TFE/TFE Licensing, October 2018

October 2018, Vol. 13, No. 3

Fall Toy Preview

2019 0D‫ע‬HO &UHDWLQJ 3OD\ ZLWK 3XUSRVH pg. 34

ShopTalk: Ri Happy

ABC KIDS EXPO Plus: State of the Industry Q&A

Not Your Average Teddy Bear

contents | 10/18 Volume 13, No. 3

Features

Departments

18 Shop Talk: Ri Happy

8 Observations & Opinions

by Jennifer Lynch

10 Trending

32 Seizing Opportunities—and Tackling Challenges

12 Industry News

by Steve Pasierb, The Toy Association

34 Mattel: Creating Play with Purpose

16 Brand Profile: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

22 Industry Forum: Toy Industry Association

by Jennifer Lynch

36 Q&A: State of the Industry

24 Industry Forum: ASTRA

by Ashley Rogers

26 Industry Forum: Design Edge

46 Fall Toy Preview 2019

28 Industry Forum: John W. Brady

compiled by Jennifer Lynch

64 ABC Kids Expo

30 Industry Forum: Women in Toys

compiled by Jennifer Lynch

84 You’re Hired

81 Company Profile: Animoodles

86 Calendar of Events

by Jennifer Lynch

84 Not Your Average Teddy Bear

by Elaine Andrus

On the Cover Barbie Career of the Year Robotics Engineer doll from Mattel TFE cover designed by Jennifer Lynch

Online Exclusive Oct. 9–11

Brand Licensing Europe Preview compiled by Jennifer Lynch

On this Page Super Impulse’s Barbie Fashion Doll Pens; an assortment of mixed-and-matched Animoodles characters.

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TFE OBSERVATIONS & Opinions

ANBMEDIA.COM

Q4 2018: A Brave New World

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look forward to Fall Toy Preview in Dallas every year EHFDXVH LW·V RXU ÀUVW ORRN DW ZKDW·V DKHDG QRW MXVW IRU SURGXFW EXW WKH KHDOWK RI WKH LQGXVWU\ RYHUDOO $V ZH PRYH LQWR WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW WLPH RI WKH WR\ F\FOH WKH IRXUWK TXDUWHU VHOOLQJ VHDVRQ WKHUH LV DQWLFLSDWLRQ DERXW ZKDW W\SH RI KROLGD\ VHDVRQ LW ZLOO EH LQ WHUPV RI VDOHV 7R\V ´5µ 8V 758 LV JRQH DQG VRPH EHOLHYH WKDW DOO GROODUV VSHQW DW 758 GXULQJ IRXUWK TXDUWHU ZHQW ZLWK LW %XW WKLV LV MXVW QRW WKH FDVH 5HWDLOHUV WKDW RQFH FRPSHWHG DJDLQVW 758 IRU KROLGD\ VDOHV DUH VWHSSLQJ XS WKHLU JDPH WKLV VHDVRQ ZLWK H[SDQGHG SURGXFW RIIHULQJV DQG QHZ WR\ EXVLQHVV VWUDWHJLHV WKH\ KRSH WR H[WHQG Bob Glaser, Publisher EH\RQG WKH KROLGD\V (DUOLHU WKLV \HDU )$2 6FKZDU] GHWDLOHG SODQV IRU LWV QHZ ÁDJVKLS DQG KRZ LW·V H[WHQGLQJ LQWR QHZ FKDQQHOV DQG PDUNHWV VXFK DV &KLQD $PD]RQ LV SXWWLQJ RXW LWV ÀUVW WR\ FDWDORJ WKLV KROLGD\ WKDW PDQ\ EHOLHYH ZLOO ULYDO 758·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·W FXUUHQWO\ VKDUH ZKDW SHUFHQW RI LWV EXVLQHVV WR\V FXUUHQWO\ PDNH XS EXW LWV FRPS VDOHV JUHZ SHUFHQW LQ 4 DQG WKH FRPSDQ\ VXJJHVWV LWV WR\ VDOHV SHUIRUPHG WKH VDPH 5HWDLOHUV ELJ DQG VPDOO DUH DOVR PRUH IRFXVHG RQ FUHDWLQJ PHPRUDEOH LQ VWRUH H[SHULHQFHV IRU VKRSSHUV $GGLWLRQDOO\ WKRVH LQ SDUDOOHO VDOHV FKDQQHOV DUH XVLQJ 758·V GHPLVH DV DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR VWHS IXUWKHU LQWR WR\V 7KLV LV VRPHWKLQJ PDQ\ RI WKH WR\ PDQXIDFWXUHUV ZH VSRNH ZLWK LQ RXU DQQXDO 6WDWH RI WKH ,QGXVWU\ SDJH SUDLVHG ,Q $XJXVW 7730·V &(2 -LP 6LOYHU JRW D ÀUVW ORRN DW D QHZ 7R\ &LW\ SRS XS VWRUH LQ 5RFNDZD\ 1-³RQH RI ORFDWLRQV QDWLRQZLGH WKDW ZLOO VLW DORQJ VLGH LWV +DOORZHHQ &LW\ SRS XS VWRUHV DQG UXQ WKURXJK WKH KROLGD\ VHDVRQ 7KLV ÁDJ VKLS ORFDWLRQ IHDWXUHV VTXDUH IHHW RI UHWDLO VSDFH ZLWK WR\V VXSSOLHG E\ YHQGRUV 7KH FRPSDQ\ LV DOVR H[SDQGLQJ LWV RQOLQH WR\ DVVRUWPHQW DV ZHOO (DUOLHU WKLV \HDU WKH 13' UHOHDVHG VDOHV QXPEHUV IRU WKH WR\ LQGXVWU\ LQGLFDWLQJ IRU WKH ÀUVW KDOI RI WKDW WR\ VDOHV LQFUHDVHG RYHU WKH VDPH SHULRG RI +RZ PXFK RI WKDW ZDV FRQ VXPHUV VKRSSLQJ IRU GLVFRXQWHG PHUFKDQGLVH DW 758 QRERG\ UHDOO\ NQRZV 7KH JRRG SDUW LV WKDW UHWDLOHUV DUH FOHDUO\ VHHLQJ WKH RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ WKH WR\ DLVOHV MXVW DV ZH HQWHU WKH PRVW FULWLFDO WLPH RI WKH \HDU

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OCTOBER 2018 • VOLUME 13, NO. 3 PUBLISHER BOB GLASER BOB@TTPM.COM ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ANDY KRINNER ANDY@TTPM.COM NATIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DONNA MOORE DONNA@TTPM.COM ADVERTISING MANAGER KIM ANTHONY JONES KIMANTHONY@TTPM.COM CONTROLLER MARY GROGAN MARY@TTPM.COM EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM SILVER JIM@TTPM.COM EDITORIAL & CREATIVE MANAGER JENNIFER LYNCH JENNIFER@TTPM.COM WEB DEVELOPER BRENDAN SANABRIA BRENDAN@TTPM.COM CONTRIBUTORS ELAINE ANDRUS; JOHN BRADY; LAURIE CHARTORYNSKY; KIMBERLY MOSLEY; LEILA NOSRATI; MATT NUCCIO; STEVE PASIERB; AND ASHLEY ROGERS

INTERESTED IN A SUBSCRIPTION? CONTACT MARY GROGAN AT MARY@TTPM.COM ANB MEDIA, INC. 229 WEST 28TH STREET, SUITE 401, NEW YORK, NY 10001 PHONE: (646) 763–8710 • FAX: (646) 763–8727

TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT (TFE) is published three times per year by aNb Media. Copyright 2018 aNb Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. TFE, TFE LICENSING, and SPECIALTY EMPORIUM are registered trademarks of aNb Media. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by editors, contributing writers, or solicited or unsolicited documents are not necessarily those of management.

What’s Trending? These trending lists are based on aNb Media’s consumer website, TTPM.COM. TTPM’s TOP TRENDING LISTS are generated by the number of views for that item across toy, baby, and pet categories. Here are the lists, in trending order, as of September 14.

1

TOP 10 Trending Toys Super Studio Mickey Mouse & Friends and Disney Princess Osmo

Jurassic World Alpha Training Blue (1) Mattel

Flushin’ Frenzy Mattel

Twisty Petz Series 1 Spin Master

Disney Cuddleez ShopDisney

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Epic Sewer Lair Playset Playmates Toys

Twisty Petz Series 1 Spin Master

Roblox Heroes of Robloxia

Disney Baby Disney Pals Playmat Kids II

Cuddle Bots Garden-Go-Round Hexbug

Disney Baby Oball Go Grippers Kids II

Nursh Silicone Pouch Bottle (2) Boon

DadWare Bamboo Bondaroo Mom N’ DadWare

Pop & Score Soccer VTech

Jazwares

2

Lost Kitties Series 1 Hasbro

10 tfe October 2018

Treat A Dog PupRug (3) Treat A Dog

Schwinn Rascal Pet Trailer Pacific Cycle

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Yeti Dog

Spin Master

Hasbro

TOP 5 Pet Products

Felt Ball with Rope

Pimple Pete

FurReal Ricky the Trick-Lovin’ Pup

3

TOP 5 Baby Products

K9 Sport Sack Air K9 Sport Sack

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HERE’S A RECAP OF INDUSTRY HEADLINES • For more up-to-date news, visit aNbMedia.com • Sign up to receive FREE News Alerts on aNbMedia.com

Hasbro Unveils Marvel Rising Toy Line Hasbro expands its partnership with Disney and Marvel to launch a brand new action doll collection inspired by the latest edition to the Marvel Universe, Marvel Rising. The announcement coincides with the debut trailer for the new Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors series, which premieres Sunday, September 30 on Disney Channel and Disney XD. The 11-inch scale action dolls will each sport heroic attire, rooted hair, and feature 15-point articulation. Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, America Chavez, Ghost-Spider, Quake, Inferno, and Patriot DUH SDUW RI WKH FROOHFWLRQ WKDW ZLOO GHEXW QH[W PRQWK (DFK ¿JXUH FRPHV ZLWK LWV RZQ DFFHVVRU\ such as Squirrel Girl’s furry pal Tippy-Toe. The Training collection will feature the superheroes LQ WKHLU WUDLQLQJ RXW¿WV ZKLOH WKH 6HFUHW ,GHQWLW\ FROOHFWLRQ ZLOO IHDWXUH WKHLU HYHU\GD\ FLYLOLDQ ZHDU

Falcon Investment Advisors Invests in Basic Fun!

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Jazwares Named Angry Birds Master Toy Partner

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United Nations, Mattel Team Up for Thomas & Friends Relaunch Mattel launched a two-year collaboration with the United Nations (UN) for the latest series of Thomas & Friends, which will promote the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to its young audience. The Thomas & Friends production team collaborated with the UN Department of Public Information’s Creative Community Outreach Initiative to develop content inspired by six of the 17 SDGs: No. 4: Quality Education, No. 5: Gender Equality, No. 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, No. 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, No. 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and No. 15: Life on Land. Following market research with kids and parents around the world, the new series will have a more contemporary feel, a new theme song, and a new Steam Team that ensures gender equality. The series will also have 7KRPDV OHDYLQJ 6RGRU IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH LQWURGXFLQJ NLGV WR QHZ FXOWXUHV FRXQWULHV DQG FKDUDFWHUV VXFK DV 1LD IURP $IULFD $VKLPD IURP ,QGLD <RQJ %DR IURP &KLQD DQG 6KDQH IURP $XVWUDOLD 7KH FROODERUDWLRQ ZLOO DOVR LQFOXGH SDUHQW WLSV DFWLYLW\ VKHHWV DQG VKRUW IRUP FRQWHQW DYDLODEOH on the microsite, allaboardforglobalgoals.com. The collaboration was announced last month during a roundtable discussion held at the United Nations Headquarters. Speakers included OlLYLD :LOGH DFWUHVV ¿OPPDNHU DQG DFWLYLVW 0DKHU 1DVVHU WKH GLUHFWRU RI WKH RXWUHDFK GLYLVLRQ LQ WKH 81 'HSDUWPHQW RI 3XEOLF ,QIRUPDWLRQ ,DQ 0F&XH VHQLRU SURGXFHU RI 7KRPDV )ULHQGV 7ROXORSH /HZLV 7DPRND 81 :RPHQ¶V $IULFD SURJUDP DGYLVRU DQG 5LFKDUG 'LFNVRQ SUHVLGHQW

Hornby Stock Up 27 Percent on Warner Bros. Deal Models and collectibles group Hornby signed a new licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. to extend its licensed product range of model railway and slot car sets to include Warner Bros.’ and DC’s franchises such as Harry Potter and DC Super Heroes. Die-cast vehicles would also be included in the agreement, under the Hornby Railways, Scalextric, and Corgi lines. Product is expected to debut at the upcoming London Toy Fair in January 2019.

Twirlywoos Renews Golden Bear as Master Toy Partner

DHX Brands, the dedicated brand management and consumer products arm of DHX Media, has renewed its agreement appointing Golden Bear as the global master toy partner for its preschool brand, Twirlywoos, through 2020. Originally commissioned by CBeebies, Twirlywoos airs on more than 40 linear and streaming platforms around the world. Since its original appointment as master toy partner for Twirlywoos in 2014, Golden Bear has launched a range of toys for the brand. In 2015, the Big Red Boat Playset was featured in the EUDQG·V ÀUVW 79 PDUNHWLQJ FDPSDLJQ ,Q *ROGHQ %HDU ODXQFKHG WKH 5XQ DORQJ 7ZLUO\ZRRV line. In 2018, it introduced the Chatty Twirlywoos, an assortment of soft toys.

14 tfe October 2018

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BRAND PROFILE

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his November, Dr. Seuss’ grumpiest character will make his way down from Mount Crimpit, along with his trusty dog Max, and into WhoVille for another holiday season. Only this time it will be in the newly reimagined version of the Christmas classic, The Grinch, from Universal and Illumination Pictures ('HVSLFDEOH 0H, 0LQLRQV, Secret Life of Pets), the studio’s eighth fully animated feature. Based on Dr. Seuss’ holiday tale, The Grinch tells the story of the cynical green grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a Cindy-Lou Who’s holiday spirit. With Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange, The Imitation Game) lending his voice to the infamous Grinch, WKH QHZ Ă€OP ZLOO EH OHVV D UHPDNH RI WKH RULJLQDO 79 PRYLH How The Grinch Stole Christmas! DQG PRUH RI DQ RULJLQ VWRU\ 7KH WDOH ZLOO IHDWXUH LWV RULJLQDO EDQG of characters along with new ones. NBCUniversal Brand Development (UBD) already has a comprehensive licensLQJ DQG PDUNHWLQJ VWUDWHJ\ XQGHUZD\ LQ VXSSRUW RI WKH Ă€OP ZLWK D IHZ IHDWXUHG partners shown here. According to UBD, consumers can expect to see the Grinch nearly everywhere with activations across all NBCUniversal company touchpoints. Visitors to Universal theme parks as well as other premiere locations will have the opportunity to participate in immersive Grinch experiences. UBD will also work to keep the brand top-of-mind into the holiday season followLQJ WKH Ă€OP¡V UHOHDVH WKURXJK DSSHDUDQFHV LQ WKH 0DF\¡V 7KDQNVJLYLQJ 'D\ 3DUDGH (Grinch balloon), a “frame-breakingâ€? program with Amazon, robust consumer products, and retail activations with a yet-to-be announced fast-fashion retailer. Just Play is already on board as master toy partner and has already unveiled a slate of toys that LQFOXGHV SOD\VHWV SOXVK DQG KROLGD\ LQVSLUHG RIIHULQJV LQFOXGLQJ WKH Ă€JXUHV EHORZ

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Just Play’s Who-Ville Collection set

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SHOPTALK

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p until 2008, Ri Happy was known mostly as a family-run and owned business that focused mainly on the southeast region of Brazil with its 84 locations. In Brazil, this scenario is not uncommon for a toy retailer, with the majority picking a region to build their businesses and sticking to it. Unlike other countries, where toys can most often be found through other channels such as big box retailers or department stores, in Brazil specialty stores are the main go-to sales channel for business. Where Ri Happy though began to separate itself from the pack was in its growth beyond these typically adhered to boundaries. Today, the retailer is up to 35 franchises and 224 of its own stores nationwide. The Acquisition The year 2012 marked the company’s real turning point in terms of growth. It was the year that T4U Participaçþes S.A., an investment vehicle controlled by a fund managed by the Carlyle Group, acquired 85 percent of the shares of the company—in 2014, the Carlyle Group acquired the remaining 15 percent stake. This marked “the beginning of a new cycle for the company, with the adoption of better corporate governance practices, including the creation of board committees, and the improvement of our development internal controls,â€? says HĂŠctor Núùez, president and CEO RI 5L +DSS\ ,Q WKH VDPH \HDU WKH FRPSDQ\ ODXQFKHG WKH ÂżUVW QHWZRUN of Black Friday promotions across its locations and began to lean more heavily into expanding its product assortment. Further strengthening its leadership in the toy landscape of Brazil Ri Happy acquired its principal competitor in the north and northeastern reJLRQV RI %UD]LO 3ODQHWD %ULQTXHGR ZLWK VWRUHV DFURVV ÂżYH VWDWHV LQ 2016. Ri Happy’s success, however, has not been without its struggles, many of which are in large part due to the unqiue retail landscape that makes up

18 tfe May/June 2018

Ri Happy Kids store interior

Brazil. As mentioned, the retailer is, luckily, uniquely positioned as the only toy retailer with a nationwide footprint. But even still, retail costs of toys in Brazil are much higher when compared with other countries around the world, and sometimes this can impact what products are sold. “Unfortunately, Brazil’s import duties coupled with its excessive and highly complex internal tax regime makes many consumer products, including toys, have a much higher price relative to the U.S. and other markets,â€? says Núùez. “On average, almost 50 percent of the retail price is tax. As a very democratic brand we constantly work very hard to deliver a broad and deep brand, product, and price architecture, in a concerted efforts to be accessible to all social economic segments.â€? Another barrier for the toy retailer, comes in the form of lead time. While Ri Happy does receive the majority of product in the same time as other countries, most of the products ship from China and the lead time between the two countries is also greater.

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1-734-667-1673 info@magformers.com www.magformers.com

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To help combat these issues, last year Ri Happy created its own distriEXWLRQ FHQWHU LQ RUGHU WR LPSURYH WKH HIÂżFLHQF\ RI LWV VXSSO\ FKDLQ DQG WR lower costs. Amazon also recently announced its plans to enter Brazil, which no matter what country you’re in can create apprehension throughout the marketplace. Currently online toy sales represent just over 4 percent of the total toy business in Brazil, with Ri Happy’s own e-commerce channels accounting for 3.4 percent of its 2017 gross revenues. Ri Happy views the impending arrival of Amazon as more of an opportunty to increase its own digital sales than anything else. “Being the largest and leading toy retailer, with a nationwide footprint, we are very well positioned to compete and take advantage of the growth opportunity,â€? says Núùez. “Our omnichannel capabilities being implemented throughout this year and next will allow for an integrated approach to servicing our customers, including same-day deliveries throughout Brazil. Our stores, ecommerce site, coupled with our implemented marketplace partnerships will further strengthen our deep-rooted relationships with customers. And with more than 1,000 exclusive items and lines, a robust private label, and the most robust assortPHQW LQ %UD]LO ZH DUH FRQÂżGHQW LQ RXU FRQWLQXHG WR\ OHDGHUVKLS ´ Hello, Baby & Beyond Ri Happy acquired PBKids in 2012, and with it put its foot in the door to the baby market. Ri Happy began that year by testing the waters with D VKRS LQ VKRS FRQFHSW IRU EDE\ DFURVV LWV VWRUHV EHIRUH RSHQLQJ LWV ÂżUVW independent baby retail location, Ri Happy Baby, in 2013. The acquisition and step into the juvenile sector also contributed to the consolidation of the company’s franchise model. “In 2015, we launched a program of sales development, entered into exclusive agreements with the suppliers, H[SDQGHG WKH FRQFHSW RI %DE\ 6WRUH LQ VWRUH DQG RSHQHG RXU ÂżUVW Ă€DJVKLS concept store in the city of SĂŁo Paulo, which offers a differentiated expe-

One of the many Ri Happy events hosted in stores to engage consumers.

20 tfe May/June 2018

rience to our consumers,â€? says Núùez. The company has further expanded this business since then to 62 pointof-sale locations within RiHappy and PBKids stores as well as six storefronts dedicated exclusively to baby products, under the Ri Happy Baby banner. These stores are located on properties leased from third-parties and range in size from just more than 1,200 to nearly 1,700 square feet, which accounted for 1.2 percent of its gross revenues by year’s end in 2017. The company also launched Geek Happy, a more pop-culture/adult collector-driven segment to its business online and in a few stores last year as part of its growth strategy. Making Consumers Ri-eally Happy Keeping consumers engaged and wanting to shop in stores is never an easy feat no matter the size of the retail footprint, but this is another area that Ri Happy has honed in on over the years. “We operate eight locations under the Ri Happy banner in an integrated ‘one-stop shopping’ store format, in which we offer a broad assortment of toys and baby products comprising 18,000 SKUs,â€? says Núùez. “We believe this format is especially attractive and convenient to our customers, as it allows us to offer, under a single roof, the largest mix of products used most frequently by children [from ages birth–10], whether for basic daily needs or for fun. Accordingly, we intend to prioritize the one-stop shopping store format, both with respect to opening new stores as well as converting existing toy stores with available retail space. We believe that an increase in the number of one-stop shopping stores could lead to greater VDOHV JURZWK DQG GLOXWLRQ RI Âż[HG FRVWV LQ WKH VKRUW WR PHGLXP WHUP ´ $W year’s end 2017, one-stop shopping stores accounted for 5.9 percent of Ri Happy’s gross revenues. Additionally Ri Happy offers in-store events and activities during the year, including meet and greets with characters and YouTube stars, product demonstrations, events focused on mothers with babies, and more, according to Flavia Drummond, director of marketing. Every Saturday is also Happy Saturday across Ri Happy stores, with unique weekly events and activities that make up more than 13,000 events during the year. Looking ahead, the company aims to be the largest children’s retailer in Brazil and has its sights set on going public, but that’s currently on hold. “The capital markets in Brazil are currently closed for IPOs due to political instability caused by the impending elections in October and November,â€? says Núùez. “IPO primary funding will provide resources to accelerate our growth strategy in our retail formats, as well as further our digital long term transformation.â€? So for now, Ri Happy remains anchored in its core toy business, continues to consolidate its baby segment, and is exploring new opportunities in other children’s categories, says Núùez.

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9/13/2018 9/17/2018 11:52:07 12:50:23 AM PM

INDUSTRY FORUM TOY ASSOCIATION

Decoding STEM/STEAM:

The Role of Toys and Play in Building STEM/STEAM Skills

B

LAURIE CHARTORYNSKY, THE TOY ASSOCIATION

y now most know that the STEM/STEAM acronym stands for science, technology, engineering, and math (with a recent addition of “aâ€? for arts), but questions remain about how toys and play can enhance STEM/STEAM learning. IQ WKH Ă€UVW RI ZKDW ZLOO EH D VHULHV RI SXEOLFDWLRQV 7KH Toy Association has put together an in-depth report, Decoding STEM/ STEAM, to explore the history and evolution of public perception about STEM/STEAM, tackle common misconceptions, address how to encourage kids to take more interest in science- and math-related subjects and careers, and suggest how toys and play can further STEM/STEAM learning. The report was assembled and reviewed by The Toy Association’s STEM/STEAM Strategic Leadership Committee. “As parents look for ways to expose their kids to science- and math-based subjects and encourage learning agility, toymakers are in a unique position to help them,â€? says Ken Seiter, executive vice-president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “Our goal in creaWLQJ WKH UHSRUW ZDV WR Ă€UVW SURYLGH WKH IXQGDPHQWDOV RI 67(0 67($0 concepts. Our next task is to provide concrete information to help the toy industry create educational, fun, and engaging playthings for kids that will support their learning.â€? The Meaning Behind STEM & STEAM STEM education is an approach to learning that combines scienceand math-based academic concepts with real-life lessons to help students connect the subjects they learn to examples in the community and the world around them. Building STEM literacy in children will enable them to compete in an economy that is fueled by the global society’s ever-expanding appetite for technology that is better, faster, and smarter than a minute ago. Experts have posited that STEM learning cannot exist without allowing children to tap into their creative and imaginative skills to facilitate innovative thinking – leading the “Aâ€? (for arts) to make its way into the STEM acronym and cultural conversation. The “Aâ€? in STEAM represents the artistic and creative right side of the brain. Breaking Down Barriers STEM/STEAM is commonly misunderstood, leading to a myriad of “mythsâ€? and stereotypes about the subjects that prevent kids from becoming interested in the subjects at school. The report discredits many of

22 tfe May/June 2018

those misunderstandings such as: • Society has come to believe that you are either born with math skills or not. A misconception likely fueled by a few children who are math savants when born and then are labeled as “gifted.â€? Fact: No one is born with a math brain, and no one is born without one. Learning math is also ageless and we can wrap our minds around it at any age. • .LGV QHHG WR EH KLJKO\ SURĂ€FLHQW LQ PDWK WR H[SORUH RWKHU DUHDV RI science, engineering, or technology. Fact: Students can still make sound contributions to science and technology without being a math expert. • STEM/STEAM should be taught on tracks. Our current educational system is built on tracks that do not allow for parallel growth in such Ă€HOGV DV FKHPLVWU\ SK\VLFV DQG ELRORJ\ $QG \HW DOO WKHVH GLVFLSOLQHV converge in the real-world workplace. Fact: These subjects should be taught in an integrated manner. In addition, a lack of diverse role models in STEM/STEAM careers, little exposure to professionals and different types of careers related to the subjects, and parental anxieties about math, among other topics, can deter children from wanting to explore science and math. These and other key points in the report are highlighted as hurdles that must be addressed in order to get more kids interested in STEM/STEAM-related careers. The Important Role of Toys in STEAM Toys can directly and indirectly develop skills and competencies based on the STEM/STEAM curriculum, including motivating kids to get excited about science-related subjects, allowing them to make mistakes, and facilitating collaboration among their peers. Toys can also teach kids to take healthy risks in a playful environment, practice problem-solving, and to think critically. “7R\V FDQ JUHDWO\ LQĂ XHQFH FKLOGUHQ E\ RSHQLQJ XS WKH ZRUOG RI ZKDW¡V possible when it comes to STEM/STEAM, inspiring young minds, and encouraging hands-on experimentation,â€? Seiter said. “By teaching the skills in a fun and relatable way, toys can ultimately foster a new generation of students interested in pursuing science and technology careers or any careers of their choosing.â€? In the coming months, the committee will identify unifying characteristics to help guide manufacturers to develop products that foster STEM/STEAM discovery and learning. For more STEM/STEAM facts, download the full report at ToyAssociation.org/ReadingRoom.

