November 21, 2024

Toys in the News: 12-30-11

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Wimpy Kid Wins Restraining Order Against Comics Parody. December 30, 2011 — The Wimpy Kid was not so wimpy in a Massachusetts court Wednesday when...

Elly Mae Clampett Barbie Doll Suit Settled. December 30, 2011 — The actress who played Elly May Clampett on the "The Beverly Hillbillies," toymaker Mattel...

Grand Sounds From Toy Piano. December 30, 2011 — As a classically trained pianist, Phyllis Chen knew her way around a grand piano from a young age...

Why Barbie is a Real Doll of an Investment. December 30, 2011 — In most cases, turning a profit in the world of doll collecting requires a great deal of research...

Should the World of Toys Be Gender-Free? December 30, 2011 — Now that the wrapping paper and the infernal clamshell packaging have been relegated...

Schoenhut, Safari LTD, HaPe International & Other Top Toy Co's are Letting Retailers Choose Charities for Toy Giveaway. December 29, 2011 — TDmonthly's exciting new "2012: A Year of Charity" program is a chance for retailers to donate 100 high-quality toys to the charities of their choosing, with the help of top toy manufacturers like Schoenhut, Safari LTD, and HaPe International...

Wimpy Kid Goes to Court Against Zombie. December 29, 2011 — Up until now the Wimpy Kid’s adventures have stayed out of court. But that changed on Tuesday with the filing of a trademark infringement lawsuit...

Rob Deez gets in trouble with Mattel. December 29, 2011 — Rob Deez has gotten into trouble with toy manufacturer Mattel over the title and cover art of his new album...

Asus unfazed by Hasbro lawsuit over 'Transformer' tablet. December 29, 2011 — Taiwanese computer maker Asus remains unfazed by a trademark infringement suit lodged against it...

Painting Toy Guns to Look Real Could be Outlawed. December 29, 2011 — Young teenagers playing with toy guns could have been killed in a mall parking lot a few years ago...

Toy rental service hits the web. December 28, 2011 — Are your kids still basking in the glow of all the toys they got under the tree this year?

How toys can benefit children's mental health. December 28, 2011 — For parents, the toy market can be overwhelming. Which toys are actually beneficial for children?

Madeline Bed Canopy Recalled by Pottery Barn Kids Due to Impact Hazard. December 28, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product...

World’s earliest toy car and title deed on show at Mardin Museum. December 27, 2011 — The world’s earliest toy car and title deed which were unearthed several months ago...

Learning Express, the Educational Toy Franchise Announces the Establishment of 16 New Franchise Stores in the Last Quarter of 2011. December 27, 2011 — Educational toy franchise expands across the United States - now seeking to develop new franchise stores in the Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, and Yakima, Washington...

CPSC Launches Registry for Small Batch Children’s Product Manufacturers. December 27, 2011 — Today, CPSC is launching an easy-to-use registry for small batch manufacturers, which can be found at www.SaferProducts.gov. Congress directed CPSC to establish this registry for small batch manufacturers in Public Law 112-28, which was signed into law by President Obama on August 12, 2011...

Collective Bias builds brand with addition of Berg. December 27, 2011 — Kate Berg has been name president of Collective Bias, the rapidly growing social shopper marketing firm...

Stein Mart restates third-quarter loss. December 27, 2011 — Stein Mart released restated third-quarter results Friday that showed an upwardly revised loss...

Parents, you are top regulator when it comes to toy safety. December 23, 2011 — When it comes to toy safety, you can't always count on Santa to get things right. By and large, you're on your own...

Do toy stocks make good gifts for your portfolio? December 23, 2011 — Given the time of year, which toy stocks have been the best for investors?

Vornado To Record $32.3 Million Loss From 3Q Toys 'R' Us Loss. December 23, 2011 — Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) said it will include wider losses from its 32.7% stake in Toys "R" Us Inc....

