Marketing World

KAP Toys kicks off Marvel Mission Arena TCG sampling activity

Since the end of April, consumers have been able to get their hands on an introductory pack of three cards for the Marvel Mission Arena trading card game (TCG) developed by Cicaboom, through purchasing a copy of Toxic magazine.

The sampling activity has taken place across the UK and coincided with the launch of the blockbuster movie, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy vol.3.

Packs cover mounted on Toxic magazine were available in retailers such as Co-op, Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda. A more specialist news distribution saw the cards reach into WH Smith, Spar and a number of independent stores throughout the UK.

The range was launched at Toy Fair this January by KAP Toys and combines the appeal of the most globally loved superhero brand with deep, multi-faceted play suitable for players over the age of six years. Appealing to Marvel fans and TCG fans alike, each card is simultaneously a collector’s item and a game tool. With 219 cards to collect, all featuring curated illustrations of the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe, the cards are must-have items as well as central to the gameplay.

The retail range comprises booster packs with an SRP of £4.99 and starter decks at SRP £19.99. Stock is available to order now from KAP Toys warehouse in Yorkshire.

KAP Toys managing director, Nathaniel Southworth, said: “As a company, we were delighted to see our product on the front cover and to have it in all those amazing retail locations. We know that this range from Cicaboom is exceptionally high quality and will be appreciated by fans of all ages. Thank you to the Storyhouse Egmont team for being so easy to work with.”

Funrise launches Crushie Fluffies with influencer Gabi Faye

Crushie Fluffies is a one-ofa-kind plush toy that combines everything kids love about soft and cuddly toys, with a unique and interactive sensory-driven element, packaged in a unique Ice lolly concept. Transforming from crunchy to cuddly, Funrise describes Crushie Fluffies as the ultimate unboxing experience. There are 12 different characters to collect, plus an ultra-rare collectible character.

“Kids are going to love collecting Crushie Fluffies when they launch this July,” said Mayur Pattni, Funrise marketing manager Europe. “Our product and marketing teams have done a great job in combining a collectible plush unboxing concept with an ice cream theme that is sure to stand out on shelves.

“The reception and reaction to Crushie Fluffies has been amazing, and there is a genuine buzz about the brand with our retail partners,” added Mayur. “The launch will be supported by a robust TV campaign in July, followed by a large investment into YouTube digital airtime to drive awareness and support sell-through at retail. The really exciting part of our campaign is partnering with Gabi Faye (@gabifaye on TikTok) on the brand.”

Gabi Faye is a social media influencer who boasts 11.5m followers on TikTok and has worked with other leading toy brands on promotional videos that have racked up 1m to 30m views each.

“We are really excited to be working with Gabi Faye to promote the Crushie Fluffies launch. You can see from her TikTok and Instagram reels that the brands and products she has worked with have gone on to be popular toy lines that kids can’t wait to get their hands on,” continued Mayur. “We believe working with Gabi will really help upweight our launch and help make Crushie Fluffies a must have plushie.”

The Crushie Fluffies range launches in July and comes in ready-to-go ice cream van CDU solutions for retailers.

Board Game Club celebrates return with high turnout

After a Covid-induced break, the club returned with a revamped look and an expanded team. The crowd of more almost 60 people included plenty of former regulars as well as a healthy number of tabletop fans experiencing the adult games night for the first time.

Lesley Singleton, of Playtime PR, said: “It was great to see so many familiar faces after such a long break from hosting these events, as well as lots of new people from both within and outside the industry, all eager to play, chat and explore new games together.”

Hits of the night included Funko’s Rear Window game, as well as the company’s recently reimagined Cranium, which marks the game’s 25th anniversary. Guests also discovered the two-player Zensu from Cheatwell Games – a beautiful and interesting twist on games like chess and draughts – which proved a popular play with couples on the night.

Presenter/DJ-turned-games-designer Matt Edmondson, of Format Games, brought along his ever-growing portfolio of games, while a team from Bubblegum Stuff enjoyed its first trip to Board Game Club, which included titles from its own shelves such as Chunky Monkey Business.

Board Game Club takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at Century Club, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Tickets are free and bookings can be made on www.eventbrite.co.uk, and there is also a Board Game Club mailing list to keep informed.

Board Game Club aims to bring together industry bods, influencers and enthusiasts through a love of tabletop gaming. The nights feature a mix of fun-to-play, sociable card, party and dice games and have been used as testing grounds and launchpads for an array of titles since 2014.