Welcome to your briefing of the week's news...

Happy Friday!

This week’s POP panel: Inventing for an Invention House vs. as an Independent with moderator Simon Skelton (Director, Big Ideas) and panelists Peggy Brown (Owner, Peggy Brown Creative), Ken Johnson (President of Grand Legacy Corporation, Inventor of Phase 10) , Kim Vandenbroucke (Owner Brainy Chick and TheGameAisle.com), Mary Jo Reutter (President, You-Betcha Interactive), Jim McCafferty (President and CEO, JMP Creative)

We are announcing our new innovative trend event any day now! Watch this space or join our Toy, Game and Play Innovator Linkedin group for the latest news! 

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Thank you for reading the Bloom Report!

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Mary

tBR Person of the Week: Steve Starobinsky - So what’s the biggest trend of 2020? 

I want to go on record and say I got to Austin, Texas before Joe Rogen and Elon Musk. I moved from Los Angeles to Dallas, Texas in 2008 and haven't looked back since, and this summer in Austin I found a new appreciation for nature, the water, hiking with my dog, and board games. I was able to recharge for a busy holiday season in the industry of play. My last trade show was in February, so instead, I traveled through flavors, trying new home cooking techniques and combining cuisines that I've tasted and learned about in my product discovery journey over the last 15+ years. Even picked up a new nickname in the kitchen -- Steveo Bronzino.

I started a video podcast (vodcast), called the Happy Half Hour where I interviewed people in the business of Play. I met with individuals and companies from New Zealand to Bentonville. We began a social dialogue about new products, marketing strategies, and about the obligations the toy and trend industries have to end consumers and retailers with an emphasis on the environment and marginalized communities hoping to bring empowerment and positivity. I found myself gravitating towards playful brands and campaigns, in various industries, that are new yet familiar. It's easier to make something mass-market cool, than it is to make something cool mass-market. Brands that are transparent, authentic, wholesome, collaborative, and doing it for the right reasons are resonating. This pandemic's unexpected global byproduct is time, and we are questioning and experimenting what we do with it. With my extra time, I decided to follow the advice of one of my favorite guests on the HHH, former Spin Master CMO, Nancy Zwiers who recalled, "Give away what you want more of"; and I want to help people be successful in the business of play.  Read More...

tBR Service of the Week: People of Play

Do you want to find people/companies/products and do you want to them to find you?

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Of course you do! For $50/year, they can! Or, for $250/year, they can find you and you can find them, have access to premium content, enjoy the POP Pub, find information and make connections to further your business! ​

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Many times a day someone reaches out to me asking me if I know some person or some company:

• in some role

• with certain skills

• located in

• that invented

• that supplied

• that promoted

• Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!

The POP platform/database is your access to vital and immediate connections! There are already over 400 profiles from our recent events and we've only just begun. Over the next month, we will be reaching out to my nearly 50,000 strong database and my 30,000 linkedin connections to join this platform which gives you the best of linkedin+IMDb+Match.com for the toy and game industry. 

People and companies are registering and new features are being added by the minute... what are you waiting for? We've got the most powerful platform in our industry! Join here:  www.peopleofplay.com 
 

Financial & Legal News . . .

“We punch above our weight”: Aussie games developer Big Ant acquired in $55 million deal. Aussie game designer Big Ant Studios has been acquired by French gaming publisher Nacon, in a whopping $55 million (€35 million) deal that founder Ross Symons says could put the Aussie industry on the map. Founded in 2001, Melbourne-based Big Ant is one of Australia’s oldest independent game developers...

How toycos are rethinking retail relationships. IP owners like BBC Studios, One Animation and WowWee are tinkering with their approach to retail in a number of ways as e-commerce continues to surge. In a time when many of us are stuck at home—living and working between the same four walls—there is something particularly satisfying about making an online purchase. 

(the above posted after tBR released January 22nd)

Chinese government encourages workers not to travel home for Chinese New Year Some Chinese factories may keep running during the Spring Festival holidays this year, as workers are incentivised to stay in order to curtail the spread of Covid across China. China’s week-long Spring Festival holidays are less than one month away. During this time, factories traditionally shut down for a couple of weeks as migrant...

European Commission fines Valve, others $9.4 million for 'geo-blocking' games. The European Commission has fined Valve and five major publishers a combined €7.8 million ($9.4 million) for breaching EU antitrust rules. The fines have been levied against Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media, and ZeniMax, who were all found to have engaged in "geo-blocking practices" by restricting cross-border...