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9/18/2018 8:50:40 AM

INDUSTRY FORUM ASTRA

W

ASTRA Innovation Council: Addressing the Big Picture in a Time of Accelerating Change KIMBERLY MOSLEY, ASTRA PRESIDENT

hen it comes to business, change is always in the air. Take the past 18 months. Large national chains have closed hundreds of underperforming bricks-and-mortar stores, leaving malls and shopping districts nationZLGH ZLWK JDSLQJ KROHV $ VWULQJ RI KLJK SURĂ€OH UHWDLO bankruptcies—including Toys “Râ€? Us, a driving force in the toy industry for much of its 60-year history—has left independents, online sellers, and big box stores looking for ways to leverage the resulting opportunities. Amazon bought itself a ready-made physical footprint nationwide with the purchase of Whole Foods. Meanwhile, 2017 saw retails sales grow by 4.2 percent over the previous year—the largest gain since 2014. Nimbleness: The Independent Retailer’s Competitive Advantage Successful retailers who are members of ASTRA have always responded to changing market dynamics and shifts in customer expectations by using their comparatively small size as a competitive advantage. “Small retailers can react much more quickly to market changes than big box chains because we can make quick decisions,â€? says Michelle Sahr, owner of Off the Wagon in Kent, Ohio. “We don’t have to work through layers of hierarchy to get something done.â€? Tackling Big Issues at the Industry Level As retailers are literally minding the store, ASTRA is doubling down on its mission to support ASTRA is doubling down on its mission to support a membership of independent toy retailers, manufacturers, and sales representatives to advance industry growth. Accelerating change in today’s business environment—characterized by fragmentation, new EXVLQHVV PRGHOV FKDQQHO Ă XLGLW\ H[SHULHQFH GULYHQ SXUFKDVHV FRQstantly-connected consumers, and customer desire for shared culture— led the ASTRA Board of Directors to look for new ways to go beyond its day-to-day suite of member services to tackle big picture industry issues. It found it in the leadership of specialty toy industry veteran Roger Bildsten, who moderated last year’s ASTRA eco-system member roundtables. The deep-dive initiative led to the formation an internal “think tankâ€? composed of ASTRA members from all three categories (retailer, manufacturer, and sales representative) and experienced business people outside the toy industry who have interests aligned with ASTRA. Creation of The ASTRA Innovation Council

24 tfe October 2018

Named the ASTRA Innovation Council, the group’s charge is to exDPLQH WKH JOREDO ODQGVFDSH DQG UHFRPPHQG VSHFLĂ€F DFWLRQV $675$ FDQ take—both short- and long-term—to help ASTRA members adapt and thrive in the face of accelerating change in and arguably the transformation of the retail sector. “Starting about a year ago, we could see that change was cascading at warp speed through retail,â€? says Bildsten, who has led specialty toy manufacturing companies and played an active leadership role in ASTRA over the years. “There are many of us long-time ASTRA members who have always believed in the power of working together and thinking big to keep the specialty side of the industry strong. The already busy ASTRA Board needed a go-to resource to dig into some of [its] biggest challenges, so the Innovation Council was launched.â€? The new Innovation Council recruited some of the best and brightest—ASTRA has plenty to pick from—who have knowledge of the toy industry, a pulse on toy industry trends, a willingness to share knowledge, and the ability to transform ideas into actions. Formed in early 2018, to date, the council has focused on: • Identifying and assessing the impact of game-changing developments DIIHFWLQJ WKH $675$ HFRV\VWHP DQG PRUH VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ WKH EULFN DQG mortar retail channel ‡ 'HĂ€QLQJ LQLWLDO FRUH SULRULWLHV DQG IRUPLQJ ZRUNLQJ JURXSV WR H[SORUH the details • Presenting two position papers for the ASTRA Board’s review during the fall 2018 • Laying groundwork to develop action plans for the initial priorities • Looking outside the toy industry “bubbleâ€? for helpful developments More to Come on the Council’s Work You’ll hear more about the work of the Innovation Council in the coming months. In the meantime, think nimble, think customer focus, and think of accelerating change as the new normal. As Anita Demetropoulos, owner of the Island Treasure toy stores in Maine and a member of the Innovation Council says, “When I started the business 16 years ago, I promised myself we wouldn’t get stuck in one way of doing things. Back then, I saw change as a year-to-year thing,â€? says Demetropoulos. “Now we have to adapt every day to survive.â€?

© Konami Digital Entertainment

© Konami Digital Entertainment

© Konami Digital Entertainment

GET READY TO PLAY!

Jennifer Coleman • jcoleman@4kmedia.com • +1.212.590.2120

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INDUSTRY FORUM DESIGN EDGE

7+( '(6,*1(5¡6 3(563(&7,9(

Long Live the King: The Changing Tides of Licensing vs. Self-Producing

I

f you asked me only a few years ago if inventors should license their concept or self-produce it, I would have given you a quick reply praising the upsides of licensing and heeding tales of the doomed self-producer. I’d tell you stories of people second mortJDJLQJ WKHLU KRPHV WR Ă€QDQFH WKH SURGXFWLRQ RI WKHLU LQYHQWLRQV only to still have a garage full of their inventions three years later. The pitfalls of self-production then were many and everywhere. Although the royalty income streams were often low, your downside was limited, too. What has changed between then and now? Direct access to market. A decade ago the brick-and-mortar retail landscape was a structural hierarchy that was seemingly controlled by a few. It appeared that if startups wanted to bring a product to market themselves, they needed to somehow gain entry into the preverbal boys’ club. This club seemed to be closed to the outside world with one exception: licensing. If you had an idea, you could contact an agent or a company directly, pitch your concept, and hope the inventor relations appointee would run your concept up the corporate ladder for the go-ahead from the top. Companies would see dozens, if not thousands, of ideas each year, cherry-picking the “best of the bestâ€? for their company portfolio. This process seemed effective and when and if your invention made it to market you felt that you had success simply because you got it there. But the reason your product made it there wasn’t always because corporate saw an opportunity to hit a home run. It was generally selected simply to feed the retail beast. Corporations, then as is now, have relations with retailers. Like all relationships, some are stronger than others. To maintain those relationships companies will throw concepts against the wall. Many times they would agree to run exclusive content to only have base hits, often

26 tfe October 2018

leaving inventors with a pittance of a royalty. Let’s fast forward to today. The landscape has changed dramatically. Brick and mortar, which is still a powerful channel of distribution, is no longer the only player in town. More and more companies are selling direct to the consumer online. It is that direct sales approach that has allowed inventors to transcend into entrepreneurs. At Design Edge, we have watched as startups that would have been XQDEOH WR RSHQ DQ\ GRRUV D GHFDGH DJR QRZ WXUQ SURÀW ZLWKLQ D IHZ months of launching. You might think this is the foreseeable death of brick and mortar, but probably not. More and more brick-and-mortar retailers are watching the online WUHQGV DQG LI D SURGXFW LV WUHQGLQJ ÀQGLQJ D VDOHV UHS RU GLVWULEXWRU WR open the door to brick and mortar is achievable. While the investment to achieve success is higher than simply inventing and licensing your concept, the downside is far lower than it once was. Today, a startup is no longer rolling the dice and praying. There is now a clear path to the end-consumer that is reachable. Today, the only true barriers to success is whether or not your product is good enough for a consumer to like it and buy it. If you have a great concept and you create quality product for a good price, your chances for success are multiplied tenfold. We are truly entering the age where product is king. Long live the king!

Matt Nuccio is president of Design Edge, a New York-based graphic design and research development studio. For more information, he can be reached at matt@designedge.net.

INDUSTRY FORUM INVENIAM CAPITAL PARTNERS

What the Heck is Blockchain and Why Should I Care?

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JOHN W. BRADY

or those of us in the children’s products business who still invoice and collect hard currency, we probably haven’t been VSHQGLQJ D ORW RI WLPH ZDWFKLQJ WKH Ă XFWXDWLRQV RI FU\SWRcurrencies such as Bitcoin, or the tech platform that enables them. That may be a mistake. I’m not suggesting that you go out and acquire Bitcoins, Ethers or Ripples, but you should know the benHĂ€WV RI EORFNFKDLQ DQG KRZ LW FRXOG UHYROXWLRQL]H WKH ZD\ ZH GR EXVLQHVV In 700 words I can’t make you an expert in the ways of blockchain, but I can suggest some processes where blockchain could speed up your business; introduce transparency among your constituencies; enhance your dealings with investors, banks, suppliers, regulators and customs, internal or external teams and customers; and reduce your dependence on outside service providers. According to IBM, which has published several explanatory documents on blockchain from a layman’s view, “blockchain will do for transactions what the Internet did for information, ... allow increased trust and HIĂ€FLHQF\ LQ WKH H[FKDQJH RI DOPRVW DQ\WKLQJ Âľ 7KLQN RI H[FKDQJHV RI FXUUHQF\ RZQHUVKLS VSHFLĂ€F FRQWUDFWXDO REOLJDWLRQV ZRUNĂ RZV PRYHPHQW RI JRRGV UHJXODWRU\ FRPSOLDQFH SURGXFW testing—the interactions consumer products companies have with virtually everyone else. It can all be facilitated by blockchain, while cutting time, cost, ‘facilitators,’ and ‘third parties.’ The question of how has already been the subject of many white paSHUV RS HGV DQG ERRNV EXW EULHĂ \ WKLQN RI EORFNFKDLQ DV DQ RSHUDWLQJ system like the one on your computer or your smartphone. It can enable any number of applications, of which Bitcoin is just one. Blockchain stores data in blocks that occur in sequence, forming a chain—hence the name. So where does it store this transaction data? It goes onto the distributed, or shared, ledger in the cloud, allowing all parties who have permission to view it in real time. Instead of you, your offshore supplier, their long-lead OEM contractors, and the transport companies all keeping separate ledgers on the development, manufacture, and movement of product to the consolidator, blockchain enables visibility (as much as you allow) of the salient steps of the process on the ledger, for all to see. Payment for services can be immediate, bills of lading transferred in real time and ownership transfer can

28 tfe October 2018

take minutes instead of days. With each participant posting his part of the process, you can cut out those agents who collect fees but add no value. This distributed ledger is immutable. It is in the cloud for all approved parties to see. It can’t be undone, so it is a permanent record in the event of disputes. Adjustments can be made, but only in subsequent blocks. So, ‘he said, she said’ is a thing of the past. The current transaction system we use has inherent obstacles and speed bumps: • There is a time delay between a transaction and payment for services and products • Every participating party keeps its own ledger, causing duplication of effort and a potential need for third-party validation • Mistakes, fraud and more recently, cyber attacks slow the business process and increase risk for all, especially if the affected entity is a bank • Limited transparency and inconsistent information can slow down any WUDQVDFWLRQ DQG KDOW WKH Ă RZ RI JRRGV WKURXJK WKH VXSSO\ FKDLQ LQ critical shipping seasons These challenges can be applied to transactions for offshore goods, direct to consumer sales, licensing agreements, leases, capital equipment purchases, virtually all your business dealings. Now let’s look at what blockchain can do to remedy those issues and others right now: • Transaction times are cut from days to minutes • Reduced costs of oversight by outsiders, middleman involvement and duplication of effort • Increased security and privacy through permissioned networks with members-only proof of identity • Improved audit ability with a distributed ledger that is the single source of truth ‡ 6WUHDPOLQHG RSHUDWLRQDO HIĂ€FLHQF\ÂłIDVWHU FKHDSHU If you haven’t taken notice of these developments up to now, you should. The internet took less than two decades to become ubiquitous. I suspect blockchain will set new standards in one-quarter that time. John W. Brady is a business consultant with Inveniam Capital Partners, a blockchain-based investment bank. Brady specializes in CPG business with an emphasis on the toy and juvenile products segments.

INDUSTRY FORUM WOMEN IN TOYS

Looking to Launch? First Things First, Have TWO Plans

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BY LEILA NOSRATI

s entrepreneurship for you? Do you have an idea for a business, or KDYH \RX LQYHQWHG WKH QH[W KRW SURGXFW DQG KDYH YLVLRQV RI LW Á\LQJ off the shelf? Have you dreamed of the freedom that comes with enWUHSUHQHXUVKLS DQG RZQLQJ \RXU RZQ EXVLQHVV" 2U SHUKDSV \RX·YH EHHQ ´RIIHUHGµ WKDW IUHHGRP E\ \RXU HPSOR\HU DQG QRZ LV WKH ULJKW WLPH WR JR RXW RQ \RXU RZQ %HIRUH \RX OHDS PDNH VXUH \RX KDYH D SODQ ,Q IDFW LW·V LPSRUWDQW WR KDYH WZR SODQV D EXVLQHVV SODQ DQG D SHUVRQDO ÀQDQFLDO SODQ <RX·OO ZDQW WR SODQ IRU VXFFHVV EXW \RX VKRXOG DOVR SODQ IRU IDLOXUH $OO VXFFHVV FRPHV ZLWK IDLOXUHV DORQJ WKH ZD\ EXW ZLWK D URDGPDS WKDW DQVZHUV WRXJK TXHVWLRQV EHIRUH \RX VWDUW \RXU MRXUQH\ WKH VSHHG EXPSV DQG SRWKROHV ZRQ·W KXUW DV PXFK DQG WKRVH ZLWK ZKRP \RX GR EXVLQHVV ZLOO KDYH PRUH FRQÀGHQFH ZKHQ WDNLQJ D FKDQFH ZLWK \RX A Business Plan %HIRUH VSHQGLQJ WLPH DQG PRQH\ GHVLJQLQJ ORJRV DQG EXLOGLQJ ZHEVLWHV JDWKHU HPSLULFDO HYLGHQFH WKDW SHRSOH ZLOO SD\ \RX IRU \RXU SURGXFW RU VHUYLFH 7HVW DQG YDOLGDWH ERWK \RXU LGHD DQG \RXU EXVLQHVV PRGHO LQ WKH PDUNHW -XVW EHFDXVH \RX KDYH D JUHDW LGHD IRU D EXVLQHVV RU SURGXFW GRHVQ·W PHDQ LW ZLOO PDNH PRQH\ ,W·V QRW HQRXJK WKDW \RXU PRWKHU QHLJKERU RU EDULVWD WKLQN \RX KDYH D JUHDW LQYHQWLRQ RU EXVLQHVV LGHD <RX QHHG VWUDQJHUV ³ PD\EH SHRSOH ZKR GRQ·W HYHQ OLNH \RX ³ WR EH ZLOOLQJ WR SD\ IRU \RXU RIIHULQJ 1RW WKDW WKHUH DUH SHRSOH ZKR GRQ·W like you!) 7DNH WKH FULWLFDO VWHS RI GHWHUPLQLQJ WKH VL]H RI \RXU PDUNHW DQG KRZ PXFK UHDO FXVWRPHUV ZLOO EH ZLOOLQJ WR SD\ IRU \RXU SURGXFW RU VHUYLFH :KDW GR SHRSOH QHHG" :KDW LV IUXVWUDWLQJ DQG FKDOOHQJLQJ IRU WKHP" 'RHV \RXU SURGXFW RU VHUYLFH SURYLGH D VROXWLRQ WKDW GRHVQ·W DOUHDG\ H[ist? ,I \RX·UH EULQJLQJ D QHZ SURGXFW WR PDUNHW XWLOLW\ DQG PDUNHW VL]H DUH WKH ÀUVW GLVFXVVLRQV \RXU EX\HU ZLOO ZDQW WR KDYH ZKHQ \RX·UH SLWFKLQJ %HIRUH \RX ZDON LQWR WKH PHHWLQJ NQRZ \RXU QXPEHUV DQG NQRZ ZKHUH \RXU SURGXFW ÀWV LQWR WKH ODQGVFDSH RI WKDW EX\HU·V DVVRUWPHQW $V D IRUPHU EX\HU WKH SURGXFWV , ZDV PRVW FRQÀGHQW WR OLVW ZHUH those whose creators or salespeople came in prepared to answer the

30 tfe October 2018

TXHVWLRQ µ+RZ GRHV \RXU SURGXFW RIIHU D VROXWLRQ IRU WKH HQG XVHU and IRU P\ EXVLQHVV"µ ,W·V 2. QRW WR KDYH WKRVH DQVZHUV ZKHQ \RX·UH ÀUVW FUHDWLQJ %XW EHIRUH \RX SLWFK \RXU FUHDWLRQ DV D EXVLQHVV EH VXUH \RX·UH SUHSDUHG WR DQVZHU WKHVH TXHVWLRQV FOHDUO\ ZLWKLQ WKH ÀUVW IHZ PLQXWHV RI \RXU FRQYHUVDWLRQ A Financial Plan 7KH FRPIRUW RI D VWHDG\ LQFRPH NHHSV PDQ\ SHRSOH IURP VWDUWLQJ WKHLU RZQ EXVLQHVV :KHQ \RX DUH ZRUNLQJ IRU VRPHRQH HOVH \RX FDQ FRXQW RQ D UHJXODU SD\FKHFN %HIRUH \RX WDNH WKH SOXQJH \RX PXVW WKLQN DERXW KRZ \RX ZLOO FRYHU \RXU GD\ WR GD\ H[SHQVHV When you own the business, there may be a time when a client GRHVQ·W SD\ WKHLU LQYRLFH RQ WLPH RU ZKHQ D IDFWRU\ GRHVQ·W GHOLYHU RU D WUXFN FDUU\LQJ \RXU SURGXFW WR VWRUHV FUDVKHV RU ZKHQ DQ H[SHFWHG SD\PHQW IRU D VKLSPHQW RU VHUYLFH GRHVQ·W DUULYH :KHUH LV WKH PRQH\ JRLQJ WR FRPH IURP" <RX QHHG D ÀQDQFLDO SODQ WKDW WDNHV WKHVH SRVVLELOLWLHV LQWR DFFRXQW <RXU LQFRPH ZRQ·W EH VWHDG\ HVSHFLDOO\ DW WKH EHJLQQLQJ 7KDW·V 2. VR ORQJ DV \RXU SODQ FDQ JHW \RX WKURXJK LQHYLWDEOH IDLOXUHV RQ \RXU ZD\ WR VXFFHVV 7UDFN \RXU H[SHQVHV IURP WKH SDVW IHZ \HDUV 7KHQ EH EUXWDOO\ FRQVHUYDWLYH ZLWK WKH UHYHQXH DQG SURÀW SURMHFWLRQV RI \RXU QHZ YHQWXUH $UH \RX FRYHUHG" ,I QRW NHHS ZRUNLQJ RQ LW +DYH D FXVKLRQ LQ SODFH UHDG\ WR FDWFK \RXU IDOO LQ FDVH \RX IDFH WKH XQH[SHFWHG 6WDUWLQJ \RXU RZQ EXVLQHVV UHTXLUHV D ORW RI KDUG ZRUN SHUVLVWHQFH DQG OHDUQLQJ 6HW UHDOLVWLF H[SHFWDWLRQV JHW \RXU SODQV LQ RUGHU ODXQFK ZKHQ \RX·UH UHDG\ WR ÀQDQFLDOO\ KDQGOH WKH JRRG DQG EDG WLPHV DQG JHW VHW WR HPEDUN RQ DQ H[FLWLQJ MRXUQH\ WKDW FDQ EH RQH RI WKH PRVW SRZHUIXO ZD\V WR WDNH FRQWURO RI \RXU OLIH

Leila Nosrati is a WIT member and head of Master Retail Advisors, a consultancy focused on helping inventors and entrepreneurs get retail UHDG\ )RU HYHU\WKLQJ IURP FRQFHSW WR ODXQFK IURP ÀQDQFLDO PRGHOLQJ to perfecting a pitch for retail buyers, Master Retail Advisors is where creators go to get retail-ready.

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Untitled-1 1

9/14/2018 2:20:34 PM

Seizing Opportunities,

T

and Tackling Challenges STEVE PASIERB PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE TOY ASSOCIATION

he United States toy market is demonstrating signs of recovery since the U.S. operations for Toys “Râ€? Us (TRU) surprised the community by quickly shifting from bankruptcy to liquidation. Mid-year toy sales grew an impressive 7 percent—and the loss of TRU played a role according to The NPD Group, which attributed positive sales in part to an emotional response to TRU’s closing and a heightened awareness about toys in general. Strong super category performance and licensing strengWK IXUWKHU EXR\HG WKH Ă€UVW KDOI UHVXOWV ,Q DOO ZHOFRPH QHZV FRQVLGHULQJ the challenges toy companies have faced, including an evolving retail landscape, multichannel shopping, and shifting consumer preferences. WLWK WKH KROLGD\V MXVW DURXQG WKH FRUQHU ,¡P IHHOLQJ RSWLPLVWLF :H know from this past New York Toy Fair and earlier in previews in Dallas that talented professionals who design and manufacture toys have great products ready for holiday 2018. On the retail side, majors and mid-mass have been mobilizing to win share that’s up for grabs. Meanwhile, parenWV DQG JLIW JLYHUV DUH Ă€QGLQJ PRUH DQG PRUH UHDVRQV WR VKRS WKHLU ORFDO WR\ VWRUHV ZKHUH WKH\¡UH DEOH WR Ă€QG WKRXJKWIXOO\ FXUDWHG VHOHFWLRQV DQG attentive service from passionate owners and staff. The holidays are also certain to continue the growth trajectory of e-commerce. Rest assured, $PHULFDQ IDPLOLHV DQG NLGV ZLOO DOZD\V Ă€QG DQG EX\ WR\V Right now, retail buyers from around the globe are at The Toy Association’s Fall Toy Preview (October 2–4) in Dallas, TX. The energy and FUHDWLYLW\ DW WKH VKRZ ERGHV ZHOO IRU ,Q PDQ\ FDVHV EX\HU LQSXW is helping to shape the toys of tomorrow. Dallas also serves the role of placing orders for Q4 sales. Fall Toy Preview continues to be a crucial marketplace for small- and mid-sized toy companies, who count on the show to meet with as many buyers as possible in a condensed amount of WLPH ,Q SDVW \HDUV P\ULDG XQLTXH FRQFHSWV PDGH WKHLU Ă€UVW DSSHDUDQFH

32 tfe October 2018

in Dallas before going on to become the following year’s most sought-after playthings. There is much to be encouraged about as this tumultuous year progresses into our most important season, but it’s no time for complacency as new challenges face the toy community. From Danish regulators looking at banning squishy toys to nations using regulations as a barrier to trade, The Toy Association is actively engaged in—and tackling—a host of issues here at home and around the world on behalf of everyone in the community, member or not. Here is an update on our top priorities, among many: IP Protection and Counterfeit Toys CRQFHUQV DERXW ,3 LQIULQJHPHQW DQG SRWHQWLDO ULVNV WR WR\ VDIHW\ YLD hundreds of online platforms are real and mounting. We’ve been working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Senate Finance Committee staff, and representatives from leading e-commerce platforms, such as Alibaba and Amazon, to raise member concerns and explore solutions, with the shared goal of ensuring that only safe, compliant toys are getting into the hands of children. ,Q the coming months, we anticipate working more closely with government agencies to help them better identify counterfeit and violative products entering the country. We have offered to create a guide that will KHOS DJHQWV VSRW QRQ FRPSOLDQW WR\V DQG ZLOO LQFOXGH WRS ,3 YLRODWLRQ WUHQGV DFURVV GLIIHUHQW WR\ SURGXFW FDWHJRULHV ,Q RXU RSHQ DQG SURGXFWLYH conversations with e-commerce platforms, we have stressed the importance of verifying the safety and legitimacy of products offered for sale online. With the help of a range of members, we’ve also authored a white paper intended to detail our industry’s concerns and fuel solutions, not

just among the majors who have been listening, but among all e-commerce marketplaces from the smallest to the newest. We have also encouraged the CPSC to create a working group of interested stakeholders. These efforts are continuous, and we will update the toy community on our progress. We advise interested manufacturing members to join The Toy Association’s standing IP Protection Committee. Trade and Tariffs As the U.S.-China trade dispute continues to escalate, and trade tenVLRQV ZLWK RWKHU QDWLRQV GHHSHQ ZH·UH DJJUHVVLYHO\ ÀJKWLQJ WKH WKUHDW RI tariffs on toys and other toy-related Chinese imports. As of this writing, WKH :KLWH +RXVH·V ÀUVW DQG VHFRQG URXQG RI WDULIIV DW SHUFHQW FRYHULQJ ELOOLRQ WRWDO LQ &KLQHVH LPSRUWV LV LQ HIIHFW 7KH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 7UDGH 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH DOVR SURSRVHG D WKLUG OLVW RI ELOOLRQ LQ &KLQHVH JRRGV IRU WDULIIV DW D UDWH RI RU SHUFHQW DQG WKHUH KDV EHHQ WDON RI \HW DQRWKHU ELOOLRQ &KLQHVH LPSRUWV WR EH VXEMHFW WR WDULIIV RU PRUH ,I WKLV ELOOLRQ OLVW LV SURSRVHG OLNHO\ DOO LPSRUWV IURP &KLQD ZRXOG be covered. While we have worked tirelessly to make certain toys are so far not included in these lists, some toy-related products and materials of signiÀFDQFH WR WKH WR\ LQGXVWU\ DUH :H FRQWLQXH WR VHHN LPSDFW VWRULHV IURP members and to advocate on behalf of the industry both on our own and as advisory members of the Americans for Free Trade Coalition. The possibility of tariffs represents a threat to the entire U.S. toy industry and we will not relent in your defense. Helping Members Protect and Promote Their Businesses TKLV LVQ·W WKH ÀUVW WLPH WKH WR\ LQGXVWU\ KDV IDFHG FKDOOHQJHV \HW RXU members continue to prove their agility and resilience in challenging tiPHV )URP JOREDO PDUNHW H[SDQVLRQ DQG ÀQGLQJ QHZ GLVWULEXWLRQ FKDQQHOV to inventive new properties and partnerships, we see companies leveraging inventiveness and opportunities every day—and thriving. The Toy Association is also doing its part to provide members with the support, tools, and resources they need so they can focus on growing their businesses. We’re helping companies navigate an age of internet-connected toys and multichannel shopping, executing our world class trade and consumer events, advancing impactful global legislative and regulatory advocacy at every level of government, and leading conversations about the EHQHÀWV RI 67(0 67($0 OHDUQLQJ WKURXJK SOD\ VHH SDJH

Last month, The Toy Association announced its participation in the Americans for Free Trade multi-industry coalition aimed at opposing WDULIIV DQG KLJKOLJKWLQJ WKH EHQHÀWV RI LQWHUQDWLRQDO WUDGH WR WKH 8 6 HFRQRP\ Made up of more than 80 of the nation’s leading retail, manufacturing, technology, and services trade organizations, the coalition has joined with Farmers for Free Trade in a multi-million dollar national FDPSDLJQ FDOOHG 7DULIIV +XUW WKH +HDUWODQG .LFNLQJ RII ZLWK HYHQWV LQ Chicago, Nashville, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, the campaign focuses on WHOOLQJ WKH VWRULHV RI WKH $PHULFDQ EXVLQHVVHV IDUPHUV ZRUNHUV DQG families harmed by tariffs through town-hall style events; grassroots outreach to Congress and the administration; as well as social media, UDSLG UHVSRQVH DQG GLJLWDO DGYHUWLVLQJ /DVW PRQWK 3DVLHUE DOVR VXEPLWWHG FRPPHQWV WR WKH 8675 RSSRVing the most recent proposed $200 billion list of Chinese imports (as RI WKLV ZULWLQJ Here at Home and Around The World Over the past year, The Toy Association’s work has required extensive travel around the globe while we advocated for industry interests in PRUH WKDQ FRXQWULHV ZLWK D KRVW RI UHJXODWRUV OHJLVODWXUHV JRYHUQPHQW bodies, and organizations such as the World Trade Organization and its Technical Barriers to Trade Committee. OXU WHDP UHFHQWO\ SUHVHQWHG RQ WR\ VDIHW\ DQG FRPSOLDQFH DORQJ ZLWK WKH &36& WKH (XURSHDQ &RPPLVVLRQ DQG WKH $XVWUDOLDQ &RPSHWLWLRQ DQG &RQVXPHU &RPPLVVLRQ DW HGXFDWLRQDO VHPLQDUV DWWHQGHG E\ PRUH WKDQ UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV IURP &KLQHVH DQG 9LHWQDPHVH PDQXIDFWXUHUV :H DUH demonstrating a commitment to increased communication and coordinaWLRQ EHWZHHQ RXU $VVRFLDWLRQ 7R\ ,QGXVWULHV RI (XURSH DQG WKH QHZ 6RXtheast Asia Toy Association, while we directly collaborated on key issues with toy associations in Japan, Canada, India, and several other nations. These are uncertain times—geopolitically and in the business of toys. The future of product discovery and shopping are evolving, we’re faced ZLWK FKDOOHQJHV IURP DFWLYLVW 1*2 JURXSV DQG VROXWLRQV WR FRXQWHUIHLWLQJ ,3 SURWHFWLRQ DUH QHHGHG (YHU\ RQH RI WKHVH LVVXHV DQG WKH PDQ\ ,·YH QRW mentioned, proves future demands will be diverse. The trials and tasks are many. And, fortunately, fresh new opportunities will arise. It remains an honor and privilege for our team to help build your business, protect your rights, and advocate for your needs.

