Toys & Family Entertainment, June 2014 by aNb Media

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Vol. 9, No. 3, June 2014

June 2014 Volume 9, No. 3

features 24

30 32

34 36 38

Blockbuster Success Continues for Construction Toys by Christine Sullivan

Product Presentation: Construction Toys by Christine Sullivan

Will Bad Weather Pop Bubbles Sales? by Nancy Lombardi

departments 6 8 10

Observations & Opinions Trending

The Ticker

Entertainment Marketplace:

Industry Forum: TIA

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Industry Forum: ASTRA

Industry Forum: Design Edge

Fighting Shrinkage in the Games Aisle by Jennifer Lynch

Merchandise Makers:

Product Presentation: Board Games by Jennifer Lynch

You’re Hired

Product Presentation: Puzzles by Nancy Lombardi

What’s New at 2014 ASTRA Marketplace & Academy by Nancy Lombardi

Specialty Emporium: Corolle by Jennifer Lynch

Moose Toys

Calendar of Events

on this page

From the top left is Moose Toys’ Little Live Pets; Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Action Mask from Hasbro; Wonder Forge’s Star Wars Rebel Missions Game; Despicable Me 2 puzzle from Ceaco; LEGO Duplo Ice Cream Set; Perplexus Warp from Patch Products

on the cover

From the left: B kids’ Bebee’s Ferris Wheel; International Playthings’ Calico Critters Cherry Cruiser; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Bubble Blowers from Little Kids; Toy Train from Green Toys; Playmobil’s Camping Site; How to Train Your Dragon Barf & Belch from Funko. Flying above is Disney Planes Sky Race Action Game from Wonder Forge. cover designed by Jennifer Lynch

OBSERVATIONS & OPINIONS

Trade Shows Can Re-Energize An Industry BY

WWW.ANBMEDIA.COM

BOB GLASER

ver the years, I have been listening to the same familiar laments regarding the multitude of trade shows that toy manufacturers attend. It starts with Hong Kong in January, Nuremberg and Toy Fair in February, some international trade fairs, gift shows, licensing shows, and a few others thrown in for good measure. It ends (or, perhaps more accurately, begins again) with Fall Toy Preview in Dallas in October. The question I get asked all the time is, “How many times do we need to show buyers the same products?” I guess, the answer is show them as many times as it takes to get them to buy the products. I attend just about all of those same trade shows, albeit in a much different capacity. There are some I like more than others. But this time of the year is one of my favorites in the industry due to two trade shows in particular that I have been attending for years. Last month, I attended the annual Toy Industry Association’s PlayCon (formerly known as ToyCon). A quick 48 hours in Phoenix is a great opportunity to see industry friends, meet new contacts, and come away feeling energized with some new perspectives on this great industry. The jam-packed schedule offers a variety of speakers that force attendees to look at their businesses in a different way. The best part is some of the speakers come from outside the toy industry. One of the highlights for me this year was the presentation by Katie Rottier, head of U.S. industry, sports, and toys for Google/YouTube. She spoke about, and highlighted with some very enlightening slides, the impact that YouTube is having on today’s consumer. She explained how savvy manufacturers are putting the tremendous reach of YouTube to work for them by building their brands and generating interest in their products. Two other presentations I enjoyed were on crowd funding and crowd sourcing. Kudos to Bob Wann, CEO of Patch Products and a board director of TIA, and his committee for organizing, and delivering, such a great roster of speakers. I am back in Phoenix again this month for the annual ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. This convention, put on by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), is chock full of informative seminars and workshops to help all those doing business in the specialty/independent market. This show continues to grow and prosper in this segment of the business. ASTRA also features a trade show as part of its convention. This portion of the convention is always used as a kick-off to the allimportant fourth quarter selling season. Retailers and manufacturers always leave the ASTRA convention with a good indication as to how the holiday season will be. Kathleen McHugh, president of ASTRA, and her staff continue to deliver an outstanding convention year after year. For a sampling of products at ASTRA, see page 38. Both of these important industry events always leave me feeling energized. I’m eager to return to the office with a renewed sense of optimism and excitement about the toy industry. If your schedule allows it, I encourage all those who don’t attend these two events to consider them next year. You won’t regret it!

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June 2014 • Volume 9, Number 3 PUBLISHER BOB GLASER BOB@ANBMEDIA.COM ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ANDY KRINNER ANDY@ANBMEDIA.COM ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DONNA MOORE DONNA@ANBMEDIA.COM CONTROLLER MARY GROGAN MARY@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM SILVER JIM@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITORIAL DIRECTOR NANCY LOMBARDI NANCY@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITOR AT LARGE CHRISTOPHER BYRNE CHRISB@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITOR LAURIE LEAHEY LAURIE@ANBMEDIA.COM ASSISTANT EDITOR JENNIFER LYNCH JENNIFER@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB MASTER ERIK KIECKHAFER ERIK@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB CONTENT MANAGER BRENDAN SANABRIA BRENDAN@ANBMEDIA.COM CONTRIBUTORS KATHLEEN MCHUGH; MATT NUCCIO; CHRISTINE SULLIVAN; TIA STAFF PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE JOSSLYNNE WELCH LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS, 320 SINATRA DRIVE, HOBOKEN, N.J. 07030 (201) 222–9118 EXT. 13 • JWELCH@LITZKYPR.COM INTERESTED IN A SUBSCRIPTION? CONTACT SUBSCRIPTIONS@ANBMEDIA.COM ANB MEDIA, INC. 229 WEST 28TH STREET, SUITE 401, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10001 PHONE: (646) 763–8710 • FAX: (646) 763–8727 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT is published four times per year by aNb Media. Copyright 2014 aNb Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT and SPECIALTY EMPORIUM are registered trademarks of aNb Media. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by editors, contributing writers, or solicited or unsolicited documents are not necessarily those of management.

