Toys in the News: 8-5-2015

By TDmonthly Staff
July 2015

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_{Toys in the News is updated Mon-Fri at 9:15 am PST}
Retail's 25 Top Execs Average $14 Million Pay, But Few Women Make The List. August 5, 2015 — Despite the retail sector being driven by the purchasing power of women, there are still relatively few...

New Star Wars Product To Launch At Toys R Us With Midnight Opening Events. August 5, 2015 — The Force hasn’t awoken just yet, but Toy R Us is getting ready to stir the sleeping giant with new updates...

How reading to your children now can change their lives – forever. August 5, 2015 — When parents read to their children the difference shows in children’s behavior and academic performance...

Retailers to pay New York $300,000 in toy gun settlement. August 4, 2015 — Retailers including Walmart, Sears and Amazon have agreed to halt the sales of realistic-looking toy guns...

Plush Toy-Maker Creates "Cecil the Lion" Beanie Baby. August 4, 2015 — Toy-maker Ty Inc. has created a "Cecil the Lion" Beanie Baby to raise funds for animal conservation efforts

Hasbro and Warner Bros are teaming up for a Dungeons & Dragons movie. August 4, 2015 — It’s been a long time coming, but – finally – Dungeons and Dragons will be heading to the big screen...

Why Parents Should Put a Toy Chicken on Their Heads. August 3, 2015 — Parents who joke and pretend with their toddlers are doing more than just play...

Hispanic consumers – a neglected major factor in the toy space. August 3, 2015 — When you walk down the toy aisles of any major retailers you will get the impression that North America's population is totally white...

Hasbro’s Irish profits up 10% despite €3m slump in sales. August 3, 2015 — The Irish business of games giant Hasbro has reported increased profits for 2014 despite...

Toys 'R' Us Facing Credit Insurance Woes As It Restructures. August 3, 2015 — Insurance companies are cutting back on their coverage of Toys "R" Us Inc. suppliers...

RedwoodVentures Sues to Protect its IDO3D Brand of 3D Drawing Products. July 31, 2015 — RedwoodVentures, Ltd., an innovator in the toy and 3D Drawing categories, today announced that it has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas against Irwin Toys, Ltd. and Tech 4 Kids, Ltd. and their affiliates.

'LEGO' Documentary Directors On The Gender Imbalance Of Toys. July 31, 2015 — LEGO has been heralded as one of the few gender neutral toys on the market, yet the company came under fire...

Why zero delivery time could be the future of retail. July 30, 2015 — Technology continues to make it possible to optimize every aspect of business...

New Toys R Us CEO to speak with investors. July 29, 2015 — The investment community will be introduced to new Toys "R" Us Chief Executive Officer David Brandon on Thursday...

WWE Removing Hulk Hogan Merchandise From Major Retailers, Statement From Mattel On Hogan Products. July 29, 2015 — WWE has started to remove Hulk Hogan merchandise from major online retailers such as...

5 Obstacles Facing Retail Small Businesses. July 29, 2015 — It's a hard time to own a retail small business. With ever increasing competition from online businesses...

Insurers of Wayne-based Toys 'R' Us said to cut policies after losses mount. July 28, 2015 — Insurance companies are cutting back on their coverage of Toys "R" Us Inc. suppliers, bringing another headache...

'Frozen' A Mixed Blessing For Licensed Merchandise As Business Changes – Report. July 28, 2015 — Hard to imagine that anyone in the licensed merchandise business would have a bad word to say about Disney's huge success selling Frozen-related toys...

LEGO Makes Everything Better - Even a Prosthetic for Kids. July 28, 2015 — IT JUST GOT easier for kids with prosthetic limbs to go fully bionic—with a little help from Lego...

This billion dollar market didn't even exist five years ago. July 27, 2015 — Toys to life video games use physical action figures to unlock new characters and levels inside the games...

The Beau James Group hires new Managing Partner Julie Wells. July 27, 2015 — North American toy industry consulting and management firm, The Beau James Group (BJG) announced the appointment of a new Managing Partner, Julie Wells. Focusing on the future growth of the company as well as Wells’ partnership, BJG has also announced its new company name: Partners In Play, according to a press release.

The Coolest New Toys At The Hong Kong Animation, Comics And Games Expo. July 27, 2015 — ACGHK 2015 took place over the weekend, and the best and brightest of the Asian Toy scene were out...

Afghanistan, flush with weapons, bans toy guns. July 27, 2015 — The weapons of Afghanistan's long decades of war can be seen almost everywhere...

Hasbro makes good on hiring promise in Year Up training program. July 27, 2015 — Hasbro, the world's second-largest toymaker, invested $1 million to develop curriculum with Year Up...

Retail Workers Seek Pay Boost After New York's $15 Fast Food Wage Win. July 24, 2015 — On Wednesday, New York’s Wage Board made an unprecedented move: they approved a new $15 hourly minimum wage...

