Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Peggy Brown, Roger Gehrke and yours truly on CHITAG Cookie Baking Day 10 years ago! We've had many fun bakers over the years: Joan Severance (actress and game inventor), Nadine & Mike Sehnert, Sheila Kahn and more that we loved baking with!
Happy Thankful Friday!
I’m deeply appreciative and thankful for all of you tBR readers, everyone part of our POP Week events and POP platform, and all of you that I have the honor of connecting with in all the ways possible these days!
When we started our Chicago Toy & Game Fair 23 years ago, I baked my signature Three Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies for our exhibitors and staff. As we grew, friends/colleagues would join me for CHITAG Cookie Baking Day and we made thousands of cookies each year. Sadly, the pandemic cut CHITAG Cookie Baking Day. Since people still reminisce about those days and still ask if we have the cookies when they arrive on set-up day, I’m sharing my recipe with you. The recipe makes a lot of delicious cookies. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading the Bloom Report here or on the Bloom Report 24/7 News Feed! Please support our work by advertising and/or setting up a POP profile.
Mary
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"I go to work 6 days a week and magic happens! On day 7 I read the Bloom Report." 😁 - Rick Derr, Learning Express
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"Tell me you're in the toy industry without telling me you're in the toy industry... Friday Morning = a cup-a-Joe and the Bloom Report!" -Tim Walsh The Playmakers
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"I don't know anyone in the industry that doesn't read the Bloom Report." -Ken Lewis, President, 4Kidz, Inc.
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"I am a long-time reader and champion of the Bloom Report. The quantity of quality articles on so many different aspects of our industry is unmatched and I regularly share and discuss them with my management team as an important business tool." - Jim Engle, President & Founder, Little Kids Inc.
Industry News: After 35 Years the National Parenting Center has Issued its Final Report
The National Parenting Center was launched in 1989, with the intention of providing parents with invaluable child-rearing support and advice from top parenting experts. The initial ill-fated foray into the nascent 900-line business required a quick pivot to the internet’s earliest days and a partnership with Prodigy, the world’s first content service. From there, the agency moved to America Online and then to the web, all part of trying to stay ahead of the curve, shrewdly navigated by its founder and president, David Katzner.
Read More...
Industry Commentary - Pro Inventor & Author Bruce Lund
The Value of Toys
The Value of Toys
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Toys are machines around which play is created.
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Toys have influenced many important designers and artists
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Toys matter to all of us and to the world as a whole
Creating and bringing toys to market is like delivering nutritious food to the brains of children everywhere to help them grow and develop to their greatest potentials. This matters, because the brains we are feeding will one day feed the world.
In Inventing Kindergarten, by Norman Brosterman, you find some great examples of the influence of ‘toys’. Many of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, designers, architects, and visionaries, Mondrian as an example, were influenced by play with these toys created by the inventor of the first Kindergarten in Europe. Read More...
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Meme of the Week: Thank you to the meme team for the cartoon this week!
Memorable Quotes: ““Friendship isn’t a big thing — it’s a million little things.” -– PAULO COELHO
Toy Industry Word of Day: If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share? Send it to me! Mary
Happiest of Birthdays to colleagues celebrating birthdays this week!
Financial and Legal
Canada’s Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Alphabet’s Google for allegedly using anti-competitive practices while selling its online advertising services in the country. The antitrust watchdog filed its case yesterday to the Competition Tribunal, and is seeking an order that would require Google to sell off two of its ad-tech tools, pay penalties worth up to 3% of the platform’s global gross revenues, and...
The Supreme Court said it will hear a dispute over a dog toy that got whiskey maker Jack Daniel's barking mad. Jack Daniel's had asked the justices to hear its case against the manufacturer of the plastic Bad Spaniels toy. The toy mimics the Jack Daniel's bottle and label but is a parody. While the original bottle has the words “Old No. 7 brand” and “Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey,” the parody proclaims: “The Old No. 2...
*** The above posted after tBR circulated November 29th ***
Australia has imposed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. But many details were still unclear, such as how it will be enforced and what platforms will be covered. After sailing through Parliament’s lower house on Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate on Thursday with bipartisa...
Canada’s federal government proposes a holiday tax break. If approved, toys, video games, consoles, books and children's clothing will be tax-exempt for two months starting on December 14. If approved by parliament, the two-month tax break will go into effect on December 14 and provide Canadians with an estimated US$1.14 billion (CAD$1.6 billion) in tax relief. The qualifying items include toys, physical video games, ...
UK court gives Sony permission to continue lawsuit against Wanda Kids. The Columbia Pictures subsidiary filed a US$49-million claim earlier this year after a dispute involving Vampire Squid Productions. On Wednesday (November 20), a London court judge allowed Columbia’s US$49-million lawsuit—filed in March—to proceed, dismissing Wanda Kids’ claim that it had not been properly served.
'It's going to be hard': US firms race to get ahead of Trump tariffs. When handbag designer Sherrill Mosee learned that roughly 2,700 purses and backpacks she had ordered from her Chinese manufacturing partner would not make it onto one ship this autumn, she was initially content to wait. Then Donald Trump was re-elected as US president.
