Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin' Friday!
POP Week's Innovation Events and the 22nd Chicago Toy and Game (CHITAG) Fair are next week! The trade (that's YOU!) and your families will get in free to the Fair. Sign Up HERE! Join consumers of all ages, media, trade, influencers from around the country enjoying immersive and PLAYFUL events highlighted on this page!
Looking for new toy/game ideas? 80+ product acquisition execs from 50+ companies around the world are hearing pitches from 80 pro inventors, 30+ new inventors and 6 university students. Not too late - four more attendees registered yesterday. In addition to pitching, hear innovative speakers, learn from mentors, amplify your network and feel the positive energy at our Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference.
Celebrate innovators starting with ideation, through the journey to the retail shelf at the Toy and Game Innovation Excellence Awards. The theme this year is Toys Through Time and there may be a time machine involved! This is the last day to get your tickets!
After being inspired by your colleagues, be inspired by kids from 18 states and 5 countries that are part of our Young Inventor Challenge at the CHITAG Fair. The Bloom Report is late today in part because judges - your colleagues - have been texting and emailing me about how great the kid's pitch videos this year - BEST EVER they say! Be a judge and see for yourself. 2-3 hours of your time that is pure gold whether in-person or virtual.
POP Week and the CHITAG Fair only happen once a year - don't miss this one!
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Connect, pitch and learn at the Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference
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Passionate about play in education? Attend the PIE Conference
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See the creative kids at the Young Inventor Challenge
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Sign up as a 19th annual Young Inventor Challenge® judge? Click here!
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Kick off the holidays! Focus group in the wild! Meet consumers, influencers (50+), media and trade in your Chicago Toy & Game Fair booth
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.
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Person of the Week: Zipstring's Austin Hillam
Delivering Smiles of Wonderment one Person at a Time.
Hi Austin, thanks for taking time in a busy season and for being one of our Chicago Toy and Game Fair ehibitors next week! Can you share with our readers what do you do in our industry?
I deliver Smiles of Wonderment one person at a time.
What is it about the Toy and Game Industry that you love?
Please see above ;) Also the people we are fortunate to work with and associate ourselves with.
What do you feel has been your greatest “win” so far in life?
Marrying my beautiful wife Jen who is expecting our first in February. We are still working on names!
What advice would you give a young adult graduating from high school or college today?
Learn how to use tools! The creativity will come after. Don’t be afraid to try new things and its okay to fail!
Two Young Inventor Challenge Licensed Winners, Six Years Later, Inspire the Current Class of Kids!
This year young inventors from 18 U.S. States (CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NY, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WI), and countries Mexico, Canada, Spain and Guyana are competing this year!
Tait Hansen and Lily Brown, Winners of the 2018 Most Marketable Concept for the Young Inventor Challenge and published game inventors of Betcha Can't, share their experience in this video. Tait will be presenting at the Young Inventor Challenge Awards Ceremony during the Chicago Toy & Game Fair at 2pm on November 9th!
Thank you, Katy!
I don't normally share TV segments promoting our events like this, but this one is just so darn heart happy, I had to share! The segment producer didn't think she get all those products in, but she sure did! Katy Mann from Indy with Kids has been driving up to our Fair with her family from Indianapolis for over 10 years! And she LOVES attending the TAGIEs!
Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
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Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to the person who wishes to be anonymous for the cartoon this week!
Memorable Quotes: “My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” – HANK AARON
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
The Disruption Report: Bracing for Tariffs. At this writing the election is less than a week away, but a report in The Hill says that companies are already taking anticipatory, preemptive actions to dull the impact of the promised tariffs on all goods from China, should Trump win the election. The report says that orders are up, pre-election, and cites a rise in warehouse space taken by companies.
Paris-based Cyber Group Studios has stated that there will be a “continuation of the company, despite net assets becoming less than half of the share capital”—an indicator that it could be facing financial difficulties. On Monday, the studio behind animated series Gigantosaurus (Disney+, Netflix and France TV) filed what’s called a KBIS Extract—which provides a snapshot of a company’s current status...
Kids will soon be able to download the Google Wallet app on their Android phone, allowing them to buy things in store via Google’s tap-to-pay feature, reports 9to5Google. The news comes after Google first added the feature to its kid-focused Fitbit Ace LTE fitness tracker in August. In a statement given to 9to5Google, the company said there will be ways for parents to supervise usage...
Norway is to enforce a strict minimum age limit on social media of 15 as the government ramped up its campaign against tech companies it says are “pitted against small children’s brains”. The Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, conceded it would be “an uphill battle” but said politicians must intervene to protect children from the “power of the algorithms”.
ToyChamp completes purchase of Intertoys’ Dutch stores. Belgian toy retail chain, ToyChamp, is acquiring the 220 Dutch shops of retail chain Intertoys. About five years ago, Intertoys sold seven of its mega toy stores to ToyChamp. ToyChamp has 41 branches in Belgium and the Netherlands, and is also majority shareholder of the DreamLand chain.
Retail giant Walmart is looking to deliver a new shopping experience in the lead-up to Black Friday this year, in a bid to get an early hook into consumers looking for holiday bargains. The new campaign kicks off across North America today by offering one-year Walmart+ memberships for US$49 (50% off the regular price) and early access (by five hours) to the company’s Black Friday sale pricing.
SAG-AFTRA signs agreement with AI-powered voice company Ethovox. SAG-AFTRA has signed an agreement with AI-powered voice service Ethovox that it claims will protect performers. The union, which is currently striking to secure better AI protections for its members, said the deal will allow SAG-AFTRA performers to work with Ethovox while ensuring they are "protected and compensated fairly."
UK-based stars support US video game strikes as row continues. Some video game actors based in the UK have said they wish they could strike in solidarity with their US counterparts. Voice actors connected to the SAG-Aftra union have been refusing to work with companies like Activision, Disney, Warner Bros and EA since July over issues such as the use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI).