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TRENDING

Trending: What Consumers Are Searching For TTPM, aNb Media’s consumer website, hosted its Spring Showcase for the media in New York City on May 1. The TTPM editorial team offered its picks for Top Movie Toys, Top Toys for Outdoor Play, and Breakout Hits, which pinpoint hot items for summer. Here is what made the lists, presented in no specific order. To see pictures from the event, turn to page 12. Disney Frozen Anna Dress

X6 Zoom Rocketz

Razor Jr. Kuties Unicorn

Giant Size Godzilla Disney Frozen Elsa Dress

TOP MOVIE TOYS:

• Giant Size Godzilla from Jakks Pacific • Godzilla Atomic Roar from Bandai • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Mega Blaster Web Shooter with Glove from Hasbro • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Marvel Legends Infinite Series The Amazing Spider-Man from Hasbro • Transformers Age of Extinction Generations Leader Class Optimus Prime from Hasbro • Transformers Age of Extinction Generations Leader Class Grimlock from Hasbro • Disney’s Planes: Fire & Rescue Fire Blastin’ Dusty Crophopper from Mattel

TOP TOYS FOR OUTDOOR PLAY:

• Crayola Chalk Grab ’n Go Games from Crayola • Bubble Fantasia from Imperial • Nerf Super Soaker Tri Strike Crossbow from Hasbro • Power Wheels Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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Kawasaki KFX from Fisher-Price • Razor PowerRider 360 from Razor • Razor Jr. Kuties Unicorn from Razor • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Combat-A-Bubbles from Little Kids • Zing X6 Zoom Rocketz from Zing Toys

BREAKOUT HITS:

• Disney Frozen Anna Dress from Jakks Pacific • Disney Frozen Elsa Dress from Jakks Pacific • Disney Frozen Elsa of Arendelle from Mattel • Disney Frozen Musical Magic Anna from Mattel • Paw Patrol On-A-Roll Marshall from Spin Master • The Happy’s from Cepia • The LEGO Movie Lord Business’ Evil Lair from LEGO • Minecraft Overworld Series 2 Steve with Diamond Armor from Jazwares • Minecraft Overworld Series 2 Articulated Animal Mobs from Jazwares

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THE TICKER

A Recap of Industry Headlines • For More News, Visit www.aNbMedia.com • Sign up to Receive FREE Weekly News Alerts

BARBIE HEADS TO THE BIG SCREEN

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Mattel, and Parkes+MacDonald/Image Nation announced a partnership on a liveaction comedy featuring Mattel’s Barbie. Sony says it sees this as its next big global franchise and plans to go into production by the end of this year. Written by Jenny Bicks and produced by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, the film will be executive produced by Parkes+MacDonald’s president Marc Resteghini alongside Julia Pistor, who will executive produce for Mattel’s Playground Productions. In her live-action big screen debut, Barbie will utilize her personal and professional skills to inspire change in the lives of everyone around her. This film marks the second collaboration between Sony Pictures and Mattel, which are currently developing a film adaptation of Masters of the Universe, based on Mattel’s action figures. The deal was brokered by CAA on behalf of Mattel and Parkes+MacDonald, by UTA on behalf of Jenny Bicks, and by Michael Marshall for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

NINTENDO TO L AUNCH INTERACTIVE FIGURES FOR ITS GAME PLATFORMS

Nintendo has announced plans to release character figurines with built-in NFC (near field communication) functionality. The figurines, code-named NFP, which comes from “NFC Featured Platform” and “Nintendo Figurine Platform,” will feature Nintendo properties including Mario and friends. They are expected to launch later this year and will be compatible with multiple software titles for Nintendo platforms, including Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. NFC devices, such as those currently on the market, require two components to work, passive figures and a powered receiver unit, which, when in proximinity to each other, exchange data. The Wii U system is the only one currently on the market with a built-in NFC reader. The reader is built into its GamePad controller. Additional details are expected to be announced at E3 this month.

ACTIVISION UNVEILS NEW SKYLANDERS

Activision announced the latest iteration in Skylanders called Skylanders Trap Team, which will launch in North America on October 5. It will bring the toys to life by letting kids pull characters out of the digital world and into the physical world. The game will include the new Traptanium Portal, which enable kids to not only bring their Skylanders to life but also capture villains using the new Traps. Defeat the villains and place a Trap into the new portal to capture them. Fans will be able to hear the villains speak from inside the Traps as well as send them back into the game where kids play as them to fight for good. The new play pattern also gives players the option to switch between playing as a Skylander hero or a villain at any time. In addition, fans can take their Traps, along with Skylanders, to their friends’ houses for play across all console game systems. Fans can now pre-order Skylanders Trap Team, with special offers available at Toys “R” Us locations worldwide. Skylanders Trap Team will be available on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo’s Wii, Wii U, and 3DS. The game will be available on October 5 in North America; October 2 in Australia/New Zealand; and October 10 in Europe.

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THE TICKER

Kicks off Spring with its Media Showcase

On May 1, aNb Media’s consumer website, TTPM hosted a Spring Media Showcase in New York City’s Altman

Building. The hottest toys for summer 2014 were on display including products from this summer’s blockbuster movies as well as toys that the editorial team chose as Breakout Hits. Shown below is a sampling of what was on display. The Holiday Media Showcase is scheduled for October 1 in The Metropolitan Pavilion.

Chris Byrne (The Toy Guy) and Laurie Leahey announced the hot summer toys during a press conference. Shown here in action is Bubble Fantasia from Imperial Toy.

It was standing room only for media and exhibitors at the press conference.

Mattel launched its new BoomCo brand of blasters to the media at the TTPM Spring Media Showcase.

Cepia’s line of The Happy’s was chosen by the TTPM editorial team as one of the Breakout Hits for this spring.

First-time exhibitor Delta had toddler beds on display. Shown here is Disney/Pixar Cars.

Jazwares Minecraft line was chosen by the TTPM editorial team as one of the Breakout Hits for this spring.

To participate in the TTPM Holiday Media Showcase, scheduled for October 1 in New York City’s Metropolitan Pavilion, please contact Bob Glaser (bob@anbmedia.com) or Donna Moore (donna@anbmedia.com).

