Toys in the News: 7-31-12

By TDmonthly Staff
July 2012

_{SUBMIT your news to TDmonthly.}_{See previous toy industry news.}

_{Toys in the News is updated Mon-Fri at 9:15 am PST}
Liberty Mountain Recalls VAUDE Kenta Child Carriers Due to Fall Hazard. July 31, 2012 — 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: About 300 in the US and 100 in Canada Kenta and Kenta Plus child carriers from Liberty Mountain, sold at outdoor camping and climbing stores nationwide from January 2010 through May 2012 for about $150 for the Kenta and $170 for the Kenta Plus models. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled child carriers and return the product to an authorized VAUDE dealer for a replacement. Consumers can contact Liberty Mountain to locate an authorized VAUDE dealer.

Toys Start the Gender Equality Rift. July 31, 2012 — The following conversation was overheard one recent morning at Hamleys, London’s best-known toy store...

Toys"R"Us, Inc. Expands Its One-Stop Shopping Destinations with New and Renovated Toys"R"Us® and Babies"R"Us® Locations in 21 Markets Nationwide. July 31, 2012 — Toys"R"Us, Inc. today announced that by the end of the year it will have opened eight new stores and transformed 13 existing locations to the Side-by-Side model in 2012...

Bastion appointed as Toy Fair agency (UK). July 31, 2012 — London-based PR and communications agency Bastion has been appointed by...

Best Licensed Property Finalists Named in The Licensing Awards 2012. July 31, 2012 — The finalists in the Best Licensed Property categories of The Licensing Awards 2012 were announced this week...

Kids test toys that will make up the Christmas crop. July 31, 2012 — Spider-Man climbs a wall. Tiny cars zip around a loopy track. A penguin...

Toymaker turns hobby into business; sells toys at Local Bounty. July 31, 2012 — The toys Russ Riggle crafts in his Newcomerstown basement are made to be played with...

KFI plans 'cash mob' to help ailing O.C. toy store. July 31, 2012 — Toy Boat, the struggling toy boutique that's been a fixture in the community for nearly 50 years, will get a much-needed boost Tuesday...

Monkeying Around Presents A Day in the Life of a Dot to Dot Puzzle Publisher. July 31, 2012 — As The Greatest Dot to Dot Super Challenge Book 8 was being released to the public...

Sega begins to see payoff from new video game strategy. July 31, 2012 — Sega's move to better focus its video game business appears to be working...

Maxfield & Oberton: The CPSC is busting our Balls! July 31, 2012 — Maxfield & Oberton, creator of Buckyballs©, has launched a video campaign to protest the CPSC's lawsuit to halt sales of their products...

London Games Set Retail Records. July 30, 2012 — The 2012 London Olympics will set records in more than just athletics...

New Skylanders Giants character and toy Swarm introduced. July 30, 2012 — The Skylanders Giants character list is growing with the introduction of Swarm...

LeapFrog To Webcast Second Quarter 2012 Results On August 1, 2012. July 30, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. today announced that it will webcast its second quarter 2012 results conference call on Wednesday, August 1...

Lisa Frank on her Wild, Wonderful, Billion-Dollar School Supply Empire. July 30, 2012 — Any girl who grew up in the past three decades knows Lisa Frank

PEGI Video Game Ratings Become Law (UK). July 30, 2012 — Retailers that sell video games to children are now liable for imprisonment...

School Dress Codes Aren't Just for Students Anymore. July 30, 2012 — When kids in one Kansas school district return to class this fall...

Mega Brands profit jumps on higher toy sales in N. America. July 27, 2012 — Canadian toy maker Mega Brands Inc's quarterly profit rose five-fold on higher sales...

Wild Planet Entertainment, Inc. and Toysmith Announce Distribution Agreement (PDF). July 27, 2012 — Wild Planet announced today the signing of a distribution agreement with Toysmith. Toysmith is now the exclusive distributor of Wild Planet Entertainment Inc.’s product line to specialty toy retailers across the United States...

Sales grow, but profits plunge at Amazon. July 27, 2012 — Profits at Amazon.com declined 96% to $7 million, or a penny a share...

OnLive jumping to Ouya video game console. July 27, 2012 — The online streaming video game service OnLive adds another high-profile partner...

U.S. Growth Slows in 2nd Quarter. July 27, 2012 — The economy is slowing to a crawl as consumers cut back spending...

Counterfeit goods plague toymakers. July 27, 2012 — Sculptor Richard X. Zawitz invented the Tangle and Tangle Jr., twistable serpentine toys...

Kidz Bop Plans Pop Star Toys. July 27, 2012 — Kidz Bop has partnered with Imperial Toy for a new line of pop star...

Banjo-Kazooie toy figure prototype for sale at $20k. July 27, 2012 — An original Banjo-Kazooie prototype figure shown off at the 2000 Toy Fair...

CPSC Sues Maxfield & Oberton Over Hazardous Buckyballs® and Buckycube™ Desk Toys. July 26, 2012 — In an effort to prevent children from suffering further harm, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff filed an administrative complaint today against Maxfield & Oberton Holdings LLC, of New York, N.Y., alleging that Buckyballs and Buckycubes contain a defect in the design, packaging, warnings, and instructions, which pose a substantial risk of injury to the public. The Commission voted 3-1 to approve the filing of the complaint, which seeks, among other things, an order that the firm stops selling Buckyballs and Buckycubes, notify the public of the defect, and offer consumers a full refund. Due to the number of ingestion incidents received by CPSC staff since the 2010 recall announcement and 2011 safety alert, CPSC staff seeks the remedies outlined in the complaint to stop further incidents and injuries to children.