Brexit charges start to hit British online sellers Estimates say up to 150,000 British sellers on Amazon and other online marketplaces have been affected by new Brexit charges. All UK exporters to the EU – including those who trade on platforms like Amazon and eBay – now have to contend with customs declarations and, in many cases, VAT registrations & tariffs, incurring extra charges that will impact their profit margins...

Fears grow of major price (UK)  rises due to increased shipping costs. Industry concerns about major price rises are now attracting media attention, as toy suppliers report ocean freight can outweigh the cost of the stock. BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wake up to Money program and the BBC news website featured a story which quoted James Owen, owner of Outdoor Toys, who suggested that sky-high transport costs and port...

CD Projekt faces a second class-action lawsuit over Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt has confirmed receipt of another class-action lawsuit from a law firm representing its own investors. The Polish studio previously confirmed it was facing legal action from the New York-based Rosen Law Firm, which claims the company misled investors over Cyberpunk 2077-- in particular, the state of the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Games (multiplatform) investments reached $33.6bn in 2020 across 664 transactions. In its annual report, InvestGame highlighted that the US was predominant in the investment landscape last year, representing 36% of the total deal value, followed by China at 27%.Mergers and acquisitions represented $12.6 billion last year, across 219 deals. It was dominated by purchases from Tencent (23 M&A deals), Embracer...

Italian game company daVinci Editrice S.r.l. (a/k/a/ dV Giochi) is acquiring Ghenos S.r.l.  The combination will allow dV Giochi to expand its offerings, extend its commercial network, and merge the two companies’ teams. The companies are in different parts of the tabletop game market: dV Giochi, which publishes perennial hit card game Bang!, publishes games appealing to families and casual players...

Worldwide Licensing News . . .

Warheads Candy and Kangaru Announce License Deal. Kangaru LLC, maker of scented stationery and activities, has aligned with Impact Confections, Inc. to create a Warheads sour candy scented program. Development is now underway as Kangaru Brands expands its merchandise offerings for 2021-2022 leveraging the candy’s flavors and Wally character. Kangaru will offer innovative scented stationery and art materials ...

(the above was posted after January 22nd)

The Sanderson Witches are headed the hobby channel in Ravensburger's 'Hocus Pocus: The Game'. Ravensburger NA announced that Hocus Pocus: The Game, a new board game based on the 1993 Disney movie, will be releasing into retail stores in February. This game was originally released into Target and onto Amazon back in 2020. 

IMG, Epic Games bring football to ‘Fortnite’. Epic Games and more than 20 top clubs around the world are celebrating global football in “Fortnite” via partnerships facilitated by IMG, “Fortnite’s” licensing representative. Starting Jan. 23, players can choose from 10 different variants of new “Kickoff Set” outfits to represent their favorite club in-game. Each outfit can be swapped to any of the 23 football clubs participating. 

Zag, Roblox ink ‘Miraculous’ game deal. Zag Games, the new games division launched in October 2020 by global independent animation studio Zag, has announced a partnership with Israel-based startup Toya to create its first game for the Roblox platform for the ZAG and ON kids & family (Mediawan Group) hit “Miraculous - Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.” Scheduled for release in April, the new “Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir” ...

What Do You Meme? Inks License Deal with SpongeBob  The fastest growing game company, What Do You Meme?, has inked a licensing deal with ViacomCBS for Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants property through 2022. The partnership will produce themed games under the flagship What Do You Meme? brand, as well as several pool floats under What Do You Meme?’s Iconic Floats line of inflatables. “SpongeBob...

UK licensing agency Brand-Ward eyes toys, games and more for pre-school series Pikwik Pack. The UK-based licensing agency, Brand-Ward, has been tapped to represent Guru Studio’s latest pre-school series, Pikwik Pack across the UK and Ireland, with a focus on consumer products including toys and games. The licensing firm already represents Guru Studio’s True and the Rainbow Kingdom and will now add Pikwik Pack...

Chefclub Kids bites into toys and play-sets market through Upyaa! partnership. The France-based digital culinary brand, Chefclub has partnered with Upyaa! to launch a new range of toys and games throughout Europe, enabling kids to engage with a collection of creative play-sets and undertake their own journey to becoming little chefs. The new sets will encourage kids to create their own ice cream, popsicles, and ...

Catering to the Community. The sudden rise of “Among Us” is only the most recent example of the speed at which the licensing community needs to react to a sudden pop culture phenomenon. The mobile game’s surge last summer – 42 million downloads between Aug. 1 and Sept. 14, accounting for 70% of its total since it launched in 2018 — was largely fueled by social media. .

People . . . 

