Archive for the ‘People’ Category
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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 Melissa Tinklepaugh
Cody Simpson Debuts New Dolls at Toys “R” Us
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Teen pop singer Cody Simpson and The Wish Factory, Inc. unveiled two Cody Simpson dolls at Toys “R” Us Times Square today. I attended to learn more about the dolls and meet Cody Simpson.
The collection consists of two dolls, both 11.5 inches, featuring the Australian singer’s side-swept surfer-styled hair and clothes Simpson wears. One doll is dressed in a Gold Coast T-shirt and khakis, and the other doll wears a denim jacket and black pants. Both dolls include a pair of shoes, sunglasses, a microphone, a guitar pick, and lanyard. The guitar pick included varies from box to box, some with angel wings and the word “Angel,” and others with an emoticon smiley face and the numbers “143” to mean “I love you.”
Tags: Cody Simpson, The Wish Factory, Toys R Us
Posted in 6-8, 9 and up, New Products, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Ericka Johnson
The 2011 TAGIE Awards Winners
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
The 2011 TAGIE Awards were held on November 18, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The ceremony, held in conjunction with the Toy & Game Inventors Conference and The Chicago Toy & Game Fair, recognizes toy and game inventors from across the county. Their ideas and creativity result in some of the most notable play products on the market today.
Nominees for the awards are voted on by their peers, for excellence in the categories of Toy Design, Game Design, Young Inventor, and Rising Star.
The 4th Annual TAGIE Winners are as follows:
Toy Design – Marty Abrams & Joel Rosenzweig, FyrFlyz
Game Design – Susan McKinley Ross, Qwirkle
Young Inventor – Greyson MacLean, BrickStix
Rising Star – Blake English, The Air Swimmers
Excellence in Character Creation – Theodor Seuss Geisel
Excellence in Electronic Adaptation of an Existing Toy or Game – Tom Liddell, Top Trumps
Tags: Museum of Science and Industry, TAGIE Awards, The Chicago Toy & Game Fair, Toy & Game Inventors Conference
Posted in 9 and up, News, People | 1 Comment »
This post was written by Jackie Breyer
Target’s Mommy Ambassador, Soleil Moon Frye, Reveals Top Holiday Picks
Friday, November 11th, 2011
I attended Target’s Holiday Toy Preview on November 9, and had the great pleasure of meeting Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster, Sabrina the Teenage Witch). She is Target’s Mommy Ambassador, and frankly, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Soleil has two daughters herself, and seemed to have a ball talking about her favorite toys for the holidays. Rocking a pair of comfy slipper socks, Soleil walked me through Target’s top holiday toy picks, and introduced me to the toys she chose as her personal top picks:
- Disney My First Princess Doll and Toddler Dress Gift Set
- Disney Cars Charge n Race Speedway
- LeapFrog LeapPad
- Barbie Hairtastic Printables
- Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone
- Scrabble Flash
Perhaps I should have removed my heels and rocked some slipper socks myself. It was a pleasure to meet you Soleil!
Tags: Barbie Hairtastic Printables, cars, Disney Princess, holiday toys, LeapFrog LeapPad, Paper Jamz, Punky Brster, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scrabble Flash, Soleil Moon Frye, Target
Posted in People, Photo, holiday season | No Comments »
This post was written by Erika Graham
GMA-Discovered Lexi St. George Stars In WowWee Commercial
Monday, July 18th, 2011
Lexi St. George, the teen singer discovered by Good Morning America‘s “One Week To Hit It Big: Pop Star” series, has landed her first commercial deal with WowWee’s Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone. The commercial will feature Lexi’s debut single and video, “Dancing To The Rhythm.”
The Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone lets kids of all ages discover their inner pop star. Tunes can be downloaded from the user’s own music files onto the microphone. Using the built-in controls, kids can add in a “perfect pitch,” a chorus, a harmony, vibrato, and other vocal effects. The Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone has a suggested retail price of $29.99 and is now available at Walmart. It will also be arriving at retailers such as Toys “R” Us, K-Mart, and Target later this month.