Maxfield & Oberton Responds to CPSC Buckyballs Lawsuit: "CPSC: Thank you for trying to drive a $50 million New York-based consumer product company out of business." July 26, 2012 — Maxfield is the manufacturer and distributor of Buckyballs® and Buckycubes™, the number one selling brand name in high-powered magnets – recently called America's "fave desk accessory" by the Washington Post (July 13, 2012), and named "the next big thing in cubicle fidgeting" by New York magazine (July 16-23, 2012). Before filing the lawsuit and giving Maxfield and Oberton the opportunity to defend itself and its products, CPSC systematically began contacting its retailers giving them 48 hours to tell the government that they would stop selling Buckyballs® and Buckycubes™. Some retailers capitulated to this so-called voluntary request for fear of retribution if they did not acquiesce...

JAKKS Pacific Announces Acquisition of Maui Toys. July 26, 2012 — JAKKS Pacific, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Ohio-based Maui, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of spring and summer activity toys, outdoor sports related toys, impulse toys including the popular Wave Hoop(R) and Sky Ball(TM) products under the Maui Toys brand...

Toys "R" Us, Inc. Announces Offering of Senior Notes. July 26, 2012 — Toys "R" Us, Inc. announced today that it has commenced an offering of US$350.0 million aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2017, subject to market and other conditions...

New Barbie dolls for Olympics 2012. July 26, 2012 — Mattel Toys India has launched new editions of the "Barbie I Can Be" range of dolls to commemorate the entire female contingent for Olympics 2012...

Marian Bossard – Maintaining a Playful Spirit of Adventure. July 26, 2012 — Ride alongside Marian Bossard on her commute to work at the Toy Industry Association...

Are Video Game Controllers Obsolete? July 26, 2012 — Ubisoft’s Jade Raymond told OXM that with the next generation of games...

LeapPad2(TM) Sets New Pre-Sale Record. July 26, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., the leader in educational entertainment, today announced that LeapPad2(TM), its new learning tablet for kids, sold as many pre-sale units in just two days as the original LeapPad(TM) did in a week...

Burlington Coat Factory Agrees to $1.5 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Report Drawstrings in Children's Outerwear and for Selling Recalled Outerwear. July 26, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., of Burlington, N.J., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,500,000. The settlement agreement (pdf) has been provisionally accepted by the Commission (4-0). The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that from 2003 to 2010, Burlington knowingly failed to report immediately to CPSC, as required by federal law, that it had sold many different children's sweatshirts and jackets with drawstrings at the neck.

Lady Gaga Sued: Toymaker MGA Entertainment Files $10 Million Lawsuit Against The Singer. July 25, 2012 — Lady Gaga is being sued by toy manufacturer MGA Entertainment for $10 million...

Chick-Fil-A Recalls Muppet Toys; Jim Henson Co. Slams CEO's Stance On Gay Marriage. July 25, 2012 — The Jim Henson Company and Chick-fil-A battle is raging on. Just one day...

Nastia Liukin Helps Fisher-Price Introduce New, Interactive Fantastic Gymnastics Dora Doll to Adventure-Seeking Dora Fans. July 25, 2012 — Just in time for the excitement in London this summer, five-time Olympic medalist and role model, Nastia Liukin, is teaming up with Fisher-Price, Inc...

Propel Equity Partners Invests in POOF-Slinky, Inc., Makers of Iconic Slinky, POOF and Ideal Brand Toys. July 25, 2012 — POOF-Slinky, Inc., makers of iconic toys under the Slinky, POOF, Ideal, Cadaco Scientific Explorer and Fuzzoodles brands, has received a significant investment from Propel Equity Partners...

Patch is getting sneaky again. Clifford the Big Red Dog is the newest addition to the Sneaky Puzzles line. July 25, 2012 — The lovable Clifford the Big Red Dog® will now be in puzzle form...

Kolcraft Recalls Contours Tandem Strollers Due to Fall and Choking Hazards. July 25, 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 5,600 Contours Options LT Tandem Strollers from Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., sold at Burlington Coat Factory and juvenile product specialty stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Target.com and other online retailers between February 2012 and July 2012 for about $250. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact the company to receive free replacement wheels. Consumers with strollers manufactured in January and February 2012 will also receive replacement nuts for the basket support screws.

Peg Perego Recalls Strollers Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation; One Child Death Reported. July 25, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Peg Perego USA Inc., of Fort Wayne, Ind., is announcing a voluntary recall of about 223,000 strollers due to a risk of entrapment and strangulation. The recall involves two different older versions of the Peg Perego strollers, Venezia and Pliko-P3, manufactured between January 2004 and September 2007, in a variety of colors. They were manufactured prior to the existence of the January 2008 voluntary industry standard which addresses the height of the opening between the stroller's tray and the seat bottom. The strollers were sold at various retailers nationwide, including Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby from January 2004 through September 2010 for between $270 and $330 for the Pliko P-3 stroller and between $350 and $450 for the Venezia stroller. They were manufactured in Italy. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact the firm for a free repair kit. Do not return the stroller to the retailers as they will not be able to provide the repair kit.