Police recover more than 40,000 stolen Bluey coins. Police in Australia say they have recovered around 40,000 limited-edition coins based on the hit children’s television show Bluey. It was reported in July that 63,000 of the coins – produced by the Australian Mint – had been stolen from a warehouse in Western Sydney, about two months before they were due to enter circulation.
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Visit the York-Jersey Underwriters website at www.toy-insurance.com
Financial Reporting
Aristocrat Leisure has announced revenue growth of five percent in FY24 driven by performance in NA Gaming Operations, with ~7,100 net units added to the installed machine base. The company reported 17 percent growth in normalised NPATA to $1.6 billion...
Tencent posts 8% revenue growth on gaming rebound, sees slow AI uptake
Funko checked in this afternoon as the last of the “Big 5” publicly traded toy and collectibles companies to report third quarter earnings. The company beat Wall St. estimates with a 6.4% decline in net sales to $292.8 million, down from $312.9 million in the third quarter of last year. These numbers were in in line with expectations as the real progress in the Funko turnaround is under the hood.
*** the above posted after Novvember 1st ***
Spin Master Q3 Earnings Sees Whopping 34.8% Spike in Toy Revenue Powered by Melissa & Doug. Excluding the addition of Melissa & Doug, gross product sales in toys still spiked 9.1% in Q3.
JAKKS Pacific bucks the trend as toy, consumer products sales grow 7% in Q3. JAKKS Pacific battled a challenging retail environment to buck the trend with a 4% net sales increase to $321.6 million in Q3.
Comcast generated US$32 billion in revenue this quarter, representing a 6.5% increase over the same period last year. In its latest financial report, net income at the conglomerate slipped by 10% to US$3.63 billion, compared to US$4.05 billion in Q3 2023.
Meta ponders whether Reality Labs could be more efficient after it loses another $4.4 billion.
EA lauds business 'momentum' after delivering record net bookings in Q2, net bookings for the second quarter of the current fiscal year totaled $2.08 billion.
Capcom maintains optimism for 2024-2025, despite first-half slump. For the six-month period ending September 30, 2024, net sales were 56.4 million yen ($367.85 million USD), down 25 percent from the previous year.
Alphabet's Q3 revenue growth likely to slow as competition pressures Search, YouTube. The slowdown in its core business is expected to overshadow AI-driven gains at its cloud-computing business in the third quarter.
YouTube Q3 Ad Revenue Beats Forecasts, Rising 12% to $8.92 Billion. Google says total YouTube revenue including subscriptions topped $50 billion over past 12 months for the first time
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Kids are actually spending less time on devices. For the first time in 30 years, Dubit is seeing a decrease in device ownership and screen time. David Kleeman shares the data and offers some insights on what could be driving this surprising shift.
Content investment by the Big Six is expected to hit US$126 billion this year. New data from Ampere shows that Disney, Comcast, Google, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix and Paramount will be behind nearly 51% of this spend by the end of 2024.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 could boost Game Pass subscribers by 2.5m to 4m. Analysts give their predictions on the impact of the new Call of Duty into Xbox’s subscription service.
Japanese anime industry generated record $22bn in 2023 with overseas surpassing local takings
Stories, Comments, and Advice
Julia Fitzgerald - In today’s Midsize Match Up interview, I get to talk with Courtney Cotrupe, CEO of Partners + Napier, an agency that’s been knocking it out of the park for Midsize clients for years. Spoiler alert – their highlighted campaign is a great case study in local marketing genius. You will want to read to the bottom for Courtney’s advice.
*** The above posted after Nov 1st when tBR ran ***
Rick Derr - Life of an Indie - the ups and downs. Take a good look at this chart. Any guesses? It documents the rise and fall of the Squishmallows trend in most indies. Oh boy, that ride to the top is exhilarating but with every high comes a low, and the decline, depending on how quick, can also be painful. We like to see consistent growth, and when we experience huge swings in comparative numbers...
John Baulch, Toy World - Trick or treat… it’s the Friday Blog! Some of you will be familiar with the meme which features legendary Belgian comic figures TinTin and Captain Haddock. For the uninitiated, a frazzled looking Captain H is saying “What a week” and TinTin casually replies “Captain, it’s Monday.” That’s roughly how I felt earlier this week, after we were unceremoniously served notice that we were being evicted...
Julia Fitzgerald - At three different marketing summits I attended this year, people asked me if I knew Andy Crestodina, Founder and CMO at Orbit Media Studios. It seems everyone knows Andy, as well as Orbit’s reputation for digital magic in web design and content strategies. If you haven’t met Andy or heard of Orbit yet- read on and see what the buzz is about.
Toys, play, and wellbeing: The crucial link for children and teenagers. In a rapidly changing world where mental health challenges amongst children and young people are on the rise, the role of play in children’s development has never been more important. Toys, as facilitators of play, give children tools to navigate their emotional landscapes, build cognitive skills, and foster resilience.
Paddington Bear has finally been issued with a British passport, 66 years after he was first said to have arrived in London - but he won't be able to travel far. Film-makers requested a passport for the Peruvian bear, to be used as a prop in Paddington in Peru. Co-producer Rob Silva told the Radio Times that they had asked for a replica but been given an official one. However, the Home Office confirmed to the BBC..
The catalyst for social commerce’s resurgence or a fleeting fad? Marketers sound off. The embers of social commerce and live shopping seem to be relit thanks to TikTok Shop. Users seem hooked, considering TikTok Shop’s gross sales have topped $1 billion monthly since July, according to The Information. And where users go, brands are sure to follow close behind.
Can toys go green? Here's how 5 major companies plan to make their products nature positive. While the world attempts to wean itself off single-use plastic, and industry sectors continue their decarbonization efforts, the children’s toy sector – currently worth $90 billion – is faced with a challenge.
'He was an incurable romantic': The boy who lived a secret life in World of Warcraft. When Mats Steen died at the age of 25 in 2014 from a degenerative muscular disease, his parents, Robert and Trude Steen, were surprised to be contacted at their home in Norway by people from all over Europe, mourning his loss.