October 2018 tfe 33

Mattel: Creating

Play with Purpose

How Mattel is Breathing New Life into the 73-year-old company by getting back to its roots

T BY JENNIFER

LYNCH

his fall, there’s a new train from Kenya rolling into the station in the world of Thomas & Friends, and her name is Nia. And while Nia is part of an overhaul to the Thomas & Friends brand with new messaging supported by a partnership with the United Nations (see page 12 for more on this), Nia also stands as an example of a larger change taking place throughout Mattel. Nia’s name in Swahili means purpose, and looking to 2019, Mattel is moving full steam ahead on its own corporate message of purposeful play. This is a message that Mattel has steadily been honing for a few years now, and its 2018 second quarter results have pushed the message front and center in the form of Barbie and Hot Wheels. Overall sales for the toy giant may have dipped in Q2 (partly due to the impacts of the Toys “R� Us liquidation), but these two heritage brands stood out with double-digit gains—Barbie rising 12 percent and Hot Wheels up 21 percent.

Pictured is one of the 2018 Career of the Year Robotics Engineer dolls, which is part of Barbie’s largest growing segment, career dolls.

34 tfe October 2018

Consumers have watched as Barbie has transformed in the last two years to better represent every girl (and boy) with new body types, ethnicities, and styles under the Barbie Fashionistas line. The doll has also tapped into the message of female empowerment with WKH ODXQFK RI LWV 6KHURHV OLQH ZKLFK IHDWXUHV LQVSLULQJ IHPDOH Ă€JXUHV throughout history, as well as its career dolls, which touts the message that you can be anything. Barbie, in a sense, is no longer just looks; she’s got substance. “More than half of moms want to buy from companies or brands that ultimately make them feel good,â€? says Richard Dickson, president and COO of Mattel. “These were indicators that were really LPSRUWDQW WR Ă€JXUH RXW DFURVV RXU SRUWIROLR KRZ ZH FDQ SRUWUD\ RXU brands and the meaning of our brands as more purposeful. “When we looked at that insight in connection with Barbie, it Ă€W SHUIHFWO\ ZLWK ZKDW %DUELH VWRRG IRU %DUELH¡V LGHQWLW\ LV DERXW unlocking limitless potential for every girl through imaginative play. That is a really meaningful statement and how we translate that in today’s world was the task at hand.â€? While Barbie Fashionistas has gotten most of the exposure for LWV DGGLWLRQ RI FXUYLHU Ă€JXUHV DQG GDG ERGV ZKDW PD\ QRW EH DV well known is that the Barbie career line is currently the brand’s fastest growing segment. It has been up double and sometimes triple digits. This can be attritbuted, in part, to better communicating the line’s purposeful message that lets kids play out and test-drive careers with Barbie. “Our latest Career of the Year Robotics Engineer doll has been a stellar success both from a PR perspective and a sales perspective,â€? says Dickson. “The career dolls are canvases for girls’ play experiences and their imaginations to be unlocked. The dolls also offer a great way for moms and dads to dialogue with their daughter about their dreams, about their aspirations, and about different ways that they can apply their passion and their imagination. It’s been a great segment for us and one, I think, is uniquely Barbie.â€? The career line has also offered Mattel a means to engage in topical subjects and extend Barbie through partnerships like the one seen in its Robotics Engineer doll. For the development of this doll, Mattel teamed with Tynker, an educational coding platform for kids, to introduce coding, a critical 21st century skill set, through doll play as

Tuning into its consumer insights, Mattel is not only speaking to kid demand, but providing context to its brands that appeal to moms and dads.

well as Barbie-inspired coding games on the Tynker platform.

seful play and purposeful messages across all of our touchpoints,” says Dickson. “Whether that be products in our Barbie career line, whether it’s diversity, whether it’s Barbie documentaries, or whether it’s our new piece of content that’s doing extremely well that has more of a purposeful tilt. We’ve taken the insights we’ve gotten from parents, how they were feeling about the brand, and the state of parenting today, and incorporated that. It’s a formula that’s working not just on Barbie but also on Hot Wheels, with early signs of some good consumer feedback on Thomas as well.” From a sales perspective, 2018 has been the biggest year yet for the 50-year-old Hot Wheels brand. But much like Barbie, Hot Wheels has had to tune into its consumer feedback as well. In Hot Wheels, like Barbie, parents saw the value of the play but once again lacked context in how the play could help from a development perspective. “That really cued a compelling question that the brand needed to answer: What is the essence of Hot Wheels, and what is the purposeful play of Hot Wheels? And ultimately what it comes down to is perseverance and challenge,” says Dickson. Last fall, Hot Wheels introduced the Challenge Accepted campaign to better engage parents about these brand values, and this messaging now hits all brand touchpoints—from play experiences, to digital experiences, as well as its content programs. Three years ago, Mattel began to invest more heavily in its YouTube content, and it’s an investment that’s paying off. According to Dickson, the Hot Wheels YouTube channel has become the No. 1 channel for boys through various campaigns. Here, the brand has an always-on approach featuring daily content with

two distinct characteristics: 1) Content that focuses on the experimental, creative, and competitive nature of the brand; and 2) Content that infuses the brand in a way that lets consumers see the aspirational ways they can interact with it. “When you play Hot Wheels out, you’re playing to win and/or you’re playing through trial and error to achieve the epic stunt, the loop, the speed, the win, the challenge,” says Dickson. “ It may take 10 or 15 tries, but when you get it there’s nothing more exhilarating or thrilling. What they’re actually learning is perseverance and the will to continue through failure to try and achieve.” Hot Wheels is also a brand in Mattel’s portfolio that’s honed in on more purposeful partnerships, particularly in support of its 50th anniversary, which helps speak to all its audiences (kids, parents, and adult collectors) and keeps them engaged. Its partnership with the e-sports giant Rocket League is offering Hot Wheels a runway for growth and seeing the brand beyond the physical toy in a new way. New licensing initiatives are also feeding the brand with unique story arcs that also tap into the messaging of challenge and perseverance. For example, demand spiked for the Hot Wheels Tesla Roadster following the February launch of the SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket after the toy was spotted on the dashboard of Elon Musk’s own Tesla in space. What is clear from all these initiatives is that the success for both these brands—and Mattel’s future work with Thomas & Friends, Fisher-Price, and beyond—starts and ends with the consumer. It’s this methodology that’s ultimately helping to steer these brands back on the right track and simply tuning into not only what the consumer wants but needs from their play experiences. Being the gatekeepers for play is not always an easy job, says Dickson, but it’s one for which Mattel is up to the challenge.

October 2018 tfe 35

STATE

of the

INDUSTRY

Looking Ahead BY

to

36 tfe October 2018

2019

ASHLEY ROGERS

Q

Q FEATURED CONTENT

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his year saw the fall of the iconic retail giant, Toys “R” Us, and in June of this year the chain closed its remaining 740 U.S. stores sending shockwaves through the

toy industry. Fifteen percent of U.S. toy revenue came to a halt when the 70-year-old big-box retailer closed its doors due to bankruptcy. The far-reaching effects on the toy and game industry and the impact and shifts in the retail climate are just beginning to be understood, but one thing’s for sure: change is in the air. Experts say that in its heyday Toys “R” Us captured in excess of 90 percent of toy specialty sales in the U.S. and accounted for approximately a quarter of the toy specialty markets in Europe. The ripple effect of its closing means toy manufacturers now need to find new distribution outlets and diversify sales channels. Price points must be re-evaluated and aggressive promotions and state-of-the-art digital marketing, plus social media may take on more significance. Foreign markets will also play a much bigger role, as companies expand beyond U.S. borders. Traditionally, mass market brick-and-mortar stores such as Walmart and Target stocked only small amounts of toys and games, many of them seasonally, believing that toys were a loss leader. Now they’re making grand plans to amass some of the billions of dollars in toy revenue made available by the demise of Toys “R” Us.

In August, Walmart announced its first-ever toy media event and vowed to hold more than 2,000 in-store toy events in the coming months. Target is gearing up for the holiday season with an extensive array of toys and baby product. Companies such as JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Best Buy are also expanding their toy aisles. And Party City announced the opening of 50 Toy City pop-up stores for holiday. Another big winner is e-commerce, with companies such as Amazon reaping the rewards. Amazon is also printing a toy catalog, rivaling the Toys “R” Us Big Book, that will be mailed to its millions of customers—as well as distributed at Whole Foods locations—in anticipation of holiday shopping. While some see this “state of the industry” as the death of the toy and game category as we know it, others see this disruption as an opportunity, lending itself to new and different partnerships and alliances, and expanded domestic and global business. Meanwhile, back on the toy shelves, trends predicted at the 2018 International Toy Fair continue to grow with an ongoing demand for collectibles, creative and learning toys, technology-based products, and nostalgic items that appeal to millennial parents as well as their children. The toy industry is also capitalizing on slimy, shiny, and gross products which children and big kids alike still adore. In this ever-changing environment, TFE went to the experts to learn their thoughts on

&

these new horizons and to get insights into next steps and expansion in the post Toys “R” Us era. Here is a glimpse of industry chatter and what to look forward to in 2019.

FILLING THE GAPS –TOYS R WHERE? TFE: With the closing of Toys “R” Us, what are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for toymakers in terms of retail placement and production looking ahead? What retailers are you most excited about? “We are thrilled with how our partners—big and small—are stepping up to fill the gaps left by Toys ‘R’ Us,” says Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun! “Whether it’s adding more space in stores like Target, increasing inventory levels at stores within proximity to closed Toys ‘R’ Us locations like Walmart, or the moves being made by medium and smaller retailers to shop toy companies more actively and take positions in new emerging lines.We are finding doors opening and buyers more engaged than ever. On top of that are the growing promotional initiatives at Amazon and the seasoning of its buying team, which is now stepping up to replace Toys ‘R’ Us as the industry’s ‘showroom.’ “Given the turmoil surrounding the bankruptcy of Toys ‘R’ Us, the list of potential merger and acquisition opportunities has expanded greatly in the past six months,” Foreman adds. “We are in conversations with many that recognize that it’s getting tougher and tougher to

October 2018 tfe 37

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navigate the challenging retail landscape.” According to Randy Shoemaker, senior vice-president of global brand marketing at Funrise, “One of the biggest challenges facing the toy industry in terms of retail placement is the lack of shelf space to support all the new innovation the toy industry creates each year. Without Toys ‘R’ Us, launching a new brand or creating an exciting new product, innovation will be challenging for toymakers. But this also provides an opportunity for companies to think differently about how they launch these new brands with their retail partners, and to challenge them to raise the bar on creative solutions.” Adds Shoemaker, “Even though there’s been some significant change in the retail environment over the past 12 months, there’s a lot to be excited about. In addition to growing our business with Walmart, Target and Amazon, Funrise has been expanding its reach with key retail partners. Toys ‘R’ Us Canada, Costco, and Walgreens have been amazing partners and they really understand what their customers want in toys. We’re excited to see how retailers like Party City have expanded their toy sections and become bigger players in toy retail.” Charlie Emby, co-president of Just Play, agrees. “We’re very excited to see how retail has reacted to the changes in the environment. Partners such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon are doing a great job adjusting with the shift in consumer shopping behavior by evolving their digital presence as well as their total shopping experience. They’re successfully finding ways to ensure that toy shopping and the holiday time period in general deliver the magic that today’s families expect. In the U.S., Meijer has been reaching consumers by delivering a broad assortment of toys, and Kohl’s has made a strong toy presence by adding in features and promotional space throughout its stores.” Anna Mowbray, COO of ZURU, also sees new opportunities with retailers. “We take inspiration and direction from a lot of retailers and not only those in the toy industry. This allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the category, while also focusing on our customers who are at the heart of our business. We are paying particular attention to retailers who seem to be concentrating on two key trends,” she says. “Firstly, those who are fine tuning their value or private label offerings, as this is something that is perfectly in line with our X-Shot and Metal Machines brands. “Secondly, we are looking to watch retailers who are focusing their efforts to improve the shopping experience, in store and online. We have seen one of our partners do this through rationalizing its SKUs, reducing clutter and enhancing the retail shopper experience, and redeveloping its

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online offers so that customers know exactly what they can expect and reduce any barriers to purchase. Another of our partners is enhancing what it stands for by delivering unique experiences in store, coupled with amazing prices, and as such we are seeing them expand into Europe … something we are keeping a very close eye on.” Adds Belinda Gruebner, executive vice-president of global marketing at Moose Toys, “Of all the opportunities to emerge from the changing retail landscape, we are most excited about our small and mid-sized retailers leaning in heavier across our entire portfolio (not just the proven brands), and our larger retailers offering more incremental space and promotional opportunities than in previous years.”

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CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION INVITES THE WORLD TO PLAY TFE: What are the biggest opportunities for growth and expansion outside the U.S.? What international markets are you focusing on?

“Latin America is seeing incredible growth for us,” says Brehan Maul, general manager of North America and vice-president of marketing for Alpha Group. “We have on-the-ground teams based in Mexico and Brazil, and we are establishing great programs with best-in-class partners who are introducing our portfolio of properties to this region. The UK has really taken off with Super Wings becoming a top preschool property. Germany is also poised to have tremendous growth over the next few years as we continue to establish our presence in this region.” For Just Play, “Toys ‘R’ Us Asia has been fantastic about executing promotions and their in-store theatre across its various markets,” says Emby. “Big W in Australia has been a partner that we’ve grown with each year and has outstanding brand statements. Smyths’ footprint is growing with its acquisition of Toys ‘R’ Us Germany, and its breadth of product mix and big store formats are working very well. The Entertainer has also been expanding across the region, as it continues to deliver a great value across product offerings.” Funrise is experiencing significant growth outside the U.S. as well, according to Shoemaker. “In addition to our headquarters in the U.S., Funrise currently has offices in Canada, Mexico, UK, Spain, France and Australia, giving us the ability to sell direct throughout North America, LATAM, Europe, and APAC. And we have a strong leadership team working with our distribution partners throughout EMEA. In terms of specific retail accounts, we have developed a strong relationship with the team at

Q FEATURED CONTENT

State of the Industry

Smyths and continue to grow our business with their support. With our new offices in Spain and France, we are opening up new retail accounts daily and are already working with amazing toy retailers such as JouéClub in France and Juguettos in Spain.” ZURU is also seeing international expansion, according to Mowbray. “ZURU is constantly expanding, but we are especially excited with developments in Europe and China,” she says. “In 2018 we set up our own subsidiaries in France, Germany and China, not only for the market opportunity but also to ensure we are able to achieve the optimum retail price, supported with the right level of promotion. Our growth here is a critical step forward to becoming a major player in each of these key markets.” Others are experiencing different realities in the international marketplace, according to Foreman of Basic Fun!. “With a few exceptions, we are not seeing the same dynamic engagement internationally to fill gaps and to get aggressive in toys as we see in the states,” he says. “With Brexit between the UK and EU; the U.S. currency strengthening against the Pound, Euro, and other foreign currencies; continued instability in Latin America; and slowing growth in China, we are not seeing as much organic growth or excitement internationally. However, since we only do about 20 percent of our volume outside North America, we’ve still got a lot of room for growth, and we are excited about our prospects of growing our business internationally.” THE “E” EFFECT TFE: E-commerce companies such as Amazon seem to be the big winners with the closing of Toys “R” Us. How is it impacting the toy industry and what are some of the pitfalls that still need to be tackled? “In terms of retail, Amazon has been our biggest challenge,” says Tony Norman, co-founder, president, and CEO of HEXBUG. “Anyone sitting at home can start a business and sell items on Amazon. None of the overhead needed in the past is required to set up shop. Amazon does the fulfillment as well, so these pop-up Amazon stores require very little margin to make a profit. As a result, the MSRP in the market is eroded; retailers and other online stores are forced to match, often causing a price death spiral in just a few hours. Combine this with the price-matching by others and there is no easy mechanism to bring the price back up. Nobody wants to be more expensive, so it sits at the bottom indefinitely. At HEXBUG we are taking a very strict stance that we do not allow any U.S. resellers to sell on Amazon. We are also limiting distribution of all new products to retail partners that do

40 tfe October 2018

not break MAPP pricing. With that said, Amazon is also one of the biggest opportunities as the consumer becomes more and more comfortable buying online—as long as you control your own Amazon store and pricing.”

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TECH–KNOWLEDGY TFE: Technology-based toys continue to be a hot topic. In terms of technology and innovation, what opportunities are you seeing for toys?

“AR and VR are incredible technologies,” says John Ardell, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer at Skyrocket. “AR and VR allow users to enter an alternative world. Consumers have gravitated to the technology slower than was initially predicted. But I believe that as these technologies become more prevalent in society, they will become a more important part of toy development. We have several ideas that are in development using these technologies. “We are also really excited about our launch of Pomsies. Pomsies combines our strong tech background with great product design. When we begin our development process, we always set out to make a fun and engaging experience for kids and then figure out the best tech to achieve this. Pomsies was inspired from the pompom trend in fashion. We took that kernel of an idea and created a cute and unique virtual pet with tons of reactions, color-changing eyes, and hidden sensors all for under $15.” Ardell also talked about the popularity of R/C toys and drones. “Unlike most toys, R/C vehicles have the ability to not only appeal to the core toy audience but also to older boys as well as adults,” he says. “The R/C category will continue to thrive as long as companies are offering great innovation at a good value. Drones are continuing to add new features while at the same time lowering prices. The opening price point for drones has come down to $20 and the top end of the toy market has come down to about $100. For that price, consumers can get a drone that is connected to GPS satellites (allowing to stabilize flight and the ability to return back home) as well as streaming HD video. For the first time, the toy aisle is offering drones that practically fly themselves.” HEXBUG’s Norman says he, too, has something up his tech sleeve. “Here at HEXBUG we have a secret weapon called VEX Robotics,” he says. “VEX spends millions a year on research and development to keep on the bleeding edge of the educational robotics space. This knowledge is shared with the development team at HEXBUG where the task is to cost reduce the technology into a retail product that consumers can afford. This year you will see some amazing tech in our Balancing Boxing Robots and

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other VEX products under the HEXBUG brand.”

KEEPING ICONIC BRANDS, COLLECTIBLES FRESH & INNOVATIVE TFE: Iconic brands and collectibles that appeal not only to children but also to their millennial parents continue to grow in popularity. How do you infuse freshness into these toy properties and what categories will you be focusing on in the future? Alpha’s Maul shares insights from one of Nickelodeon’s most lovable characters, SpongeBob SquarePants, for which the company was named as master toy partner earlier this year. “SpongeBob is an iconic 20-year-old property that has multi-generational appeal. We wanted to embrace that and deliver products that are not just for kids but are also for tweens, teens and millennials who have grown up with this lovable character. “Traditionally, the toys offered have focused on playing out the animation. It was important for us to break that cycle, take SpongeBob out of Bikini Bottom and bring him into the consumers’ lives. This direction came from our extensive research of how fans were engaging with the brand. Some watch, some share memes, and others express their love for SpongeBob through art, clothing, and other pop-culture touch points. They want to experience SpongeBob in their world and that is what we are looking to accomplish with the toy line.” Part of that world is also goo and slime, according to Maul. “We have embraced slime for some of our kid-friendly SKUs, captured the viral nature of the best SpongeBob memes and pop-culture moments for our collectible figures, and embraced the silliness of the IP with some of our feature and plush assortments. This very differentiated approach will hit shelves in March 2019 in celebration of SpongeBob’s 20th anniversary.” Says Moose Toys’ Gruebner, “Our focus is on bringing new ways to play through innovation in product so that we can continue evolving for our consumers. More than four years after creating the collectible craze, Shopkins is now a home for beloved and iconic characters such as Kooky Cookie and Jessicake who you can find in doll house play, fashion dolls, collectibles, die-cast cars, board games, and now micro-playsets. “Pikmi Pop’s recent successes were a triumph given how saturated the collectible market has become,” Gruebner adds. “It’s a feat to be able to stand out, create a unique offering, carve out a space on the shelves, and capture the hearts of girls who have more choices than ever before.” Innovative marketing initiatives and partnerships also help keep the brand fresh, according to Gruebner. “The partnership with Nickelodeon’s

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Velocity team was a perfect example of this. With Nickelodeon’s best-inclass knowledge of our key consumers and Velocity’s supremely talented creative team, we were able to bring the biggest on-air brand partnership to date with Pikmi Pops, and a series of ‘break-frame’ advertainment pieces to Shopkins Mini Packs that complemented our traditional toy commercials. Both initiatives were key elements that helped to elevate the entire marketing campaign.”

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IP AND/OR LICENSED PRODUCTS? WHICH WAY TO GO? TFE: How do you find the right balance between original IP and licensed properties in your portfolio?

“At Funrise, we look to equally balance our portfolio of brands between original IPs and licensed properties, says Shoemaker. “With licensed properties, there is the benefit of tapping into exciting demand as consumers already have a strong affinity to these properties, as well as the opportunity to capitalize on entertainment initiatives like feature films, TV series, and events. Launching original IP is exciting but challenging. It requires a different mindset as you are truly building a brand from the ground up, and you have to think through all of the different components from the storyline, to the look and feel of the brand, and to the toys. For Funrise, we are actively pursuing both strong licenses as well as creating our own original IPs for our toy portfolio.” Skip Kodak, senior vice-president of Americas Market Group for LEGO, says, “We always take a strategic approach to portfolio management, placing rigor around balancing original themes and licensed properties, with our primary focus being on offering builders of all ages something that caters to any passion point and building ability. We are careful to partner with the best global properties, and as such, we typically see great success with key licensed properties, such as Star Wars, Marvel, DC Super Heroes, and Jurassic World. In recent years, these external properties are complemented by our owned properties, such as LEGO City, LEGO Friends, and LEGO Ninjago, to drive sales. “This year, we’ve had success in sustaining relevance for the brand in marrying the LEGO building to some key properties, such as Jurassic World and Harry Potter,” he adds. “We also leaned harder into vehicles and collectibles, and we are experiencing a resurgence of open-ended LEGO building with strong performance of our LEGO Classic collection in the 60th anniversary year of the LEGO brick.” Adds Just Play’s Emby, “We continue to focus and build our existing

licensed lines. As one of the key pillars, we have actually strengthened the innovation of our licensed products, with new items, themes, and line extensions, as well as launched new properties with our licensing partners. Hairdorables and other new IPs are a strategic expansion of our business, rather than a shift in focus. There are and will be market opportunities that are a natural fit for seeking out new licenses, but there are also times when gaps in the market manifest that might require a customized solution. “With Hairdorables, our objective was to introduce a doll line relevant to children today with strong aspirational characters that fans could embrace for their unique personalities, interests and style. We’ve always prided ourselves on delivering unmatched value to consumers, and wanted to make sure that Hairdorables had hair fashions, accessories, and personalities that would not disappoint doll fans of all ages. We also included the surprise element as we wanted every piece of the product to be of value, even the packaging.”

