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September 2012 | Vol. XI - No. 9


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Toys in the News:9-28-12


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Toys in the News is updated Mon-Fri at 9:15 am PST

Captain Cutlass Pirate Toy Guns Recalled by Dillon Importing Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard. September 28, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 6,970 Captain Cutlass Toy Pirate Pistols from Dillon Importing Co., sold at Halloween and specialty stores nationwide from April 2008 through May 2012 for about $6.50. Consumers should immediately take the recalled pistol toys away from children and contact Dillon Importing for instructions on returning the product for a full refund.

Not Just Child's Play: Mattel Seeks New Ways To Give Back. September 28, 2012 — Here’s the stereotype: a big corporation needs some PR and a tax...

2 newcomers, 10 previous finalists compete for Toy Hall of Fame. September 28, 2012 — Ten previous finalists will compete against two new contenders for induction into...

Chicago Toy & Game Group Celebrates 10th Anniversary with "Week of Play". September 28, 2012 — The Chicago Toy & Game Group will celebrate its 10th anniversary this November...

Former Toy Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud. September 28, 2012 — The former owner of an Edina-based toy company pleaded guilty...

In Home Danger: CPSC Warns of Children Drowning in Bathtubs, Bath Seats and Buckets. September 27, 2012 — The danger of drowning for young children is ever present in and around the home...

Pumpkin, Princess, Witch And Vampire Costumes Top Consumers’ Halloween Favorites, According To NRF. September 27, 2012 — This Halloween, trick-or-treaters, party-goers and pampered pets will be dressing up in traditional spooky style with pumpkin, princess, witch and vampire costumes...

Big Lots Recalls Garden Swings Due to Fall Hazard. September 27, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 6,900 Wilson & Fisher Garden Swings, sold at Big Lots stores nationwide from March 2012 through June 2012 for about $130. The wooden swing’s seat can break while in use, posing a fall hazard to the consumer. onsumers should immediately stop using the recalled swing sets, detach the bench seat and return it to any Big Lots store for a full refund. Consumers should destroy the remaining components.

Dollar General Unveils Toy Discount Ahead of Holiday Season. September 27, 2012 — Dollar General Corp. unveiled a 10% discount on toy purchases of $75...

Harvard, Time Warner, Toys ‘R’ Us: Intellectual Property. September 27, 2012
— In a case involving the OncoMouse, a rodent genetically modified to contain...

A new chapter opens for India's toy story. September 27, 2012 — This month, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced that the country is opening its retail...

Holiday sales to grow as much as 4%. September 26, 2012 — Deloitte is forecasting holiday sales will increase between 3.5% and 4%...

Hasbro Plans New 'Beyblade' Toys. September 26, 2012 — Following record-breaking viewing numbers in France, Hasbro is planning new products...

NRF Says Swipe Reform Saving Up To $18 Million/Day. September 26, 2012 — With the first anniversary of debit card swipe fee reform approaching next week, U.S. retailers and their customers...

Mattel Appoints Jessica Dunne GM & SVP Consumer Products. September 26, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. announced today that Jessica Dunne, former executive vice president, Licensing, Disney Classic Characters and Disney Baby, was appointed GM & senior vice president, Consumer Products...

Turtle Power. September 26, 2012 — With the return of classic properties, the expansion of others, the release of new style guides...

CPSC Safety Academy Addresses Toy Standard; CPSC Public Disclosure Rule. September 26, 2012 — The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) first-ever “Safety Academy” was held on Thursday, September 20th...

'Hobbit' video game barrage keeps growing. September 26, 2012 — With two related titles already planned for consoles, Warner Bros. on Tuesday...

Top Ranked Dividend Stock JAKK Enters Oversold Territory. September 26, 2012 — The DividendRank formula at Dividend Channel ranks a coverage universe of thousands of dividend stocks...

Hasbro’s Zynga-branded merchandise coming to stores next week. September 26, 2012 — Hasbro and Zynga have announced that Hasbro’s line of Zynga-branded board games...

Skylanders Giants: From Concept to Toy. September 26, 2012 — The most amazing thing about Skylanders, apart from the magic of toys coming to life...

Tablet maker sues Toys R Us over kid-oriented tablet computer. September 25, 2012 — A Los Angeles maker of kid-oriented products is suing Toys R Us Inc...

Softer U.S. demand could hurt toy makers. September 25, 2012 — Worries about lower domestic toy sales this year haven't yet dented the...

