Sears Getting Back into Toy Biz

Sears is getting back into toy retailing with shops planned at 20 of the chain's stores in California, Illinois, and the New York metropolitan area. The department store is taking up toys again after its last experiment in the category, "KB Toys at Sears," folded along with that company's business. The new toyshops are scheduled to launch on August 15. Sears says it hopes to fill the void left behind by the closing of many mall toy stores like KB Toys.

2009 Forecast Report by The NPD Group Released

A report by The NPD Group reveals that the global toy market has increased by 2.3 percent, approximately $2.4 billion, from 2007 to 2008, but because of exchange rates the market has had an overall decrease of less than 1 percent. The report, Global Toy Trends and Forecasts 2009, shows that world toy sales in 2008 were $78 billion, only a 0.8 decrease from 2007. The report forecasts that global toy sales will top $80 billion by 2012.
According to the report, the top 10 countries in the world represent approximately 65 percent of 2008’s global toy sales. Broken down by regional markets, North America represents 30 percent of global toy sales, Europe represents 29 percent, and Asia follows with 27 percent. The U.S. is the world’s top toy market, selling over $21.7 billion, followed by Japan and China. The NPD Group forecasts that by 2012 Asia will take over the U.S. and Europe in sales and North America will become the second-largest market with 28 percent, while Europe will drop down to third largest with 27 percent.
The report also reveals that the U.S. and Europe represent 9 percent of the total youth population, but 57 percent of global sales. The NPD Group predicts that toys for kids ages 0 to 4 will have the most growth in sales in the next four years.

CPSC Seeks to Establish U.S. Presence in China

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking to establish a permanent presence in China for the first time to better cooperate with Chinese regulators and companies so the country's products are up to U.S. Standards.
"We will have (commission) staff working in the embassy in Beijing to work with manufacturers and (Chinese regulators), so that we can continue our dialogue, communications, and collaborative approach," Inez Tenenbaum, the agency's chairwoman, said.
The office is ready to open in October but still requires China's final approval, according to commission officials. Tenenbaum said one major task of the Beijing office is to educate Chinese manufacturers about the new requirements under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which becomes effective August 14 in the U.S. The act, which was passed last summer, imposes tough standards for lead and phthalates in products intended for children ages 12 and under.

Spin Master Launches Fashion Doll Line

Spin Master, Ltd. has announced its new teenage fashion doll line, Liv, targeted to girls ages 6-10. Liv will feature clothing and accessories for four teenage doll friends: Daniela, Sophie, Katie, and Alexis. The dolls’ features include easy-to-change wigs, 14 points of articulation, and glass-like eyes. Each doll comes with a unique access code, which buyers can use to unlock a daily narrative of the doll’s life found on the newly launched website, www.livworld.com. A virtual closet, webisodes, and games can also be found on the new website.

Alibaba.com Forecasts a Rise in Chinese Exports

According to Bloomberg News, David Wei, CEO of Alibaba.com, Ltd., China’s biggest trading website, has said that China’s exports may rise in the fourth quarter. Wei said he has seen a “noticeable” recovery in orders, and forecasts that fourth-quarter exports will stay the same, or rise by single digits. China’s exports fell more than 21 percent in June from the previous year.
North America accounts for approximately 19 percent of Alibaba.com’s foreign users, and most of those are in the U.S. Approximately 11 percent of overseas users are in India, about 8 percent are in the UK, and approximately 5.5 percent are in Japan.

Little Tikes Receives State Stimulus Funds

Little Tikes Co. of Hudson has received an Ohio Department of Development economic stimulus investment. The state said Little Tikes' parent company, MGA Entertainment, would receive $3.2 million in what was called a ''166 Direct Loan'' at an interest rate of 3 percent for five years. The state said the money would ''support costs associated with the purchase of tooling equipment.”

Green Product Zone to be Launched at Toy Fair

The Toy Industry Association (TIA) has announced the debut of the “Earth-Friendly Product Zone” at the 2010 American International Toy Fair in February. The zone will be a reserved space on level 1 of Toy Fair for exhibitors that have eco-friendly toys.  According to the TIA, 25 percent of 2009 Toy Fair buyers said that green products were their preferred focus. The zone will occupy a portion of aisle 5400, bordering the Infant and Preschool Product Zone.

Bachmann Trains Owner Kader Holdings Buys Sanda Kan

Kader Holdings Company has become the largest manufacturer of model trains in the world after buying a second Chinese model manufacturing business, Sanda Kan. Kan, a model train and car manufacturer, was bought by Kader, which already produces 8,800 lines of model trains. Barclays Commercial provided funding for the acquisition.
Bachmann Europe of Barwell, owned by Kader Holdings, entered the model train market in 1952 after starting in the optical glasses market. The model trains were produced by Kader, which later bought Bachmann in 1984.

