Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin’ Friday & a Happy Birthday to Phil Bloom, Founder of tBR!
Big thanks, Phil, for bringing the Bloom Report to life—and we hope your birthday was as awesome as you are!
We're adding even more excitement to this year's Chicago Toy & Game Fair by launching WishList Weekend Influencer Boxes. These are curated collections of top toys and games sent to media and creators in advance of the show. As an exhibitor or sponsor, you have the exclusive opportunity to be featured in these pre-Fair promotional packages!
Deadline: August 15th! Products in the box will be highlighted in social media unboxings, product previews, and press coverage leading up to CHITAG 2025. Last year we had over 1.52 billion media impressions and that was during the presidential election!
Our 20th Young Inventor Challenge® International Championship is now open for entries!
Kids and teens ages 6–18 can submit their original toy or game inventions for a shot at prizes, industry exposure, and even the chance to see their ideas published and sold in stores. Winners will be announced live at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair on November 8th.
It is a big year with more entries - we need more industry judges! It is easy and it is virtual - give the kids feedback when you have a few hours at home or the office - it will remind you why you got in the toy business and how special our industry is! Sign up HERE! If you plan to be at the Fair, meet the kids in person like Nancy Zwiers (pictured).
Registration is Open for November's POP Week
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Connect, pitch and learn at the Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference
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Encourage a creative kid to enter the Young Inventor Challenge
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Kick off the holidays by taking a booth at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair! Meet consumers, influencers, media and trade.
Thank you for reading the Bloom Report here or on the Bloom Report 24/7 News Feed! Please support our work by advertising and/or setting up a POP profile.
Mary and the POP Team
Bloom Report Subscribers Say...
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Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to the person who prefers to remain anonymous for the cartoon.
Memorable Quotes: “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer." -Albert Einstein
Toy Industry Word of Day: If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share? Send it to me! Mary
Happiest of Birthdays to our colleagues celebrating birthdays this past week!
Jay North RIP
Person of the Week - Lovevery's Jessica Rolph
Creating Moments of Connection for Children and Families
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It was great to meet you in June at the TA's DC event. I'm a fan of your products! Please share with our readers what do you do in our industry?
I am co-founder and CEO of Lovevery, an early childhood development company focused on healthy brain development for ages 0-5.
Why and how did you get into the Toy and Game industry?
I have spent the last 17 years of my career in early childhood. The first company I co-founded, Happy Family, is a leading brand of organic baby and toddler food.
After learning so much about the importance of nutrition for young children, I found myself wondering, “are we doing enough to nourish our children’s brains?” This question led me to cofound Lovevery in 2015.
What is it about the Toy and Game Industry that you love?
It’s an industry all about joy—creating moments of connection for children and families. It’s incredibly fulfilling to create products and resources that help new parents feel more confident and support a child’s development as they grow. At its core, the Toy and Game industry is one that’s built on fun, imagination, and meaningful impact to shape how children see the world. Read More...
Person of the Week - Eastar's David Du
From Vision to Reality: My Journey in Empowering Global Game Creators
When I reflect upon my experience in the board game industry, there is only one thing that I have always believed in: great ideas should be well implemented.
The designers of games only want to put their hearts into creating shared experiences. As a developer and at Eastar, my job is to get as many of those ideas to players in the form they were intended, with care, quality, and respect for the idea of the originator.
How I Found My Way into Games
I did not enter this sector as a beginner. Early at Eastar, my job is to get as many of those ideas to players in their intended form, with care, quality, and respect. Ten years ago, I noticed another restriction- the board game renaissance. There were thousands of creative minds out there designing games, highly thematic games, beautifully crafted games, and yet they lacked a reliable source of a high-quality manufacturing partner to bring an idea to reality.
And this is when it hit me: this is where Eastar would have an opportunity to do something. We were in a position to do so, and more to the point, we were passionate about joining hands with creators. We made our company a specialized board game production partner to publishers, designers, and IP holders worldwide. Read More...
August 8, 2025 - YIC Spotlight #7 in our 20 Week Countdown to POP Week and the YIC!
Name: Tait Hansen
Location: Evanston, IL
YIC: 2018 Most Marketable Concept Winner
Invention(s): Betcha’ Can’t!
Where is your invention now?
Betcha’ Can’t is sold on Amazon and you can find it in other retail stores.
Have you invented any other toys/games since the YIC?
Not currently!
Are you planning to work or study in a related field (STEM, design, entrepreneurship, toy/game industry, etc.)?
Yes, I am studying business/entrepreneurship at the University of Oregon starting in the Fall of 2025. You can hear more about my YIC journey from the 2024 Young Inventor Award Ceremony during the Chicago Toy & Game Fair:
(Note from Mary: It is the 20th Anniversary of the Young Inventor Challenge! We have BIG plans and would love to include you - be a sponsor, a judge or a volunteer. We appreciate all the help we can get to support the next generation of toy people! Contact Ahren Hoffman ahren@peopleofplay.com today.)