The WGA East writers on PBS live-action shows and 3 PBS member stations have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, narrowly avoiding a strike. The deal includes first-ever union protections for animation writers, as well as paid parental leave, AI protections, expanded protections for made-for-new-media programs (content made for streamers) and increased residual payments for content...
Years after a class-action lawsuit alleging gender pay discrimination was initiated in CA, Disney has agreed to a US$43-million settlement, according to an LA Superior Court filing that was submitted on Nov 25. The complaint goes back to 2019, when Disney staffers LaRonda Rasmussen and Karen Moore filed a suit against the media giant over an alleged pay gap between them and men employed in similar...
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Visit the York-Jersey Underwriters website at www.toy-insurance.com
Financial Reporting
Although British TV exports have dropped by 2% overall since 2022/2023, sales to the US are actually up by 13%. The trade org published this data in its annual UK TV Exports Report today, estimating overall distributor revenue at around US$2.2 billion (£1.81 billion).
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Disney‘s Moana has been revealed as the most streamed movie in the past five years.
BLACK FRIDAY RETAIL SALES UP OVER LAST YEAR. More In-Store Shoppers, On-Line Sales
Christmas Box Office: ‘Sonic 3’ Tracking to Open Ahead of Lion King Prequel ‘Mufasa’. Both movies hit North American theaters the weekend before the year-end holiday.
Meet Lamb Chop, America’s Hottest Dog Toy. Beloved by generations of children as a famous TV puppet, the plush lamb has now earned elite status among an unlikely fan base: dogs.
Animation in Europe wants AI standards. During Animar_BCN this week, more than 90 animation professionals created a list of proposals, including some designed to buttress the industry’s financial state.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated on November 29th ***
How the Streamers Stack Up in Revenue, Subscribers
Ad buyers double down on Walmart’s retail media business as it steps out of Amazon’s shadow.
'It's cheaper than therapy': From toys to handbags, consumers are drawn to mini products.
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Could Elon Musk Become The Master Of Dungeon Masters By Buying Hasbro? Elon Musk has a reputation for disrupting industries. When you’re one of the richest people in the world, all it takes is a few words to get people to notice a company. That’s what recently happened when Musk mentioned tabletop role playing game Dungeons & Dragons and its parent company, Hasbro. Elon Musk Defends Gary Gygax
A recent Australian social media ban might impact the tech industry more than we think. The recent measure, which will level fines against companies like Meta and X for violations, impacts anyone 16 years of age and younger. Tech companies have a year to figure out how to protect underage users from accessing the app, beyond the nominal measures they use today.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated November 29th ***
John Baulch, Toy World - Panic on the streets of Carlisle … it’s the Friday Blog!. Is it time to panic yet? I’m still saying no, although I am crossing every part of my body that is crossable when I say that. Unfortunately, it does seem that the November numbers have followed the pattern set in Oct. – the UK toy market is not hitting last year’s figures, and that seems to be pretty much the case across the board, with a few...
Under pressure from Robby Starbuck, who the New York Times called an “anti-DEI agitator that big companies fear most,” Walmart is dialing back its DEI program. Because Walmart is the nation’s number one retailer and the largest private employer in the country with 1.6 million employees, its about-face on DEI has important implications for all retailers and corporations.
How fidget toys could help reduce youth self-harm. As Eloise rifles through her box of fidget toys, she feels her anxiety and frustration leave her. The 16-year-old from North Yorkshire has struggled with self-harm since the age of 12 and has used a self-help toolkit - a box full of sensory objects - to reduce anxiety.
Beyond Barbie: The toy industry is no longer just for kids, says Mattel. Barbie was the highest grossing movie worldwide in 2023 and topped internet searches in the US for movie merchandise earlier this year. During the pandemic, when everyone was looking for entertainment at home, the toy industry grew rapidly. Sales were up 16-20% in 2020.
Developing Autism Appreciation. We are pleased to share this important blog post with you about autism appreciation. Increasingly we’re hearing about neurodivergence and neurodiversity, and these concepts are not always well understood. both in management and toy design. Ben Vanhook and Rise Educational Advocacy have put together this post, which we think can be very helpful in understanding this important...
Does Cloud Gaming on PlayStation Portal Mark the End for Consoles? PlayStation's handheld will finally support dedicated game streaming—and with another portable playing device supposedly inbound, can Sony make cloud gaming take off? If it can't, who else can? PlayStation Portal launched in November 2023 as little more than a glorified second screen for PlayStation 5. Now, a year on from release...
Publishers Have Finally Said The Quiet Part Out Loud About Retro Games. In a recent move against the archiving of video game history, publishers have finally come clean on why they dislike retro games so much. The recent legal case regarding the archiving of video games, which was helpfully collated at Games Radar, is finally over. Unfortunately, the final ruling is firmly against making gaming history available to all.