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History and Nostalgia
Spooky Season: Classic Halloween-inspired board games from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Fright and fun are the name of the game in these classic Halloween-themed board games that make family game night extra spooktacular. Designed by Marvin Glass & Associates and distributed in North America by Milton Bradley, Which Witch challenges players to escape a haunted mansion.
Ghosts! from Milton Bradley (1985). Published by Milton Bradley in 1985, Ghosts! was a strategy game that combined glow-in-the-dark effects with the supernatural. Two players went head-to-head to navigate one of their “good” ghosts out of the dungeon or capture all four of their opponents’ friendly apparitions. Each player controlled a cadre of eight ghost pawns – four “good” and four “evil.”
11 surprisingly scary car toys from the ’80s and ’90s. The 1980s and 1990s were a wild time for children’s entertainment. R-rated blockbuster movies like RoboCop and Rambo spawned cartoons kids watched after school. Entertainment companies chased fads such as the immense popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which led to knock-offs like Street Sharks and the Biker Mice From Mars.
Play-Doh Haunted House from Kenner (1977). Released in 1977 from Kenner, the Play-Doh Haunted House encouraged kids to express their creativity by crafting “goofy goblins” made of the popular modelling compound. Kids rolled Play-Doh on the playmat and used cookie-cutter-like molds to create a series of spooky characters.
Licensing and Entertainment
Educational subscription service, I’m The Chef Too!, has entered into a multiyear licensing agreement with The Lumistella Company, owner of Santaverse and Christmas brands, including The Elf on the Shelf and Elf Pets. This new partnership introduces a co-branded collection of holiday baking kits featuring the popular Scout Elf and Elf Pets characters.
Mattel is apologizing for a misprint on its doll packaging that sent unsuspecting Wicked fans to a pornographic website. The company's "Wicked Fashion Dolls" are among the many brand collaborations — including makeup, shoes, luggage, drinkware and mac and cheese — that have hit websites and store shelves ahead of the much-anticipated movie, which arrives in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22.
*** The above posted after November 1st ***
The NFL is shifting from Andy’s room to Springfield’s Atoms Stadium for its second fully animated, real-time telecast. In partnership with the creators of The Simpsons, the NFL, Disney and ESPN will premiere The Simpsons Funday Football on Monday, December 9. This kid-friendly alternate telecast of a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Texas will stream on Disney+...
After rolling out preschool playlists in select markets last month, Netflix launched a new scene-sharing tool globally on iOS yesterday in its latest bid to increase user engagement. Moments allows viewers to “bookmark” a specific clip they enjoyed from current licensed titles and Netflix originals, which they can easily rewatch from a dedicated tab or share with friends and family members on platforms like Instagram...
Emily the Strange is gearing up to hit the big screen, with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Bad Robot developing an animated feature film based on the oddball character that has developed a large fanbase since originating as a skateboard graphic in 1991. Cynical, antisocial and witty, Emily is defined by her black-white-and-red color palette, her punk ethos and, of course, her four black cat besties.
Nickelodeon Studios is gearing up to start production on My Weird School, a new film based on the same-name kidlit franchise by Dan Gutman. Like its source material, this live-action project revolves around a school-hating tween boy who teams up with his friends and wacky teachers to stop an alien invasion.
Netflix has expanded its licensing agreement with NBCUniversal’s Universal Filmed Entertainment Group to lock down some top-performing titles in its kids & family movie library. Under the renewed deal, Netflix will continue streaming animated features from Illumination and DreamWorks Animation—which are some of the platform’s most-viewed films.
It’s just the beginning for BEGIN, a new ad-free streaming service that launched in Pakistan at the end of May. Founded by Jonathan Mark (CEO) and Zaayer Merchant (executive director), the young company behind this venture got the ball rolling in Q1 when it secured seed funding from regional venture-cap investor Z2C Limited.
Is it Time? It’s Time — Mattel Restocks Mariah Carey Christmas Barbie Ahead of Holiday Tour. The doll features Mariah Carey's likeness in a glittery red dress and arrives as the bestselling singer is set to embark on a 20-city Christmas tour. It’s time. Halloween is just days away, which means that it’s basically already Christmas. Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas kicked off last week, and that faint ringing of bells...
To mark 50 years of Hello Kitty, Fun in Motion Toys has partnered with Sanrio on a new licensed Shashibo range. Shashibo magnetic puzzle cubes can be folded, twisted and turned thousands of times, and over 70 different shapes can be created from just one cube. “Fun In Motion Toys couldn’t be more excited about the partnership with Sanrio,” said Kevin Daniels, President and Co-Founder of Fun In Motion Toys.
Mattel and ITV announce brand-new UK game show, Pictionary, based on one of the world’s most popular drawing games. The show will be produced by Whisper North and hosted by Mel Giedroyc. The format deal was brokered by Laura Burrell, vice president, International Formats, Paramount Global Content Distribution.
Hasbro’s latest Star Wars action figures bring the power of the Force to retail next summer. The Star Wars action figure universe has grown: Hasbro debuted three new action figures via livestream for Pulse Premium members while unveiling five new figures at MCM Comic Con in London. All of the action figures are available for pre-order online and will be available in select mass and specialty retail stores next summer.
Neopets expands licensing portfolio. Plush company to work with PhatMojo, Upper Deck, Youtooz and more. Neopets announced new partnerships with some of the world’s leading licensees as part of its brand revival. Neopets is launching a series of licensing partnerships in Q4 and beyond.
New 'One Piece' board game: Second game based on the property from Japanime. Japanime will release its second game tied to the One Piece manga and anime, One Piece: Assault on Marine Ford, in 2025. The new game allows players to relive an epic battle from the One Piece saga between the Marines, who have captured Ace and plan to execute him on Marine Ford Island, and Whitebeard...