Build-A-Bear Recalls Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears Due to Choking Hazard. December 23, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product...

Target looks ahead to after Christmas. December 23, 2011 — While many retailers are scrambling to attract last minute Christmas shoppers, some, including Target...

Character World Scoops up Sonic License. December 22, 2011 — Character World will produce Sonic the Hedgehog branded home décor and accessory products...

Toy Maker Sues Android Tablet Maker Over ‘Transformer’ Tablet. December 22, 2011 — Hasbro is suing California computer maker Asus, saying the company’s new Transformer Prime...

Crestwood company's toy high on Christmas lists. December 22, 2011 — An educational toy made by a Chicago-area company is one of the "it" gifts...

U.S. toy recalls down in fiscal '11. December 22, 2011 — There were 34 toy recalls in fiscal year 2011, down from 46...

Study: Any toy good if a parent plays too. December 22, 2011 — Some parents prefer to buy educational toys, but children benefit from any toy...

Bugaboo Bee Strollers Recalled by Bugaboo Americas Due to Fall Hazard. December 22, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.

Target Recalls Circo Childrens’ Travel Cases Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard. December 22, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.

ShopperTrak report: Holiday sales increase 22% for week ending Dec. 17. December 22, 2011 — A report released Wednesday by ShopperTrak found that holiday shoppers boosted sales 21.7%...

Walmart works Vudu magic with Xbox. December 22, 2011 — Walmart announced that its Vudu entertainment service is now available...

Consumer poll: 25% of Americans haven’t started holiday shopping yet. December 22, 2011 — The Consumer Reports Holiday Poll released Wednesday found that a quarter...

AURORA WORLD, TY, INC. Settle Federal Copyright Case. December 22, 2011 — Aurora World Inc. today announced it has reached a settlement agreement with Ty, Inc. in regards to the federal copyright lawsuit over Aurora’s best selling brand, YooHoo & Friends™. The parties have reached an amicable settlement of their dispute and the Court has entered a consent decree in the action.

Why are toys selling out? Might be mommy blog buzz. December 21, 2011 — Emily Vanek is not buying up a bunch of LeapPad Explorers herself, but she may be at least partly to blame...

With Mattel Toys On Top: Holiday Sales Helped By Strong Brands. December 21, 2011 — In the tradition of years past that saw adults pushing through store aisles...

Hasbro Expands NERF in Europe. December 21, 2011 — Hasbro has signed Second Chance to develop, market and distribute NERF branded...

Activision's Skylanders Spreads Reach With Virtual World. December 21, 2011 — Skylanders Spyro's Universe, the latest component of Activision Publishing's multi-faceted video game and physical toy franchise...

Battle Grounds Among Toy Retailers: Breaking Down The Consumer Demographics. December 21, 2011 — Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and Target; these three companies continue to battle for toy sales...

Visa Survey: 77% of Americans haven’t finished shopping. December 21, 2011 — A new survey conducted this past weekend by Visa Inc. shows that 77% of consumers still need to buy holiday gifts...

Pay gap extends to female retail workers. December 21, 2011 — There might be more women working in retail, but they're getting paid a lot less than their male counterparts...

Dear Santa Letter sent 100 years ago found up chimney. December 21, 2011 — It may have been slightly scorched over the years but a letter to Santa written 100 years ago...

JAKKS Pacific Sinks: Are Toy Stocks In For a Not So Merry Christmas? December 20, 2011 — On Monday, small cap toy maker stock JAKKS Pacific (NASDAQ: JAKK), the maker of Pokemon and Cabbage Patch Kids products, slashed its 2011 outlook...

Hot Wheels and Monster Jam Roar into 2012 Season with New Team Hot Wheels Monster Truck. December 20, 2011 — Hot Wheels® and Monster Jam® are teaming up in an even bigger way to bring fans the ultimate in thrilling vehicle experiences...

