Archive for the ‘News’ Category
« Older Entries |This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
TIF to Collect Plush, Toy, and Game Donations During Close of Toy Fair
Friday, February 10th, 2012
The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) is once again asking exhibitors to end their American International Toy Fair stay with donations. During the close of the show, 4 p.m. on February 15, exhibitors can donate their samples of plush, toys, and games to TIF’s signature program, The Toy Bank. The volunteers for the collection will wear bright orange T-shirts. To participate, companies must complete the one-page donation form, and submit it before Toy Fair via email, fax (212-675-1328), or on-site at booth No. 5201.
The annual collection is made possible through TIF’s partnership with Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.). All donations will benefit TIF’s partnerships with My Stuff Bags Foundation and Boys and Girls Clubs of America Military Services. Products will also be distributed to The Toy Bank’s NYC-area network of charity recipients.
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, Kids in Distressed Situations, My Stuff Bags, TIF, Toy Industry Foundation
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This post was written by Guest Blogger
TIA’s Bossard Talks Licensing at Toy Fair
Friday, February 10th, 2012
by Marian Bossard, vice president of meetings and events, Toy Industry Association (TIA)
If I had a dollar for every key industry contact that told us the concept of a licensing showcase during American International Toy Fair was nothing short of brilliant, I would have at least $10. Maybe even $12.
After all, what isn’t right about endeavoring to create a “Licensing Upfront” for brand and property owners when all the right people with all the right innovation, influence, and interest are already in New York City for Toy Fair? And, what could be off the mark about bringing together an audience of Madison Avenue marketers, manufacturers from around the world, mass market and independent retailers, and critically important global media available only in New York City? The short answer is nothing. But the short answer just kind of falls short of telling the story.
A venture like this requires that you start with a clear objective, but just as important is the need to remain flexible and open to modification along the way. As it turned out, even with high levels of interest, the formats that prevailed were the small meetings with key partners, invitation-only breakfasts and cocktail receptions, and brand and property exposure through traditional advertising and promotional opportunities. So, while Toy Fair won’t be seeing “big screen showcases” this year, we are pleased that we have provided just the right solutions for these stakeholders’ needs.
Tags: licensing, Marian Bossard, Toy Fair, Toy Industry Association
Posted in Exclusive, Guest blog, Licenses, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Nuremberg Toy Fair Welcomes 77,500 Visitors
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Approximately 77,500 buyers and retailers from all over the world (119 countries) came to Nuremberg for the 63rd Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nuremberg. The share of international visitors increased to 55 percent, which Spielwarenmesse EG attributes to the new Wednesday start date of the fair. Most of the buyers came from the U.S., Russia, and Great Britain.
Most exhibitors plan to return for the fair next year. Of the 2,776 exhibitors, 92 percent said they will come back for International Toy Fair 2013, and 87 percent of visitors said they will attend the fair next year. Additionally, 347 exhibitors presented their products for the first time at this fair, compared to 325 new exhibitors in 2011. The 2013 show is slated to run from January 30 to February 4.
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: Nuremberg, Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nurnberg, Toy Fair
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Britney Spears Featured in New Twister Dance Game
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Hasbro is teaming up with Britney Spears for the new Twister Dance game. The game combines today’s best dance movies with the iconic Twister spots to give girls a new way to learn moves to popular dance songs, including a customized Twister remix of “Till the World Ends” by Britney Spears.
In addition to having the remix of her song in the game, Spears will be featured on game packaging, in a television advertisement, and in dance instruction videos, all releasing this fall. Other artists include Ke$sha and Willow Smith. An exclusive Twister Dance song called “Caught Up in a Twister” will also make an appearance. The game, which features a built-in beat detection system, can connect to any MP3 player.
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: Britney Spears, Hasbro, Twister Dance
Posted in New Products, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Jackie Breyer
Dark Horse Deluxe Offers a Unique Take on the Good Luck Trolls
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
The Good Luck Troll was originally created in 1959 by Danish fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam. At various times since the early 1960s, Trolls have been a top-selling toy, building a seldom-achieved brand equity. Dam Things, which holds all rights to the works of Thomas Dam, is in the process of launching a complete slate of merchandise activities and products for the Good Luck Trolls. Dark Horse Comics has been granted the license for a collectibles program. The line will consist of 15 different trolls, some of which are rare, sold in mystery box assortments.
Dark Horse felt the Good Luck Troll would be a natural fit in the designer vinyl and specialty retail arena, and has created Trolls with unique variations of color and surface treatments. The product development was closely supervised by Dam Things and its brand manager Dannie Festa of Festa Entertainment, including a trip from Denmark to the West Coast prototyping facility to assess and approve the works in progress.
Tags: American International Toy Fair, blind-box, dark horse comics, Domo, Festa Entertainment, figures, Good Luck Troll, Thomas Dam, Toy Fair 2012, Toy Industry Association, trolls, What's New
Posted in Articles, Exclusive, New Products, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
Nuremberg ToyAward Winners Announced
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
This year, ToyAwards, presented to new products at the Spielwarenmessee International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, were awarded to products that displayed a unique play idea, concept, or creative design, as well as products with material properties and safety aspects. The four categories include Baby & Infant, Preschool, School Kids, and Teenager & Family. The awards aim to provide consumers and the trade guidance on the best new products. Visitors also had the opportunity to choose their personal favorite, the Traders’ Favorite, from the four ToyAward winners. The awards were announced at the closing press conference, and the winners received a prize of 20,000 euros.