FORMER MATTEL, SPIN MASTER EXEC NANCY ZWIERS RETURNS TO THE ‘POWER KID PODCAST’. Zwiers’ last appearance topped the charts as the most-streamed episode of the “Power Kid Podcast” for 2020, and for the sequel, she’s sharing her thoughts on how “Play is natures’ way of helping us learn how to survive” On the show, Albritton and Zwiers dive deep into the inherent biological importance of play and how the...

Chris Rose expands his role at ViacomCBS.  The Nickelodeon VP will also lead production and development for VIS Kids. Still based in London, Rose will now focus on growing ViacomCBS Networks International’s kids content pipeline and overseeing all animated and live-action teams for VIS Kids and Nick International. 

Making It In The Toy Industry, the only toy industry podcast dedicated to helping aspiring toy people bring their ideas to life, is excited to announce the release of Season 2. Hosted by Azhelle Wade (aka The Toy Coach), the podcast, which already has over 50 episodes, will continue to shed a light on the toy industry with mini toy master-classes, step-by-step advice, and interviews with fellow toy industry leaders, inventors and...

(the above posted after January 22nd)

Your flexible friend …it’s the Friday Blog! by John Baulch (ToyWorld UK). This week should have seen the UK toy community heading en masse to Olympia for the London Toy Fair. My Facebook memories over the past few days have all involved a table at Sticky Fingers covered with cocktails for some inexplicable reason. I have seen numerous social media posts from industry friends saying how much they are missing the...

“Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes University Games founder Bob Moog to the show for a discussion on the state of the games industry. Since its founding in 1985, University Games has been a staple game company with hits like Murder Mystery Party and 20 Questions. Additionally, Moog leverages popular licenses like Dogman, Pete and Cat, and The World Eric Carle to create great...

Inventor Adam Borton seeks students for Toy and Game School  Award-winning toy and game designer and inventor Adam Borton's Toy and Game School launches today and readers can access the online expertise at a special discounted rate. The online Toy and Game School will teach students about the toy and game industry and how to create a brand new, never-before-seen toyetic game.

Inventor Doug Reuter said the idea for "Sequence" came to him during a dream in the 1970s. He forced himself to get out of bed and write it down before he forgot. "Sequence" was released to the world in the early '80s before Reuter's other job as a lawmaker in St. Paul from 1997 to 2000. Goliath Games, which owns the rights to "Sequence," said it sold 1 million of the games worldwide in 2020, a 60% increase in sales...

From Del's to Hasbro, RI institutions are sharing the Bernie mittens meme. 

You’ve been laughing, haven’t you, at the Bernie-Sanders-wearing-mittens-at-the-inauguration memes that have devoured the internet in recent days. The photo of the senator and his oversize mittens has been dropped into endlessly conceivable situations, from the intergalactic screen stage to the pages of history to the microcosms of contemporary personal lives. Locally, Hasbro’s iconic Mr. Potato Head toy has received the Bernie touch.

Companies . . .

TRU KIDS BRANDS QUIETLY CLOSES NEW TOYS ‘R’ US IN HOUSTON GALLERIA. Another year, another sad tale of Geoffrey the Giraffe here in the U.S. Just 13 months after opening its doors, Tru Kids Brands’ new Toys “R” Us store at the Houston Galleria has gone out of business.

In 2019, Tru Kids teamed up with software-powered experiential retailer b8ta on plans to bring Toys “R” Us stores back to the U.S.

Hasbro Expands Partnership with WildBrain CPLG for Several eOne Brands. WildBrain CPLG has been appointed, through an expansion of its partnership with Hasbro Consumer Products, to represent eOne brands Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Ricky Zoom in the Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe.

MATTEL CREATIONS PREPS MADSAKI X MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE DROP. Mattel continues to expand its Mattel Creations line with products at the intersection of art and toys, often with a pop culture twist. This time, Mattel teams up with Japanese artist, Madsaki for a collection of products inspired by the classic 1982 Masters of the Universe (MOTU) toy line.

Kellytoy, a subsidiary of Jazwares, LLC, announced more than 40 all-new snuggly, “chonky” friends will join the Squishmallows® line. From an exotic menagerie of deep sea creatures and yummy food fare for the most devoted foodie to new psychedelic tie-dye squad members reminiscent of the flower power ‘60s, these new ‘mallows will soon make their way into everyone’s hearts as they hit retailers beginning in ...

Nerf’s new blasters curve their shots a la Angelina Jolie in Wanted. There’s an adjustable barrel that lets you put some English on it. Nerf’s got a new trick up its sleeve: Hasbro’s latest foam-flinging sidearms can curve their shots, possibly letting you hit targets you can’t even see. (Think Angelina Jolie or James McAvoy in Wanted but with bouncy balls instead of bullets.)