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STEM & STEAM? TFE: With the Toy Association offering up the new report “Decoding STEM/STEAM,” better defining STEM/STEAM products is a big topic for discussion. Do you think we’ll see more of a shake out soon in terms of consumers better recognizing true STEM/STEAM products at retail? “I have had the privilege of testifying before the U.S. Congress as an expert in STEM education,” says Norman of HEXBUG. “It is very easy for me to spot the ‘label slappers’ in the toy market, but I’m not sure the consumer is quite there yet. Here at HEXBUG, we are fortunate to have our affiliate company VEX Robotics, a global leader in STEM education, collocated with us. VEX Robotics kits are used by more than a million students in 40 countries daily. More than 16,000 education institutions use our curriculum, and just over 11,000 teachers have been trained. This collaboration with VEX has allowed HEXBUG to bring the knowledge of true STEM products to the retail market. “While the consumer may still not be able to decipher between products that are truly STEM education and those that have jumped on the bandwagon to make their product more attractive, I think that retailers have the responsibility to consumers of filtering these ‘faux’ STEM products to keep them from getting on the shelf,” Norman adds. Fun Through Learning TFE: In terms of product assortment, how are you working to find a balance

between an educational product vs. a “learning through fun” product? Andy Keimach, resident of VTech Electronics North America says, “We approach each brand differently to find that right mix of VTech and LeapFrog products that complement each other while remaining true to the characteristics that make each brand unique. We are leaning into discovery, imagination and developmental milestones through playful innovation with VTech. Leapfrog’s strength has always been its rich, educational content, so we’re continuing to develop products that create a foundation for success by exposing children to important early skills through curriculum-based learning. For both brands, it’s about learning through fun.” TFE: In the early learning/preschool space, what qualities are resonating most with today’s parents, and how is that playing into your 2019 product development and offerings? “Today’s families are busy. Parents are focused on exposing their children to creative, diverse and growthful experiences,” says Keimach. “They seek out ways to support a wider range of development in areas like problem solving and social-emotional growth. As an example, our roleplay toys give kids the opportunity to pretend and act out scenarios they see in the world around them. “Screen time is another subject important to today’s parents,” he says. They’re looking for that balance between positive, beneficial screen time and non-screen play for their kids, so we offer both learning-forward tech toys and non-screen toys that focus on discovery and exploration. “We’ll also continue looking at adapting adult tech for kids that help them mimic their parents in a fun, positive, and expansive way. Our 2019 lines will be filled with play features and learning that support our mission to inspire, delight and spark curiosity.” 2019 AND BEYOND TFE: What products, innovations, and emerging trends can we expect to see in 2019 and beyond? “For spring 2019, we are extremely excited to partner with Paramount on its new animated feature film, Wonder Park,” says Funrise’s Shoemaker. “The story of the film will undoubtedly excite and engage kids all around the world with its magical mix of charismatic and aspirational characters, toys that come to life, and a truly original idea that has nev-

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Q FEATURED CONTENT

State of the Industry

er been done before in an animated film. Launching in the first quarter of 2019, the Wonder Park toys will roll out at major retailers around the world with a huge line of collectibles, plush, feature plush, figures, and playsets that bring the characters and amusement park rides of Wonder Park to life. In addition, we’re launching some incredibly innovative new products for Gazillion Bubbles in spring 2019 that will breathe new life into the bubbles category. “We also have our first original, content-driven IP with Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty,” he adds. “It’s an animated show that features a spirited, colorful kitty named Felicity who is part rainbow, part butterfly, part unicorn, and 100-percent kitty. Felicity gains magical and majestic powers and lives with her friends in a mythical world. The show is filled with adventure and heart, and is a celebration of individuality and self-confidence. Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty will debut in early 2019 along with a fall 2019 launch of the toys.” Foreman of Basic Fun! says, “We will continue to focus on a few of our key categories for organic growth with launches of Cutetitos, Zooballoons, and Little Lucky Lunch Boxes in the collectibles area, which build upon our successes with Mash’Ems, CakePop Cuties, and Poopeez. In our retro area, we are expanding our classic My Little Pony range, as well as adding Pound Puppies for 2019.” [Editor’s note: see page 47 for more info on Cutetitos.] “The HEXBUG game plan is ‘expand to new aisles,’” says Norman. “We are pushing the boundaries in terms of age, gender, and technology. We have always had a sweet spot in the construction and tech toy aisles. We created a new line of toddler toys, using the patented Nano vibration technology, called CuddleBots and Nano Junior. We made a move into novelty with the launch of Lil’ Nature Babies appealing to boys and girls. And, we will be jumping into the collectibles space with new products coming in fall 2019.” Says VTech’s Keimach, “We want VTech and LeapFrog to be the goto brands whenever a consumer is considering a toy purchase. We want to focus on what our customers love about each brand. For VTech, that means fun, on-trend products that also include important learning elements. For LeapFrog, it is curriculum-based products that help kids have fun while learning and building important school skills. We have substantial growth plans for both brands and an incredible pipeline of new, innovative products.” In spite of LEGO’s challenging 2017—when the company saw a drop in its sales and profits for the first time in more than a decade—2019 shows

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promise and growth, according to LEGO’s Kodak. “Earlier this year, we announced a partnership with Blizzard Entertainment to bring the popular Overwatch game to the LEGO collection in 2019. Overwatch is one of the fastest growing digital games in the world with more than 40 million active players, so we are excited to explore the play possibilities of this gaming phenomenon in tactile LEGO building. We will also introduce the sequel to The LEGO Movie in the first part of 2019, continuing the story of Emmett and Lucy as they explore the universe, which has inspired a whole new collection of building sets for kids of all ages.” ZURU’s Mowbray reveals, the company will be exploring a number of different categories next year. “We are always looking to bring great ideas to life and create amazing play experiences for kids, regardless of the category,” she says. “As a hint, we will be looking to test the waters in a few of the fastest growing categories such as plush, with the launch of ZURU Rainbocorns, which is already starting to fly off shelves, as well as expanding our portfolio into more dolls, games, and larger toys. Our partners can look forward to seeing loads of really exciting new lines from ZURU this October.” As Just Play looks ahead to 2019 and beyond, “we have some exciting new licenses, as well as new products within existing properties that we’re very excited about,” says Just Play’s Emby. “Kids will be thrilled with the new hot items in PJ Masks, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, Spirit, JoJo Siwa, and Barbie.” Alpha continues to dive full force into its expansion that’s taken place over the last 24 months—transforming “from a lesser-known Chinese exporter to a global toy and animation player,” says Alpha’s Maul. “Moving forward we will continue to focus on our core initiatives of building our portfolio of global IP and licensing great brands, while driving innovation and differentiation. “Our preschool pipeline is well stocked with Super Wings season four that is currently in development. Rev & Roll, our co-production with DHX Media, is set to launch in 2019; and we just announced a new property called Super Builders that we are excited about. In boys, we are launching Massive Monster Mayhem this October and we will have another top boys IP announcement to share very soon. R/C continues to show a strong presence with Terrasect that launched in fall 2018. Its much-anticipated successor is in development for 2019. The SpongeBob SquarePants launch in 2019 is just the start of a great partnership with Nickelodeon, and with the feature film slated for 2020 we are excited to see where we can take this IP in toys.”

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2019 EVENTS & AWARDS 2019

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Our one-day TTPM showcases give exhibitors the opportunity to showcase products in front of key media, encompassing print, broadcast, and online news outlets as well as top social media influencers and YouTube stars. The TTPM editorial team also unveils its coveted Most Wanted Lists for spring and holiday, along with their predictions of the hottest trends and properties for each season.

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SPRING SHOWCASE

For consideration in our Most Wanted Lists, please submit product for review by the following dates:

April 25 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Metropolitan West 639 W 46th St, New York, NY

—April 1 for Spring 2019 —September 1 for Holiday 2019

HOLIDAY SHOWCASE

The TTPM Pet Product Awards are also announced during the Holiday Showcase.

TBD

2019

2019

The third annual Best of Baby Awards will be announced on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. For consideration in our Best of Baby Awards, please submit product for review by May 1.

TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE AT THE NEXT TTPM SHOWCASE, CONTACT Bob Glaser 646.763.8720 bob@ttpm.com

Donna Moore 646.763.8718 donna@ttpm.com

Kim Anthony Jones 646.763.8721 kimanthony@ttpm.com

coverage 2019 Manufacturers, buyers, marketing teams, and other members of the trade gather once again in Dallas this fall for The Toy Association’s annual marketplace, Fall Toy Preview, to get a first look at 2019 product. The show has also become an opportunity for buyers to get in any final Q4 purchase orders, as well.The following represents a sampling of just some of the companies exhibiting at the Dallas Maker Center, October 2–4.To stay up to date on the latest announcements during the show, visit anbmedia.com or subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.

Compiled by Jennifer Lynch

Alex Brands

ALEX D.I.Y. builds out its Do Dats line with the introduction of series two and three for 2019. Create new character collectibles with the included beads using the patented no-knot system. New characters include Marina the mermaid, Melonie the watermelon cat, and a special rare character. Display them or wear them as bag charms. Mix and match, and customize the more you collect. ALEX Spa takes on the latest trends in beauty product with unique packaging. With the ALEX Spa in a jar, there’s three themes to choose from. Each contains the complete spa experience inside, from bath bombs to epsom salt, and more. ALEX D.I.Y. taps into the woven accessories trend with the new Pop & Weave Basket kit. Its patent-pending system lets kids pop together a basket structure and weave their way to the top. Add on features such as beads, gems, and more to finish off a character basket. Celebrate Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story upcoming movie with The Original Toy Story Slinky Dog Pull Toy. Watch it walk and wiggle when its leash is pulled.

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bananagrams

Gurms is a light strategy tile-placing game. Players pick one of four different pawns and take turns placing tiles one at a time in an attempt to complete as many of their character’s symbols as possible. Score additional points for groupings of the same symbol. Each character has its own color. Made for two to four players, ages 6 and up, it comes packaged in a tin. Spiky Dastards features five little figures that players must capture. But watch out; they’re well protected. Split the deck of 60 cards into two piles and reveal the top card from each. The pictures on the cards will indicate one or two of the Dastard figures that players must race to carefully grab. If you’re able to grab one, you get a card. If you grab the wrong one, you lose a card. Collect the most cards to win. This two- to-

Basic Fun!

Cutetitos are collectible stuffed animals wrapped and hidden in burrito blankets that kids can unroll to discover. Based on the trend of pets rolled up in blankets like burritos, kids can now collect all 12 Cutetitos and make their own pet burritos. Cutetitos come disguised as uniquely wrapped burritos in large blind bags. Cutetitos include Slothito, Puppito, Bunnito, Monkito, and others. More surprises include finding the Cutetitos’ personality “Hot Spot” (mild, medium, hot, or super spicy), their birthday, and favorite “quotito.” There are also super rare Cutetitos. Each comes with its own burrito blanket and pet collector card. It’s for ages 6 and up.

Bonkers Toys

Bonkers Toys partnered with pocket.watch to unveil the first toy line based on Ryan ToysReview, under the brand Ryan’s World, which launched this fall. Bonkers will continue to highlight the line at Fall Toy Preview. The line includes mystery goo and putty, blind bag figures, squishy figures, racer two-packs, vehicles and more. With the Ryan’s World Giant Mystery Egg, kids can be just like Ryan when they unbox their Giant Mystery Egg. No two are the same. Kids can unbox an exclusive lights and sounds vehicle, ultra-rare figures, special goo and putty, a limited-edition squishy, plush, and more. The Ryan’s World Electronic Dinosaur features super soft plush, animated action, and dinosaur sounds. Choose from the T-Rex or Triceratops. All the toys in the Ryan’s World toy line are for ages 3 and up. Ryan ToysReview channels have more than 20 billion video views with more than 15 million subscribers and counting.

Blue Orange Games

Panic Island is a cooperative race game that combines memory and luck. Players work together to rescue inhabitants by remembering the locations of the cards in a grid. Pair them correctly while trying to avoid action cards that delay the gameplay. It comes with a two-minute hourglass and soundtrack.

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coverage 2019 Cobble Hill Puzzles

The Nevertheless, She Persisted puzzle is a celebration of notable women from the last 150 years. The artwork is from She Paper, a Brooklyn-based company that creates products for women, by women. This 1,000-piece Cobble Hill puzzle is made in the USA.

Cortex Toys

In the game of NinjaBall, protect your Dojo. This action game pits Ninjas versus Samurais in a battle to knock over one of three warriors. Throw, pass, or kick the NinjaBall to achieve this goal, but don’t get tagged or you must relinquish the ball. You can play a game head-to-head or with up to four players on each team. Presto Planes aim to make it quick and easy to fold the perfect paper airplane. Clip the paper in and run it through the jig. Presto: you’ve got a paper airplane ready to throw. In Pirate Pong, grab an eye patch and a sword paddle. All depth perception is thrown overboard in this version of ping pong. It comes complete with two sword paddles, two ping pong balls, two eye patches, and a fish net. The game Stick Figure It Out gives each team a set time to draw a randomly selected person from history, science, pop culture, and more using a stick figure as the base. Use it as a travel game, ice-breaker, or game for rainy days.

Cra-Z-Art

Expanding the Shimmer ‘N Sparkle line is the Shimmer ‘N Sparkle Spa Creations Ultimate Bath Bomb Maker. Mix and mold to make 20 bath fizzies. Available at all major retailers, it also includes a toy surprise. Also hitting all major retailers are Nickelodeon Slime Buckets (pre-made slime). Available in multiple colors, each is packaged in a reusable plastic tub container. Stretch it , squeeze it, or roll it. Also available is the Nickelodeon LightUp Slime Kit. Both are for ages 6 and up. Kodak’s World’s Largest Puzzle features colorful images of 27 Wonders of the World. Taken by professional photographers and then printed using high-performance printing presses, each of the 27 images is a puzzle within a puzzle and packaged separately. They all interlock to create a puzzle more than six feet by 28.6 feet with 50,000plus pieces. Create hundreds of magnetic designs with Magtastix Extreme. Build structures, vehicles, robots, and dinosaurs by combining two building systems, Mag Creator and Magtastix.

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CuddleBarn

Octavius the Storytelling Owl recites five classic fairy tales. Its book features soft color-changing lights as it recites the stories. Its feet have pause and play buttons to pause or skip to the next story. Each story ends with a critical-thinking question about the story. The back of Octavius’ book lists the fairy tales in order: Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, The Ugly Duckling, and Sleeping Beauty. It launches in January 2019.

Diggin Active

Master the force field with Diggin’s Spinos magnetospheres. Spinos is a force field ball that is controlled with its Launch Control Wand. Launch and control your Spinos with the wand. Attach the Spinos to the wand and push the button to send the ball spinning. When you launch it, a magnetic force field is created around the ball. Hold the Launch Control Wand just above the Spinos to control the spinning sphere without touching it. There are games and tricks to play and learn. Powered by magnets, it comes with a Spinos Launch Control Wand, Spinos magnetosphere, and beginner tray. It’s for ages 6 and up.

Douglas

Dreamy Rainbow Tails and Animal DreamyCorn Headbands add on to Douglas’ Dreamy Dress-Up line. There are five in the initial introduction: Caticorn, Llamacorn, Pandacorn, Unicorn, and Pugicorn Dreamy Headbands. Each headband has a band of soft fur, where two animal ears and one unicorn horn sits. The horns are either pastel or bright rainbow stripes. From the back of the headband is a sprout of silky rainbow hair. The same silky rainbow hair was used to make a companion piece, also new to the line, called Dreamy Rainbow Tails. Each tail is 19-inches long and pairs with the DreamyCorns. There are two color choices, rainbow or pastels. They attach with a belt at the waist. Douglas’ New Animal DreamyCorn Headbands and Dreamy Rainbow Tails are now available at specialty gift and toy stores in the U.S. and Canada. They are for ages 3 and up.

Educational Insights

Educational Insights (EI)’ Playfoam Pals introduces a fourth series in January with Fantasy Friends. Hidden within each pod of Playfoam, a mystery Pal awaits. Use the included Playfoam to build accessories for the fantasy friends. There are 13 characters to collect. It’s available in a four-pack, six-pack, or 12-pack. Say hello to Artie in January. The coding/drawing robot puts kids in control with drag-and-drop programming that can be used on a Mac, PC, or tablet. Tell Artie what to draw next, and practice basic programming, geometry, and math while creating colorful designs. Also launching in January, take the GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars to a new level with Kidnoculars Extreme. The all-in-one binoculars are designed with focus-free vision and headset-free audio amplification, encouraging kids to use both sight and sound to explore their world. There’s also the Bright Basics Slide & Splash Seals for toddlers. It includes two seals on wheels and a slippery slide that attaches by suction. Build a slide and then send the seals on wheels down the slide. For added fun, launch each seal into the water and try to hit the target pad. The Zoomigos line of characters, vehicles, and playsets support ages 3 and up to imagine a world of pretend play and real-life learning. Pump the Zoomigo, put it into the Zoomer vehicle, and watch it go. The line launches in June 2019. Also available in June, EI’s Design & Drill line expands with the new Design & Drill Tech BugBot. Kids can add colorful bolts with the kid-safe screwdriver to assemble their own BugBot.

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coverage 2019 eKids

Exclusive to Target comes the Moana Sing-Along Boombox for ages 3 and up. Record up to 10 music tracks. Record your voice, add sound effects or songs, or mix any combination. There’s also LED flashing lights and built-in vocal effects to help singers sound like pros. Connect an audio device for karaoke or to record your own music. Available at Best Buy and Walmart is the JoJo CD+G karaoke for ages 8 and up. Access your music library and stream content with voice control. Stream audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device. Auto voice effects help to blend your voice. Other features include flashing LED lights and sing-along lyrics displayed when connected to a TV. The Trolls MP3 Karaoke with light show, available at Walmart, uses voice control to access your music library or other audio content. Wirelessly streams audio from any compatible device. Other features include a multi-colored LED light show and internal memory to store MP3 files. The Incredibles 2 Laser Tag Blasters features three shooting modes as well as a secret weapon button. There’s also a life indicator, target sensor, and long-range option. According to eKids, it can blast up to 100 feet. Made for ages 5 and up, it’s available at Best Buy. Sing along with the Sunny Day Sing-Along Boombox, available at Walmart. Made for ages 3 and up, kids can sing along to built-in music. It also features flashing lights, connects to MP3 players, and includes a real, working mic.

Endless Games

Endless Games’ The Floor is Lava game is an official version of the improvisational pretend game that kids have been playing for decades. In Endless Games’ The Floor is Lava, the game has more structure and adds play patterns using a spinner for color call-outs. The floor is still lava, but players must now jump along foam game pieces in order to reach safety. Challenge cards that enforce activities can make it difficult not to fall into the lava come into play when landing on certain tiles. It’s for two to six players, ages 5 and up.

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Engino

The Qboidz STEM building system, for ages 3–6, combines the snap-fit connectivity of the Engino system with the building features of stackable blocks (pictured). The Inventor Motorized series offers a thematic approach to building for intermediate and advanced builders. The constructions are large in size and more elaborate, incorporating advanced technical features. Selected models can be brought to life with a high torque geared motor. There is a 30-in-one model all the way up to a 120-inone model.

Epoch Everlasting

The Grand Department Store Gift Set, for ages 6 and up, is the centerpiece playset of the Calico Critter Town collection. The set also introduces a new character, Stella Hopscotch Rabbit, who works as a dress designer. The special gift set comes complete with terrace, balconies, custom windows, awnings, flags, and railings for customizable play. The play starts at the entrance tower through the revolving doors and continues through all levels on the elevator. Once upstairs, kids can send their Calico Critters out to the terrace or balconies to look over the Town. This playset is available through Amazon and specialty retailers. The original Calico Critters Village series also expands with the new Red Roof Series, introducing a new Country Home and Cozy Cottage, available at Amazon, Walmart, and specialty retailers. The Red Roof Country Home features four rooms, a terrace, staircase, and lights. Kids can create various layouts in a 90-degree or 180-degree angle or closed setting. It also connects to the Cozy Cottage and comes with detailed furniture, accessories, and lights, as well as Heidi and Bell Hopscotch Rabbits. The Red Roof Cozy Cottage comes with Bell Hopscotch and is furnished with a bed, kitchen sink, stove/oven, food, tables, chairs, and more. Hidden inside each Blind Bag Calico Critters Nursery Series Baby Band Series (available at Walmart, Target, and specialty retailers) is a Baby Critter and a musical instrument. The collection includes eight new collectible babies to complete the band: Shiloh Yellow Labrador on xylophone, Daisy Maple Cat playing the Trumpet, Jason Cuddle Bear with cymbals, Henry Sweetpea Rabbit on the drums, Milo Toy Poodle with accordion, Grace Hopscotch Rabbit playing the violin, Joseph Tuxedo Cat on the piano, and Luke Hazelnut Chipmunk playing the tambourine.

Flycatcher Flycatcher’s smART sketcher Projector allows children and adults to transform photos taken from their smart devices into sketches. By using the free smART sketcher app, photos are filtered and transferred via Bluetooth to the projector. Instantly users will see their desired image projected onto paper. The smART sketcher Projector also comes with pre-loaded micro SD cards featuring activities such as step-bystep drawings, learn-to-write letters and numbers, early spelling skills, and more. Additional SD cards can be purchased separately.

Goldberger

Inspired by a Providence Talks study that showed babies that are not exposed to new words every day may have more difficulty learning in school, Baby’s First Rappin’ Robbie will introduce children to hundreds of new vocabulary words and teach the ABCs with an educational rap song. Parents can talk, sing, and play with their child each day to share new words that can help ready them for kindergarten. The toy is machine washable. It’s for ages 1 and up. It is covered by Goldberger’s Lifetime Guarantee. It launches spring 2019 on Amazon.

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coverage 2019 Goliath

Goliath will launch BoomTrix in fall 2019. Little builders can design their own trampoline course, create ball tricks, and watch as the ball bounces to the finish line. The BoomTrix set includes mini trampolines, obstacles, and launch pads for original tricks and spins. It’s designed for one or more players, ages 8 and up. Goliath is bringing back the ’90s mini-golf game Gator Golf for fall 2019. Putt the ball into the alligator’s mouth. The motorized mouth will then shut and prepare for the next player. The Gator flings the ball off its tail and spins around, creating a new challenge. Gator Golf can be played indoors or outdoors. The putters are suited for small hands and made for ages 4 and up. Send Krabby Patties flying with the all-new SpongeBob SquarePants: Krabby Patty Mania game. Players take turns rolling the die to determine how many Krabby Patties they can put in SpongeBob’s pants. But watch out: you never know when Bikini Bottom’s burger will explode from SpongeBob’s pants. It’s for two to four players, ages 4 and up. Goliath is introducing Playdate in a Box in fall 2019. The sets are made to spark imaginative play and reinforce social skills. Each box includes costumes and activities for two children. It’s for ages 4 and up. Goliaths’ Dragon’s Dinner is a suspense game in which kids must reach inside the dragon’s stomach to steal its meal. Players will need to be sneaky so not to wake the dragon. Made for two to four players, ages 4 and up, it launches next fall.

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Green Toys

The Green Toys Parking Garage is a multi-level play space. Made in the USA from 100-percent recycled plastic, the set includes a Mini Helicopter and two Mini Vehicles. It’s scaled to work with the Green Toys Ferry Boat and Car Carrier. Featuring a drive-through station on one end, a ramp on the other, an elevator in back and helipad on top, this playset offers 360 degrees of play. No BPAs, phthalates, PVCs, or external coatings were used to make this set. It’s packaged with recycled and recyclable materials printed with soy inks. It’s for ages 3 years and up, and available next spring.

HABA

In HABA’s That’s Silly! Connecting Puzzle: Zoo Animals and Connecting Puzzle: Bugs, kids can follow the puzzle pattern or create their own using its wooden threading pieces. Under the Highlights by HABA line is an assortment of educational toys. A new Number Train helps kids count the animals and match them by number and by pattern to each train car. It’s for ages 2 and up. With the Number Dragon, kids ages 2 and up can also practice their beginner counting skills. Each colorful threading piece includes a number and corresponding symbols to reinforce the learning. The Alphabet Wooden Puzzle is a continuous jigsaw puzzle (55-inches when assembled) that features a bright illustration for every letter of the alphabet to reinforce the connection between words and pictures. The Color Train also aims to reinforce numbers and counting, foster fine motor skills, and encourage imagination. Children can roll all over the playmat scene with the color-coordinated wooden train cars that move on wheels. It’s for ages 18 month and up. The Magnetic Maze: Monsters Munch features hungry monsters. Count and use the magnetic wand to feed the monsters while practicing number skills. In Monster Rap Tap Bench, help the monsters work. As children hammers a wooden block into one side of the play workbench, the next one pops out on the other side, providing endless monster rapping and tapping. It’s for ages 18 months and up.

Handstand Kitchen

With the Handstand Kitchen’s Mermaid Tail Cake Making Set, bake mermaid tail-shaped cakes using the included large silicone cake mold, frosting bottle with four tips, and a leaflet with recipes for Magical Mermaid Tail Cake, Royal Icing, and Mermaid Frosting. The larger Ultimate Mermaid Baking Party Set gives kids the tools they need to make mermaid- and shellshaped cookies and cupcakes. There’s also a leaflet with recipes for Under the Sea Sugar Cookies, Royal Icing, Under the Sea Cupcakes, and Mermaid Frosting. With the Handstand Kitchen’s Ultimate Out of this World Baking Party Set, make intergalactic cookies and cupcakes. It includes two large astronaut- and rocket-shaped cookie cutters, five mini cookie cutters, silicone cupcake tray, spatula, frosting bag with three tips, sticker sheet, and a leaflet with recipes for Outer Space Sugar Cookies, Royal Icing, Out of this World Cupcakes, and Outer Space Frosting. There’s also a Rocket Ship Cake Making Set to bake a Rocket Ship Cake, icing, and frosting. For unicorn fans, there’s the Handstand Kitchen’s Ultimate Unicorn Baking Set. Make cookies and cupcakes in the shape of the mythical beast. Along with supplies, it includes a leaflet with recipes for Magical Sugar Cookies, Royal Icing, Fluffy Cloud Cake, and Rainbow Frosting. There’s also a Rainbows & Unicorn Large Cake Making Set to make Fluffy Cloud Cake, Royal Icing, and Rainbow Frosting using the included silicone unicorn-shaped cake mold, frosting bottle with four tips, and a leaflet with recipes. These items can be found at Learning Express, The Good Toy Group, and specialty stores.