White Paper and Checklist on Children’s Online Privacy and Mobile Apps Now Available. July 25, 2012 — The Toy Industry Association’s Responsible Marketing to Children (M2C) Committee has developed a White Paper...

“Cowboy Hoedown” Event Brings Smiles to Pediatric Cancer Patients in NYC. July 25, 2012 — Nearly 100 pediatric cancer patients, their families and volunteers gathered together for an evening...

Hearing On Sales Tax Fairness Provides Promise For Local Retailers. July 24, 2012 — The National Retail Federation today reiterated its call on Congress to address a loophole that allows most online sellers to avoid sales tax collection...

Port Surveillance News: CPSC Takes Safety to the Front Lines, Prevents More Than 360,000 Violative Units from Reaching Consumers in 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012. July 24, 2012 — Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigators continued to enforce product safety by screening more than 3,700 imported products at ports of entry into the United States and preventing more than 360,000 units of violative and hazardous imported products from reaching the hands of consumers during the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.

Demanding A Refund From Toys ‘R’ Us Leads To Infighting, Tears. July 24, 2012 — Cami ordered some car seats online for in-store pickup at a local Toys 'R' Us store...

Fox Consumer Products EMEA Signs UK Partners for Diary of a Wimpy Kid. July 24, 2012 — Fox Consumer Products EMEA signed new licensing deals for U.S. author Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid...

TIA Welcomes New Members. July 24, 2012 — Toy Industry Association, Inc. proudly welcomes twenty-eight (28) new members...

Visa, Mastercard settlement settled nothing. July 24, 2012 — Walmart added its sizable voice to the growing ranks of those opposed...

PriceGrabber reveals shoppers' money-saving tactics this BTS season. July 24, 2012 — Back-to-school shoppers plan on stretching their dollar and taking advantage of retailer...

Zynga and Hasbro take Farmville offline with new card game. July 24, 2012 — Last month, Zynga released Farmville 2 after being wildly successful with the initial Facebook-based version...

Gameloft and Mattel Take Uno® to the Next Level of Mobile & Social Gaming With UNO® & Friends. July 24, 2012 — After the resounding success of its first digital version of UNO®, Gameloft...

Mobile video games find a home on the couch. July 24, 2012 — Video games on smartphones and tablet computers were meant to be played on the go...

Hasbro Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2012. July 23, 2012 — Net revenues of $811.5 million for the second quarter 2012 versus $908.5 million for the second quarter 2011; Second quarter net revenues declined 7% excluding a negative $34.4 million impact of foreign exchange...

DreamWorks Animation buys 'Casper,' 'Lassie' parent Classic Media. July 23, 2012 — DreamWorks Animation, the Glendale-based studio behind the "Shrek" and "Madagascar" movies, is buying Classic Media...

Innovation Almost Bankrupted LEGO — Until It Rebuilt with a Better Blueprint. July 23, 2012 — It was 2003, exactly 56 years after Ole Kirk Christiansen bought the first plastic...

Seller Uses Amazon Webstore to Power Online Toy Store. July 23, 2012 — What does it take to be a profitable merchant on Amazon.com, a place where your "landlord" is also one of your biggest competitors?...

Why the Mini-Tablet is the Children's Toy of the Year. July 23, 2012 — One month before Apple shipped its first touch tablet, I predicted in this...

Forget Mary Poppins, every child should watch Toy Story before they turn 10, says child psychologist. July 23, 2012 — Toy Story is the film every child should watch before they reach nine...

Muppets pull toys from Chick-fil-A. July 23, 2012 — The Jim Henson Company says it will pull its Muppets toys from Chick-Fil-A...

'Dark Knight' rises with merchandising: Early toy sales 10% ahead of prior pic. July 20, 2012 — If toy sales are any indication, Warner Bros. has nothing to worry about...

Lead in Jewelry Leads to Calif. Crackdown. July 20, 2012 — California is cracking down on more than a dozen businesses accused of selling...

Reminder: August 15 Deadline to Nominate a Local Charity for a Play Connects Grant. July 20, 2012 — Toy Industry Association (TIA) member companies are encouraged to nominate a community-based charity for one of three Play Connects grants...

Internal theft remains a problem for retailers. July 20, 2012 — By a nearly 3-to-1 margin, retailers say that internal theft is more extensive...

‘Brave’: new Disney Princess Merida gets girly Mattel makeover. July 20, 2012 — 'Brave,' Pixar's latest animated movie, stars its first female lead...

Gender-neutral? Harrods' new Toy Kingdom tries to end boy-girl divide. July 20, 2012 — Phoebe McFadden picked up her absolute favourite toy of the moment, a sexy...

Video games can be good for your health. July 20, 2012 — Dr. Penelope McNulty, a neurophysiologist at Neuroscience Research Australia, will present new data that shows the Wii is an effective rehabilitation tool...

Hasbro, Dream Foundation makes trip come true for Easthampton family. July 20, 2012 — A family living with cancer will get a chance to spend four days...

And in other RILA news – staying a step ahead of the bad guys. July 20, 2012 — Mobile payments and technologies such as near field communications are a double-edged sword...

Children's Beach Chairs Recalled by Downeast Concepts Due to Laceration Hazard. July 19, 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 15,400 Folding Beach Chairs from Downeast Concepts Inc., dba Backyard and Beyond, sold at Home Goods and other stores nationwide from June 2011 through June 2012 for between $13 and $25. Consumers should stop using the recalled beach chairs immediately and return them to Downeast Concepts for a full refund.