LEGO teams with Universal Music Group to launch creative music franchise LEGO Vidiyo The LEGO Group has teamed up with Universal Music Group to unveil LEGO Vidiyo, an innovative music video maker experience that celebrates children’s creativity and passion for music. Through LEGO Vidiyo, kids can direct, produce, star in, and share their own music videos, using chart-topping tracks from Universal Music’s...

Moose to launch Octonauts line in partnership with Silvergate Media Moose Toys to produce range based on the popular pre-school franchise to support upcoming new animated series, Octonauts: Above & Beyond. First launched in 2010, Octonauts has a global broadcast platform spanning multiple territories and large fanbases in the UK, US and China. More recently, the show extended its reach by debuting in...

HASBRO REVEALS NEW BEYBLADE BURST TOYS TO ACCOMPANY SEASON 5 OF THE TV SERIES. As Beymasters get ready for season five of Beyblade Burst Surge, Hasbro reveals its new Beyblade Burst Speedstorm toy line. The collection will include official Beyblade Burst Speedstorm tops that are designed to get the ultimate speed boost from the Power Vortex — an energy zone at the center of the Speedstorm Beystadium. 

(the above posted after January 22nd)

Nearly three years after its acquisition of Interplay UK Ltd, Wisconsin-based PlayMonster is rebranding its UK outpost as PlayMonster.

No change to staffing or responsibilities will take place and UK Managing Director Adrian Whyles will continue reporting to PlayMonster CEO Bob Wann at the company’s Beloit, Wisconsin headquarters.

Hot Wheels Ultimate Drive-Thru heads to Six Flags Over Georgia. The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks fleet along with iconic rides from the Garage of Legends, giant robots, and some additional big surprises will make their east coast debut at Six Flags Over Georgia on Jan. 28. Created by Raycom-Legacy Content Co. in partnership with Mattel Inc., the special socially-distanced event allows families to experience a special...

Capstone Games will release two board game titles in April. Capstone Games will release a new edition of Glass Road and Juicy Fruits into U.S. trade in April. Uwe Rosenberg's classic resource management game Glass Road is headed back to retail courtesy of Captsone Games and Feverland. Previously, this game was launched in the U.S. by Z-Man Games. Juicy Fruits is a brand-new game tile placement game by...

Plan B Games unveils 'Equinox'. Plan B Games unveiled Equinox, a new board game by Reiner Knizia, for release into retail in June. This game is a re-themed version of Knizia's Colossal Arena with two new creatures, revised gameplay, and new art. In Equinox, forest creatures gather to write themselves into the legendary storybook, but there is only room for four stories to be added. .

Crawl through dungeons to become the new 'Keepers of the Questar'. Upper Deck announced Keepers of the Questar, a new dungeon-crawling board game, for release in Q1. In Keepers of the Questar, parties of adventurers compete to complete the Quest Masters' quests and become the new Keepers of the Questar. It is a one-on-one dungeon crawling game where both players assume the roles of both the party...

Playmates takes us back with retro TMNT 6-pack exclusives. Playmates Toys is releasing two tubular six-pack box sets featuring your favorite heroes in a half-shell. The Previews-Exclusive Retro Rotocast Sewer Lair and Mutant Module are jam-packed with all your ninja favorites. Prepare to go back to 1988 because each action figure in the six-piece sets was recreated with its original body, and oversized Roto head, along with...

Waterline Toys introduces Skimbe four season disc toys. As winter sets in and warmer weather looms, Waterline Toys is introducing a new toy that can be used outdoors in all four seasons. SkimBe is a patented polyurethane disc that skims, skips, slides, and jumps across water, snow, ice, and other slick surfaces when thrown in a cross-body motion or with a flick of the wrist. SkimBe features a rocker bottom and comes in three...

VTech to launch green ELPs as part of ongoing sustainability commitment  VTech's ongoing efforts to develop eco-friendly products and packaging, plus recycling programmes demonstrate the company’s commitment to the 5-year Sustainability Plan unveiled in June 2020. VTech branded eco-friendly products include four new vehicles in the popular Go! Go! Smart Wheels series, all made from plant-based plastic, and...

LEGO Ideas hits the history books with the launch of the Medieval Blacksmith’s set. LEGO Ideas has been hitting the history books for the launch of its latest set, a Medieval Blacksmith’s house based on an original design by LEGO superfan, Clemens Fiedler. The design has been given the green light to enter production after it achieved over 10,000 votes on the LEGO set creation platform.