HEXBUG

HEXBUG will continue to build its BattleBots army with the introduction of new bots, as seen in the 2018 season of BattleBots on the Discovery and Science channel, and the new Build Your Own customizable robots. Expect to see competitors such as Son of Whyachi (pictured) and Bite Force make their toy debut fall 2019.

Hog Wild

Pop and Pass is the foam ball blaster game that puts a twist on the classic game of catch. It comes with two lacrosse-style passers that each feature a gravity-fed foam ball auto-loading system. Pull back the handle and release to blast the foam ball more than 20 feet. Catch the ball with the other passer on your own or with a friend. It comes with three foam balls. It’s available for spring 2019.

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coverage 2019 IMC Toys

Wave two of the Cry Babies collection will feature three new dolls: Fancy, Dotty, and Lady. Each doll comes with its own pacifier and cries real tears when filled with water. The dolls also come dressed in animal print onesies. This line will have a flamingo, Dalmatian puppy, and a ladybug. Cry Babies will also launch the dolls Katie and Kristal under its De-Lux collection. These exclusive dolls will be “older” than the other dolls and will have new features and additional accessories. New for 2019 will be the Cry Babies Magic Tears, a collection of mini Cry Babies collectibles, each with six accessories of its own: a baby bottle, a bib, a removable bow, a lollipop, a pacifier, and a mini chair. Like the full-sized versions, Cry Babies minis also cry realistic tears. Dolls include Lala the mouse, Coney the bunny, Lea the leopard, Bonnie the bear, Lady the lady bug, and Dotty the puppy. Club Petz is a series of furry plush friends. The line consists of Blu Blu the dolphin, Martina the turtle, Yoyo the panda, Bianca the kitty, Lucy Sing & Dance, Lola the puppy, Popomax, Mini Tickles, Betsy the bunny, Mini Walkies, Mini Catz, and Bowie the pup. Each of the pets has a unique interactive function, from singing and dancing to barking and responding in special voices. Bowie, for example, is a puppy that responds with a life-like wet kiss. Bowie also wags its tail and shows affection. The collection will launch in January with new introductions to be offered through fall. Also available will be the Club Petz Funny, a series of pets with a twist. The line comprises of Funny Friends (laughing monkeys), Funny Talky Parrots, Bim & Bam (a hamster and squirrel duo), and Peewee (a clumsy dancing penguin). The full line launches for spring/summer 2019. Also launching for spring/summer are Bloopies, bathtime baby dolls, and Bunnies magnetic plush. Bloopies squirt water out of their mouth and snorkel when their bellies are pressed, along with blowing bubbles in the tub. There are six characters to collect. Each features a unique swimsuit, fins, and snorkel. The Swimming Mimi doll comes with its own flamingo floatie, snorkel, and fins for the bath or pool. Place Mimi in the water, and she moves her arms and squirts water out of her mouth. Bunnies have a magnetic feature, allowing them to be hung anywhere. They can be joined by their ears, tail, or nose. Hang them from a school bag, in someone’s hair, or on a wrist. The collection consists of eight different colorful rabbits. For fall, IMC Toys will also unveil a line of interactive board games for a slightly older audience.

Jazwares

New this fall and launching exclusively at Target is the Feisty Pets Jumbo 20-inch Glenda Glitterpoop plush. Like the originals, give it a squeeze to change its expression from docile to evil. Bringing more worlds of Roblox to life this fall comes the Heroes of Robloxia set. The set featuring eight figures, an exclusive virtual item code, as well as interchangeable parts and accessories that can be mixed and matched.

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Insight Editions

Build and customize a 3-D wood model of the Hogwarts Express with the IncrediBuilds Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express deluxe model set. It comes with a full-color booklet of behind-the-scenes facts from the Harry Potter films. Also in the Harry Potter line is the Thestral Book set. Star Wars fans can build their own Resistance Bomber with the IncrediBuilds: Star Wars Resistance Bomber model kit, featuring a full-color booklet packed with facts and trivia on the famous starship and the Resistance fleet.

Kahootz

New in 2019 comes the Spirograph Plus 2-in-1 Design Set, Waterfuls Classic Handheld Game, as well as a line of new Colorforms-branded products. Kahootz is also expanding upon its LatchKits, Fashion Plates, Colorforms, Waterfuls, and StitchKits product lines with the addition of new licenses from Nickelodeon, Cloudco (formerly American Greetings), Out of the Blue, and 9Story Brands.

Klutz

With the Klutz Maker Lab Air Blast Cannon, use the instruction book to construct a movable, air-powered cannon and fire away at the included targets. Makers will explore the physics of projectiles, the mechanics of pneumatics, and how they work in everyday machines. It’s for ages 8 and up. It’s available now. Fans of the Nick Jr. show Peppa Pig can create their favorite characters with the Klutz Jr. My Peppa Pig Clay Pals. This kit includes everything needed to create Peppa’s pals such as Danny Dog, Rebecca Rabbit, and Suzy Sheep. There are four colors of air-dry clay, colorful character punchouts, a clay measuring tool, and a color-mixing guide. It’s for ages 4 and up. It’s available this month. Stitch 18 different plants and garden friends with the Sew Mini Gardens kits. Learn how to make cuddly cacti, sweet succulents, cute carnivorous plants, a variety of bugs, and a little garden gnome. It launches in February. It’s for ages 10 and up.

The Learning Journey

The Techno Gears Crazy Train (pictured) encourages kids’ engineering and architectural skills. With more than 60 colorful construction pieces, power motor and more, this kit includes everything needed to build a train that moves and works. The Techno Gears Crazy Train will be available this fall for ages 6 and up. Based on the success of the Techno Kids Stack & Spin Gears sets, The Learning Journey introduces the Techno Kids Stack & Pull Train. By putting together the gears, kids can make their own train to pull around themselves. It comes with more than 20 pieces for open-ended exploration of simple mechanics. The Techno Kids Stack & Pull Train will be available this fall for ages 2 and up. All Techno Gears sets from The Learning Journey are interchangeable.

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coverage 2019 Magformers

Magformers’ Dolce Play and Learn Safari features a baby monkey and a bell that fits snuggly into the lion. Learn how to tie its knot to keep it secure. The lion goes inside the hippopotamus, in which kids can learn how to fasten the button on its tummy. All toys fit into the large green elephant, with more activities to teach little ones how to explore. Dolce toys encourage development of sensory skills and hand-eye coordination. It’s for ages birth and up.

Manhattan Toy

The Manhattan Toy Company is exhibiting in the Diverse showroom for Fall Toy Preview. Pictured is the Adorables Petals Unicorn, which features a ultra soft fabric texture. It comes in two sizes and is one of eight styles in the Adorables collection.

Masterpieces

Make It Real

Make It Real expands its lineup for 2019 to include a range of activity sets. Among the new offerings will be Mega Mermaid Makeover in Make It Real’s Beauty Collection. This makeover set comes with mermaid-themed cosmetics and temporary tattoos, including a mermaid tail-shaped eyeshadow brush with nine eyeshadow colors, blush, lip gloss, hair chalk, nail polish, and accessories to help girls create just the right look every day. The set also includes a Dream Guide magazine, featuring a Make It Real role model, a real-life professional who is making her career in a creative field. The role model provides inspiration as well as creative tips for girls. It’s for ages 8 and up, available January 2019.

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MasterPieces, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products on behalf of DC Entertainment, will release new DC Batman 3D Puzzle Crafts this fall. The new line builds on the D.I.Y. craft kits sold under the MasterPieces Works of Ahhh brand. Four kits hit retail this fall. Batmobile Wood Craft Mini Kit comes with natural wood pieces to assemble a mini Batmobile, one artist-quality paint brush, four non-toxic acrylic paints, glue, and stickers. The Batman Vehicles (two-pack) Wood Craft Mini Kit comes with natural wood pieces to assemble a mini Batmobile and Batwing, two artist-quality paint brushes, stickers, stencil, six non-toxic acrylic paints, and glue. The Batmobile Wood Craft Classic Kit comes with natural wood pieces to assemble a Batmobile, an artist-quality paint brush, stickers, stencil, five non-toxic acrylic paints, and glue. The Batman Vehicles (three-pack) Wood Craft Collection comes with natural wood pieces to assemble a Batmobile, a Batwing, and a Batcycle, three artist-quality paintbrushes, stickers, stencil, five non-toxic acrylic paints, and glue.

NSI

Mindware

Mindware introduces Putty Scents, a new line of putty that features unique colors and scents. Soft and pliable, the tins include nearly two times the amount of putty when compared to similar mini tins, according to Mindware. Offerings include Cucumber Melon, Lavender Dreams, Water Lily, Cotton Candy, Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Cake, Bunch of Bananas, Juicy Pineapple and Sliced Kiwi. Putty Scents is available now.

NSI takes the Laser X game to the next level with Laser X Fusion. The modular Laser X system allows for customization of gear to fit the game. The set includes two Laser X Fusion blasters, each with a 250-foot range; a long-range adapter that extends the blasting range to more than 500 feet; a spotting scope to see opponents far away; a wide-range adapter that lets you blast several players at once with a wider beam at close range; and two receiver vests that can be used by two players or worn together as a front and back vest. Equip two players or use all of the gear together for the ultimate single player set-up. Laser X Fusion works with all other Laser X Gear but Fusion accessories only attach to Laser X Fusion Blasters. It’s for ages 6 and up, available now at Target, Meijer, Walmart.com, GetLaserX.com as well as Toys “R” Us, Walmart, amazon.ca in Canada.

ORB

A new line of Ryan’s World toys and activities features hand-selected favorites from Ryan, himself. The assortment includes Ryan’s Squishies, Bubble Pals, Ryan’s Molecule Kit, T-Rex, and Ryan’s Instant Slimy Blaster. Product is available now at select retailers in the U.S. and Canada, with international markets coming soon. Bubbleezz are collectible characters that live and play in a parallel Bubbleverse. Squeeze and transform Bubbleezz characters to reveal their inner powers and unique personalities. There are also Bubbleezz Animalzz and the latest, Bubbleezz BFFs.

Outset Media

What animated character said “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way”? Which book proclaimed “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both”? What leader said “Tear down this wall”? These and other quotes–792 to be exact–are up to players to uncover in the game Don’t Quote Me. Categories include pop culture, leaders, movies, sports, and literature. Don’t know the quote? Ask for a clue. Still don’t know? Ask for multiple choice. The game is available now. Lost in Translation asks players to invent convincing translations for international idioms. Vote on which translation you think is correct. Earn points for guessing the correct translation, and when other players vote for your made-up translation. Woo Boo is a judgmental game for friends, family, and total strangers. How well do you know your friends? How well do they know you? Find out, as you take turns making opinions on three topics, while other players try to guess what you really think. Will it be Woo, or Boo?

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coverage 2019 Ravensburger

Playmobil

Take a trip to the Playmobil Zoo with the Playmobil 1.2.3 Zoo set, featuring a colorful design and large, rounded pieces for ages 18 months and up. The zoo has of a large rock, which when combined with the six fence pieces creates a separate monkey and penguin enclosure. There are two caves inside the rock for the animals to rest, while the monkeys can play on the functional tree swing. The zookeeper uses the wheelbarrow to bring bananas to the monkeys or fish to the penguins, while zoo visitors watch the feeding session. It launches in spring. The Playmobil Mars Space Station is equipped with all the tools and gadgets needed for “space exploration.” There are functioning lights beneath the central hub to guide astronauts back to base. Enter the illuminated station interior via the front ramp and through the secure rotating hatch. Inside, there’s a central command space, from which all missions are monitored, or choose one of four modules. One module has two sleeping compartments, while the other module has a lab. The two remaining sections act as docking stations where the crew can connect with external equipment, such as the Mission Rocket with Launch Site and the Satellite Meteoroid Laser (each sold separately). There’s even a station’s fitness equipment. To access the interior, pull off the station’s removable roof. The movable laser blaster helps protect against unknown elements, while the alarm lights and sound warn against any threats, keeping the crew safe during their time away from home. It’s for ages 6 and up, available next spring.

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In the Ravensburger line, the Disney Mickey The True Original Puzzle is a 40,320-piece puzzle. The image represents the perspective of the ultimate Mickey fan through their life-long scrapbook project. Once complete, the puzzle measures 22.5-by-6.5-feet. Explore outer space with Ravensburger’s 3D Solar System puzzle. With this set, puzzlers can put together the solar system piece by piece. Once the 3-D planets are complete, puzzlers have the option to create a mobile, or arrange the planets on a table or shelf. This set also comes with an informational poster of the solar system. The curved Ravensburger 3-D puzzle pieces are numbered on the inside for guided assembly. No glue is needed. BRIO introduces BRIO’s first-ever Pinball Game. The metal ball is not the only similarity with BRIO’s well-known labyrinth. The same balance, patience, and finger skills will also come in handy. With the BRIO Garbage Truck, for ages 18 months and up, features light, sound, and a clear message: the importance of collecting waste and sorting it properly. In the Wonder Forge game line, the Fancy Nancy Find Your Fancy! is a guess-anddress fashion game. Help Fancy Nancy pick out what to wear. Use deduction to figure out what dress, shirt, pants, hat, or shoes will make Nancy feel fabulous. Collect the most ribbons to win.

Redwood Ventures

Smooshy Mushy Babies’ bottles feature disappearing reveals to find out which Smooshy Mushy Babies you’ve adopted. Each baby comes with its favorite squishy plushies. They are for ages 4 and up. Smooshy Mushy introduces Smashy Mashy. Caution. Open up the goo-filled container to see which Smashy Mashy character is lurking inside. They’re for ages 5 and up. The company will also showcase the Smooshy Mushy Series 4 Cup ’n Cakes (pictured). Open up the hot coca to-go cup and see which pet and bestie you received. There are eight to collect. Flying Sushi Kitchen, now available exclusively at Walmart, puts players’ competitive skills to the test as they pluck pieces of floating sushi from mid-air in a mad dash scramble to fill sushi orders and rack up enough tickets to beat the competition. Use the special, kid-friendly chopsticks to fill orders before time runs out.

Relevant Play

Starting in spring 2019, Mad Mattr will be available in new colors, including yellow, orange, black, and white. Mad Mattr never dries out, doesn’t stick or stain, and is wheat-, gluten-, and casein-free. The soft, non-toxic building compound molds and shapes into endless creations. Building on the success of the brightly colored Mad Mattr Quantum Pods, the pocket-sized Quantum Pods will be available in both Dark and Anti-Mattr (black and white) in spring. The two-ounce Quantum Pods are a perfect impulse buy for Mad Mattr fans. Mad Mattr Quantum Pods provide hours of endless, stretchy, open-ended play. It’s for ages 3 and up. Mad Mattr Meteor Monsters have crashed on earth. Fill the meteor with a mystery color of genuine Mad Mattr and watch as a monster emerges from its containment. Series one, with eight monsters to collect, hits stores this month. Series two, available for spring, will have eight new monsters to collect and will include a Mad Mattr mystery color. Series three will follow in fall. Each Meteor Monster comes with a meteor shell, one monster, and two ounces of Mad Mattr.

Sakar

Following the UglyDolls specialty plush line, and in anticipation of the movie release next year, Sakar showcases its newest collaboration of youth electronics: UglyDolls. UglyDolls products will ship into retail in time for the May 10, 2019 release of the UglyDolls movie. The UglyDolls Bluetooth karaoke machines, microphones, and piano mats will be a major focus of Sakar’s consumer products lineup and will incorporate music from the film. Sakar adds the plush feel of the brand into headphones, speakers, and walkie talkies. Mobile phone accessories such as “phone fobs,” phone rings, and Twist n’ Holds will also be included. Sakar continues to expand its lineup of licensed wheeled goods with the addition of Crayola, Barbie, and Hot Wheels. Hot Wheels celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The Hot Wheels wheeled goods line includes Hot Wheels 3D Molded Scooter and adjustable quad skates. The molded scooter is in the shape of an actual Hot Wheels original. The Barbie wheeled goods line includes a 3-Wheeled Barbie Convertible 3-D scooter which mirrors the iconic ride. Also new to the line are Barbie roller skates with adjustable straps to fit most little feet, as well as a set of knee pads. The Crayola 3-Wheeled Scooter lets riders simultaneously create a multi-colored sidewalk chalk creation. The first-of-its-kind scooter has an attachment that fits up to five sticks of Crayola sidewalk chalk that run along the ground as the scooter takes off. The helmets are also covered in chalk board paint. New offerings launch next spring.

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coverage 2019 Schleich

Launching in January, Farm World, for ages 3–8, expands with a Labrador Retriever (includes a yellow Labrador retriever, its owner, and a lead); Shiba Inu Mother & Puppy (includes a mother and her puppy, a bed and bone), and Puppy Pen (includes three puppies, a teddy bear, bed, blanket, bowl, dog house, and fencing). Launching in April, new Horse Club additions include the Pony Agility Race set. It includes a Welsh Pony Mare, Ben, jumping obstacle, flag, fire element, rod, podium, and trophy. The Pony Agility Training set includes a classic pony, Shetland Pony Mare, seesaw, cone, rod, balloon, base, tree trunk, archway, pennant, crossbar, moving curtain, bridle, lead string, arc and base entrance gate, posts, and paddock gates and fence. Pony Slalom set includes a wild horse and a jumping element. The Pony Curtain Obstacle set includes a Shetland Pony Mare and a moving curtain.

Super Impulse

Breakfast Monsters! is a new line from artist and toy designer Heidi Kenney that features breakfast food characters with a spooky twist. There are nine squishy mystery plush options. Characters include Spider Sausage, Zombie Donut, Vampire Egg, Muffin Mummy, Banshee Bagel, Gory Grapefruit, Franken Toast, Spoiled Milk (rare), and Orange Ogre (ultra rare). The new Barbie Fashion Doll Pens are pens with real hair to brush and style but are equally functional. Use them for doll play or as creative tools for writing. Each includes a pen base for display and features a medium point black ink. Collect all three styles June, Maya, and Millie. They are for ages 4 and up. Adding onto the World’s Coolest line is the Barbie Dress Up Keychain and the Barbie Tote Bag/Notebook Key Chain. With the World’s Coolest Barbie Dress Up Keychain, Barbie’s favorite purse opens into a dress-up wardrobe with the latest fashion trends. It features mix-and-match vinyl cling clothes and accessories. Inside the World’s Coolest Barbie Tote Bag, you’ll find a mini mirror, removable pen and pad of paper for doodling or writing. Both are for ages 4 and up. The World’s Smallest line expands for 2019 with the new Hot Wheels Blind Boxes for ages 8 and up. Each features one diecast World’s Smallest Hot Wheels car stored in a reproduction 1968 original package display case keychain. All cars have working wheels. Included are ultra-rare 50th anniversary designs, which come in unique display case keychains. There are 15 cars to collect. Also new to the line is Crocodile Dentist, the action game in which two to four players take on the role of the dentist for a crocodile with a toothache. Players take turns pressing down on the crocodile’s teeth one by one. But watch out. The player to press on this crocodile’s sore tooth gets chomped. It’s for ages 4 and up. Expanding the Tiny Arcade line, which puts iconic arcade video games in the palm of your hand, adds Tiny Arcade Tetris for 2019. The screen size is less than 1.5-inches and the overall cabinet size is four-by-two inches. Each Tiny Arcade comes with the complete gameplay, full-color hi-res screen, authentic game sounds, joystick, and two control buttons in a backlit arcade-style cabinet. Just like the original Tetris, seven different types of blocks continuously fall from above and you must arrange them to make horizontal rows of bricks. As you advance the gameplay gets faster and faster. It’s for ages 8 and up.

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Smart Games

Squirrels Go Nuts is a sliding puzzle game with 60 challenges to test your skills. This 3-D game board, with squirrels, leaves, and acorns, includes a snap-on lid to easily store everything. In Goldmine, place all three ladder puzzle pieces on the game board so the miner can go up and down and reach the treasure. This magnetic travel game has 48 challenges, from easy to expert, for ages 6 and up. Play IQ Stars in three steps: choose a challenge and place the star puzzle pieces as shown on the grid. Fit all the remaining stars on the grid. There is only one solution. Solve the 120 challenges, from easy to expert.

Thames & Kosmos

The Robotics Smart Machines Tracks & Treads from Thames & Kosmos is a new STEM kit that provides kids with a customizable introduction to robotics. Build eight motorized machines controlled by programs and an ultrasound sensor. The models all make use of continuous tracks, also known as tank treads, to move themselves and other objects around. Kids code the programs using a visual programming app on a tablet or smartphone, which connects to the robot models via Bluetooth. The ultrasonic sensor works on the same principle as a sonar, sending out waves that bounce off objects. Using the app, kids can program the robots they build to behave based on the feedback coming from the ultrasound sensor. Models that can be built include robots with large continuous tracks, obstacle courses, tracker bot model for hand movement, real-world smart machines such as a conveyor belt and an escalator, a tundra explorer, a bulldozer, and more. After learning how the technology works, construct and program a unique robot using the 197 building pieces included in the kit. It’s for ages 8 and up. It launches at Sam’s Club this November with expanding retail distribution in spring 2019.

Tastemakers

Tangle Creations

Tangle Creations’ NightBall Football has arrived. With its unique Matrix design, this football features bright motion-activated LEDs that illuminate the ball from within. Replaceable batteries also ensure longer playtime. The Night Ball is now available.

Tastemakers delivers the original gameplay experience of Pac-Man and Galaga in Arcade1Up’s consumer arcade cabinets. The cabinets stand at just under four feet tall. They come with full-color hi-res displays and sounds combined with original joystick and control buttons setup. Risers, which are sold separately, are also available to elevate the cabinets for standing gameplay. They feature original gameplay, artwork, and joystick configuration. Both gaming units will be available in January.

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coverage 2019 TCG

TCG expands its lineup of products for 2019 with an assortment of new Gelli Mats with neutral color palettes and contemporary patterns to fit the décor of any home. Among the introductions is Gelli Mat Tiles, featuring six ultra-soft interlocking tiles. When fully assembled, the Gelli Mat provides floor protection with the tiles forming a 63.5-by-42.5-inch surface for playtime, naptime, and more. The surface is hypo-allergenic, water-resistant, and wipes clean. When not in use, the tiles can be quickly disassembled for clean-up and storage. Gelli Mats are for ages 6 months and up.

Wild Republic

Bucket sets are Wild Republic classics, and new figurine playsets come in reusable plastic buckets with themed foil print art designs. Transparent locking lids secure them for travel. New for 2019, fairy, pirate, shark, snake, and unicorn bucket sets join existing designs of insect, mermaid, ocean, animal, and dinosaur playsets. All varieties are available in a new mini size for increased portability.

Winning Moves

In the game 13 Dead End Drive, players must figure out which one of Aunt Agatha’s friends and employees will inherit her loot. Players carefully guard their identities as they wind their way through the 3-D mansion game board. Be aware of the smashing statue, the cranium-crushing chandelier, or the perilous push into the fireplace. There’s three unique ways to win. Made for ages 8 and up, it launches in January. In Apocalyptic Picnic, a family reunion picnic is turning everyone into zombies thanks to the radioactive potato salad. Players will need to fend off zombie bites with special food cards, or give family members special equipment to help protect them from attack. The only cure for being a zombie is Grandma’s Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. The last player to survive this two- to six-player card game wins. It’s for ages 8 and up. KOZO is a three-dimensional wooden stacking game that first gained popularity in Asia. Players take turns adding a wooden polycube and balance cube to the structure. Polycubes must stay in the confines of the structure and cannot overlap the center “chimney” area. Players score for each piece placed. It’s for ages 8 and up. Become a princess in the classic jewelry dress-up game from the ’90s, Pretty Pretty Princess. Players collect a matching color necklace, bracelet, ring, and earrings. The first player to collect all their jewelry and the crown wins. It’s for ages 5 and up. In Stink Bug, choose a leaf and try to make a match but watch out for the Stink Bug. Turn over a Love Bug or a Butterfly to add to your score. It’s for ages 4 and up and available in January.

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Zing

YULU

Double Juggle puts a fresh spin on the traditional paddle ball game by using a unique bounce technology. Challenge yourself with trick play and skill-based challenges. Play solo or with a partner. Double Juggle comes with a double-sided paddle and a soft rubber ball. It will be available spring 2019 for ages 6 and up.

Expanding off of the success of Glove-A-Bubbles in 2018, Zing delivers new bubble toys for spring 2019. Double the bubbles with WaveA-Bubbles from Zing. The new super-sized bubble gloves double the size of Glove-A-Bubbles. Wave-ABubbles are available in two-packs and two character themes: mermaid and dino. Make even bigger bubbles with Big-A-Bubbles. Dip the bubble glove into the solution pouch, open the mouth of the glove with your hand, and watch giant bubbles form with the cloth string. The pouch is also resealable and refillable. Big-A-Bubbles comes in six themed gloves: lion, crocodile, pirate, shark, duck, and bear characters. The original Glove-A-Bubbles line will also expand for 2019 with eight new themed gloves: cheetah, parrot, fox, penguin and four different colored monsters. All bubble toys are for ages 3 and up. New multi-colored Stikbots will also be available next spring. With more than 360 million views on YouTube, Stikbot continues to turn kids into stop-motion animation movie-makers. Stikbots are easy-to-pose figures, built with suction cup hands and feet, which stick to almost any flat surface. With the free Stikbot Studio app, available on iOS and Android, kids can snap individual photos and stitch them together into a film, complete with built-in music and sound effect options. Designed specifically for use with Stikbots, Zing also expands the Stikbot Action Pack accessory line as well. The four unique action packs include one Stikbot figure and a variety of themed roleplay clip-on accessories, allowing users to introduce new characters and personalities into their stop-motion animation film. Packs include space, dino, castle, and safari accessories. Stikbot is for ages 4 and up.

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coverage 2018 Premier juvenile product manufacturers gather in Las Vegas yet again for the All Baby & Child Corporation’s annual ABC Kids Expo. This year’s show takes place October 9–11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring more than 700 exhibitors showcasing their product across 1,600 booths. Shown on the next few pages is just a sampling of what will be on display. Attendees should be on the look out for new products innovating classic baby must-haves as well as established brands that continue to put safety and function first.

