licence by developing an array of Minions and Trolls themed toys, ahead of the two sequels that will be released in cinemas this year. New additions across the trampoline and metal outdoor toy categories will include a trampoline innovation which uses interactive sounds as children bounce - voiced by favourite characters from the Universal productions. Exclusive UK and Ireland distribution with Happy Hop inflatables gives Plum the opportunity to grow in this sector, with an extensive range of unique and playful designs. From small traditional-styled bouncers to large inflatable obstacle courses, there is something to suit every customer. Injusa ride ons is a new expansion to Plum’s wheels category, offering a new concept in traditional ride ons. Operating for over 70 years, the Spanish family-run business own licences for the likes of Mercedes and Porsche, with child-sized, battery-operated vehicles of the popular car models. Plum will also offer its foot-tofloor ride ons and up to 24v quad bikes in its extensive range. Globber distribution has been part of the Plum family in the UK for over three years, bringing fresh new ways to scoot year on year. 2020 will see pastel colour palettes, wooden scooter decks and the children’s E-motion electric scooter. For trade enquiries or to book an appointment contact Rosie Gissing by email r.gissing@plumproducts.com or telephone 01522 737 126.

Toy World 230

2020

The Elf on the Shelf 0800 009 6177 www.elfontheshelf.co.uk Stand Gallery 155 The Elf on the Shelf and Elf Pets is back for 2020, with new additions to the North Pole product range. Since launching 15 years ago, more than 13m of The Elf on the Shelf Scout Elves have been adopted. Each elf includes a keepsake box and a children’s storybook. The company is continuing to expand and grow worldwide by bringing the North Pole and its characters to life for children everywhere through games, activities, accessories, apparel and animated specials as well as partnerships with brands like Kellogg's. 2019 was a successful year for the brand, with the release of the newly re-designed The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition box set which is two thirds the size of the original but holds the same contents. With the ever-growing popularity of advent calendars, The Elf on the Shelf is bringing its second calendar for 2020 to market with the new North Pole Advent Train, which includes 24 days of holiday surprises from the Scout Elf. Surprises in this train-shaped Advent calendar include mini figures and themed playable accessories. The set includes a decorative cardboard train engine with space for Scout Elf conductor and 24 North Pole surprises in four themed train cars: Sweet Shop, Snow Much Fun, Puppy Love and ‘Tis the Season. Fashion line Claus Couture Collection has a number of new fashions for 2020 including the North Pole Goal & Gear. Featuring the official uniform of the North Pole Soccer League, the set includes shirt, shorts, socks/shoes and soccer field backdrop. Kids can create instant scenes for their Scout Elf with the Insta-Moment Pop-Ups, by simply opening up the pack and watching a unique backdrop come to life. The packs are easy to fold and store. Merry Minis will be perfect stocking fillers for Christmas 2020. The new character miniatures come in blind bags for a surprise factor and to encourage collectability. The brand is also planning to release its fourth animated special in the run-up-to Christmas 2020, which will star all of the North Pole’s cast of characters. Other new products the brand will be showcasing at Toy Fair include the Soaring Snowflake Set: an elf-sized inflatable sled and scarf; a Sugar Plum Party Dress for the Scout Elf and The Elf on the Shelf’s Night Before Christmas: a treasured classic story, this time told from a Scout Elf’s perspective. The Elf on the Shelf will be supporting its presence at Toy Fair with a marketing campaign that includes social media support and dedicated PR as well as appearances from the official Elf on the Shelf mascot.

EasyRead Time Teacher 01684 566832 www.easyreadtimeteacher.com Stand GH05 EasyRead Time Teacher considers itself the go-to brand for helping children age 4+ learn to tell the time. The company’s colourful children’s watches and clocks are traditional timepieces with a modern twist. From cool wrist watches to fun alarm clocks and wall clocks, EasyRead Time Teacher offers a range of eye-catching designs, making sure there’s something to suit every child. All EasyRead Time Teacher products come with a unique time-teaching method that makes learning to tell the time quick, easy and - most importantly - enjoyable. London Toy Fair 2020 sees the launch of new, colourful watch designs, including printed camo strap watches in blue, pink and green. EasyRead Time Teacher will also be presenting its latest award-winning Tell the Time Card Games, which offer an ideal way to learn and practise telling the time, whilst also having fun.

Toy World 232

BIG IDEAS gardens

2020

Bruder 01491-412415 www.bruder.de Stand E21 Bruder offers a wide array of fire service vehicles and is expanding the range for spring 2020 with the new bworld fire station, featuring an incident control centre with models of state-of-the-art equipment used by fire fighters on the ground floor and a break room on the first floor, complete with a fireman figurine. Accompanying the fire station, and completing the set, is Bruder’s Land Rover Defender pick-up - a versatile service vehicle. The new bworld police range comprises a horse and policeman, designed to represent everyday police on patrol. Also new to the range is the bworld Scrambler Ducati Police Motorbike and policeman. The Scrambler Ducati motorbike features a modern look, with cutting-edge protective equipment. The Land Rover Defender off-road police vehicle and the bworld police station make the perfect additions for the ultimate pretend play experience. The versatile combination of the Land Rover Defender police vehicle and horse box, including a mounted police officer figure, is also launching in spring this year. The timeless Land Rover design makes the police version of the Bruder Defender Station Wagon an impressive and versatile emergency service vehicle to complete the set. In addition to the opening rear door and the side doors, the bonnet can open to show off the detailed engine block. The rear seat and the drawbar coupling can also be removed. The front axle is steerable and consequently enables easy control of the vehicle. The police version of the Land Rover model features the light and sound module with four functional buttons. The horse can be loaded into the functional trailer using its folding ramp, and the door on the side makes for a further access option. Bruder’s new road cleaning vehicle, the MAN TGS Street Sweeper, has a durable design depicting powerful engines with exceptional detail. The road sweeper body features two rotating and adjustable cleaning brushes that can also be adjusted in height. A long brush that is driven when the vehicle is in motion has been fitted under the vehicle to clean surfaces. The rear boasts a flexible hose including a suction pipe. The waste container can simply be tilted, and the rear door opens to empty the unit. The road cleaning vehicle can optionally be enhanced by a light and sound module. Children can combine this product with the bworld municipal worker from the comprehensive bworld product range.

Playmobil 01268 548111 www.playmobil.co.uk Stand Gallery 540 Playmobil will use Toy Fair to unveil more than 30 new themes and range extensions, with ranges available from pre-school to pre-teen. This year, Playmobil will go Back to the Future, as the brand takes on an iconic new licence. Fans of the cult franchise can enjoy a dose of nostalgia thanks to this exclusive and highly detailed range. The Back to the Future DeLorean features authentic gull wing doors, folding wheels, an illuminated flux capacitor and plutonium, while kids can also get their hands on the Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown figures. This year will see the launch of a new feature film based on the much-loved characters from the animated franchise Scooby-Doo. Tapping into the large fanbase for this property, Playmobil versions of the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine and Mystery Mansion, along with several Adventure scenes and all the major characters, will hit shops in spring and autumn. A fresh concept for the brand, the EverDreamerz will provide a new way for young adventurers to immerse themselves in creative storytelling. The first series follows five friends – Rosalee, Viola, Starleen, Clare and Edwina – as they venture into the colourful Candy Land dream world. Each box comes with collectible cards, a bracelet, beads, charms and accessories, making unboxing part of the play experience. The series is accompanied by 12 additional supporting characters in surprise boxes, each with five individual accessories. Accompanying a new animated series, the Playmobil Novelmore playsets will allow kids to re-enact their favourite scenes and stage new battles. After decades of peace and harmony in the Kingdom of Noveldor, the battle between the Knights of Novelmore and the Burnham Raiders for the magical Invincibus armour has started once again. The range features castles, working cannons and catapults, traps, armour and much more. A second series will follow later in the year, with further weaponry and transport to add to the experience. The new Playmobil Camping theme gives kids a taste of the great outdoors from the comfort of their own home. Available within the range is the Large Campground with functioning shower and food kiosk, as well as the Family Camper with removable roof. Expected to be a hit this spring, the Camping range also includes plenty of accessories and family-friendly activities. Playmobil will also be releasing new products across themes including 1.2.3, Pirates, Fairies, Equestrian, Emergency Vehicles, Fire and Vet. Retailers are also advised to keep an eye out for information on a new Porsche Police Car and a licensed tie-in with TV’s Heidi.

Toy World 234

G N I COMON! SO THE NEW PADDINGTON TV TOY COLLECTION!

SEE OUR 2020 COLLECTION AT: TOY FAIR, E120, NUREMBERG TOY FAIR, HALL 1, STAND E22 & SPRING FAIR, HALL 5, STAND H10-J11

2020

Magformers 01270 446 250 www.magformers.co.uk Stand Gallery 530 Magformers, a leading magnetic construction company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with a UK subsidiary based in Cheshire, is launching Stick-O at this year’s London Toy Fair. The new pre-school magnetic construction range features chunky magnetic sticks, balls and other solid ‘sticky’ shapes in basic and special themed sets. The easy-to-hold pieces encourage younger children, especially toddlers and pre-schoolers, to develop their motor skills through fun construction play. Stick-O has been designed and manufactured to the same stringent safety standards as Magformers; the magnets are safely sealed in every piece. Just like Magformers, the magnets rotate so opposite poles always connect, making model-building quick and easy for little hands. Sets are priced from just £14.99 RRP, and up to nine different SKUs will be available. The Stick-O Basic sets contain 10, 20 or 30 pieces in up to nine different ‘classic’ magnetic Stick-O shapes, so kids can make multiple guided models or get creative with their own designs. The Stick-O Cooking Set contains giant magnetic pieces in a baking and cooking theme. With a variety of shapes to choose from, children can make food like ice-creams and drinks, using cooking utensils from a frying pan to a fork. There’s even a ‘sticky’ eggshell and a doughnut. The Stick-O Forest Friends Set contains 16 magnetic pieces in a wildlife theme. The 10 different shapes let children make creatures like a caterpillar, bird, rabbit and flower. Smiley faces and other features bring the models to life and encourage character play. The vehicle-themed Stick-O City Set contains 16 pieces – a combination of five different magnetic shapes, plus add-on wings, accessories and wheels – so kids can make cars and planes, complete with pull-back-and-go propulsion. The company will also showcase construction, fishing and roleplay themed sets.

Eduk8 Worldwide 01661 831 080 www.eduk8worldwide.com Stand F1 Eduk8 Worldwide is bringing its new and exclusive Mark Makers range to Toy Fair 2020. The Mark Makers early writing programme has been created to enable children as young as five months to begin developing their basic writing skills, allowing an easier transition into more advanced school-taught writing. Four simple marks make up different numbers, shapes and a variety of letters within the alphabet. Four characters display each specific mark through their design, shape and colour; Lionel is a bright red soldier mark, Archie is a multi-coloured curved rainbow mark, Ziggy is a green monster made of zig- zags and Swirlo is a magic purple mark who loves circles. Within the range are four story books that follow the journey of each character through worlds such as Letter Land and Shape City. An activity book allows the child to transform their mark into letters from the alphabet, as well as marking the shape of each character in the range. Stickers based upon each specific character also accompany the line. Mark Makers’ author, Rachel Fay, will be in attendance during the fair. A former schoolteacher, Rachel has unrivalled knowledge on the difficulties a significant amount of children face when developing their writing skills. Eduk8 highly recommends visiting its stand to meet her, to gain an authentic view of The Mark Makers programme. Ziggy the bright green monster will be patrolling the show floor. In addition to the Mark Makers range, Eduk8 will be showcasing its new innovative Calming Clouds. Created by a former SEN teacher, the Clouds are designed to provide a calming environment and are the only product of their kind on the market. The company has designed two variations of the Cloud that range in size and features. Both have a lighting system, with the larger of the two boasting rain drop crystal visuals and a built-in music system. New designs for Eduk8’s successful chalk board range, which was launched earlier this year, will also be on display.

Toy World 236

COME SEE US AT LONDON TOY FAIR - STAND G120! t: +44 (0)330 123 2559 | e: click@clickdistributionuk.com | w: clickdistribution.co.uk

2020

Orange Tree Toys 01242 244 500 www.orangetreetoys.com Stand E45 2020 marks 20 years of Orange Tree Toys. To help support the company’s anniversary celebrations this year, a raft of new products is set for release. Orange Tree is returning to the London Toy Fair after a few years away, so will be using the event as a launch platform for its new concepts and products. The company will also be showing at Spring Fair, Nuremberg and the New York Toy Fair over the following weeks. From its early days with Peter Rabbit, Orange Tree’s licensed arm has grown steadily and continues to go from strength to strength. Peter has always been a perfect fit for the company; the characters lend themselves perfectly to wooden toys, and as an evergreen nursery licence the property sits well with Orange Tree’s traditional approach and its target consumer base. Peter Rabbit has provided a strong foundation for the company to build its licensed business upon. Orange Tree has since added Paddington Bear and Disney, while Moon and Me joined the portfolio more recently. 2020 will see these ranges expand, starting with the introduction of a collection of Toy Story Push Along characters and Skittles. Ideal for those with traditional tastes, a new Classic Pooh concept will feature some of the company’s best-selling traditional toy formats. Classic Pooh is another evergreen nursery licence, so Orange Tree anticipates that the range will prove hugely popular. There will also be a second phase release for Moon and Me, including musical instruments and a new Dolls House which is set for release later in the year. Peter Rabbit will also benefit from new and refreshed formats; retailers should keep an eye out for the wooden block trolley next autumn/winter. The Orange Tree Toys own-brand range also welcomes two new concepts. Farm Animals and Sea Life both feature a collection of the company’s brightly coloured characters across some of its best-loved formats, including puzzles and push along toys. In addition, new formats have been designed to aid children’s development while they play. Animals are a favourite theme with kids, so the cute characters in the new Farm Animal range are sure to be popular across the board. The new Shark Alphabet Puzzle, from the Sea Life theme, is expected to rival Orange Tree’s Crocodile Alphabet Puzzle, which has consistently been its best-selling product since launching in 2012. The range has a new look from a packaging point of view, reflecting the evolution of Orange Tree’s packaging as the company strives to become more environmentally friendly. With a strong focus on sustainability, the company is reducing the use of plastic where possible; where it is needed, Orange Tree is ensuring it is recyclable.

10%

COME AND SEE THE DEBUT OF WALLED-IN® & TRI-HAND® AT THE TOY FAIR 2020

VA T

CLASSIC STRATEGY GAMES WITH A TACTILE EXECUTION Success or oblivion! This is the clarion call behind the Toy Fair debut of Strategia Games Ltd. As a lone inventor, founder Lee McAuley enters the industry with two smart, fun and tactile games. For an appointment at the Toy Fair contact lee@strategia-games.com or phone him on +44 (0)7939 222708 www.strategia-games.com

Toy World 238

STAND GH45

AND INTRODUCING

VISIT US AT LONDON TOY FAIR! STAND NUMBER: E130 THE LARGEST LICENSE PORTFOLIO IN THE INDUSTRY! For any queries please contact us via email at orderseu@funko.com FunkoEurope

Funko_Europe

Loungeflyeurope

FunkoEurope

2020

DKL-Beysal 01604 678 780 www.dkl.co.uk Stand E66 International toy supplier Beysal acquired DKL Marketing in October 2019. The new company, DKL-Beysal, will enter 2020 continuing the distribution and marketing of its established brands, while also introducing new TV promoted lines. Hama Beads was TV advertised last year, further encouraging creativity and imagination by highlighting Hama’s endless play possibilities. A selection of new themed boxes will be showcased at Toy Fair; new sets include the 3D Dino Gift Box, Fashion Dress Up Large Gift Box, three new Hanging Boxes including a Meerkat theme and more. Plus-Plus has been one of the fastest selling ranges for DKL-Beysal in 2019. The TV advertised Plus-Plus range doubled in size last year, and is continuing to expand for 2020. Additions include new tube themes and a selection of box sets. Breyer Model Horses is synonymous with quality equestrian models and play accessories. The Stablemates collection offers an entry point to the range of horses, sets and accessories at a competitive price. Mini Whinnies Unicorns will be unveiled during the show, alongside several other Stablemates additions. The Classic Play Horses range will continue to grow with several new products for 2020. The brand will also be expanding its traditional collectibles range and introducing two Reeves Toys - Big Dig and Big Dig and Roll. DKL-Beysal will be supporting its ranges with high-profile marketing campaigns to include in-store activities, dedicated planograms, and extensive social media and PR activity.