The Reason Why Thanksgiving Is on the Fourth Thursday in November. The date may change from year to year, but the day of the week will always be the same. Here’s why. Almost 170 years after the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe feasted together for the first unofficial Thanksgiving in 1621, the U.S. government decided to make it official. So on October 3, 1789, President George Washington...
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History and Nostalgia
Toyflation: How much would your favorite childhood toy cost today? Can you guess how much an Easy-Bake Oven cost in 1963? The answer might surprise you. Discover the original retail prices of popular toys from the 1950s to the 2010s. When Slip 'N Slide first hit the market in 1961, it retailed for $2.99. That might not sound outrageous, but adjusted for inflation, that's about $31.64 today for a simple plastic slide.
In Pursuit of Trivia: From analog to Artificial Intelligence. Historically, question-and-answer games have existed since game publication began — and even before if we consider homemade examples such as 20 questions and truth-or-dare. Trivial Pursuit elevated this type of game with a scoring game board and the now-familiar plastic “pie piece” scoring tokens, as well as hundreds of question cards.
Quiz Wiz from Coleco (1979). Released in 1979 by Coleco, Quiz Wiz was a computerized question-and-answer game that challenged players to answer 1,001 questions from a variety of categories. Billed as “The computer answer game that is No. 1 in electronic fun”, it ran on a single 9-volt battery or the Coleco Battery Eliminator (a.k.a. an AC Adapter) and was packaged in a portable vinyl-bound case.
Tickle Me Elmo, Cabbage Patch Kids, Furby: Popular toys from the last 50 holiday seasons. What was that toy the year you were born? What about the year you turned 10? Expert curators at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester have saved you the trouble of accurately remembering your past by putting together a list of the buzziest toys each holiday season since 1969.
Licensing and Entertainment
Paramount Animation’s Mighty Mouse movie is finally gaining momentum now that Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Productions banner has officially signed on to produce the project. A Mighty Mouse film has been in development at Paramount for a long time, with trade press mentions going as far back as the early 2010s and a live-action/animated take from Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber reportedly pipelined...
Warner Bros. Discovery is adapting one of Batma ’s most iconic comic book storylines into a new animated movie trilogy for streaming platforms and the home video market. Filings from the Entertainment Identifier Registry system have unveiled that Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment are producing Batman: Knightfall: Part 1, which is the story that introduces fierce brute Bane to...
Netflix has teamed up with Indiana-based animation studio Barrier Four to create playable experiences based on two of its marquee content offerings—family-friendly feature film Spellbound and four-quadrant action-comedy series Cobra Kai. First up in this new initiative is the recreation of a big second-act song from Skydance Animation’s Spellbound, which premiered theatrically and started streaming...
Research, commissioned by Spin Master to highlight its new pre-school franchise, Vida The Vet, polled 1,000 UK parents of children aged 2-5 on their children’s career ambitions. Despite growing up in the era of screens and ever evolving technology, girls in the Gen Alpha generation opted for off screen vocations that went down the nurturing and caring route with doctor or nurse (35%), teacher (21%) and vet (18%)...
New F1 x LEGO products revealed ahead of 2025 season. The Lego Group and Formula 1 have unveiled a brand-new range of Lego sets at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 race. All sets are launching in early 2025, in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1.The product reveal is the first step in the new multi-year partnership between the two brands, which will connect more fans of Lego building...
Mantic Games launches “Halo: Flashpoint” tabletop game. Mantic Games, an independent tabletop games studio, has announced the launch of “Halo: Flashpoint,” the officially licensed tactical miniatures game set in the universe of the renowned Halo sci-fi video game franchise. “Flashpoint” is a two-player game that brings the War Games combat arena from the Halo franchise to tabletop gaming.
Panini launches 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League Official Sticker Collection. Following the success of the first-ever domestic women’s football sticker album last year, Panini and the Women’s Professional Leagues has launched the 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League Official Sticker Collection.
ghostwrite partners with NBA and WNBA for collectible toy line. ghostwrite, a collectible toys brand founded by Josh Luber (co-founder of StockX and Fanatics Collectibles), has announced partnerships with the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA)...
From GRAMMY stage to Bratz Doll: Karol G and Bratz partner for historic collab. For the first time in the brand’s history, MGA Entertainment’s Bratz collaborates with a musical artist: Colombian musician Karol G. The Bratz doll is inspired by Karol G’s song “Bichota,” closely following her Latin GRAMMY win for Best Urban Music Album.
Relatable releases expanded What Do You Meme? game with Trisha Paytas. Relatable, known for turning social media trends into popular products for Gen Z and millennials, has teamed up with internet sensation, Trisha Paytas, to launch the latest What Do You Meme? expansion pack.
Idris Elba joins 'Motu'; New 'Star Wars' Anime shorts; DC circles Bond actor for 'Sgt. Rock'; 'Alien: Earth' and 'Secret Level' 'Warhammer 40,000' trailers; 'Star Wars: Andor' and 'Toy Story 5' release dates. Showbiz Round-Up. Amazon MGM has added Idris Elba to the cast of the Masters of the Universe movie, according to Deadline. Elba is rumored to be cast in the role of Man-At-Arms.