How Pixar Landed The Rights To Feature Brand Names In 'Toy Story'. July 19, 2012 — Why are there Combat Carls instead of G.I. Joes in "Toy Story"? Why doesn't Barbie...

Hasbro Partners for Transformers Games. July 19, 2012 — Hasbro has entered into an exclusive three-year agreement with DeNA for mobile...

Batman to Battle Spider-Man and the New Furby to be Top Christmas Toy 2012. July 19, 2012 — Christmas may still be five months away, but millions of children will...

ToyFest West, March 10-13, Offers the Only Sure Bet in Vegas; Monday 3/11 is on the House for Toy Wheelers and Dealers! July 18, 2012 — WTHRA has announced the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas as the vibrant new site for ToyFest West “The Buyers’ Playground” - March 10 -13, 2013 (Sunday-Wednesday)...

FDA: BPA Banned in Baby Bottles. July 18, 2012 — The federal government announced Tuesday that baby bottles and sippy cups can no longer contain the controversial chemical bisphenol-A, or BPA...

18 New Chemicals Targeted for Risk Assessment by US EPA. July 18, 2012 — 18 chemicals have been selected for risk assessment during 2013 and 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced. Part of the agency's existing chemicals management program, the Work Plan Chemicals has listed these 18 as stipulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)...

Trampolines Recalled by Alex-Panline USA Due to Fall Hazard. July 18, 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 8,000 Alex ® Model 786X Little Jumpers Trampolines from Panline USA Inc., sold at independent specialty toy and retail stores from January through March 2012 for about $100. The handlebar can break, causing a fall hazard. Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a replacement trampoline.

Forbes Earnings Preview: Hasbro. July 18, 2012 — Analysts are looking for decreased profit for Hasbro when the company reports...

New Reports Forecast Global Video Game Industry Will Reach $82 Billion By 2017. July 18, 2012 — A series of new reports from DFC Intelligence forecasts that the global market...

GAMEVIL's Toy Shot Launches for Android Devices. July 18, 2012 — GAMEVIL®, a leading mobile games publisher, announced that physics-based puzzle game Toy Shot is now available on Google Play...

TIA to Host Two Toy Safety Training Sessions for Chinese Manufacturers; Members Encouraged to Promote Participation by Local Contacts. July 18, 2012 — In early August, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) will host two toy safety training sessions for the managers and staff of local Chinese manufacturers producing toys and children’s products for the U.S. marketplace...

NASA Partners With Microsoft to Launch its First Console Game. July 18, 2012 — In the past, NASA has used everything from websites and mobile apps to coverage on its own TV network...

Sequel to 'Finding Nemo'? Maybe. 'Toy Story 4'? Not so fast. July 18, 2012 — Fans of Pixar animation had a field day Tuesday when stories about sequels...

Mattel Reports Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results and Declares Third Quarter Dividend. July 17, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. today reported 2012 second quarter financial results. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $96.2 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to last year's second quarter net income of $80.5 million, or $0.23 per share...

Jakks Pacific 2Q Profit Down 95% as Legal Fees Rise; Sales Up. July 17, 2012 — Jakks Pacific Inc.'s (JAKK) second-quarter profit slumped 95% as the toy maker...

Scholastic Celebrates 50 Big Years of Clifford the Big Red Dog. July 17, 2012 — Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company, announced today that it will kick off the 50th anniversary celebration of Clifford the Big Red Dog® on September 24th – in conjunction with the publication of NORMAN BRIDWELL’S CLIFFORD COLLECTION and the ‘Biggest Birthday Party Ever’ at Scholastic headquarters in New York City, a live event which will be streamed to classrooms nationwide...

Battat Inc. Agrees to $400,000 Civil Penalty for Failing to Report Children's Magnetic Toy Sets. July 17, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Battat Incorporated, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $400,000. The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission (4-0). The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that Battat knowingly failed to report the defect and hazard associated with Magnabild Magnetic Building Sets to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law.

Former Toys'R'Us finance head named CFO at LeapFrog. July 17, 2012 — LeapFrog Enterprises has named Ray Arthur as CFO...

Physical toys going tech to grab kids' imagination. July 17, 2012 — When a talking bear named Teddy Ruxpin hit retail shelves in 1985...

JAKKS Pacific and NantWorks Partner to Produce Next Generation Interactive Toys. July 17, 2012 — Toy manufacturer JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and technology leader NantWorks, LLC, founded by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, announced that they have signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture to develop, market and sell next generation toys incorporating NantWorks' proprietary image recognition technology. The new venture will be named "DreamPlay Toys"...

Smart Toys and Games Sweeps the National Parenting Center’s 2012 Seal of Approval. July 17, 2012 — Smart Toys and Games, a leading producer of award-winning single-player logic games and the SmartMax® magnetic construction system, received four 2012 Seals of Approval from The National Parenting Center (TNPC) for its toys and games, SmartMax Stunt, Bill & Betty Bricks, Trucky 3 and Anti-Virus, according to a press release.

Toyology Aims to Be Australia’s Largest Online Toy Retailer. July 17, 2012 — Toyology is Australia’s newest online toy retailer, launching at the beginning of July 2012...