Alpha Group UK 01293 804 599 www.alphatoysuk.com Stand B90 Alpha Group returns to Toy Fair with an expanded portfolio featuring a host of new brands and licences ready to launch in 2020. The company’s flagship global animation property, Super Wings, will exhibit new ranges to support the extensive content programme which is airing through major UK broadcast partners. The hit pre-school property introduces Series 4 in spring, with a new SuperCharged theme that is set to introduce upgraded and new characters, storylines and toys. Series 4 includes 40 new 11-minute episodes, with two 20-minute specials. With Series 5 already in development, the animation studio is committed to long term investment in Super Wings content. Series 4 sees the introduction of two new characters, which will be added to the Transforming Vehicles range, along with SuperCharged versions of fan-favourites Jett, Astra, Dizzy and Paul. These popular 5” figures transform from plane to robot in three simple steps. With over 20 to collect, they can be purchased either as singles or in new refreshed multipacks. The brand values of teamwork, friendship and problem solving remain core to the show, and this is captured in key lines and playsets for autumn/winter. Air Base HQ is an interactive playset based on the one featured in Series 4 and is compatible with the Transform-a-Bots character range. The Super Wings 2-in-1 Police Patroller releases a police vehicle at the touch of a button, while Under Sea Willy is an action-packed submarine, complete with lights and sounds which work underwater. In addition to Super Wings, Alpha Group will also be showcasing three master toy properties at this year’s fair, including the gaming sensation Subway Surfers and pre-school favourite Chuggington. The company is also launching a refreshed product range to support the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Appointed as global master toy partner for Subway Surfers, Alpha is joining forces with Sybo and Retail Monster to launch a highly anticipated collectible toy range. Subway Surfers has generated a huge fan base since its release in 2012, and is ranked among the top five most downloaded and played games over the last five years. With over 2.6b global downloads, the range focuses on street style and pop culture themes, and further lines are in development. Alpha Group has been chosen as master toy partner for Chuggington, which is under the new ownership of Herschend Entertainment Studios. As the property launches its sixth series, long-term franchise plans include new content for both digital and linear platforms, an extensive licensing programme and location-based entertainment. Alpha Group will be supporting the property with the launch of an all-new pre-school toy line. Alpha Group is also adding to its SpongeBob SquarePants master toy licence with new products, in anticipation of the movie premiering on the 22nd May. SpongeBob is an iconic character with a devoted following and the new toy range is sure to make an impact at retail. Complementing its strong global licensed line-up, Alpha Group UK will also be showcasing its own in-house brands including new launches in its RC, Kids’ Games and pre-school vehicles segments.

Toy World 240

Visit us at London Toy Fair - Booth G101 Nuremburg - Hall 5, Stand B76

www.dolu.com.tr

All of the above also available in unisex colours

For UK sales contact Steve or Ria Richardson 07850779797 â&#x20AC;˘ sales@sjr-associates.co.uk

2020

Cartamundi 01268 511 522 www.cartamundi.com Stand H1 2020 marks Cartamundi’s 50th birthday and the company will be hosting a drinks reception to celebrate during Toy Fair. Cartamundi is committed to following Sustainability Development Goals (SDG’s) and is working with customers across all channels, including games publishing, industry and retail, to reduce single-use plastic. It is a proud long-term certificate holder of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). Cartamundi kicks off the year with a promise to make its biggest games brand Shuffle single-use plastic free by 2023. This has begun with the eradication of cello wraps from all card games and the use of recycled plastic. The Shuffle range will continue to offer gameplays from licences and 2020 will see a host of new properties from Disney, Warner Bros, Universal and Aardman, with an IPS games range from Timmy Time. The Shuffle Play & Learn range is a new range of learning games that has been approved by teachers and follows the National Curriculum Key Stages. The products use a unique text that makes the games easier to read for children with Dyslexia. Following the sell-out success of Race Home and Home Sprint Board Games, the company is introducing further new titles and licences into the range. In addition, 2020 sees the launch of the Shuffle Plus range which features two collectible 3D figurines and a card game. The Frozen II Charades games was a huge success in 2019 and Cartamundi will build on this in 2020 in partnership with Disney. The Shuffle Party Games range will continue to expand - Color Addict has rapidly grown into a must-have family card game and Cartamundi has plans to increase marketing support across all media this year. After its soft launch in 2019, family game Alpha-Zulu will launch fully to market this year. Other games from Caratmundi include Rush, a trivia game where the fastest to play their power cards wins; Silhouetters, where players are faced with a scene before they roll three dice and must call out words that link to the picture and Read all About it! - where players need to find content from the newspaper to be crowned the rapid observer. Hashtag The Card Game is launching in 2020 with a marketing plan including a tie in with Instagram. Finally, The Institute of Cardistry and Magic is a new range focusing on playing card magic and the ever-growing popularity of cardistry. The Cards in the pack are the Copag310, used by some of the best magicians in the world.

Jazwares 0203 598 0272 www.jazwares.com Stand B100 Jazwares will take a lead role in YouTuber-based toys at London Toy Fair, with a global reveal of the new toy line from CKN Toys alongside licensed lines for the popular YouTube properties Blippi, FGTeeV and Baby Shark. Inspired by the Australia-based siblings Calvin and Kaison’s YouTube channel, which has 13m subscribers and over 16m monthly UK views, Jazwares will reveal the new toy line for CKN Toys. These mohawk-rocking content creators possess a contagious enthusiasm that has inspired the Jazwares toy line, which will hit shelves in March 2020. The range is a uniquely collaborative effort between Jazwares and CKN Toys, resulting in toys made by kids, for kids. Authenticity and imagination feature heavily across the line, featuring the duo’s favourite ways to play; collectible figures, vehicles, playsets, a recognisable Smasher and more. The toys will appear in upcoming YouTube content and align with the newly announced short-form Nickelodeon series. Additionally, Jazwares will showcase the Blippi toy line, which hits shelves this month. Blippi has become one of the most popular kids’ entertainment entities with 18m+ subscribers globally and over 267m UK views in the past 12 months. The new toy line brings Blippi to life, amplifying the humour, edutainment and Blippi’s unique personality in a way that resonates with kids and parents. The toys feature collectible blind bags, figures, vehicles, playsets, plush, novelties and more. Following a strong start in the US, FGTeeV is expected to be a hit with consumers, with impressive early sales reads in the UK already. The range hit the shelves of toy specialists in November 2019, and the mass market this month. The line is based on the popular YouTube channel, which has 18m+ subscribers and 17b views to date. At the heart of the FGTeeV brand is the FV family’s infectious energy and enthusiasm; video games and original characters come to life as Duddy and the kids perform silly skits and entertain viewers with custom music videos. Retailers can also expect developments in the Pinkfong Baby Shark portfolio from WowWee. New animated plush, bath toys, electronic learning toys and more will allow children to interact with the popular children’s property in a whole new way.

Toy World 242

ALL NEW SETS. MULTIPLAYER READY. LEGO, the LEGO logo and HIDDEN SIDE are trademarks of the LEGO Group. Â©2020 The LEGO Group. Selected iOS/Android/mobile devices. Check compatibility at lego.com/devicecheck

2020

Epoch Making Toys 08435 574 062 www.sylvanianfamilies.com / www.aquabeadsart.com Stand B130 Epoch will be attending Toy Fair with flagship brand Sylvanian Families, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2020, and arts and crafts brand, Aquabeads. New for Sylvanian Families this year is the Family Trip range, designed to bring to life the brand’s core values of wholesome fun and love of nature and outdoor adventure, whilst also providing hours of imaginative play for kids. There are five new Family Trip products, including the brand-new Lakeside Lodge which launches in spring/summer, and the revamped Adventure Treehouse, which will launch in autumn/winter. Both sets come with a range of new interactive features. There are also two new Family Trip baby-themed products: the Baby Ropeway Park and the Baby Hedgehog Hideout, which complement the current Nursery range. Each of these sets comes with a baby Sylvanian character. The lower price point makes them a great introduction product to the Sylvanian Families brand. The Family Campervan is an updated version of the original campervan. Featuring a new car design, the Family Campervan comes with various furniture and leisure items that can be used to create several play options. Epoch Making Toys will also showcase its arts and craft brand Aquabeads, with a mixture of core and licensed lines. The company will be unveiling new starshaped beads, with 18 points that give an innovative fluffy texture to creations. The new Star Beads are compatible with all other Aquabeads bead types. The Star Bead Studio and Star Friends Set are the two hero products being launched which feature the new beads; both come in eye-catching star-shaped storage boxes. Each product includes the latest template designs and a flip-tray, so children can start creating immediately. Crafters can top up their collections with the Star Bead Pack, which has refill beads in eight different colours. For more experienced crafters, Aquabeads has added to its popular 3D range with a Princess Tiara Set. A wearable tiara and multiple designs are included, plus beads and a template tray. Epoch Making Toys’ stand has been designed to encompass the new Sylvanian Families Family Trip theme, immersing visitors in the toy brand’s distinctive imaginary world, with photo opportunities and the chance to meet the familiar Freya Chocolate Rabbit mascot. Aquabeads demo kits will also be available to try out the new products.

IMC Toys 01904 720908 www.imctoys.com Stand E129 IMC Toys will showcase its breadth of toys and share its plans for the upcoming year. In 2020, the company is growing existing best-selling lines and adding to its extensive catalogue of products with new launches, which this year will focus on dolls and collectibles. The company will be adding to its best-selling special feature nurturing dolls collection, Cry Babies. 2020 will see the release of new characters to the collection, within both the core and Fantasy range. Alongside this will be the launch of Cry Babies Good Night Coney - a special edition of a classic Cry Baby. Cry Babies Coney helps kids fall asleep; when they remove Coney’s dummy, they will see LED tears light up on her face whilst she makes realistic baby sounds. With her dummy back in, her face lights up and acts as a night light. Her body and pyjamas are soft and cuddly, and when children press her belly, she plays 10 minutes of lullabies. In 2019, IMC launched the Bloopies Mermaids. In 2020, IMC Toys is adding to the collection with The Shellies. The Bloopies Shellies are mermaid collectibles aimed at girls aged 3-6 years old. Shellies live in iridescent shells and when they are placed into water, they open to reveal which Shellie lives inside. Each shell has a pearl inside which can be released by completing the maze. All Shellies come with different accessories depending on their personality. There are 12 characters to collect, plus a rare and ultra-rare character. Like all other Bloopies, Shellies can blow bubbles from their mouth and squirt water. The shell can also be used as a stylish bag. IMC Toys is supporting the launch of this product with a strong TV campaign in Q1; coinciding with a digital and social campaign, paid influencer activity, retail marketing activations and giveaway collaborations. Alongside the major campaign, IMC Toys is launching a new animated series on its YouTube channel Kitoons, from January 2020. Season one will have 13 five-minute episodes which will include all the Bloopies Mermaids, Divers, Mimi and Shellies. In 2018, IMC launched the brand-new collectibles line, Cry Babies Magic Tears - miniature versions of the best-selling Cry Babies dolls. The brand has been supported by the hit animated series on YouTube, which is now into its second season. The series has had more than 870m views worldwide with 113m of those views from the UK. In January, IMC Toys is launching wave three of the collectibles, meaning fans can add 12 more characters to their ever-growing collections.

Toy World 244

2020

Kidicraft 01282 505988 www.kidicraft.com Stand H30 New product launches from Kidicraft include DC Comic Batman and Superman, Discovery, Animal Planet and Kidicraft’s own range of high quality 2D Jigsaw Puzzles. As well as great brands, artwork and products, the company has developed new, eye-catching floor display units. After the successful launch of the Harry Potter range in autumn 2019, Kidicraft has launched a DC Comic Batman and Superman range in Super 3D. Striking images and packaging are complemented by a new branded DC Comic Batman and Superman floor display unit, which is available free with an order of 48 puzzles from the range. Kidicraft will also be launching its first domestic range of high quality standard 2D jigsaw puzzles, with an assortment of 500 piece and 1000 piece puzzles. Puzzle images are from the Howard Robinson collection and are also supported by a new branded floor display unit. This display is also available free with an order of 48 puzzles. The Discovery and Animal Planet licensed ranges will also make their debut. The Discovery range includes a T-Rex, Velociraptors and Triceratops in 150pc. The Animal Planet range will initially launch in the 63 piece puzzle size, with eight new designs adding to this pocket money puzzle option. As well as 150 piece and 63 piece puzzles, there is a range of Animal Planet notebooks. Kidicraft will be using a new and improved Prime 3D lens to give even greater depth and movement to the images on its 3D puzzles. The new Prime 3D will debut on the Discovery and Animal Planet ranges from February 2020. There is also another addition to the Selfies range: Selfies Unicorn. As with all the 3D puzzles, the 48 piece Selfie puzzles come with the 3D image on the front of the retail box.

Mookie Toys 01525 722 769 www.mookie.co.uk Stand Number E131 For 2020, Mookie will continue to expand its portfolio further by introducing new lines and developing existing products. A strong marketing strategy has been established to support these ranges. Mookie Toys will be showcasing Silverlit for another year at London Toy Fair, with a focus on new and unconventional remote-control cars and robots. A new range of drift vehicles will be supported with a strong marketing plan and an active social media strategy, to push Mookie further into the RC category. Kids can drift in style with Motodrift, a stunt bike with a rotating back wheel that lets kids shift between driving and drifting. Also available is Hyper Drift, a car with specially designed tyres for impressive drifting capabilities. The RC range will be expanding further with the addition of the Revolt launching this year. The Revolt has two modes for an extended driving experience and transforms into a crawler at the flick of a switch. The games and puzzle category is a core focus for Mookie this year. Break the Board is a new launch for Yulu and Mookie, continuing Mookie’s entry into the interactive games market. Inspired by the key moment in karate – breaking the board - this game is all about speed and action. Yulu games will benefit from a heavy media presence in 2020 including more than 1,000 TVRs. Other games Mookie will be launching in 2020 include Popcorn Poppin’, the ‘hot potato’ game with a movie twist, Diamond Heist, a teamwork game that requires players and their fellow spies to retrieve the diamond before getting caught, and Who Dunnit?, the classic deduction game with a twist. Players must use deductive reasoning to determine the who, what and where of a crime before their opponent does. A brand-new girls’ line is launching in 2020, which Mookie states is the most innovative it’s seen in years. IP magic that reflects in real gameplay will draw crowds to the stand at Toy Fair, where this line will be revealed. Mookie will be adding Zing Sports to its portfolio this year, as it continues to establish itself as a year-round company. Hyper Strike is an outdoor bow and arrow set with ultra-durable power cords that can send arrows flying up to 250 feet. Mookie also has major innovation taking place across its outdoor lines. Building on the success that TP Toys saw in 2019, new products will be launching this year. For 2020, TP Toys has made several improvements to its best-selling Mud Kitchen range, offering an even better line-up for consumers to enjoy. Trampolines continue to be a large focus for TP this year; a ground-breaking new trampoline will join the award winning 2-level Infinity Leap from TP’s premium trampoline portfolio. 2020 is a big year for Mookie’s ride-on category, with investments being made towards its popular Bug family. The new growable Scuttlebug XL will be launching this year and will be supported by a substantial marketing and PR campaign. Mookie will also be distributing Kess products in the UK this year. The key lines demonstrate true innovation, offering new and exciting twists on traditional play patterns.

Toy World 246

2020

Little Concepts 07870132595 www.littleconcepts.co.uk Stand G65 Launched in 2016, Little Concepts now represents five brands in the UK & Eire: PlanToys, Moluk, Makii, Makedo and Scribble Down. 2019 has seen continued growth for the company; over 50 new products will launch in early 2020 across all brands and will join products such as Moluk’s Oibo grasping toy and PlanToys Wonky Fruit and Vegetables on display at the show. Sustainable wooden toy manufacturer PlanToys has over 25 new lines launching. Stand-out products include a new roleplay set to join the bestselling Doctors Set and Dentist Set. The Detective Set has everything a little detective needs, such as an eyeglass, walkie-talkie, camera, a red lens, a periscope and a bag. The PlanToys pocket-money range has also expanded to include new collectible animal figures. Produced from the innovative PlanWood material, the new figures are perfect for little hands and cover four themes; Farm, Wild Animals, Sea Life and Dinosaurs, available individually or as part of a four pack. Driven by a passion for great design, Swiss brand Moluk strives to create innovative, gender-neutral products that entertain kids and invite real interaction. The brand has launched three new sets for 2020. The popular Pluï Rain Cloud is complemented by the Sunny Brush in the iconic Pluï Weather gift set. Together, they add poetry and magic to bath time while providing the perfect props to explain the cycle of water to little ones. The Building Genius set contains nine pieces, combining Hix, Mox & Oibo. Each of these three toys offers a broad spectrum of sensory stimulation and play possibilities from birth and onward and together take play to the next level as a universal building and construction game. The set grows with the child, with new uses and challenges at each stage of development. The third Moluk set features Hix and will be available in a stylish new Nordic edition of black, white, ice blue and red. Makedo is a cardboard construction system developed by designer Paul Justin in Melbourne. The range features the Toolkit 030 and the group play focused Toolset 360. Six add-on packs featuring extra parts and tools are also available. Newly re-designed retail packs will be launching in 2020, including new tools and parts. Codenamed Makedo 3.0, the Makedo tools have been completely redesigned into a coherent system for cardboard construction, introducing safe stainless-steel blades for more advanced making in the seven plus age bracket. The range offers age-specific kits suited to individuals, families/groups and classrooms. Each is a base unit which can be expanded upon to meet the specific needs of the makers.