Teddy Mountain climbs new peaks with Canticos partnership. Ricky, Kiki, and Nicky to get the plush treatment. Teddy Mountain, the world’s largest wholesale supplier of DIY plush products, is scaling new heights thanks to a partnership with Encantos World, the publisher behind Canticos, the No. 1 bilingual preschool brand.
‘Wicked’ opens to record-setting $114 million, ‘Gladiator II’ starts strong with $55.5 million. If you care to find “Wicked,” look to the top of box office charts. Universal’s adaptation of Act One (with some padding) of the popular Broadway musical was No. 1 in North America with $114 million from 3,888 theaters over the weekend.
Moana 2 review: 'Solid' but Moana is 'a hard act to follow'. The Moana follow-up is a "hurtling Disneyland rollercoaster ride" but it lacks the joy and refreshing originality of its predecessor. Moana is one of the best cartoons in Disney history – and you don't have to take my word for it. On reviews aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it's ranked at sixth place in a list of all 73 of the studio's feature-length animated...
‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’ welcomes new licensees and products to the cul-de-sac. The PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is expanding its roster of licensees to include over 25 new partnerships. In collaboration with Fred Rogers Productions and 9 Story Brands, new and existing licensees have created an assortment of upcoming products across a wide range of retail categories.
heo Group Reveals 'Squaroes: Star Trek - Lower Decks': Nine new deck boxes and 'Shuttlecraft Yosemite Collectors Case'. heo Group revealed Squaroes: Star Trek - Lower Decks, new Ultimate Guard TCG accessories, which will hit stores on January 16, 2024. The support crew of the starship USS Cerritos boldly heads to the Squaroes line on new deck boxes and an Archive.
Japan’s NHK Educational Television has pulled back the curtain on Anne Shirley, a new coming-of-age anime series based on L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. Published in 1908, this classic Canadian novel is about an 11-year-old orphan girl whose unbridled imagination and zest for life wins over the hearts of two aging siblings trying to run a farm on Prince Edward Island.
Toys “R” Us (TRU) is taking its first steps into the unscripted TV space by developing a new live-action family competition show with Fox Alternative Entertainment. The format of the new series Toys “R” Us Family Faceoff will see families compete in a larger-than-life toy store, completing challenges inspired by toys and games throughout history.
People of Play
Chris Byrne, The Playground Podcast. In this episode, Chris talks to Nicole Blake, chief brand office at Wonderry and Andy Quartin, CEO of Thames & Kosmos. It's a conversation about a dynamic licensing program, that capitalizes on contemporary entertainment...with a healthy dose of classic play. Listen in as these two game changers talk about their individual and joint journeys.
Dane Chapin, CEO of The Op Games, reflects the company's journey over the last three decades. Board games are more important now than they've ever been, and we're thankful that we get to help bring them to families around the world 💙
Power Saber inventor wins Toy Innovator of the Year. Yair Shilo’s first-of-its-kind retractable, extendable saber is this year's must-have toy. Also nominated: Inventors of Nerf Better than Balloons. “Since I was a little kid, I always wanted to have a saber. I mean, who doesn’t?” Shilo, 43, explained in a video about the product. But he didn’t want it only for himself; he wanted to invent a toy for the masses. He spent years building...
April Mitchell of Cedar Point won the prestigious Toy and Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Award for Game Innovator of the Year on Nov. 11. In the past 14 months alone, Mitchell has designed and released six new games through various publishers. Her creations span a wide range of genres, including card games, party games, family games, light strategy games, and even an outdoor game.
Onyinye Nwaneri is joining Sesame Workshop as managing director for South Africa, stepping into the role in January 2025. Leading growth strategy and operations in the region, Nwaneri will focus on strengthening the nonprofit’s presence and efforts to reach kids in the country by leveraging Takalani Sesame, the locally produced South Africa version of Sesame Street.
Meet Ms Rachel, the YouTube goddess worshipped by toddlers and parents alike. There’s a woman in my house every day who my toddler loves almost as much as he loves me, and her name is Ms Rachel. If you don’t spend much time with preschool-aged children, Ms Rachel – some people mistakenly say Miss, but the Ms is important, I feel – is probably not a name that will ring a bell.
Bandai UK has issued a notice of change of managing director at the company, as industry veteran Nic Aldridge heads to pastures new. With immediate effect, John McKenzie will replace Nic Aldridge as the new managing director of Bandai UK. John combines this appointment with his current role as MD of Bandai Namco Amusement Europe, which is involved in the supply and licensing of IP rich content...
Reydon Sports hires new key partnerships manager. Reydon Sports has announced a new appointment to its team, Sharon McIntyre, Key Partnerships manager, who is running the sales for Ireland. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Sharon worked within the FMCG industry for an extensive period, having careers within leading brands such as PepsiCo and Haribo.
Stuart Aitken to head Circana as President and CEO. Current CEO Kirk Perry will retire at the end of the year. Circana has named Stuart Aitken its President and CEO, effective January 1, 2025. Aitken is currently the Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer at Kroger. Circana’s current President and CEO, Kirk Perry, is retiring from the role but will serve the company as a Circana Board of Directors member.