Campaign and Investigator expansions for 'Arkham Horror: The Card Game' in 'The Drowned City'. Fantasy Flight Games will release Campaign and Investigator expansions for Arkham Horror: The Card Game that take place in The Drowned City. In Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Drowned City Campaign Expansion, investigators venture into the tomb-like ruin of R'lyeh as it rises from the ocean’s depths.
Miraculous goes to Mexico City: Franchise partners with Fever for live experience. Miraculous Corp has partnered with the live entertainment platform Fever to create an interactive experience. The first interactive live Miraculous experience will debut in Mexico City in Spring 2025. The Miraculous Corp, a joint venture between Mediawan and ZAG, has seen huge success in Mexico...
'The Last of Us' board game with 'Escape the Dark' system. Themeborne will release The Last of Us: Escape the Dark, a new board game based on the video game franchise utilizing the Escape the Dark game system. Gameplay, for 1 to 5 players, follows characters from the video game as they journey from a Quarantine Zone to Jackson, using crafting and weapon upgrades via dice and item cards to avoid challenges.
Disney Lorcana partners with Odeon for Moana 2 release. In celebration of the much-anticipated release of Moana 2, Ravensburger‘s Disney Lorcana TCG is set to launch a special preview promo card available at Odeon theatres in select European countries while supplies last. The standard version of this card will be featured in an upcoming Disney Lorcana TCG set.
2025 is a big year for Magic: The Gathering crossovers with Final Fantasy, Spider-Man, And Spongebob on the way. Over the years, Wizards of the Coast has worked tirelessly to expand its Universes Beyond releases, with crossovers including Stranger Things, Hatsune Miku, and Warhammer 40,000, to name but a few.
Maestro doing 'The Smurfs Roleplaying Game' following board game release. Maestro Media is following its board game based on The Smurfs with The Smurfs Roleplaying Game, which is currently up on Kickstarter. The game includes over 40 Smurfs that are ready to play, including many familiar characters, and also provides for character creation by players.
'Disney Lorcana: Azurite Sea' single-player decks from Ravensburger. The Disney Lorcana: Azurite Sea set will feature characters from the popular Chip'n'Dale Rescue Rangers series as well as Big Hero 6. Some of the characters included in this set are Baymax, Hiro Hamada, Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Go Go Tomago, Fred, Chip, Dale, Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack and the loveable fly Zipper.
Little Tikes partners with Dani Dyer for Story Dream Machine. Little Tikes has announced a new partnership with celebrity mum, Dani Dyer, to launch the highly anticipated Little Tikes Story Dream Machine, an innovative and portable projector that brings storytime to life through audio and visual features.
Pop Mart announces ‘The Little Prince’ Hirono collection. Pop Mart, a maker of designer vinyl toy collectibles, has announced a collaboration between “Le Petit Prince,” the timeless classic by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and Lang’s Hirono. The joint collection has brought the world of “The Little Prince” to life in a new blind box series that combines the magic of storytelling with the joy of collectible toys.
New 'Squaroes: SpongeBob SquarePants' unveiled. Collection features 9 new deck boxes and a 'Krusty Krab Collector's Case'. heo Group will release Squaroes: SpongeBob SquarePants, a new Ultimate Guard TCG accessories collection, into retail on November 15, 2024. The denizens of Bikini Bottom are set to make an appearance on Ultimate Guard's hottest line of TCG accessories.
Monster High teams with ‘Squid Game’ for Young-Hee doll. Mattel’s Monster High has teamed up with Netflix’s “Squid Game” to create the latest addition to their Skullector Series, which reimagines horror icons through the lens of Monster High style. The Monster High “Squid Game” Young-Hee Doll reimagines the robot who sent chills down viewers’ spines during the show’s premiere episode.
People of Play
In this episode of 'Making It In The Toy Industry', host Azhelle Wade sits down with Aaron Muderick, the creative mind behind Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty. From a child's love for tinkering to creating a renowned brand, Aaron's journey is a testament to innovation, persistence, and passion. He discusses the importance of staying connected to your audience, maintaining product quality, and the critical lessons...
*** The above posted after tbr circulated Nov 1st ***
Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price-John on Why Defining Values is Key to Achieving Goals. Early in her career, Sharon Price-John literally put pen to paper and wrote what she dubbed her “price values.” AKA: the qualities that guided her in work and life. She reasoned that if she had time to write a grocery list, she could take a second to define what was important to her.
Bop Culture: Dan Klitsner’s Iconic Invention ‘Bop It’ Remains Impactful Almost 30 Years Since Launch. Close to three decades ago, industrial designer and toy inventor Dan Klitsner came up with what he called the Channel Bopper, an electronic toy remote control shaped like a hammer that allowed kids to control their TV using different actions. To change the channel, they needed to ‘bop’ the hammer on the table..
Laugh Factory (with President/Toy Inventor David Fuhrer) Reveals Spectrum Labratory’s Latest Short Film Project (PR). Laugh Factory reveals Spectrum Laboratory’s HOUSE OF MASKS short film by all-neurodivergent cast and crew. The iconic Hollywood comedy club provided a platform for neurodivergent improv talent – live – on its main stage and to autistic filmmakers via its in-house screen.
Build-A-Bear Workshop appoints new Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. Kim Utlaut previously spent 20 years at The Coca-Cola Co. Build-A-Bear Workshop has named Kim Utlaut as its new Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. In this new role, Utlaut will continue Build-A-Bear’s evolution in regard to brand and communications strategy, focusing on strengthening and evaluating...
Finland’s Gigglebug Entertainment has made it official with Lorna Withrington, hiring the veteran creative exec on full-time as head of development. Based in Toronto, Withrington has roughly 20 years of experience in the kids TV industry, with stints at companies including WildBrain (VP of animation development), Spin Master (director of development) and eOne Family (director of creative affairs) on her resumé.