Results Available for Toy Industry Compensation and Benefits Report. July 17, 2012 — The Toy Industry Association (TIA), in conjunction with the research firm Industry Insights, is pleased to announce that the final results of the 2012 Toy Industry Compensation and Benefits Survey are now freely available for TIA members...

2012 Second Quarter International Trade Wrap-Up. July 17, 2012 — Below is a summary of international trade initiatives of interest to the toy industry during the second quarter of 2012...

World's Largest Children's Museum Asks for Public Input on Top "100 Toys (and Their Stories) That Define Our Childhood". July 17, 2012 — The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is asking children and families to choose their favorite toys as part of the museum's new project "100 Toys (& their Stories) that Define Our Childhood"...

Finalists Announced for The Licensing Awards 2012. July 17, 2012 — Finalists for The Licensing Awards 2012 have now been revealed for the product, retail, and marketing communication awards...

Want your kid to be an athlete? Turn off the TV, study suggests. July 17, 2012 — Too much TV may do more than interfere with a child's grades...

Hasbro's Massachusetts-Based Manufacturing Facility Recognized by OSHA as a Leader in Employee Health and Safety for Second Consecutive Year. July 17, 2012 — Hasbro, Inc. manufacturing facility based in East Longmeadow, Mass. has been named winner of the top Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Region 1 VPP Safety Award for the second consecutive year...

Retailer Gets Media Spotlight from TDmonthly Donations. July 16, 2012 — Even though the donations haven't yet started, Denise Teague, owner of Fun Things Etc., and one of the winners of TDmonthly's "2012: A year of Charity" educational products giveaways — has already managed to win public notice for her store's involvement. An article was published in a local paper, The Mountaineer, about her being selected from retailers across the nation. Fun Things Etc Chosen to Donate Over 250 Toys to Local Schools The article detailed all of the generous manufacturers participating in the program, as well as the 1,025 toys they are donating to needy kids and school systems in the winning retailers' communities during August and September: Uncle Skunkle, Crossen Creations, FindIt Games, b. dazzle inc., PlayMais Canada Inc., Amazing Science!, Moving Picture Books, Education Outdoors, We R Fun Games and The Spelling Bee Game.

Congratulations, Denise! Read more about her and the other winning retailers here. Then stay tuned for your chance to win in TDmonthly's biggest giveaway yet, coming soon!

Retail Sales Continued To Tick Down In June Marking Three Consecutive Months Of Decline. July 16, 2012 — Retail sales continued to stall in the month of June as consumers held off on discretionary and non-discretionary spending – marking three consecutive months of retail sales decreases – implying that persistently-high domestic unemployment, stagnant job growth, and international economic unease have taken a toll on American consumers this spring...

Meijer Tests Toy Contest for Holidays. July 16, 2012 — Two U.S. toy companies have a shot at exclusive distribution with Meijer...

Gamasutra's Half-Year U.S. Video Game Retail Sales Analysis. July 16, 2012 — After six straight months of dreadful sales figures, it appears that the retail video game industry...

Comic-Con: Hasbro Studios Head Stephen Davis Talks the Brony Movement, TRANSFORMERS, STRETCH ARMSTRONG, BATTLESHIP and More. July 16, 2012 — Recently I got to sit down with Hasbros Studios president Stephen Davis at Comic-Con...

'Dark Knight Rises,' 'Ghostbusters' Toy Exclusives Among Comic-Con's Hot Tickets. July 16, 2012 — There are plenty of great reasons to attend the annual Comic-Con in San Diego...

Tokyo Toy Co Testing Augmented Reality Kiosks. July 16, 2012 — A Tokyo toy company is testing kiosks with augmented reality capabilities to allow...

Tesco Unveils Christmas Toy List. July 16, 2012 — TESCO has revealed the 12 toys that are expected to be at the top...

The Best Kids Tablets for Back to School. July 16, 2012 — If 2011 was the year of the tablet, 2012 is destined to be the year...

Nintendo 3DS Handheld Video Game System Tops 5 Million Mark. July 13, 2012 — Nintendo has sold more than 5 million 3DS portable video game systems...

How the Video Games Industry is Faring. July 13, 2012 — On Thursday, research firm NPD Group reported that U.S. retail sales of...

Acquisition of L.A. Mart® By PHR L.A. Mart LLC Announced. July 13, 2012 — PHR L.A. Mart LLC, a commercial real estate management company, announced the purchase of L.A. Mart® from Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) in a press release.

Nukotoys Wins MobileBeat's First-Ever Tablet Startup Competition. July 13, 2012 — Nukotoys, Silicon Valley's toy company, was awarded the prize for tablet innovation during Monday's MobileBeat 2012 Innovation Competition, demonstrating best use of the tablet as an emerging platform...

Game on for Amazon.com. July 13, 2012 — Amazon.com is growing its presence in the highly competitive gaming market with...

Amazon’s Ambitious New Push for Same-day Delivery Will Destroy Local Retail. July 12, 2012 — Amazon has long enjoyed an unbeatable price advantage over its physical rivals...

Troxel Recalls Flexible Flyer Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard. July 12, 2012 — 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: About 100,500 in the United States and 4,900 in Canada Flexible Flyer Swing Sets from The Troxel Company, sold at Walmart, Toys R Us, Academy and at other specialty stores, and online retailers from December 2011 through May 2012 for between $130 and $280. Consumers should stop using the see saws immediately and contact Troxel to receive a free repair kit.