Financial and Legal
The Game Manufacturers Association joins FIREDISC and Ryan Wholesale v. Donald J. Trump, et al.: filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of TX. The suit differs from the previous cases in that it is broader in scope recognizing tariffs from multiple countries in addition to China, as well as seeking to demonstrate industry-wide harm being caused by the tariffs and seeking relief for all our member companies.
Amy Takahara files a lawsuit against Netflix. The former kids & family exec alleges gender bias and wrongful termination, and claims the streamer did nothing to remedy a hostile work environment.
NASA aims to beat China and Russia in race to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. The U.S. should deploy a small nuclear power plant to the surface of the moon before China and Russia are able to do so, the interim head of NASA has told the space agency’s staff.
Trump says US and China nearing a ‘good deal’, links agreement to Xi meeting. US President Donald Trump, hailing his “good relationship” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, said on Tuesday that a deal with China was taking shape, a week after officials from both countries...
Apple announces $100 billion US manufacturing plan after pressure from Donald Trump. The move builds upon the company’s initial plan to invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years, and includes a new American Manufacturing Program that the company says will bring...
Diamond Bankruptcy Continues to Rack Up Fees. The bankruptcy of Diamond Comic Distributors continues to be profitable for the professionals working on it; professional fees billed from filing through the end of June now total over $9 million.
Consigners Ask Bankruptcy Court to Force Sparkle Pop to Decide. The motion also lays out amounts of money owed to the 12 companies in the Ad Hoc Committee for product sold between filing and the sale to Sparkle Pop, and after the sale.
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Financial Reporting, Tariffs
Funko reported a loss of $41 million on a 28% U.S. sales decline in a brutal second quarter, which it attributed primarily to the impact of U.S. import taxes.
*** The above posted after tBR started circulating August 8th ***
Disney earnings top expectations as streaming, parks offset TV headwinds. Disney reported results for its fiscal third quarter – posting earnings that topped expectations but revenue that came in just shy of analyst projections – as the company’s streaming business grew and...
Warner Bros. Discovery built its Q2 on A Minecraft Movie A Minecraft Movie—which debuted in April to a strong US$955-million run—was among the major releases that helped fuel a 38% jump in Q2 theatrical revenue.
It’s the end of an era for Paramount Global, which released its Q2 financial report yesterday—the last one before Skydance Media officially takes the reins. Here are the key takeaways: Q2 revenue: US$6.85 billion, Year-over-year change: Up 1% from US$6.81 billion .
Japanese game maker Nintendo reports robust profits on strong Switch 2 sales. Nintendo, the Japanese video game maker behind the Super Mario and Pokemon franchises, is reporting an 18.6% surge in net profit for the first fiscal quarter on the back of strong demand for its new...
Retailers Face ‘Perfect Storm’ as Tariffs Threaten Price Hikes American retailers have reportedly issued a dire warning on the White House’s latest tariffs.
Tariffs Drive Wedge Between Small Business and Big Tech. It was a strong quarter for America’s biggest companies — less so for many under-the-radar firms.
How will Trump’s latest tariff moves affect the kids industry? In April, US President Donald Trump announced a list of individual tariffs that he said would be levied against goods from almost every country in the world. Shortly after, he hit pause on implementing them—but promised...
Retail job cuts spike nearly 250% from last year. A Challenger, Gray & Christmas report points to tariffs and broader economic uncertainty as the catalysts driving a retail workforce contraction.
‘Everything is about to get really expensive’: Small-business owners say Trump tariffs could force them to raise prices. Small-business owners say they are raising the price of their consumer goods by the end of the year to offset tariffs.
Trump says new semiconductor tariff plan coming as soon as next week. Trump's announcement on CNBC's "Squawk Box" came on the heels of him unveiling new tariff rates on numerous countries, with some facing steep hikes.
Trump raises India tariffs to 50% over Russian oil purchases. The White House announced Wednesday that it is imposing an additional 25% tariff on India, bringing the total levies against the major United States trading partner to 50%.
Trump threatens 100 percent tariff on computer chips with a gigantic loophole. Trump just announced he’ll putting an enormous 100 percent tariff on chips and semiconductors — unless your company kisses the ring like Apple CEO Tim Cook just did, perhaps.
Sonos confirms tariffs will increase its prices this year. Tom Conrad took over as CEO of Sonos in January as it continues to recover from last year’s disastrous mobile app update, and now the company has issued its first quarterly earnings report after he dropped the interim tag from his title.
Trends, Lists, Market Research, and State of the Industry
Floating Courts to Be Built in UK for Padel, World’s Fastest-Growing Sport
*** The above posted after tBR started circulating on August 8th ***
A.B.Gee launches 2025 Christmas Gift Guide
Bye‑Bye Labubu? The Rise And Fall Of The Wide-Eyed Doll Collectible. At peak, Labubu dolls weren’t just collectibles, they were emotional currency. But the latest drama feels like a turning point.