Tags: Good Morning America, Lexi St. George, Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone, WowWee
Posted in New Products, News, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Jackie Breyer
This post was written by Justin McCraw
Voting Begins For 2011 Toy Industry Hall of Fame
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is accepting votes for the 2011 Toy Industry Hall of Fame, to take place in conjunction with the Toy of the Year Awards during Toy Fair Week in New York City. Voting started yesterday and will run until August 27, with the winners awarded on February 12.
Living nominees include:
•Fashion Institute of Technology Toy Design Department Chair Judith Ellis
•Former Radica Games, Ltd. CEO Patrick Feely
•Funrise Toys, Ltd. Founder and CEO Arnie Rubin
•Director Steven Spielberg
•Hasbro, Inc., Chairman Alfred Verrecchia
Posthumous nominees include:
•Russ Berrie, Inc., Founder Russell Berrie
•Duncan Yo-Yo Founder Donald Duncan
•Briarpatch, Inc., Co-founder Martine Redman
Tags: Alfred Verrecchhia, Arnie Rubin, Briarpatch, Donald Duncan, Duncan Yo-Yo, Fashion Institute of Technology, Funrise Toys, Hasbro, Judith Ellis, Martine Redman, Patrick Feely, Radica Games, Russ Berrie, Russell Berri, Steven Spielberg, Toy Design Department, Toy Fair Week, Toy Industry Association, Toy Industry Hall of Fame, Toy of the Year Award
Posted in News, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Christina Edwards
Stan Lee Announces New Comic Book Label
Monday, July 26th, 2010
A Squared (A2) Entertainment, Archie Comics. and Stan Lee (founder, chairman, and chief creative officer of POW! Entertainment) announced at Comic-Con a new comic book label, Stan Lee Comics.
Stan Lee Comics, based on new and original creations from Lee, will be published across both print and digital formats. Stan Lee Comics will also produce related animated and live action entertainment, including webisodes and games. The new creations by Lee will be licensed and merchandised globally, in categories such as toys, video games, publishing, and apparel.
This year, Stan Lee Comics introduces three new superhero franchises including the world’s first reality comic book. Stan Lee makes his debut as a featured character in Stan Lee and the Super Seven when he befriends seven aliens who find themselves stranded after their spaceship crashes. The second franchise, Airwalker, was teased in last week’s episode of Entourage, which airs on HBO. The third franchise of Stan Lee Comics will be announced in October.
A2 will manage animated and live programming, as well as global licensing and merchandising. Archie Comics will be responsible for the publication of the comics, in both print and digital formats. Lee will be involved with all of the creations for Stan Lee Comics.
Tags: A Squared Entertainment, Archie Comics, POW! Entertainment, San Diego Comic-Con, Stan Lee
Posted in New Products, News, People | 1 Comment »
This post was written by Justin McCraw
New Hero to Wear Spider-Man’s Mask
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Following a worldwide search for the next Spider-Man, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios selected Andrew Garfield to play Peter Parker. Garfield’s upcoming works include The Social Network, about the founding of Facebook, and Never Let Me Go, which he stars alongside Keira Knightley.
The next film, set to release July 3, 2012, is based on a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and will be directed by Marc Webb. Previous Peter Parker star Tobey Maguire reportedly left the project, along with director Sam Raimi, following setbacks.
Tags: Andrew Garfield, Columbia Pictures, Facebook, James Vanderbilt, Keira Knightley, Marc Webb, Marvel Studios, Never Let Me Go, Peter Parker, Sam Raimi, Spider-Man, The Social Network, Tobey Maguire
Posted in News, People | No Comments »
This post was written by Justin McCraw
Walmart Shuffles Global.com, U.S. Leadership
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Walmart announced new CEO appointments for both its U.S. enterprise and Global.com. Vice Chairman of Walmart Eduardo Castro-Wright has been appointed as Global’s president and CEO, while Bill Simon (pictured above) is Walmart’s new U.S. president and CEO.
Castro-Wright will maintain his seat as vice chairman, while both men report to Walmart’s President and CEO Mike Duke. Simon, previously Walmart’s COO, starts his new position immediately, whereas Castro-Wright takes over August 1.
Tags: Bill Simon. Mike Duke, Eduardo Castro-Wright, Global, Walmart
Posted in News, People | No Comments »