Redlands Distribution 07772 482 255 www.redlandsdistribution.com Stand GH01 Following a period of sustained growth, and the successful FAO Schwarz launches during 2019, Redlands Distribution is looking forward to 2020 with an increased product portfolio, wider distribution and growing sales coverage. The company will once again be present at London Toy Fair, this time occupying its largest ever stand, where it will be showcasing both new categories and range development across its product portfolio. Growing support of the Discovery #Mindblown range, focusing on the STEM category, has been a constant theme during 2019. For 2020, the range will double in size and sees Redlands able to offer its widest ever variety of themes and price points. Suggested retail prices start at just £4.99, making the range ideally suited to offer a price competitive and visually impactful range for both retail partners and consumers in this key category. The Discovery Toys range is designed to complement the popular Discovery brand with an offer encompassing a wide range of products, prices and play patterns. Again, the range is set to double in size compared to 2019 and Redlands will be showcasing all the new range developments at the show. Sharper Image R/C is the latest addition to the Redlands portfolio. The range includes vehicles, boats and dinosaurs and is packed with features to ensure the Sharper Image range gives hours of fun and surprises. Items such as the Transforming Missile Launching Car add a twist to the category and this, along with many other new introductions, will be available for the first time in 2020. As it builds its presence in the UK, and learns more of the impact the ranges have at retail, the company aims to take advantage of the breadth and depth of the full product portfolio to ensure its UK proposition delivers strong and ongoing sales, as well as unique product opportunities to the entire customer base. To make appointments at the show, please contact Jeremy Robinson jeremy.robinson@redlandsdistribution.com.

Toy World 248

2020

Strategia Games 07939 222 708 www.strategia-games.com Stand GH45 First time exhibitor Strategia Games heads to London Toy Fair with a simple mission – to bring the joy and excitement of playing games to anyone and everyone, and to keep its retailers happy. The company’s vision is to bring unique strategy games to the market. Walled-In has been designed and developed by Lee McAuley, following feedback from The Game Inventors’ Workshop in London. A tactile, 3D version of Dots and Boxes, the game is simple enough for youngsters aged 8+ but strategic enough for grown-ups and offers clear potential for retail placement between chess and checkers. Walled-In helps develop concentration, abstract reasoning, strategic thinking and observation skills, as each player attempts to lose the least, and gain the most. The game comes with a free zipper bag so players can enjoy it fast, slow, or on the go. A free Walled-In timer App, and an Android and iOS game extension, are also available. Tri-Hand, also created by Lee, takes the instantly recognisable game Rock, Paper, Scissors and turns it in to a tactile, versatile deck of cards with six multiplayer games to enjoy. Intuitive scoring, eye-catching design and popular gameplay mechanics encourage buy-in, and purchase has been further incentivised with the Tri-Hand Challenge, which lets customers design their own gameplays which are published online. Strategia Games offers low overheads, which means retailers are offered strong margins alongside exceptional service and support. To find out more about product prices, discounts and how to order, visit Strategia Games at the 2020 London Toy Fair. Alternatively, email lee@strategia-games.com, or call Lee on +44 (0)7939 222 708 to chat or book an appointment.

Hunter Price 0161 653 1306 www.hunterprice.co.uk Stand G23 Hunter Price International is kicking off 2020 with its debut appearance at the London Toy Fair. After recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the next 12 months is set to be a huge step-change year for the consumer products business, which specialises in toys, stationery, homewares, bags for life, seasonal & licensed products. For the show, Hunter Price is teaming up with toy and activities company, Orb Toys. As the UK’s leading distributor for Orb Toys, Hunter Price has ambitious plans for the brand, which include expanding retailer networks and elevating marketing plans around Orb’s new product developments. A host of innovative and new products will be showcased for the first time at the fair, including the Orb Arcade, Orb Sprouti Palz for budding green thumbs and new additions to the Orb Odditeez line. The unique collections will be unveiled in a variety of new formats, which will be exclusively distributed by Hunter Price in the UK. Orb Arcade, a new product hitting shelves in 2020, is the fusion of three of the most current toy trends - collectability, the unboxing surprise and Gachapon, the Japanese capsule toy trend. With innovative merchandising aimed at the impulse purchase, Orb Arcade’s fun and value driven proposition will appeal to a broad range of retailers. Orb Odditeez is a collection of tactile toys bringing silly, wacky and weird back into the hands of children and adults alike. Ranging from cute to creepy-crawly, Orb Odditeez can entertain for hours and encourage people to embrace the unexpected with this collection of toys that grow, ooze, twist, splat and more. As part of the new launch reveal, the new Orb Sprouti Palz, Orb Sqweezy Petz and new Orb Odditeez introduction Elast-A-Beastz will make their debut show appearance. Sprouti Palz are fun characters that sprout hair which children can soak, grow, trim and style. The Sqweezy Petz are Orb’s squishiest toy yet, while the Elast-A-Beastz have super stretchy bodies, rubbery skin and wild designs, which encourages lots of creative play for kids.

Toy World 250

Klein Toys /kleintoys theo_klein_gmbh

Toys –made with passion!

TV advertised

rating Celeb rs of a 70 ye un and ying f suppl cational edu toys.

LONDON TOY FAIR, Olympia, The Grand Hall, Stand B.25 | INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR, Nürnberg, Germany, Hall 5, Stand A-06, B-05

2020

Schleich 01279 870 000 www.schleich-s.com/en Stand 100 Schleich’s 85th anniversary celebrations kick off with 2020 launches across all collections on its stand at London Toy Fair, coinciding with the brand’s strongest UK marketing calendar to date. High profile installations are now in place in many of the UKs most prestigious retail spaces, including FAO Schwarz in Selfridges, London and Arnotts, Dublin, together with Hamleys and Fenwicks. This in-store brand presence has been echoed in the company’s marketing with a successful TV and digital campaign for Horse Club. Digital and TV support will continue for a full 12 months, alongside exposure at impactful experiential events such as the Dublin Horse Show. Schleich’s TV advertised Horse Club will see a raft of new horse breeds and playsets to choose from in 2020. The Big Horse Show playset will take centre stage for this collection and features a marquee, arena, horse and accessories. Adding to the equestrian spectacle, the Pony Trap for the Big Horse Show features the Horse Club figure Clara, a beautiful Connemara pony to pull it along, and many other accessories. Horse Club will be supported with a full 12-month schedule of TV advertising in 2020. Schleich’s Dinosaurs World is also due to be TV advertised in 2020 to support the introduction of the first ever playsets in the range. The Large Dino Research Station features a mobile crane, trapdoor, movable fencing, a cannon with tranquiliser darts and a lance for catching dinosaurs. The playsets allow kids to create new dinosaur scenarios with the characters Maxx, Luis, and Flynn. #Schleicharoundtheworld will be a core marketing message for the Wild Life collection, with rescue being the main theme. At the heart of all the action will be the Large Animal Rescue Truck, which comes complete with a rotating crane, a flexible cable winch, a ranger and animals, while the Animal Rescue Helicopter features movable rotor blades and a cable winch, plus an-all important pilot ranger to lead the way. Looking after animals is also key to the new Farm World veterinarian sets. The Veterinarian Practice with Pets Set is equipped with everything the vet needs to take care of animals. The Veterinarian Visit at the Farm set comes complete with the vet, his Labrador retriever and kitten. The vet case contains all the instruments vets need to examine and treat animals, and the truck’s foldout loading ramp unfolds to offer plenty of space for animal transportation. Finally, the fantasy worlds of bayala and Eldrador continue to offer strong sales for retailers and will be enhanced with new creatures and fantasy figures for 2020.

Zappies 01273 467624 www.zappies.com Stand 105 Zappies, a toy distributor and importer working with partners in the UK and across the globe, distributes on behalf of the majority of toy manufacturers. The company has also introduced a range of unique products of its own, meaning it now deals with all facets of the UK market and further afield. The product portfolio has increased significantly with over 4,000 lines now available, and the top 250 are on display in Zappies’ new showroom premises near Brighton on the South Coast. A variety of major licensed products are available including Frozen/Frozen II, Avengers, Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts, Star Wars, Sonic and Ghostbusters, among others, and the ranges on offer are constantly evolving. In terms of own brands, Zappies is in its third year of Banzai, an awardwinning outdoor summer games range including waterslides, sprinklers and garden games. The new TV advertised Gearheads vehicle collectibles range complements the company’s Sonic and Ghostbusters RC products. It’s a big year for Sonic, with the cinematic launch of the new movie in February, followed by DVD and continued gaming activity. Zappies’ account base and links to retail in the UK mean it can introduce toy products to online, grocery, high street, specialist, discount and independent sectors, and is able to cater to both value and high-end products in volume. In an increasingly fast paced environment, Zappies has an efficient logistics and supply set up with next working day deliveries available as standard. Zappies welcomes appointments for Toy Fair or at the company’s showroom for new and existing customers and business partners.

Toy World 252

2020

Orchard Toys 01953 423 422 www.orchardtoys.com Stand B12 Orchard Toys will be adding seven new products to its award-winning range at Toy Fair in 2020. From unicorns and sloths to woolly mammoths and llamas, the new additions offer something for all ages and interests, with ‘Learning Made Fun’ at the heart of each product. First Sounds Lotto is a sound game for children from the age of two years old. Designed to encourage sound recognition and observation skills, players match sounds to pictures in this colourful lotto game. Players can choose whether to make the sounds themselves or to use the free Orchard Toys App to generate the sounds. First Sounds Lotto also includes a colourful 6-piece puzzle to encourage discussion with young children. Sleepy Sloths is a simple sound and action game, also suitable for children from two years old. Players take turns to identify familiar items and make the correct noise loud enough to wake up the sleepy sloths. With the growing popularity of sloths combined with simple gameplay, the company expects this game to be a success in the pre-school games market. Loopy Llamas sees players move around the swimming pool playing board, collecting patterned rings to loop onto their 3D llama characters. Kids will need a keen eye to collect each of their five patterned rings, before making their way to the diving board and launching their llama into the pool. Teacher tested, as with all Orchard Toys products, Loopy Llamas is recommended for children age four and over. Suitable for children 5-8 years old, prehistoric mammoths return in Mammoth Maths. Players race around the board solving addition and subtraction problems in a bid to be the first back to the cave, using the magic viewer to check their answers along the way. Children solve maths problems on the stone printed cards and hook them onto their mammoth’s trunk. First Times Tables is a fun introduction to 2-, 5- and 10-times tables. Not only can it be used as a learning resource to introduce young children to multiplication, but it also gives parents the tools to help teach their child. Once children have become familiar with the concept of multiplication, they can play the fun pancake-themed game to put their new skills to the test. Times Tables Heroes offers two distinctly different games. The first is a board game in which players complete multiplication sums from 2 to 12 and battle it out to save the city with their superhero powers. The second is a fast-paced bingo game where players practise their 2-, 5- and 10-times tables as they race to get three in a row. The colourful design, with challenging yet engaging gameplay, will appeal to slightly older players aged 6-9. Unicorn Friends is a 50-piece jigsaw that shows a unicorn and its friends in a magical setting, with plenty of things for children aged four years and over to look out for. The giant poster included not only enhances the value of this product, but will also make a great addition to any unicorn lover’s playroom or bedroom.

Rainbow Designs 01329 227 300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Stand E120

One of Rainbow Designs’ major launches this year is the pre-school toy range for the highly anticipated new Paddington TV series, The Adventures of Paddington. The toy range is designed for a whole new generation of fans, who will discover Paddington for the first time through his adventures on TV. The series is aimed at pre-schoolers and will air on Nickelodeon in the spring; The Adventures of Paddington toy range will launch in autumn. In anticipation of the Peter Rabbit 2 Movie, Rainbow Designs is also welcoming new toy formats to its successful Peter Rabbit Movie Collection. New lines will include a cute Peter Rabbit Clip and Go, a super-soft Giant Peter Rabbit, and the 18cm soft toy trio of Benjamin Bunny, Mopsy and Peter Rabbit. Rainbow will also be launching the Dreamworks’ Animation TV Spirit Riding Free Collection. This plush range features the lead characters Spirit and his companion Lucky as well as his fellow equines Boomerang and Chica Lynda. On display for the first time will be a soft toy range showcasing Universal’s cult classics ET, Jaws, Jurassic Park and Back to the Future, plus family favourites Rupert, Noddy and Where’s Wally. These will appear alongside the DreamWorks Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, which were released in 2019. 2020 sees the launch of Peanuts’ Snoopy collections My First Snoopy and Everybody Loves Snoopy. Celebrating Snoopy’s 75th anniversary in 2020, these new ranges include infant toys and soft toys, both of which are ideal for gifting. Rainbow will also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Spot in 2020 with the new Fun with Spot infant and pre-school toy range. The collection includes attachable and developmental activity toys as well as a super-soft Spot plush. Following the successful launch of the That’s Not My… collection of infant nursery toys in 2019, new additions will be launched this summer. Based on Usborne’s best-selling series of touchy-feely board books, the collection will feature best-selling characters from the picture books including Puppy, Flamingo, Monkey and Dinosaur, plus developmental attachable comforters and soft toys. Other prestigious licensed character collections in Rainbow’s portfolio include Disney’s Classic Winnie-the-Pooh, Disney Baby, Guess How Much I Love You - which is celebrating its 25th anniversary - The Very Hungry Caterpillar, My First Peppa Pig, Miffy, The Snowman and Snowdog, and Roald Dahl.

Toy World 254

Give little ones screenless storytime this Christmas

2 © Disney

3 5

Red Starter Set RRP £69.95 includes Toniebox, Creative-Tonie and charging station

Father Christmas Creative-Tonie RRP £11.99

The Snowman and The Snowdog RRP £14.99

Christmas Songs and Carols RRP £14.99

The Jungle Book RRP £14.99

The Lion King RRP £14.99

You can find more information on the Toniebox a little later in the magazine and on tonies.com.

2020

The Carat Shop 01279 442 528 www.thecaratshop.co.uk Stand GH78 The Carat Shop has specialised in the manufacture of officially licensed jewellery and accessories for over ten years and has grown a well-established and extensive collection. Providing high quality and reasonably priced products, both B2B and B2C, the company strives to continually introduce new and innovative licensed lines. The Harry Potter ranges will take the spotlight, with charms, beads, bookmarks and pin badges on offer, as well as necklaces, cufflinks, keyrings and watches. Each item sports a famous design from the Wizarding World, with best sellers being the Golden Snitch, Time Turner, Deathly Hallows and Platform 9 ¾. The Chocolate Frog - the enchanted confectionery featuring in the first film of the Harry Potter franchise - has been recreated as a collection of gift items, including a Pin Badge, Slider Charm, Necklace and Keyring, making the perfect Harry Potter trinket accessory for fans. The Carat Shop continues to diversify its product ranges in a number of sectors and with gifts and toys at the forefront of its latest initiatives, the company has many new products in the pipeline, especially within the Harry Potter brand. An engraving service has been introduced for customers to choose and design their own personalised Harry Potter product with a name, adding a personal touch to their favourite items. This service is performed inhouse at The Carat Shop workshop, where every personalised product is engraved, hand polished and packaged. A selection of watches has also been announced for a 2020 release, boasting distinctive Harry Potter designs such as the Marauders Map, Hogwarts Castle and the Hogwarts Express. These will also be available for engraving on the back of the case, for a personal touch. The company will be showcasing its Wizarding World product ranges, as well as some show exclusives such as its Starter Packs, which are a great way for new customers to get the ball rolling if they are unsure of where to focus their Harry Potter collections. The packs contain an assortment of the best-selling items based on customer feedback, carefully selected to gain exposure and generate customer interest in shops and online. The Carat Shop also offers POS and display materials such as spinner display stands, high-quality product photography and banners, all of which retailers will be able to view at the show. For trade enquiries, please email info@thecaratshop.co.uk.

Trends UK & Wind Designs 01295 768 078 www.trendsuk.co.uk Stands H42 and H52 Trends UK is expanding its popular ELA range with market-leading pre-school licences. In early spring, the new Hey Duggee Flip & Learn Phone and Smart Tablet will invite young learners to develop skills with the help of the lovable Duggee & The Squirrels. For autumn, Paw Patrol ELAs will launch with a Paw Patrol Smart Phone, Ryder’s Alphabet Pad and Count with Marshall, featuring the fearless pups on daring rescue missions. The highly anticipated pre-school TV series The Adventures of Paddington will introduce the lovable bear to a new generation. To support the show’s launch, Trends is introducing a range of ELAs; a paw-shaped Paddington Paw Pad will be released in autumn, with further items to follow. A unique new ELA concept will join the Peppa Pig range. Following the success of Count With Peppa, the new Peppa’s Phonic Alphabet introduces interactive learning focusing on letters and the phonetic spelling of early words, plus numbers and colours. A new Mr Tumble Flip Up Phone is also joining the Something Special line-up. Paint Sticks Paint-A-Puzzle offers a new way to get creative with the award-winning Paint Sticks. Featuring different themes, each Paint-A-Puzzle set comes with 12 giant sturdy floor puzzle pieces and six Paint Sticks. Ideal for little hands, they are easy to assemble and fun to colour in. Young artists can also unleash creativity anywhere with the double-sided Paint Sticks Mini Art Station. The station includes six chalk sticks, six mini paint sticks, six dusters and 10 sheets of paper stored inside. Kids can battle it out in street style with the new Nerf X Bunkr Competition Pack. Four inflatable urban obstacles - road barrier, tyre stack, wood crate and waste barrel - can be used to create an exciting battle zone. Large enough to take cover behind, the inflatables have an integrated ammo cache and stability system for outdoor play. They also include Bunkr Game Cards to extend and enhance gameplay and team challenges. Trends UK is also launching Fabrikid, a DIY-style toy range that lets kids become master builders for autumn/winter. Already a success in France, Fabrikid sets combine tools and wood-like materials with the know-how to construct. Young builder can use the blueprints to saw, hammer, nail and screw impressive projects together, including a yacht, train and a helicopter, or create their own ideas.