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ENTERTAINMENT MARKETPLACE

MARVEL’S GUARDIANS BY

OF THE

GALAXY

NANCY LOMBARDI

NEED

KNOW

Hasbro is the master toy licensee for Guardians of the Galaxy, which opens August 1. Additional licensees not presented here include Rubie’s Costume Co. and Just Play.

rom Marvel, the studio that brought moviegoers the global blockbuster franchises Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers, comes a new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy. An actionpacked, epic space adventure, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel cinematic universe, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits. This group includes Rocket, a guntoting raccoon; Groot, a tree-like humanoid; the deadly and enigmatic Gamora; and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must

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do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance. Guardians of the Galaxy, which first appeared in comic books in Marvel Super-Heroes, Issue No. 18 (January 1969), stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Dave Bautista. It features Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket. There’s also Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael, and Benicio del Toro as The Collector. James Gunn is the director of the film with Kevin Feige producing, and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Alan Fine, and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Nicole Perlman and James Gunn, based on the comic book by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. The film opens in U.S. theaters on August 1, 2014.

The film stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord; Zoe Saldana as Gamora; Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer; Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot; Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket; Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael; and Benicio del Toro as The Collector.

According to IMDB, Bradley Cooper said the voice of Rocket Raccoon was inspired by Joe Pesci’s character, Tommy DeVito from the 1990s film, Goodfellas.

Benicio Del Toro’s uncredited cameo as The Collector in 2013’s Thor: The Dark World was written to set the stage for this film. Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey were also considered to voice the role of Rocket Raccoon, according to IMDB.

LEGO

Joining the collection of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, are three new construction sets based on scenes from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The main characters from Guardians of the Galaxy will be brought to LEGO form including StarLord, Gamora, Drax, Sakaaran Soldier, and Ronan. The three construction sets include the Milano Spaceship Rescue, which has 665 pieces; the Knowhere Escape Mission, which has 433 pieces; and the Starblaster Showdown, which has 196 pieces.

EKIDS/KIDDESIGNS

KIDdesigns’ eKids division is introducing walkie talkies and headphones based on the film. There is the Long Range FRS TwoWay Radios (shown), which feature graphics from the film. Kids can push the button to share secrets with their friends. In addition, the line includes Intergalactic Walkie Talkies, which feature graphics from the film and also function using the push button. It also features a flexible antenna that loops into the back of the walkie talkie to form a carrying clip.

MATTEL

Mattel’s Hot Wheels Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket’s Tailspin Takedown, will be available next month for ages 3 and up. Taking inspiration from the film, this track set features all the excitement of the film in Hot Wheels style. This gravity-based track set boasts a Rocket Raccoon-themed car as the hero. Rocket is ready to take on arch-villain Ronan and his two henchmen, Yondu and Korath. Send Rocket down the gravity ramp and into the spinout arm. The arm whips him around into a 360-degree spin and he careens into his enemies sending them flying. Knock them down and then set them back up again for another round of play.

HASBRO

Hasbro is the master toy licensee for Guardians of the Galaxy. In addition to an extensive line of action figures, the roleplay line will include the following items. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Star-Lord Roleplay Set includes a roleplay mask and blaster based on Star-Lord’s signature accessories in the film. The blaster fires two included Nerf darts up to 40 feet, according to Hasbro. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Action Mask (shown) allows kids to make the mask’s mouth, eyebrows, and ears move. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy StarLord Quad Blaster is based on Star-Lord’s signature weapon in the film. The Quad Blaster expands to reveal double blasters and fires four included Nerf darts. The items mentioned above are for ages 4 and up and will be available in July.

FUNKO

Funko is adding new additions to its Pop! Vinyl line of collectible figures, featuring the main characters from Guardians of the Galaxy. Pop! figures include Rocket Raccoon Pop!, Star-Lord Pop!, Groot Pop!, Gamora Pop!, and Drax Pop! Each stands at about 3.75-inches tall and comes in a window display box. Funko will also add Wacky Wobbler figures for the film, including Rocket and Star-Lord. These bobble head figures stand about seven-inches tall and comes in a window display box.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 15

INDUSTRY FORUM

DO SALES DRIVE TOY TRENDS OR DO TOY TRENDS DRIVE SALES? BY

TOY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION STAFF

t’s no secret that the toy industry has always been driven by trends. Today, however, our key customers are connecting via global and social media to stay on top of what’s trending in their local neighborhoods and around the world. Kids are savvy consumers that ultimately drive the majority of purchase decisions for fashion, food, and toys. Research commissioned last year by the Toy Industry Association (TIA) shows that six in 10 toy and game purchases resulted from an overt “ask” from a child. These observations and statistics made us wonder: DO TRENDS DRIVE SALES OR DO SALES DRIVE TRENDS? So we reached out to an array of players in the industry to get their take. Here’s a summary of what we heard:

JILL NORDQUIST, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, JAKKS PACIFIC The answer is both. A trend that launches a new category or an existing category with a specific item can increase excitement and drive sales for everyone. With Rainbow Loom, kids started making cool designs and posting them on social media, such as Facebook, Vine, Instagram. With Silly Bands, I think there were elements of personalization (i.e., you chose which shapes/character/property that resonated with you), accumulation (kids wanted lots and wore lots at one time), and also the idea of trading. Both of these are wearable so they also furthered self-expression. With Beanie Babies, it was all about plush, which has pretty universal appeal to both boys and girls, in addition to being collectible and inciting the thrill of the hunt.

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While a specific category leader could potentially cannibalize sales of similar items, we often see “all ships rise” and interest across the entire category increase.

DON ROSENWINKEL, PRESIDENT, COO, BIG MONSTER TOYS Great ideas drive both sales and trends. That’s what the inventor brings to the table. We constantly are on the lookout for the next trend but the bigger challenge is trying to set the trend. Although we have no formal research department, we always keep our eyes open. We spend hours online, we read magazines and books, and we watch lots of TV and movies. We are looking for anything new or things that appear in more than one medium.

BILL HOWARD, CEO, SNAP CREATIVE Snap Creative makes toy and collectible products based on movie licenses, so trends definitely drive sales in our business. The studios are great at storytelling and character development, which drives consumers to want to own the characterdriven toys and collectibles that we make to showcase them. And their licensing and product teams do a great job of curating the concepts, collaborating on design, and leading the way with style-guide direction so that innovative licensed products capture the true essence of their powerhouse brands. This popularity leads to growth and strong sales across the board.

