Archive for the ‘News’ Category
« Older Entries |This post was written by Ericka Johnson
Chan Honored with Outstanding Achievement Award
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Peter Chan Pui, Blue Box Toys
Blue Box Toys founder and chairman, Mr. Peter Chan Pui, was recently awarded the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Hong Kong Toys Council, a company whose focus is on raising awareness about product safety standards, and The Toys Manufacturer’s Association of Hong Kong, which promotes and protects the interests and public reputation of manufacturers in Hong Kong.
Blue Box Toys, established in 1952, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. During those 60 years, Pui has been pivotal in the growth Blue Box Toys and its brands. “This award marks an important stepping stone in my career and I am deeply honored to be recognized for the time and hard work put forth in establishing myself and our company in the toy industry,” said Pui.
Tags: Blue Box Toys, Hong Kong Toys Council, Peter Chan Pui, Toys Manufacturer's Association
Posted in News, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Child’s Play Adds LeVar Burton’s RRKidz to Client Roster
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
LevVar Burton
Child’s Play Communications has added LeVar Burton’s RRKidz brand to its client roster. In addition to launching RRKidz, Child’s Play will relaunch the company’s Reading Rainbow brand, promote the Reading Rainbow classic library of episodes (DVD and streaming), and announce the Reading Rainbow Kidz app.
Reading Rainbow ran for 26 years on PBS (1983-2009), and was co-produced and hosted by actor LeVar Burton. RRKidz will bring Reading Rainbow to today’s digitally connected children beginning with a reading and book discovery app that will initially launch for the iPad early this year. RRKidz aims to become a leader in digital publishing and a major, multi-platform, kids’ educational and enrichment brand. Burton, Co-Founder Mark Wolfe, and CEO Asra Rasheed run the brand.
This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
Tags: Apps, Child's Play Communications, LeVar Burton, PBS, Reading Rainbow, RRKidz
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Joan Ganz Cooney Center Releases Second Study on iPhone/iPad Apps
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
A new study by The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop has found that most top-selling educational apps in Apple’s App Store are aimed at preschoolers. The study, iLearn II: An Analysis of the Education Category of Apple’s App Store, was presented at the 2012 Consumer Electronic Show (CES).
Using a 2009 analysis conducted by The Joan Ganz Cooney Center (iLearn: A Content Analysis of the iTunes App Store’s Education Section) as a benchmark, the new report examined nearly 200 top-selling educational apps for the iPad and iPhone. According to results, only 14 percent of apps were tagged for intended school usage. Of the entire sample, only two iPhone apps (and zero iPad apps) were based on well-known branded characters. Other key findings included that 109 different publishers were represented in the sample (89 of those publishers were not represented in the previous study’s sample), and the average price of children’s apps has risen by more than $1 since 2009.
To read the full report, and to see The Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s recommendations for growth and development, click here.
Tags: Consumer Electronics Show, iLearn, Sesame Workshop, The Joan Ganz Cooney Center
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Toy Fair NY to Feature Three-Meter Touch Screens of Exhibitor Information
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
This year’s American International Toy Fair, to be held in New York in a few weeks, will feature an interactive, digital wall called Fair Necessities. “Fair Necessities will be an interactive gateway to all things Toy Fair,” said Kimberly Carcone, senior director of trade show and event marketing at TIA, in a press release. “With the tap of a finger, multiple users will be able to simultaneously access floor plans, event schedules, exhibitor listings, photos, videos and news clips, apps, and more on the huge three-meter touch screens.” The LCD multi-touch display screen was designed by European IT firm Uma, and will be located in the main concourse of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center during the four days of the show.
For more information of Toy Fair, visit www.ToyFairNY.com.
This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
Tags: American International Toy Fair, New York City, TIA, Toy Fair 2012, Toy Industry Association
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
“This is Retail” Video Contest Launches for Retailers
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
As part of its “Retail Means Jobs” campaign, an initiative by the National Retail Federation (NRF) that aims to raise awareness of the retail industry’s economic impact, NRF has launched the “This is Retail” video contest. “We’re on a hunt to find the best retail stories in America—from marketing geniuses to customer service superstars to small business owners,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in a press release.
To participate, retail employees or business owners submit a two-minute video that shares their retail story for a chance to win up to $25,000. NRF will accept video submissions from March 5-16. A panel of retail executives will narrow the videos down to the top 20, and finalists will be prominently featured on RetailMeansJobs.com. The winners will be chosen based on votes, and announced during NRF’s Washington Leadership Conference in May. For more information, visit www.retailmeansjobs.com/contest.