Toy World 256

LONDON TOY FAIR 21st – 23rd Jan 2020 Grand Hall – Stand F25

01903 885669

NUREMBURG TOY FAIR 29th Jan – 02nd Feb 2020 Hall 3A – Stand H05

uk@smart.be

SPRING FAIR 2nd – 6th Feb 2020 Hall 5, Stand K50-L51

www.smart.be

2020

Basic Fun! 01189 253 270 www.knex.co.uk Gallery 510 Basic Fun! is returning to London Toy Fair following 12 months of product portfolio growth. This year’s stand is 20% bigger than in 2019, with additional space to showcase the company’s established brands such as K’nex, Cutetitos and Fisher Price Classic, and to shine a light on brand new product lines that will be making their European debut at the show. Plush collectible Cutetitos has enjoyed a successful 12 months since launch, and Basic Fun! will be showcasing further iterations and new product development within the range. Launches for 2020 include the forthcoming Series 4 scented Fruititos, Series 5 Pizzitos, Babitos Ice Creamitos and more. Following the announcement of Basic Fun’s Hasbro licensing agreement in early 2019, classic toy brand Tonka returns in 2020 with new models and new ways to play. Tonka is all about tough play and the new range shows real evolution of play while building on the brand’s heritage - making metal, steel and sturdiness all central to the toys’ designs. The range also offers exciting innovative play patterns. Tonka has something for every budget, starting with entry-level pocket money packs at SRP £2.99. New for 2020 is a brand-new Care Bears range. Complementing the new TV show that started on Tiny Pop in April 2019, the collection offers play patters relevant to today’s girls. K’nex has continued to delight children and families for decades and has enjoyed a successful re-launch over the past four years. 2020 sees a number of new multi-build launches added to the brand’s portfolio and a new category. Visitors to the Basic Fun! stand will see all the key launches for 2020. Basic Fun! Will continue to build on its success in the retro classics sector and will be showcasing new and extended products ranges including Pound Puppies and Strawberry Shortcake, along with existing Fisher Price Classics and My Little Pony product ranges. Interest in retro toys shows no signs of slowing and Basic Fun’s recent additions are sure to awaken childhood memories as well as attract a new generation. Basic Fun! is also unveiling a number of brand-new IPs within the collectibles market that will be on show at London Toy Fair. Early previews will be available on the stand.

Ravensburger 01869 363 830 www.ravensburger.com Stand E140 Ravensburger will showcase over 200 new products across the breadth of its portfolio at Toy Fair, as well as detailing extensive marketing plans for 2020. New launches from Ravensburger in the adult puzzle category for the coming year include items from established artists such as Colin Thompson, as well as a wealth of additions from artists new to the company’s portfolio. Among those is Stuart Cox, whose contemporary style is featured in both 500 and 1000 piece formats. Ravensburger’s children’s puzzle portfolio will also be in the spotlight. Leading licences such as Elmer, Ricky Zoom, Hey Duggee, The Adventures of Paddington and 44 Cats all join the company’s line-up, as well as further introductions to the Julia Donaldson range. Much anticipated movies such as Trolls World Tour, Minions: The Rise of Gru, along with Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon and Disney Pixar's Soul and Onward are also among the new properties on board with Ravensburger for 2020. Ravensburger is delivering a successful performance in the Games category and kids and family games will be high on the agenda at Toy Fair, with popular classic, Labyrinth, expected to reach new heights in 2020 thanks to the introduction of 3D Labyrinth. As the name suggests, this new edition of the hit game sees players navigate their way around the maze at different levels as they seek their treasures. Also new is Big Money, a dice game challenging players to roll the dice and create the greatest business empire, deciding what risks to take along the way. New action game, Slimy Joe offers plenty of excitement as children must rescue the pretty flutterbies from a carnivorous plant filled with gooey slime. Ravensburger received positive reviews for the Disney Villainous collection and recent launch, Jaws. The category continues to show growth and Ravensburger will present a selection of new introductions at the show. Horrified, featuring Universal Studio’s classic monsters, and Minecraft: Builders & Biomes will be among the launches set to further cement the company’s position in the strategy game category. GraviTrax interactive track system has continued to make its mark since launch and new expansions and add-ons for 2020 offer news ways for fans to challenge themselves. Among the raft of new additions to be revealed at Toy Fair is the Zipline add-on, adding to the gravity sphere action cable car style for real wow factor. A TV commercial for Brio in autumn contributed to double-digit growth for the Scandinavian toy brand. High tech innovations to be showcased at Toy Fair will see a new dimension of play and interaction building on the success of Smart Tech for the Brio World. Once again driving the agenda in wooden railway play, Brio’s 2020 offering will capture children’s imaginations like never before.

Toy World 258

NEW for 2020

OO Scale range of Thomas & FriendsTM by Bachmann

Bachmann Europe are delighted to announce our certified 3+ OO Scale Thomas & FriendsTM range will be pulling into stores early 2020! The initial Bachmann Europe range will include train sets, locomotives, rolling stock and accessories and will be available to view at the London and Nuremberg Toy Fairs in 2020.

COME AND SEE OUR 2020 RANGE:

THE TOY FAIR, LONDON OLYMPIA 21st - 23rd January 2020

VISIT US: STAND 147

INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR NUREMBERG 29th Jan - 02nd Feb 2020

VISIT US: HALL 7A ON STAND F-58

To book an appointment or for more information please email: thomasandfriends@bachmann-europe.co.uk Models produced & distributed by Bachmann Europe PLC.

2020

8th Wonder 01942 829 811 www.8thwonder.co.uk Stand F110 2019 has seen continuous growth for 8th Wonder and the company will be presenting over 20 new products at Toy Fair. Hey Duggee was popular in 2019 and 8th Wonder has an extended line of products which will be joining the existing collection, including a Skittles Set, Shape Sorter with Light and Sound, Carry Along Play House, Vehicle and Block Set and plush Duggee Chair. The wooden toys were recent winners in the Teaching Resources (0-3) category at the 2019 Creative Play Awards for the Hey Duggee Light & Sound Train. Following the success with its licensed wooden range, the company has expanded its portfolio to include popular pre-school licences Bing and In The Night Garden. The core ranges include all the best sellers from 2019 - dominoes, memory games, educational wooden puzzles, sound puzzles, character skittles, stacking trains and light and sound shape sorters. The Only Fools & Horses interactive plush range has seen strong sales in both high street and gift outlets. It worked closely with the licensing team at BBC Studios to create a series of talking plush characters, including Del Boy, Rodney and Uncle Albert. The talking plush say phrases such as “Cushty”, “Lovely Jubbly” and “My name’s not Dave, its Rodney”. 8th Wonder has expanded the range for 2020. The company’s licensed men’s gift offering has expanded for 2020 to include the teen comedy hit show Inbetweeners and classic British icon Mr Bean. The range consists of free-standing interactive plush toys for spring/summer 20 and a broader range for autumn/winter 20, with keyrings, window suckers and dress up heads. For more information visit the stand at Olympia or speak to the sales team on 01942 829811.

Toynamics 0116 478 5230 www.toynamics.co.uk Stand B50 Previously known as Marbel, Toynamics is a leading distributor of top-quality, sustainable, educational, innovative and fun toy ranges and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hape Group. Hape is one of the largest wooden and bamboo toy brands in the world for children up to six years of age. By cultivating and encouraging learning from infancy to school-age, Hape toys support natural play-patterns and provides children with the best and safest play experiences. Every toy is designed to be age-appropriate and is made from sustainable materials, which has helped Hape to become a trusted, high-quality brand over the past thirty years. Hape offers ranges including Railway, with a large choice of sets and engines to build including the remote-controlled engine which is operated with a free app, and Toy of the Year 2020 finalist Emergency Services HQ. The Junior Inventor line lets budding scientists create their own experiments and interact with mechanics from as young as four. Hape’s portfolio also includes food and kitchen, doll houses and doll house furniture, nature fun, sand toys and role-play accessories, and offers brands including Käthe Kruse, Kruselings and PolyM building blocks. The Hape collection also features the baby Einstein brand. The Magic Touch Piano from Hape and baby Einstein has garnered global recognition, winning the ToyAward 2019 in Germany and the Grand Prix du Jouet 2018 in France. This wooden piano teaches children to play popular tunes using colours. Toynamics will also be the UK and Ireland’s exclusive distributor for the Nanoblocks and Nebulous Stars ranges. Nanoblocks are micro-sized building blocks which come in a variety of sets. The newest range to join the collection is Pokémon. Fans can now collect and build their favourite Pokémon characters. Nebulous Stars adds stationery, arts and crafts to the line-up. Aimed at tween girls, the range provides entertaining activities such as zen gardens, dreamcatchers, lanterns and Galaxy Wish Jars. As part of the Toynamics’ service, customers can benefit from the guidance and support of the company’s dedicated marketing executive, who will provide full assistance to retailers. Full marketing strategies will be developed for both online and brick & mortar, to include social media, website reviews and in-store POS displays. Toynamics’ Shop-in-Shop displays have been developed to drive sales. A variety of sizes and options can be built to create an engaging and entertaining experience for both children and parents, providing a journey into the Hape world that will let them explore and enjoy the different categories of toys on offer. Six key components make up each a shop-in-shop; backwall units, gondola modules, a grid, floor graphics, wall graphics and communication. The interactive Hape train tunnel will engage children, as well as provide the retailer with a visually pleasing point-of-sale on which to stock Hape products.

Toy World 260

2020

VTech 01235 546 810 www.vtech.co.uk Gallery 500 VTech has lots of new innovations in the pipeline, with over 100 new products being shown at Toy Fair 2020. To keep the VTech Baby range refreshed, new introductions are planned for both spring/ summer and autumn/winter. Colourful Cuddles is a stylish, soft fabric unicorn for baby, with textured fabrics and light up tummy to visually stimulate little ones. The textured hooves, soft body and silver horn provide tactile stimulation. Children can press the colour changing light up button on the unicorn‘s tummy to hear music, magical songs and fun phrases, which all support and encourage language development. Another new addition to the VTech Baby range is the Twist and Spin Lion. The Lion is designed to securely stick to highchairs and other surfaces via the suction cup located underneath it, so little ones can play without risk of knocking the Lion onto the floor. The Lion and its hoop spin independently of one another and are ideal for children’s motor skill development. Kids can spin the hoop's colourful beads or press the button on top of Lion's head to hear phrases, songs, melodies and more sounds, and watch the lion's nose light up with the responses. Toot-Toot Drivers will see new vehicles and two playsets added to the range in spring/summer 2020. The new Toot-Toot Drivers 3-in-1 Raceway has tracks which can be rearranged to create a dual raceway, stunt track or super raceway to race the vehicles. The 360° Loop Track lets little racers spin the race car round and watch it launch and jump round the 360° loop, or over the long bridge. The range features several track configurations for varied play. 2020 will also see new additions to the Switch and Go Dinos range. Joining hero products such as Dash the T-Rex, autumn/winter 2020 will see three new Dinos varying in size. The new introductions will easily switch between fearsome dinosaurs to cool vehicles and even robots, with impressive sound effects, depending on the mode they are in. Kids can activate the transformations with the touch of a remote control. A brand-new addition to the Kidizoom range for autumn/winter 2020; the Kidizoom Studio is a kid friendly video editing camera with endless possibilities.

Magic Box Toys 01403 251 286 www.magicboxint.com Stand B60 Hitting shelves on 24th January following four successful series launches to date, SuperZings continues to evolve for Series 5 with innovative new additions to the line-up. SuperZings Series 5 maintains the popular hero vs villain format of the previous series, using everyday objects and food as collectible characters. SuperZings have been given flying powers for the new series; not only are there 80 new characters to collect including rare and ultra-rare, but the range now includes Aerowagons and Skyracers; the chosen modes of transport for the new characters. Kids can collect eight of each, all of which can be joined together. The £5 starter pack continues for Series 5, including exclusive items and a collectible keyring. The £5 Megapack offers four characters plus an Aerowagon. Following in the footsteps of previous series, the 2020 launch will also see an engaging playset offering join the line-up. Bank Assault includes a ‘detonating’ safe and two vehicles which can fire weapons at enemies, while Fire Strike is a firefighter playset including vehicles, ‘fire ‘and ‘water’. In additon, the popular 4-pack and 10pack blister formats continue MojiPops are made up of everyday objects brought to life as fun-loving characters with an array of colourful emotions based on popular emoticons. From an ice cream to a cactus, a television to a pillow, each blind-bagged character has a removeable double-sided face; kids can flip it over to switch between emoticon-based expressions depicting a huge variety of sentiments, or even swap faces completely with another character in the collection. New for January 2020 is the MojiPops Party Series, a collection of 90+ characters designed within different themes – Gardeners, Foodies, Fruttis, Homies, Cuties and Crafties - all with a special finish in either gold, pearl or glitter. There are also a six Pearlised characters to collect, alongside the exclusive and rare Poppy - the queen of the party. Expanding the Party collection is a number of playsets. The 12 Club Room sets have interchangeable speech bubbles so MojiPops can change up the chat, while the six Club House Sets can be opened out to create a dancefloor for the MojiPops. The Club Houses can also be stacked together to create the ultimate Moji Club. The popular I Love playsets see new themes added for 2020, including the I Love Food Truck and I Love Sunny Beach. Value packs also continue with a £5 Megapack and a £5 Starter Pack, which includes an activity guide, and blister packs containing exclusive characters.

Toy World 262

2020

Geomag 07831 886 997 www.geomagworld.com Gallery 501 On show at Toy Fair in January, new additions to Geomagworld’s current Magicube, Geomag Classic and Mechanics ranges offer magnetic play for kids whilst being environmentally sustainable. For 2020, Geomag has announced the introduction of several eco-friendly products, manufactured almost entirely from recycled materials. At Toy Fair, the company will showcase its new Green Range - a leading innovation that both consumers and the planet will appreciate. The range includes nine Geomag Classic and Panel items. Each item has a different piece count, from a minimum of 24 to a maximum of 200 components. In addition, there are four Magicube items containing between eight and 64 cubes. All items in the range will be available from June 2020, with recommended retail prices covering multiple price points. Magicube has revolutionised the junior construction category by reinterpreting classic cubebased toys with a magnetic twist. Composed of four magnetic cubes, which stick together on all sides, the new two cube pack themes allow kids to match animals with their food and habitat. Each set has six different combinations. Magicube has a patented system of magnets that allows the cubes to attach to each other on all sides. Four Peppa Pig Magicube items will be available in two, three and four cube packs, exclusive to the UK. Kids can mix and match Peppa and friends with the two-cube pack; build the modes of transport to have a day out with Peppa in the three-cube pack; and enjoy Peppa’s house and garden with the four-cube pack. New Magicube items will be available from February 2020. The line is completed with Maths and Word Building items. These Magicube sets contain 10 and 16 cubes with magnetic clips, showing mathematical and alphabetical references, and creating a positive learning experience through play, ensuring kids gain fluency in their basic skills. Two new introductions to the Mechanics Gravity range will be unveiled at Toy Fair. The line offers innovative solutions that expand the concept of magnetic construction, constantly introducing new elements that can enrich the playtime experience. Composed of magnetic bars, steel balls and elements of different shapes, bearings and modular platforms, the Mechanics models trigger chain reactions for endless fun. For 2020, the tabletop construction games Mechanics Challenge Strike and Mechanics Challenge Goal will be introduced. These sets are designed for 1-4 players. Once built, kids can use the spheres in the 185-piece Challenge Strike set to start the gravity motor, and then try to achieve the highest score as they drop out of the bottom. The 96-piece Challenge Goal set begins with a magnetic cannon, inspired by the principles formulated by German scientist, Gauss, which launches the balls towards the goal.

Funrise 01908 555 640 www.funrise.com Stand G90 Funrise International will showcase its new brands at London Toy Fair. Bright Fairy Friends (BFF) is a new girls’ collectible which comes with hidden surprises. Each 6” doll is packaged in a mason jar which doubles as her fairy home and lights up when motion is detected. With 12 to collect, each jar is an all-in-one fairy home and room light and includes multiple surprise accessories for both child and doll, including stickers, hairclips and a miniature hairbrush. Gazillion Bubbles features an extensive array of premium bubble solution, bubble toys and machines. The Bubble Storm is the latest Gazillion machine that has forward-thinking solution dispensing technology. The solution bottle functions as the on/off button; kids just slide the bottle into the bottle holder until it clicks in and place the supplied 8oz bottle upside down onto the machine to start blowing bubbles. The Fart Ninjas range from the boys’ collectibles category is fun packed and perfect for kids who love pranking their friends and family. Launched in autumn 2019, the range has expanded, with a further 36 to collect throughout 2020. Funrise’s Cat Construction toy line includes machines in a wide range of styles with innovative features including freewheeling toys, motorised toys, toys with lights and sounds and metal toys. New for spring will be the Future Force and Steel collections. Cat Steel introduces sizeable realistic vehicles for the most robust of sandpit play, including a choice of Dump Trucks, Wheel Loaders and the 20” Steel Excavator. The Cat Future Force has electric power sounds and articulated parts for an action-packed play experience. For autumn, the Junior Crew line of characterised vehicles, ideal for younger builders, will offer a choice of Construction Pals and Buddies, plus Lil Movers. Each has their own features to discover. For educational play, construction truck Fix It Philip opens out into a lights and sounds tool bench complete with screws, tools and accessories which all have a specific purpose. For more information, please email JamesDixon@funrise.com.