Scholastic Kicks Off Clifford Celebrations. September 25, 2012
— Scholastic Media kicked off a yearlong celebration in honor of the 50th anniversary...

Toys 'R' Us to hire 13% more seasonal employees. September 25, 2012 — Toys 'R' Us Inc. will hire 45,000 seasonal employees in preparation for the holidays...

Toys to Fall For. September 25, 2012
— The toy industry is readying itself for the Fall Toy Preview in Dallas...

Database reveals toxic chemicals used to make toys and other products. September 25, 2012 — Starting Monday, you can go online and find out about some of the toxic chemicals...

SeaWorld to Feature Wowopolis. September 25, 2012 — Game manufacturer Wowopolis has teamed up with SeaWorld Orlando to incorporate its...

Waldo Partners Show Their Stripes. September 25, 2012 — Classic Media has announced a full line-up of events and product partners...

There’s No Spooking Spending As Seven In 10 Americans Plan To Celebrate Halloween This Year. September 25, 2012 — A record 170 million people plan to celebrate Halloween this year, according...

Summer Infant retains investor relations firm. September 25, 2012
— Summer Infant, a juvenile products manufacturer, today has retained Sharon Merrill, a...

Education Nation: Why Educators Aren't Sold On Video Games. September 25, 2012 — Video games are increasingly popular learning tools in classrooms, but not all teachers...

LeapFrog Enterprises - Aggressive Growth. September 25, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. has delivered nine consecutive positive earnings surprises with an average...

Xbox Challenged as Cable Plots to Make Consoles Obsolete. September 25, 2012
— AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Time Warner Cable Inc. are gearing up for a push to deliver...

MGA Appoints Licensing VP. September 24, 2012 — Toymaker MGA Entertainment has appointed Lauren Whitehead as vice president of domestic...

Ubooly, The Plush Toy With An iPhone Brain, Grabs $1.5M In Seed Funding. September 24, 2012 — Ubooly, A toy that uses Apple’s iPhone or iPod touch as a means...

Disney hopes hulking hero Wreck-it Ralph can be new Toy Story. September 24, 2012 — Disney unveiled their next big thing in London last week as we...

Bottomless Toy Chest Receives $10K in Chase Community Giving Contest. September 24, 2012 — The votes are in, and Birmingham's Bottomless Toy Chest — a nonprofit dedicated...

2012 Licensing Award Winners Announced. September 24, 2012 — The Licensing Awards 2012 took place in the glittering surroundings of The Great Room...

Trampolines are no place for kids, docs warn. September 24, 2012 — Trampolines are too dangerous for children to use, the American Academy of Pediatrics said Monday...

The Wild West of Licensing: Retailers Hesitant to Put the Cart Before the Angry Bird. September 24, 2012 — It seems that everyone is talking about entertainment apps these days. Angry Birds...

Kids tablets -- Serious toys, or serious junk? September 24, 2012 — When Toys R Us announced that it would be bringing a new...

Why is Walmart Dumping Kindle? September 24, 2012 — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will stop selling Amazon’s Kindle line of products at its Walmart stores...

Mattel Uses Web to Boost Retail Sales and Bond with Collectors. September 24, 2012 — For Mattel, the Internet isn't just a playground for cultivating direct sales...

HIT centralizes resources, ups Sid Mathur. September 24, 2012 — Mattel-owned HIT Entertainment has centralized content creation and...

Disney sees 'Avengers' as next 'Cars' or 'Toy Story'. September 21, 2012 — After its $1.5-billion take at the global box office, Walt Disney Co. is hoping to make...

NRF Applauds Decision To Extend Ports Contract Negotiations. September 21, 2012 — The National Retail Federation today released the following statement from Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold...

Merchants Say Proposed Swipe Fee Settlement Entrenches Visa/MasterCard Price Fixing. September 21, 2012
— In a letter sent to House and Senate leaders today, a group of associations representing merchants...

Hiring survey indicates best holiday job market in five years. September 21, 2012 — An annual seasonal hiring survey released Thursday by Snagajob indicates that more...

Hasbro to Monopolize Despicable Me 2. September 21, 2012 — Universal Partnerships & Licensing and Illumination Entertainment have announced a master gaming agreement...

'Tickety Toc' Gets U.S. Agent, Toy Partner. September 21, 2012 — Zodiak Kids has appointed Just Play as the North American master toy licensee...