CEA Announces CES 2010 Lineup

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announces the summit lineup for CES 2010. Among the events will be a new summit, Mommy Tech. The Mommy Tech Summit will look at the most recent technological products and ideas for mothers. According to the CEA, two-thirds of U.S. moms use five or more forms of technology each day, and many American women say blogs influence purchases. The summit, slated for January 8, will focus on topics such as how to listen to moms when creating products, and how moms use technology in their daily lives.
The CEA has also announced the return of Kids@Play, a summit about kids and technology. The event, set for January 7, will showcase exhibitors who cater to this demographic and will feature discussions including how children entertain themselves and how technology is infused in kids’ daily lives.

MGA Launches New Doll Line

MGA Entertainment has launched a new line of dolls called Moxie Girlz. The introduction comes on the heels of a four-year legal struggle with Mattel over the Bratz doll line, which Mattel plans to take over. Moxie Girlz will be more modest in apparel and figure than the Bratz line, and will target girls ages 6-10. Different styles of the dolls include Jammaz, a doll in pajamas with a guitar and microphone, Art-ittude, a doll with shoes and a bike kids can draw on, and Magic Hair, a doll with two sets of hair.
Paul Garcia, MGA vice president of product and design, says the line was inspired by the recession and a change in lifestyle. Moxie Girlz will feature everyday fashion, instead of lavish wear. Moxie Girlz hit the shelves in select Target and Wal-Mart stores on July 22, and will be available nationwide August 15. Advertising campaigns for the new dolls will start in September.

MV Sports and Leisure Obtains Fluffy Gardens License

Target Entertainment Group has announced that MV Sports and Leisure, Ltd. has secured a license for the animation series Fluffy Gardens to create plush toys and accessories based on the show. Target will work with the toy company to produce a range of plush products for toddlers, including toys, playsets, collectibles, and key rings. The first round of product releases is slated to hit stores in spring 2010. The animated series is targeted toward preschoolers and features a mix of animal characters that live in Fluffy Gardens.

National Tween Girl Summit Set for October

More than 250 American tween girls, ages 9 to 14, will meet with policy makers, experts, celebrities, and others at the first ever National Tween Girl Summit. The daylong event will be held at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. on October 10. The summit plans to examine the minds, motivation, and lives of tween girls, and also serve as a platform for young girls to give their opinions on a variety of subjects such as activism, online safety, and self-image.
Tween girl research firm AK Tweens, and AllyKatzz.com, a tween girl social networking website, will host the event and it will be free for all tween girls and press who register. For more information, visit the summit’s website at www.tweensummit.com

Del Rey to Release Avatar Manga

Del Rey Manga has announced the release of four new manga-style comic books based on Nickelodeon’s animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and the upcoming film The Last Airbender, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Del Rey Manga, an imprint of Ballantine Books at Random House and Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP), will release two black-and-white mangas in 2010. Written by Dave Romab, the prequel to Avatar manga is scheduled for publication in April and will be illustrated by Nina Matsumoto. The movie adaptation manga is slated to be released in June and will be illustrated by Joon Choi. This is the first manga tie-in for Nickelodeon.

Consultant to Hold Seminars for Indie Retailers

Arnie Capitanelli III, a veteran retail consultant, will hold seminars for independent retailers called “Every Customer Counts.”  The seminars will focus on the challenges of independent retailers in today’s market and solutions to those problems. Topics in the seminars include performance erosion and corrective action. For more details, and to see the schedule, visit Capitanelli’s website at www.arniecap3.com

Every Baby Company to Release New Eebee Books

Every Baby Company has announced two new additions to the eebee’s adventures series. The new adventure books, Make It Happen and From Here to There, feature colorful photographs for children 6 months and older. Make It Happen is a book of opposites, featuring photographs such as a flashlight representing “on and off,” and a bowl of water and a towel to represent “wet and dry.” From Here to There is a book for and about the adventurous toddler, who is always on the go discovering household objects such as stairs and slides. The books will be released nationwide in September.

Jack in the Box to Launch Yo Gabba Gabba! Kid’s Meals

W!LDBRAIN, producer of the kids’ show Yo Gabba Gabba!, has partnered with the fast food chain Jack in the Box to launch a Yo Gabba Gabba! and Jack Kid’s Meal promotion. The promotion begins August 3 in select states. The restaurant will offer one of five collectible finger puppets, for children 3 and older, based on the television show with a purchase of a kid’s meal. Parents of kids under 3 can receive a Yo Gabba Gabba! soaker ball decorated with the show’s characters. In addition, kids and parents can visit www.jackskidstoys.com and receive free Yo Gabba Gabba! downloads and discounts at Ty’s Toy Box.

