Toy industry news: business, marketing, retail, wholesale and distribution

Licensing

Activision Blizzard confirms Overwatch LEGO and Hasbro master toy line

Licensing

Retail

Media & PR

Licensing

The animated fantasy adventure series will be aimed at kids aged three to seven and coincides with the award-winning toy line from the brand’s master toy partner, Wicked Cool Toys.

Licensing

It will ‘offer its audience a compelling toy experience that blends collectability with customisation and competition,’ read a statement from the company.

Product Development

The game’s story-based experience is streamed on a tablet or smartphone while players follow along to build and design challenges on a traditional tabletop board game.

Product Development

The tabletop game, now live on Kickstart, will be followed up by Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron and Cities: Skyline.

Product Development

The new LEGO Powered Up line will consist of multiple products that vary in complexity and will feature battery powered, remote controlled and app-controlled sets.

Media & PR

Special Olympics Unified Schools and Unified Champion Schools in the US promote social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without intellectual disabilities through Special Olympics Unified Sports.

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The retail entrepreneur, Philip Bier detailed his return to the UK high street early last month, after reaching a franchise deal with the French toy and children’s products retailer.

The chief executive was removed from his post in April after poor Christmas trading and a profits warning. He was replaced after four years in charge of the baby goods retailer.

The US market has seen a flurry of mergers and acquisitions among the smaller toymakers.

The numbers involved in the deal have not been disclosed but it arrives as Goliath highlights the ‘potential it sees for itself in the outdoor toys and games market.’

‘Cry Babies is just the beginning for many more exciting new projects to follow for IMC Toys USA,’ read a statement from the company.

According to reports, the retailer is likely to undergo a company voluntary arrangement, which typically sees a retailer closing stores and renegotiating rents to prevent it from going into administration.

The retailer has already established a presence across major cities such as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The expansion will be jointly headed by SEFAM executive director Zain Aziz.

CEO David Brandon, as well as members of the company’s leadership team, will each be leaving their posts ahead of the completed wind down.

Our client is a well established privately owned UK toy manufacturer which has won numerous awards for outstandingly innovative toys, gifts and gadgets. A correspondingly outstanding and talented UK Sales Director is to be recruited who has the potential, the will, the drive and the ambition to advance to a higher position within a few years.

Vivid is Britain’s biggest toy company and the 20 largest in the world. With offices across the globe, they sell an amazing portfolio of toys and games to over 60 countries. Vivid is best known for its association with blockbuster brands and is very excited about future opportunities around the world.

Imagine working for a company with a mission you can truly believe in, a playful and energetic culture, a talented team and a bright future! Melissa & Doug, the toy company committed to nurturing childhood wonder, is looking for an Operations Planner to coordinate the demand planning and supply between European markets and the US.

Called Sneak Peek Toys, the new platform will combine toy reviews and entertaining content for kids' and toy fans.

The movie will be centred around the ninja commando Snake Eyes

The May issue is stomping onto your screens with an exclusive feature on upcoming blockbuster Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Sibling inventors Graeme and Fiona Fraser-Bell will be launching their new game FReNeTiC later this year.

Since its coverage in The Metro, the company’s Facebook page has seen a 50 per cent increase in followers and a stark surge in likes, comments and shares.

The bigger venue will host an array of social gaming titles on Wednesday, May 23rd.

These organisations now join more than 950 members companies, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others, that drive the $27 billion US domestic toy market.

This is the next stage of investment for Canal Toys, supporting their retail partners to raise awareness and increase demand for this new range.

The trademarked scent – described by Hasbro as a unique combination of sweet, slightly musky, vanilla-like fragrance with slight overtones of cherry and the natural smell of a slated, wheat-based dough – is one of the few active scent trademarks in the country.

The tour will consist of two Panini buses; one touring cities and towns across the South of the UK and the second covering the North from Saturday May 26th to Saturday June 2.

The firm aims to have at least one of its games in over 17 countries by the end of 2018.

As the toy industry prepares to voyage north for the annual Toymaster trade show, Jack Ridsdale caught up with its organisers Ian Edmunds and Yogi Parmer to find out what the show holds in store this year.

Games now account for 32 per cent of Thames and Kosmos’ UK business, a growth it is looking to maintain through new global and international partnership and portfolio additions.

Through the partnership the app will be made available across Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, allowing fans to collect and trade cards as well as organise fan activities.