Walmart won’t showroom Kindle anymore. September 21, 2012 — Widespread media reports have Walmart discontinuing the sale of Amazon’s popular Kindle...

Hasbro transforms FarmVille, CityVille and more into board games. September 21, 2012 — And these social game-board game amalgamations are headed your way this October...

Is A Turnaround In Store For Electronic Arts? September 21, 2012 — Electronic Arts (EA) has a troubling balance sheet. Even with the stock near...

Marvel Continues Legal Battle With Ghost Rider Creator. September 21, 2012 — In the continuing legal battle between Gary Friedrich and Marvel Entertainment, Marvel restated its claim...

Target to Hire Fewer Seasonal Workers. September 21, 2012 — Target Corp. said it plans to hire 80,000 to 90,000 seasonal employees this holiday...

Ouch! Majority of ‘Hot’ Holiday Toys Cost $50 or More. September 21, 2012 — We may still have over a month until it’s Halloween, and another...

Nintendo Wii U Tablet Gaming May Not Be Enough to Boost 30% Decline in Game Console Shipments, Says ABI Research. September 21, 2012 — Overall game console shipments declined over 30% year-over-year through the first half of 2012...

Mattel Announces Two Upcoming Events. September 20, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) today announced that it will webcast its quarterly conference call on Tuesday, October 16, 2012...

Holiday may not be merry for toymakers. September 20, 2012 — While toys are a hallmark of the holidays, for toymakers, this year may not turn out to be a merry season...

Trio shape up for shot at world toy market. September 20, 2012 — Three Whangarei citizens have been having blokes' shed fun designing and making kitsets of layered animal...

LeapFrog Partners With Putumayo Kids To Bring Global Music To Award-Winning Multimedia Platforms. September 20, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., the leader in educational entertainment, and Putumayo Kids today announced a partnership...

Tot Tablets, Retro Brands Are Toys R Us 'Hot Toys. September 19, 2012 — It's still technically summer, but for some it's not too soon to think...

Can a Kids' Toy Bring More Women Into Engineering? September 19, 2012 — Meet GoldieBlox, the lady engineer who hopes to unseat the princesses from their toy-store thrones...

Destination Dallas: Where Mass Market Retailers Will Go to Spot Hot Products for 2013. September 19, 2012 — In just two weeks, Dallas, Texas will become a critical hub for global toy retailers...

TIF Brings Toys to Foster & Military Kids in September. September 19, 2012 — On Thursday, September 13th, the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) hosted two important toy distribution events...

LoyaltyOne: Consumers less willing to share personal information with companies. September 19, 2012 — Consumers continue to be cautious about sharing their personal information, according to...

British toy store Hamleys sold to French firm. September 18, 2012 — British toy retailer Hamleys, controlled by failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki, has been sold...

Reports: EA Sports used real student-athlete likenesses in NCAA video games. September 19, 2012 — Emails unsealed this week as part of a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA, EA Sports and the Collegiate Licensing Company...

Kid Brands, Inc. Announces Management Changes. September 19, 2012 — Kid Brands, Inc. today announced several management changes. The Company announced the appointment of Kerry Carr as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company...

LeapFrog Announces Innovative New Way To Teach Kids About Their Body With New Human Body Discovery Pack For Tag(TM) Reading System. September 19, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. today announced Tag(TM) Human Body Discovery Pack, a unique two-sided interactive chart and game board...

Pixar's New Cars Toys Take Flight. September 18, 2012 — Disney-Pixar teamed up with NASCAR this weekend during Chase weekend at...

TIA Letter Urges ILA and USMX to Resolve Labor Negotiations. September 18, 2012 — As previously reported, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) has joined several industry groups...

Study: Retail CFOs forecast 4.5% increase in total 2012 sales. September 18, 2012 — A study released on Tuesday by BDO USA found that retailers are generally...

Deloitte: Consumer spending drops for second consecutive month. September 18, 2012 — The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, released Tuesday, showed a drop in spending...

Largest collection of toy soldiers: Spanish Museum sets world record. September 18, 2012 — The Museo de los Soldaditos de Plomo in Valencia, Spain holds a collection of more than 85,000 toy soldiers...

WBCP Adds Hobbit Licensees. September 18, 2012 — Warner Bros. Consumer Products EMEA has announced a host of new partners...