Compiled by Jennifer Lynch

Avanchy

Avanchy offers high-end sustainable baby dishware, made of high quality bamboo and silicone. Its collections includes baby bowls, plates, spoons, and forks. They are non-toxic, earth-friendly, BPA-, BPS-, PVC-, lead-, and phthalate-free. The Avanchy Classic Plate features an all-inclusive, undivided serving section in a highchair-friendly size. It features a silicone suction cup that sticks onto any hard surface. Pull the release tab to remove the suction piece

Baby Banana

Baby Banana is a bendable silicone training toothbrush for infants and toddlers. Invented by a dental hygienist and mother of four, it’s made to help prevent oral injuries and teach healthy oral care habits during the teething phase. Newer offerings include the Smoothie Soothers and the Corn Cob and Sharky infant toothbrushes.

64 tfe October 2018

BabyDan

Guard Me by BabyDan is a child safety barrier. Guard Me fits openings from 21- to 44.5-inches and can be installed across the home and mounted. It is auto retractable and is 100 percent PVC free. It is made in Denmark.

The Award-Winning Long Range Baby Monitor that is giving parents the freedom to live their lives.

EXTRA LONG RANGE Interference-Free up to 1500ft

LONG BATTERY LIFE 13 Hours in Standby (audio on)

SMART SENSORS Sound, motion, temperature

LULLABY / WHITE NOISE Link to sound sensor, or remote activate

KX-HN3001

PAN / TILT / ZOOM 2-WAY TALK

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coverage 2018 BabyBjörn

Baby Paper Baby Paper will highlight new patterns of Baby Paper and two new additions: Crinkle Cuddlers, and Rally Paper (NFL-licensed Baby Paper) Products are now available. Small enough for tiny hands to grasp, Baby Paper makes a paper crinkling sound to keep babies occupied, yet is sturdier and washable.

Britax

The BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini is a baby carrier made for newborns. Carry baby high on your chest. It features just a few adjustable buckles so parents can quickly put it on, day or night, to comfort or lull your newborn to sleep. Unfasten the entire front section of the baby carrier to lift out your sleeping newborn. The size and head support are fully adjustable, which means you can easily adapt Baby Carrier Mini as your newborn grows. It’s available in seven color options and made from 3D fabrics that have three layers: an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer. The Travel Crib Easy Go is a travel-ready crib. Set up and fold down in just one move. It includes a soft mattress and mesh fabric sidings to easily supervise baby. It’s for ages birth–3.

Britax introduced four new products for summer 2018, which it will be showcasing along with other items at ABC Kids Expo. The Pathway Stroller and Travel System comes in four bold fashions that peek out from below the canopies of both the stroller and car seat. The four fashions include Sketch, Crew, Connect, and Cabana (pictured). Made for newborns and children up to 55 pounds, the stroller is lightweight and allows for a one-hand quick-fold. The extra-large UV 50+ canopy and four-wheel design gives baby added protection along with a smoother ride. The seat fully reclines for nap time on-the-go, and an extra-large zippered pocket behind the stroller seat conveniently holds everything within arm’s reach. Click & Go adapters are also included for easy pairing with any Britax infant car seat. The B-Lively stroller is a 20-pound stroller featuring all-wheel suspension and a lightweight design for everyday strolling. There’s room for baby gear in the extra-large storage basket with front access. The B-Lively comes with adapters for car seat compatibility and also features a one-hand fold. For growing families, there’s the Britax’s B-Ready G3. The modular design has 12 seating options and a large storage basket. It also features a one-hand fold, four-position recline, adjustable handle height, and holds children 6 months up to 55 pounds using the stroller’s top seat. Britax also unveiled the Britax Premium Collection featuring Nanotex in August. Premium style meets Britax protection in this collection. The Nanotex fabric on the Premium Collection provides long-lasting product protection by repelling spills, allowing for easier spot cleaning.

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coverage 2018 BlankyRoo

The BlankyRoo is a three-in-one burp cloth, mini blanket, and diaper-changing table cloth, with a cushioned pillow on one end and two pockets on the opposite end.

BunnyRappit

BunnyRappit is a durable, non-toxic foam rubber, product that keep kids safe from table corners, edges, and other potentially harmful surfaces. Just peel off and stick a BunnyRappit to any surface.

Chomp ‘N Chews

Chomp ‘N Chew Finger Teethers easily fit on parents’ fingers and provide textured surfaces for baby to bite and teeth on. The patent-pending teethers are designed with raised offset surfaces that assist in gently massaging baby’s gums. The colorful lion and butterfly designs are made for parent and baby to hold easily and sized for maximum effectiveness as a teether. They are BPA-free, safety tested, and made of 100-percent food grade silicone.

Covered Goods

Covered Goods original multi-use nursing cover provides full 360-degree coverage and converts into a car seat cover, scarf, and shopping cart cover. It’s made of a comfortable, stretchy fabric with a flexible neck that can be worn down under one arm while easily peeking in to make sure baby has latched properly. One size fits most.

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Dadware

The Dadware Basic and Bamboo Bondaroos feature a flap allowing users to engage in skin-to-skin bonding with their newborn. Although the Bondaroo does not carry baby, it is designed to facilitate active bonding between age birth and 6 months.

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coverage 2018 Eli & Ali Baby

The Tush Swiper is an antimicrobial, hands-free, and portable diaper cream applicator. It attaches directly to the cream tube and contours to baby’s curves with a soft flexible tip for precise application and to minimize waste.

EZ Bottle Dry & Store EZ Bottle Dry and Store, is a patent-pending design to change how parents dry and store baby bottles and sippy cups. Current devices sit on the counter top or in the kitchen sink; EZ Bottle Dry and Store can be attached underneath the upper cabinet providing a new location to store all bottles, sippy cups, nipples, and accessories.

For Kids By Parents

The P-flector is a flexible urine deflector that attaches to the underside of a toilet seat to block the gap between the toilet seat and toilet bowl, and prevent seated potty-training kids from peeing through the gap.

HALO

GUND

GUND, a division of Spin Master, will showcase Flappy the Elephant. The 12-inch tall Flappy is a singing animated plush with two different play modes. Press its left foot to play an interactive game of peeka-boo, and the right to hear the song “Do Your Ears Hang Low” sung in a child’s voice.

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HALO’s suite of safe sleep products that will be on display at ABC Kids Expo include the SleepSack wearable blanket, SleepSack swaddle, Bassinest swivel sleeper, and SnoozyPod. The HALO SnoozyPod is a vibrating, allin-one bedtime soother combining soothing sounds and an amber glow nightlight with gentle vibration to lull infants and toddlers to sleep. It’s designed to fit most cribs, toddler beds, and twin beds.

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coverage 2018 Hashtag Kidz

Hashtag Kidz Flip n’ Fold ChewBuddy Teethers feature a variety of textures to entice babies to chew and soothe their sore gums. With the built-in grippy handles, little one can take their ChewBuddy along for comfort and relief on the go. Hashtag Kidz’ proprietary flip n’ fold design makes ChewBuddy ultra portable (compatible with most brands of pacifier cases) and easy to keep clean.

i-angel Co.

HABA

HABA’s Bath Book Ahoy Animal Sailors! book is filled with animal sailors to entertain and bring diverse entertainment without saying a word. It’s for ages 18 months and up. The Wooden Baby Book Tractor features five large, wooden pages displaying all the things Farmer Peter has on the farm. It’s for ages 10 months and up. The Kullerbu Play Track Kringel Roundabout features several connection points to which other Kullerbü trains can be attached. There’s added vehicle play with the Pepe Arrow and fast-moving blue ball convertible. The Spielbahn Kringel roundabout can be built in three different ways. It’s for ages 2–8.

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i-angel’s Hipseat Baby Carrier is a new baby wearer for moms and dads. It changes into hip-seat and baby wrapper depending on babies body size and the wearer’s personal preference. It’s available in a 100-percent cotton option, for absorbency and breath-ability, or a melange option. The melange fabric is best used for outdoor wear, because of its unique weight and water resistance. It also offers less discoloration after washing, according to i-angel. Pictured is the Rainbow Hipseat Carrier.

I&S Co.

Dwinguler Kids Playmat features a non-slip surface with multiple foam layers to provide extra cushioning for minor falls and tumbles. The Dwinguler Playmat is double-sided and available in variety of patterns and imagery options. Introduce your child to the alphabet and numbers, help them identify animals and objects, or tell stories using the colorful illustrations. Also available are the Dwinguler Castle Playset and Dwinguler Kids Sofa. All are made from high-quality, eco-friendly, non-toxic materials.

i-Candy

The new iCandy Peach pram was inspired by feedback from parents worldwide and features more than 60 modifications. The Peach pram was designed with sleek new finishes, with subtle pops of color introduced. Parents can also now customize their dream fabric and frame combination from the options available. Dove Grey, Beluga, Indigo and Damson form the basis of the 2018 Peach collection, while the three chassis options include Phantom, Satin and Chrome with black leatherette detailing. Now in its fifth generation, iCandy has also introduced minor refinements such as two storage pockets on the back of the seat, a peak and panel extension to the canopy as well as a mesh ventilation window. Its extendable hood also offers extra shade for baby, while the stroller can be transformed from a multi-functional single to double stroller. Additional products on display at the show include the Lightweight Raspberry, Functional, all-new Orange, and the MiChair that grows with baby from birth.

Juratoys

Juratoys, a division of Alex Brands, will showcase its Janod and Kaloo lines at ABC Kids Expo. Its newest Kaloo collection Les Kalines is a range of six characters. They feature original shapes and innovative materials that are all soft to the touch. Each of the “Kalines� has its own personality and finishing details to make it unique. Soft fabrics are combined with touches of glitter and shades of pink. Characters include Leana Lioness, Luna Owl, Roxia Fox, Yuna Panda, and Zarafa Giraffe. They are available as medium plush as well as plush keychains.

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coverage 2018 Keenz U.S.

Keenz U.S. is the distributor of ASTM-F833-certified Stroller Wagons for ages 1 and up. Theme park-friendly and built for family adventures, Keenz Stroller Wagons offer versatility and accommodate two children along with all their gear. Keenz Stroller Wagons feature five-point safety harnesses, four-wheel spring suspension, a durable aluminum frame, and can be adjusted to 10 different positions.

Malarkey Kids

Malarkey Kids (Munch Baby Inc.) offers a variety of baby teething and feeding products for baby, including the original Munch Mitt. The Buddy Bib is a three-in-one sensory teething toy and bib. The removable, wearable plush sensory toy holds baby’s soother (any with handle) or teether to provide baby with convenient access, while interacting with their plush buddy. The soft fabric bib features a water-resistant layer to contain drool and keep clothes dry. It’s also reversible. It’s for ages 6–18 months. Pictured is the unicorn version. Also new is the Chew Cube, an easy-grip teether and rattle.

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littlebeam

The littlebeam portable memory foam nursing pillow with removable and washable slipcovers is designed to be supportive in any breastfeeding or bottle-feeding position. babybeam toddler play pillows mimic the littlebeam shape and structure, and are designed for older siblings to be ‘just like mommy’ and help normalize breastfeeding. The Just Like Mommy board book goes along with babybeam toddler play pillows, continuing the normalization of breastfeeding. Written by an International Board of Lactation Consultant, it features colorful illustrations throughout. Nibbly Bits are food-grade silicone teething jewelry. littlebeams will feature teething necklaces with various beads at the show. Necklaces include a fully beaded necklace to one with several larger beads in various colors as well as pendant necklaces and bracelets. The Mibbler teething toys will also be shown. Made from 100-percent natural rubber and food-grade paint, Mibblers are safe from harmful chemicals, and are designed with various colors and nubs to entertain. Clean with soapy water or a baby wipe on the go. The new Hot Pink girl Mibbler will be on display at ABC Kids.

Marcus & Marcus

Marcus & Marcus’ baby-led weaning Amusemat features a playground design that encourages kids to play with food. Made for ages 6 months and up, the Amusemat is BPAand phthalate-free and dish-washer safe. It is made of food grade silicone rubber. Styles include Lola the Giraffe, Pokey the Piglet, Marcus the Lion Cub, Ollie the Elephant, and Willow the Whale.

Milkbe

miFold

The mifold Sport is updates its original mifold compact, portable booster seat with a new sporty look. The mifold is more than 10 times smaller than a regular booster. The mifold Sport incorporates high-end performance materials. The mifold and the mifold Sport are for ages 4 and up.

The Milkbe stroller has an integrated, patented sensor that automatically stops the stroller from moving when your hands leave the handlebar—even if you forget to set the brake. Suitable for ages birth—36 months (33 pounds), the Milkbe also features a USB-compatible charger for its B-touch technology and a removable and washable insert. It also offers an easy fold with three-postion seating adjustment, adjustable footrest, dual shock absorbers for stable rides, and an adjustable canopy.

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coverage 2018 MomoGo Baby

MOJO

The MomoGo baby seat insert offers a universal fit to match all shopping carts and high chairs. The seat is made of nylon/foam and is collapsible to fit into diaper bags. The MomoGo fits babies from 5–48 months.

Comfy Critters patented design creates a multipurpose stuffed animal. These critters transition from a wrap or robe, into a friend for kids to hold. New licensed offerings include PAW Patrol.

Nuna

The Nuna Demi stroller was crafted to convert from a single stroller to a double or twin. Fold, flip the seat, and switch to bassinet or travel system modes (23 modes). It features custom dual suspensions and includes a Dream drape; a removable, extendable, and protective UPF 50-plus canopy with flip-out eyeshade; leatherette arm and push bar; large storage basket; and one-hand recline. It can also be paired with the Pipa series car seats. The PEPP next has an ultra-compact fold that opens up to a fully loaded ride complete with canopy system, all-season seat, and spring suspension technology. When folded, the wheels also fold flat behind like a piece of luggage and it stands on its own. It features front- and rear-wheel suspension, a three-position reclining seat , and removable UPF 50+ canopy with flip-out eyeshade and silent pull down Dream drape. With the RAVA convertible car seat, children can be kept rear-facing up to 50 pounds with up to two-inches more leg room. It features energy-absorbing foam and side impact protection (SIP) pods, a colored belt path indicator, and all-steel frame. Ventilation panels within the shell and breathable, washable knit fabric offers temperature control.

Nanit

The nanit is an all-in-one HD baby monitor and sleep tracker. Nanit tracks everything happening in your baby’s crib, and then provides personalized, scientifically-backed sleep guidance to help baby sleep better. It features bird’s-eye view, zoom, and night vision viewing options; and real-time sound and motion alerts. Data is protected with bank-level security and AES 256-bit encryption. The Nanit Insights service provides sleep tracking, guidance, and video storage for a monthly fee.

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Olababy

The Olababy GentleBottle was designed to make feeding natural while stimulating development through touch and sight. The GentleBottle is made of 100 percent non-toxic silicone. The soft texture and shape allows baby and parents a secure and comfortable grip. The off-set nipple design mimics a natural breast to allow for easy latching and to help reduce bottle rejection. The GentleBottle color options are also intended to stimulate baby’s visual senses and aid the early stages of visual development. The Olababy Training Spoon is designed to promote self-feeding. It features a flexible material to scoop food at any angle, while the spoon also doubles as a teether for gum relief. It’s ergonomically designed for baby’s hands. Its base also allows for hygienic, upright placement on any surface. It’s dishwasher-safe, BPA-free, and made from 100-percent food-grade silicone.

Plan Toys

Panasonic With long battery life and ultra-long range, the Panasonic KXHN3001W Baby Monitor is made to help let parents live their lives and still know their little one is safe and content. Using DECT technology, the Panasonic baby monitor features secure, interference-free signal strength up to 1500 feet (more than the length of four football fields), according to Panasonic. A long-life, built-in rechargeable battery in the monitor stores power for up to 13 hours of standby time and up to five hours of power for continuous use. It includes a bright 3.5-inch color monitor that controls the wide-eyed, wall-mountable monochrome night vision camera in baby’s room. A smart motion sensor alerts parents when baby is awake, stirring, or crying. Additional features include pan/tilt/zoom, temperature sensors, two-way talk, and a selection of lullabies and white noise. The Panasonic baby monitor is currently at market in most major retailers.

Wautomobiles come in three bright primary colors in a car-lookalike shape. Let kids experiment with weight, liquid mobility, and color-mixing while encouraging playful movement as each wheel has its own graphic pattern that changes in appearance when pushed or pulled. The Wautomobiles are for use indoors or outdoors. They are for ages 18 months and up.

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coverage 2018 Silver Cross

Sago Sago

With the Sago Mini Easy Clean Boat Squirters features Fins ready to go deep underwater in his yellow submarine, while Dennis floats in a bubble-bath boat. The tops unscrew for easy cleaning and draining. Sold separately, each set includes one squirter and one boat. The Jinja Jet playset features Jinja the pilot is ready to take to the sky with her gnome friends. Accessories include luggage pieces, sleep mask, and teddy bear. Pillow playsets transform from throw cushions to playsets complete with plush props and Sago characters: Join Jinja in the kitchen, help Robin with her bedtime routine, or assist Dr. Harvey at his clinic. When playtime’s over, these pillows fold back away in seconds. Each pillow playset is sold separately. Part of the Portable Playset line, Robin’s Farm features a tractor, barnyard animals, and veggies to plant. There’s even a miniature tire swing. All the pieces pack away inside for on-the-go play. Yeti’s Pool Party squirter set is easy for little hands to squeeze. Yeti can squirt, splash, slide and dive in his very own floating pool. When bathtime’s over, the squirter comes apart for easy cleaning, and the pool transforms into a tote to hang and store your bath toys.

Stroll N Glow

The Jet is Silver Cross’ new compact stroller. The stroller folds up to measure 21-by11-by-seven inches, conforming with cabin baggage regulations for all key airlines. It weighs 13 pounds. Once folded, the Jet is freestanding and wheels like a small suitcase. A protective cover is included with the package that slips over the stroller. A deep padded, lie-flat seat enables the stroller to be suitable from birth up to 40 pounds. By adding a car seat and adapters, sold separately, the stroller becomes a full travel system. The car seat adapters are compatible with Nuna Pipa, Maxi-Cosi, and Cybex Aton car seats. Additional features include a UPF 50+ protection hood with a pop-out sun visor, air-flow ventilation, and a viewing window. There is also lockable front swivel wheels, dynamic suspension, and a five-point safety harness. The Jet is available in four colors: Ebony, Sterling, Mandarin and Bluebird (pictured).

The Stroll N Glow LED safety light was created to provide the light needed to safely walk with strollers at dawn, dusk, or night and appear visible to vehicles, bicyclists, and/or other pedestrians on the path. Geared toward active families and kids, the light is shaped like a teddy bear and can be used on various stroller models. Simply clip it onto strollers or handlebars.

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Thule

The Thule Sleek is a city-friendly stroller that weighs 33 pounds. It features an extendable ventilated canopy with peekaboo window and sun visor with UPF 50+ protection as well as a large seating area with adjustable footwell. The reversible seat can be adjusted to parent- or forward-facing position with the ability to use it from birth with the Thule Sleek Bassinet or infant car seat adapter (sold separately). The seat reclines into three positions, while a bumper bar rotates to the side for seating of a child. There’s also shock-absorbing 4-wheel suspension and no-puncture foam-filled 11-inch rear tires with reflective rims to handle rougher terrain and improve visibility. It can also be expanded to accommodate twins and siblings.

Tiny Twinkle

Tiny Twinkle’s newest Kaffle creation is the long-sleeved bib. The bib features its Kaffle3 fabric, a Kaffle Korean textured cotton designed to be more absorbent than muslin and soft enough for sensitive skins. The bib is absorbent and waterproof, without a scratchy plastic backing. Tiny Twinkle has also developed the textile into swaddle blankets and wash cloths, as well as waterproof burp cloths, and additional drool and feeding bibs (pictured).

Trend Lab

Trend Lab’s Plush Character Chairs line adds the Children’s Plush Cow Character Chair. The Cow Chair is a cuddly companion for reading, relaxing, and snuggling. It features soft plush black-and-white spotted “fur” and contoured support. The head is turned to the side to allow a child to rest easily against the animal for maximum cuddling comfort. The chair measures 21-by-19-by-19 inches and is suitable for ages 1 and up. For safe use, a child must be able to sit unassisted and his/her feet should touch the ground while sitting on the seat of the chair. The line also includes Buffalo Check Bear, Buffalo Check Moose, Bunny, Cow, Dinosaur, Dragon, Elephant, Fox, Giraffe, Lamb, Lion, Moose, Owl, Panda, Pony, Puppy, Rainbow Unicorn, Tiger, Unicorn, and Walrus.

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coverage 2018 Tush Baby

TushBaby is a memory foam-lined hip seat designed to provide optimal comfort and hip health for little ones. The supportive belt evenly distributes baby’s weight for mom or dad. A storage area within the seat holds diapers, wipes, and changing essentials with side pockets for keys, phone and wallet.

Veer Gear

Veer’s all-terrain Cruiser is a crossover that leverages advances in design, performance and safety to give families new freedom to embark on any outdoor adventure together. The award-winning Cruiser combines the experience of a rugged wagon with the functionality and safety of a premium stroller. With a carrying capacity of more than 150 pounds and a variety of custom accessories, the Cruiser can support any family’s excursions from birth through adulthood.

Yookidoo

Vianetic

The Vianetic backpack is a travel-friendly diaper backpack. It features a thermal Vianetic pak, detachable diaper pad, pull-out caddy, and car/stroller attachment. Its strap system allows for easy in-car changes. It also allows for flexible organization to position all essential items within reach. There are no zippers, so no more fishing for items.

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The Yookidoo Sensory Bath Mobile (pictured) is a newborn water sensory mobile that spins and sprinkles creating a multi-sensory experience for baby during bathtime. The Yookidoo Jet Duck Create a Pirate is a battery operated jet duck with interchangeable pirate themed accessories that speeds through the tub while firing water. It’s for ages 2–6. The Elephant Baby Shower is a battery operated compact, portable baby shower designed for ease of use by parents and comfort for babies. The easy activation shower head with on/ off knobs allowing to easily pause or continue. It’s for ages birth and up.

COMPANY PROFILE

Turning the Plush Aisle On Its Head by Jennifer

Lynch

M

arissa Louie never wanted to grow up. Not since she watched her elementary school classmates so easily cast aside their plush best friends. It’s an experience that stayed with her. “Since then I’ve really been thinking about how to make plush toys more engaging for modern day kids,” says Louie. “I wanted to put stuffed animals to work, where they don’t rely on just being cute and sitting there but challenge kids’ imaginations and get their creativity to come out.” Flash forward 35 years, and Louie is living out her childhood dreams as the creator of Animoodles, a toy line that’s turned the plush aisle on its head. Or rather pulled off its head and replaced it with a leg or a different head. Animoodles is no ordinary line of stuffed characters. Thanks to a unique safety-tested magnetic system, kids can remove their limbs and heads, reposition them, and even swap them with those of other Animoodles to create silly new combinations. Its Kickstarter campaign created in fall 2017 to launch the line hit its $25,000 goal in just 11 hours, and went on to raise more than $100,000 by the campaign’s end. The idea for Animoodles didn’t come to Louie overnight though. It instead emerged from a pattern of 50-plus rejected concepts: hybrid animals. Then one day, Louie visualized plush limbs coming apart, dancing in the air, and rearranging into wacky combinations. “Then I thought magnets would be a fun way to attach all the parts together,’ she says. Much of Louie’s ability to weed through those rejections as well as play test Animoodles

to perfection stems from her own life before toys, when she worked as an art director and designer for such companies as Apple and Yahoo. “Ease of use and reuse is very important to me as a designer and also for children of all ages, parents, and grandparents to understand how a toy works without having to read an instruction manual,” she says. “These are principles I learned at places like Apple: make the product so simple you don’t have to be taught how to use it.” This was something Louie and her team saw success in immediately when play testing the toy nationwide before launch. “We saw, time and time again, that when we’d hand Animoodles to kids, they’d accidentally pull off a leg or an arm and their reflex was to immediately put it back on,” she says. “They thought maybe they broke it. Then their brains catch up and says, ‘oh wait that was supposed to happen.’ It all crystallizes with the head coming off. They realize you can move the head from the neck position to the back position and it can crawl on all four legs. No other stuffed animal

that I know can do that.” The toy’s uniqueness speaks for itself, but ensuring quality and a good storyline have been equally important in Animoodles development and success. For that, Louie recruited the best. Industry vet Caren Shalek, who first helped bring Tickle Me Elmo to market, advised. The Animoodles art team is made up entirely of former Disney/Pixar artists applying the same principles used in their former work into the development of characters that would endure, be relatable, and appeal to children in a way that made them want more. The team also worked with former scientists from NASA and Tesla to ensure all the magnets were encased in secure safety enclosures and rigorously tested without weakening. “Literally rocket scientists worked with us to make sure that these toys are safe,” says Louie. Today, Animoodles is now sold in more than 30 specialty stores across the U.S.—and growing—as well as through its own website, theanimoodles.com, and Amazon. Series two of this plushie line of friends launches this fall.

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FEATURED CONTENT

Feisty Pets Sir Growls-A-Lot

Not Your Average

TEDDY BEAR

by

Elaine Andrus

The plush category continues to expand its offerings of cuddly, interactive and collectible toys.

I

t’s no longer enough for toy makers to introduce a cuddly, beautifully designed plush toy. Consumers are looking for something surprising and unexpected through interactions and different faces, shapes, and textures. Parents are also continuing to look for items that kids will play with multiple times. YouTube videos continue to have an impact on this category, as several toymakers are launching products based on popular online videos and are incorporating unique packaging to maximize the unboxing experience that consumers are continuing to capture and share online.

Pet Rescue

Moose Toys based its Scruff-a-Luv collection on an online video that depicts an abandoned animal being rescued, taken home, and cared for by a kind human, resulting in a completely transformed and happy animal. Drawing on the unboxing trend, kids only know the color of the Scruff-a-Luv, and they discover whether they’ve adopted a dog, rabbit or cat after combing the toy’s matted fur, washing it, and then drying the toy with a towel.