Toy World 264

2020

Clementoni 020 3206 1397 www.clementoni.com Gallery 140 Clementoni is showcasing a host of new products for 2020 at the London Toy Fair, putting a strong focus on the infant market with Baby Clementoni, as well as highlighting significant licences for puzzles and game changing innovation for STEM/Construction categories. New for 2020 is the Baby Clementoni Interactive Play Train - a playset with four characters and a talking train. The train recognises and interacts with multiple parts of the track, helping to develop baby’s speech and learning. The Interactive Grand Prix Car, suitable for babies 10 months plus, is a remotecontrol vehicle specifically designed for little hands. With two interactive buttons that switch from driver mode to autopilot mode, the car makes realistic racing sounds and also sings popular nursery rhymes. The science category has always been strong for Clementoni, with Science Museum licensed robotic and mechanical engineering kits being top sellers throughout 2019. Adding to the Mechanics Lab range for 2020 is Antarctic Vehicles, with over 300 components and the capacity to build up to 50 models, including a Yacht, Safari Jeep and also Luna Park – a fun fair kit in vibrant colours where kids can build their favourite rides. In order to appeal to younger children, Clementoni is also launching a simpler 120 piece line of STEM, kits featuring animals such as Coco the Gorilla, Shak the Shark, Yuki the Seal and Leo the Lion. The core science range has been re-vamped for 2020 with all new packaging and branding. New introductions include the Beauty Mask kit, Pancake Lab, which gives children the chance to create fun shapes with the included batter mix, and, in a move to improve carbon footprint, the Bio Cosmetics Set – a 100% raw materials eco-friendly kit where kids can create shower gel, soap and body cream. Bringing innovation to STEM, Clementoni is launching Bionic - a unique concept which will be added to the current core STEM range. Bionic is made up of flexible construction kits which teach leverages and anatomy muscles through play. Inspired by living beings, all the movements and mechanisms in the sets are bionic applications and are split into four specific kits – Dinosaur, Marine, Wearable and Challenge. The licensed puzzle range from Clementoni continues to be a strong foundation of the business and new launches for 2020 include Peaky Blinders, Stranger Things, Trolls II and Minions.

Thames & Kosmos 01580 212 000 www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk Stand F15 Thames & Kosmos is at the forefront of providing high quality STEM products for children from the ages of four years and above. The company’s portfolio offers a wide variety of games and toys that teach science concepts and skills in a fun and easy way, covering everything from make-your-own slime and coding to anatomy and physics. As well as two newly published titles for its hit word-of-mouth Exit games, the company will be previewing My City, a legacy board game by the multi-award-winning designer Reiner Knizia. Also on show will be the English language version of The Crew, a trick taking game, and Cities Skylines. According to the company, both games took the Spiel 19 expo by storm in Essen. Thames and Kosmos will also be showcasing its new Magic ranges. As well as the current three magic sets, the company is debuting the Vanishing Tiger kit and magic wands, plus smaller, one-trick versions of its successful Magic Hat box set. Visitors to the stand at this year’s show can learn how to astound their friends and family by learning simple tricks. Construction toy fans will enjoy Gyrobots and Hoverbots, building and programming kits that introduce coding to the 8+ market, while the Robot Pet Shop engages younger kids with computerised model building. Developed to appeal to young biologists (and mess makers), the Gross Anatomy kit comes complete with mix and mould squishy organs which can be arranged in a transparent human body, helping kids to learn about anatomy and bodily systems. Creativity is key at Thames and Kosmos; this year the company will be demonstrating how to build its Creatto lighting systems. Several new designs are being released for 2020. The on-trend unicorn light kit is expected to be a particular hit. The company’s growing range of eco-themed toys is joined by the Solar Powered Rover kit. There are five different ultra-light models for kids to build while they learn about renewable technologies. The Glow in the Dark science kit helps kids learn about glowing chemicals and UV light. Young scientists can create glowing solutions and mixtures by experimenting with a variety of luminescent and phosphorescent materials. Thames & Kosmos will be offering a show discount of 5% on orders over £500 and 10% on orders over £1000. Visitors to the stand are invited to chat to company directors Jo and Steve, as Emma, Sam and Nicky demonstrate how the company makes STEM fun.

Toy World 266

new designs and pac kagi ng fo r 2 020

2020

The Source Wholesale 01306 646 885 www.thesourcewholesale.co.uk Stand GH32 Suitable for water, beach and city use, the cleverly designed SoHi range has been created with a focus on high-energy, imaginative play, no matter where kids are. The range puts a fresh spin on play equipment, bringing in foldable design, LED features and reimagined surfaces designed to boost co-ordination and reflexes and inspire new ways to play, recognising the importance of getting outdoors, away from screens and engaging in active fun. The City portion of the range leads with the SoHi Orbit, an ultra-high bouncing ball. Its dimpled surface gives it an impressive rebound for ultimate bouncing action, and it comes in four eye-catching colours - yellow, red, blue, and green. The SoHi Orbit XL is made using the same high-bounce technology and is bigger than the Orbit, though still perfectly suited to being used one-handedly. The Orbit XL comes in three colours; yellow, red and blue. Topping off the City section is the SoHi Scatter, a random-bounce ball with a totally unpredictable bounce direction. The surface is specially shaped to ensure it scatters when bounced, delivering a rebound that is as random as it is high. In the Water section, the SoHi Aqua is ready to make a splash. Made using soft fabric, this ball is designed to bounce on water, bringing a new dynamic to waterbased ball games. The SoHi Aqua’s cosmic tie-dye coating comes in four different designs. The SoHi Aqua Skimmer also refuses to be pulled underwater, instead skimming along the surface like a skipping stone. Featuring the same soft fabric coating as the Aqua, this tie-die inspired range includes four designs to choose from. The Beach range includes the SoHi Flexi Flyer, a flying disk made from durable silicone. Not only does this make it safer than the traditional hard plastic discs, it’s also far easier to carry around, folding up and fitting neatly in a pocket. The flyer comes in four designs, split between marble-inspired and tropical. The range is topped off with the SoHi Shuttle, a light-up shuttlecock which requires absolutely no racquets. Players can throw it, slap it, kick it, and pass it. The Shuttle’s LEDs flash when hit, making it ideal for play even after dark, and players can choose from two bold designs. Launching at the end of January, the SoHi range is expected to appeal to a wide variety of age groups and will be attractively priced, with items ranging from £6 to £8.

Bladez Toyz 02392 658 255 www.bladeztoyz.co.uk Gallery 123 Launching at UK Toy Fair 2020, the collectible new Mini Maker Kitz from Bladez Toyz offer Hot Wheels cars that fans can build themselves. Available in foil blind bags, packed into handy shelf-ready units which include a premade display car, Series 1 has 20 designs to collect and trade. Kids can check and compare the stats on the flat sheet, then pop out the pre-cut plastic panels and assemble the snap-fit parts; there's also a step by step instruction video online to make building easy. A pull-back motor adds lightning quick performance, so the cars are always ready to race. There are also rare metallic gold cars to find. At the classic 1:64 scale, the vehicles work on Hot Wheels tracks, so kids can create the ultimate stunts. Delivering a robust playable car with pull-back power, a rewarding make process and collectible appeal, Mini Maker Kitz tick all the boxes for a pocket money purchase. Featuring iconic designs from the world of Hot Wheels like Shark Bite, Rodger Dodger, Rip Rod and Motosaurus, the collection will launch with a TV campaign in Q1, comprising full strategic marketing plus kid- and parent-targeted digital and PR campaigns. A second series of 20 new designs is set for release later in 2020. Available now at 1:32 scale, the larger DIY Maker Kitz Design & Race Set lets kids be the designer. Hot Wheels fans can pop out the plastic panels, assemble the car and add two fast pull-back motors, then use the five branded permanent markers to create a custom decoration. The Design & Race set also includes a card launch ramp which can be coloured and customised. As UK distributor for Mondo Motors, Bladez also offers Hot Wheels' iconic vehicles with light & sound features and radio control. The Shark Cruiser Monster Action Lights & Sounds features chomping action, while the Barbie RC Dream Car, which fits any Barbie, comes complete with working lights. Both vehicles are available now.

Toy World 268

2020

University Games 03334 050120 www.university-games.co.uk Stand E50 University Games merged with Paul Lamond Games last year, meaning that the offering for 2020 is double its previous strength and depth. The games and puzzles experts will be launching over 70 new lines during 2020, including several high-profile licences. As football fever sweeps the nation this summer with the return of the Euros, University Games, in its biggest campaign of the year, will relaunch the new England Subbuteo Game. The media campaign will see TV spots target football fans throughout the 2020 Euros as well as TV and social media in autumn/winter. The re-energised Subbuteo range features greatly improved detail including players with different colour football boots and hairstyles. Following in the footsteps of the highly successful Game of Thrones 3D puzzles, University Games is launching a new 3D puzzle range of the iconic buildings from the property. Visitors to the Toy Fair stand can be among the first to discover which structures will be featured in the next range of 3D puzzles. Additionally, University Games will introduce a series of 3D jigsaw puzzles under the National Geographic licence. The highly detailed 3D puzzles, with easy to follow instructions, create eye-catching replicas of famous British architecture and buildings including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace. There are also several fun-packed, innovative games joining the children’s portfolio this year. Yes Chef! will have the whole family racing to ding the bell. A fast, fun skill and action game, players compete against one another as they use the Yes Chef Turner to place the food in the correct order. There are new launches to come for the pre-school sector, including from In the Night Garden. For 2020, University Games will release product lines specifically designed for kids aged two and over as a first introduction to games and puzzles, and to enhance learning through play. The range will include a 24-piece Giant Floor puzzle, a 4-in-1 Shaped Puzzle Set and the ultimate In the Night Garden Board Game, The Great Garden Adventure. This colourful double-sided board game features all the characters and garden landmarks from the show. Building on its existing range of family and adult games, University Games will be launching more titles for 2020 in the family and adult sectors, including Dumb Criminals, Danger Noodle, IMO and Abalone.

Bachmann Europe 01455 841 756 www.bachmann.co.uk Gallery 147 Bachmann Europe has added Thomas and Friends to its established range of railway products for 2020. The company will be introducing its OO scale models of the universally recognised characters to the UK and Europe. With the 75th anniversary of Thomas and Friends in 2020, the company considers it the perfect time to reflect the heritage and history of Thomas and welcome him into Bachmann’s railway family. Thomas and Friends represents fun, friendship, adventure and shared experiences, spanning generations and engaging new fans. The popularity behind the books and TV series make Thomas as familiar a prototype as the real railways in Bachmann’s existing range. The models support key learning and skills development that builds around a realistic narrative. The range makes operating a railway accessible to youngsters without limiting their imagination and introduces them to a fulfilling, creative and educational hobby. Bachmann produces an extensive Thomas and Friends range for the US, and has engineered minor amendments to the designs in order to make the range suitable for ages three and above in the UK and Europe, complying with the all relevant standards. In the UK, the models are to UK OO scale. The range faithfully represents the characters in the classic book art, with engines that have tech-ready features for extra play value. Digital Command Control (DCC) is possible by the simple fitment of a DCC chip to the DCC-ready locomotives. The engines have moving eyes and the popular flashlight, or railway headlamp, will be carried by Thomas and Percy. The launch range includes Thomas, Percy, Gordon, James and Toby, plus the essential coaches and wagons to recreate the central characters’ familiar trains. With a family focus, there is a starter set featuring Thomas and his coaches Annie and Clarabel, plus a track expander set enabling more advanced layouts to be created for extended play value. To support the launch, in addition to London Toy Fair, Bachmann is taking its railway ranges and creative hobby portfolio on the road to various venues, such as Alexandra Palace in March and events at heritage railways throughout the year.

Toy World 270

N LONDFO AIR

TOYND H46 STA

ARTIST ers Wond t i H One

uper a L i Cynd

ARTI ST uture s of the F r ta S p o P

Adele

1980s 1990s

Kate Bush Nirvana

ARTIST 1980s

ush Kate B

A SMASH-HIT SHOWDOWN! • Featuring 200 different artists to collect, from Blink-182 to Blondie. • Describe, hum and kazoo as many songs as you can for your teammates to guess! If you'd like to see us at London Toy Fair, get in touch with emily@bigpotato.co.uk Or, to check out all our games, just head over to bigpotato.com

BiG

PoTaTo gAmEs

2020

Boxine 020 3608 3056 www.tonies.com Stand B85 Launched in Germany in 2016, the Toniebox is an innovative audio player that’s proving an increasingly popular alternative to screens, smartphones and complicated controls. A digital audio player suitable for children, its functional design – a tough shockproof cube lined with durable, sustainable fabric – and intuitive features help families put the fun and magic back into storytelling and audio adventures. Simple to use, a Tonie figurine is simply placed onto the Toniebox, attaching via a magnet, and the corresponding content starts playing. Whe the Tonie figurine is taken off the box, the audio pauses. Parents and children can also record their own stories or songs on a CreativeTonie figurine via their smartphone using the Tonieapp; thanks to an NFC chip in each Tonie, the Toniebox always knows what content to play when paired with each individual figure. Children can turn the volume up and down by pinching the ears on the top of the Toniebox, and tapping either side of the box skips the story or song being played. The perfect travel companion, the Toniebox has up to seven hours of battery life and can hold lots of stories. It can be used without Wifi access once content has been downloaded. Once a story has finished, the cube will automatically turn itself off, making it a popular gadget to aid a bedtime routine. The intuitive design and innovative nature of the Toniebox has not gone unnoticed, and the product has won several UK and international awards in the past 12 months. This includes Best Interactive Toy 3-6 years and Best Innovative Toy in the Loved by Parents awards, winner in the Novelty category at the Independent Toy Awards and Platinum winner at the European Product Design Awards. Stories currently available on pre-recorded Tonies include The Gruffalo, Zog, Little Red Riding Hood and Peter Pan, alongside a collection of songs and educational Tonies. In 2019, the brand secured a licensing partnership with Disney, launching with The Jungle Book and The Lion King in August, and The Little Mermaid and Cars in November. New Tonies launching in January include the classic tale of Robinson Crusoe, a treasure hunt story from Hully Boo, Princess Lillifee and a Creative-Tonie composer. 2020 is set to be another big year for Tonies, with new licences to be announced in the UK and a US launch expected later in the year.

Dolu 07850 779797 www.dolu.com Stand G101

Treble digit growth in the first six months of this year, combined with strong sales for Christmas, gave Turkish toy company Dolu its best ever year in the UK market for 2019. Due to its success at the 2019 London Toy Fair, Dolu will again be showing in same location on its purpose-built 160+ square meter stand. Last year saw the introduction of a Pink Unicorn theme to Dolu’s outdoor and girls’ product range, which complemented the company’s unisex colourways. The move marked the first time Dolu consumers have been offered a colour choice when it comes to play products for their garden. The range includes playhouses, slides, picnic tables, rockers and trikes, plus a pedal tractor and trailer. For spring/summer, Dolu introduced a new Water Table that converts into a desk, two new water slides and a fun new trike. The company is also also making cosmetic improvements to many of its products, as part of its commitment to quality and value for money. Most Dolu outdoor lines are delivered to stores in strong brown or white boxes, which are ideal for in-store use or for online direct despatch. Dolu’s brand-new 55,000 square meter factory (approximately the same area as five full size football fields), all of which is on one level, is likely to be ready for use before the end of 2020. This impressive building will include warehouses and offices, plus a 1,000 square meter permanent showroom. Alongside quality, service and value, Dolu products offer an attractive proposition compared to Chinese imports without the minimum order quantities and lead-time. All products offer EU quality. Located in Turkey, the company also believes it will be unaffected by the outcome of political changes or Brexit negotiations. Please contact Ria or Steve Richardson for further details, or to book an appointment at the show: sales@sjr-associates.co.uk.