Labubus, Gen Z and the collection obsession. The adorable tiny monster that’s taken over social media feeds speaks to a larger phenomenon of the need for trending trinkets.
Concerns raised over Labubu Dolls, other 'blind box' products. Some environmental and social concerns have been raised as Labubu Dolls soar off store shelves.
Global Times: Global toy artists, collectors flock to China as nation's IP ecosystem thrives After detailed consultation, Russian collector Ilya Popov shook hands with a Chinese toy designer to finalize a 15,000-yuan ($2,070) purchase.
Customer fights, crazy resale market as Labubu mania takes over Korea Koreans have fallen in love with Pop Mart’s Labubu character, which has caused chaotic scenes and prices for limited editions to skyrocket.
U.S. Toy Industry is Back in Growth Mode, Circana Says It’s been a year of mixed messaging for the U.S. toy industry amid inflation, tariffs, and an erratic earnings season.
Tariffs Could Make Controversial ‘Surveillance Pricing’ More Mainstream Amid the Delta Air Lines dynamic pricing controversy, Wharton marketing professor Z. John Zhang argues that the approach is likely to become more widespread — especially in an environment shaped...
The US toy industry is growing again in 2025 While toycos have had to pivot strategies and rejig their supply chains to navigate President Donald Trump’s ongoing global trade war, the US toy industry is proving to be more than just resilient.
PRO: Top 100 Graphic Novels - July 2025 Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data.
Top 20 Graphic Novels - July 2025 Sales Rankings Based on Comic Store POS Data.
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Stories, Comments, and Advice
John Baulch, Toy World - Good week, not so good week… it’s the Friday Blog! It’s been a good week for some companies and people, but no so good for others – let’s dive in and see who some of the winners and losers are.
A famed toy factory that once turned children into rugged cowboy heroes has been reimagined as a stunning modern warehouse - with a hint of Old West nostalgia. It is hard to fathom the sleek warehouse conversion at 3 Foster Street Leichhardt was where iconic toy manufacturer Albert Lindsay once made his famed cowboy costumes. During the 1960s the business employed 80 people at the Foster Street factory.
How the Muppets Helped Me Grieve. After my dad got sick, his collaborations with Jim Henson kept me afloat. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop has sat, for the past 16 years, on the fourth floor of an office building in Long Island City, New York, behind a metal door that looks like any other.
Toy Work (UK) August’s Letter from America. This month, Rick Derr shared with readers the talk he gave at the annual Learning Express Toys Convention and Show (Building Magic Moments) in late June.
Plush remains one of the toy market’s most consistently successful sectors. According to Circana data, Plush is the UK market’s sixth largest supercategory, with soft toys stocked in some shape or form by just about every toy retailer. From traditional to fashion-led, from...
Why Haribo Refuses to Expand Beyond Gummies Haribo is one of the largest gummy candy manufacturers in the world, with its Wisconsin factory producing 60 million Goldbear gummies a day. Hershey, best known for chocolate, has expanded into pretzels and dipped fruit snacks.
What the marshmallow test got wrong about child psychology The marshmallow test, first devised by Walter Mischel in the 1960s to measure a young child’s ability to delay gratification, helped usher in a fascination with early childhood capacities and skills that has persisted to the present day
‘Toy Story’ characters to join Iowa State Fair butter cow for 30th anniversary tribute. The inclusion of the "Toy Story" characters coincides with the 30th anniversary of the first movie in the series. Long-time butter cow sculptor Sarah Pratt said she's created a connection between the series and Iowa.
History and Nostalgia
Original Rubik’s Cube Molds Coming To Wheeling, West Virginia! The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum in Wheeling, West Virginia is now giving the public a rare opportunity to actually see those original molds, used by Ideal to produce millions upon millions of Rubik’s Cubes...
Dingbot from TOMY In 1982, TOMY released Dingbot, a small toy robot whose design was heavily influenced by the fictional film character E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The toy was part of the company’s Home Entertainment Robot series, which also included Verbot and Omnibot.
Battlestar Galactica Model Kits from Monogram (1979) The Colonial Viper and Cylon Raider shown in this vintage advertisement were two of the four model kits released by Monogram following the 1978 premiere of Battlestar Galactica.
Licensing and Entertainment
Disney to integrate Hulu into Disney+ Internationally, Hulu will be pushed as Disney’s general entertainment brand. Outside the US, Disney’s general entertainment content is currently available under the Star tile, and this will be replaced by a Hulu tile.
A Halloween Favorite From the ‘90s Is Returning to Theaters for the First Time in Decades. Forget the ghost uncles. Every ‘90s kid remembers that kiss. Grab your popcorn and get ready for a trip down memory lane, ‘90s kids. The cult classic Casper is returning to theaters for its 30th anniversary.