Chemical BPA linked to obesity in children, teens. September 18, 2012 — A new study has raised concerns that a chemical commonly found in aluminum cans...

Happy Holidays for Gamers: Price Wars Expected for Video-Game Consoles. September 18, 2012 — Gamers won’t be able to get their hands on the new Nintendo Wii U games system...

Stock Picks: LeapFrog set to jump higher on tablet sales. September 18, 2012 — At Galliant, as we look to the end of the year and...

Hasbro's 'Magic: The Gathering' And The Year Ahead. September 18, 2012 — One of the largest acquisitions for Hasbro (HAS) was the purchase of Wizards of the Coast...

Strong Brands Weak Results. September 18, 2012 — I'm constantly fascinated by the major toy companies as they seem to tread water all year to make it to the holidays...

2013 Toy of the Year Awards Now Accepting Nominations. September 18, 2012 — An exciting few months lie ahead as the 2013 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards process has officially begun...

Blue Orange Games Releases Educational Spot It Editions for PreK-2nd Grade. September 18, 2012 — Blue Orange Games has launched five new School Editions of their best selling game Spot it!...

U.K. Honors 2012 Licensing Winners. September 17, 2012 — The Moshi Monsters stole the show when the U.K. licensing industry gathered...

How Nintendo's Wii U Will Usher In A New Era Of Skylanders-Style Locked On-Disc DLC. September 17, 2012
— Activision’s line of Skylanders toys has has been a huge success, outpacing...

Layaway Is Generally A Horrible Idea. September 17, 2012 — Layaway is the topic du jour in consumer news this month as...

Filling the competitive in-home knowledge void: retailer advertising and promotion. September 17, 2012 — With shoppers making fewer trips and impulse purchases, the need to influence them...

Pure Play Kids Opens Made in USA Wooden Toy Facility in Centerville, TN. September 17, 2012 — Pure Play Kids, an emerging manufacturers of creative, made-in-USA toys, is excited to announce the opening of its wooden toy-making facility in Centerville, TN, southeast of Nashville...

Disney Princess Tops List Of The 20 Best-Selling Entertainment Products. September 17, 2012 — Trade publication The Licensing Letter today released its second annual list...

Is JAKKS Pacific Going to Burn You? September 17, 2012 — There's no foolproof way to know the future for JAKKS Pacific or any other company...

The Magic of FURBY Returns as Hasbro Unleashes an Unpredictable Furry Creature with "A MIND OF ITS OWN". September 17, 2012 — Almost 15 years after its debut, the iconic FURBY creature from Hasbro, Inc...

The ABCs Of Leadership From Fisher-Price's David Allmark. September 17, 2012 — Fisher-Price EVP David Allmark has a primer for agile innovation at...

3D printers bring hi-tech manufacturing to the home. September 17, 2012 — Not so long ago, harried moms and dads would brave the holiday season...

D&D' Past and Future. September 17, 2012 — Wizards of the Coast’s seminal tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons is...

Canadian company takes aim at controversial magnetic products market. September 17, 2012 — Like so many other suppliers around the world, Vaughan, Ontario-based Nano Magnetics Ltd...

Yemen Toy Market Poses Danger. September 17, 2012 — Low-quality children toys have spread through Yemeni markets without government censorship...

And Just What Makes Something a Children’s Product? September 17, 2012 — The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s CPSIA law regulating lead and phthalate only...

Paradise Galleries to Participate in 2012 Walk for Alzheimer's. September 14, 2012 — California-based designer, developer, and marketer of award-winning dolls, Paradise Galleries, announced today they are beginning to gather a team of doll lovers to participate in the 2012 Walk for Alzheimer's in Dana Point, California on October 6, 2012 in support of a great cause...

ABC Anticipates Strong Retailer Attendance for October Event. September 14, 2012 — With just a month to go before the ABC Kids Expo launches their 10 year anniversary event in Louisville next month, retailer registrations are running 19% ahead of last year...

CPSC Announces Chairman's Commendation Award Recipients. September 14, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today the recipients of the 2nd annual Chairman's Commendation Awards...

Solid Back-To-School Season Gives Modest Boost To August Retail Sales. September 14, 2012 — Coming off a solid back-to-school shopping season, retailers posted positive sales figures...

Toy Industry Input Requested on CPSC Staff Recommendations to Reduce the Cost of Third-Party Testing. September 14, 2012 — Following approval in August 2011 of the Amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act...