SCOTT BROWN, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF MERCHANT, MARBLES THE BRAIN STORE

At Marbles, trends tend to drive sales, but not in the way generally seen in toy and game retail. The trends tend to be broader cultural references rather than specific to a toy or game. For example, we are seeing an interesting counter trend emerge consisting of consumers—primarily parents—pushing back against the digital uprising. They are looking for nondigital options for themselves and their children, and are embracing the “nostalgic” qualities of products or those that offer a nice compromise between the digital and physical world. We keep an eye on what is selling well—and have done great recently with classics such as Simon and Spirograph. The nostalgia of toys and games is a powerful trend. The kids who played with those toys when they were first introduced are now parents and when they see the product in our stores they say, “I remember that! I have to get that for my kids.” We watch our customers engage with our products and hear what they are looking for, and then take that knowledge with us as we visit toy and gift fairs around the world. We watch other industries, such as fashion or architecture, and the news, from the more serious New York Times-type of news to the more frivolous Us Weekly-type of news. Both can tell a lot about a culture and what people are looking for. We also do a lot research into the scientific advances in brain health and work with experts such as neurologists and occupational therapists to help us create and find products that are truly brain healthy.

ALYSON SHAPERO, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT SALES AND MARKETING, LITTLE PIM In practice, trends drive sales. It is the role of a good sales manager to look for the rare opportunities to disrupt the marketplace. There are those rare moments when the marketplace is disrupted and sales will drive the trend but after that initial spark, you go back to following the trend. BRUCE LUND, FOUNDER, LUND AND COMPANY INVENTION, LLC If I had to generalize, it would be trends more so driving sales, although it can work both ways. Offering iPod, iPhone, and iPad for sale to the public is an example of products spawning trends. The high rate of sales drove the introduction of

Have extra inventory?

more smartphones and tablets. That, in turn, led to more children playing with them, which led to the development of children’s tablets. The trend toward natural and organic is a result of retailers such as Whole Foods offering a plethora of organic and natural products to the consumer. An appreciation for artisanship and the renewed interest in anything handmade has led to the creation of sites like Etsy and spawned a generation of new makers, crafters, and entrepreneurs. These are trends that will continue to drive sales.

WHAT’S THE ANSWER? Chicken vs. Egg. Sales vs. Trends. Regardless of which comes first, there’s no question that

Donate it to K.I.D.S.

Your excess product can put smiles on faces!

trends are a crucial aspect of the toy business and that it’s always important to keep an eye on what’s new and what will resonate with today’s kids. As a service to its members, TIA staff has enhanced its efforts to monitor a variety of related industries that influence future toys and games. TIA trend experts provide brief reports of events and trade shows and observations of news covering fashion, food, music, technology, and more. Additional information on trends, industry statistics, and more can be found in the Industry Facts section of TIA’s website, ToyAssociation.org. Questions can be directed to Adrienne Appell. She can be reached at aappell@toyassociation.org; (646) 520–4863.

Poverty is a disaster that happens every day, but K.I.D.S. brings hope to 4.5 million children and their families every year. Donating your excess apparel, shoes, toys, books and juvenile products can provide your company with a generous tax deduction and replace despair with dignity. Fill out the donation form online at www.KIDSdonations.org or call 1-800-266-3314.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 17

INDUSTRY FORUM

DOES YOUR BUSINESS OWN YOU? Managing the Stress of Store Ownership BY KATHLEEN MCHUGH, ASTRA ou own your own toy store. What would happen if you took two weeks off and didn’t call to check on how things are going—not even once? It’s an appealing idea. For many independent retailers, part of the dream of owning a business is to get control over their time and their financial destiny. But for many hard-working store owners who are members of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), it can feel like the business owns you. Specialty toy store owners are not alone. Half of small business owners report that they regularly feel high levels of stress, which makes sense given the multiple hats most wear: visionary, strategic planner, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, buyer, human resources director, trainer, and sometimes even janitor. As a store owner, what can you do to ensure you are running the shop instead of the shop running you? What routine business practices can help you feel more in control and less stressed? Here are some ideas:

• HIRE WELL. If you don’t have a team who can manage—literally—without you, there is no vacation or down time in your future. Getting this team together starts with the hiring process. Even if you are hiring for a lower level position, during every interview ask yourself if you would trust this candidate to run the store if you unexpectedly needed to be away for a morning and he was the only staffer available to work

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that day. If the answer is no, keep looking.

• EMPOWER EMPLOYEES. A healthy working environment requires trust, loyalty, and confidence in the decision-making skills of your employees. Groom a staffer to be your second-in-command and gradually increase the responsibility you give that person and the rest of your team. Often this staffer will do things differently than you would do them. Encourage the staffer to innovate and be creative. As the staffer takes on more responsibility, you can take better care of yourself and turn your attention to larger business issues. • CONDUCT AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW. . . OF YOURSELF. You review employees with the objective of celebrating strengths and targeting weaker spots for improvement. This helps employees feel good about what they are doing well. It also helps them focus on where they should be working to improve. What about you? If you were not the boss, how would your employer rate you? Stepping back and assessing what you are doing well can be affirming and energizing. Identifying areas where you need to grow your own skills gives you clear targets and can help trim down your “must do” list by helping you stay focused on the essentials.