Get your first look at Tom Holland’s new suit in Spider-Man: Brand New Day teaser In honor of Spider-Man Day, get your first look at Tom Holland's new suit in the upcoming movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Chappell Roan Is Back With “The Subway” The superstar released the music video for her latest single, her first new music since releasing "The Giver" back in March.
Box Office: ‘Fantastic Four’ Lords Over ‘Bad Guys 2,’ ‘Naked Gun’ But Suffers Sharp Decline Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps easily stayed atop the domestic box office chart in its second weekend with $40 million, but tumbled a worrisome 66 percent.
‘American Ninja Warrior’ Renewed for Season 18 at NBC The new season of the hit summer competition series will begin filming in Las Vegas this fall.
The 'Resident Evil' Remake Is Doubling Down On A Controversial Choice The people yearn for a no-frills adaptation of the Resident Evil franchise, but Zach Cregger probably won’t be the one to make it.
Baby Evie Debuts on Nickelodeon The TV premiere is accompanied by the release of the new 11-episode season of Peppa Pig.
Littles Tikes Welcomes Dr. Seuss with Story Dream Machine Little Tikes’ Story Dream Machine is a kid-sized projector. It shines storybook pages onto flat surfaces and reads the story to children ages 3 and up. Dr. Seuss is available as an expansion pack through a licensing agreement.
Families Can Step into Heeler Fashions with Converse’s Bluey Collection No kid will feel blue when they wear these new Bluey-themed shoes. Families can add Heeler fun to their everyday lives with the limited-edition Converse x Bluey collection.
Combining Plush and Blush: Ulta Beauty Introduces Squishmallows Makeup Collection Jazwares’s popular Squishmallows line joins the beauty world in a unique collaboration with Ulta Beauty.
License Global Releases 2025 Top Global Licensors Whitepaper, revealing that the world’s largest brand owners collectively generated more than $307 billion in retail sales of licensed consumer products in 2024.
BBC Studios reveals four new Bluey short-form series The four series, commissioned by BBC Studios Digital Brands, BBC Studios Kids & Family and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, are Bluey Tunes, Bluey Puppets, Bluey Cookalongs and Bluey Fancy Restaurants, all 10 x roughly two to five minutes.
Public media mourns the loss of CPB The fallout from the US government clawing back the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s funding is already hitting home, with the org deciding to wind down its operations.
Disney+ bolsters its anime library with Twisted-Wonderland The anime follows the core story of the ongoing mobile game, which sees a high schooler named Yuuken Enma transported to the Disney villain-themed school for aspiring mages, Night Raven College.
Chill Out: Mattel’s New American Girl Collection Features Iconic Ice Princesses Frozen’s princess sister duo is joining the American Girl Disney Core Collection. The 18-inch dolls, designed for kids ages 6 and up, come with their signature outfits as seen in the animated film.
Spider-Punk swings into a solo movie at Sony The punk rock-inspired iteration of Spider-Man first stole the show in the 2023 sequel Across the Spider-Verse, which, thanks to universe-hopping shenanigans, featured multiple variants of the friendly neighborhood webslinger.
Roku Launches Howdy, a $2.99 Monthly Streaming Service “Priced at less than a cup of coffee, Howdy is ad-free and designed to complement, not compete with, premium services,” said Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood.
“I Don’t See the Fandom Slowing Down”: How ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Became One of Netflix’s Biggest —and Most Unexpected — Hits \ Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and Netflix film boss Dan Lin weigh in on how a unique concept and authenticity propelled the animated feature into long-term success.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ Sets Disney+ Streaming Release Date Ohana means family, which means no one gets left behind, not even Stitch. “Lilo & Stitch,” the live-action remake of Disney’s classic animated feature, will be surfing into Disney+ on Sept. 3.
‘Rental Family’ Trailer: Brendan Fraser Becomes a Hired Family Member in Tokyo’s Surrogate Industry In the film, Fraser plays an American actor living in Tokyo. When he starts taking roles for the Japanese Rental Family Agency, he finds unexpected connections playing a stand-in in other people’s familial lives.
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s No. 4 Most Popular English-Language Movie Ever During the week of July 28-Aug. 3, “KPop Demon Hunters” achieved not only its seventh week on the Netflix Top 10, but became one of the streamer’s most popular titles ever.
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People of Play
Eolo Toys has appointed Brenda Elliott as VP of Business Development, N.A., as it eyes further growth across the US and Canadian markets. In her new role, Brenda will lead strategic initiatives to accelerate the company’s growth across the US and Canadian markets, working closely with global and regional teams to drive business development initiatives, enhance market penetration...