As global economy slows, Chinese factory shifts sights from Europe to home. September 14, 2012 — For two decades, every plush toy that the Kaiyee factory churned out...

TRU CEO Speaks on Omni-Channel Retail. September 14, 2012 — Jerry Storch, chairman and chief executive of Toys ‘R’ Us, debunked the “myth” that...

Why LeapFrog Enterprises's Earnings Are Outstanding. September 14, 2012 — Although business headlines still tout earnings numbers, many investors have moved past...

Canada is a Land of Retail Opportunity, According to WSL/Strategic Retail. September 14, 2012 — With fewer chains and little competition from online shopping, Canada represents a strong...

Children's Notebook: Cabbage Patch Kids. September 14, 2012 — A murmur of wonder rises from the silky heads of a dozen three- and four-year-old girls...

Fisher-Price On Connecting With Moms In The Digital World. September 14, 2012
— How relevant is Fisher-Price to Generation Y Moms? This question helped...

Walmart flexes holiday muscle, counters TRU initiative. September 14, 2012 — Walmart unveiled its top toy list Friday morning and couldn’t resist taking a shot at Toys "R" Us...

GameStop offers a Wii bit of excitement. September 14, 2012 — The struggling video game category should see a much-needed boost with...

Toys R Us beefs up services, exclusive toy offerings ahead of the holidays. September 13, 2012 — It’s still summer for a few more days, but the holidays are...

Holiday hiring indicator suggests Merry Christmas. September 13, 2012 — Retailers plan to hire an increased number of temporary workers this holiday season...

Kid Brands Appoints Kerry Carr As EVP And COO. September 13, 2012 — Kid Brands Inc. announced the appointment of Kerry Carr as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer...

Mattel, Inc. : Hot Wheels® Sets Third World Record in 18 Months with Successful Landing of Giant Corkscrew Jump. September 13, 2012 — Hot Wheels® set its second world record this summer and third in 18 months...

Is Proposed Recall on Magnet Toys Unfair? September 13, 2012 — Buckyballs, a toy made up of small magnetic beads that can be molded...

Toys 'R' Us CEO Reveals The Real Reason Why Sales Are Down. September 13, 2012 — Toys 'R' Us CEO Jerry Storch is tired of hearing about how Amazon and "showrooming" are...

Five Below, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2012 Financial Results. September 13, 2012 — Five Below, Inc. today announced financial results for the thirteen weeks and twenty-six weeks ended July 28, 2012...

Majesco Entertainment Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2012 Financial Results. September 13, 2012 — Majesco Entertainment Company, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today reported financial results...

Bluestem Brands Recalls Range Rider Ride-on Toy Cars Due to Fire and Burn Hazards. September 12, 2012 — The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC: About 4,700 Range Rider Ride-On Toy Cars from Bluestem Brands, Inc., sold in Fingerhut catalogs and online at Fingerhut.com and Gettington.com from September 2010 through May 2012 for between $200 and $230. The battery can overheat, smoke, melt and catch on fire, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ride-on toy cars and remove the battery and contact Bluestem for a full refund of the purchase price plus reimbursement for shipping and handling.

New ISO Standard to Help Spot Knock-off Products. September 12, 2012
— The International Standards Organization (ISO) announced last week that it has created a...

Toy Industry Association Names Andrew R. (Andy) Hackman as Vice President, Government Affairs. September 12, 2012 — The Toy Industry Association (TIA), the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses...

FTC Advises App Developers to "Build in Compliance from the Start". September 12, 2012 — Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a new guidance document for...

Survey: Retailers focusing on mobile site optimization and in-store technologies. September 12, 2012 — Retailers remain conservative when it comes to financial investments in mobile and tablet...

ShopperTrak: Holiday sales, foot traffic to realize gains. September 12, 2012 — As holiday sales and foot traffic historically account for about 20% of annual...

TRU CEO offers insights in Denver ahead of NYC holiday preview event. September 12, 2012 — Toys"R"Us chairman and CEO, Jerry Storch, is making the rounds this week...

Saban Announces Paul Frank TV Series. September 12, 2012 — Saban Brands has announced that a new preschool series based on its...

Toys "R" Us to use online to bring shoppers in its stores. September 12, 2012 — Wayne-based Toys "R" Us plans to use its network of 875 U.S. stores to fight...

Early Music Lessons Have Longtime Benefits. September 12, 2012 — When children learn to play a musical instrument, they strengthen a range of auditory skills...