Toy World 272

Please visit us at the London Ol ym Toy Fair, sta pia nd GH78

Manufacturers of official branded necklaces, bracelets, charms, earrings, key-rings, bookmarks, pens and watches

www.thecaratshop.co.uk T: +44 (0)1279 442 528

E: info@thecaratshop.co.uk

2020

PMS International 01268 505 050 www.pmsinternational.com Gallery 654 The Elves and their appetite for pranking is unisex, universal and ageless. The Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls have enjoyed high sales because of the broad-based audience of toddlers, kids and adults alike –parents and adults love playing pranks at home, in the neighbourhood and at work, just as much as kids. PMS International has seen success with the Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls continue, due to this universal appeal and the fact that they are now usually bought in pairs. The Elfie and Evie twin pack in a gift box has performed particularly well across 2019. For 2020, PMS International is focusing on its core lines including the dolls, dress up outfits and accessories. Dolls can be purchased separately and in pairs. There is a poseable version on offer and one with a sound chip which makes a variety of amusing sounds. A selection of new lines will be introduced including Stretchable Elf Poo and an Elf Wooden Christmas Eve Box/Chest, to help strengthen the range further. Fans can continue the fun online by viewing thousands of images of pranks carried out by consumers at home or in their places of work. The pranking has become very competitive, with thousands of participants coming up with new creative and humorous ideas. Now an established Christmas tradition, the company aims to expand the prankster community for 2020.

Skyrocket Toys 01489 668441 www.skyrocketon.com Stand C42

Blume dolls feature revolutionary, patent-pending reveal technology. Tipped to be one of this year’s most popular collectibles, the dolls have impressed audiences at events, in-store events and across social media thanks to their captivating opening experience. Simply adding water to each flowerpot causes one of 22 collectible dolls to bloom, revealing 10 different surprises within the pot including stickers and miniature friends. Blume Dolls series 2 is set for release in early 2020, with further ‘sun-sational’ surprises revealed with every doll. The bright packaging, which is appreciated by kids and parents alike for its clever use of materials to minimise waste, has been updated for the second wave and features a larger pot for even greater value. There are 22 new dolls to collect across a variety of rarities in series 2. The dolls’ dramatic hairstyles have undergone a make-over, now delivering even squishier slow-rise foam as well as a dramatic colour-change element when the doll is placed in sunlight. Mix & match fashions, accessories and mini friends complete the surprises in each pot, all of which are compatible with series 1 for added play value. The Blume hero line for spring/summer 2020 is the new Secret Surprise Garden. Including beach inspired must-have fashion accessories, the new play set is filled with over 30 surprises, sticker sheets, a Rare Blume Doll and a host of mix & match outfits and accessories, all compatible with series 1. New-look packaging and colour change technology make this a stand-out product for the New Year. Further bolstering the brand is Blume Baby Pop. Each Baby Pop flower planter opens to reveal a secret nursery and 25 surprises. There are plenty of babies to collect complete with magic gender reveals, assorted baby moods, a snuggle buddy and over 60 accessories including costumes for dress-up play. In line with the brand, there’s a fun reveal to enjoy with each product; simply pulling on each sprout pops out a surprise. This play pattern can be repeated again and again. There are five themes to collect across the Blume Baby Pop series, all of which are based on key trends - Sea, Llama, Zoo, Woodland and Unicorn. In addition to Blume’s new introductions, Skyrocket will be showcasing a host of new brands for the first time at London Toy Fair. To find out more about the new pipeline of products, and to be first in the queue to see the new innovations, get in touch with general manager Amy Saunders: amys@skyrockettoys.com.

Toy World 274

STAR PRODUCTS

Patented folding system with a push button.

LICENSING & DISTRIBUTION

ented folding system with a push button.

EXPLORER TRIKE SERIES Our EXPLORER TRIKE series has launched! With a modern and unique 100% tool-less design, to effortlessly change the product as a child grows, it’s the ultimate go-to product for parents with toddlers aged 10 months+. All models are equipped with our patented wheel mechanism to easily and quickly convert the two rear wheels into a doublewidth wheel without any tools, to transform the product from a tricycle to a balance bike!

DABLE WOOD

What’s more, when the child outgrows our trike stages, parents can easily store the pedals with the built-in storage!

LE WOOD 4

436-102

New Red

5224401568

GHT

STAR PRODUCTS

436-106

436-110

Lime Green

Deep Pink

4895224401179

4895224401773

436-106

436-110

436-206

Pastel Green

4895224402343

436-206

an appointment please contact: VISIT US AT LONDON TOY FAIR Lime Green DeepForPink Pastel Green Stand F20 Rosie Gissing – Account Manager: RGissing@plumproducts.com 4895224401179 4895224402343 4895224401773

DIMENSIONS

H x L x W (cm/inches)

2020

MV Sports

The Trolls World Tour sequel is realised in cinemas in March, which will be supported with a range of brightly coloured scooters, skates and bikes. The Trolls Tepee is vibrantly decorated with Poppy and Branch character art, integrated floor and tie back front doors. A Trolls Funky Hair range features Trolls inspired hair and glitter elements on a range of scooters, skates and bikes. MV Sports will be supporting the new movie Minions: The Rise of Gru with a Minions wheeled range. The Minions 3-in-1 Scootin’ Suitcase has three modes, scooter, carry case and trolley, with an adjustable handlebar height and large capacity case with secure straps and storage pocket. The new Minions 6v battery operated ride-on has moulded Minion features at the front, plus lights and sounds. The Be-Do Light & Sound Scooter features the “be-do, be-do” sounds from the first Despicable Me film, with integrated flashing lights in the deck. The company has two new pre-school licences for 2020 - Ricky Zoom and Bing. Ricky Zoom will be at Toy Fair with moulded 3D plaques on a tri-scooter and bike. Bing joins the pre-school roster with fun graphics on a range of scooters, bikes and ride-ons. Evergreen properties Batman, Peppa Pig, Disney Princess and Paw Patrol are guaranteed customer favourites and MV offers a complete Disney portfolio, including top wheeled toy properties such Frozen and Spiderman. The older boys’ category is expanded with Nerf and Nickelodeon Slime. The Nerf Blaster Inline scooter features a Mini Nerf blaster attached to the handlebars and a dart holder on the stem. The new Nickelodeon Slimetime Inline Scooter and 14” bike both include a slime backpack blaster, which can be filled with specially formulated powdered slime mix and mounted on the scooter or bike. Following a successful first year for uMoVe, the premium scooter range, will be expanded in 2020 to include sparkle, sequin and camo print models. uMoVe sparkle scooter has a glitter finish on the anodised stem, a glitter grip tape and glitter LED wheels. The new uMoVe camo range is emblazoned with colourful camouflage prints in a range of colours whilst uMoVe Sequin scooters are bedecked with reversible sequin stem wraps and glitter finishes on the grip tape and wheels. Two premium lithium scooters also join the UMove line-up, with integrated flashing lights in the deck and wheels, plus three modes; beginner, learner and advanced. Kickmaster has a comprehensive range of balls, goals and football sets. The innovative Soccer Arcade is the ultimate goal for practising target skills and incorporates a regular sized 7ft goal at the rear. The innovative new Soccer Box is a multi-faceted training aid incorporating a mini football goal, rebounder, chipping trainer, target shot and additional goal. The compact design of the Soccer Box can be folded for easy storage Hedstrom Play is an expansion of the Hedstrom range featuring sustainable source wooden sand, water and ball play sets. The Stunted range will have a complete refresh in design and colours and introduce new finishes for 2020. a regular sized 7ft goal at the rear. The innovative new Soccer Box is a multi-faceted training aid incorporating a mini football goal, rebounder, chipping trainer, target shot and additional goal. The compact design of the Soccer Box can be folded for easy storage Hedstrom Play is an expansion of the Hedstrom range featuring sustainable source wooden sand, water and ball play sets. The Stunted range will have a complete refresh in design and colours and introduce new finishes for 2020.

01217 488 000 www.mvsports.co.uk Stand B30

N. Smith 0121 557 1891 www.nsmithbox.co.uk Stand 124 N. Smith is a privately-owned UK manufacturer of high-quality temporary POS and display units, packaging solutions and cartons, with a wealth of experience in the sector. Having been established for well over 100 years, the company offers a service that it considers second to none, from concept design through to the finished product. The company’s continued investment in cutting edge technology, combined with a highly experienced and skilled workforce, enables it to deliver a professional, tailored and economic service to our customers. At the same time, it takes pride in retaining the close relationships it has built with its clients throughout the entire process, something the company consider to be fundamental to its success. N. Smith currently works with many toy manufacturers, largely providing in-store floor standing display units and countertop solutions for impulse purchase lines. Projects of all shapes, sizes and weights are undertaken, while units are developed based on suggestions from customers’ marketing teams, N. Smith’s own creative input and experience, and the all-important store guidelines. The company will be showcasing its entire range of cardboard products, from basic packaging to full-colour temporary in-store promotional displays. Also on show will be the new cardboard spinner range, which provides an economic, printable alternative to traditional metal displays.

Toy World 276

Q&A

Toymaster

Strength in numbers

Toy World spoke to Toymaster’s retail manager, Brian McLaughlin, to hear how 2019 was for the buying group’s members, and what its plans are for Toy Fair 2020.

Toymaster welcomed a number of new garden centre members last year; is there a risk that expanding the membership in this way may create competition with toy specialist members? This is definitely a topic that perhaps needs some clarification, as it seems quite a few people have the wrong end of the stick about what this means for the group. Most of our garden centre Toymaster members are part of British Garden Centres, which is based in Brigg. The big uptake in membership everyone saw in 2019 was a result of British Garden Centres taking ownership of a number of former Wyevale centres. Wyevale has been closing quite a few of its sites during the past 18 months, the majority of which have been picked up by Dobbies, Blue Diamond, and British Garden Centres. The latter has been a member of Toymaster for several years, and so when it acquired these new sites they all became member stores too. It’s worth noting that while new buyers are now involved, which may result in adjustments to the ranges, virtually all these centres were already stocking toys prior to being acquired. In that respect, there’s no new competition. At a base level, the only thing that’s changed is the ownership of these centres.

Black Friday landed a week later in 2019 than it did in 2018 – did this affect sales for your members? What was the overall Black Friday feedback like? Feedback has certainly been mixed. Black Friday landed on payday for many this year, which was a positive compared to 2018, but we have seen varying degrees of success. Some of our members go all-in for Black Friday, from the advertising and signage to the in-store discounts, whereas others will simply make use of the

heightened awareness to draw attention to any offers they may be running, pushing through existing deals. Our members can pick and choose their level of Black Friday activity according what suits their business each year. Black Friday has been more positive for some members than it has been for others, depending on location, footfall etc. We have noticed that Black Friday kickstarted the peak season for a lot of consumers; it may have been a week later in 2019, but it still acted as that galvanising factor for Q4 shopping. Christmas has come very late the past few years, and with Christmas 2019 landing on a Wednesday, most shoppers got an extra couple of days to finish their Christmas shopping (assuming a lot of people broke up from work on Friday 20th December). This resulted in some very late shopping indeed. The later Christmas shopping gets, the higher we see footfall in bricks & mortar stores; at that stage, people want and need the products in their hands, ready to take home and wrap. It’s too late for most online orders.

they found challenging so we can learn from this feedback. We also want to hear how Toy Fair is panning out for them, and what they’ve seen that they’re particularly excited about (including anything they’ve seen at previews). This gives us a steer on what the major highlights of the year might be as far as our members are concerned.

This year, a number of independent toy retailers have closed down. How can Toymaster help those that are finding things tough?

Our main message to suppliers, and also to licensors, is that the independent sector is still hugely important to the UK retail scene. Our members offer the potential for plenty of high street exposure, with some 250 stores across the UK and Ireland ready and able to promote a raft of toy and game brands. Suppliers need to be aware that there’s a lot of retail shelf space out there and available to them in the form of Toymaster members, and we want to work with them to maximise on that. We haven’t nailed down the full 2020 window display programme yet either, so the second half of the year offers plenty of opportunities for those who want to get on board. Again, anyone interested can come and talk to us at Toy Fair.

Toymaster membership offers several benefits. Alongside the support and advice we offer, members working with us can enjoy much easier access to suppliers and special trading terms. Our central invoicing and payment systems mean retailers can spend more time focusing on their business, not their paperwork and invoices. We offer a great window display programme so indie retailers can promote key brands throughout the year, if they want to. Through Toymaster, members can also access FOB ranges which offer higher margins, which they couldn’t get hold of outside of the group. We’re helping our members the same way we always have – by offering unrivalled help and support, tailored to each and every individual retailer. All our members are distinctly different, unlike nationals, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We work closely with all our members to ensure their customer profile is understood and catered to.

What are your plans for Toy Fair this year? We have three core aims this year. We want to catch up with all our existing members; find out what was good for them in 2019, and what

Toy World 278

Secondly, we want to meet potential new members. Our Toymaster lounge, situated on the ground floor of the Grand Hall at Olympia, is open to anyone who wants to discuss membership. If anyone wants to contact me before the show to arrange a meeting, please email me (brian.mcLaughlin@toymaster.co.uk) or call 07887 844996. We’ll also be welcoming drop-ins across the three days. Lastly, we also want to get out on the show floor as a Toymaster team, to take in what’s coming through for 2020 and gauge the mood of attendees.

What messages do you have for Toymaster suppliers and members at this time in the year?

What do you think 2020 holds for the toy industry? We expect it’ll be another challenging year for all, with a lot of competition out there for consumer spending. There are many other categories out there that appeal to children outside of toys. The industry must make sure it’s constantly innovating, getting its products out there and showcasing them in the best way possible. I’ve been in the industry for 20 years, and even with 2019 being as difficult as it was, the mood coming into Toy Fair is as optimistic as it usually is. There’s a lot to be excited about at this time of year.

Q&A

Toymaster

Toymaster is a mutuality, a non-profit making organisation, which is wholly owned by its members, and every new member by definition also becomes a shareholder.

The benefits

- Access to over 200 toy suppliers. This includes all of the major toy brands. 85% of suppliers offer Toymaster members end of month + three month payment terms. This also includes exclusive offers and deals. - Marketing your business. Toymaster offers a year-round marketing campaign, including catalogues and exclusive window features. This also includes help and advice on how to run social media campaigns for local communities. - Central invoicing and central payment. All Toymaster payments are available on a private, secure web area. Payments are made to Toymaster for invoices due every month. Toymaster then pays the supplier on the member’s behalf. - It’s good to talk. The Toymaster membership with over 150 members (running 250 shops in the UK and ROI) make the most of networking and communication with fellow like-minded toy retailers. - Communication. Toymaster will send you up-to-date information regarding the toy trade, top 100 toy sellers, toy trends, and more. Toymaster will also help with in-store theatre and merchandising. There is also friendly and helpful staff on hand to help at all times. - Trade shows. Toy Fair Olympia – Members can take advantage of its room, only available for Toymaster members. Regional Meetings – exclusive FOB programme to help with retailer’s margin mix. May Show – Members can take advantage of Toymaster offers from over 100 suppliers and network in the toy trade.

Toy World 280

CDU

INCLUDED with each product

S AT EU E S

STAND

GH32

S AT EU E S

STAND

10.0-H-03

Q&A

Tobar

Casting the net wide It was a busy 2019 for Tobar, with several acquisitions and some major distribution launches helping the company to end the year on a high. Toy World spoke to David Mordecai, CEO, to find out what 2020 has in store. How has 2019 been for you? It’s been a good year and consistent throughout, helped by new Tobar ranges as well as UK distribution lines from Maisto, Bburago, Schylling and Zuru, and boosted by strong product launches such as Boppi. We have a huge customer account base, with around 2,500-3,000 live accounts, and we cross several consumer retail areas, which means we have a good spread of retail touchpoints and aren’t dependent on any one specific channel.

How important to your business are your distribution brands, and what do they offer retailers? The brands we distribute are well known and successful in their own right – and consumers want brands right now – but they also help to create traction for our own product ranges. There is a plethora of products within the Tobar portfolio: having the Maisto, Bburago and Zuru distribution ranges alongside our own lines allows us to offer a wide selection of products to the retail base. Retailers want to deal with fewer suppliers, so if we’ve got a wide range of products to offer, all under one roof, this can aid purchasing decisions. With the sheer number of products in our portfolio, we can get a larger slice of each retailer’s cake.

on value for money and price, whereas Tobar focuses on product quality and features, so we have two complimentary brands for two different markets. The acquisition means we’re now able to cover almost the entire national account base, as well as all the independent retailers, plus the myriad other sector retailers that we sell to. Grossman has never been strong on export, whereas Tobar has a wealth of experience in that area and is growing in strength considerably. Adding Grossman to our export offering has gone down very well with our customers. Moving forward, we hope that the second stage of this acquisition will help us maximise the accounts we both have. There’s an opportunity for cross-selling, which is something we’re taking forward into this year. The two brands will remain separate,

In August last year it was announced that Tobar was putting Hawkins Bazaar up for sale; what’s the latest news on this? We’re in talks with someone and we’re hoping a deal will be in place this month or next. I can’t say who it is, but I can say that it’s someone all your readers will know. Hawkins Bazaar will not be part of Tobar going forward, once a deal is agreed.

with two different sales teams and two different stands at trade shows. We’ll obviously maintain full and clear lines of communication between the two businesses, but by and large Grossman will exist as its own entity, with its own marketplace and offering. We acquired Kit for Kids in 2019 too, which allowed us to move further into the educational sector. This acquisition has also worked well; we’re running it as an autonomous business. We hope to make another acquisition, maybe two, in the not too distant future.