The winners were:
Baby & Infant: Mini Micro with Seat/ Micro Mobility Systems Ltd. The Mini Micro grows with the child. One-year-olds can take their first ride on a Mini Micro and convert the roller later on.
Tags: Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nurnberg, ToyAward
Posted in 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9 and up, News | No Comments »
This post was written by Guest Blogger
Tips for Optimizing Exposure For Your Toy in Real Time at Toy Fair
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Fifth in a series of posts on preparing for the annual trade event.
by Julie Livingston, director, business development and accounts, Child’s Play Communications
That crazy mix of anticipation, excitement, and adrenaline occurs each year for me, as I walk into the Javits Center on opening day of Toy Fair. There is so much to do in advance of the show, not to mention managing the intensity of the four-day event and post-show follow up.
If you have already reached out to the media and bloggers to schedule appointments to meet and give them a heads up on your new products, that’s a good thing. There is a chance that some reporters may spend times “walking the floor,” but with staff cutbacks at many media companies, their time is often limited. It is more likely for reporters to come to Toy Fair with predetermined ideas of what they want to see; they may also narrow their search for specific products that exemplify a particular toy trend (or trends) they are covering, such as tech or connected toys.
As a Toy Fair exhibitor, what is the best way to handle the media on site at the show? This is often the biggest challenge for exhibitors who are preoccupied with retailer meetings and managing a handful of product samples. This post includes tips and advice on how to work with the media that attend the event.
Scheduled Appointments
If you have preset appointments, tell your exhibit booth administrator and designate another colleague as a backup, in case you are unavailable. If your backup is someone unaccustomed to dealing with the press, provide an overview of the media outlet and leave any press materials for them, as well as your business card and mobile number. Given the hectic nature of Toy Fair, it is not unusual for appointments to show up early or late, which may throw a curve ball into your day. However you handle it, make sure the reporter is taken care of properly and professionally.
Tags: American International Toy Fair, appointments, Child's Play Communications, drop ins, Julie Livingston, media, Reyne Rice, Toy Fair 2012
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
NickMom’s Slated List of Programming
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Source: NickMom press release
At a press conference in New York City, Nickelodeon announced its slate of programming for NickMom, to premiere this fall on Nick Jr. Nickmom’s development slate includes a mix of talk shows, stand-up, sketch comedy, hidden camera, game shows, and more:
- A hybrid sketch/talk series starring and executive produced by comedian and actress Caroline Rhea and Emily Cohen (Title TBD).
- It’s Nighttime with Annabelle Gurwitch – A new breed of talk show that looks at the world through Gurwitch’s unique mom-colored glasses, executive produced by Gurwitch and Elyse Roth (former The Daily Show producer).
- The 5th Hour – A scripted comedy show inspired by morning news shows and hosted by mom comics in the roles of the news team. Executive produced by Mad Cow Productions (Madeleine Smithberg, executive producer of The Daily Show with John Stewart), Sarah North, and Jordan Tilzer (Roar). (more…)
Tags: Mommy Double, My 63 Moms, Nickelodeon, NickMom, Oblivious, Road Mamas, The Judi & Kate Show
Posted in News | 1 Comment »
This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Nickelodeon Reveals NickMom TV Block at NYC Press Conference
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Today at a press conference, Nickelodeon announced that General Mills, Target, and Reckitt Benckiser have signed on as charter sponsors for NickMom, Nickelodeon’s new multiplatform content destination that targets moms. The just-announced deals will include brand integration, content development, and sponsorships across the new NickMom TV block, launching this fall on Nick Jr. The deal also includes NickMom.com, which launched last year.
“With the creation of NickMom, we are offering a unique comedy and entertainment destination created just for today’s moms,” said Jim Perry, head of sales of Viacom’s Nickelodeon Group, in a press release. “Our partners clearly understand the value of moms and recognize our ability to serve moms with relevant entertainment across all platforms.”
The NickMom nightly television block will feature a mix of original long- and short-form humor-based programming, including talk shows, stand-up and sketch comedy, hidden camera television shows, and more. NickMom.com, a blog that debuted last November, currently features editorial franchises, photos, and video. Throughout this year, Nickelodeon expects the site to grow, complete with more editorial, photos, videos, gaming, and a community, becoming a fully integrated website timed to the TV launch.
Tags: Annabelle Gurwitch, B Phlat, Bronwen O’Keefe, Caroline Rhea, Corey Kahaney, Deena Blizzard, General Mills, Judy Gold, Mad Cow Productions, Madeleine Smithberg, Nickelodeon, NickMom, NickMom Night Out, Reckitt Benckiser, Sherry Davey, Target, Wanda Sykes
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Pretty Ugly Teams Up with Funko
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Pretty Ugly, LLC announced a licensing partnership with Funko, LLC to manufacture Pop! and Blox Vinyl figures of Uglydoll characters. Pop! figures, available this month, are 3.75 inches and feature articulated heads. Blox Vinyl figures are flat with cut-out styling and details, and will hit retail shelves as early as April. Both can be found at specialty retailers nationwide, and are available in an assortment of styles and colors.
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: Blox Vinyl, Funko LLC, Pop!, Pretty Ugly, Uglydoll
Posted in New Products, News | No Comments »