Shuhei Yoshida will retire from Sony Interactive Entertainment on January 15 next year. Yoshida has held numerous leadership roles at PlayStation since he joined the team in 1993. His initial role involved working with publishers and developers in Japan to help them create titles for the first PlayStation console.
Companies and Brands
Sky Castle Toys, a social media and collectibles toy company, and Jazwares, a leading global toy company, today announced a multi-year partnership that will expand and strengthen the distribution, brand development, and intellectual property management of Sticki Rolls™, the popular trend-setting collection of wearable and sharable sticker bracelets and children’s jewelry line.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated November 29th ***
My Scene Barbie dolls return after 15 years. Mattel is rereleasing its collection of My Scene dolls from the 2000s for a new era of play. The My Scene dolls first hit the scene in 2002 with iconic Y2K styles and a matching webpage that featured the stories of the dolls that kids would grow obsessed with until the line was discontinued in 2009.
Funko has a fast-growing fanbase in Japan, and the brand is leaning into it. Funko will return to this year’s Tokyo Comic Convention (Tokyo Comic Con) for the third year. It will have a booth quadruple the size of last year’s. Funko plans to provide an elite experience for con-goers. The purveyors of pop culture will have collectibles available from the Funko Pop! range, Bitty Pop!, and the apparel line Loungefly.
The Learning Journey partners with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe. University Games has embarked on the first year of mass marketing activity in a dedicated three year strategy to build brand and product awareness for The Learning Journey in the UK, following the acquisition of the business.
Frasers Group Financial Services partners with Hornby to extend Frasers Plus. Frasers Group Financial Services (FGFS), the independent, regulated financial services arm of Frasers Group, has extended its credit and loyalty proposition to Hornby Hobbies. FGFS will now launch Frasers Plus across Hornby Hobbies’ brands, which includes Hornby, Scalextric, Corgi, Airfix and Pocher, giving ...
Squishmallows 3D hologram experience creates wow factor. Jazwares has partnered with leading marketing activation experts Disturbed Media Group to create a unique and innovative Squishmallows 3D hologram marketing experience. Showcasing Squishmallows with colourful 3D holograms, the unique HyperGram Technology experience delighted shoppers and travellers as they watched Squishmallows...
The Empire of Man joins the fight in 'Warhammer: The Old World' with new Battalion boxed set. Games Workshop will release Battalion Box: Empire of Man, for Warhammer: The Old World, into retail in 2025. The Empire of Man faction forces consists of an army fielded from an alliance of city-states. Their purpose is to battle back the hordes of Chaos warriors, Orcs, and Beastmen that raid their borders.
From NERF to Javelin: Mark Rappaport’s new toy rethinks outdoor play. The company Bad Rap was formed this year to get kids and families outside. Grip, launch, glide. Mark Rappaport, the inventor of the beloved NERF Bow ‘N’ Arrow, and his son Ethan have launched a new yard toy just in time for family gatherings this season. The Bad Rap Javelin is the latest take on throw-and-catch outdoor toys.
Fanatics Collectibles to open pop-up store at Westfield. Fanatics Collectibles has announced the launch of its first-ever UK retail pop-up store at Westfield White City, opening to the public on Monday 2nd December. The experiential store arrives just in time for the festive season and provides sports fans and collectors with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience packed with ultra-rare trading cards, exclusive events...
Ultra Pro unveils new 'D&D: Figurines of Adorable Power' figure. Ultra PRO unveiled D&D: Figurines of Adorable Power - Venger, a new collectible figure, which will hit retail in Q3 2025. One of the most evil sorcerers in the realms, and the primary antagonist from the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon, brings his own brand of sinister cuteness to D&D: Figurines of Adorable Power.
Wonderland Amusements looks to bring real mechanical pinball to the masses. Real pinball machines for under $1,000. Amid rumblings that a number of new players will soon enter a category dominated by names like Arcade1Up and AtGames comes the official launch of Wonderland Amusements.
B&M to open new distribution depot in Ellesmere Port. The facility will strengthen B&M’s infrastructure, enabling efficient distribution across its rapidly growing store network and supporting the retailer’s UK expansion plans. B&M will occupy the new centre from 2025 onward. In the past six months, B&M has opened 30 new UK stores,...
Flying Frog reveals new 'Shadows of Brimstone' enemy pack. 'Trun Gladiators'. Flying Frog Productions revealed Trun Gladiators Enemy Pack, for Shadows of Brimstone: Gates of Vahalla, which will hit retail on January 16, 2025. This Enemy Pack features ferocious alien pit fighters who travel to inhospitable worlds to hone their skills. The pack comes with three large Trun Gladiator models.
New 'Pokemon TCG' 'Scarlet & Violet' Premium Collection unveiled: 'Blooming Waters'. The Pokemon Company International will release Scarlet & Violet: Blooming Waters, a new Premium Collection for Pokemon TCG, into retail on February 7, 2025. Trainers can head into battle with Venusaur ex and Blastoise ex with this new collection.