Jack Day joins The Insights Family. The Insights Family, which specialises in kids, young people and parents’ market intelligence, has announced the appointment of Jack Day as its new Global Strategic account director. Jack joins from KidsKnowBest where he served as Commercial director. Jack brings with him over a decade of expertise in kids’ media and family entertainment...
SMF Toytown’s Alan Simpson officially retires. Alan Simpson, managing director of successful toy store chain SMF Toytown, has announced his official retirement from the business. In a statement sent out to friends and colleagues, Alan said: “Having really enjoyed my 45 years in this industry, it is time to hang up my boots and chill for a bit.
Candyrific, Hilco Sweets name new Director of Sourcing. Alex Guarneri will oversee sourcing strategies, supplier relationships, and more. “We are very excited over the experience and energy that we know Alex will bring to this position, taking CandyRific and Hilco Sweets to the next level in our continued growth,” says Lou DiMarco..
Brian Mariotti on Thrilljoy and bringing product to market in under five months. Nearly 20 years ago, Brian Mariotti, a pop culture aficionado with a background in nightclubs, bought a tiny bobblehead company from his buddy, Mike Becker. Within a few years, that company and its new form factor, Pop! Vinyl became a household name: Funko. Following a sale to private equity, a historic IPO (it didn’t go quite as planned)...
YuMe Toys welcomes Nicoletta Minella as sales manager EMEA. YuMe Toys has announced that Nicoletta Minella has joined the team as Sales manager for the EMEA region, marking an exciting chapter in the company’s continued growth. Nicoletta brings a wealth of Licensing and Retail experience across the UK and EU countries, having worked for Funko and most recently NBC Universal as account manager.
Companies and Brands
The LEGO Group is expanding its Billund Headquarters in Denmark with an Innovation Campus at Kløvermarken 31; the group broke ground on the site. This will be the LEGO Group’s third campus in Billund. It follows the opening of the LEGO Campus in 2022 and the construction of the Kornmarken Campus, scheduled to open in 2025. LEGO has invested in The Stamp, a hub in Copenhagen.
Sainsbury’s has debuted its new Christmas advertisement today, featuring Roald Dahl’s universally beloved character the BFG. Set to premiere on ITV1 at 8:15pm on Friday 1st November during Coronation Street, but viewable below now, the new Christmas ad follows the 24-foot friendly giant as he embarks on a new adventure with Sainsbury’s employee Sophie. In a TV first, real-life Sainsbury’s colleague Sophie...
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA) is celebrating Godzilla’s 70th anniversary with a new lineup featuring the most legendary kaiju. In conjunction with Godzilla Day on Nov. 3, BNTCA is debuting a line of action figures and collectibles to honor the franchise’s legacy on its 70th anniversary.
Barbie commemorates 65 years with legacy book launch. In celebration of the Barbie brand’s 65th anniversary, Mattel has announced the launch of a special-edition book, My Barbie Story featuring heartfelt narratives from inspiring friends of the brand about what Barbie has meant to them over the years.
Playmobil unveils umbrella brand campaign. Playmobil has announced a global umbrella brand campaign that will see it air three new commercials in almost all European countries and North America from mid-October. The campaign is a further step in the company’s ‘Moving into the future’ strategy announced at the beginning of the year.
DreamWorks Animation, Universal’s ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ joins Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. On Nov. 28, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will welcome a new balloon inspired by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures’ Gabby’s Dollhouse. This marks the first time Gabby’s Dollhouse will float down New York City streets.
DreamWorks launches Gabby’s Dollhouse Join the Party trail experience. DreamWorks Animation, in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, is inviting fans of its hit pre-school series, Gabby’s Dollhouse to Join the Party as a free-to-play, interactive experience launching at key retail locations across EMEA.
LEGO goes green: Klando factory expands renewable energy by over 100%. The LEGO factory in Klando, Czech Republic, has more than doubled its renewable energy capacity. It has completed another phase in expanding its rooftop solar park, supporting LEGO’s commitment to increasing the capacity and production of renewable energy at its sites.
Smashers Horror House proves a spook-tacular hit for Zuru. Zuru’s Smashers range continues to be popular thanks to its theatre, value and evergreen themes. Now, a brand-new universe of webisode content and the launch of the new Horror House theme for autumn/winter 2024 sees Smashers take on the ever-growing Halloween décor and gifting markets with its unboxing, smash-and-play appeal.
'Moon Colony Bloodbath' by Donald X Vaccarino. Rio Grande Games will release Moon Colony Bloodbath, a new tabletop game from Dominion designer Donald X Vaccarino, in January. The players are attempting to build colonies on the moon, a dangerous task; the game is won by the player with the most survivors in their moon colony.
'Blue-Eyes White Destiny' expands for 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' 25th Anniversary. Konami Digital Entertainment has offered new details about the upcoming Blue-Eyes White Destiny Structure Deck for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, releasing in February, to help celebrate the game’s 25th Anniversary. Announced earlier this month, this release will introduce the powerful level 12 Synchro Monster Blue-Eyes Ultimate Spirit Dragon...
Capstone bringing 'Tea Garden' to N.A. in partnership with Albi. Capstone Games and Czech publisher Albi are partnering to bring Tea Garden to North America and the U.K. The new game will release in May. Tea Garden is a deck-building and hand management style game created by Tomas Holek (SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Galileo Galilei).
'Innistrad Remastered' details emerge: 'Play Booster' and 'Collector Booster' plans. Wizards of the Coast has shared details about the upcoming Innistrad Remastered booster set for Magic: The Gathering, releasing on January 24. The Innistrad Remastered set features reprint versions of popular cards from all of the previous sets from the gothic horror-themed plane of Innistrad, including some Showcase cards...
The Entertainer expands network with 166th store, in Milton Keynes. The UK’s largest independent toy retailer, The Entertainer, has opened a new flagship store at Centre:MK – its 166th store.The new store is now trading, with its official opening on Saturday 26th October. The store showcases The Entertainer’s extensive range of toys and games from leading brands including Hot Wheels, Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol...