*** The above posted after tBR started circulating August 8th ***
Rakesh Kakaya joins Striders as new chief Sales officer Based in London, Rakesh will spearhead Striders’ global sales and business development efforts across all markets, with a sharp focus on scaling its flagship brand, Pugs at Play, along with the broader portfolio of proprietary and licensed products.
Scott Garnerbundy-Higgs joins Cartamundi as UK Business Development manager, bringing with him over 25 years of experience in the Toy and Gift industry. Scott has held key roles at Fizz Creations and Rubber Road.
Here’s a look at the new Paramount leadership team Skydance founder David Ellison (pictured) will take the reins as CEO with former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Shell joining as president—two appointments that have been more or less expected since the initial merger agreement.
Mattel Promotes Niki Kazakos to Vice President of Global Corporate Communications In the new gig, Kazakos will continue to drive communications across the “Barbie” shop’s corporate, content, and franchise businesses – as well as oversee strategy for Mattel Studios’ film...
‘Invincible’ Maker Skybound Entertainment Hires Jam City’s Kristina Cole as Head of Global Comms In this newly created executive role at the Robert Kirkman and David Alpert-founded company, Cole will lead the company’s global communications strategy, positioning...
Tony Mace seeks new opportunity Having recently parted company with Jakks Pacific UK, Tony is now looking to bring his expert sales experience in the toy industry to a new opportunity. The senior sales professional's extensive experience includes 16 years as a...
Toy sales stalwart Karl Pollard introduces The Refill Method Karl Pollard has spent more than 25 years in the toy industry, including nearly a decade with Jakks Pacific, before parting company with the UK business earlier this year.
WildBrain CPLG Expands Leadership with Global and EMEA Appointments The licensing agency has promoted Evi Sari to the newly created role of Vice President, Global Location-Based Entertainment.
Pokémon producer sets up kids banner Konfetti Studios Grossfeld, who produced the English-language versions of early Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh seasons back in the ’90s and early ’00s, is credited with helping launch the Pokémon brand worldwide.
Companies and Brands
Marky Sparky Toys Shifts Faux Bow® Protégé Packaging to U.S. Manufacturing: Supporting Local Jobs and Strengthening Supply Chain Reliability. The new packaging is printed by local San Diego-based printers, with in-house laser-cut components assembled by hand in Marky Sparky’s own warehouse.
Super Impulse is bringing back Twisty Petz, the hit collectible that transforms from adorable animals into wearable accessories. Relaunching in August 2025, the line will be available on Amazon and at major U.S. retailers, targeting kids ages 6 and up.
Exclusive: Discovering the magic behind Disney’s plush toys Toy World caught up with Gill Archer, VP Hardlines & Food+ at Disney Consumer Products EMEA, to gain insights into how the studio's most popular IPs translate into plush toys and discover the latest major new lines...
LEGO Group announces LEGO Pokemon for 2026 The LEGO Group has opened up a teaser site for their upcoming LEGO Pokemon which is set to make its debut next year. The teaser site features a video showcasing what appears to be the mighty Pikachu in LEGO.
The New Woof & Co. Doll Line Is Pawsitively Perfect Woof & Co. is a brand-new doll line from Sunny Days Ent. that celebrates friendship in the cutest — and most fashionable — way. Each of the six characters features a unique personality and stylish outfit to match.
Monster High Skullector Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride In celebration of the hauntingly beautiful legacy of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride ‘s 20th anniversary, Monster High and Warner Bros. Discovery Consumer Products unveil a spine-tingling tribute...
Libraries Board Game Club prepares for next chapter. Since its inception, the initiative has delivered 3,100 games to 300 public libraries and continues to push towards its mission of increasing access to play for communities via local libraries
Toy Sourcing International to launch in Amsterdam The global toy and games industry is set to welcome a major new B2B event with the launch of Toy Sourcing International, taking place in Amsterdam from 3rd-4th June 2026.
Disney Lorcana unveils new Glimmers of the Realm puzzle range Each puzzle in the Glimmers of the Realm series features original art from the Disney Lorcana trading card game and include a Mickey Mouse - True Friend promo card.
Ty Beanie Bouncers launch hailed a success Toy World Publisher John Baulch spoke with the team at Ty and leading retailers to get all the details on the successful launch of the Beanie Bouncers range.
MrBeast and Mark Rober launch a clean water initiative Online creators MrBeast and Mark Rober are joining forces on #TeamWater, their latest in a string of environmental fundraising initiatives that also includes TeamTrees and TeamSeas.
Genius Games Takes Over Elf Creek Games Elf Creek Games, makers of Merchants of the Dark Road, has fallen on hard times recently, and faces several challenges in fulfilling their recent Kickstarter campaigns as well as other financial responsibilities.
The Nacelle Company Unleashes a Wave of Collectible Announcements at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 #SDCC The NacelleVerse is expanding even further with a new set of Power Lords figures, which were showcased for the first time at The Nacelle Company's San Diego Comic-Con...