Tags: contests, National Retail Federation, NRF, Retail Means Jobs, video
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Photos: Worms Keyring Plush Collection Premieres
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
AT New Media and Team 17 have launched the Worms Keyring Plush collection from IGS, based on the turn-based strategy video game franchise.
The new range, licensed by AT New Media and Worms creator Team 17, features a detailed series of plush in an initial line of four different characters (Original Worm, Army Worm, Pirate Worm, and the Super Sheep). Products are also available in multiple traditional collectible plush sizes. The new range adds to the Worms lineup of apparel, squeezies, mugs, figurines, collectibles, and more. New partners are currently being sought for multiple product categories.
Tags: AT New Media, IGS, keyring, plush, Team 17, Worms
Posted in New Products, News, Photo | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Last Chance to Nominate for the 8th Annual Wonder Women Awards Dinner
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Nominations are open for the 8th Annual Wonder Women of Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment Awards, celebrating the most “Make it Happen” women in the industry.
This year’s Wonder Women Awards Dinner (February 12) will be held at a brand-new location, The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. Nomination categories that will recognize the powerhouse movers and shakers in the toys, licensing, and entertainment industries include designer/inventor, digital and gaming, entertainment, entrepreneur, journalism/social media, licensee, licensing agents, licensor, lifetime achievement, manufacturer, marketing/advertising/branding, public relations/communications, publishing, retailer, rising star, sales, and social responsibility.
Nominations are being accepted through January 25, and cost $150 per nomination, per category. Sponsorships and tables for the event are also available. To date, the 2012 list of sponsors include The Toy Book, Brandberry, Imperial Toy, Jakks Pacific, Serenata Group, The Bridge Direct, Toy Industry Association, and Toys “R” Us.
To nominate, for dinner reservations or sponsorships, or to join Women in Toys, visit www.womenintoys.com.
Tags: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Women in Toys, Wonder Women
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Toys & Kids Russia, Slated for March, to Include World of Toys Pavilion
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Spielwarenmesse eG is organizing a World of Toys pavilion at Toys & Kids Russia in Moscow, slated to run March 14-16. Companies such as NICI GmbH, Sieper GmbH, and Mattel Europe Holdings B. V. have already secured a place in the World of Toys Pavilion.
Not only will Toys & Kids Russia showcase toys, but baby fashions, strollers, and hobby, outdoor, playground, and sport articles will also be on display. In the special “What’s New!” area, exhibitors can highlight one of their new products to specifically attract visitors to their stand. Exhibitors can also develop personal contacts at meetings with potential Russian importers and distributors in the Retail Center.
Toys & Kids Russia takes place in the Crocus Expo International Exhibition Centre in Moscow for the sixth time. It is organized by RNTA Expo, a joint company of Spielwarenmesse eG and the Russian National Toy Association.
Tags: Crocus Expo International Exhibition Centre, RNTA Expo, Spielwarenmesse eG, Toys & Kids Russia, World of Toys
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Clifford Musical Kicks Off 50-City Tour
Monday, January 16th, 2012
“Clifford The Big Red Dog Live! A BIG Family Musical” kicked off earlier this month in Vermont and Connecticut. The 50-city live touring show includes both school and public performances. The new musical adventure teaches audience members that “it only takes a little to be big.” Through laughter, songs, and dancing, the characters and audience learn about Clifford’s Big Ideas (share, play fair, have respect, work together, be responsible, be truthful, be kind, help others, believe in yourself, and be a good friend) from the PBS Kids series Clifford the Big Red Dog. The production is directed by Mark Fleischer and produced by Mills Entertainment, in cooperation with Scholastic Media. The Brad Simon Organization serves as the exclusive booking agency for the production.
For more information on the show, click here.
This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
Tags: Clifford the Big Red Dog, Mills Entertainment, PBS Kids, Scholastic Media, The Brad Simon Organization
Posted in News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Showrooms at Fifth Ave. Building to Display Products During NY Toy Fair
Friday, January 13th, 2012
During American International Toy Fair in New York City, 20 floors of showrooms at 230 Fifth Avenue will showcase various types of toys, gift items, general merchandise, books, seasonal, stationery, and related products. The Toy Fair will run from February 12-15.
A listing of all participating showrooms can be picked up from one of the registration coordinators at the lobby registration desk in the building. Special perks and amenities, including the newly designed Buyers Lounge, will be available to all attendees.
This post was originally written by Elizabeth A. Reid and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.
Tags: 230 Fifth, New York City, Toy Fair
Posted in News | No Comments »