Bandai UK releases the Timber Tots Song amid ‘heavy investment plans’ for the retro ’70s toy line. Following the successful revival of the hit ’70s toy line, Timber Tots, Bandai UK has detailed plans for a round of heavy investment into the retro children’s brand, kicking things off with the release of the Timber Tots Nursery Rhyme. The new song has been created to inspire a new generation of young fans to create stories...

Wow! Stuff flashes to the beat with new Chibies. Chibies characters flash to the beat of any tune a child plays across any genre; K-pop, rock, pop, hip-hop, even classical. High-tech sound sensors embedded into the character listen to the music and react in real time, even synchronising with every other Chibie in the room. To activate the sound sensor, children simply ‘Nudge their Nose’. They can then play any music and...

Asmodee earmarks ‘massive year for Pokémon Trading Card Game’ as it readies 25th anniversary Shining Fates expansion. Asmodee UK has cited 2021 to be a ‘massive year for the Pokémon Trading Card Game’ which is gearing up top release the Shining Fates expansion, its first major product release in the year as the brand celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary this year. Despite the challenges of the pandemic,...

Para Bellum announces four 'Conquest: First Blood' Faction Taster sets. Para Bellum Wargames announced four Conquest: First Blood Faction Taster Sets, miniatures skirmish battle starter sets, for release on January 25. Conquest: First Blood is the skirmish battles version of the Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings mass combat, epic battle system (see "Para Bellum Draws 'First Blood' for 'Conquest'"). .

Madballs vs. Garbage Pail Kids face off in brand collab. Cloudco Entertainment, owner of the venerable-but-irreverent Madballs brand, and The Topps Company, owner of the renowned-yet-subversive Garbage Pail Kids brand (“GPK”), have teamed up for a collaboration that playfully pits classic 1980s icons and “co-heavyweights of gross” against one another. The collaboration will feature all-new 1980s inspired artwork...

PlayMonster builds on Snap Ships line with new sets. The epic and award-winning new construction line Snap Ships is enhancing its Build to Battle play with six new drone sets. Collect and combine the three Forge and the three Komplex sets to create the two unstoppable Fusion Builds! At its core, Snap Ships is a collectible, versatile, modular building system that allows kids to build multiple crafts. .

Asmodee USA will release 'Pakal' for U.S. trade. Asmodee USA will release Pakal, a real-time sliding-puzzle game by Cranio Creations, into U.S. trade on February 12.In Pakal, players are trying to forge a path through the jungle to claim the treasure at the end. Each player has a four-by-four grid with 15 mixed solid and clear blocks. At the beginning of each round of play, they reveal an objective cards and slide their blocks...

Luma gets Sit Down! Luma Imports has acquired exclusive English-language distribution rights to games for Belgian board game publisher Sit Down! for the U.S., the company announced.  Sit Down!’s key backlist title is Magic Maze, which was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres and has previously been distributed in the U.S. by Dude Games. Luma will handle new printings of Magic Maze and Magic Maze Kids, and support ...

KATY PERRY HEADLINES 'POKEMON' 25TH ANNIVERSARY  The Pokemon Company is launching a major celebration of the brand’s 25th

anniversary, including multiple music partnerships headlined by Katy Perry, video games, mobile apps, animation, merchandise, and more. The music collaborations come via an overall deal with Universal Music Group, and will include additional artists in addition to Perry, who touted...

The Lego Group launches Lego Bygge Hygge The Lego Bygge Hygge initiative has been designed to create not only an occasion, but an atmosphere, that can become part of a cosy, or "Hygge" family routine. Lego Bygge Hygge is all about the art of cosy building, inspired by the Danish ‘Hygge’ which acknowledges a feeling or moment as cosy or special, alongside the Danish word ‘Bygge’ which means building or...

Mattel Just Unveiled a Barbie Doll Honoring Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Angelou is the latest addition to Barbie's Inspiring Women Series. Over the last few decades, Barbie has traded her signature bright, bubblegum pink looks for space suits, athletic gear, and even makeovers from Beyoncé's makeup artist. With time, the classic figure has evolved to reflect real, successful women. In fact, Barbie’s Inspiring Women Series specifically...

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Video Games, Gaming Hardware and Game Development News . . .

Opera opens new video game division and confirms YoYo Games purchase. Opera has confirmed the purchase of GameMaker Studio creator YoYo Games, and explained the deal will form the basis for a new video game division called Opera Gaming. YoYo Games' previous owner Playtech revealed it had sold the company for $10 million earlier this week, but neglected to name the buyer. 