Zatu Distribution signs distribution agreements with Maestro Media and Steamforged Games This includes exclusivity for Maestro Media, and exclusivity for a number of Steamforged Games titles.
Cobi appoints new Sales agents for Scotland and Ireland Rob McQuillan will oversee Scotland, while Graham Blair and Walter Cummins will cover Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, respectively. Cobi has announced the appointment of new Sales agents within its ranks.
Golden Bear Toys reinforces global Sales team with strategic appointments The restructure and key appointments within the Sales team reflect Golden Bear’s evolution into a global, brand-led business.
McDonald’s Reveals Limited-Time McDonaldland Meal McDonald's is transporting collectors to an exciting new place with its new McDonaldland meal, which comes with a mystery shake and souvenir.
Sega launches emotive plush line The four new plush designs are named Phoenix, Aurora, Stella and Zephyr and take the shape of the sun, a rainbow, a star and a thundercloud, each featuring a cute smiley face.
Claire’s files Chapter 11 with 18 stores slated to close Claire’s, a mall staple that was once a destination for teens and tweens, has failed to thrive since its 2018 bankruptcy. The retailer has struggled to keep up with its audience...
Connetix unveils latest magnetic tile ranges Connetix is releasing three new magnetic tile ranges – Portal, Glitter and Light Up are all making their international debut alongside an entirely new magnetic tile line designed for older builders, Connetix Pro.
Hidden Pigeon Company Expands YouTube Strategy with Little Dot Studios Partnership As part of the collaboration, Little Dot Studios will manage and grow the Mo Willems Workshop YouTube channel, enhancing its reach and performance with a global audience of families...
Tamagotchi Paradise Brings Virtual Pet Play to a New Level Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA) introduces the latest version of its virtual pet brand, Tamagotchi. While the aesthetic and concept remain the same, this version has exciting new twists.
Hasbro and Peppa Pig are Official Promotion Partners for Japan Preschool Exchange Based on the values of nature-connected childhoods and cross-cultural learning, the program, in collaboration with Hasbro and Peppa Pig, draws on the animated show’s playful spirit and life lessons.
All-New #Wicked : For Good Pops! from #Funko Funko just revealed new Pop! collectibles inspired by the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good! These include new looks for Elphaba and Glinda, along with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion!
Wilberry Toys unveils latest addition to soft toys range. Introducing the Teddy Bears Picnic set, which captures the charm of traditional childhood play, sparking endless creativity and joy for children and parents alike.
Board Game Club teams up with Mojo Nation for Play Creators Special Tuesday 2nd September will see Board Game Club holding a special event to celebrate the latest and greatest innovations in the board game space.
The Entertainer announces the arrival of Pop Mart As the nation’s love for collectible toys grows, The Entertainer has revealed that it is bringing Pop Mart’s iconic blind box collectibles to fans in the UK.
The Loyal Subjects Revives Classic ‘80s IP in Latest Collectibles Line The lineup includes a soft, collectible plush Popples collection, fashion-forward Jem and the Holograms dolls, and new M.A.S.K. vehicles as the brand gears up for its 40th anniversary.
Bigshot Toyworks Launches Here There Bear on Kickstarter Bigshot Toyworks, the award-winning creative agency behind licensed collectibles and original art toys, has unveiled Here There Bear, a charming new articulated plush that encourages kids to unplug and explore their...
Labubu Who? Disney Capitalizes on Bag Charm Craze With Their Own Japanese Plush Toys The media and retail giant has made a strategic play to capture the enduring bag-charm craze by launching its ultra-popular collection of plush keychains and clip-on charms in the U.S.
The LEGO Group Reigns Sustainability Royalty, Built for Tomorrow Campaign Kicks Off The campaign unveils the toy company’s ongoing sustainability journey and the innovation behind its products. The face of the campaign is a classic LEGO minifigure from the past.
Gaming: Digital, Video, Hardware, and Development
Nintendo’s Switch 2 doubles first-month sales of the original Following its launch in June, the Switch 2 console has now sold 5.82 million units according to Nintendo’s Q1 earnings report, more than double the 2.7 million unit sales achieved by the original Switch in its first month.
The Nintendo Switch just got more expensive Nintendo has just raised the price of the original Switch in the US. The console, which has cost $299.99 since its release in 2017, is now priced at $339.99 on Nintendo’s online store.
Mattel and Outright Games Invite Players to Saddle Up with Barbie Horse Trails Taking the reins as Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts or Barbie ‘Malibu’ Roberts, players will explore vibrant ecosystems, complete nature-inspired quests, and uncover hidden treasures.
“We felt like we’d made a profit. But we hadn’t. Not really”: Chroma Arcana creator Mo Shawwa on the financial wrinkles behind even a target-smashing crowdfund, and what tariffs mean for his next project - Roc Nest Games founder Mo Shawwa explains the lessons...