Online holiday spending continues at 15% growth clip. December 20, 2011 — Following recent e-commerce trends released by comScore, online spending continues to grow...

The Shape of Things to Come. December 20, 2011 — Sphero is a new toy that meshes the personality and maneuverability of a remote-controlled car with the simple form factor of an ordinary ball...

“Toy of the Year” Nominated Games Bring Families Together over the Holidays. December 20, 2011 — The holidays are all about family bonding – and what better way to connect than through play?

IBM report: Holiday shopping from mobile devices on the rise. December 20, 2011 — IBM on Monday released its Benchmark projection for online sales...

LEGO and Warner Bros. Build on Hobbit, Lord of the Rings. December 19, 2011 — Warner Bros. Consumer Products has granted LEGO exclusive rights to develop build-and-play construction sets...

Build-A-Bear Agrees to $600,000 Civil Penalty for Failing to Report Defective Toy Beach Chairs. December 19, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. (Build-A-Bear), of St. Louis, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $600,000...

Children's Hearing at Risk From Noisy Christmas Toys as Loud as a Chainsaw. December 19, 2011 — Christmas toys could permanently damage the hearing of toddlers as they can...

Toys R Us CEO Looks Abroad. December 19, 2011 — This is the most important time of the year for retailers, especially for toy companies...

Michelle Obama donates gifts to Toys for Tots. December 19, 2011 — Michelle Obama is urging people to give to charities for the holiday season...

Canada, U.S. Agree on Joint Action Plans to Facilitate Cross-Border Trade and Align Regulations. December 19, 2011 — On December 7th, President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed on two action plans that aim to improve cross-border business at the largest shared border in the world...

'Book Thief' Hits Two Million in U.S. Sales. December 16, 2011 — Markus Zusak’s 2006 Printz Honor novel The Book Thief (Knopf) has just sold two million copies

ABC Moves Forward with 10th Anniversary Event in Louisville in 2012, Announces Move Back to Las Vegas in 2013. December 16, 2011 — All Baby & Child, Inc. (ABC), the parent company and organizer of ABC Kids Expo®, has announced that it is moving forward with plans for its 10th annual event at the Kentucky Exposition Center on October 14-17, 2012. Exhibit space for the 2012 show is already 75% sold. After careful review of feedback received from industry participants after the 2011 show, ABC is working closely with Louisville officials and suppliers to address concerns for the 2012 event in Louisville...ABC is also pleased to announce that a move back to Las Vegas is planned for 2013 and is tentatively scheduled for October 15-18, 2013, according to a press release.

ASTM Toy Safety Standard F963-11 Is Issued. December 16, 2011 — As part of its continuing efforts to proactively address potential toy safety issues, ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products has approved revisions to ASTM F963, Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety. Changes made to the standard include revisions to the section on heavy metals, the introduction of compositing procedures, and new safety requirements and technical guidance for bath toy projections, acoustics and other potential safety hazards in toys.

Random House Adds Pocoyo for Preschoolers. December 16, 2011 — Random House Children’s Books has signed a license with Zinkia Entertainment...

Federal Authorities Seize Dangerous Toys. December 16, 2011 — Hundreds of imported toys have been seized from the Port of Miami and the airport by U.S. Customs and Border protection...

Is This Toy on Your Kid's List? Santa Tried Hard But... December 16, 2011 — The recent flooding in Thailand has disrupted more than exports of cars and PCs...

New Jersey Court Grants International Playthings, LLC Temporary Restraints against Toy Teck Ltd. LLC, Toyteck Corporation, and Manley Toys Ltd.. December 16, 2011 — International Playthings, LLC and its parent company Epoch Company, Ltd. commenced an action in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against Toy Teck Ltd. LLC, Toyteck Corporation, Manley Toys Ltd., Mitchell August, and other defendants alleging false advertising, copyright infringement, unfair competition and certain other claims (Civil Action No. 2:11-CV-06832-SDW-MCA).