Thq Nordic, Feld Entertainment prep ‘Monster Jam Steel Titans 2’. The sequel to the popular video game, Monster Jam Steel Titans has been unveiled. THQ Nordic and Feld Entertainment released a video teaser for Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 as well as while confirming a March 2 release date for the high-octane title. Expanding on the first game, Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 will feature new fan-favorite trucks,...

FIFA 21 was Europe's best-selling boxed game in 2020. FIFA 21 was the best-selling physical game across the vast majority of Europe, according to a new report from GfK Entertainment. The evaluation is based on physical games sales across Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland...

Epic pledges $20 million for Fortnite esports in 2021. Fortnite developer Epic says that, for 2021, the game’s competitive scene will have a prize pool of $20 million. That’s a step up from last year’s total of $17 million — though it’s not as massive as the 2019 World Cup, where $30 million was on the line. The news comes as Epic provided details on the latest season of the Fortnite Champion Series, the game’s highest...

Nintendo Switch accounted for 87% of consoles sold in Japan last year | Japan Annual Report. Nearly 6 million Nintendo Switch consoles were sold in Japan last year, a rise of 30% over 2019. Nintendo dominated the market, with Switch devices accounting for 87% of all consoles sold last year (6.85 million machines were sold overall). The normal Switch version sold 3.9 million units, while the Switch Lite sold just over...

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Toy Safety and Counterfeit Related Articles . . .

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Press Releases . . .

POLAR ADVENTURE & HUNGRY BINS JOIN GAME FOCUS ON PRESCHOOL-LEVEL INTROS TO A GREEN LIFE. Youngest Eco-Citizens Discover Recycling and Disappearing Glacier Ice Through 15-Minute Rounds Of Memory And 3-D Roll & Move Challenges. Family game night has many benefits from strengthening relationships to being patient for your turn. Add to that list becoming a better eco-citizen with the launch of two new titles from Adventerra Games, the STEM.org-certified boardgame maker. Playing a round of Polar Adventure: Disappearing Ice ($24.99) and Hungry Bins: Learn to Recycle ($19.99) gets three- and four-year-olds to intuitively learn new behaviors that reduce their ecological footprints...

SPRING CLEANING WITH A TWIST: YOUNG BUG HUNTERS VACUUM, OBSERVE & RELEASE CRAWLY THINGS. Best Seller Bug Vacuum & Critter Barn Set Lets Kids Catch Little Creatures, See Nature Up Close Then Release Them, Away From House & Mom!  Ever notice how kids are the first to find an insect, sometimes indoors, thankfully mostly outdoors? In this season of spring cleaning, parents will be delighted to know there is a bug vacuum, part of the award-winning set from the Nature Bound™ line called Bug Hunter Set ($34.95). Kids can put on their khaki shorts and safari hat in search of nature’s smallest crawly creatures. Once gently scooped up, the bug rests in the set’s Critter Barn for tots to observe...

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News from Associations, Trade Shows, Awards and Festivals

(ASTRA, Hong Kong, LIMA, Spielwarenmesse, TA and More) . . .

A look at the Indian toy industry as the National Toy Fair (India) is set to begin next month. Will teddy bears and toy guns give way to desi play things as a new line of thinking takes over the world of toys? The industry is set for change as the first ever National Toy Fair begins next  month. Paramapadam, aadu puli aatam, solah seedi, ashta chemma, pallankuzhi....do these sound familiar? 

Essen Game Fair: The Show Must Go On "We have decided we want to hold a SPIEL convention," organizer Friedhelm Merz Verlag said of the annual Essen Game Fair, due to be held October 14-17, 2021. Some contingency plans are in place to be implemented if necessary, including safety rules to make the show safer, such as wider aisles and walkways.  

NPD Group announces winners of 2020 Global and European Toy Industry Performance Awards The Lego Group, Spin Master, Mattel, Hasbro, Playmobil and Warner Bros. are among those unveiled as winners of this year's awards.  The awards were given to the manufacturers or licence owners of Europe’s top gaining toy properties by category, as well as the top gaining toy property of the year, top global toy....

The Toy Trust details how it supported children's charities in 2020 Despite the extraordinary challenges of 2020, the charity still donated over £100,000 to help kids and their families. This special newsletter details how funds have been used to support charities working to improve the lives of disabled, critically ill or life-limited kids in the UK, as well as families in need of advice and assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

(the above was posted after January 22nd)

Toy Association Releases “STEAM Toy Assessment Framework”  Help Companies Create Toys that Support STEAM Learning.  A new “STEAM Toy Assessment Framework,” provides a definitive answer with a three-step model and clearly defined rating criteria with learning goals for five distinct age groups. The report was created in collaboration with Dr. Amanda Gummer, CEO & founder of the Good Play Guide.