A Beloved Sci-Fi Horror Franchise Is Finally Finishing Its Trilogy The introduction of the Nintendo Switch 2 brought players more powerful hardware, a better eShop, and a slew of new games, but one change introduced with the new console has been almost universally criticized.
The games industry: Developers go their own way as jobs dry up Getting work in gaming is harder and harder, especially for new starters. How are young developers following their passions?
As Rare celebrates its 40th anniversary, a licensed Xbox controller has been listed early on Amazon A third-party Xbox controller based on developer Rare has been listed on Amazon, with an official reveal seemingly imminent. As spotted by Reddit user CyraxxFavoriteStylus, the controller has been listed on Amazon’s US site, but at the time of writing has yet to be officially announced by Microsoft...
All the news from Nintendo’s August Indie World showcase Nintendo’s latest livestreamed event is highlighting the smattering of indie games coming to the Switch consoles later this year, and the Indie World Showcase was on Thursday, August 7th, at 9 AM ET.
The PlayStation 5 has topped 80 million lifetime sales The PlayStation 5 sold 2.5 million units during the first quarter of the current fiscal year to eclipse 80 million lifetime sales. The console has now sold precisely 80.3 million units since launching in November 2020.
Indie publisher Firestoke shutting down despite being on 'path towards profitability' Firestoke CEO and founder Paul Farley shared the news on Linkedin and explained the company ran out of runway despite being on the "path towards profitability."
Playtonic teasing Yooka-Replayee release date trailer will debut very soon The team has revealed in a YouTube short that it is has been wrapping up work on the release date trailer which features Chris Sutherland.
Mantic Reveals New 'Halo: Flashpoint' Boxed Set This ODST faction box set provides players with all models and rules necessary to field them on the Halo miniatures game battlefield. The set features a Limited Edition MasterCraft Resin Sculpt of Gunnery Sergeant Buck as well as on of Captain Veronica Dare.
Highlighted Press Releases
($100/week/press release in this highlighted section and on newsletter sent Friday)
TYTAN MAGNETIC TILES BRINGS FUN TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH JUMBO-SIZED DISNEY SETS
Marshfield, MA (August 1, 2025) – Tytan Magnetic Tiles continue to stand out in a crowded market thanks to their premium quality, environmentally friendly materials, accessible pricing, and standout licensing partnership with Disney. Backed by an official STEM.org certification, these magnetic tiles empower parents to support early learning through hands-on play that builds spatial awareness, geometry skills, and problem-solving. With a recently extended licensing agreement, Tytan is thrilled to continue offering Disney-inspired creativity...
Safety and Counterfeiting
The LEGO Group Discusses Ways Parents Can Navigate Digital Safety with ‘Tools Not Rules’ Diana Krogh, the VP of Social Responsibility at The LEGO Group, addresses a common concern for parents, how to keep online play safe for kids, with the help of organizations...
Backyard Kids, LLC, has recalled 192,000 KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens due to the risk of strangulation or asphyxiation
The recall was issued after a toddler was strangled to death while playing with the product in February 2023
Roblox introduces 'sensitive issues' tag for social, political, and religious experiences Roblox introduces a new parental control descriptor. The Sensitive Issues tag will apply to experiences defined as 'any current sensitive social, political, or religious issue' that evoke...
Baby Safety Alliance Expands Verification Program to Include Car Seats The program, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, verifies more than 3,200 products across 30 categories throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Associations, Foundations, Shows, Awards, Events, and Festivals
On 30th Jan 2026, a regular element of the Spielwarenmesse international network, the Game Inventors Convention, will once again bring together the inventive gaming scene with editors from publishers and agencies. Registration is now open until 5th December at www.spielwarenmesse.de/en/gic
From first-time exhibitors to trend-led pavilions and immersive networking spaces, Autumn Fair 2025 returns to the NEC Birmingham from 7th–10th September. Autumn Fair event director Soraya Gadelrab explains that last year’s decision to merge Kids, Toys and Play exhibitors into the Gift edit “landed really well with exhibitors”.
*** The above posted after tBR started circulating August 8th ***
Gen Con exhibitor numbers rebound to record levels despite tariffs uncertainty, biggest-ever attendance reaches almost 72,000, despite fears that ongoing US tariff volatility would see publishers and visitors choosing to skip the 2025 show.
Rep Groups Launch Las Vegas Toy Market for March 2026 The show is designed to fill the gap left by ToyFest‘s cancellation, providing specialty retailers with a first-quarter opportunity to place orders following the holiday season.
The biggest fighting game tournament is a little smaller this year — but still exciting If you tune into one of the nine different Evo Twitch channels, you'll see some of the top players in the world compete in fighting game staples like Street Fighter and Tekken and newer games...