• MAKE FRIENDS. Sharing experiences with colleagues who understand the challenges can be therapeutic and a good business tactic. As you build relationships in the specialty toy industry with other retailers, manufacturers, and sales reps, you create

your own “kitchen cabinet” for problem solving when you really need it. Knowing that others have had similar business issues and hearing how they solved them can put your concerns in perspective. ASTRA was founded on this principle—that specialty toy retailers needed a place to come together, share ever-growing knowledge about how to run a specialty toy store profitably, and help each other. You can get this kind of support virtually by participating in our online discussion groups or in person at our annual Marketplace & Academy. You are an integral part of how your store functions—the glue that holds everything together. Just as important as a strong balance sheet is an owner who has the energy to think clearly and address difficult business challenges. ASTRA is here to help you grow and manage your business. . . and yourself. Kathleen McHugh is president of the American Specialty Retailing Association (ASTRA). Visit astratoy.org

INDUSTRY FORUM

HOW DO YOU DEFINE WHAT’S COOL? BY

MATT NUCCIO, DESIGN EDGE

any moons ago, before I was married and before I had kids, I accompanied my cousin, his wife, and their kids in their new minivan on a pumpkin-picking outing somewhere out on the east end of Long Island, New York. It was a long drive from Manhattan and the traffic was as horrific as New York traffic can be. We ended up arriving much later then we anticipated and finding a parking space became a real nightmare. After driving around in circles for at least 30 minutes without any success, we finally spotted an open parking space a short distance ahead. As we confidently raced to position, certain the space was ours, another minivan came screeching around the corner and took the spot. In the frustration of the moment my cousin’s wife abruptly

proclaimed, “They think they’re so cool because they drive a Honda Odyssey.” It was at that precise moment that it dawned on me: what’s cool is completely relative. Webster’s Dictionary defines the slang use of the word cool as “fashionably hip.” In essence, one’s coolness is dictated by his individual sense of fashion and how it relates to the world around him. What may be cool on the country music scene may be completely juxtaposed in hip hop. At that time, I was a single 20-something in New York City so the suburban world with its hierarchy of minivans blew my mind. My first reaction was one of laughter simply because it seemed so foreign to me. I had a hard time comprehending how any minivan could be perceived as cool. But, as a designer, the epiphany that a minivan could be cool was indeed eye opening. Design schools are full of students trying to “out cool” one another. When recent graduates apply for positions at Design Edge, I can usually tell just how recently they graduated without even looking at their resume simply by their perception of “cool” as reflected in their portfolio. It seems many students and novices are always striving for a visual coolness that can never quite be fully realized. Why can’t it be fully realized? The reason is coolness is relative to subcultures, locations, and personal interpretation. Most students and novices design everything based on sensibilities forcefed and established by the entertainment and fashion industries. Those industries are not thinking of the suburban mother and her minivan on Long Island, in Ohio, or in Washington. They’ll design toothpaste packaging with tweeny pop music flare instead of a sense of suburban home décor. Design is not the perception of what’s hip in popular culture but rather the character study of individuals and how they live their day-to-day lives. Design needs to speak to them on their level and not make them feel excluded. Keep that in mind the next time you see a minivan on the road. Design Edge is a New York-based graphic design and research development studio. Matt Nuccio can be reached at (516) 377–0500 or at matt@designedge.net.

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MERCHANDISE MAKERS

MOOSE TOYS: ALWAYS

TREND

BY JENNIFER LYNCH

oose Toys has a storied history on the Australian specialty and gift scene, beginning in 1985. But up until 2000, the company only focused on stationery, traditional toys like Hula Hoops, and even pet toys. 2000 marked the year now-CEO and chairman Manny Stul took ownership and Moose shifted its strategy to driving innovation in the toy aisles. The majority of its team has been there from the start of 2000 and its their close, collaborative working relationships that have led to much of Moose’s global success, says Tamara Stewart, Moose Toys’ vice-president of marketing strategy in the U.S. Like something out of a fairy tale, Moose’s growth first came in 2002 in the form of some beans—Mighty Beanz, to be exact. Modeled after Mexican jumping beans but more capsule-like with an interior metal ball, the toys helped the company gain headway into the collectibles category, eventually signing licenses for the Beanz with major properties such as Marvel and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Flash forward to today and Moose remains a leader in this space, with continually evolving lines such as Trash Pack, which is the company’s most successful boy brand to date, according to Stewart. The line of squishy, silly yet gross collectible characters will expand again for fall this time with a Junk Germs theme. The company is also building up its girls’ collectible lines with Shopkins, a new line of miniature grocerythemed collectibles. Inspired by grocery

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store items, each housed in shopping bags, Shopkins will launch this fall. With consistent new introductions to its toy lines over the past several years, Moose’s sales have grown at an exponential rate. And Moose has made moves to accommodate and help accelerate that growth, especially in the U.S. Last year, the company expanded its U.S. presence by opening offices in El Segundo, Calif. “It allowed us to establish a stronger corporate presence and support our retailers with a localized sales and marketing team,” says Stewart. “Our speed to market and branding initiatives have all been enhanced through greater collaborative partnerships with retail partners and promotional partners, respectively.” Yet, Moose has maintained a focused approach to deliver a quick turn-around at retail. While other toy makers may rely on outside manufacturers to deliver their product to market, Moose takes a very hands-on approach. “We have high caliber, in-house experts that oversee all levels of our manufacturing processes (located in Melbourne, Hong Kong, and China),” she says. “This team allows us to have complete control over our products’ life cycle.” Couple this with its innovative approach to design, which has allowed the company to stay on top of and ahead of the curve, Moose is developing staying power not just in the collectible space but also in the crafts aisles and beyond. While more companies seek ways to gain a stake in the DIY movement, Moose is focused on innovating it with its Glitzi

Little Live Pets

Globes and the re-introduction of its Beados brand. “Our brands empower creativity and artistic expression, while engaging [kids’] minds through concentration, sensory awareness, and improved dexterity,” says Stewart. This year, Glitzi Globes features refreshed theme packs and an all-new Ferris Wheel playset to house kids’ snow globe creations. Beados also brings innovation to the classic play of beaded crafts. “Beados allows children to build characters and designs using beads that join together with a spray of water,” Stewart says. “Because there is no heat or glue required, Beados is a mess-free activity, something parents can always appreciate.” Looking ahead to holiday, Moose is introducing yet another new toy line as well, one that builds on the fun of pet play for kids. Little Live Pets is a line of electronic, interactive pet birds, which kids can nurture and care for. They will also feature a unique talk-back function so kids can record messages and have the bird repeat it back. “Our extensive marketing campaign will have everyone talking about these new talking birds this fall,” says Stewart. But all aspects of the company come back to team effort. “Having a strong global team allows us to put our ideas into action and continue to bring product to market.”

