November 2026 | Vol. XXV - No. 11

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Toys In The News 11/3/2026

By: TDmonthly Staff
Nov 3, 2026

Don Quijote Parent PPIH Completes Its Takeover of Toys“R”Us Japan’s Business After Court Approval

Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH), the Tokyo-listed retail group, said its wholly owned subsidiary Operation Shared Services (OSS) completed the acquisition of the business of Toys“R”Us-Japan on Oct. 30. The Tokyo District Court approved the business transfer on Oct. 28 under Japan’s Civil Rehabilitation Act, which was the last condition of the sponsor agreement the companies signed on Oct. 1, the same day Toys“R”Us Japan petitioned the court to begin civil rehabilitation proceedings.

Under the agreement, OSS takes over the sale of toys, baby and children’s products and related merchandise through Toys“R”Us Japan’s stores and online channels. PPIH said it aims, to the extent possible, to take on all Toys“R”Us Japan employees and asked landlords to consent to the transfer of all stores. PPIH, which is targeting ¥4.2 trillion in net sales by the fiscal year ending June 2035 under its “Double Impact 2035” plan, said the deal gives it a new family, baby and toy customer base. It is still reviewing the impact on its results.

Source: Pan Pacific International Holdings

Amazon Grows Q3 Sales 12% to $201.9 Billion, Guides Q4 to $240–$247 Billion and Plans More Than 300,000 Holiday Hires

Amazon operations employee in a safety vest outside an Amazon facility

Amazon reported third-quarter 2026 net sales of $201.9 billion on Oct. 29, up 12% from $180.2 billion a year earlier, with operating income of $28.1 billion and a 13.9% operating margin, which Amazon called its highest ever. For the fourth quarter, which covers the holiday toy season, Amazon expects net sales of $240.0 billion to $247.0 billion, up 12% to 16% from the fourth quarter of 2025.

For toy sellers, the release noted that Amazon increased its selection from notable brands, including FAO Schwarz, by more than 20% year over year, and that it plans to hire more than 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time employees across its U.S. operations this holiday season. Amazon has said full-time U.S. operations jobs now start at $20 an hour.

Source: Amazon.com, Inc. Investor Relations

Spin Master Adds OpenAI’s First Chief Marketing Officer, Kate Rouch, to Its Board

Spin Master announced on Oct. 29 that Kate Rouch has been appointed to its board of directors. Rouch most recently served as OpenAI’s first Chief Marketing Officer, where she built and led its global marketing organization, and she has held leadership positions at Meta and Coinbase. Forbes has named her one of the world’s 10 Most Influential CMOs.

The appointment brings consumer-tech marketing experience to the board as CEO Christina Miller works to connect Spin Master’s digital business with physical retail. Miller said the company “took steps toward fully realizing Toca Boca World by successfully bridging digital acquisition and engagement with physical retail and brand partnerships.” Spin Master also reiterated its 2026 outlook of stable to low-single-digit revenue growth and mid-to-high-single-digit growth in adjusted EBITDA.

Source: Spin Master via PR Newswire

UK Budget Raises Small Business Rates Relief for Shops to £18,000 and Caps Retail Rates Bills at CPI for Two Years

The UK government’s Budget includes a business rates package for England that raises Small Business Rates Relief thresholds for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties to £18,000 for full relief and £21,000 for tapered relief, according to a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government letter to councils, last updated Oct. 30. Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties also get a two-year real-terms bill freeze until March 31, 2029, with business rates bills capped by CPI inflation in 2027/28 and 2028/29.

The package also extends the 2026 Supporting Small Business scheme for another year for businesses that received 2023 relief, extends the Transitional Relief Supplement, and removes business rates relief from vape shops and adult gaming centres. For 2027/28, the small business retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier is 39.5p and the standard one is 44.5p. Independent toy shops on high streets in England are among the businesses that can benefit.

Source: GOV.UK (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)

BTHA Overhauls Its Toy Retailer of the Year Awards With New Categories and Individual Honors; Entries Close Nov. 27

Smyths receiving the 2025 Toy Retailer of the Year award on stage at the Toy Industry Awards

The British Toy & Hobby Association has folded its older retailer-type categories into a broader set for its 2026 Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, open to all toy retailers in the UK and Ireland, BTHA members or not. The awards are Independent Retailer of the Year, Campaign of the Year, the Partnership Award, the Retail Playmaker Award for an individual who championed play, and Overall Toy Retailer of the Year, plus two Special Recognition awards, Standout Achievement of the Year and Industry Champion, given only when the panel finds a deserving winner.

Retailers can enter as many awards as fit, with a separate entry of up to 600 words and up to four photos for each. There is no entry for the overall award; the judging panel picks that winner from all entries and its own nominations. Entries close Friday, Nov. 27, 2026.