Chicco Polly High Chairs Recalled Due to Laceration Hazard. July 12, 2012 — 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 About 455,000 in the United States and 30,690 in Canada Chicco Polly High Chairs from Artsana USA Inc., sold at Retail stores including Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Buy Buy Baby, Shopko and Toys R Us, as well as online outlets including Albeebaby.com, Amazon.com, Babyage.com, Babysupermart.com, Diapers.com and Target.com from January 2005 through July 2012 for between $100 and $150. Consumers should contact Chicco for a free peg cover kit which will be mailed to them. To help prevent injuries before repair, consumers should store the tray on the pegs when the high chair is not in use.

Spielwarenmesse eG organizes Kids India. July 12, 2012 — Spielwarenmesse eG is to organize its own fair in India for the first time in the coming year...

Many consumers plan to spend more on back-to-school shopping in 2012. July 12, 2012 — A hopeful sign that the economic recovery is gaining traction, PriceGrabber® just released the results of its first Back-to-School Shopping Forecast survey, revealing that nearly half (46 percent) of consumers are planning to spend more this back-to-school shopping season than in 2011. In comparison, only 13 percent of shoppers planned to spend more last year...

How appcessories are revolutionizing the way we play. July 12, 2012 — When Apple first uttered those immortal words 'there's an app for that'...

Finish strong: heat and holiday timing to aid July sales. July 12, 2012 — After a weaker-than-expected showing in June, Target needs a solid performance...

Dr. Richard Rende: Toys are great for babies, but interaction is better. July 12, 2012 — Take a stroll through a toy store and you will find all kinds of toys...

Mattel and Little Orbit Announce All New Monster High Video Game Racing to Stores Holiday 2012. July 12, 2012 — Today Mattel and Little Orbit announce that the scary cool characters of Monster High™ are racing to the Wii and Nintendo DS™ this holiday season in the brand new video game Monster High™ Skultimate Roller Maze™...

Comic-Con brings out the best in superhero toys. July 12, 2012 — In a comic or a movie screen, it'll be a long time before Batman throws down...

Parents: Give Your Kids A Placemat Instead Of An App. July 12, 2012 — Perhaps I’ve already become a curmudgeonly parent. I have a strict no app rule...

Rubik's Void Puzzle Wins Two Awards. July 12, 2012 — Winning Moves Games is proud to announce that its Rubik's(R) Void Puzzle has won 2 prestigious awards: the ASTRA Award for Best Toys For Kids in the Brain Teasers category and the Toy Insider Award for the Spring & Summer Hot Toys List...

Organic Baby Toy Company Apple Park Launches New Brand - Organic Farm Buddies. July 12, 2012 — Apple Park announced today its new brand, Organic Farm Buddies. Aimed at a wider audience and providing a lower price with the same high organic product standards, Organic Farm Buddies is a collection of traditional plush farm animals with a modern twist...

Smart Toys and Games Wins Eight 2012 Parents’ Choice Awards. July 11, 2012 — Smart Toys and Games 2012 product line up has received eight 2012 Parents’ Choice Awards. IQ Fit, SmartMax Stunt, Troy, and Trucky 3 received Silver Honor awards. Anti-Virus, IQ Twist, and Travel Magic Forest received Recommended awards, while AquaBelle received an Approved game award, according to a press release.

Gaiman Signs Multi-Book Deal with HarperCollins. July 11, 2012 — Bestselling author Neil Gaiman has signed a multi-book deal with HarperCollins...

Retail Container Imports Expected To Increase 1.6 Percent In July. July 11, 2012 — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 1.6 percent in July...

Toy Industry Input Needed for New CBP Center on Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising. July 11, 2012 — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking the input of key industry stakeholders in its preparation to establish a Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising (CPMM) Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) in 2013....

‘The Hobbit,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Halo 4’ among top film, TV and video game draws at Comic-Con. July 11, 2012 — Comic-Con International, the four-day pop-culture celebration that takes over the San Diego Convention Center...

Breck Eisner in Talks to Direct 'Stretch Armstrong'. July 11, 2012 — The Habsro toy property has been quietly in development at Relativity, which...

Fanboys and Fangirls "Collect and Connect(R)" with Mattel at 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. July 11, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. brings San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) fans the ultimate pop-culture, comic inspired celebration with exclusive toy collectibles, giveaways and fan-atic events...

Amazon's Top Toy Tips for Christmas 2012 (UK). July 11, 201 2 — Amazon has held its annual Christmas in July/Wish List event in London...

ASTRA's 20th Anniversary Marketplace & Academy Sets New Attendance Records. July 10, 2012 — ASTRA’s 2012 Marketplace & Academy, held June 10-13 in Baltimore, shattered all previous attendance records, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced today...

Videogames Reach for the Cloud. July 10, 2012 — For decades, consumers have played videogames in arcades, on personal computers or specialized consoles...

Hasbro Returns to Comic-Con. July 10, 2012 — With globally renowned brands including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS...

Toys ‘R’ Us and Walmart Join TIA as Members. July 10, 2012 — Two of the nation’s top toy retailers, Toys ‘R’ Us and Walmart, have joined the Toy Industry Association (TIA) as members...

Mind Candy Launches Development Studio. July 10, 2012 — Mind Candy, creator of Moshi Monsters, has acquired the games studio Origami Blue...