Transformers 4 - Hasbro Reveal Plans to Reinvent Brand with New Characters and More. September 12, 2012 — Thanks to TFW who have reported on the UBS Best Of Americas 2012 Conference where Hasbro's...

Jack Weissman Dies at 85. September 12, 2012 — LIMA Licensing Hall-of-Famer Jack L. Weissman passed away Wednesday in New York City...

Barbie Doll's New Movie Barbie™ The Princess & The Popstar Launches on DVD. September 12, 2012 — This fall, Barbie gets glam and rocks out with the all new DVD movie Barbie™ The Princess & The Popstar available now...

QVC cues ties with CAA. September 12, 2012 — QVC is going shopping for programming in Hollywood. The network has signed...

G.I. Joe, Transformers among favorite toys. September 12, 2012
— What’s your favorite toy of all time? According to a survey done...

LeapFrog shares tumble after Toys R Us tablet news. September 11, 2012 — Shares of educational toy maker LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. fell Monday, after Toys R Us announced...

Aurora World Nabs Garfield® License Through 2015. September 11, 2012 — Aurora World Inc., which already licenses classic brands such as Lamb Chop™, Hush Puppies® and Raggedy Ann & Andy™, today announced in a press release details surrounding its newest plush license for the world's most famous cat, Garfield. The new collection launches in October 2012 and will be distributed to specialty shops, gift stores and retailers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand through December 31, 2015.

Potential Port Strike Would Have Negative Impact on Toy Industry in 4th Quarter. September 11, 2012
— In a Legislative Bulletin sent today, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) notified its members of a potential labor strike...

NRF Authorized To Go To Court To Block Swipe Fee Lawsuit Settlement. September 11, 2012 — The National Retail Federation today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the Federation to go to court to block the proposed $7.25 billion settlement...

Retailers’ Mobile Financial Investments Remain Conservative According To Shop.Org/Forrester Research Survey. September 11, 2012 — Retailers remain prudent in their financial investments when it comes to mobile objectives...

Video Games are Not Kickstarter's Biggest Successes. September 11, 2012 — I was sent over this rather interesting infographic today that focuses on something...

It’s Not All Fun and Games in Chapter 11. September 11, 2012 — Fun may indeed come first at Fundex Games Ltd., but eventually someone...

Google Struggles to Unseat Amazon as the Web’s Most Popular Mall. September 10, 2012 — Whether you are looking to buy a power tool or neon jeans online...

Tabeo, A Kid-Friendly Tablet From Toys 'R' Us, Will Hit Shelves On October 21. September 10, 2012 — Toys R Us plans to launch its own tablet computer aimed at children called Tabeo ...

Sales Tax Legislation Affecting Online Retailers Could Pass Later this Year. September 10, 2012 — Sales tax legislation that would eliminate the perceived competitive advantage that online...

You don't bring a 3D printer to a gun fight — yet. September 10, 2012 — Welcome to the dark side of 3D printing. The hobby...

Angry Birds Magic: Mattel lets the Pigs turn on the Angry Birds with new Apptivity accessory. September 10, 2012 — The ability to play as the pigs in Angry Birds has been hiding...

Kmart and Sears: Copying Another Company's Strategy Isn't Always Smart. September 10, 2012 — Even though many states are sweltering with 90 degree weather, the holiday...

Retailers’ Holiday Sales Projections & Hiring Plans Indicate More Confidence in Economy, Consumers, Hay Group Survey Finds. September 10, 2012 — Three fourths (75 percent) of retailers forecast an increase in holiday sales this year, according to a survey released today by Hay Group...

How will Microsoft and Sony respond to the Wii U launch? September 10, 2012 — The upcoming Wii U price won't simply determine the console's own future...

$499 Wikipad game tablet headed to GameStop this October. September 10, 2012 — The upcoming Wikipad, an Android tablet that promises to offer a number...

Indie video game designers create smaller, personal games. September 10, 2012 — Big-budget video games are becoming more and more like Hollywood blockbusters...

Studies Find More Students Cheating, With High Achievers No Exception. September 10, 2012 — Large-scale cheating has been uncovered over the last year at some...

Toys R Us second quarter net loss widens, sales decline. September 7, 2012 — Toys R Us Inc, the world's largest specialty toy retailer, reported a wider loss for its second quarter and a decline in net sales of 3.6 percent...