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“We try to incorporate an element of play right from the moment the toy enters a child’s hands, which ensures the unboxing experience is just as exciting and suspenseful as the final toy reveal,” says Belinda Gruebner, executive vice-president of global marketing at Moose Toys. “In the plush category, the rescue pet trend is being driven by the animal rescue videos and stories that are being shared online. Everyone loves a feel-good story and finds it rewarding to be able to help animals in need.” Selling out on Amazon during the first week of its launch in June, RescueRunts also features stuffed puppies that come in crate-style packaging and need to be brushed, plucked of fake fleas, and cleaned by kids. “When we were working on the product, we put a lot of attention into the process of transforming a ragged runt into a beautiful pet magically. It was also important for us to create a repeat play pattern—kids can clean the RescueRunts up over and over again—so it’s not a one-time experience,” says Eric Levin, KD Group strategic director. Levin also noted that rescue pets fall into the nurturing and caring play patterns to which many kids are naturally drawn. “Toys that introduce kids to the concept of rescue will contin-

ue to be popular for two reasons: first, because kids love and easily understand the idea of caring for an animal that needs help; second, because parents who are passionate about animal rescue can feel good about buying toys for their kids that promote this message,” he says. But not all plush rescue pets are cute and cuddly. Spin Master recently launched Fugglers featuring “funny ugly” monsters with multiple eyes and mismatched or protruding teeth. Started as a handmade product in an Etsy shop and already popular in the UK, 50 Fuggler characters will be featured in nine-inch and 12-inch sizes online and at U.S. retailers. Special collectibles will feature glow-in-the-dark eyes and teeth. Jazwares also signed an agreement with Surge Licensing to quickly launch a Feisty Pets line based on a viral video that was viewed more than 20 million times in three days. The line features stuffed bears, unicorns, and other animals that appear friendly but boast fangs, evil grins, or ferocious faces when squeezed. In the fall, the line is planning to offer a new tongue-out expression and then begin offering additional grin expressions in 2019. “Our play pattern coincides with a ‘pet play’ trend that encourages kids to be empathetic and nurturing. Going one step further, Feisty Pets are even trendier as an ‘anti-virtual pet’ where they do things that aren’t so cute or cuddly, like going from aww to ahh in just a squeeze,” says Ashley Ferguson, business development and public relations manager for Jazwares.

Interactivity

Hatchimals inspired a new level of interaction with its robotic plush characters that peck out of hard shells. This fall, the Hatchimals’ line of robotic creatures expands further with the launch of Hatchibabies. Unlike Hatchimals of the past, Hatchibabies stay in baby mode and feature five surprise accessories included to care for them, while the egg itself can also be reused as a nest/ highchair for Hatchibabies. WowWee launched a larger, plush version of its Fingerlings. Fingerlings Hugs inspires a variety of play patterns, since kids can cuddle the stuffed monkeys, incorporate them into imaginative sce-

narios or toss them in the air, tickle them, or have them give you a kiss for different reactions. “We looked to see if we could offer a larger plush version of Fingerlings that could literally hang onto you and interact in new and meaningful ways,” says Davin Sufer, WowWee’s chief technology officer. “We’ve unlocked interactions and play that you don’t even see in more expensive items. We’ve offered the cute and softness factors that you would normally expect from a traditional stuffed animal, while adding fun and surprising sounds without limiting the play experience or adding large battery boxes. It’s a level of interaction and fun that you would not expect to see in an item that’s intuitive, soft, and cuddly.” Hasbro also expands its FurReal line this year to include an animatronic puppy; a show bird that sings, dances and tells jokes; and a baby T-Rex that begs for attention and eats pretend broccoli and caveman cookies. Anticipated to be one of the hottest toys this holiday season, Skyrocket’s Pomsies interactive plush kittens feature tails that can be wrapped around backpacks, wrists, ankles, and more. “Pomsies was inspired by the idea of a virtual pet that can be nurtured and cared for like a

Pomsies Zoey (top) and Luna

Tamagotchi but with a plush feature to make it sweet and cuddly,” says John Ardell, Skyrocket’s executive vice-president and chief marketing officer. “We also wanted to make it fashionable and wearable, like the pompom accessories that are so popular with young girls today.” Pomsies express emotions through their eye colors, and kids can pet one of their three touch sensors to wipe away sniffles, feed them, or make them purr. The line is already expanding beyond kittens this fall with new exclusive characters such as a unicorn, a koala, and a dragon.

Stuffed Collectibles

Beverly Hills Teddy Bear launched its Squeezamals line featuring 20 squishy scented pets. GennComm’s ImaGENNation, which perfected the design, says, the goal was to combine the comfort and seductiveness of a fidget toy, with the warmth of friendly stuffed animals. “We saw the trend for squishy toys emerging in 2016 and identified a hole in the marketplace,” says Jeremy Medwed, director of ImaGENNation. Moose Toys launched its Pikmi Pops last year and has added two additional seasons since then with new characters, patterns, and scents. Each scented plush collectible toy is housed in a lollipop or push-pop vessel and includes a collector’s guide. An additional line of Pikmi Flips were inspired by cotton candy and feature a reversible plush that flips from a pompom into a Pikmi character. “Over the last few years, having a beautifully styled item with a great feel is no longer good enough,” says Gruebener. “Plush is becoming increasingly experiential-based, which means making the item feel more magical through a reveal process or an unboxing experience is essential. The technology in the category is also getting better and better, so I expect to see plush with more textures, and toys that feel more lifelike being introduced into the category in the future.”

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WIT Appoints New Board Members

Moose Toys

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) has appointed Janice Ross to the executive board as vice-president and Stephanie Mendoza to the board of directors as chair of the new WIT Young Professionals Network. Janice Ross is the managing partner at Brand Fresh Management. Previously, she held several senior positions at American Greetings Entertainment and most recently was senior vice-president, licensing and business development at Lisa Frank. With more than 25-plus years of experience in the entertainment business, Ross has worked in a variety of diverse but complimentary roles, from entertainment development and production to licensing and marketing. She has also held executive positions at companies such as LEGO Company, Simon Marketing, Carolco Pictures, and Triad Artists. In her role as vice-president of WIT, Ross will help implement the organization’s strategic plan, as well as managing delivery and effectiveness of WIT’s programs worldwide. She previously served on the board as co-chair of the Wonder Women Awards Committee. Stephanie Mendoza is manager, North America Licensing at Sesame Workshop, the media and education nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. Prior to joining Sesame Workshop, Mendoza worked as a project manager at MSI Entertainment, a video game publisher and distributor. In 2018, she was honored with the Wonder Woman Rising Star Award. As chair of the Young Professionals Network, she will lead efforts to drive engagement with WIT’s international community of young professionals.

Garrett Sanders, Principal Designer

Hasbro Ups Senior Executives

Hasbro promoted Samantha Lomow to president of Hasbro Entertainment Brands and Jonathan Berkowitz to president of Hasbro Brands. Both will continue to report to John Frascotti, Hasbro’s president and COO. During her 18-year tenure, Lomow has been instrumental in the Transformers franchise since the first movie in 2007, and she helped bring My Little Pony to the big screen for the first time. In her new role, Lomow will be responsible for leading all of Hasbro’s current, new, and vault entertainment-driven, story-led brands. She will continue to lead Hasbro’s strategic partner portfolio, which includes The Walt Disney Company, Universal, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, and Blizzard Entertainment. In his 15 years at Hasbro, Berkowitz has led a number of brands, including Nerf, which he led to its franchise brand status in 2011. In his new role, Berkowitz will continue to oversee the Hasbro Gaming portfolio as well as Nerf, Play-Doh, Baby Alive, FurReal, and Quick Strike initiatives. He will also manage all new and vault brands not driven by entertainment.

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Moose Toys has appointed Garrett Sanders as principal designer for its Girls division. Previously, Sanders held senior positions at Mattel, where he was one of the creators of the Monster High franchise, and instrumental in the creation of the Ever After High franchise. His diverse experience includes packaging design across multiple Girls brands as well as product leadership for brands such as Polly Pocket. In his most recent role as art director on The Mattel Creations Entertainment team, Sanders oversaw the development and direction for Barbie animated content.

Mattel Creates Film Division, Global Franchise Management Group

Mattel Films is a new division of the company focused on developing and producing motion pictures based on its franchises. Academy Award-nominated producer Robbie Brenner was appointed to lead as executive producer, reporting to Ynon Kreiz, Mattel’s chairman and CEO. Brenner was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture for Dallas Buyers Club, and her film Burden was a 2018 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner. She’s held multiple leadership roles in the entertainment industry, including partner and president of the film division at The Firm, as well as president of production at Relativity Media. Brenner also ran the classics division at Davis Entertainment, and prior to this, she held senior vice-president roles at Twentieth Century Fox and Miramax. Mattel also announced the creation of its Global Franchise Management Group, a new division that will bring together several key functions to extend the company’s brands to new commercial opportunities. Janet Hsu joins Mattel in the newly created role of chief franchise management officer. Reporting to Richard Dickson, Mattel’s president and COO, Hsu will be responsible for developing and implementing franchise strategy across the company’s portfolio of iconic brands. Hsu will work to extend the company’s brands to new commercial opportunities in key areas including content development and distribution, consumer products, digital gaming, live events, and strategic partnerships. Hsu previously served as CEO of Saban Brands.

tfe /OCTOBER 2–4 4–7

2018|2019 Fall Toy Preview

30–2/3 Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nuremberg Exhibition Center Nuremberg • toyfair.de

New York Comic-Con

/FEBRUARY

Dallas Market Center Dallas • toyassociation.org

Jacob Javits Center New York City • nynow.com

9–11

ABC Kids Expo

Las Vegas• theabcshow.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Las Vegas Convention Center

3–6

SURTEX & National Stationery Show Jacob Javits Center New York City • nationalstationeryshow.com Jacob Javits Center New York City •surtex.com

9–11 Brand Licensing Europe Olympia London London• brandlicensing.eu 13–14 MIP Junior Grand Hyatt Cannes Hôtel Martinez Cannes, France• mipjunior.com 15–18 MIPCOM Palais des Festivals Cannes, France• mipcom.com

11–14 Kidscreen Summit InterContinental Miami Miami • summit.kidscreen.com 16–19 American International Toy Fair Jacob Javits Center New York City • toyfairny.com 19–20 Digital Kids Conference Jacob Javits Center New York City• digitalkidsmedia.com

15–16 CHITAG New Inventors Track (formerly T&GCon) Navy Pier Chicago• chitag.com 15–18 Chicago Toys & Game Fair (CHITAG) Navy Pier Chicago• chitag.com

/MARCH

3–6 International Halloween Show The Halloween Tower New York City• hiaonline.org

The London Book Fair Olympia London

/NOVEMBER

/DECEMBER

/JANUARY 8–11

International CES

Las Vegas Convention Center, additional locations Las Vegas • ces.tech 7–9 Hong Kong Int’l Licensing Show Hong Kong Convention Center Hong Kong• hktdc.com 7–10 Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair Hong Kong Convention Center Hong Kong• hktdc.com 7–10 Hong Kong Baby Products Fair Hong Kong Convention Center Hong Kong• hktdc.com 22–24 The Toy Fair Olympia London London• www.toyfair.co.uk

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3–6 Australian Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair Melbourne Convention Center 10–12 12–14

Melbourne • austoy.com.au

ToyFest West

South Point Hotel Las Vegas • toyfestwest.com

London • londonbookfair.co.uk 15–17 SXSW Gaming Expo Austin Convention Center Austin • gaming.sxsw.com 28–31 PAX East Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Boston • east.paxsite.com

/APRIL

1–4 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Bologna Fair Center

8–11

Bologna, Italy • bookfair.bolognafiere.it

MIPTV Palais des Festivals

Cannes, France • miptv.com 10–13 JPMA Baby Show Orange County Convention Center Orlando • jpmashow.org 27–30 Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair Hong Kong Convention Center Hong Kong • hktdc.com

A child’s imagination is boundless. LEGOŽ bricks make anything possible.

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9/13/2018 2:09:49 PMPM 9/13/18 1:37

©1996 Kazuki Takahashi

TIME FOR ACTION & ATTITUDE!

TM&©CROWN CREATIVE CO., LTD.

Jennifer Coleman • jcoleman@4kmedia.com • +1.212.590.2120 yugioh.com

Untitled-1 1

9/13/2018 11:35:23 AM

Brand Licensing Europe 2018 PREVIEW

October 2018 tfe Licensing 89

PREVIEW The 20th Brand Licensing Europe opens its doors on October 9 with 260-plus exhibitors and 2,500 brands on display. With more than 7,500 attendees also expected to be at the show, BLE 2018 is shaping up to be its biggest show to date. The show runs through October 11 at Olympia London. The companies listed as follows represent just a sampling of what will be on display this year. by Jennifer

Lynch

Brandgenuity

AMACAR

Acamar Films (F94) will debut the preschool show Bing, adapted for television from the original books by Ted Dewan. Bing provides a depiction of the highs and lows of everyday life from a preschool perspective. The series, produced in Dublin by Brown Bag Films, features a voice cast led by Sir Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies, Wolf Hall, The BFG) as Flop, Akiya Henry (Holby City) as Amma, Pauline McLynn (Father Ted) as Gilly, and Bryony Hannah (Call the Midwife) as Padget. Bing launched on CBeebies in 2014 and continues to be a top-rated preschool show on CBeebies and the BBC iPlayer. With more than 250 million requests, Bing is the No. 2 most requested show on the iPlayer across the BBC. Acamar Films will use Europe’s leading licensing event as a platform to update the industry on the continued global growth of the property. The acceleration of Bing is underpinned by an expanded and experienced executive team, a recentralized in-house TV sales and licensing division, ongoing content development, and investment in multiple consumer touch points to ensure Bing is available all year round. The international appetite for Bing continues to build with close to 100 territories now airing the series. Acamar has already appointed licensing agents in these new markets, with several additional major broadcast partners still to be announced.

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Adventurer and TV personality, Ed Stafford, has selected global brand licensing agency Brandgenuity, to help build a licensing program around his growing brand. Over the past decade, the Britain-based explorer has pushed the limits of adventure entertainment, embarking on and filming cutting-edge expeditions and bold backcountry projects of the 21st century. After becoming the first person to walk the length of the Amazon River, Stafford’s profile has continued to grow steadily. With 20 years’ experience, which originated from the British Army and moved into the survival and adventure space, Stafford is an authority in this outdoor market and seeks to inspire adventurers with the tools that they need to embark on their own expeditions. Brandgenuity’s expertise and experience will enable Stafford to create equipment such as survival gear, outdoor apparel, knives/multi-tools, outdoor tech/GPS, and interactive apps, and build a brand portfolio that matches the growing trend toward adventure travel and the outdoors.

Beanstalk

In Europe, Italian design company Alessi, founded in 1921, is a leader in home products with collaborations with more than 300 global designers and architects. Beanstalk (K80) is seeking new opportunities for Alessi in a range of categories. In Europe and North America, Tinderbox, the digital division of leading global brand extension agency Beanstalk, now represents e-sports company Electronic Sports League (ESL). ESL hosts and broadcasts e-sports events including Intel Extreme Masters, ESL One, and Pro League. Tinderbox is actively pursuing opportunities in apparel, accessories, consumer electronics, and other lifestyle categories. Beanstalk now globally represents Bruce Lee. The Bruce Lee brand aims to be a modern, global entertainment and education brand that provides tools and inspiration. Beanstalk seeks new opportunities for the brand in fitness, digital, lifestyle, and health and wellness categories. Beanstalk client Bear Grylls partnered with Tobar, a UK-based business since 1973, to create a range of insect powder protein and energy bars, set to launch later this year across Europe. For Beanstalk client, Diageo, Baileys partnered with Finsbury Food Group to create a Baileys Freakshake cake. The cake launches in September at Asda. Baileys also extended its partnership with Tassimo, the single-cup brewer using Intellibrew technology, for a new SKU range of hot cocoa pods. The pods launched across German grocers in September. Guinness launched a new range of jewelry with Irish home and giftware company, Newbridge Silverware. New designs include bracelets and necklaces that incorporate Guinness’ IP. Guinness has also translated its flavor into a malty cheddar cheese with new licensee Windyridge, a UK-based speciality cheese producer. Guinness Cheddar launched in Selfridges & Co. in August with further launches planned for North America. In the hard goods sector, Beanstalk is actively developing the Stanley, Black+Decker, Dewalt and Facom licensing programs. The Stanley program continues to grow across Europe with a strong pan-European position within the hardware and tools category in professional trade and DIY. Dewalt extends into close-to-core categories with the launch of Dewalt 2-Way Radios, Dewalt Material Handling products and Dewalt Generators across Europe. The Black+Decker program continues to build in the UK and Europe upon its core home product ranges, which include the Dustbuster, extending the brand into a number of new categories such as manual and motion sensor technology bins, manual cleaning tools, laundry

management products, heating and cooling appliances, and small kitchen appliances. Facom is a market leader in hand tools in France and this will be the key territory focus for the brand to extend into new automotive-related categories. Following the acquisition of the Craftman brand by Stanley Black & Decker, Beanstalk has also been selected to represent Craftman for licensed consumer products. Beanstalk will serve as Craftman’s exclusive licensing agency and will represent the brand globally. Beanstalk client TGI Fridays launched a range of three signature readyto-drink cocktails—Long Island Iced Tea, Pink Punk Mojito, and Passion Fruit Martini—with Manchester Drinks, which launched exclusively at Tesco in September. The brand’s newest licensee Rastelli Foods Group launched a wide range of frozen food products in the UAE in September. The range includes chilled meats and frozen appetizers, among others. Jack Daniel’s new partnership with Beams International for a gifting range features the wider Jack Daniel’s family of brands, including Tennessee Cider, Tennessee Fire, and Gentleman Jack. The gifting range has resulted in the brand gaining a new retailer partner with One Shop, and Asda has taken the wider Jack Daniel’s gifting range as a year-round offering for 2018. Chupa Chups launched a range of filled doughnuts with candy crunch toppings inspired by Chupa Chups with licensee Vandemoortele. The range launched in spring in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with more countries rolling out later in the year. In April, de Beukelaer-Griesson launched a range of refreshment sticks in two original Chupa Chups flavors, Strawberry and Apple, across grocery stores in Germany.

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PREVIEW Cartoon Network Enterprises

Following its 2017 global relaunch, the evergreen Ben 10 franchise from Turner’s Cartoon Network Enterprises (TCNE) continues to put down new roots in the boy’s category. Ben 10 ranks as a top 10 boys brand in action figures and roleplay in key EMEA markets. The range from Playmates Toys leads the licensing program with the Omnitrix as a staple of the roleplay category. In June, the Basic Omintrix was the UK’s No. 1 item in the roleplay sub-category, according to the NPD Group. The Powerpuff Girls celebrates its 20th anniversary year, entering BLE 2018. The brand has seen a global rollout of new episodes, with more episodes featuring the fourth Powerpuff Girl, Bliss (voiced by local celebrities across EMEA, including Britain’s Got Talent Judge Alesha Dixon in the UK); events; and new licensing partnerships with a focus on fashion collaborations that target millennials. Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty continues to build its momentum following the LIMA International Licensing Award 2018 for Best Animated Entertainment Licensed Program. The property is up for three UK Licensing Award nominations, including Best Teen or Adult Licensed Property. Fans of the animated sci-fi comedy seek out content wherever they can, creating their own, sharing and discussing it with their peers, which is helping generate greater demand for official licensed products. Rick and Morty season three launched exclusively on Netflix in select EMEA markets, including the UK, as well as on Turner’s own channels in France, Germany and Spain—making the show easily accessible to fans across the region. The creators and Adult Swim have also announced a further 70 episodes. Adventure Time transitions to a classic status buoyed by fandom, enduring partnerships, and content in new formats. The multi award-winning family sitcom The Amazing World of Gumball and Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears are also on the bill alongside the first Boomerang Original The Happos Family, providing visiting licensees and retailers with a robust choice of brands for adults, children, teens, and tweens.

Cottonwood Media

Francetv Distribution will debut tween drama Find Me in Paris (52 x 26-minute episodes) with a slate of French licensees. In publishing and stationery, Francetv has signed deals for a stand-alone bi-monthly magazine with Milan, part of Bayard; Comic Books with Soleil, an imprint of Delcourt; and novels and albums with publisher Nathan. Sahinler is on board for a 2019 fall/winter collection of daywear, nightwear, lingerie and swimwear, while Royer will roll out slippers, socks, shoes and boots. In toys, Ravensburger is on board for puzzles and, CTI has licensed bed linens, blankets, cushions and bathroom accessories. Find Me In Paris stars a princess and ballerina from 1905 Russia who stumbles through a portal to modern-day Paris. Filmed on location in Paris and the Opera Garnier, Find Me In Paris airs on Nick UK, Hulu and NBCUniversal in the U.S., France TV, ZDF Germany, and Disney (Italy & France), among others. Produced by Cottonwood Media (David Michel, Zoé Carrera Allaix, Cecile Lauritano) with ZDF, ZDF Enterprises, B-FILMS, and the Opera National de Paris, Find Me In Paris was written and co-executive produced by Jill Girling and Lori Mather-Welch (creators of Nickelodeon’s Ride), with Leila Smith as executive producer.

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Crunchyroll

Creative Licensing Corp.

Thirty years after the original film comes a third Bill and Ted’s movie. In 1989, Bill and Ted were fated to create the most famous song of all time destined to bring peace love and harmony throughout the universe. Thirty years later, and they haven’t done it. Now it’s time for Bill and Ted to Face the Music. The new film, coming in fall 2019, will be supported by a robust merchandise licensing program with 24 active licensees. Built Games launched a stand-alone Bill and Ted’s action-RPG mobile game, titled Wyld Stallyns, this year. BOOM! Studios launched its fourth Bill and Ted’s graphic novel series, Bill and Ted Save the Universe. Middle of Beyond launched an original ugly sweater and Hawaiian T-shirt design, along with a Christmas ornament. Recently, BioWorld signed an international apparel agreement and Surreal Entertainment is on board for drinkware, home goods, and novelties. New subscription box product, gambling games, high-end collectibles, board games, and an escape room are also on the way. Creative Licensing is showcasing the property along with Bill and Ted’s collectible merchandise at booth B71.

Crunchyroll, a destination for anime and manga with more than 40 million registered users and more than one million subscribers, heads into BLE with a number of key properties seeking licensing partners across categories and genres­—from Bananya: The Kitty That Lives in a Banana to the Japanese horror manga artist Junji Ito. Key titles available for licensing include Mob Psycho 100, DARLING in the FRANXX, the Junji Ito collection, Black Clover, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Radiant, Goblin Slayer, Re:ZERO, Yuri!!! On ICE, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Double Decker, and several more popular series. Series with robust licensing campaigns in the U.S. include Bananya, which saw impressive sell-through numbers during back-toschool campaigns at Target, Mob Psycho 100, Yuri!!! on ICE, and the Junji Ito collection, which is currently featured in apparel at Hot Topic and Urban Outfitters (pictured). Crunchyroll was founded as a streaming and community platform, and the company is focused on serving the global anime fanbase beyond video. Crunchyroll now manages the global merchandising, broadcast, videogram, and publishing rights to more than 300 IPs, with dozens of new series launching each quarter.

October 2018 tfe Licensing 93

PREVIEW Deer Little Forest

Deer Little Forest (DLF) features unique animal and nature designs by UK artist Jo Rose. The brand will be showcased at the This Is Iris booth (P20). Product categories available for licensing worldwide include baby and infant product, publishing, stationery, publishing, arts and crafts, toys, plush, puzzles, gifts, homewares, apparel, and textiles. In 2019, DLF will become the first arts and lifestyle brand to kick off its PanAsian presence with indoor amusement parks across Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, before a single book, T-shirt or toy has been sold. Already under construction, the first of five indoor parks will open in Bangkok in June 2019. The children’s amusement parks feature educational, entertainment and sports activities, cafes and shops, and hang-out areas for parents. DLF will be the official mascot providing visual branding throughout the park and its own line of merchandise.

Entertainment One

DRi Licensing

DRi Licensing (B15) will represent and debut the brand BARBARIAN from millennial designer Barbra Ignatiev at BLE. Following the recent licensing success in the U.S. (managed by The Brand Liaison) with numerous partners and retail program including Anthropologie and major department stores, DRi seeks to expand the watercolor art to licensing partners and retailers in Europe. Featuring colorful bohemian patterns, florals, and watercolors, BARBARIAN products include handbags, totes, stationery, journals, mugs, dishware, and other table-top, melamine, desk accessories, wall art, and more. Existing licensing partners including Sakroots, Lang, Cranston, Prima, and more. The BARBARIAN design portfolio includes a wide range of prints and subject matter: modern mandalas, unicorns, feather prints, and quirky skull prints.

Peppa Pig from eOne (E35) is a top performing preschool property worldwide, generating more than $1.2 billion in worldwide retail sales per year. With more than 1,000 licensees globally, Peppa Pig has a strong retail presence in the UK, ANZ, the U.S., Iberia, France, CEE, Latin America, Russia, Asia, and China. A global partnership with Merlin Entertainments will see the first of many Peppa Pig World of Play indoor play attractions launch in Shanghai this fall before opening in other locations, including the Dallas, Beijing and New York areas through 2019. The brand celebrates its 15th anniversary in the UK and Australia 2019, which will be marked by a nationwide theatrical release, new episodes, top tier partnerships, and retail events in the new year. Next year also marks the 10-year anniversary of eOne’s Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, which hails from Peppa Pig creators Astley Baker Davies. In honor of the anniversary milestone, Fiery Light Productions will bring back the live stage show for a tour of 45 theatres across the UK and Ireland from February 2019. PJ Masks has become a leading preschool property on screen and on shelf. The show’s won over audiences all around the world and broadcast ratings have been aided by a growing slate of FTA and VOD partners. The global licensing program has enjoyed strong sales led by Just Play’s master toy line with products now available across a wide range of licensing categories in most markets. Series two premiered earlier this year, series three is in production, and series four in development to ensure a fresh pipeline of content through to 2021. From the producers of PJ Masks, Ricky Zoom is a 52 x 11-minute CGI-action comedy adventure series that follows the adventures of Ricky, a little red motorbike. Ricky is joined by a group of young bikes—Scootio, Loop and DJ—who live in Wheelford, a town of bikes. Currently in production and with a global master toy partner on board, eOne is lining up broadcasters. The show will premiere to global audiences from spring/ summer 2019.