Source: British Toy & Hobby Association

Heathside Signs Kewpie for European Collectibles in 2027, a Day After Its Executive Bought Zavvi Group’s IP and Stock

Kewpie character artwork with the Kewpie logo and Be Kind lettering

UK toy and collectibles distributor Heathside Trading announced on Nov. 3 a licensing partnership with Kewpie Corporation to bring a range of Kewpie collectibles to Europe in 2027 under Heathside’s own Khadou brand, including figures, charms, plush and novelties. The deal was negotiated by Licensing Works!, Kewpie Corporation’s licensing agent. Kewpie began as cartoon stories by Rose O’Neill in 1909 and was first produced as bisque dolls in 1912. “Kewpie is an iconic character brand with a long history and avid fanbase,” said Heathside CEO Gregory Benassar.

On Nov. 2, Heathside said Darren Epstein, its Pop Culture EVP Global Business Development, has completed a personal acquisition of the Zavvi Group’s intellectual property, web domains, customer databases and entire inventory. Heathside plans to integrate key brands and commercial opportunities into its business units throughout 2027, with Sales Director Max Nelson’s team managing the stock. “With the final eight weeks of the year approaching, we see substantial potential to bring exceptional value products to market,” Epstein said.

Source: Licensing.biz (Kewpie) and Licensing.biz (Zavvi)

Volt Factor Becomes Motorsport Network’s Global Licensing Agent and Signs PhatMojo as Master Toy Partner for Triple Charm

Vintage rally car with Motorsport Network and Autosport logos

Volt Factor, a platform that builds creator IP into consumer brands, was appointed exclusive global licensing agent for Motorsport Network, announced Oct. 28. Volt Factor will lead the media company’s licensing strategy across apparel and fashion accessories, leather goods, collectibles, games, publishing, gifts and lifestyle products. Motorsport Network reports more than 61 million monthly digital users across 81 countries, and its portfolio is anchored by Autosport, first published in August 1950, along with Motorsport.com, Motor1 and InsideEVs.

On Nov. 3, Volt Factor added a global master toy agreement with PhatMojo for Triple Charm, a sister trio with more than 14 billion views and 27 million followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. PhatMojo will develop Triple Charm’s toy and collectibles program and build its presence on Roblox, while the group’s video library is now on Tubi. “We’re not just licensing a logo,” Volt Factor co-founder and CEO Elan Freedman said of the Motorsport deal.

Source: Total Licensing (Motorsport Network) and Total Licensing (Triple Charm)

Authentic Brands Group Opens the First Care-A-Lot by Care Bears Café in Mexico, With Fans Lining Up for Hours

Storefront of the Care-A-Lot by Care Bears Cafe with Care Bears figures and plush shelves

Authentic Brands Group said the world’s first Care-A-Lot by Care Bears Café, developed with bee·group, opened Oct. 16 at Galerías Monterrey in Nuevo León, Mexico, with fans lining up for more than four hours on opening weekend. The café pairs character-inspired food and drinks, such as Care Bears mini cakes, rainbow desserts and milkshakes, with a retail area for official merchandise, collectibles and accessories. Mini cakes are the best-selling dessert and Grumpy Bear leads merchandise sales, and Authentic says families are combining café purchases with merchandise.

The opening weekend generated more than 2.2 million Instagram views, and the café’s Instagram and Facebook accounts gained more than 11,000 followers in a week. “Mexico is our starting point, and we see tremendous potential to bring this concept to fans around the world,” said Simon Philips, EVP, Character Brands at Authentic Brands Group. The launch comes ahead of Care Bears’ 45th anniversary in 2027, and Authentic calls it a foundation for more location-based entertainment that combines food, storytelling and licensed retail.

Source: Authentic Brands Group

Pentel and Peanuts Launch a Limited-Edition Stationery Collection of EnerGel RTX Gel Pens, RSVP Ballpoints and Hi-Polymer Erasers

Pentel of America announced on Oct. 28 a limited-edition collaboration with Peanuts that puts Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang on Pentel EnerGel RTX gel pens, RSVP ballpoint pens and Hi-Polymer erasers. Pentel is positioning the collection for the fall and holiday seasons for students, professionals, stationery fans and Peanuts collectors.

“Peanuts began with a pen and paper over 76 years ago, so partnering with Pentel was a natural fit for us,” said Jacqueline Demby, director of hardlines at Peanuts. Jeff Werderman, Pentel of America’s director of marketing, called the collection “both functional and fun.” The deal shows how evergreen character brands keep extending into everyday categories beyond the toy aisle.

Source: Pentel of America via PR Newswire

Fred Rogers Productions Teams With The Mash-Up Americans on “Young Neighbors,” Its First Original Podcast, for 2027

Fred Rogers with the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood model neighborhood

Fred Rogers Productions, the company behind Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Odd Squad, announced on Oct. 29 that it is partnering with media studio The Mash-Up Americans on Young Neighbors, a non-fiction podcast featuring stories of kids across America told in their own voices. It is the company’s first original podcast and will launch in 2027 with 12 full-length and 12 mini episodes.

Designed for kids ages 8 to 11 and their families, the show blends field reporting and host-led conversations in a documentary-style magazine format about kids’ everyday lives, feelings, families and communities. “Young Neighbors builds on Fred Rogers’ legacy of modeling kindness and curiosity with uplifting conversations, and audio is a beautiful medium for that,” said Ellen Doherty, chief creative officer and executive producer. The podcast is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Source: Fred Rogers Productions

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