Mega Brands insider trading allegations dismissed. September 7, 2012 — Mega Brands Inc. says Quebec's administrative tribunal has dismissed insider trading allegations...

Kmart and Sears will drop all layaway fees year-round. September 7, 2012 — Starting Friday, Kmart and Sears will drop all layaway fees year-round...

August U.S. Video Game Retail Sales Drop 20% From Yr Ago. September 7, 2012 — Conditions in the U.S. video game sector remained grim in August...

Target plans conservatively for holidays. September 7, 2012 — Target Corp. has high hopes for the holiday season, but isn't preparing...

Mobile Gamers Now Represent the Largest Gamer Segment. September 7, 2012 — According to Gamer Segmentation 2012: The New Faces of Gamers, the latest report...

Violent video games can ease pain. September 7, 2012 — Research released today by Keele University shows that playing a violent video game can give people a better tolerance for pain...

LeapFrog Unveils Reduced Price For Original #1 Learning Tablet LeapPad1. September 7, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., the leader in educational entertainment, today announced a reduction of the price for the #1 learning tablet LeapPad1 to a MSRP of $79.99...

CSS Industries, Inc. Announces the Sale of the Halloween Portion of Its Paper Magic Business. September 7, 2012 — CSS Industries, Inc. announced today that it has sold the Halloween portion of its Paper Magic Group, Inc...

Rookie USA First Retailer to Leverage Celebrity Virtual Assistant; New Concept in Retail in-Store Experience and Melo Line. September 7, 2012 — As part of its grand opening, Rookie USA, a Manhattan-based premium, kids-only high end sports brand retail concept store...

VTech Survey Finds that Accidents and Choking are the Top Parent Concerns as National Baby Safety Month Begins. September 7, 2012
— In honor of National Baby Safety month in September, VTech Communications, Inc...

FAO Schwarz Unveils Tonner Doll Exhibit. September 7, 2012 — As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, the FAO Schwarz flagship ...

Nick Unveils Holiday Products. September 7, 2012 — Nickelodeon has released its new product line-up for the 2012 holiday season...

Northern California Children's Booksellers Group to Merge with NCIBA. September 7, 2012 — More than a quarter century after forming the first children’s booksellers organization...

Death of Child Prompts Recall of Window Blinds by Blind Xpress. September 6, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Blind Xpress of Livonia, Mich. is announcing the recall of about 139,000 custom-made vertical and 315,000 horizontal blinds. The blinds were sold at various blind specialty stores in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana from January 1995 through December 2011 for between $16 and $380. CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the window coverings and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) to receive a free repair kit.

Tinkermite Tablet is a wooden toy that teaches your kids about technology. September 6, 2012 — In this day and age where owning tablets is becoming more commonplace...

Special Needs Resource Debuts at Learning Express Toys. September 6, 2012 — On September 1, educational toy retailer Learning Express Toys introduced Skill Builders for Children with Special Needs...

Disney stock hits all-time high at $51.13. September 6, 2012 — Walt Disney Co. stock hit an all-time high of $51.13...

Wal-Mart lowers fee for holiday layaway program; latest salvo in layaway wars. September 6, 2012 — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is announcing that it will be lowering its fee...

Czechs spend almost CZK 5bn on toys in 2011. September 6, 2012 — Sales of children's toys in the Czech Republic rose by 1.5 percent...

WizKids/NECA, LLC Obtains Consent Permanent Injunction against Tree House Kids, Inc. September 6, 2012 — National Entertainment Collectibles Association Inc. is pleased to announce the entry of a Consent Permanent Injunction in a trademark infringement lawsuit against Tree House Kids, Inc...

Zoch Verlag Teams Up With Lion Rampant Imports for North American Distribution. September 5, 2012 — In 2012 Lion Rampant Imports has teamed up with Zoch Verlag to become an official partner distributor of Zoch titles in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico...

Hasbro Announces New Deals. September 5, 2012 — Hasbro has inked an array of licensing deals across multiple brands including...

NPD: Total number of U.S. video game players drops. September 5, 2012 — Fewer people are playing video games than last year, according to a new report...

Jazwares Expands Portfolio to Include Nickelodeon License; New Figures & Plush Set to Launch Fall 2012. September 5, 2012 — Jazwares™ announced today a licensing partnership with Nickelodeon to create Nicktoons-themed figures and plush...

Violent video games make people aggressive - sometimes. September 5, 2012 — Researchers say they may have explained why some studies show that violent...