Hasbro Falls Prey to 'Angry Birds'. December 16, 2011 — Board games traditionally sell big during the holidays, but lately, Hasbro Inc....

Green Monday online spending up 19% to $1.13 billion. December 16, 2011 — Data released Wednesday by comScore showed that holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 42 days of the 2011 holiday season is up 15%...

Lego Is for Girls. December 15, 2011 — Walk into one of Lego’s 74 red-and-yellow retail stores around the world...

Hong Kong Toy Manufacturers’ Sales May Fall in 2012, FHKI Says. December 15, 2011 — Toy manufacturers in Hong Kong, who exported HK$54.9 million ($7.2 million) of toys in the first nine months of this year, may see their sales fall...

National Retail Federation Upgrades Holiday Forecast, Expects Sales To Rise 3.8 Percent To $469.1 Billion. December 15, 2011 — With just ten days until Christmas, the National Retail Federation has revised its holiday forecast upward...

Wal-Mart’s Asda Threatens Argos in U.K. Toy War With 50% Discounts: Retail. December 15, 2011 — Price wars on toys are as much of a British Christmas tradition as turkey dinners...

Nickelodeon Restructures Consumer Products Division. December 15, 2011 — In a move to better manage its evergreen properties like SpongeBob SquarePants...

Want to Market to Kids Via Social Networks? Good Luck With That. December 15, 2011 — Silly Bandz is one of the most successful children’s product launches in recent...

TRU Staying Open for 112 Hours Through Christmas Eve. December 15, 2011 — Toys"R"Us Has announced that its stores nationwide will remain open for 112 uninterrupted hours...

Survey: Holiday Shoppers Plan to Spend Less; Gift Cards More Popular in United States. December 15, 2011 — A new survey by Angus Reid Public Opinion revealed a number of similarities...

Shoppers Say Target Hits the Mark With its Social Marketing. December 14, 2011 — Target Corp. has the best social media presence among retailers, according to a new...

Toys Distribution Inc. Recalls Rattles Due to Choking Hazard. December 14, 2011 — 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 50 Baby Rattles from Toys Distribution Inc., sold at small toy stores in Colorado and Texas from December 2009 through December 2010 for about $2. The recalled rattles can break into small parts, posing a choking hazard to young children and violating the federal safety requirements for rattles. In addition, the size of the handle on some of the rattles is small enough to enter an infant's mouth, lodge in the throat and cause a choking hazard or lead to bruises and lacerations. Consumers should take the recalled rattles away from children immediately and return them to the place of purchase or contact Toys Distribution Inc. to receive a full refund or replacement product.

Sector Snap: Toy Makers Vie for Holiday Bucks. December 14, 2011 — Which toy maker has the most hit toys this holiday season?

Survey Finds Most Consumers Have More Than Half Of Their Shopping To Complete. December 14, 2011 — It’s the final countdown. Over the next few weeks, millions of Americans will visit stores...

ShopperTrak Notes Retail Sales Rise Second Week of December. December 14, 2011 — A new report by ShopperTrak found that sales continue to rise despite flat year-over-year figures...

Bandai America Donates $35,000 to Toy Industry Foundation in 2011, Bringing Total Donations to $100,000. December 14, 2011 — The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) applauds the generosity of Bandai America, which has donated $35,000...

Holiday Survey: More Than 40% of Consumers Will Shop Last-Minute for Gifts. December 13, 2011 — Survey data from PriceGrabber, an Experian company, said that many consumers will continue to hit the stores...

Crayola Adds e-Books, Apps. December 13, 2011 — Crayola and Ruckus Media Group, have entered a digital partnership to develop...

Holiday Safety Alert: Consumer Injuries Involving Decorations and Decorating Are on the Rise. December 13, 2011 — Holiday decorating plans do not normally include lacerations, falls and fires. Unfortunately, these hazards make an unwelcome appearance...