UK Toy Fair website provides info for would-be visitors of the show Visitors to the Toy Fair website can view a snapshot of product info from companies who were scheduled to exhibit this year. Although there is no physical show at Olympia this year, the organiser has instead provided an extended exhibitor listing on the Toy Fair website, for would be visitors of the show to look at companies that would have exhibited, in a...

VTech Named Official Toy Bank Sponsor for 2021.  VTech, a world leader in electronic learning products for children, has been named the official “Adopt-the-Pig” sponsor of The Toy Foundation’s Toy Bank for 2021. A longtime supporter of The Toy Foundation (TTF), VTech’s sponsorship includes a $10,000 donation to The Toy Bank, which delivers joy and comfort, through play, to vulnerable children and families.

Orchard Toys kicks off its Virtual Toy Fair with exclusive Toy Fair TV-style video. Orchard Toys has kicked off its Virtual Toy Fair in good humour with the launch of a video-skit starring the firm’s own sales director, Simon Prest, and Toy Fair TV presenter, Gavin Inskip. Produced to capture the levity of the London trade show in a year that sees the doors of the Olympia shuttered in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic...

Toy & Edu China and Licensing China will host digital-physical hybrid fairs this year. Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China, and Licensing China will be offering a physical-digital hybrid fair experience this March with an online platform to support toy, baby product, and licensing companies exploring business opportunities in the region. The virtual marketplace will go hand in hand with the physical fairs that will be...

TRA’s Toy of the Year Awards winners announced This year's somewhat different awards reflect the unique and challenging trading conditions seen in 2020, and honour those companies that have kept UK families happy and entertained during the pandemic. Four outstanding categories played a big part in delivering this growth, all of which have outperformed the overall market. As such, the Toy Retailer’s Association selection...

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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 colleagues. Archives can be found HERE.

Kelvyn Gardner. a well known and much loved figure in the licensing community; his wife Michelle shared the sad news on LinkedIn yesterday.

Kelvyn passed away yesterday morning (26th January). Michelle wrote: “As I am typing this I just cannot tell you how we feel, we are at a loss… It was Kelvyns 66th birthday on the 22nd of January 2021 and was going to be our big wedding anniversary; 40 years. We had joked that he wouldn’t know one end of a ruby if it bit him, so I think I might have got some ruby coloured Warrington gear!” Kelvyn’s career in licensing dates back to 1979, when he worked marketing Disney products for an Italian publishing company. For the next twenty years Kelvyn marketed literally hundreds of licensed products all over the world. During the 1990s, Merlin Publishing, founded by Kelvyn and three colleagues in 1989, became the fastest growing private company in the United Kingdom. Kelvyn recently “relaunched” licensing consultancy Asgard Media. He was also managing director of Licensing International UK for many years and was an active member of the Light Fund charity, serving on the committee, and recently entertained the licensing industry with his Living with Licensing podcasts.

Kim Merrill, Chief Executive Officer Insignias Global, formerly of Uproar.

Steve Lightle.  Comic artist Steve Lightle has passed away due to cardiac arrest tied to COVID-19, his wife posted on his Facebook account.  He was 61. Lightle was best known for his time on Legion of Super-Heroes, on which he followed artist Keith Giffen in 1984, and for his brief run on the relaunch of Doom Patrol beginning in 1987. He was also a cover artist for both DC Comics and Marvel Comics over the years.

Dennis Watts  Toy World is sad to report that Dennis Watts passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve, following a long battle with illness. After a career in engineering design,  Dennis entered the toy industry in 1974, taking over his father Fred Watts’ toy shop in Melton Mowbray. Dennis acquired another local toy shop  in 1978  and from the two shop names, he formed the Arbon and Watts business. During the 90s and 00s, the retail stores won the Midlands region Toy Shop of the Year award on five separate occasions. In the mid 90s, Dennis created Mail Order Express – the idea behind the new operation was to work with selected supplier partners to carry entire ranges. In 1999, Mailorderexpress.com was launched online, leading to a massive expansion in the early 00s, as the company rode the wave of the initial internet boom.

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Toy Trade Monthly Issues...

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• ToyWorld (UK) January Issue

• Kidscreen's most-read stories of 2020

• ​Toy Book - Looking Back at the Most-read Stories of 2020. 

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Weekly Top Stories from Toy Trade Magazines Worldwide...