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Blockbuster Success Continues for Construction Toys BY

CHRISTINE SULLIVAN

ho could have imagined that the box office darling kicking off 2014 would be a computeranimated minifigure? Yet, The LEGO Movie has grossed more than $460 million worldwide and that’s prior to the DVD release. “We knew the filmmakers and the team at Warner Bros. created a wonderful film, but the actual result has been truly amazing and humbling,” says Michael McNally, brand relations director at LEGO. Perhaps the film’s success is not so surprising considering the success that construction toys— and LEGO in particular—have enjoyed in recent years. It’s one of the few toy categories that has grown during the past decade. Blockbuster (or should we say blockbuilder?) movies aside, there are a number of solid reasons behind the strong growth in this category. Construction toys have always offered great play. These toys help fulfill a child’s urge to be creative. Yet, at the same time, kids are learning without even realizing it. “Kids need to be creative and having power over your creations is something you never lose,” says Michael Araten, president of K’NEX. “It’s why adults go to Home Depot.” Most parents feel construction toys are good for kids. Not only do they promote creativity, but help a child develop skills in the areas of STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). “From research and close work with children’s developmental specialists such as Dr. Maureen O’Brien, we know that children significantly benefit from playing with these toys as they learn and master spatial skills, coordination, and creative exploration and discovery,” says Bisma Ansari, vice-presi-

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dent of marketing at MEGA Brands. K’NEX’s Araten agrees. “When you’re building a roller coaster, you’re learning about elements of physics, and you’re doing it through play,” he says. “So kids are happy to do it and parents are happy that they’re learning things at the same time.” With that in mind, K’NEX has developed a special line of kits that supplement and support STEM curriculum at home or in the classroom. (Not only is K’NEX helping educate youth, the company was lauded by President Barack Obama for manufacturing 95 percent of its parts in the U.S. He visited the company in November 2012.) Parents know that construction toys are beneficial for all the reasons just mentioned. However, they help in one more area, which is of increasing concern—balancing screen time with traditional play. Parents and kids can feel good about stepping away from the screen to play with a construction toy. “It is more important than ever that we balance our children’s interaction with digital technology with experiences in the physical world,” says James Knight, vice-president of global construction at Spin Master. His opinion is confirmed by a recent study conducted by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in Great Britain that warned rising numbers of children were unable to perform simple tasks such as using building blocks because of overexposure to iPads. Ironically though, digital properties may serve as a way to interest kids in construction toy play. Some of the hottest construction sets are based on licensed digital properties, such as the collaboration between MEGA Brands and Skylanders. And, many toy executives attribute the recent success of construction toys to the influx of

GROWING IMPORTANCE

LICENSING

Licensing has grown increasingly important in the construction category. The Bridge Direct signed separate deals with the WWE and the NBA for its C3 construction sets. Shown here is the NBA Full Court Set.

licensed properties. To wit, the range of themes offered in kits is broad, from The Bridge Direct’s WWE wrestling-themed sets to MEGA Brands’ Hello Kitty to LEGO Star Wars. “Storytelling is a big part of selling a construction set, as it establishes characters and provides kids with a fantasy world of play,” says Kristin Hamilton, director of global brand marketing and development for Hasbro. “The benefit of licensing is it provides you with a story arc that is already known by your consumers allowing you to establish an immediate emotional connection.” The Bridge Direct agrees. “Branding is the most important thing to a construction toy,” says Dan Meyer, marketing director for The Bridge Direct, who recently signed separate deals with the WWE and the NBA to create licensed construction sets under its C3 construction brand. “The key factors are what does it stand for? How will it differentiate [from what else is on the market], and do consumers want that differentiation?” Indeed, this branding strategy has worked so

As families grow up, so do the opportunities

DISCOVER MORE AT

MEGABLOKS.COM

5/16/2014 12:47:45 PM

well it has inspired numerous companies to develop their own content— with the help of some movie studios, of course—such as the case with The LEGO Movie. Hasbro’s transformation of the Transformers toy line to film is legendary. The movie spawned even more toys, including construction kits under Hasbro’s KRE-O construction brand. This year, Hasbro is rolling out a new KRE-O line featuring the Dinobot characters in conjunction with its new film Transformers: Age of Extinction. Spin Master followed a similar path as Hasbro by creating its own construction brand called Ionix. “It is always nice to have a balance of internal and external properties,” says Spin Master’s Knight. “As the creators of Tenkai Knights, we can craft the message in ways we feel are important to the storyline as well as the overall brand off screen. However, by partnering licensed, existing properties, such as DreamWorks’ Dragons and Pokémon, we can also engage with beloved characters and an existing audience.” Playmobil is launching an animated series to further extend the reach of its brand. This type of content is a first for the company and quite a departure for Playmobil, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Although few details were available at press time, Playmobil did explain that “the cool, exciting adventures featured in the new Playmobil series will provide engaging content for kids and will be launching in some countries this fall,” says John Skrajewski, vice-president of sales and marketing at Playmobil USA. According to reports on the web, the series is reportedly expected to air in Latin America and certain European markets in the fall. LEGO certainly ignited the trend of girls partaking of the construction category with the introduction of LEGO Friends. It was such as a success that everyone is now following the trend, realizing the huge potential in this untapped market. LEGO conducted extensive research prior to launching its girl-oriented LEGO Friends line. “We listened very carefully to what girls and moms around the world told us would make LEGO play more interesting for them—details, interiors, compelling characters, and stories revolving around friendship, accessories, and brighter colors,” says LEGO’s McNally. “Previous attempts at girl-oriented LEGO experiences had not focused enough on the core experience of construction— either by not offering enough building or in a way that was not iconic to what consumers expect of LEGO building.”

GIRLS JUST WANNA BUILD

26 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

LEGO ignited the trend of construction companies targeting girls with its LEGO Friends line. Toy makers learned that girls enjoy construction play as long as the themes appeal to them. Shown here is LEGO Friends Heartlake Juice Bar.