WizKids heads for the 'Edge of the Realms': 'Dungeons & Dragons' map-building game. WizKids has announced Dungeons & Dragons: Edge of the Realms – Fields of Faerun, a new map-building game designed by Phil Walker-Harding (Barenpark, Gizmos, Imhotep) set to release in June. In Dungeons & Dragons: Edge of the Realms – Fields of Faerun, players become explorers of the fabled continent of Faerun...
'Warhammer Underworlds' enters new edition with 'Embergard': Streamlined rules, new deck-building system. The first core set for the new edition of Warhammer Underworlds from Games Workshop, Embergard, will go on pre-order next week. The updated version of the game features streamlined rules, new deck-building mechanics, and new warbands. Launched in 2017, Warhammer Underworlds...
WOTC returns to MSRPS for 'Magic: The Gathering’ with 'Foundations'. Wizards of the Coast is resuming the use of MSRPs for Magic: The Gathering with its Foundations set, which will hit Prerelease on November 8, the company announced at MagicCon this weekend. WotC stopped the use of MSRPs for Magic products in early 2019, citing the need to standardize its pricing around the world...
Lucky Duck reveals 'Unconscious Mind' for U.S. retail: New worker placement game about Sigmund Freud's early supporters In this game, designed by Laskas, Jonny Pac, Yoma, and Antonio Zax, players join the Wednesday Psychological Society, a group of early supporters of Sigmund Freud's work from the 1900's.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Nightingale dev Inflexion Games lays off staff as UK office shuts down. Developer Inflexion Games has fully shut down its UK office, which was previously announced by now-former staff last week. In a statement, CEO Aaryn Flynn explained the Early Access release of its debut game Nightingale has not been a commercial success.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches with eyes on Game Pass. It has been eagerly anticipated, but this year's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has finally dropped for gamers to get stuck into.The Call of Duty (CoD) series is one of the best-selling in history with more than 425 million lifetime sales and has made billions of dollars.
In Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, MachineGames wants players to improv like Indy. The Indiana Jones film series has been an iconic part of pop culture, brimming with a pulp-style sense of action and spirit of adventure. However, there haven't been many modern video games starring the globetrotting explorer, even as the series has undoubtedly inspired other well-known games like Tomb Raider and Uncharted.
Sony shuts down Concord dev Firewalk and mobile studio Neon Koi. Both studios are being closed down so PlayStation can 'ensure we are meeting near and long-term business priorities.' the studio noted several of its accomplishments, from growing out its team during the pandemic to developing Concord on Unreal Engine 4 (and later Unreal Engine 5), and "ultimately shipping and delivering a great FPS...
‘Sonic X Shadow Generations’ sells one million units on release day. SEGA sold one million units of its new game, Sonic X Generations on its first day. The video game combines Sonic Generations with a new title, Shadow Generations. Players race the anti-hero Shadow through new, dynamic environments.
Here are the best-selling games every year for the past two decades. Over the last 20 years, a lot has changed in the video game industry. Online multiplayer live-service games have become more and more popular, 2D platformers have become less common, console games based on movies aren’t really a thing anymore, and we get a lot more remasters.
Highlighted Press Releases
($250/week/press release)
ALPHA TOYS’ WISE BLOCK RC BRICK BUILDING SETS INTEGRATE EDUCATIONAL STEAM VALUE WITH FAST-PACED FUN. Steam verification logoFontana, CA (November 5, 2024) –Word to the wise: Alpha Toys is pushing the envelope in the building brick toy category. Not content with merely offering a compelling building process, Wise Block brick building sets incorporate an added layer of play through remote control (RC) capabilities! Other building block sets may be all about building, taking apart and trying again, but Wise Block is all about Build, then Play! In addition to honing fine motor skills, Wise Block sets invite young builders to stretch their creative muscles by crafting their....
CRA-Z-ART RELEASES ITS TOP 5 HOLIDAY TOY LIST FILLED WITH RETRO CHILDHOOD FAVORITES. Delight Every Kid On The Hanukkah Or Christmas List With The Original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, Magna Doodle & Giga Pets Plus Disney Stitch Slimy And Dissect-It Rattlesnake Super Lab. Randolph, NJ (November 1, 2024) – If a white Christmas is on the wish list, make some snow in the kitchen with the original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine ($19.99). The classic toy is one of Cra-Z-Art’s Top 5 Holiday List gifts where there is truly something for everyone! From doodles to dissecting (!) and even a virtual pet, playtime this season is sure to spark memories of holidays past as grownups introduce nostalgic toys...
NEW KID ON THE TOY BLOCK, ALPHA TOYS, RAMPS UP INSTANTLY WITH DIVERSE DEAL. Diverse Marketing, Diverse Insights & KidStuff Public Relations Flex Their Branding Muscle In Unison To Promote Alpha Toys’ Super Wings, Smart Steps & Wise Blocks Divisions. Fontana, CA (October 28, 2024) — Ask any youngster about the hit series Super Wings, and they can tell you how an adorable jet plane named Jett travels the world delivering packages to children. With every delivery, Jett encounters a new problem that he and his friends, the Super Wings, must work together to solve. An entire brand of aerial toys complements the series.
*** The above posted after tBR circulated November 1st ***
FUN IN MOTION TOYS JOINS FORCES WITH SANRIO FOR EXCITING NEW HELLO KITTY & FRIENDS SHASHIBO®
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (October 29, 2024) – In celebration of Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary, Sanrio is partnering with Fun In Motion Toys to help spread smiles with the launch of three all-new Shashibo, the original and award-winning magnetic puzzle cube, featuring Hello Kitty and Friends. These supercute Shashibo launch January 2025, just in time to ring in the New Year!