Cobi joins forces with Hobbycraft. Cobi has announced that it has joined forces with arts & crafts retailer, Hobbycraft. This co-operation started in September 2024, with a core range of products having a soft launch into Hobbycraft’s top stores and now will see a roll out to all stores before Christmas trade.
'Storyfold: Wildwoods' unveiled for retail: New narrative adventure game by Open Owl Studios. Open Owl Studios will release Storyfold: Wildwoods, a new narrative adventure game, into retail in September 2025. In this game, by Sjoerd van der Linde, the player takes on the roles of Luma and her bear companion, Brom.
Pop Mart launches ‘Unleash Your Inner Athlete’ campaign. Pop Mart is launching its new “Unleash Your Inner Athlete” campaign with an online activation on its website. The highlight of the campaign is the LABUBU Rhythmic Gymnastics Figure. This figure features LABUBU dressed in a sparkly silver outfit as she extends herself in the air doing gymnastics.
Games Workshop unveils new 'Warhammer 40,000' boxed set: 'Death Korps of Krieg,' also, new 'Astra Militarium Codex'. The new army set contains an array of miniatures representing the Death Korps' finest. This set features Death Riders, Death Korps cavaliers on Krieg steeds.
New 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair' Commander Deck incoming: '20 Ways to Win'. Wizards of the Coast teased 20 Ways to Win, a new Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Commander Deck, which will be coming to DTC soon. 20 Ways to Win is a Commander Deck packed with various win conditions and combo pieces for multiplayer games.
'Adult Red Dragon Tyrant' rages into 'D&D Icons of the Realms' new premium figure. WizKids will release Adult Red Dragon Tyrant, a new premium figure for D&D Icons of the Realms, into retail in July 2025. The next major dragon figure release for WizKids is truly a monstrous one! Red Dragon Tyrants are among the most evil of the dragon kin.
Lion Rampant inks exclusive deal with Turbo Dork to distribute Turbo Dork's products across Canada. Turbo Dork produces multiple lines of paints, including color-changing and metallic paint colors that have gained notoriety in the games industry.
The Entertainer Launches ‘Toyminology, an A-Z Guide’ & new Holiday ad campaign. UK-based toy retailer The Entertainer has released a guide to help shoppers understand exactly what kids are looking for in a toy. “Toyminology, an A-Z Guide” includes the token words and jargon that kids use to describe their favorite toys.
Hachette announces 'Solstis': New tile-laying game by Bruno Cathala and Cornetin LeBrat. Hachette Boardgames announced Solstis, a new tile-laying game, which will hit retail on January 15, 2024. In this game, by Bruno Cathala (Mission: Red Planet) and Corentin Lebrat (The Smurfs: Hidden Village), players hit the mountain trail to commune with mystical forest spirits.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
New Indiana Jones game is 'biggest' the studio's ever made. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also contains nearly four hours of cutscenes. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is nearly here. The big first-person action-puzzler arrives on Xbox and PC next month and if you’ve been wondering just how big Indy’s next digital adventure will be, well, we don’t have a specific number yet...
Spin Master unveils new Rubik’s Run on Roblox. Spin MasterRubik's Run has announced the launch of Rubik’s Run on Roblox. Developed in partnership with The Gang, a top user-generated content (UGC) game development studio known for creating engaging and high-quality Roblox experiences for some of the world’s largest brands, this new game is designed for players to have fun with Rubik’s.
Friendship Pays kicks off in the US this week with two 45-second TV spots featuring actors Jason Mamoa (Momoney), Chris Pratt (Extra Chrispy) and Keke Palmer (KeKe GoGo) replicating aspects of the mobile title’s gameplay, such as robbing banks, breaking out of jail and'''
Hasbro tests new 'Magic: The Gathering' Commander video game. Hasbro is testing a video game based on Magic: The Gathering's Commander format, according to an article published on BNN Bloomberg. A few very interesting tidbits of information about the future of Magic: The Gathering were revealed in this interview with Chris Cocks, CEO of Hasbro.
Sony is developing a dedicated PlayStation handheld. Sony wants to re-enter the handheld arms race by developing a new portable PlayStation console. According to a report from Bloomberg, the Japanese company is developing a handheld device capable of running PlayStation 5 titles on the move.
Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Valhalla don't work with the latest Windows update at the worst possible time. Star Wars Outlaws finally came to Steam last week. Unfortunately, there’s also an issue with the latest version of Windows that makes it so the sci-fi open-world adventure and other Ubisoft games don’t work. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is pausing the update in the meantime.
Hitman ditching Conor McGregor after civil jury finds him liable for sexual assault. Hitman developer IO Interactive is distancing itself and its popular franchise from controversial mixed marital arts fighter Conor McGregor following a recent Irish High Court ruling in which a jury found him liable for sexually assaulting a woman in 2018.
Thieves steal $1.5 million worth of Oculus VR headsets. The six men allegedly stole trucks containing product from Sony and Microsoft, too. A whole bunch of Oculus VR headsets were allegedly stolen by a group of men who would wait for truck drivers to leave their vehicles to get some food or go to the bathroom and then would hop in and drive them away.