NPD: Toys Top Holiday Wish Lists. December 13, 2011 — Still looking for the perfect present for the kids in your life? According to The NPD Group...

No Hit Toy to Brighten Retailers’ Christmas. December 13, 2011 — With Christmas less than two weeks away, the toy industry has no runaway hit...

Buoyed By Strong Black Friday Weekend, November Retail Sales Rise 4.5 Percent, According To NRF. December 13, 2011 — Strong promotions on holiday gifts helped a variety of retail categories draw in savvy shoppers...

Working Moms Feel Better Than Stay-At-Home Moms, Study Finds. December 13, 2011 — Mothers with jobs tend to be healthier and happier than moms who stay at home...

Holiday Season-to-date Sees 15% Jump in Online Sales. December 12, 2011 — The holiday season-to-date has garnered $24.6 billion in online sales...

Discovery Expands Toy Offerings. December 12, 2011 — Discovery Communications has expanded its Discovery Channel and Animal Planet toy offerings...

TRU Q3 Sales Down Ahead of Holiday Shopping. December 12, 2011 — Toys“R”Us' focus on the upcoming holiday shopping season was reflected in its third quarter results...

Universal Studios unveils Harry Potter attraction plans for L.A. December 12, 2011 — After defeating Voldemort and his Death Eaters in seven bestselling books and eight hit movies...

Smartest Toys for Kids can be the Simplest. December 12, 2011 — To a baby, blocks aren't just toys. They're appetizers...

Hasbro to Eliminate PVC Packaging. December 9, 2011 — Hasbro has pledged to completely eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all new...

One Third of Chinese Toys Contain Heavy Metals. December 9, 2011 — A wide range of toys and children’s products, including those sold by reputable brands...

Children's Pajamas Recalled by Bella Bliss Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard. December 9, 2011 — 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 2,300 Children's Henley Pima Cotton Pajamas from Bliss Collection LLC, sold at Bella Bliss catalog and website, and specialty clothing retailers and online stores from January 2008 to June 2011 for about $48 to $58. The pajamas fail to meet the federal flammability standards for children's sleepwear posing a risk of burn injury to children. Children should stop wearing the recalled sleepwear immediately and consumers should return it to the retailer where the product was purchased for a refund, exchange or store credit.

U.S. Consumer Confidence Holds at Recession Levels. December 9, 2011 — A report released Thursday said that consumer confidence in the U.S. was little changed...

Economic Slump Affects Santa Claus, Too. December 9, 2011 — During an economic slump, even Santa is paying careful attention to never guarantee presents...

Kids’ Breakfast Cereal Is Basically Candy. December 9, 2011 — In the ongoing war against childhood obesity, manufacturers of children's cereal...

Media Mix: Video Game Challenge. December 9, 2011 — Are your middle and high school students passionate about playing video games?

Fast-food Toy Ban No Aid to Nutrition, Study Says. December 9, 2011 — Santa Clara County's ban on fast-food toys for kids has had no effect...

Mattel Searches for New Agency for Games Business. December 8, 2011 — Mattel is on the hunt for a new creative agency for its games business...

MEG Toys Announces Master Toy Distribution Deal with JAKKS Pacific for Puppy In My Pocket. December 8, 2011 — MEG Toys announced today the signing of a key agreement for its Puppy In My Pocket(R) property: a master toy distribution deal with leading U.S. toy company, JAKKS Pacific, Inc....

Plus Licens to Rep Ninja Turtles. December 8, 2011 — Plus Licens inked a deal with Nickelodeon Consumer Products, a division of Viacom International Media Networks...

Mr Men Bought by Hello Kitty Owner. December 7, 2011 — Japan's Sanrio confirms it is to launch UK-based subsidiary including characters...

The Holiday Toy Popularity Contest. December 7, 2011 — It used to be that Elmo just wanted to be tickled. This Christmas...