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Endemol Shine Group Global content creator, producer and distributor, Endemol Shine Group, showcases its diverse IPs at this year’s BLE with key brands from the company’s scripted, entertainment, reality, digital, animation, and game show portfolio. For the first time at BLE, Endemol Shine Group will debut the award-winning dramas Peaky Blinders and Black Mirror. Earlier this year, Endemol Shine Group announced that it will drive international brand licensing opportunities for both dramas, marking a significant move into off-air opportunities for the Group’s scripted brands. A Caryn Mandabach Production and Tiger Aspect Production for BBC Two, Peaky Blinders is produced in the UK for BBC Two and sold globally by Endemol Shine International across 182 countries, including airing on Netflix. Endemol Shine Group’s brand licensing team represent a range of global ancillary rights for the BAFTA-award winning series including gaming, publishing, experiential, and apparel. Peaky Blinders season four was BBC Two’s biggest drama series of 2017, and a fifth series has been confirmed for 2019. Emmy-Award winning anthology series Black Mirror is created and written by Charlie Brooker and executive produced by Brooker and Annabel Jones. Endemol Shine Group continues to supercharge off-air opportunities across a broad range of categories, with products that tap into the unique, cultural zeitgeist of the series. Earlier this year Netflix announced that the series will return for a fifth run. Endemol Shine Group will also showcase a number of properties from across its entertainment portfolio including MasterChef. The series has been locally adapted in more than 50 countries and is seen in more than 200. On October 10, there will be two live sessions in the food activation area at BLE from two of MasterChef’s top finalists, including this year’s UK winner, Kenny Tutt. The MasterChefs will host mystery box challenges with the audience, where there will be the chance to win mini mystery box gifts. Among the digital brands featuring at Endemol Shine’s booth, is the global animated comedy series Simon’s Cat. Born on YouTube in 2008, Simon’s Cat celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. In the decade since its launch, the digital animation has gone on to amass more than 17 million fans worldwide and recently appointed agents in China and South

Korea as part of its international growth. In partnership with Endemol Shine Brazil, the brand is also growing local audiences via new social channels, and by establishing a licensing program for the brand in the region. Endemol Shine Group also builds on the digital footprint of the company’s biggest digital property, Mr Bean. A global TV sensation, broadcast in 195 territories, Mr Bean is now the biggest TV brand on Facebook globally with nearly 80 million fans. In 2017, Mr Bean amassed more than 4.5 billion video views on YouTube, which adds up to a total watch time of 38,000 years. Off-air, the brand continues its significant international growth and has active agents across the U.S., China, South East Asia, and Australia, driving brand licensing opportunities around the globe. In addition, Endemol Shine Group expands the licensing programs for a number of its other well-established properties including Big Brother, Hunted, Pointless, Tenable, The Wall, and Wipeout.

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PREVIEW Fox Consumer Products 20th Century Fox Consumer Products (FCP) re-enters the kids animation space with a slate of family-focused films premiering in 2019 and 2020. From Blue Sky Studios, Spies in Disguise is an animated buddy action-comedy set in the world of international espionage. Will Smith voices the spy Lance Sterling and Tom Holland is Walter, a scientific genius who invents the gadgets Lance uses on his missions. Opening April 2019, Spies in Disguise merchandise will include an assortment of spy gear, games, books, puzzles, apparel, accessories, home, plush, and toy vehicles. 20th Century Fox and Locksmith Animation, the UK’s new CG feature animation studio, revealed their inaugural project together, Ron’s Gone Wrong, scheduled for a November 2020 release. Ron’s Gone Wrong tells the story of the walking, talking, digitally-connected bot that’s become every child’s new best friend. When an 11-year-old boy ends up with one that doesn’t work, his attempts to teach it become an exploration of what real friendship means in a world of algorithms and social media. Also from Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios, based on the Harper Collins graphic novel by Lumberjanes creator Noelle Stevenson, is Nimona. Set in a medieval future filled with lasers, hoverboards and knights, Nimona is the tale of a shape-shifter who embarks on an adventure to restore the honor of a disgraced knight. It’s due out in 2020. The animation franchise from Blue Sky Studios, Ice Age, continues to be a priority in the consumer products and licensing space. With a collection of five films, the franchise has generated $3.2 billion in worldwide box office sales. The Simpsons enters its 30th season this fall. The Simpsons featured prominently in Virgil Abloh’s Off-White spring/summer 2019 collection, which was unveiled at Paris Fashion Week. Plus, 2018 highlight colloborations include a Krispy Kreme partnership across Australia, Simpsons-branded Tic Tacs in the U.S., a fashion collaboration with Forever 21 in the U.S., and a newly unveiled ASOS x Simpsons collec-

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tion. The Simpsons influence in the EMEA region grows with multi-demographic strength among consumers. Highlights include H&M, a growing Simpsons business across the Inditex group with Zara kids and adults, Pull and Bear for young adults, and Lefties for kids and adults. A first-time collaboration kicked off this fall with Tezenis, which feature underwear and pajamas for men, women and children. This summer, The Simpsons also teamed up with UpFest, Europe’s largest street festival. Three street artists, selected by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, created oversized art interpretations of the family. Bob’s Burgers expands internationally as it approaches the 2020 theatrical release of the animated comedy. FCP celebrated National Cheeseburger Day in September with key Bob’s Burgers partner, BoxLunch. The collaboration featured an assortment of product while simultaneously raising money for Hunger Awareness month. Other partnerships include a Bob’s Burgers Clue game from USAopoly, a collection of Habitat skateboards and apparel featured at Zumiez, Bob’s Burgers bedding from Jay Franco, and a three-month promotion of Bob’s Burgers-inspired burgers designed by Chef Alvin Cailan from Blue Apron. Ripple Junction, Sprayground, Ground Up continue to offer apparel and accessories. Rizzoli, the publishers of The New York Times bestselling Bob’s Burgers Cookbook, introduces a pair of new releases including the Official Bob’s Burgers Sticker Book this fall. For Family Guy, FCP partnered with Diamond Supply, Sprayground, and Ripple Junction on a new streetwear program. 20th Century Fox Film gears up this December for Alita: Battle Angel, an action-packed story of hope, love, and empowerment from directors James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez. Partners for Alita: Battle Angel include Funko, Prime 1, Hot Toys, Weta, ACDC, Lounge Fly, Titan, and Ripple Junction. Fox also celebrates Alien’s 40th anniversary in 2019 with a combination of global fan events, screenings, and cast celebrations.

Genius Brands

Genius Brands is in production on its all-new CG-animated preschool series, Rainbow Rangers, premiering this fall on Nick Jr., which will be supported by a robust global consumer products program anticipated to begin rolling out for back-to-school (July/ August) 2019. Genius Brands has already signed nearly 20 licensees across categories. Partners include Mattel (master toy), MacMillan Publishing (master publishing), Bentex (master apparel), among others. New partners include Spirit Halloween for a direct-to-retail program, Kid Designs for youth electronics, and Basic Fun! for novelty toys. Additional categories planned for the program include footwear, games and puzzles, activity, stationery and back-to-school supplies, boxed roleplay, room dĂŠcor, consumer packaged goods, and more. International agents include Tycoon Enterprises (Latin America), Centa IP (Australia and New Zealand), and Alicom (Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland). The Netflix Original preschool series Llama Llama premiered in January with 15 x 30-minute episodes and stars the voice talent of actress Jennifer Garner as Mama Llama. The series was commissioned for a second season. The animated series is being produced in 20 different languages. Genius Brands is working on the global expansion of its consumer products program, focusing on four key categories: toys, juvenile products, feeding, and apparel. The latest partners include PhatMojo (master toy partner), Bendon Publishing (coloring and activity books), Kurt Adler (holiday ornaments), Creative Converting (party goods), Scholastic (school book fairs), Kids Preferred (renewed for plush), and Komar (sleepwear).

The Jim Henson Company

Labyrinth was produced by The Jim Henson Company and Lucasfilm Ltd. New licensees include Aquarius for puzzles, posters, and accessories; Chronicle Collectibles for high-end collectibles; Mondo Tees for prints and other unique items; and Suarez for high-end jewelry. Currently available at retail for Labyrinth are stylized figures from Funko, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Board Game from River Horse, and Labyrinth: The Ultimate Visual History hardcover book from Insight Editions. Retail partners include Hot Topic and ThinkGeek. Henson is seeking partners in fashion and accessories, stationery, home goods, amusement, health and beauty, and unique products. Fraggle Rock, created by Jim Henson, has been newly remastered in HD with a contemporary look. New products at retail include toy and novelty items from Kidrobot; prize redemption toys from Toy Factory; and collectibles from the Funko Pop! line. Fraggle Rock has been seen in more than 80 countries. At BLE, Henson is seeking new partners in amusement, apparel, promotions, stationery, and home. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dinosaur Train, available on PBS Kids, Henson expands the global licensing program. Currently available are an array of products from global master toy partner Jazwares. The Magic House Museum also brings the series to life with a new exhibit, which launched this year, that transports kids back to the time of dinosaurs and encourages basic scientific learning. At BLE, Henson seeks new partners in amusement, apparel, promotions, stationery and home. Splash and Bubbles airs on PBS Kids in the U.S. and other platforms worldwide. Splash and Bubbles: Rhythm of the Reef features 16 series songs written by Mike Himelstein (Sid the Science Kid, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dinosaur Train). The soundtrack release is part of a larger consumer products push that includes a series of storybooks, released by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and the One Big Ocean DVD, released by PBS. on June 12. The Splash and Bubbles: 4-D Undersea Adventure is currently touring aquariums across the US. Henson seeks new partners in toys, apparel, accessories, promotions, health, arts and crafts, and outdoor play.

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PREVIEW Imperial War Museums

Imperial War Museums (IWM) will present a diverse licensing program inspired by the museum’s archives. In line with this year’s BLE Food & Beverage theme, IWM will showcase its own best-selling kitchenware ranges, Victory is in the Kitchen and While there is Tea there is Hope. Drawing upon IWM’s First World War collections, the ranges highlight the potential for unique products with unique and unexpected stories. Already a top-seller in IWM retail outlets, the designs are now available to license. IWM will also unveil new partnerships with The Gifted Stationery Company and Kent & Stowe. The new partners join IWM’s already prolific and diverse portfolio of licensees that currently include The Royal Mail, The Royal Mint, Airfix, and Smart Fox. Licensees have access to IWM’s vast collections, which include posters and graphic art, film, photographs, paintings, and sculptures. The archive taps into vintage and British nostalgia and offers licensees a wealth of artwork to inspire product development coupled with access to curatorial expertise and historical accuracy. A dedicated brand licensing team based in the UK is now supported by a local U.S. licensing agent, Spotlight Licensing, which is on hand to guide licensees through the museum’s collections and help translate them into successful product ranges. IWM tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War. Its five branches, which attract more than two million visitors each year, are IWM London, IWM’s flagship branch that recently transformed with new, permanent and free First World War Galleries alongside new displays across the Atrium to mark the Centenary of the First World War; IWM North, housed in an award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world-renowned aviation museum and Britain’s best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

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Silvergate Media

International TV production and brand licensing company Silvergate Media unveiled details last month about its new animated adventure TV series, Hilda, and its plans for the consumer products program following its global premiere on Netflix. The broadcast launch coincides with BLE, where Silvergate Media presents licensing opportunities for the brand, based on the Eisner-Award nominated graphic novels by Luke Pearson. Co-produced by Silvergate Media and Mercury Films, Hilda is now available in 130 countries on the streaming service’s global platform and Silvergate is currently lining up FTA broadcasters for the show. The animated 13 x 22-minute episodes from series one, targeted for ages 6–11, feature the voice talents of Game of Thrones’ Bella Ramsey in the title role of Hilda and a theme song by Grimes. The 2-D animated series follows the adventures of a fearless blue-haired girl as she travels from her home in a vast magical wilderness full of elves and giants, to the bustling city of Trolberg, where she meets new friends and mysterious creatures. Hilda joins Silvergate Media’s growing licensing portfolio which also includes Octonauts and Peter Rabbit. The licensor is assembling the brand’s global consumer products program, which will have a strategic focus on gift, stationery, toys, and collectibles. These debuted on the U.S.based print-on-demand Hilda store, from Zazzle in September. The property had a booth and panel presentation at the 2018 New York Comic Con, while a board game is currently in production from Brooklyn Game Lab, and publisher Nobrow launched a TV tie-in book in September in addition to an app release due on October 18.

Sunrights

New York City-based entertainment rights company Sunrights Inc. announces new Beyblade Burst licensees, the launch of a Beyblade Burst mobile game, expanding Beyblade Burst television series distribution, and the World Championship that brings young competing Bladers together from around the world. The Beyblade Burst licensing program now features some 35 active licensees that continue to expand the brand’s global reach with merchandise across most major categories hitting the shelves throughout the year. Bioworld Canada launched a new line of Beyblade Burst T-shirts now available at Red Apple stores, Industria Denz unveils new Beyblade Burst outdoor slip-on shoes this winter, and French licensees Panini and Grund are publishing Beyblade Burst magazines and novels, respectively. Sunrights Inc. also announced the global debut of the Beyblade Burst Rivals mobile app (screenshot pictured from game) for iOS and Android. Developed by Epic Story Interactive, this match-three puzzle battle game rolled out August 15 in English throughout North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The app will launch in French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese later this fall. On the distribution side, Sunrights Inc. continues to license the Beyblade Burst animated TV series to a growing list of key partners that are giving the brand penetration around the world across platforms. Netflix licensed the first season for streaming to its subscribers in more than 190 countries. Mexico’s Televisa also recently premiered season one for its viewers. New season two deals include France’s Gulli, Spain’s Boing, Germany’s Nickelodeon, Ukraine’s Plus Plus, the Netherlands’ RTL-BOZ, Belgium’s Kadet-Medialaan, and Latin America’s Cartoon Network. As many as 24 countries are also preparing to send their National Champions to the 2018 Beyblade Burst World Championship in Paris, France. On November 3, the young competitors (ages 8–13) will represent a Beyblade Burst ‘parade of nations’ as they battle for the chance to be crowned the victor­—their arena on a global stage at Kidexpo, an event expected to attract approximately 90,000 families.

SYBO Games

SYBO Games (F92), the IP-owner and game developer of Subway Surfers, the mobile game phenomenon with more than 2.1 billion downloads, announced the launch of SYBO TV, a video streaming, content creation and distribution platform. Launching in Q4 this year, SYBO TV will be the destination for the Subway Surfers brand universe. Led by the game itself, Subway Surfers: The Animated Series and the Jake’s Shakes bite-size videos, SYBO TV will also offer game live streams, trailers, extensive behind-the-scenes looks, lifestyle content, and more. SYBO TV also offers a platform for influencers and content creators from across the globe a central location to share their original Subway Surfers content. Six years after its mobile game launch, Subway Surfers continues to top the charts. In June, the game hit an all-time monthly download record at 52.5 million, which follows its No. 1 spot as 2017’s most downloaded game worldwide. Subway Surfers also touts the first game to pass one billion downloads in Google Play’s store. The Subsurf brand emulates the street-culture ethos of Subway Surfers. The style—whether it be graffiti, stencils, prints and murals, large-scale paintings and projects of artistic collaboration, among others—is part of the brand and represented in all aspects. There are 10 style guides. Subway Surfers: The Animated Series premiered earlier this year on SYBO Games YouTube channel. The 10 four-minute episodes, scripted by Brent Friedman (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and produced by Sander Schwartz (The Batman, Justice League, Scooby Doo, Teen Titans), will be followed by a long-form series in 2019. In Subway Surfers, SYBO Games and publisher/co-developer Kiloo, introduced the World Tour concept. Every month, Subway Surfers lands in a new city or country. Its key characters have travelled to more than 43 destinations.

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PREVIEW Technicolor Animation & Games

The CGI-animated series Monchhichi from the Paris-based Technicolor Animation Productions (TAP) group is based on the iconic plush that first debuted in 1974 from Japan’s Sekiguchi, and is co-produced with TF1 in collaboration with Sekiguchi. Airing in multiple territories around the globe, newly signed partners for the U.S. are Boomerang and Hulu. Global master toy partner Silverlit will roll out figurines, playsets, and a car in time for holiday this year across EMEA alongside a range of story books and activity books in France from Les Livres du Dragon d’Or and PKJ. TF1 Licenses recently signed new deals in France including Buffalo Grill (fall 2018 promotion), Ravensburger (games and puzzles), and M.L.P. (children’s apparel). In Italy, new licensees include Gedis (food) and in Russia, Dali (eggs and premium). Newly appointed licensing agents include Alicom, Ypsilion Licensing, Monco Creation Limited, Maurizio Distefano Advisors, and Plus License. At BLE, together with Sekiguchi, Technicolor looks to secure new partners across all key categories including apparel, home, accessories, food and beverage and more. Debuting at BLE and coming to broadcast in late 2019 /early 2020 is Team DroniX. The new action-adventure series is set in the high-tech universe of drones. TAP, France Télévisions, and Brazil’s Gloob are co-producers of the series, while Silverlit is on board as the worldwide master toy partner. PGS Entertainment is spearheading global distribution and licensing and merchandising activities (except for France and Brazil) for TAP. LA-based Technicolor Creative Development secured underlying rights to the graphic novels from Tom Taylor, The Deep. The TV series, now in production for a third season, is co-produced by DHX Media and A Stark Production. Technicolor has oversight of the brand’s licensing extensions, with CPLG. This fall sees the debut of a toy line from Simba Toys that includes figures, playsets, and roleplay toys in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, and the Nordics. Bloomsbury will debut young fiction and activity-based books in the UK and Australia. Other products include partyware from TIB Heyne & Co, print magazines from Blue Ocean Entertainment AG, and DVD’s from Justbridge Entertainment GmbH. In the UK, Toybox Magazine continues to feature The Deep brand. At BLE, the company seeks additional partners across key categories including apparel, home, accessories, food and beverage, and more.

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TeamTO

The European kids content studio TeamTO and kids entertainment specialist CAKE announced the launch of the first Angelo Rules-branded magazine with a home entertainment deal in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. German publisher Blue Ocean and S.A.D. home entertainment will launch the magazine and DVDs in tandem with the TV show’s fourth season. The first 36-page bi-monthly Angelo Rules magazine will launch on October 30, followed by a Christmas edition on December 27, with the cross-promotional support of German licensing agency g.l.a.m. The magazine features comics and short stories written in Angelo’s authentic language and style, quizzes and games, tips and tricks on how to get through the school day, and more for Angelo’s fanbase worldwide. The TV series, based on best-selling book series, airs in 100-plus territories, and its four digital games (Skate Away, A Busy Day, As the Birds Fly, and Funny Faces) have been downloaded six million times.

Universal Brand Development Universal Brand Development returns to BLE with a slate of franchises from the company’s film and television creative partners including Universal Pictures, Illumination, and DreamWorks. This summer, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the fifth movie installment from the franchise, broke box office records and inspired UBD’s most ambitious licensing effort ever. Licensees are now committing for the long term. The multi-platform content pipeline is laid out through 2021 and includes two 22-minute broadcast animated specials in 2018 and a new blockbuster movie in 2021. Fast and Furious continues on, with the spin-off film starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham coming in August 2019, and chapter nine in the blockbuster saga franchise arriving in April 2020. Additionally, an all-new animated series comes to Netflix in 2019. Coming in April 2019, Robert Downey Jr. takes on the title role in The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, directed by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan. Based on the tales imagined by Hugh Lofting, the epic journey will include the voice talents of Octavia Spencer, Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Selena Gomez, Rami Malek, Carmen Ejogo, Craig Robinson, Tom Holland, Kumail Nanjiani, John Cena, Ralph Fiennes, and Emma Thompson. In 2018, Poppy, Branch and all of Trolls Village returned in the allnew Netflix original series, DreamWorks Trolls: The Beat Goes On! Picking up where the blockbuster film left off, the 2-D animated television series is the next chapter in the Trolls’ adventures and features a soundtrack full of new original music. DreamWorks Trolls World Tour, the follow-up to the 2016 movie, is set to debut in theaters in April 2020. Global master toy partner Hasbro continues to expand the breadth and scope of its toy collection, which supports the film franchise as well as the Netflix Original series. The next film in the DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon franchise, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, is set for release in January 2019. The franchise garnered $1 billion in global box office sales over the first two movies, and with the animated DreamWorks Dragons TV series available on Netflix and key free-to-air platforms across the region, UBD sees DreamWorks Dragons as a priority brand with huge untapped potential in Europe. Also part of the DreamWorks portfolio is the Netflix Original series,

DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free. The franchise is now rolling out across EMEA. Free-to-air broadcast partnerships have been secured across the G6 markets with Pop on board in the UK, Super RTL in Germany, and DEAKids in Italy. Toys from Just Play and Playmobil launched earlier this year in September. From the creative teams at Illumination and Universal Pictures, the newly imagined version of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, starring Benedict Cumberbatch voicing The Grinch, is set for release in November. Also, from Illumination, The Secret Life of Pets 2 will make its screen debut in June 2019, and, in 2020 comes Minions 2 and Sing 2. Universal’s U-Vault archive is 105 years old, and contains movies and TV shows offering new opportunities in every category—from Universal’s Monsters and JAWS, to Back to the Future and Felix the Cat. By creating fresh assets for its heritage brands with the nostalgia for all its fans, including millennials, UBD plan to successfully build partnerships from halo to mass for all fans.

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PREVIEW Xilam Animation

Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) returns to BLE 2018 with a roster of entertainment franchises, including the Wizarding World; DC’s portfolio of film, television, and animation; as well as classic animation favorites led by Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo. The Wizarding World continues to bring to life Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises. Fantastic Beast returns to the big screen in November with the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald release. The expanding range of characters and stories has also inspired the most robust Harry Potter licensing program to date with exponential growth across toys, fashion and home, and all sectors of retail. The DC franchise readies for the action-adventure from director James Wan and Warner Bros. Pictures, Aquaman. The first standalone feature film for Aquaman introduces an all-new underwater world in theaters this December. The next DC Warner Bros. Pictures feature film is the action-comedy adventure Shazam!, which aims to drive WBCP’s DC Super Hero franchise in 2019, alongside Wonder Woman in the sequel to the 2017 blockbuster film. DC Super Hero Girls remains a priority with an all-new animated series and new content to inspire additional licensing opportunities. WBCP will also continue to highlight Looney Tunes, which will be supported by 1,000 minutes of new animated content, from Warner Bros. Animation. Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry will also offer new content for licensing partners to bring to life. The WBCP BLE booth (D30) readies for visitors with photo opportunities at Harry Potter’s luggage trolley on Platform 9 ¾ and with the Looney Tunes.

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French animation studio, Xilam Animation (B74) highlights its portfolio of international kids’ properties. Xilam celebrates the 20th anniversary of its flagship series Oggy and the Cockroaches this year. Xilam is preparing a calendar of activity spanning partnerships, street marketing, social media campaigns, and more for Oggy fans in France, as part of a marketing plan that agents will be able to replicate globally. Over the last 20 years, Xilam has established a broadcast presence for Oggy in more than 190 territories, with exposure buoyed by international SVOD deals with Netflix and Amazon. The show’s fifth season is now rolling out internationally. Xilam has assembled robust licensing programs in France, Italy, South East Asia, and India to meet consumer demand. In Oggy’s home territory of France, master toy partner Lansay anchors the licensing program and launched its first range earlier this year, with a new line launching this holiday. Xilam will also bring its new animated series Mr Magoo to BLE for the first time. Based on the 1960s cartoon, the fresh take on Mr Magoo was commissioned by France Télévisions and Cartoon Network Asia and targets kids ages 6–10. The series is currently in production and will be fully delivered by spring 2019. Xilam has already secured broadcast exposure for the new series through deals with ITV and CITV in the UK, France Télévision in France, K2 in Italy, along with Cartoon Network in Asia. Alongside this is Zig & Sharko, Xilam’s slapstick comedy series for ages 6–10, now in production on its third season. With the series set on an island, its style guide captures the themes of summer, vacation and outdoor fun. Xilam is assembling a cross-category licensing program across toys and games, publishing, apparel, sporting goods, homewares, food and beverages, and promotions. In the preschool space is Xilam’s animated comedy series, Paprika. Commissioned by France Télévisions and Disney Junior EMEA, the series launched successfully on FTA in France and Italy. Now Xilam is assembling a consumer products lineup with key categories including publishing with Hachette in France, master toy, and apparel.

ZAG

Global independent animation studio ZAG will be at BLE under the leadership of Andrea Green, senior vice-president, and André Lake Mayer, president, of Global Consumer Products, with several properties being featured under the ZAG Heroez label, an umbrella brand franchise that brings together all the superheroes from ZAG’s animated TV series. ZAG HEROEZ Power Players (working title, pictured) is a 3-D CGI-animated/live-action hybrid TV series that is an adventure from a “toy-eye” view. An inventive and curious boy transforms into a living action figure and, with a new perspective on the world, wrangles an unlikely team of toys on the biggest small adventure. Created by ZAG, the series is developed in collaboration with Method/ON Entertainment and Man of Action Entertainment. ZAG’s Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir airs in more than 120 countries worldwide, regularly scoring No. 1 rankings in kids 4–11 demographics and lifting overall network ratings with key broadcast partners such as Disney EMEA & Latin America, France’s TF1, UK’s Pop, Italy’s Super!, Brazil’s Gloob, and Netflix and KidsClickTV in the U.S. Season two and Chibi-styled web content launched this year. Season three will premiere in 2019, and ZAG has started pre-production through season five for a total of 130 episodes. Miraculous also has more than 17 billion watch-time minutes in its lifetime (2016/17) on YouTube (authorized and user-generated content). With more than 350 licensees on board, the award-winning Miraculous passed the $100 million mark in retail sales in 2017. New far-reaching programs for 2018/2019 include a licensing agreement with Ipanema for a Miraculous-Ipanema footwear range for kids and adults consisting of flip flops and back-strap sandals for kids, and an exclusive adult flip flop. They launch in the southern hemisphere in November, and roll out in the U.S. and Europe in April 2019. Spring 2019 will also see the launch of a global promotion with Ferrero (Kinder Joy and Surprise Egg). Winning Moves will launch a Miraculous Monopoly Junior game timed for this holiday season across EMEA. Last month, PEZ debuted a Miraculous-themed PEZ candy dispenser in France, Spain, U.K., Italy, Germany, and more (excluding U.S. and Canada). In August, a global promotion commenced with Burger King and, in the same month, the GUESS x Be Miraculous Ladybug fashion kids capsule collection debuted in the U.S. and EMEA. Earlier in 2018, Funko launched its collectible Funko Pop! figures, which sold out. Additionally, the first official mobile game from Tab Tale launched on April 24, attracting 20 million downloads in the first two months. Global and pan-regional licensing partners include Bandai (master toy), Zara (perfume), and Panini (magazines and sticker books). ZAG looks to further expand in publishing and party goods, more tailored retailer programs, lifestyle products for young adults, and more healthy food and packaged good promotions.

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