MEGA Brands also is reaching out to girls with its Hello Kitty and Barbie lines. “Open-ended building, storytelling, designing, and decorating are just some of the construction play patterns that appeal to girls,” says MEGA’s Ansari. Playmobil is no different and has started catering its lines to girls. “Although girls will often play with and enjoy traditional boy themes like Pirates, Knights, and City Life, Playmobil has grown its fan base of girls dramatically in the past few years through the introduction of gender-neutral themes (e.g. zoo, camping, school, etc.),” says Skrajewski. “That allows girls to migrate to their personal interests without forcing them into a specific genre.” Unlike other toys, construction kits also draw in older kids and even adults. “To capture the older kid, you need to inject the ‘coolness’ factor into the toy,” says The Bridge’s Meyer. “It involves a balance of complexity and coolness while providing a sense of accomplishment once completed. It’s definitely an art.” K’NEX’s Araten concurs that complexity is key for marketing to tweens and teens. “We make and design very intricate builds with sometimes thousands of parts that involve movement and motors,” he says. “These kind of intricacies really intrigue the core builders.” LEGO also recognizes the appeal of bridging physical and virtual playworlds, especially with its Mindstorms line for older LEGO fans. The latest building system, Mindstorms EV3 is for a remote control robot. In short, today’s construction toys are offering something for everyone from easy-to-handle blocks for toddlers, to pretty play houses for designers-in-training, to busting, brawling wrestling playsets for actionloving kids, to build-your-own-robot kits for tomorrow’s engineers. By listening carefully to what kids—both boys and girls—want and providing parent-pleasing products, it’s no wonder that construction toys remain a hot, high-growth category.

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Construction Toys BY

CHRISTINE SULLIVAN

To say the construction toy category has evolved and grown is an understatement. Today’s construction sets depict zombie-killing

plants, ice cream cones, juice bars, NBA superstars, and even Barbie. The kits can include remote control motors, vibrating floors,

and even solar cells. There’s something for every kid of nearly every age—both boys and girls. It’s this diversity in both licensed and non-licensed product offerings that makes this one of the hottest categories in the industry.

The Bridge Direct

After its partnership with The WWE, The Bridge Direct once again links sports with construction sets in an NBA-themed line. The C3 NBA One on One Set pairs superstars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in a game of one on one, which is shown on page 24. The set includes minifigurines and accessories. Also available from The Bridge Direct is an NBA Full Court Set, NBA Locker Set (shown), and NBA blind packs.

LEGO

LEGO has many new girl fans since the introduction of its LEGO Friends line. The LEGO Friends Heartlake Juice Bar is a 277-piece construction set, which is shown on page 26. The end result is a colorful juice bar where girls can pretend to make their own smoothies with the minifruits. Targeted for ages 6–12, it comes with Andrea and Naya mini-figures. For preschoolers, there’s the LEGO Duplo Creative Ice Cream set, shown. Young kids can serve up fun ice cream combinations for the whole family by putting together bricks of ice cream scoops, toppings, and cones.

28 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

Playmobil

The German company is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This Camping Set brings the great outdoors indoors and includes such realistic features as a fold-up tent, functioning shower and bathroom with toiletry items, well-stocked snack bar, and a variety of campers and wild life to populate the camp.

Spin Master

Meccano, one of the world’s oldest toy brands and Spin Master’s newest acquisition, blends the excitement of radiocontrolled vehicles with the challenge of construction kits in this build-your-own ATV set. The pictured model, the Meccano ATV Evolution, features fully functional steering. Assembly for the front wheels is activated by a crank and gears along with a fully-functional winch.

Hasbro

Transformers: Age of Extinction, the latest entry in Hasbro’s Transformers film franchise, spawns a whole new set of toys. Kre-O Transformers: Age of Extinction Grimlock Street Attack Set is a 196-piece set that features Grimlock, the T-Rex Dinobot for Kreons to ride, along with a break-away archway for Grimlock to destroy. The Dinobot can also pick up Decepticon Vehicons with its mouth and has a capture claw in its tail.

MEGA Brands

MEGA Brands’ MEGA Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag is a classic that offers an 80-piece building set designed for the youngest users. Along with the big bricks, a wheelbase is included to build cars, trucks, and whatever other items a child can put together. The set comes with an eco-friendly zipup bag for easy clean-up. For older kids, Nickelodeon’s favorite sea creature SpongeBob and his pals are featured in the MEGA Bloks SpongeBob SquarePants Krusty Krab Attack, shown here. Detailed characters battle evil robots and Plankton with a Dish Launcher. The set includes four collectible characters.

K’NEX

K’NEX adds Plants vs. Zombies to its lines of video game-themed constructions sets, which also include Angry Birds, Mario Bros., and Titanfall. The pictured Plants vs. Zombies: Pirate Seas Plank Walk Building Set features a special battery-powered rumble grid, which vibrates zombies to move toward the plants. The included figurines will shoot coconut ammo or launch cabbages. Suitable for use at home or at school, the K’NEX Investigating Solar Energy kit enables kids to go green. Bring STEM concepts to life by building three types of solar-energy powered devices: a shuttle ride, car, or crank man. Included is an inquiry-based teacher’s guide that provides assistance in both teaching the topic and assessing what students have learned. The set consists of 128 pieces, a motor, and solar panel.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 29

