Toys in the News: 2-28-13

By TDmonthly Staff
February 2013

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

MGA's Trade-Secret Claim Against Mattel to Proceed. February 28, 2013 — A California District Court has ruled Bratz maker MGA Entertainment Inc. can proceed with a case...

Consumer confidence rebounds in February. February 28, 2013 — Consumer confidence rebounded in February, reversing three straight months of declines, according to...

A New Furby Toy. February 28, 2013 — Furby has a new little sister — or maybe brother. In stores this week...

Why retailers are pinning hopes on Pinterest. February 28, 2013 — After a tough day at work as a publicist in Minneapolis, Becca Bijoch would often...

The Surprising Retail Winner In Mobile Apps. February 28, 2013 — When it comes to mobile applications, an unlikely sector is crushing the big department stores...

Glass half full. February 28, 2013 — Sixty percent of retailers with at least two years of negative comps turn them positive...

Mattel Launches 25th Barbie Title, First on Blu-ray Disc. February 27, 2013 — Mattel Feb. 26 launched Barbie in the Pink Shoes, the 25th DVD release...

The joy, wonder, and weirdness of Toy Fair 2013. February 27, 2013 — Toy Fair isn't what you would expect. The New York-based toy trade show is the largest...

Best of Toy Fair 2013: Flying fairies, swapping Skylanders, tubular Turtles, and plenty of Ponies among our favorites. February 27, 2013 — Even a crippling blizzard couldn’t stop Toy Fair from another successful show this year...

Jakks Pacific takes on Monsuno second season. February 27, 2013 — A new toy line based on the action-adventure series Monsuno Combat Chaos...

Jakks Plans Nintendo Toys. February 26, 2013 — Nintendo of America has teamed up with Jakks Pacific for a line of toys...

10 picks From Toy Fair That Parents Will Enjoy (Sharing with their Kids). February 26, 2013 — The 110th Annual Toy Fair was recently held in New York City. It was filled...

Toy war pits Lite Brix against Laser Pegs. February 25, 2013 — New Jersey and Florida toy manufacturers are fighting over which owns a bright idea...

Toy Fair Tech: A Mash-up of Toy Companies Mostly Playing It Safe. February 25, 2013 — This year, the "T" in toy stands for tumult. As I walked the seemingly never-ending aisles of the 110th annual...

American Toy Story. February 25, 2013 — The American dream is hiding in the unlikeliest of places — the toy box...

Toy Fair 2013: Arts and Crafts Hot, Though Publisher Attendance Dipped. February 25, 2013 — A noticeable trend at the 2013 New York International Toy Fair, held...

Tax Changes Shift Spending. February 25, 2013 — Nearly half of all Americans (45.7 percent) say they are planning to spend less overall this year...

Toy Fair 2013: Are There Any Original Ideas Anymore? February 25, 2013 — Maybe I’ve been going to Toy Fair too long. I’ve lost count...

The Interview: Ed Young, Famosa toy company GM. February 25, 2013 — Famosa has been a leading toy company and doll manufacturer in Europe...

Sony Announces PlayStation4. February 22, 2013 — After seven years, Sony announced plans to replace the PlayStation3 with a new...

Mattel's Mom Issue: They Really Don't Get Hot Wheels. February 22, 2013 — Earlier this month, influential mommy bloggers gathered in a penthouse suite at Manhattan’s Royalton Hotel...

Toy maker Jakks posts disappointing earnings. February 22, 2013 — Toy maker Jakks Pacific reported that net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012..

Lego Profit Soars 35% as Toy Bricks for Girls Drive Sales Growth. February 21, 2013 — Lego A/S, Europe’s biggest toymaker, boosted profit and market share last year as demand...

Toy 'R' Us antitrust settlement tossed over $14 million in attorney fees. February 21, 2013 — Toys “R” Us Inc.’s $35 million settlement of an antitrust group lawsuit over inflated prices...

Why the toy industry isn’t having any fun. February 21, 2013 — There was a disturbing sound at the American International Toy Fair in New York this year...

Los Angeles Port Contract Brings Much-Needed Stability Back To The Supply Chain, NRF Says. February 21, 2013 — The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold...

DreamWorks Names Toy Licensee. February 20, 2013 — DreamWorks Animation has appointed Spin Master as the worldwide master toy partner...

Toys R Us CEO Hints at Exclusive Disney Infinity Figures. February 20, 2013 — Jerry Storch, CEO and Chairman of Toys R’ Us has spoken to Family Gamer TV about his stores...

Redbook: U.S. Retail Sales Up 1.5% in First Two Weeks of February Vs January. February 20, 2013 — National chain store sales rose 1.5% in the first two weeks of February from January...

Tax hike hitting retailers. February 20, 2013 — The payroll tax increases and delayed tax returns that Wal-Mart Stores Inc...

Activision confirms layoffs, fewer licensed games in 2013. February 20, 2013 — Call of Duty: Black Ops II publisher Activision has laid off approximately 30 staffers...