Amazon Publishing Expands into Children's Books. December 7, 2011 — In an aggressive expansion into children's publishing, Amazon has acquired over 450 children's titles...

Guys’ Brains Change After Violent Gaming. December 7, 2011 — After playing violent video games for one week, young adult men showed signs of sustained changes...

Kidderminster Toy Maker Goes Into Administration. December 7, 2011 — TP Activity Toys, also known as Tube Plastics Limited, based in Kidderminster...

Christmas Shoppers Warned Over Flood of Counterfeit Toys. December 7, 2011 — Christmas shoppers are being warned that a wave of counterfeit goods is flooding the market...

Annoying Orange Rolls Into Halloween Gear. December 7, 2011 — There will be more orange-hued costumes available for next year’s Halloween...

Gift Receipts More Popular Than Ever Among Holiday Shoppers, According To NRF Survey. December 7, 2011 — Understanding there are times their gift may not be the biggest hit, more gift givers are offering...

European Economic and Social Committee Holds Hearing on Advertising to Children. December 7, 2011 — The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), an advisory and consultative body of the European Union, held a hearing on advertising to young people and children...

U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade Leads to Progress in IPR Enforcement. December 7, 2011 — The 22nd session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) was held in Chengdu, China...

Barney brand goes Techno. December 7, 2011 — New York City-based media company HIT Entertainment...

Crayola, karaoke, etc.: IPads become child's play. December 6, 2011 — Make room in the toy box for the iPad. Crayola allows tots to doodle on the iPad...

Blip Toys Brings eCommerce to the Squinkies Brand through Partnership with MashON. December 6, 2011 — Blip Toys, the manufacturer behind the Squinkies toy line phenomenon, has partnered with MashON, the leading provider of web-based product personalization...

Coolabi Team Completes Buyout. December 6, 2011 — The Coolabi management team has completed its £4.95 million buyout, funded by specialist fund...

He-Man & The Masters of the Universe Classics Update From Mattel. December 6, 2011 — Mattel has revealed some new information on the upcoming Masters of the Universe Classics...

These Toys are Worse Than Coal. December 6, 2011 — For less than the cost of a typical SAT training course, your toddlers can learn...

SMC Entertainment Swings Into Gear. December 6, 2011 — Global consumer products manufacturer Sun-Mate Corporation’s new entertainment and brand management division...

Study Finds How Child Abuse Changes the Brain. December 6, 2011 — Children exposed to family violence show the same pattern of activity in their brains as soldiers exposed to combat...

Round 2 Acquires Tomy Brands. December 5, 2011 — Round 2 has acquired all rights to industry leading model kit brands Aluminum Model Toys...

Universal Unveils Curious George Toys. December 5, 2011 — Universal Partnerships & Licensing has partnered with Learning Express Toys to launch two exclusive Curious George...

Dare you rent toys online for your kids this Christmas? December 5, 2011 — Children need toys. Parents need quiet children. So they buy those children toys...

Some of the top toys this year are gifts from Christmas past. December 5, 2011 — If you’re feeling déjà vu while Christmas shopping, it’s probably because everything...

This RC Car Can Do 100+mph. December 5, 2011 — The Traxxas X0-1 remote controlled car isn’t a toy. At least, it’s not the kind of toy...


ComScore: Happy holiday season (so far) for online retail spending. December 5, 2011 — Online retail spending has seen a big jump this holiday season to date...

Shoppers waiting for Black Friday — Round 2. December 5, 2011 — Shoppers who were out in full force on Black Friday may not walk retail aisles again until just before Christmas...

ShopperTrak: Black Friday Weekend Sales up, Foot Traffic Down. December 2, 2011 — While retail sales during the Black Friday weekend increased this year, it seems that foot traffic may have dropped...