Stalker 2 has sold 1 million copies in two days. Developer GSC Game World shared the news on X and said more players have downloaded the title through Xbox Game Pass. "This is just the start of our unforgettable adventure. The Heart of Chornobyl emanates stronger with each of us," said the Ukrainian studio.
What Blizzard is doing to make sure World of Warcraft never gets old. World of Warcraft is now 20 years old and still hosting millions of players—some who have been there since November 2004. Many other games in the MMORPG have sunset even after long, impressive runs—how is World of Warcraft doing the same?
Highlighted Press Releases
($250/week/press release)
THE NATIONAL PARENTING CENTER HAS ISSUED ITS FINAL REPORT. After 35 Years, The Revered Award Company Is Closing Its Doors. Oak Park, CA (November 22, 2024) — The National Parenting Center was launched in 1989, with the intention of providing parents with invaluable child-rearing support and advice from top parenting experts. The initial ill-fated foray into the nascent 900-line business required a quick pivot to the internet’s earliest days and a partnership with Prodigy, the world’s first content service. From there, the agency moved to America Online and then to the web, all part of trying to stay ahead of the curve, shrewdly navigated by its founder and president, David Katzner.
Safety and Counterfeiting
Protect ‘N Play - Don’t Recall? Remembering the Safety Standards Applicable to Your Toys. In 1979, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) established the first version of ASTM F963, titled “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.” This initial standard focused on addressing various hazards, including choking, sharp edges, and toxic substances. It has been revised and updated throughout...
Despite ongoing safety and counterfeit accusations, toys is one of the fastest-growing categories at Shein, and Temu has seen an increase in searches for toys by prospective shoppers. According to a report by Reuters, both the Temu and Shein value online shopping platforms are actively seeking to expand their presence in the toy market. Both sites already face concerns from regulators and consumer...
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
Make Time 2 Play (MT2P), a not-for-profit consumer campaign by the British Toy and Hobby Association, has announced the launch of its newly designed website and app. Make Time 2 Play (MT2P) helps to make play resources more readily available for parents, teachers and carers, whilst highlighting how toys play an important role in aiding children’s development.
On 20th November 2024, British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) director general, Roland Earl, presented a Golden Teddy award to Sarah Allen of Mattel at Mattel UK HQ in Slough. The award was made in the company of many of the Mattel UK team, and BTHA Council member Michael Hick, VP for Mattel UK and Ireland, Benelux and Nordics.
The 2025 Kidscreen Awards shortlist was announced today, and Nickelodeon/Paramount has cornered the most nominations (16), thanks in part to live-action series The Last Airbender (pictured) and the Loud House brand garnering three nods apiece. Disney (13), Sesame Workshop (eight) and Netflix (five) also fared well.
WiT Stories: Honoring Excellence. Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment toasts its members in award season and beyond! Awards season in the toy industry is a time to celebrate excellence in product, design, invention, marketing, and sales. It also presents an opportunity to give back to our communities and inspire the next generation of leaders.
The ninth edition of Kidscreen’s Asian Animation Summit wrapped up in Taipei City late last week with the announcement of Play Big Music’s Titi & Roro as this year’s Best in Show winner. Delegates of the three-day event were invited to vote by ballot for their favorite project that debuted on the AAS stage, and this local Taiwanese series concept for six- to nine-year-olds won the crowd over thanks to its regional...
The Game Awards have re-teamed with Epic Games for fan voting in “Fortnite,” led this year by a “MetaHuman” version of host Geoff Keighley. Following last year’s inaugural in-game voting, the Game Awards will return to “Fortnite” for the 2024 show next month and let players vote for the best Fortnite island of the year. Dubbed “The Game Awards Vote in Fortnite,” the collaboration is described as...
The Next Phase: Welcoming Phase 10 to the National Toy Hall of Fame. I don’t bring a stack of board games to family Thanksgiving anymore. Although my very kind mother will occasionally humor me and play one of my games, I’ve never seen her have more fun at the table than when we played the traditional card game Hearts this last summer. My aunt, too, has been more than happy to teach me how to play...
The BTHA sets its eyes on the Gold (Zone). With the official rebranding of Toy Fair’s popular Greenhouse area to the Gold Zone, Toy World spoke with Majen Immink to find out what the area offers exhibitors and how else the BTHA is supporting smaller, newer companies.
What’s behind the rebrand from Greenhouse to Gold Zone?
Tabby McTat wins big at the International Emmys. Magic Light Pictures' holiday special took home the prize for Best Kids Animation at Monday night's gala awards ceremony. The 2024 International Emmy Awards took place in NY last night, awarding prizes in three kids entertainment categories to recognize outstanding work produced outside of the US in the past year.
Spielwarenmesse eG Names ToyCocktail of 2025. The 2025 Spielwarenmesse ToyCocktail — called Ruby — comes from the bar Gelbes Haus. The competition to decide which cocktail would be served at Spielwarenmesse’s special events and at participating bars took place at the Herrengedeck in Nuremberg, the winner of last years competition.