Walmart Loses Retail Crown To Amazon. July 24, 2015 — With thousands of retail locations and an overwhelming online presence, Walmart has forged their name as king of retail...

Hasbro: A Tale of Two Toy Stories. July 24, 2015 — Hasbro Inc. (HAS) has been around since 1923 and is a company name that most...

Jakks Pacific shrinks quarterly loss. July 23, 2015 — Toy maker Jakks Pacific Inc. said it narrowed its second-quarter loss, helped by sales of Disney Frozen products...

This Is What a Monstrous 18-Foot Long Millennium Falcon Toy Looks Like. July 23, 2015 — A few days ago it was revealed that Hot Toys was building a sixth-scale toy version of the Millennium Falcon...

NRF cuts 2015 U.S. retail sales forecast after weak first half. July 22, 2015 — The National Retail Federation, the biggest U.S. retail association, cut its forecast for retail sales growth...

Barbie, Beware? Bratz Back On Shelves Amid Billion-Dollar Mattel Battle. July 22, 2015 — It’s been almost two years now since Bratz dolls — those big-eyed, short-skirted mainstays...

Disney to roll out new 'smart' toys, including Star Wars game, Playmation Marvel's Avengers, 'Frozen' ice castle. July 22, 2015 — Later this fall, Disney will unveil Playmation, a new system of wearable technology and smart toys it hopes...

High rent and e-commerce didn't do in FAO Schwarz. July 21, 2015 — When FAO Schwarz closed its Manhattan flagship toy store on Wednesday, the media was full of stories...

Skechers, Jakks Pacific launch Twinkle Toes doll line. July 21, 2015 — Footwear maker Skechers USA Inc. is bringing its Twinkle Toes light-up shoes to a new line of dolls...

Labor Law Violations At Chinese Supplier To Hasbro, Mattel, Takara Tomy: Report. July 21, 2015 — Jingyu Toy Products, a toy factory based in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, has been accused of underpaying its employees and forcing them to work long hours...

Hasbro sales tops estimate on strong demand for movie-themed toys. July 20, 2015 — U.S. toymaker Hasbro Inc reported a lower-than-expected decline in quarterly revenue, helped by strong demand...

Court approves $60 Million Settlement for Video Game Class Action Lawsuit Against NCAA, Electronic Arts. July 20, 2015 — The ongoing class action lawsuit against the NCAA and Electronic Arts (EA) has taken a new turn...

Mattel hasn't figured out how to save Barbie. July 17, 2015 — Sales of Mattel’s Barbie are on track to slip for a fourth consecutive year...

Hasbro Reaches New Lifetime High Today. July 17, 2015 — Trade-Ideas LLC identified Hasbro as a new lifetime high candidate...

Science Exonerates Minion Toy Perceived To Be Foul-Mouthed. July 17, 2015 — A mighty controversy is sweeping the nation - but science can help set the record straight...

Top Stock Hasbro Boosted By 'Jurassic Park'Toy Sales. July 16, 2015 — Formerly slow-moving Hasbro (NASDAQ:HAS) has suddenly sprung to life, hitting record highs...

Iconic Toy Store FAO Schwarz Closes 5th Avenue Doors. July 16, 2015 — The legendary toy store will close its doors Wednesday for the last time on New York City's 5th Avenue...

How smart are connected toys? July 16, 2015 — Toys are starting to talk back to children, but they may not be better for your children than a silent teddy...

Uncertain Retail Markets Require Change. July 16, 2015 — Recent news paints a rocky road for retailers. All one needs to do is look at the activity...

Toys ‘R’ Us Pulls the Plug: A Big Blow to eBay Enterprise. July 16, 2015 — According to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, Toys “R” Us, a main customer of eBay Enterprise...

LeapFrog Expands Preschool Toy Collection with Playful New Ways to Teach School-Readiness Skills. July 15, 2015 — LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.announced today three new toys – Number Lovin' Oven, Scout's Build & Discover Tool Set, and Word Whammer...

Hasbro to sell East Longmeadow plant to Belgian playing cards and games manufacturer. July 15, 2015 — Hasbro Inc. is getting out of the manufacturing business, selling factories in East Longmeadow and Ireland...

Your Children's Toys Are Perpetuating Gender Discrimination, And Woozy Moo's Mission To Change That. July 15, 2015 — In my work in the media and in my role as a mother of both a young man and woman...
Weak U.S. retail sales hint at slower economic growth. July 14, 2015 — U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in June as households cut back on purchases of automobiles...

The Changing World of Licensed Publishing. July 14, 2015 — Film and television properties such as Universal Studios’ Minions, Warner Bros.’ Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice...

Company Shares of Leapfrog Enterprises Inc Drops by -9.15%. July 14, 2015 — Leapfrog Enterprises Inc has lost 9.15% during the past week and dropped 16.23% in the last 4 weeks...
Nintendo CEO who broadened video game appeal dies of cancer. July 13, 2015 — Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.T) Chief Executive Satoru Iwata died of cancer on Saturday...