Cartoons, characters linked to kids’ bad behavior: Power Rangers again. February 19, 2013 — A new study on children’s behavior has found that certain TV programming beats other...

Toys R Us CEO Compares Disney Infinity and Skylanders Swap Force. February 19, 2013 — Having quizzed Activision Publishing’s CEO about Skylanders Swap Force, we had a chance to...

2013 Toy Fair – a review by Lutz Muller. February 18, 2013 — I received feedback on Toy Fair from three national buyers at large U.S. retailers and from two sent by large European stores. According to them, there was both good news and bad news...

Google to open its own retail stores this year, report says. February 18, 2013 — It started with Apple stores. Then came Microsoft stores. Are Google stores next?

Is screen time playtime? Making sense of tots and tablets. February 18, 2013 — I think my phone is a babe magnet. Not the kind in heels. The kind in diapers...

Highlights of Toy Fair 2013. February 18, 2013 — The Toy Industry Association's 110th American International Toy Fair, which took place last week...

Is Mattel raising the white flag in Bratz copyright case? February 18, 2013 — As of Friday afternoon, there were 10,843 docket entries in Mattel's epic copyright litigation against MGA...

Toy Fair 2013—Top 10 Toy Fair FAQs for Toy and Game Inventors. February 18, 2013 — In addition to being a venue for manufacturers to present their goods to buyers...

Barbie Opens the Doors to her Real Life Dreamhouse. February 18, 2013 — On the high heels of Barbie® doll's recent announcement that she's selling her Malibu mansion...

Toy giant Lego to cut 380 jobs at key Danish site. February 18, 2013 — Global toy maker Lego A/S has announced plans to cut 380 jobs by summer 2015...

Retail CFOs: Online to play bigger role in sales performance. February 18, 2013 — Retail executives are moderating their expectations for 2013 following uneven sales in December...

Toy Fair Blog. February 16, 2013 — For the latest updates on Toy Fair, check out our Toy Fair Live Blog.

Toy Fair Coverage. February 16, 2013 — Easy way to look through all of TDmonthly's Toy Fair articles, including Toy Fair videos and post-Toy Fair Top-10 lists.

Toy Fair Videos. February 16, 2013 — View toy fair videos of hot new products making their debut at the show.

NRF Welcomes Introduction Of Marketplace Fairness Act. February 15, 2013 — The National Retail Federation today welcomed the introduction of the Marketplace Fairness Act, saying that the...

Barbie Doll, Uno cards-maker Mattel goes local in Brazil, India. February 15, 2013 — Uno cards for Brazil market made in Brazil? Check. Barbie dolls for India assembled in India? Check...

Choosing Tech Toys for Tots: No Small Parent Feat. February 15, 2013 — Digital media has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, how we communicate...

Made-in-America Toy Companies Shine Bright at NYC. February 15, 2013 — While industry giants like Ty and LEGO may dominate the Toy Industry Association...

NRF: Retail sales up slightly in January. February 15, 2013 — Retail sales ticked up in January as consumers adjusted their spending in response...

Storch to step down as Toys R Us CEO, remain chairman. February 14, 2013 — Toys R Us Inc said on Wednesday that Gerald Storch will step down as its chief executive, just weeks after the world's largest...

The joy, wonder, and weirdness of Toy Fair 2013. February 14, 2013 — Toy Fair isn't what you would expect. The New York-based toy trade show is the largest...

Creative playthings build buzz at toy fair. February 14, 2013 — A digital Barbie vanity mirror that allows makeup experimentation without the mess...

Disney Launches Oz Line. February 14, 2013 — Disney Consumer Products has released a new collection based on the upcoming...

Digital Kids Conference Focuses on Content Creation. February 14, 2013 — Computer and mobile device users view four billion videos on YouTube every day...

New toys, trends on view at 110th Toy Fair. February 8, 2013 — The largest toy industry expo in the western hemisphere opens this week...

E-commerce now 10% of total retail sales. February 8, 2013 — Online sales returned to pre-recession growth levels in 2012, advancing 15% to a record $186.2 billion...

Mattel Unveils the Future of Play with Hot New Properties and Must-Have Toys at the 2013 New York International Toy Fair. February 8, 2013 — This week, at the New York International Toy Fair, leading toymaker Mattel, Inc. will showcase its newest toys...

Social media not a major driver of sales, study finds. February 7, 2013 — Despite nearly half of shoppers using social media every day, less than one-fifth shop through them...

Google searches for greater role in retail. February 7, 2013 — Search giant Google has agreed to buy Channel Intelligence for $125 million...

ICE charges five companies, individuals in shell-game toy import scheme. February 7, 2013 — U.S. customs enforcement agents busted up a ring of companies that they said continually flouted import and intellectual property rights...

Virtual Grocery and Toy Stores on the Rise Thanks to QR Codes. February 7, 2013 — The next big thing in shopping may be to walk away empty handed...