The 2024 Creative Play Awards results are out now. The 2024 Creative Play Awards results have now been collated and the Winners and Highly Commended entries published within the winter issue of Creative Steps magazine, as well as on www.creativesteps.co.uk and across all its social media platforms.
The Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) International Championship celebrated its 19th annual awards ceremony on November 9th at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, showcasing aspiring young inventors ages 6-18 from five countries and 18 states. The Young Inventor Challenge® offers youth a platform to express their ideas, refine their skills, and receive mentorship from toy industry experts. .
RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed
If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE
Mike Gull. The larger than life media figure, who passed away recently, was known and loved by many people in the toy community, largely through his time at GMTV. Posting on LinkedIn at the end of last week, Mike’s long term friend and colleague Simon Poole recounted the sad news: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our chairman, colleague, and dear friend, Mike Gull, on Friday evening, 15th November. Mike (Gully) was an extraordinary individual who dedicated over 40 years to the industry. His leadership, wisdom and unwavering commitment left an indelible mark on our business and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.
Matilde Brualdi Clementoni, died at her home in Recanati at the age of 93.
The team at family owned Italian business, Clementoni, has been devastated by the passing of co- founder, Matilde, and has issued the following statement: “Last week in her home in Recanati, at the age of 93, Matilde Brualdi Clementoni, honorary president of Clementoni S.p.A. and co-founder with her husband Mario of the company in 1963, passed away. Matilde left us a special soul, the soul that gave life to this great enterprise of ours.”
Originally from Pesaro, Matilde had moved to Recanati to give life to an entrepreneurial project that has now become a successful reality of international calibre. Since the dawn of Clementoni, Matilde has been able to impress her incomparable character on the entire company organisation. The business was left, at the end of the 90s, to her four children, still at the helm of the company today.
Amber Cook passed away unexpectedly on October 25, 2024. Cook was a key player within the games industry, mostly working behind-the-scenes on the branding and business development of dozens of games and projects. She is well-known for her work at Looney Labs, Asmodee Group, and Roll20. Cook was also admired for the roles she played in the re-launch of Free RPG Day, as a founding member of the American Tabletop Awards, as the fundraising co-chair for Rose Gauntlet Foundation, and in the rebranding of her partner Paul Alexander Butler's store Games and Stuff...
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
Some Added Friday Morning Chicago Time. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
Toyworld (UK)
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Toy Fair welcomes Kids in Mind as official 2025 charity partner
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Frasers Group Financial Services partners with Hornby to extend Frasers Plus
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
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Panini launches 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Super League Official Sticker Collection
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BBC releases air date and trailer for the return of Wallace & Gromit
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Unisnacks International and Born to License launch Care Bears Kato range
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Games Workshop Unveils New 'Warhammer 40,000' Boxed Set
- New 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Secret Lair' Commander Deck Incoming
- Hasbro Tests New 'Magic: The Gathering' Commander Video Game
- 'Adult Red Dragon Tyrant' Rages into 'D&D Icons of the Realms'
- UPS Workers Allegedly Pilfer $25,000 in 'Magic: The Gathering' Cards and Other Inventory
- Wizards of the Coast Reveals 2024 Holiday Promo Card for 'Magic: The Gathering'
- Rolling for Initiative -- Musk Ado About 'Dungeons & Dragons'
- New 'Pokemon TCG' 'Scarlet & Violet' Premium Collection Unveiled
- Ultra PRO Unveils New 'D&D: Figurines of Adorable Power' Figure
- Lion Rampant Inks Exclusive Deal with Turbo Dork
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
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Monsterverse celebrates its 10th anniversary with a Mondo collection
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Halo: Flashpoint, the board game that takes you into tactical action
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Barbie pays tribute to Rita Moreno with a doll from the Tribute Collection
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Opinion article: Garbage Pail Kids: From grotesque parody to cultural reflection of the 80s
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
The Toy Universe (Australia)
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Introducing a Deddy Bears Christmas Special… they’re Dead Festive!
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Hello Kitty Shines Bright at Jasnor for her 50th Anniversary
hobbyDB
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From the Basement: On a Most Valuable Turkey (Collectible) Hunt
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10 Valuable Autographed Star Wars from Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Beyond
Video of the Week
Jason Lautenschleger and Barry McLaughlin made this TOYS THROUGH TIME song for the opening to the 2024 Toy and Game Innovation Awards, the TAGIEs. This is the longer version that includes yo-yos, knuckle bones and more! How many of these toys have you played with? Which was your favorite?
Shout outs to toys from Mattel, Inc., Hasbro, Spin Master, Crayola, Radio Flyer, the LEGO Group, Nintendo, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., Razor USA LLC, Cepia, LLC, MGA Entertainment.
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Founding Editor and Publisher (1998-2020, Retired): Philip Bloom
We are honored to carry on Phil's 22 year legacy and continue the Bloom Report. Phil has been a mensch
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Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
Managing Editor: Graeme Thomson
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