DELIGHTFUL DOG FRIENDS AWAIT YOU IN TILE-BASED ZOOMIES, FROM FIRESIDE GAMES. Austin, TX (October 28, 2024) – Hot off the trail of Ultimatch, their latest new card game, Fireside Games is back to let the dogs out for Holiday 2024. Introducing Zoomies, a competitive board game with a casual and wholesome energy! Ultimatch may be a splendid cooperative card game, but what about players who crave a casual yet competitive experience, maybe with a dog theme? In that case, Fireside Games has something just for you. Zoomies places you as a dog walker, facilitating playtime and literally playing matchmaker for your doggos.
DREAMIGHTY AND SUPER BLANKY OFFER THE WARMEST SEASON’S GREETINGS FOR 2024. Dreamighty Invites You to Wrap Your Friends and Loved Ones In A Cozy Wearable Blanket This Holiday Season. Keego Harbor, MI (October 20, 2024) – It’s closing in on the holidays once again, and the familiar struggle returns: what do you get for those enigmatic friends and family members? They’re so hard to buy for, right? Well, perhaps no longer! Dreamighty® the wearable blanket company responsible for their hit product of the same name and the children’s size Super Blanky®, invite you to give the gift of comfort this holiday season.
RING IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH AWARD-WINNING CREATIVITY AND CONFLUXION, COURTESY OF FUN IN MOTION TOYS. Fun In Motion Toys Has Perfect Presents for Fidgeters and Tinkerers. Ft. Lauderdale, FL (October 25, 2024) – Pondering what to pick for presents this holiday season? Perhaps take a peek at Fun In Motion Toys, the award-winning toymaker who has been releasing hit after hit, with no signs of stopping! Known for their lodestar product Shashibo®, the original patented Magnetic Puzzle Cube, Fun In Motion Toys has since branched out and welcomed HyperTiles®, TECTI® and Nockles™ to their core offerings, each bringing a novel and unique play experience to the table.
HEADU INVITES LITTLE ONES TO GET A HANDS-ON EDUCATION, MONTESSORI STYLE. Boston, MA (October 28, 2024) – Italian toy and game company Headu is excited to bring their educational play prowess to a wider US audience through their Boston home at Headu USA. Incorporating Montessori learning philosophy from Headu’s cultural roots, the company is launching a selection of educational sensory play sets for very young children ages 1 through 4. These Tactile Montessori games incorporate touch and sight-based stimuli for self-directed play and self-education through natural, intuitive discovery.
Safety and Counterfeiting
Making sure you’re KOSA/COPPA 2.0 compliant. It’s been a couple months since the kids media industry last heard about the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) bills in the US. But some experts recommend planning ahead in the event that these wide-ranging bills will get signed into law. As a refresher, these bills require social media companies to protect...
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
The Toy Association inducts seven into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. The 2025 inductees are Maxine Clark, Founder and former Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Sharon DiMinico, Founder and Chair of Learning Express Toys, and Erno Rubik, Inventor of the Rubik’s Cube. Posthumous inductees are Edwin S. Lowe, Founder of the E.S. Lowe and Company, Charles Pajeau, Founder of the Toy Tinker...
Wow! Stuff wins ‘Most Innovative Company’ at UKSPA 40th Anniversary Awards. The prestigious UKSPA award places Wow! Stuff – the only toy company recognised this year – amongst a select group of innovators from various UK industries, making the win even more significant. The UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) promotes the growth of science parks, technology incubator...
As it did in late September, Autism in Entertainment official educational partner Spectrum Laboratory will be reinventing Rocktober (the month f.k.a. October and Internet-appointed most productive period of the year) with activations across LA Following its September 26 “Fighting with Autism” animation career seminar, led by animation artist & director Jorge Gutierrez (Maya and the Three) at Burbank’s...
Spring Fair invites attendees to share their stories. Spring FairSpring Fair will be celebrating its 75th anniversary on the 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham. To mark the occasion, the Spring Fair team is bringing together a Hall of Fame compilation of attendees’ nostalgic memories, pictures and great stories from the show’s 75-year history.
FSC Chain of Custody Certification for Addo Play. Addo PlayFSC is proud to announce that it has achieved Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable and responsible sourcing of forest products.
Applications now open for 2024 Toy Retailer of the Year Awards. The British Toy & Hobby Association, the organiser of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, has announced that the 2024 retailer application process is now open. Retailers can compete nationally in like-for-like categories and can apply in more than one category, if applicable.
'Life In Reterra' gets award for advancement in forest conservation: FSC Leadership Award. Hasbro's Life in Reterra board game has received a FSC Leadership Award, which is given for advancement in sustainable forest management and forest conservation, from the Forest Stewardship Council.
Pikachus everywhere: Fans flock to UK's biggest gaming expo. Thousands of comic and gaming fans headed to London on Saturday for one of the most colourful days in the UK’s convention calendar. Fans flocked to the ExCeL Centre for the UK's largest gaming, comic and pop culture convention, many of them dressed in elaborate costumes they had constructed themselves.
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
MEL APPEL died in Coconut Grove, Florida, on October 30, 2024, at the age of 94. He is survived by his daughter, Corey, and her husband, Michael, his son, Peter, and his wife, Polly, and his five grandchildren, Juliet, Mark, Austin, Tyler and Jarret. Mel was born on May 9, 1930, in Newark, New Jersey. Mel was a true original. He was voted class hero and class athlete in high school and was an all-state basketball player. After completing school, he began his nearly five-decade career in the toy industry. His career was marked by the creation of numerous successful and well known toys, including many offbeat ones that highlighted his great sense of humor and fearless approach to design. Mel is often referred to as a legend when his name comes up around those who worked in the toy business. While Mel left an indelible mark on the toy industry, his greatest impact was on his family and friends.
Richard Gottlieb: A Celebration of Life – Thank you. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us at The Toy Association to celebrate the life of Richard Gottlieb, whether in person or through the live stream. Your presence and support mean so much. If you were unable to attend or wish to revisit the event, the live stream can be accessed here (link).