Myth of China's retail investors understates large players' role. July 13, 2015 — During the dramatic rise and fall of China’s stock market this year, one piece of conventional...

Be prepared for an ugly retail sales report on Tuesday. July 13, 2015 — Wall Street is bracing for a disappointing June retail sales...
Hasbro and Machinima are making a Transformers cartoon "for teen and adult fans". July 10, 2015 — Finally, after years of catering almost exclusively to children, Hasbro is teaming up with online video company Machinima...
Toys 'R' Us leans on itself for the next big toy hit. July 9, 2015 — The struggling retailer hopes private-label brands will attract new customers...

Comic-Con 2015: Hasbro exclusive line upset fans during SDCC Preview Night. July 9, 2015 — Comic-Con International attendees are used to standing in line during the four-day convention in San Diego...

Unhappy parents claim Minion Happy Meal toy uses profanity. July 9, 2015 — Some parents aren't happy about what they claim a talking Happy Meal toy is saying...

Group finds asbestos in children's crayons, toy crime lab kits. July 9, 2015 — The EWG Action Fund is calling for a ban on asbestos in consumer products...
Disney Confirms Plans for Han Solo Spin-off Movie. July 8, 2015 — The first film in the new Star Wars franchise isn’t even out yet, and already details are emerging...

Why JAKKS Pacific Inc. Stock Soared 33% in June. July 8, 2015 — A new toy licensing agreement around the release of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is good news for the company...
Spin Master – Playing in the big league. July 7, 2015 — Spin Master is going public - but will it be enough?

Why Hasbro Is Making a Big Bet on a 'Monopoly' Movie. July 7, 2015 — Hollywood is notorious for turning all manner of board games, comic books, and other intellectual property into movies...

The Sadistic Economics of Comic-Con's Exclusive Toys. July 7, 2015 — Cool toys produced in ludicrously meager quantities—it must be Comic-Con season...

Diverse dolls like the Prettie Girls! Tween Scene help retailers like Walmart toy with change. July 7, 2015 — More diversity is coming to the doll aisle with the multicultural Prettie Girls! Tween Scene collection...

Hasbro Withdraws from UK Toy Fair 2016. July 6, 2015 — It appears that the company would rather favour the German fair in Nuremberg over the London event...

Nintendo: We Will Not Flood the Market With Licensed Products, Will Devalue IPs. July 6, 2015 — During the 75th Annual General Investor’s Meeting, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced that although...

Company shares of Leapfrog Enterprises Inc drops by -4.05%. July 6, 2015 — Leapfrog Enterprises Inc has lost 4.05% during the past week and dropped 34.56% in the last 4 weeks...

FAO Schwarz's toy soldiers are no match for Manhattan's sky-high rents. July 6, 2015 — Talk about rubbing salt into a wound. A month after toy lovers got word...

Walled Lake's American Plastic Toys sees possibilities in licensing agreements. July 6, 2015 — In the age of blockbuster films and cross-platform megafranchises, toy licensing is big business. Sales of licensed toys...
Bro's Little Pony: YA Novel Tackles Hasbro Show's Unlikely Audience. July 2, 2015 — As a young girl living in the Bay Area, young adult fiction author Natalie Whipple fit the target...

Comic-Con: Barbie Wonder Woman, Hot Wheels Batmobile to Debut From Mattel. July 2, 2015 — There'll be more ways to play with Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman at San Diego Comic-Con...

How Tamagotchi Rose From The Dead To Join The Internet Of Things. July 2, 2015 — Here’s a Hot Topic HOTT +% product primed to make ‘90s kids scratch their heads and ask...
'Batman v Superman' toys debut at Comic-Con. July 1, 2015 — Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are going to loom large at Comic-Con this year — and in toy boxes...

‘Monopoly’ Movie In Works As Lionsgate Teams With Hasbro. July 1, 2015 — Here’s a concept that just passed “Go.” Lionsgate says it is teaming with Hasbro to create a movie based on Monopoly...

How Latinas Are Influencing the Retail Industry. July 1, 2015 — Hispanic shoppers like Maria Creamer are a retailer's dream...

Disney’s New CFO Is Its Highest-ranking Woman Ever. July 1, 2015 — When Disney’s Christine McCarthy was promoted this week to chief financial officer...
Disney Merges Consumer Product and Interactive Units. June 30, 2015 — Children do not separate their toys into two piles — traditional and digital...

Amazon Launches Full Operations in Mexico. June 30, 2015 — As expected, Amazon has just announced its biggest international launch ever...

Hasbro changes its Jurassic World toys from boys to (clever) girls. June 30, 2015 — Making it safe for little girls, boys, and gender nonconforming tykes of all stripes to play with dinosaurs again...