Ceaco Expands Your Mind with Launch of Brainwright Brand. July 10, 2012 — Ceaco is proud to announce the launch of its new division this summer: Brainwright – For Curious Minds. In addition to the Gamewright family games division, Brainwright will feature brainteasers, mind benders, and other unique items that aim to inspire right and left brain thinking, improve memory, and exercise logic skills in a fun way, according to a press release.

iTikes toys give your children yet another reason to swipe your iPhone and iPad. July 9, 2012 — Any parent knows that irrespective of what engaging and exciting toys you buy...

Toy Company Labs Rely on Child's Play for Some Designs. July 9, 2012 — An iPad case that doubles as a teething toy? Yes, such a product...

Businessman takes on toy manufacturer. July 9, 2012 — Nuts for Candy owner John Kevranian’s decision in 2008 to question the business...

Norman Sas dies at 87; inventor of quirky tabletop toy called Electric Football. July 9, 2012 — Well before 'Madden NFL' video games, there was Electric Football. A switch...

Plasmart Inc. Announced as Official Sponsor of the 2012 ChiTAG Young Inventor Challenge. July 9, 2012 — PlaSmart Inc., a global toy company specializing in fun, innovative and engaging toys that bring families together, is pleased to announce it will serve as the official sponsor of the 2012 Young Inventor Challenge at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair taking place this November 17th-18th.

The Furby Is Back. July 9, 2012 — Furby is back! The must-have toy of 1998 will return this holiday season...

Hasbro Boldly Goes With New Star Trek Kre-O Line. July 9, 2012 — Hasbro has introduced a new line of its Kre-O brand construction toys...

For Healthier Kids, Get a Cat or Dog, Study Suggests. July 9, 2012 — Kids who grow up with cats or dogs tend to get fewer respiratory infections...

June Retail Video Game Sales Expected to be a Dud. July 9, 2012 — U.S. video game sales for the month of June are expected to be down...

LeapFrog CFO leaves to spend more time with family. July 6, 2012 — Educational toy maker LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. said Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Mark Etnyre is leaving the company...

High Tech Toy Packaging: The Next Big Thing? July 6, 2012 — From band-aids that project videos of your favorite characters to Legos...

June unemployment rate unchanged. July 6, 2012 — According to the Employment Situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics...

Consumer sentiment improves for low and high income groups. July 6, 2012 — Retailers that cater to lower-income and higher-income consumers should be pleased...

LeapFrog: Strong Sales Trends For A Cheap Stock Price. July 6, 2012 — When a company sees over 80% sales growth year-over-year and still holds...

JAKKS Pacific Announces Final Results of its Self-Tender Offer. July 6, 2012 — JAKKS Pacific, Inc. today announced the final results of its self-tender offer, which expired at midnight, New York City time, on June 27, 2012...

Controlling a toy robot with your mind. July 6, 2012 — Controlling a toy robot with your mind. Brain researcher, Nick Ramsey, of the UMC Utrecht, has managed to get study subjects to do just that...

American Girl follows in Barbie's footsteps with bald doll to help children with cancer cope with their hair loss. July 5, 2012 — Following the footsteps of Mattel's bald Barbie, American Girl is now releasing its own dolls...

Disney Junior's Hit TV Series' "Doc McStuffins" and "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" Inspire Fun, New Product Lines. July 5, 2012 — Disney Consumer Products (DCP) has launched an assortment of products inspired by Disney Junior's hit series' "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" and "Doc McStuffins"...

Sesame Teams Up for Free Laptops. July 5, 2012 — Sesame Workshop and the non-profit One Laptop Per Child are teaming up...

The Toys And Games Industry Currently Facing Challenging Trends. July 5, 2012 — The toys and games industry, which contains stocks like Hasbro, Inc. and Mattel, Inc...

June Sales Softer Than Expected at Target. July 5, 2012 — Target reported a 2.1% same-store sales increase that was toward the low end...

RILA Seeks Release of Employer Healthcare Regulations. July 5, 2012 — The Retail Industry Leaders Association is urging President Obama and his administration to release...

Spider-Man Boosts U.K. Toy Sales. July 5, 2012 — As The Amazing Spider-Man is released worldwide, The NPD Group estimates that...

Specialty Stores Hit and Miss in June. July 5, 2012 — Disappointing same-store sales results in June weren’t necessarily unexpected, as the month...

Webkinz Antitrust Class Action Settlement Preliminarily Approved. July 3, 2012 — Ganz Inc. and Ganz U.S.A., LLC have reached a settlement agreement in the "Nuts for Candy v. Ganz, Inc. et al" Class Action lawsuit, for the amount of $2,575,000. More information about the settlement, and what to do if you qualify as a "Class member," can be found here.

Innovage Recalls Discovery Kids Lamps Due to Fire and Burn Hazards. July 3, 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 300,000 Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps from Innovage LLC, sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Bonton, JCPenney, Kohls, Office Max, Toys "R" Us stores nationwide as well as the online retailers Amazon, Ideeli, JCPenney, Kohls, Macy's and Overstock from June 2010 through March 2012 for between $10 and $20. The placement of internal wires near the circuit board can cause electrical short-circuiting and sparking, posing a fire and a burn hazard to consumers. Consumers should immediately stop using the lamps and contact Innovage for instructions on how to obtain a full refund.