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Adventure Media & Events (US)

• Funko Fair Opens For Business in the Absence of Toy Fair New York (The Toy Book)

• What Do You Meme? Set to Make a Splash with SpongeBob SquarePants (The Toy Book)

• VTech, LeapFrog Debut New Eco-Friendly Toy Collection  (The Toy Book)

• Playmates Takes Us Back with Retro TMNT 6-Pack Exclusives  (The Toy Book)

• Barbie’s Inspiring Women Series Welcomes Maya Angelou  (The Toy Book)

• Hot Wheels Ultimate Drive-Thru Heads to Six Flags Over Georgia (The Toy Book)

• These Adventerra Board Games Are Perfect for Mini Eco-Activists (The Toy Insider)

• Disney nuiMOs Are Serving Looks with Customizable Outfits (The Toy Insider)

• It’s Time to Play the Music! It’s Time to Light the Lights! ‘The Muppet Show’ Is Coming to Disney+ (The Pop Insider)

• Hot Toys Releases the Dark Troopers Into Our Galaxy (The Pop Insider)

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aNb Media (US)

1. STEAM Toy Resource Published by Toy Association

2. Chibies from Wow! Stuff Launch this Spring

3. Interplay UK Ltd Rebrands as PlayMonster

4. VTech to Launch Green Electronic Learning Products

5. Peanuts x PUMA Global Collaboration Launches

6. Poetic Brands Readies Blippi Apparel Line

7. MasterPieces Signs License Deal for Sesame Street

8. What Do You Meme? Inks License Deal with SpongeBob

9. Moonbug Expands Partnership with Future Today

10. Peugeot Launches Global Licensing Program

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ToyWorld (UK)

1. Your flexible friend …it’s the Friday Blog!

2. TRA’s Toy of the Year Awards winners announced

3. BTHA celebrates 2020 toy trade Superhero Awards

4. Brexit charges start to hit British online sellers

5. Fears grow of major price rises due to increased shipping costs

6. Latest Hornby results report rise in Q3 sales

7. PlayMonster set to expand global presence with rebranding of Interplay UK

8. The Lego Group launches Lego Bygge Hygge

9. Wow! Stuff flashes to the beat with new Chibies

10. Schleich GmbH enjoys 7th consecutive year of growth

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ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture's (US)

  1.  ChannelFireball and BinderPOS Merge
  2.  PSA 10 Gem Mint Black Lotus From 'Magic: The Gathering Alpha Edition' Bids Up Past $300,000 – [Updated]!
  3.  Katy Perry Headlines 'Pokemon' 25th Anniversary
  4.  Bushiroad Announces 'Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress'
  5.  Another Heritage Auction Brings Yet Another Record-Setting Sales Number for 'Pokemon TCG 1st Edition' Sealed Product
  6.  Rolling for Initiative -- Pokemon, the Halo Effect, and Congratulations Sara Erickson
  7.  WizKids Announces Two New 'Warlock Tiles' Expansions That Help Gamemasters Build Around Corners
  8.  Wizards of the Coast Announces That Retail Improvement Grants are Now Available for 2021
  9.  Plan B Games Unveils 'Equinox'
10.  WizKids Unveils a Brand-New 'Dungeons & Dragons' Paint Night Kit

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TOYS Magazine (Germany) - posted once a month

• This is how it’s done: Discover how German trade fair organization Koelnmesse will make live events safe and possible again

• Augmented Robotics: This young German start-up company breathes life into toys – literally!

• Marketing 4.0: Why empty promises are no longer sustainable for companies

• Toys everywhere: Find out why toys complement all trade channel aimed at families!

• Board games: This is what we’re playing right now

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Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)

• Funko Fair 2021 begins 

• The news of the first day of the Funko Fair 

• Playmates launches 2 multipacks of Ninja Turtles action figures 

• LEGO Ideas in search of the 90th anniversary LEGO set 

• Barbie Inspiring Women announces Maya Angelou doll 

• Interplay UK Ltd. changes its name to PlayMonster 

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Casual Game Revolution

News Flash: Cubitos Announced, Ravensburger Kids Puzzle Design Contest. AEG has announced a new racing game, Ravensburger is hosting a puzzle design contest for kids to support charity, and some online gaming conventions have been announced.

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Video of the Week! 

The POP Week panels were aired on two separate platforms, there are slight changes to the version first aired on our website with over 13,700 viewers and on this

separate YouTube version we uploaded to share here...

Inventing for an Invention House vs. as an Independent 

Moderator Simon Skelton (Director, Big Ideas) us with panelists: Peggy Brown (President, Peggy Brown Creative), Ken Johnson (CEO/President of Grand Legacy Corporation, Inventor of Phase 10) , Kim Vandenbroucke (Owner Brainy Chick and TheGameAisle.com), Mary Jo Reutter (President, You-Betcha Interactive), Jim McCafferty (President and CEO, JMP Creative)

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