Orrick wins $23 million award vs MGA, Bratz maker sues to vacate. February 6, 2013 — Are there any winners in the epic nine-year copyright and trade secrets fight between Mattel, which makes Barbie dolls, and MGA...

2013: the year retail rebounds? February 6, 2013 — Absent a major upheaval caused by the inability of our politicians in Washington to reach reasonable compromises...

McDonald's Plans Hexbug Meals. February 6, 2013 — Innovation First International has partnered with McDonald’s to feature its Hexbug Micro Robotic Creatures...

Play Yard Sheets Recalled by 4moms Due to Entrapment Hazard. February 6, 2013 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in conjunction with 4moms has issued a recall of the following product: About 1,440 4moms® breeze™ Cotton Jersey Playard Sheets by Thorley Industries LLC, d/b/a 4moms, sold at buybuy Baby and other juvenile product stores nationwide and online at www.buybuybaby.com from December 2012 through January 2013 for about $15. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact the company for a refund.

The Largest Toy Trade Event in the Western Hemisphere Just Got Bigger. February 5, 2013 — Count yourself among the 30,000 toy industry insiders from more than 100 countries who will flock...

Skylanders: Swap Force is Activision’s next big bet on hybrid toy-games. February 5, 2013 — Activision Blizzard is unveiling a new Skylanders game today that shows how it continues to innovate with...

Lego cuts 380 jobs as toymaker close some Danish production. February 5, 2013 — Lego A/S said it will cut 380 jobs as Europe's biggest toymaker closes...

FTC issues new guidelines for mobile marketing. February 5, 2013 — Finding the right balance between providing consumers targeted and offers while still...

LeapFrog jumps into e-book deal with Disney. February 5, 2013 — LeapFrog Enterprises has partnered with Disney Publishing Worldwide to develop e-books for its children's tablets...

TOMY – "Auto Mee S" – Cleaning Robot for smartphones and tablets. February 5, 2013 — Takara TOMY Company, Ltd., the Japanese toy company, just released a tiny cleaning robot...

Toy Fair 2013: From arts and crafts to knicks and knacks. February 4, 2013 — Ralph Wiggum, the fanciful little boy from "The Simpsons," once famously said he wanted...

Toying Around: Pre-New York Toy Fair Announcements. February 4, 2013 — This week had a surprising amount of news and reveals, considering toy companies...

Retailers Pleased By East And Gulf Coast Port Contract Agreement. February 4, 2013 — The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, today issued a statement...

Toy designer Andre Cassagnes dies at 86. February 4, 2013 — Andre Cassagnes, a French-born engineer and kite designer credited as the inventor of the...

Mattel earnings fall 17%, boosts dividend. February 1, 2013 — Toymaker Mattel Inc. MAT +1.41% on Friday reported fourth-quarter profit of $306.5 million, or 87 cents a share...

Cautious Consumers Keep Cupid At Bay This Year, According To NRF. February 1, 2013 — Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day but consumers aren’t quite...

Will Next Skylanders Game Be Kaos Alliance, Swap Force, Super Force or Nano Force? February 1, 2013 — With the approach of the New York Toy Fair (10th-13th Feb), the venue used previously by Activision to announce Skylanders: Spyros Adventure ...

Holograms Coming to the Toy Deparment. January 31, 2013 — What was your first impression when you saw the Princess Leia hologram in Star Wars...

Toys sell well all year long (Germany). January 31, 2013 — The German toy industry is in good shape, in spite of sinking birthrates...

Top toys chosen at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. January 31, 2013 — The winners of this year's prestigious Toy Awards, which take place at the Nuremberg Toy Fair...

Million Dollar Baby Dressers Recalled by Bexco Due to Tip-Over Hazards; Two Toddler Deaths Reported. January 31, 2013 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Bexco Enterprises Inc., dba Million Dollar Baby of Montebello, Calif. is announcing a voluntary recall of 18,000 children’s four-drawer dressers. The recalled dressers were sold at JCPenney and independent juvenile specialty stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, BabiesRUs.com, BabyUniverse.com and other online retailers from January 2006 through June 2010 for between $230 and $300. Consumers should immediately stop using and keep the dresser out of a child’s reach. Consumers can contact Million Dollar Baby to receive a free retrofit kit that contains a wall anchor strap, which attaches to the dresser and wall to help prevent the dresser from tipping.

Natart Chelsea Dressers Recalled By Gemme Juvenile To Reduce Tip-Over Hazard; Death of Toddler Reported. January 31, 2013 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Gemme Juvenile Inc., of Princeville, Quebec, Canada is announcing a recall to retrofit 300 children's three-drawer dressers. The dressers were sold at Furniture Kidz and other independent juvenile specialty stores and at Baby.com from January 2005 to December 2010 for between $600 and $900. Consumers should immediately stop using and place the dresser out of a child's reach. Free retrofit kits that contain wall anchor straps are being offered to consumers to help prevent the dresser from tipping.