Ace Edward Fogarty - It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ace Edward Fogarty of Siesta Key, Florida, husband of Bonnie, inventor of Glo Worm amongst many other toys, who passed away on August 13, 2024, at the age of 80
Loren Hildebrand, 85, of La Quinta, California passed away on October 8, 2024. As a young person, Loren excelled academically and remained an active reader and learner throughout his life. He attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma where he earned a degree in Economics, advancing to the University of Washington, to receive an MBA. Shortly thereafter, he began a three-decade long career in the toy industry during which he achieved great successes and mentored many.
Loren rose through the ranks of Mattel Toys to the role of Executive Vice President. Following 24 years at Mattel, Loren entered into a partnership with Bandai to launch Toy Soldiers and from there went on to Galoob, where he served in an executive leadership role, assisting in the launch of the Star Wars brand. Loren was known as a polished executive, strategic thinker and a leader who was greatly admired and respected. He had a unique ability to manage the needs of both company and customer for the betterment of both organizations. He was a role model and advisor to countless individuals during his career, many of whom remained close friends. Read More...
Ned Mansour - Shortly after retiring in 2000 as president of toy maker giant Mattel, where he spent 22 years, Ned Mansour became the caretaker of Mattel executive Joe McKay. Mansour’s friend had been diagnosed with colon cancer. For six months, Mansour drove McKay to medical appointments at UCLA and ran errands for him.
McKay was divorced and didn’t want to share the severity of his condition with his three adult children. When it became evident that McKay’s disease was terminal, Mansour began researching hospice services and discovered Providence TrinityCare Hospice.
TrinityCare subsequently began caring for McKay. During a vigil in McKay’s home, when it was apparent his end was near, Mansour took a short walk on the beach so McKay’s family could could be alone with him. When Mansour returned, McKay had passed away.
Mansour was so moved by the the compassionate care that McKay received under hospice that he decided to devote his time to Providence TrinityCare Hospice.
He served on the TrinityCare board from 2001 to 2006, then returned in 2011 to chair the board. Read More...
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
Some Added Friday Morning Chicago Time. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
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Funko Hits it Out of the Park with Dodgers MLB Championship Pops (The Pop Insider)
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JAKKS Pacific’s New Video Game Toys Take Play to the Next Level (The Toy Book)
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Bandai Celebrates 70 Years of Godzilla with Legendary Kaiju Collectibles (The Toy Book)
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These New Sanrio Shashibos from Fun in Motion Toys are the Cat’s Meow (The Toy Book)
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Wizards of the Coast Unleashes 2025 Product Lineup at MagicCon: Las Vegas (The Toy Book)
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Diamond Comic Distributors to Consolidate Warehouse Operations (The Toy Book)
Toyworld (UK)
1. Sorting the fact from the fiction … it’s the Friday Blog!
2. The November issue of Toy World is out now
3. Applications now open for 2024 Toy Retailer of the Year Awards
4. The Entertainer expands network with 166th store, in Milton Keynes
5. Mattel and ITV announce brand-new UK game show, Pictionary
6. Spin Master reports Q3 2024 results
7. Disney Lorcana partners with Odeon for Moana 2 release
8. SMF Toytown’s Alan Simpson officially retires
9. FSC Chain of Custody Certification for Addo Play
10. Toynamics welcomes new marketing manager
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
1. Licensing International announces 2024 Rising Star Award recipients
2. Mattel and Outright Games partner on Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets
3. Barbie commemorates 65 years with legacy book launch
4. Gap Partners with Paddington for babyGap and Toddler Collection
5. Hunter Price announces special Wicked collection
6. Rubies details ‘spooktacular’ costumes for Halloween
7. DreamWorks announces Gabby’s Dollhouse Join the Party trail experience
8. Miraculous partners with Fever on new interactive experience
9. Neopets forges new partnerships with world-leading licensees
10. Michael Malul announces new Bob Marley fragrance collection
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Wizards of the Coast Announces 'Magic: The Gathering Arena' Banning
- WizKids Heads for the 'Edge of the Realms'
- Hasbro CEO Reveals 'Magic' Plans, Secret Lair Volumes, 'D&D' DTC Percentage, More
- WotC Returns to MSRPs for 'Magic: The Gathering'
- New 'Pathfinder Adventure' Book Incoming
- WizKids Reveals 'D&D Icons of the Realms: Adventures From Baldur's Gate' Retail Exclusive Promos
- WizKids Plans 'D&D Onslaught: Ancient Construct'
- New 'Squaroes: SpongeBob SquarePants' Unveiled
- 'Innistrad Remastered' Details Emerge
- Toys 'R' Us Continues to Expand
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
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Barrado will manufacture 'Eddie' plush toys in collaboration with Iron Maiden
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Mattel gives the green light to a live-action movie of its iconic View-Master
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Disney Princesses brought together mothers and daughters for a day of art and fun in Peru
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
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Kaiko Fidgets — A Range of Discreet Sensory Tools Designed to Assist with Mental Health, Anxiety
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Asembl Brews Up a Limited-Edition Collaboration for Hasbro’s Peppa Pig With Gong Cha Australia
The Toy Universe (Australia)
hobbyDB
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Introducing Craniacs Official Archive, Premium Package & Annual Exclusive Give Away
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Our Cunning Plan to Become THE Garbage Pail Kid Reference and Price Guide
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Slasher Trash: Top-10 Non-Franchise Slasher Films From the 80s
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From the Basement: Collecting Ticket Stubs from the World Series and Beyond
Video of the Week
Charlie Berens heads to his local bar to teach the basic rules of bar dice and other dice games.
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Thank you for being a reader of the Bloom Report. — Mary and Graeme
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
and we've loved working with him. Here is a fun and interesting interview with Phil.
If you would like to reach Phil: philip.bloom100@verizon.net
Publisher: Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc.
Managing Editor: Graeme Thomson
Assistant Editor: Patrick Fisher
Not only does the Bloom Report give you all the news you need to know...
we give you all the news you didn't know you needed to know!" -Phil Bloom
Do you have news to share? Send us a note! mary@chitag.com