Africa’s longest-running board game convention hoping to double attendance this year after ongoing Kickstarter passes goal - AB Con in Nigeria has set its sights on more than doubling attendance at this year's event after pulling past its funding target for its latest Kickstarter...
Smoby returns to Gloworm Festival 2025 marks the brand’s fourth consecutive year at Gloworm Festival, where the Smoby Play Zone promises a fun-filled space for children and parents alike. Smoby is enjoying another successful summer as it gets ready to return to the much-loved Gloworm Festival.
Phil Seuling Inducted Into Eisner Hall of Fame Phil Seuling (1934-1984) was inducted into the prestigious Will Eisner Hall of Fame, an unprecedented honor. The Hall is filled with cartoonists, writers and artists who have shaped American comics or their international counterparts.
SDCC 2025: Party at the End of the World? If this year's San Diego Comic-Con had a theme song, it would be REM's indie-rock classic "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."
RIP - Rest in Play - Remembering Those that have Passed
If you know of a colleague's passing, please send us information so we may share with our readers. Archives can be found HERE
Patrick "Thor" Gass He left the Activision Blizzard-owned subsidiary studio in 2022 for a job at Insomniac Games, where he helped implement the UI and accessibility features seen in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Joan Anderson. Joan Anderson, who coined the name for the hula hoop and played an unsung role in its rise, has died age 101. The former model was visiting her native Australia from her home in the US when she spotted groups of people swivelling wooden hoops around their waists.
Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi. Barbie designers Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi have been killed in a head-on car crash after a man, 82, drove the wrong way down a highway in Italy.
Julian LeFay. Julian LeFay, best known as Bethesda Softworks' chief engineer for pioneer games like The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, passed away last night at the age of 59.
Shunsaku Tamiya. Tamiya, who died Friday of undisclosed causes, was known for contributing to the worldwide recognition of the toy maker, based in Shizuoka, central Japan, by developing radio-controlled cars and mini 4-wheel-drive models.
Rene Kirby. Rene Kirby, an actor known for his work in “Shallow Hal” died on July 11 in Burlington, Vermont. He was 70. His brother Jon confirmed to Seven Days that Kirby had died at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
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Adventure Media & Events (US)
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Funko Feels the ‘Pop!’ of Tariff Impact in Q2 Earnings Slide (The Toy Book)
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McFarlane Toys’ New Pennywise Figures Are No Joke (The Pop Insider)
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Bigshot Toyworks Launches Here There Bear on Kickstarter (The Toy Book)
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Rep Groups Launch Las Vegas Toy Market for March 2026 (The Toy Book)
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The Loyal Subjects Revives Classic ‘80s IP in Latest Collectibles Line (The Toy Book)
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Chill Out: Mattel’s New American Girl Collection Features Iconic Ice Princesses (The Toy Book)
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Tamagotchi Paradise Brings Virtual Pet Play to a New Level (The Toy Book)
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U.S. Toy Industry is Back in Growth Mode, Circana Says (The Toy Book)
Toyworld (UK)
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Gibsons bolsters successful spring with suite of summer launches
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Exclusive: Commotion CEO James Shepherd on Tickit’s brand awareness push
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Golden Bear Toys reinforces global Sales team with strategic appointments
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Toy sales stalwart Karl Pollard introduces The Refill Method
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Disney Lorcana unveils new Glimmers of the Realm puzzle range
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BBC Studios announces four new additions to Bluey short-form series
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LPP’s Sinsay launches fashion collection inspired by Miraculous
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Barbie fans saddle up as Outright Games releases Barbie Horse Trails
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Gen Con 2025 News: Bandai Previews 'Gundam Assemble'
- Gen Con 2025 News: Upper Deck Announces New 'Batman: The Animated Series' Game
- Konami Announces New 'Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG' Set
- Vault to Publish 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' Graphic Novel
- Gen Con 2025 News: Office Dog Reveals New 'LotR' Game
- Gen Con 2025 News: Catalyst, Toho, and Crunchyroll Team Up for 'My Hero Academia' Miniatures Game
- Gen Con 2025 News: Brotherwise Games Previews 'Stormlight' Miniatures Boxed Set
- Gen Con 2025 News: Free League Announces 'Twilight Sword RPG'
- Gen Con 2025 Sets New Attendance Record
- Rolling for Initiative -- What is the Sweet Spot for Starters?
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
Global Toy News
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The Toy Universe (Australia)
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Own Brand Is Eating the Toy Aisle and Nobody’s Talking About It
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Social Shopping: The Next Wave Transforming the Toy Industry
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We Speak to Kimberly Carcone — Executive Vice President, Global Experiences at The Toy Association™
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Introducing Emma Russell — Global Brand Licensing & Consumer Products Expert
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In June, the ATA Hosted the Sydney Mid-Year Event at a Brand-new Venue
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CONNETIX Is Leveling Up Magnetic Tile Play with Smart Design and Innovation!
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