Will your full-market perspective, have you been able to notice any particular trends this year in the marketplace? There’s a lot of woe out there, and we can’t deny that some companies are struggling. Those that are doing the best are the omnichannel retailers with a bricks & mortar offering that dovetails into online. Tobar actually grew its customer base last year, driven by two things: the huge range of products we offer, and the retail solutions we can provide. The Indies can expect great retail support from us, and the products we’re bringing to market will benefit from in-store elements we’ve created, so consumers can feel and play with them. Our most successful customers are those that are adaptive. Even online, in the jungle that is Amazon re-sellers, there is a marked difference between those that are doing well and those that are sitting there, moaning about prices being driven down by this, that and the other. You have to take the bull by the horns and focus on faster service, better rankings and good feedback, rather than just price. Being proactive is the key.

How do you see 2020 shaping up?

How has the Grossman acquisition panned out, and what is it like to work with the company?

I am viewing this year with a positive outlook. I think we’ve gone through the darkest days, and moving forward I expect we’ll have a good year. Zuru’s Fifi the Flossing Sloth will grab a few headlines come January, and there’s plenty more for visitors to see at Toy Fair too.

It’s been fun to experience a different company culture, and the acquisition has helped us gain footing in different markets. Grossman focuses

Toy World 282

We Turn 20

NEW

in 2020!

RANGES in 2020

ys n to

Celebrating

rs a e 20 y

ul woode f i t u ea b f o

VIEW OUR FULL COLLECTION OF NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2020 AT THE FOLLOWING SHOWS:

21-23 Jan 2020

STAND E45

29 Jan - 2 Feb 2020

Hall 1 STAND F03

2 -6 Feb 2020 Hall 5 STAND H44

22 -25 Feb 2020

STAND 6277

Available in Spring/Summer 2020 Designs subject to final approval. © Disney. Based on the “Winnie the Pooh” works by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard

www.orangetreetoys.com

Interview

Toy Industries of Europe

Toy Industries of Europe -

together we can make a difference Toy Industries of Europe’s no. 1 priority is making sure that children are safe when they play with their toys. With the credibility and reputation of the toy industry and TIE members at stake, as well as the health and welfare of kids, the group is committed to raising standards, strengthening legislation, helping its members meet their responsibilities and making sure policymakers know about the good work of its reputable members. Catherine Van Reeth, director general, Toy Industries of Europe, explains all.

Can you tell our readers about TIE and what role the organisation plays in support of the toy community? Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) is the voice of reputable toy manufacturers in the EU. Central to our work is engaging with EU policy makers. Around 80% of legislation affecting the sector originates in Brussels, so TIE’s role in discussions is essential in helping to drive fair outcomes for our members. Another important part of what we do is helping our members comply with all the rules, and helping them ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to being responsible toy companies. We do this by providing guidance on topical issues; most recently, we’ve held expert webinars on chemical safety assessments and working with social media influencers. We’ll soon be confirming what will be on the agenda for 2020, so watch this space. Finally, we’re very excited to be launching TIE’s Play for Change awards this year. The awards will provide the opportunity to give recognition to toy companies of different sizes for leading the sector forward on issues of societal concern. We’ve chosen to recognise initiatives that improve environmental sustainability, empower children to thrive by fighting prejudice and prepare children for the future with 21st century skills. Watch out for more information during the Spielwarenmesse.

Which toy companies and industry associations are currently involved with the TIE? Within our growing membership we have 18

international companies, representing some of the EU’s most reputable toy brands. We have nine national associations, including the BTHA, which represent their own members from the EU’s key toy markets: Germany, France, UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Bulgaria. We also have seven affiliate members, for whom toy making is not their main business but, like specialist toy manufacturers, prioritise toy safety and fully commit to TIE’s values. We estimate that through our combined direct and indirect membership, we represent around 80% of the toys on the market in the EU. We’re very lucky to have members from all categories of our membership who share their knowledge and experience with the Secretariat. This has helped TIE to build a reputation as a trusted association that policy makers and other EU partners can look to for expert advice and opinions on new developments.

What are the most pressing areas of policy that the TIE will be working on in 2020? 2020 will be a particularly interesting period as there is a new group of decision makers coming in, both in the European Parliament and the Commission. They may be looking to make a mark on EU policies; issues related to child protection are often very attractive for such newcomers. In terms of the issues that TIE will be paying special attention to, there is a big question over whether the Toy Safety Directive will be revised. We’ll be working to demonstrate that the directive is fit for purpose, as long as it’s supported by effective market surveillance and

Toy World 284

enforcement that targets dishonest traders. The scrutiny of online platforms will continue to increase. The EU rules on e-commerce are up for review and we can expect continued questions from politicians on the role and responsibilities of platforms in the EU when it comes to product safety, taxes, counterfeits and more. As these discussions move forward, TIE will be echoing the BTHA’s recent message and calling for the increased accountability of online marketplaces. Environmental policies are near the top of almost everyone’s agenda. The circular economy mantra of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ is likely to be at the heart of policy discussions, and we might see product repair and refurbishment added to the list. Of particular interest to the sector will be discussions on sustainability of packaging and materials; it will be important to ensure toy safety is not compromised. Finally, privacy and cybersecurity discussions have not disappeared. We can expect new EU guidance on how to handle children’s data. The Internet of Things is still in the spotlight, and toys keep coming up in discussions. TIE will be working to make sure that any new regulation helps level the playing field for companies who play by the rules. There will be many other proposals that come to the table in the months and years ahead. No matter what comes up, TIE will be working to show potential impacts on the sector, making sure policymakers and other stakeholders know about the good work of its reputable members in bringing safe play to children across Europe and highlighting the importance of play in children’s

ir: Fa y y To ller at a 4 s r G 12 tu e d si pp n Vi U Sta

Don’t play with your packaging! Choose n.smith for: • FSDU • CDU • POS We also produce: • Cartons • Boxes • Diecuts Call: 0121 557 1891

email: sales@nsmithbox.co.uk

web. www.nsmithbox.co.uk

n.smith, Hainge Road, Tividale, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 2NZ OVER 115 YEARS OF MANUFACTURING IN THE UK

Interview

Toy Industries of Europe

lives. This means making sure they know that: • Play is a piece in the puzzle of Europe’s future; it’s important that they support policies that let children get the most out of play, helping them to reach their full potential in adult life • Everyone has to play by the rules when it comes to children’s safety, not just reputable companies • European toy makers shouldn’t just exist in fairy tales; it’s important that EU laws allow space for innovation that allow the sector to grow in Europe

How will Brexit potentially affect the work of UK toy companies and the BTHA at a European level? At a very practical level, in our day-to-day lobby work, we’re already experiencing the effects of Brexit. Large amounts of resources and a lot of focus and energy are going into it, and for substantial parts of the European Commission it’s taken the spotlight off other issues. It would be good if we can find some kind of closure on Brexit, although that may still be a long time away. UK representatives in Brussels have already withdrawn from discussions of substance and it’s noticeable. They were often a voice of reason at the table, quite pragmatic, and usually

understood the industry’s perspective. From a lobbying point of view, the UK’s input will be much missed. Even now, with the new UK government, it’s difficult to predict exactly how the final agreement will affect the toy sector on either side of the channel. A major benefit of having a single set of rules on toy safety is seamless trade across all 28 EU countries. We hope that any future solution supports the continued alignment of toy safety standards. One thing we do know for certain is that the BTHA - a well-respected founding member of TIE - will remain firmly on the team. The knowledge and experience it contributes to TIE are invaluable.

Toy World spoke to Mattel’s Sanjay Luthra, chair of the board at TIE, about what he hopes to achieve in his position.

As chair of the board, what are your key aspirations for your tenure? Toys are a key ingredient of play and are therefore invaluable for children’s physical, mental, social and emotional development. Those of us in the toy industry have the great honour and responsibility of contributing to the positive development and wellbeing of children and play. As chair of the board, I’m delighted to help drive this narrative and raise awareness of the importance and role of toys in society, as well as the challenges relevant stakeholders and policy makers will be facing in the coming years, while engaging with existing and new members of this important group.

How important is TIE in protecting the interests of its members and the European toy industry as a whole? Hugely important. Over the last five years, TIE has promoted fair outcomes for the sector on over 100 different EU policies. TIE’s work goes beyond toy safety rules and covers a diverse range of topics that impact on reputable toy makers including sustainability, market surveillance, data protection, cybersecurity, advertising, consumer law, B2B transactions, intellectual property rights and trade. In the next five years, we can expect that the importance of these issues for our sector will grow. TIE’s voice will be more important than ever in making sure the perspective of the sector is heard – together, we can really make a difference.

Award-winning time teacher clocks, watches and games

LONDON TOY FAIR STAND GH05

www.easyreadtimeteacher.com

Leading the way in toy safety, quality and sustainability UL helps manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to delight children with safe, quality toys. Our global expertise and worldwide network of accredited laboratories allow us to provide the toy industry with the support required to successfully meet regulatory demands and protect brand reputation. Working together, we can reduce business complexity, mitigate risk, increase trust and bring sustainability to the entire value chain.

Testing

Quality assurance

Advisory services

Sustainability

Chemical management

Global market access

Data management

UL Marks for your toys Make your marketing promises credible with UL Verification Mark and demonstrate your commitment to product safety and compliance with UL Toy Safety Certification Mark. Contact UL in Basingstoke to learn more on +44 (0)1256 312100 or visit our website CRS.UL.com

Come and meet our toy experts on 21-23 January 2020 at the Toy Fair in London at booth B49 on the ground floor.

UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC ÂŠ 2019.

Feature

Retailer of the Year

BTHA Toy Retailer of the Year 2019 finalists The British Toy & Hobby Association has announced the finalists for the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards 2019. Nominations were invited from BTHA membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sales directors, toy agents and national account directors, as well as toy retailers which were also invited to self-nominate. Shortlisting was done by a panel from across the industry - members of the BTHA Council, strategically based toy agents, sales and national account directors from around the UK and a representative from the leading toy trade magazine, Toy World. The winners of the prestigious Toy Retailer Awards will be announced at the annual Toy Industry Awards held at Olympia, London on Tuesday 21st January 2020. The gala event, which takes place on the first evening of Toy Fair, is organised by the BTHA with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA), which will also present the Toy and Supplier Awards 2019 on the same evening. The shortlist is as follows:

Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (single store) Enchanted Wood Toys, Farnham, Surrey The staff at Enchanted Wood possess an encyclopaedic knowledge of toys gleaned through years of trade fair attendance and supplier events. Customers are assured of a friendly welcome, and can take advantage of free in-store wrapping. The store is child and parent friendly, with two lifts and wide aisles for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The store always has a number of activities and play tables to keep kids occupied while parents browse the shop in peace, and the staff regularly run activity days during school holidays, such as costume events and competitions. Enchanted Wood stocks a full range of toys, from high-profile lines to high margin earners. It also stocks books, balloons, partyware, confectionary, jewellery, baby gifts and clothing, and gifts for teens. By bringing in other child-related products that are not always associated with toy stores, Enchanted Wood has not only made its store more parent-friendly by being a one-stop shop, but has also protected and grown its sales.

Thomas Moore Toymaster, Exeter, Devon This store has invested heavily in the customer experience. Six weeks of building work, which took place in April and May, have remodelled the shop to provide a more hands-on and interactive experience. Thomas Moore Toymaster believes that providing all its customers with a fun and engaging experience, which canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be found in other high street toy retailers (or the likes of Amazon, eBay and other retail websites), has been key to maintaining footfall and customer retention. Dedicated new play areas have proved popular with younger visitors; play-tables from Lego, Playmobil and Brio can be enjoyed. The building walls, statues, interactive screens and model displays from Lego are always popular with visitors of all ages, while the provision of a sofa and seating area for parents ensures that everyone is comfortable during their visit. Thomas Moore is acutely aware that price is the key factor in generating sales and consumer confidence, and tries to work closely with suppliers to negotiate deals and offers that it can pass on to consumers. Discounts, linked purchase offers, timed special offers and clearance lines all help boost consumer confidence.

Wigwam Toys, Brighton Wigwam toys is a small family run independent toy shop in the Fiveways area of Brighton. It opened its doors nearly seven years ago and has recently opened its online store. Wigwam specialises in finding well-made and beautiful things, which are reasonably priced and that will stand the test of time. When making buying decisions for the shop, the owners try to only buy stock that they would be happy to give to their own children or friends. In 2020, owner Clair Letton is organising a series of community events on Small Business Saturday in order to get visitors exploring the shops in the Fiveways area. Clair is passionate about the role of small businesses in the community and has recently submitted an article to The Parliamentary Review on the role of government in assisting high street regeneration, legislation and rate reform. One of the benefits of being small, according to Wigwam, is that it can work with other small and emerging companies in a mutually supportive way. The store works to develop relationships with local creators, makers and artists, providing a platform to sell from and exposure to customers, helping to offer its customers something they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find elsewhere.

Toy World 288

DISCOVER

Fun for everyone

Choose from 39 exciting & innovative 3D puzzles

Games up 11% on last year*

59% of Licensed

#1 in Adult

108% up on last year YTD*

Puzzles in Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19*

puzzle market

YTD*

range at l l u f e h t e Experienc

0 4 1 E r i a F Toy

Tel: 01869 363800 sales@ravensburger.com /Ravensburger

@RavensburgerGlobal

*NPD Nov 2019 @RavensburgerUK

Ravensburger

Feature

Retailer of the Year

Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (Multi Store)

Ken Black Toys Ken Black strives to stock every toy demanded by its customers. Over the years, the store has built up a reputation locally as being a one-stop-shop for toy shopping, be it a birthday present, an outdoor toy for the spring or summer, or the main Christmas toy spend. The retailer ensures that it has the latest toys from its suppliers by being in constant contact and placing advance orders. Good value is key to the product offering; Ken Black knows that for customers to keep coming back, they have to feel that they have received good value for money. The best prices and promotions are offered all year round. Ken Black also prides itself on its customer service by offering high levels of choice and assistance, and provides depth of range across categories including farm products and outdoor/wheeled toys that would not be available from many other toy stores. The store strives to offer a pleasant shopping experience which has translated into plenty of repeat business across the years.

Midco Toymaster ‘Living and breathing the toy industry’, Midco goes the extra mile with in-store events, competitions, store visits, demo days and promotions. Its biggest event took place in September, and saw the store host all the above plus a visit from The Ecto 1 car from Ghostbusters. The event attracted over 4,000 people, boosting footfall for the whole town, not just Midco. In-store events are promoted through social media, with over 15,000 followers across all platforms, who can also take part in regular social media competitions. A Savings Club helps customers spread the cost of their purchase across the year, while customers can also benefit from a store Loyalty Card scheme which, in turn, drives repeat custom. Midco’s staff is a key factor of each store’s success. Carefully selected and trained, each is given an area of focus and a specialist subject. Midco employees are known locally as toy experts, with many people visiting the store just to ask for advice. As a member of the Toymaster selection committee, Midco’s aim is to not only make itself the best retailer it can be, but to also help other independents in the toy industry.

Toy Barnhaus Toy Barnhaus was founded in 2009 by Mark Buschhaus and Stephen Barnes, after both were made redundant from Woolworths. The pair now have eight stores in the south east of England and have just celebrated their 10th anniversary with a series of promotions and events. Continually looking at ways to improve the business and customer experience, bespoke cash desks have been installed in all stores, with merchandising units built in. Side units have been fitted to the gondola endcaps, which has added extra space in the stores while not taking up valuable customer space. Toy Barnhaus carries lines from over 100 suppliers in its stores. Over the past year, Stephen and Mark have expanded the range of clearance and sale lines in their stores, creating a specialised area at the front for customers to shop. This has increased value perception, and, with new items arriving regularly, customers frequently pop back to see what else has arrived in-store. The ethos of the business is to keep things simple - if there is no benefit to its customers, Toy Barnhaus doesn’t think it’s worth doing.

Toy World 290

Feature

Retailer of the Year

Department Store Toy Retailer of the Year Morleys Stores Morleys Stores is a group of eight, privately owned, full line department stores. All stores have a permanent toy department, ranging from 1,000 square feet in the smallest store to 4,000 square feet in the main stores. The flagship store, Elys of Wimbledon, underwent a £2m refurbishment in 2019 including additional space for its toy dept. A gifting area was added on bespoke wall fixtures, allowing for the cross-merchandising of plush with books, room accessories and contemporary, high quality wooden toys. This has been a success, and will be rolled out across all stores. Morley’s also took the opportunity to spread out its fixtures, making the department more open and increasing comfort and dwell time for the customer. Where possible, products are taken out of their packaging for display, and demonstrations of games, construction and science ranges are offered. This, combined with excellent customer service from knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff, has enabled Morleys to grow its toy business in a difficult trading year.