Halloween Projection Flashlights Recalled by Nygala Corp. Due to Fire and Burn Hazards. December 2, 2011 — 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 10,000 Halloween Projection Flashlights from Nygala Corp., sold at discount stores in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah from August 2010 through October 2011 for about $1. The flashlights can overheat, blister and melt, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled flashlights, remove and properly discard the batteries and return the flashlights to the store where purchased for a full refund.

November Same-Store Sales Slow. December 2, 2011 — Retail same-store sales slowed to 3.3 percent growth in November...

Children's Booksellers Report on Black Friday Weekend. December 2, 2011 — Kids are getting cabin fever this holiday season and that’s a good thing...

The Worst Toy of the Year? December 2, 2011 — Looking for a gift for a child in your life? You may want to steer clear...

Czech Toy Industry Booms Thanks to a Mole. December 2, 2011 — He's loved by kids around the world and even made it to outer space this year...

Sanrio Announces Licensing Agreement with Up With Paper. December 1, 2011 — Sanrio has announced a licensing agreement with Up With Paper, the world’s leading marketer of innovative three-dimensional greeting cards. Up With Paper will develop a new line of pop-up stationery products featuring pop icon Hello Kitty®. The collection will be launched at winter gift shows and at Toy Fair; the agreement is effective immediately, according to a press release.

More than half of UK children own a toy based on a virtual world. December 1, 2011 — Children’s virtual worlds – like Moshi Monsters and Club Penguin – aren’t just popular online...

India Moves to Attract Retailers. December 1, 2011 — Last week, the Indian cabinet approved a 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retailing...

New Baby & Juvenile Show Launching in Dallas. December 1, 2011 — Dallas Market Center has announced the launch of PB&J: The Preview for Baby & Juvenile, a new baby and juvenile trade show...

Banks Ban Toy Collection Boxes. December 1, 2011 — You won't see as many Toys for Tots donation boxes across Tampa Bay this holiday...

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum Awards Her First Safety Commendations to Five Individuals and Groups. December 1, 2011 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Chairman Inez Tenenbaum has awarded the first Chairman’s Circle of Commendation Awards to five individuals and groups for their exceptional contributions to consumer product safety.

Target comps light in November. December 1, 2011 — Target reported November same-store sales increased 1.8%, which was toward the low end...

Cyber Monday surges, December outlook uncertain. December 1, 2011 — The strong customer traffic and sales trends retailers’ experienced Thanksgiving weekend extended into Cyber Monday...

Scholastic Ups Its ‘Hunger Games’ Tie-ins. December 1, 2011 — Today, Scholastic announced it would publish a fourth tie-in to the upcoming Hunger Games...

McDonald's will charge for Happy Meal toys in SF. November 30, 2011 — San Francisco's law that bans toy giveaways in kids' meals high in fat, salt and sugar goes into effect Thursday...

MEG Toys Unveils US Broadcast Deal for Puppy In My Pocket. November 30, 2011 — In a deal with Cartoon Network, Inc., MEG Toys has announced the arrival of its animated television series Puppy In My Pocket Adventures in Pocketville for broadcast in the US on Boomerang.

NRF Says Online Sales Tax Advantage Is ‘Stifling’ Local Stores. November 30, 2011 — The National Retail Federation today urged the House Judiciary Committee to support legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax...

Senate Holds TSCA Reform Hearing on November 17th. November 30, 2011 — The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing on November 17th to discuss the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011...

TIA Presents Important Toy Safety Information to Chinese Manufacturers. November 30, 2011 — Representatives from the Toy Industry Association (TIA) presented a practical understanding of U.S. toy safety requirements for Chinese manufacturers...

European Commission Launches Toy Safety Campaign. November 30, 2011 — In an effort to help parents choose safe toys for their children and to encourage safe play, the European Commission (EC) announced the launch of a Toy Safety Campaign...

Consumer Confidence up in November as Holiday Shopping Gets in Full Swing. November 29, 2011 — Heading into December, consumers are feeling more confident about the economy...

Arrow/Increase image via efffective.com

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