LeapFrog Announces Touch Magic™, A New Line Of Touch-Enabled Interactive Learning Toys For Preschoolers. September 5, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. today announced Touch Magic™, a new line of interactive toys that encourage learning and exploration through intuitive touch technology...

Air-Val International to launch Disney and Mattel fragrances in Cannes. September 5, 2012 — Air-Val International is launching a new range of Disney and Mattel branded fragrances...

Lessons From the Nation's Biggest Architectural Toy Collection. September 5, 2012 — Stashed away in a third-floor room of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C...

SEC: Companies Must Disclose Use of Conflict Minerals. September 5, 2012 — On August 22, 2012, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted a rule...

Play Matters for Millions: Growing Support for the Toy Industry Foundation and Its Mission to Serve Children in Need. September 5, 2012 — Play Matters for Millions is a new fundraising initiative that will help the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) grow its reach...

American Girl Debuts New Historical Character, Caroline Abbott, Who Helps Her Family and Her Country During the War of 1812. September 4, 2012 — This September—200 years after America secured its standing as a truly independent nation—American Girl's newest historical character, Caroline Abbott, shows girls today how to stay steady and believe in themselves during difficult times. Caroline, an independent and adventurous nine-year-old girl whose story is set near Lake Ontario during the War of 1812, learns to face her most challenging moments using her heart as her compass...

Retailers Boost Layaway Shopping Trend. September 4, 2012 — Welcome to September. For retailers, the countdown to the holiday shopping season has begun...

Highlights from the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (photos). September 4, 2012 — If you're a comic book fan, love toys or just someone who...

Toy Fair UK Expands Olympia Footprint. September 4, 2012 — Next year’s Toy Fair will expand into Olympia’s Upper West Hall to....

Dr. Toy Announces 100 Best Children’s Products of 2012 (PDF). September 4, 2012 — As a natural, on–going part of our work as parents, teachers, early...

Japanese toy firm Bandai to put up P400-M factory in Batangas. September 4, 2012 — Japanese toy manufacturer Bandai, the company behind Power Rangers and Gundam action figures...

Lego Earnings 2012: Toy Maker's Profits Surge On Demand For Toys Marketed To Girls. August 31, 2012 — Lego's new line of toys created specifically for girls helped first-half profits jump 35 percent...

Inflatable Recreational Tubes Recalled by Tractor Supply Due to Chemical Burn and Irritation Hazard. August 31, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 10,900 Traveller Recreational Tubes from Tractor Supply Company, sold at Tractor Supply Stores nationwide from May 2012 through June 2012 for about $20. Contact with the inflatable tube can result in severe skin irritation or burns. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to any Tractor Supply Store for a full refund.

Mega Bloks Launches 'Halo' Contest. August 31, 2012 — Toy company Mega Bloks is prepping for the second annual Halo Toymation Fest...

A Cash Mob Hits Reopened Curious George Store. August 31, 2012
— The World’s Only Curious George Store in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass., may also hold...

Toy Boat’s Future Looks Brighter A Month After Closure Seemed Sure. August 31, 2012 — A month ago, the owners of Toy Boat Toy Boat Toy Boat announced that the shop was on the brink of closure...

Random House Announces New Titles. August 31, 2012 — Random House Children’s Books has released a series of new licensed titles...

‘Spider-Man’ Producer Avi Arad To Bring Popular Video Game ‘Metal Gear Solid’ To The Big Screen. August 31, 2012 — Sony has announced that they will be bringing “Metal Gear Solid,” the immensely popular video game...

Skylanders Giants: Toys paired with gaming equals success. August 31, 2012 — Skylanders already has one installment in the books since it debut title...

Educational Replica Company Goes Green. August 31, 2012 — Safari Ltd®, manufacturer and worldwide distributor of award-winning replica collections, announced that the company now offers electronic invoices, helping to eliminate paper while saving trees. Customers still have the option to receive a paper version, but Safari Ltd® hopes that eventually all of its customers will opt for the electronic form. The company also prints credit card and receipt information on the same sheet of paper as the invoice, saving about 1,000 pieces of paper per year.

How the video games industry is faring. August 31, 2012 — Companies in the video games business have been reporting earnings for the...

Back to School: Were We Ever Away? August 31, 2012 — Remember the big pre-Labor Day shopping excursion, the reunion with beloved classmates...







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