Selfridges & Co Department store Selfridges has partnered with FAO Schwarz to bring the global toy brand to the UK. More than a toy store, FAO Schwarz is a destination of imagination and discovery, showcasing an unrivalled experiential retail experience. Customers can expect to be fully engaged with the space and its interactive offerings; Build Your Own Race Car enables shoppers to customise and build their own remote car from scratch. FAO Schwarz’s hand-selected toy ambassadors and product demonstrators are also on hand to provide a world-class shopping experience with showmanship, thoroughly supporting the theatrical wonderment FAO and Selfridges are known for. The London flagship at Selfridges features the FAO Schwarz toy line, exclusive to Selfridges, as well as a comprehensive selection of products to satisfy all ages, from pre-school to early teens. The store will also offer a wide range of plush toys, kids tech and the latest licensed products, as well as ranges from popular brands including L.O.L Surprise!, Barbie, Toy Story, Playmobil, Lego and Schleich.

W J Daniel & Co, Windsor Since its toy department first opened in 1946, W J Daniel Toy Kingdom, as it is known, has grown into a 10,000 square foot space that reflects the business’ strong family values. The Toy Kingdom is easily accessible to everyone and offers an extensive toy selection. Events are important to the retailer; located in the heart of Windsor, a busy tourist town, they bring families from all over the world together, offering them a fun experience they won’t forget. To celebrate Barbie’s 60th anniversary, the store hosted a Barbie: You Can Be Anything event. Children entered colouring competitions to win Barbie’s Dreamhouse, enjoyed make-up and outfit design activities, and were treated to free gifts alongside exclusive Barbie promotions. New interactive shop fits from Hape and Schleich are ready for 2020. To celebrate the release of Frozen II and Toy Story 4, displays of Disney products were created to add even more magic to the Toy Kingdom.

Online Excellence Award

Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year

• Sainsburys Argos • Shop Direct • Smyths

• Sainsburys Argos • Smyths • The Entertainer

Toy World 292

fresh FRESH THIS MONTH:

Each month Fresh sets out to find the latest products that will have toy retailers reaching for the phone. In January we have new releases from: Innov8 Creative Academy, Mattel, Amscan.

Cloudees

Mattel 01628 500 000 | www.mattel.com

Mattel has created Cloudees to bring together the most popular trends in girls collectibles including unboxing, surprise elements, water transformation, magical animals and mix & match accessories. There are 28 little and large pals to collect in each wave, with new waves set to drop throughout the year. Two different scales are available at launch; for every Cloudees pets there's a matching Cloudees Minis pet, with 28 to collect in series 1, wave 1.

Sockie Stars

Innov8 Creative Academy (353) 831 053 017 Innov8 Creative Academy, set up in late 2018, was established to develop new high-quality products with clever features which serve a practical function. It focuses concepts on children, typically combining books and toys with wellness and wholesome play. 2020 sees the launch of a number of new products from Innov8, including Sockie Stars; a global first with an attractive and empowering package. A completely new way of addressing everyday challenges for children, Sockie Stars is a storybook telling the endearing story of Coco, Sockie and Todd, three socks who confront life’s challenges. Coco becomes brave enough to overcome feeling frightened. Sockie finds a way to feel calm and face challenges, while Todd learns that being yourself is okay. The package includes a storybook, Feelings Conversation Table-top Card, and three sets of ‘Caped Socks’ with ‘Sockology’ sewn into their soles; Brave Socks, Calm Socks and Odd Socks. The stories encourage young readers to wear the socks and to trust the strength they need is already within and to face the world without feelings of fear or panic. Sockie Stars adds to the growing range of products launched by Innov8, which includes the Bye Bye Blankie and the Reindeer Feeder. More information on these products can be found at www.byebyeblankie. com and www.thereindeerfeeder.com. For more information, contact Gavin Lawler: gavin@ innov8academy.com.

To enjoy Cloudees, kids add water to the large cloud case and shake it to create a soft and fluffy cloud, within which is contained a Cloudees character and six surprises. Cloudees pets come from seven different weather-themed lands; Raindrop Village, Stormyville, Sunnyland, Starry Way, Rainbow Point, Snowflake Hills and Windy Way. Characters include Breezy Koala, Frolicking Unicorn, Prancy Poodle and Dapper Sloth, plus rare characters which can be seen on the included collector’s sheet. Each character comes with accessories including a fluffy attachable cloud tail, two storytelling accessories, and a key chain which lets collectors take their cloud case and character with them on the go. The lid of the cloud case works as a base too, so kids can display their new pet. character Cloudees will launch in the New Year with a 360-degree marketing plan that includes a comprehensive TV campaign, top tier influencers, digital and PR.

Warner Bros Dress Up range Amscan International Ltd 01908 288500 | www.amscan.co.uk

Amscan International has expanded its dress-up portfolio to include a new range of Warner Bros licensed costumes and wearable accessories for 2020. Available to the UK market, the first phase of styles as part of the collaboration is ready to order now. As part of the initial range launch of over 30 styles, licences will include icons from the DC Universe, as well as Scooby Doo, and leading characters from the Wizard of Oz; with many more to be revealed throughout 2020. The collection includes styles for both children and adults, with selected matching options available. The new range, which has been designed in the UK, has been created in close collaboration with the Warner Bros team to achieve costumes that are both wearable and authentic to the characters. Be sure to look out for some key characters making an appearance in 2020, including Harley Quinn Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 84.

Toy World 294

Alpha Zulu

The SHOUTY word game!

NEW!

(Nanny Elephant Wellies)

Heavy weight Social Media campaign

Hashtag The Card Game

Color Addict

#bestsellingcardgameever #mytypeofgameonpaper

“Exclusive Toy Fair Offer Buy 36 Units and receive FREE Rechargeable TV CDU*”

*Limited Stock

Visit us at London Toy Fair Stand H1

Phone: 01268 511522 Email: Info.UK@cartamundi.com

fresh My First Tikiri ethical toy range Tikiri 07866 454 724 | www.tikiritoys.co.uk

Based in Sri Lanka and already distributed in several other countries, Tikiri offers a range of environmentally responsible toys. The cute My First Tikiri range includes three different animal collections: My First Tikiri Ocean Buddies, My First Tikiri Farm and My First Tikiri Safari. Dinosaurs, dragons, unicorns and other fairytale designs are also available. All the products in the range are manufactured from ethically sourced, organic, chemical free rubber from the hevea plant, eco-friendly cotton and other sustainable materials. Each toy in the collection is biodegradable, so the range is non-toxic and safe for newborns and toddlers. Individual items serve as an all-in-one rattle, bath toy and teether. Tikiri is committed to employee welfare programmes and community projects. Each time a Tikiri toy is bought in the UK, a child or family in Sri Lanka benefits. The company provides all employees with free meals, transport, medical facilities and health insurance, and their children are supplied with school bags and books year-round. The company has set up a UK distribution centre in Sheffield and is now looking to attract retail buyers seeking cute childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gifts with high sustainability standards and competitive price points. For more information, email Peter Hawkins, head of UK operations, on peter.hawkins@tikiritoys.co.uk.

Toy World 296

AWARD WINNING Count with Peppa

Double sided Mini Art Station

The Fun way to Learn

Expect so much more!

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003. Thomas and Friends © 2017 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. © 2017 HIT Entertainment Limited. Mr Tumble Something Special BBC logo TM & © BBC 1996. SOMETHING SPECIAL logo TM & © BBC 2004. MR TUMBLE TM & © BBC2015. Licensed by BBC Studios. HEY DUGGEE™ and character logos™ & © Studio AKA Ltd 2014. Licensed by BBC Studios. BBC logo TM & © BBC 1996. © P&Co. Ltd./SC 2019 Licensed on behalf of Studiocanal S.A.S by Copyrights Group. Paw Patrol © 2019 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved. PAW Patrol and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Spin Master Ltd. Nickelodeon and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Paint Sticks © 2018 Little Brian. From Brian Clegg Ltd. © 2019 TrendsUK Ltd. SCIENCE MAD is the Registered Trade Mark of Trends UK Limited.

Trends UK (National Accounts)

Wind Designs (Independents)

Email: salesadmin@trendsuk.co.uk www.trendsuk.co.uk

Email: sales@wind-designs.com www.wind-designs.com

Tel: +44 (0)1295 768078 TRENDS-HP-ad-210x138-Dec2019.indd 1

Tel: +44 (0)1353 724140

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ane Olesen: Ane@wirepr.co.uk

10/12/2019 18:32

OfficialPeppaPig

fresh DC Comic Batman and Superman puzzle range Kidicraft 01282 500 899 | www.kidicraft.com Following the successful launch of the Harry Potter range, Kidicraft is preparing to launch a DC Comic Batman and Superman puzzle range in Super 3D this month. The 500pc jigsaw puzzles are created using the latest Prime 3D lenses to give great depth and movement. Striking images and packaging are complemented by a new branded DC Comic Batman and Superman floor display unit, which is available free of charge with an order of 48 puzzles or more from the range. The new products will be on display at the London Toy Fair (Stand H30) and Spring Fair International (Hall 5, Stand K28).

Toy World 298

Visit us at Toy Fair | G65

Spring Fair 5L34 | Spielwarenmesse Hall 3 D30

littleCONCEPTS - proud partners of:

Toy Fair 2020 Advertisers Index Advertiser

Page Number

Advertiser

Page Number

8th Wonder

253

Learning Resources

133

A.B.Gee

227

Lego

243

Aardman

Lisle Licensing

Alpha Animation

221

Little Athlete Games

172

Amscan

28, 29

Little Concepts

299

Asmodee

123, 125, 127

Magformers

301

Azure Media

Magic Box Toys

219

Bachmann

259

Make It Real

115

Bandai

203, 205

Marvin's Magic

301

Beano

Mattel

11, 13, 15, 17, 19

Big Potato

271

MGA Entertainment

Bladez Toyz

279

Mookie

233

Blue Sky Designs

Moose Toys

91, 93

Boat Rocker

76,77

MTS

Brainstorm

139, 141, 143, 145

N Smith + Co

285

Bruder

223

Nickelodeon

BTHA

Nikko

100, 101

Canal

147,149

Orange Tree Toys

283

Cartamundi

295

Orchard

296

Casdon

225

Penguin Random House

Character Options

Back Cover

Playmobil

207

Character Options

4, 7, 129

Plum Products

275

Cheatwell

222

PMS

31, 33

Clementoni

193

Posh Paws

249

Click Distribution

237

Pyramid

109

Craze Toys

103

Rachel Lowe

277

Creative Models (Puzzles and Play)

Rainbow Designs

235

Desi Doll

117

Rainbow Spa

Diaframma

Ravensburger

289

Dolu

241

Redan Publishing

Easy Read Time Teacher

286

Redlands

206

Eduk8

280

Rollplay

EDX Education

121

Schleich

213, 215

Elf on the Shelf

298

Sega

Entertainment One

Sequin Art

119

Epoch Making Toys

Inside Front Cover, Page 1

Siso

159

Flair

41, 43

Skyrocket

Funko

239

Smart Games

257

Funrise

291

Smiffys

113

Generation Media

35, 36, 37, 38

Spin Master

Front Cover

Geomag

175

Strategia Games

238

Gibsons

297

Tactic

293

Golden Bear

209

Thames & Kosmos

299

Guidecraft

111

The Carat Shop

273

Halilit

The Source Wholesale

281

Hasbro

Tobar

105, 199

Hasbro Licensing

Tomy

131

Hauck

107

Tonies

255

HGL

201

Toynamics

49, 50, 51

Hornby

161, 163, 165

Toynamics

HTi

Trends

297

Hunter Price

217

287

IMC

173

Universal

57, 59, 61

Import Services

Inside Back Cover

Vivid

247

Innov8 Creative

VR Distribution

211

Interplay

167, 169, 171

VTech

135

James Galt

267

Warner Bros

64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69

Jazwares

195, 197

John Adams

229, 231

Wilton Bradley

179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191

Jumbo

269

Winning Moves

245

Kidicraft

261, 263

Wow! Stuff

177

Klein Toys

251

WWE

K'Nex/Basic Fun

151, 153, 155, 157

Zappies

265

Leapfrog

137

Toy World 300

Allegedly

There were a few whispers last month that some companies had been experiencing a few credit insurance issues with Very as we head towards 2020. So news that fresh funding - in the form of a £75m equity injection- has been secured from its parent company will hopefully help to allay concerns. Rumours persist that the Barclay brothers are looking to sell parts of their business empire, which may or may not include the Very operation. However, for now, credit insurers will hopefully reconsider their decision to remove cover, as Very remains an extremely valuable account for many toy companies… The CMA has thrown a curveball into the proposed takeover of eOne by Hasbro, after announcing that it would be launching an investigation into the deal and whether it might result in what it described as a ‘substantial lessening of competition’. After the CMA blocked last year’s takeover of Asda by Sainsbury’s, it would be foolish to dismiss the probe out of hand. However, I do feel that this deal is a rather different scenario; it was no great secret that eOne had been looking to sell up for some considerable while, and I am not sure why the CMA potentially feels that Hasbro would not be a suitable owner, as opposed to any other prospective purchaser. A deadline of 21st January has been set to decide whether or not the CMA will refer the merger for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation coincidentally the day that the London Toy Fair opens. The trade will be watching developments with interest… I recently attended an Amazon Black Friday event – yes, they really did let me in! I left perplexed rather than blown away; perhaps surprisingly, toys represented a relatively small – some might even say inconsequential - part of the event. Neither was there any hint or suggestion of specific promotional offers on the toys on display over Black Friday weekend; I had naively assumed that the event might highlight any such deals. In keeping with tradition, as far as I am aware, no Amazon buyers were present; if they were, they certainly didn’t make themselves known. In fairness, there is evidence that Amazon is starting to address some of the areas that have been cause for concern - check out a new initiative currently underway on the Amazon France site, where official brand logos are being added to hero images. And I appreciate that the sales numbers Amazon is capable of delivering are crucial for a growing number of toy companies. I just wish they were a little more communicative and responsive, a bit more human… Chinese New Year falls two weeks earlier in 2020. What that means in practice is that Chinese factories are likely to start winding down between 10th-15th January, before being closed for a month as usual. It certainly doesn’t leave much room for manoeuvre in the supply chain; those suppliers and retailers not fully organised may find themselves coping with a few logistical challenges over the Easter period…

Toy World 302

The now infamous ‘How to Spend it Well at Christmas’ TV programme once again helped to chivvy up consumers in the run-up to the festive season. The show didn’t disappoint, although not all the toys featured came out covered in glory, and the dress-up segment was particularly ridiculous – most kids would surely be dressing up for a party, rather than a spin round a muddy army assault course. However, a 60 minute thinly-veiled advertisement for a strong selection of the latest toys can only be a good thing for the industry. Among the products which garnered plaudits from the testers were Tomy’s Rizmo, John Adams’ Bank Attack, Jazwares’ Roblox, a Spin Master radio control truck and a stretchy piece of poo from HTi for £1.99. Never let it be said that the programme doesn’t reflect the glorious diversity of our wonderful trade… Another group of people who have finally got something to smile about are Star Wars licensees; to be fair, it’s been a bit of a slog for some of them in recent years, but there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel after the breakout character from The Mandalorian, The Child – or Baby Yoda as everyone is calling him - became a viral sensation almost overnight. There have been more Baby Yoda memes on my social media timelines than Boris Johnson memes, which really is saying something. There has been some chuntering from retailers frustrated by the fact that merchandise for The Child won’t be arriving until early summer last year, and on the face of it, you can see why they feel it is a missed opportunity. I’ve also had several media outlets contact me in the hope that I would say something uncharitable about Disney for its launch strategy. On this occasion, they were disappointed. Unlike Frozen the first time round, it’s not that Disney didn’t know what it had on its hands; they know exactly how big this could turn out to be. It’s also not true that shortages are being cynically manipulated to massage demand; from what I have read online, the demand out there is going to be massive whenever product hits shelves. And contrary to what some journalists believed, I don’t believe that demand will dissipate over the next six months. Sure, it would have been great to add some incremental sales in 2019 – every little really would have helped this year. But Mandalorian director Jon Favreau was apparently adamant that he wanted the programme to lead the way, not the merchandise, and he clearly won the argument on this occasion. In a sector where commercial decisions frequently outweigh artistic or creative considerations, and where merchandise can sometimes seem more important than the film or show itself, I actually think this little victory might be one we should all quietly celebrate. Patience, young Jedi… Finally, I have just realised that I will be attending my 40th London Toy Fair this year. It has always been a hugely enjoyable event and I still get just as excited as I ever did as the show approaches. Whether you’re a regular visitor or attending for the first time, I hope you have a fantastic, productive show. You can find Toy World on stand GH37, right on the central aisle. We look forward to seeing you there.

Distribution Centre located within the Port of Southampton – the UK’s most productive container terminal and the first port of call for ships arriving from the Far East.

SPEED TO MARKET

Your customers’ deadlines are getting tighter. Import Services’ Port DC in Southampton is right beside the UK’s best performing container terminal for FMCG trade lanes and optimal port to customer delivery!

BECOME AN IMPORT SERVICES PARTNER TODAY! 01489 799 500 |

yes@importservices.co.uk |

www.importservices.co.uk

WORLD OF POKÉMON TOYS IS GETTING BIGGER!

NEW FIGURES

NEW PLUSH VISIT STAND E119 TO SEE THE NEW GENERATION OF POKÉMON TOYS ©2020 The Pokémon Company International. ©1995–2019 Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.

SCALRED FO E BATTL

NEW ROLEPLAY

NEW ELECTRONICS