K’NEXpert Search Kicks Off

The annual K’NEXpert Search has kicked off. It’s a contest for kids ages 5 to 12 in which they design their own K’NEX model made entirely from K’NEX parts. To enter, three age groups––5 to 6 years, 7 to 8 years, and 9 to 12 years old–––submit their models in one of four categories­­–––Futuristic, Vehicles, Ultimate K’NEX Model, and Amusement Park Thrill Rides. Judges evaluate the models on creativity, uniqueness, and detail.
Three grand-prize winners, one in each age group, will win a $10,000 saving bond for college. The search runs until September 15 with winners announced on November 10.

Stephen J. Davis Named President of Hasbro Studios

Hasbro, Inc. has named international production and distribution television executive Stephen J. Davis president of the company’s newly formed Los Angeles-based Hasbro Studios. The “virtual” studio will produce shows based on Hasbro’s brands, deliver new branded content, and produce programs from third-party content creators. Many of these shows will run on the new television network created by the joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications, which is planned to debut in fall 2010, as well as on multiple channels in international markets.
Davis will begin work in September, leading a team of internal and external creative talent in a wide range of genres, including animated, live-action, and game show programming, as well as content designed for digital and mobile extensions. New programming is planned based on brands such as Romper Room, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Cranium, My Little Pony, Game of Life, and many others.
Most recently, Davis was CEO of Family Entertainment Group LLC, which has been engaged in the development, production, revitalization, and distribution of family entertainment content for the traditional and digital space.

Obama to Nominate Northup for CPSC

The White House says President Barack Obama will nominate former Republican Rep. Anne Northup of Kentucky to a seat on the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Obama is increasing the number of seats on the commission from three to five. The agency is responsible for policing the safety of a variety of consumer products, from children's toys and cribs to power tools and household chemicals. Northup was a member of the House from 1997-2006.

JAKKS Pacific Reports Second Quarter Results

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. reported results for the company’s second quarter and first six months ended June 30, 2009. Net sales for the second quarter were $144.8 million, compared to $145.3 million reported in the comparable period last year; and net sales for the six months were $253.5 million, compared to $276.2 million during the same period in 2008. JAKKS reported a net loss for the second quarter of $406.5 million, or $14.96 per share, compared to net income of $4.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, reported in the second quarter of 2008. The net loss for the six month period was $417.3 million, or $15.35 per share, compared to earnings for the first six months of 2008 of $5.0 million, or $0.18 per diluted share.
“We continue to experience challenges that are affecting our top and bottom lines, and are clearly in the midst of one of the most difficult economic environments in JAKKS’ history,” said Jack Friedman, chairman and Co-CEO. “We are anticipating sales of core JAKKS products to be lower than expected for this year due to continued softness at retail, coupled with underperforming lines in the current portfolio, such as Hannah Montana, WWE, Pokémon and Cabbage Patch Kids.”

KKR Planning TRU Public Offerings

According to the Financial Times, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), is planning initial public offerings worth billions of dollars for up to six of its companies, including Toys “R” Us. The company has already filed for an IPO for Adage Technologies, a semiconductor company based in Singapore.
KKR is looking to list companies bought during the financial boom before the credit crunch of 2007. KKR is also looking to float hospital operator HCO, First Credit, Danish Telecoms group TDC, and Dollar General, said the Financial Times.

The Walt Disney Company Reports Third Quarter Earnings

The Walt Disney Company has reported earnings for its third fiscal quarter and nine months ended June 27, 2009. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter were $0.51, compared to $0.66 in the prior-year quarter. EPS for the current quarter included $0.01 of restructuring and impairment charges while the prior-year quarter included an accounting gain related to the acquisition of the Disney Stores North America, a gain on the sale of movies.com, and the favorable resolution of certain income tax matters which collectively benefited EPS by $0.04. Excluding these items, EPS decreased 16 percent to $0.52 from $0.62 in the prior-year quarter.
For the nine-month period, diluted EPS was $1.29, compared to $1.87 in the prior-year period. EPS for the current nine months included a gain on the sale of our investment in two pay television services in Latin America and restructuring and impairment charges, which together had a net $0.07 adverse impact on EPS. EPS for the prior-year period included the gains and tax benefits discussed above. Excluding these items, EPS for the nine-month period was $1.36, compared to $1.83 in the prior-year nine months.