Sony buys cloud-based video game company Gaikai. July 3, 2012 — Sony Corp., which for the last 18 years has centered its game business...

NPD: Video Game Q1 Consumer Spending Falls 13%. July 3, 2012 — Consumers in the United States are spending demonstrably less on new-release physical...

Funcom to Create New LEGO MMO. July 3, 2012 — Online games publisher Funcom has signed a license agreement with the LEGO Group...

Mattel seeks buyers for Barney the Dinosaur & Angelina Ballerina. July 3, 2012 — Mattel is seeking a buyer for its Barney the Dinosaur and Angelina Ballerina...

Report: Consumers more loyal to retail stores and products than brands. July 3, 2012 — When consumers search for online coupons and savings, 62% search for store-centric deals...

Four Toy-Store Owners to Donate 1,025 Products to Schools! July 2, 2012 — As a way of taking the sting out of the recession and state budget cuts, four new specialty toy-store owners will have the chance to give away hundreds of toys to their local school systems, Headstart programs, and children's charities via TDmonthly's ''2012: A Year of Charity'' latest giveaway promotion. Ten generous specialty manufacturers have signed on to donate 100 or more educational products each. The winning retailers are Denise Teague of Fun Things Etc. in Waynesville, N.C.; Tina Schwindt of Fairhaven Toy Garden in Bellingham, Wash.; Kate Tanner of Kidstop Toys & Books in Scottsdale, Ariz; and Phil Wrzesinski of Toy House & Baby Too in Jackson, Mich...

Vornado to record $19.2 million Toys 'R' Us loss. July 2, 2012 — Vornado Realty Trust said it will include narrower losses from its 33% stake...

Barbie Maker Mattel and Bratz Maker MGA Find Unusual Common Ground on Insurer Suit. July 2, 2012 — Now we know why MGA keeps dragging Mattel back into a Santa Ana...

B2B Toy Expo gets great response. July 2, 2012 — More than 2000 buyers visited the 6th Toy Biz International, India's biggest B2B Toy Expo...

Foreign brands rule Indian toy market. July 2, 2012 — Domestic toy manufacturers are increasingly feeling the pressure of globalization as two thirds...

Popchilla robot toy might be able to help autistic children. July 2, 2012 — When it comes to teaching kids, the element needed the most would...

Big Hero 6 Could Be Disney’s First Animated Marvel Film. July 2, 2012 — If you were puzzled as to why Marvel is now collecting the low-selling 2008 miniseries Big Hero 6...

STORES Top 100 Retailers Report Finds Growth In Grocery Segment. July 2, 2012 — There were only modest shifts in position among the nation’s very largest retailers last year...

LeapFrog Enterprises names Mitchell as a director. July 2, 2012 — Educational toy maker LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. has named Theodore R. Mitchell as a board member...

TIA’s Inaugural ToyDesignCon 2012 Delivers Inspiration and Information. July 2, 2012 — Members of creative design teams at Toy Industry Association (TIA) member companies gathered in Rochester, NY...

Hasbro executive George E. Burtch says games are a great place for marketers to play. July 2, 2012 — Guerrilla marketing, product placement and the power of celebrity might be hot right now...

'Ice Age' Toys, Video Games Hit Market Ahead of Movie's U.S. Release. July 2, 2012 — Toys "R" Us has opened "Ice Age" boutiques to show off more than 50 new licensed toys...

Team Hot Wheels(TM) Lands Guinness World Records(R) Title as Drivers Race Through Six-Story-Tall Double Loop at X Games Los Angeles 2012. July 2, 2012 — Two drivers for Team Hot Wheels™ set a Guinness World Records® title Saturday June 30 for successfully racing through a 60-foot-tall double vertical loop at X Games Los Angeles 2012, according to a press release.

CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard for Play Yards. June 29, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory safety standard to improve the safety of play yards and to prevent injuries and deaths to children. The vote was 4 to 0...

Kahn Lucas Acquires Madame Alexander Doll Brands. June 29, 2012 — Kahn Lucas Lancaster, Inc., a leading global designer and wholesaler of branded girls’ dresses and fashion collections, announced today that it has acquired all intellectual property and select assets of Alexander Doll Company, Inc....

Texas becomes latest state to tax online retailers. June 29, 2012 — Texas joins eight other states in taking legislative action requiring online-only retailers...

And the dollar stores keep coming. June 29, 2012 — Family Dollar’s third quarter results were not as good as expected, but...

Woodstock Music Collection® Teams with St. John's University. June 29, 2012 — During the 2011-2012 academic year The Woodstock Chimes Fund, the charitable arm of Woodstock Percussion, Inc., makers of Woodstock Chimes® and the Woodstock Music Collection®, teamed with St. John's University...

Domestic toy makers seek clarity over tax structures (India). June 29, 2012 — Faced with stiff competition from China, domestic toy manufacturers want government support...

Hamleys predict top ten toys for Christmas 2012. June 29, 2012 — Now we are officially closer to next Christmas than last, one of...

Toys and 3-D - Do They Play Nice Together? June 29, 2012 — Words have power - just think of the difference a single word can make...

Global Ecology, Sustainability, and Next-Generation Toy Design in the Bamboo Forests of China. June 29, 2012 — Furthering its commitment to eco-conscious education, Otis College of Art and Design partnered with German toymaker Hape to create an international think tank and integrated learning experience...