WILL BAD WEATHER POP BUBBLES SALES? BY

NANCY LOMBARDI

olar Vortex. Those two words—and its accompanying forecast—hung over most of the country like a plague during this undeniably horrible winter. And even though the weather has not been good this spring, manufacturers are reporting that this bubble-selling season has been strong. Last spring, an early Easter coupled with bad spring weather translated to weak sales. This year, Easter was late, which made for a longer selling season. And, manufacturers said that this harsh winter has actually helped spring sales as consumers are now venturing outside to recover from cabin fever. “The dreary winter weather has actually played to our advantage as families are more eager than ever to spend time outdoors with their children,” says Kathy Hawk, vice-president of marketing at Funrise. “Our key selling season typically lasts through June, and we expect to see our sales continue to float throughout the summer season.” Both Imperial and Little Kids say that this season is off to a solid start. However, those involved in this category all agree that they would like to see retailers stock bubble products later into the summer. Retailers understandably have to reset for the back-to-school season, but consumers seem willing to buy bubbles well into July and many will even buy year round. “We are trying to persuade retailers to carry bubbles a bit longer into the summer,” says Peter Tiger, co-president of Imperial Toy. “And this year retailers seem to be keeping them on shelf a bit longer before

switching to other summer items.” Also, Tiger does point out that Imperial has a program with Target where bubbles are sold all year round. Bubbles can be a great stocking stuffer or trick-or-treat option. As always, this is a category that relies heavily on licensing. Nickelodeon’s properties, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in particular, have been very successful for Little Kids. Imperial says its Disney license, especially Frozen, has performed very well. However, manufacturer’s proprietary brands are popular in their own right. It’s within these brands where the most innovation is happening, which may then be coupled with a license. Imperial mentions lights, sounds, glow bubbles, and bubble machines as key areas for growth. It’s Bubble Fantasia is a key item for this season. Funrise offers the Gazillion Bubbles Typhoon 2.0, which is a bubble fountain that blows more than 5,000 bubbles per minute with the push of a button, according to Hawk. The Gazillion brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. And, of course, Little Kids’ No Spill line is a classic in the category. This is a category that is synomous with summer fun. It has crossgenerational appeal and reaches both genders. It gets kids away from the screen to run around outside. “It’s good, clean fun,” says Little Kids’ president, Jim Engle.

Blow tons of bubbles with Nickelodeon Giant Bubble Wands for kids, ages 3 and up. It is designed for small hands and on-the-go bubble fun. It is available in four Nickelodeon styles: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Bubble Guppies. Nickelodeon No-Spill Bubblin’ Buckets has three slots and three wands so three kids can enjoy bubble play at the same time. It features an easyto-carry, foldable handle for storage and on-the-go bubble play. It is available in four Nickelodeon styles: Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and SpongeBob SquarePants. This is designed for ages 3 and up. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Combat-A-Bubbles, for ages 3 and up, are touchable bubbles that kids can catch, according to Little Kids. These bubbles are available in four styles. There’s Leonardo’s Katana, Raphael’s Sai, Michelangelo’s Nunchucks, and Donatello’s Bo Staff. The set includes two ounces of bubble solution and one weapon/wand. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Bubble Blower (shown) allows kids, ages 3 and up, to blow endless streams of bubbles with all four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters. Pull back on the turtle’s head to launch a stream of bubbles from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Bubble Blower its mouth. It requires two AA batteries, which are not included.

Little Kids

30 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

Gazillion Bubbles Streamin’ Bubbles, for ages 3 and up, produces a stream of continuous bubbles. This batteryoperated bubble blaster includes a four-ounce bottle of Gazillion Bubbles solution. Insert the bottle of solution into the blower, pull the trigger, and watch a stream of bubbles shoot out. This set requires two AA batteries, which are not included. Gazillion Bubbles Typhoon 2.0, for ages 3 and up, allows kids to create a gazillion bubbles instantly. With no pump and no wait time, kids can create a storm of bubbles in a flash. This ultimate bubble fountain blows more than 5,000 bubbles per minute, says Funrise. Replace the solution top with the auto feed cap, insert the bottle to fill the machine with solution, push the button, and watch as a typhoon of bubbles shoots out. This set includes an eight ounce bottle of Gazillion Bubbles solution. It requires four AA batteries, which are not included.

Funrise

Bubble Fantasia from Imperial Toy is a spinning light-up bubble machine for ages 5 and up. The multi-colored LED lights illuminate the bubbles as the machine spins 360 degrees, making thousand of bubbles as 10 bubble wands rotate. It includes 35 ounces of premium scented bubble solution. Imperial says the premium solution lasts longer and floats higher.

Imperial Toy

Play Visions Tiny Touchable Bubbles, for ages 5 and up, are part of the Play Visions Club Earth line. When the bamboo-modeled wand is dipped in bubbles and blown, a myriad of tiny bubbles fill the air. Tiny Touchable Bubbles adhere to surfaces and are sturdier than soapy bubbles. This firmer texture allows Tiny Touchable Bubbles to last for about 15 minutes, according to Play Visions. The bubbles can even be touched gently without breaking, says the company.

Play Visions

Crayola introduces Ka-Bluey Blue Colored Bubbles, for ages 4 and up, which is the newest addition to Crayola’s colored bubbles line. The colored bubble solution is specially designed to instantly rub off skin, spray away with water, and easily rinse out of clothes with only water, according to Crayola. And, Crayola says that all color just disappears with time. Ka-Bluey Blue joins the existing color family of Purple Pizzazz, Unmellow Yellow, and Fuchsia.

Crayola

Bubbalooka, for ages 2 and up, can be used in the bathtub (or out of the tub) to blow super long bubble snakes. This bubble maker includes bubble solution and suction cup solution tray and holder. Monster Bubbles, for ages 4 and up, allows little hands to make giant bubbles. Simply add the bubble solution, switch on the bubble fan, and turn the handle back and forth. The set includes four ounces of tear-free bubble solution and easy-to-follow instructions. Blow Bubbles in the Tub—Diver & Mermaid versions—is designed for ages 2 and up, for use in the tub. Use the three bubble-blowing wands to blow bubbles and watch them float around the tub. The set comes with tear-free bubble solution and a suction cup bottle holder and dipping tray to prevent spills. Magic Bubble Art, for ages 6 and up, allows kids to paint with bubbles. Make more than 16 different bubble projects with this kit. It contains pre-cut shapes and stickers, three bottles of color drops, liquid soap, papers, 90 stickers and punch outs, four mixing cups, six straws, six pipe cleaners, four craft sticks, string, plastic stir stick, and instructions.

Alex Brands

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FIGHTING SHRINKAGE IN THE GAMES AISLE BY JENNIFER LYNCH

oard games have become one of the most affected categories by the digital era. Talk to anyone in the space and the buzzword on everyone’s lips is, unfortunately, shrinkage. While figures show that 2013 did see growth in the space, over the past five years the category has still shrunk close to 20 percent. “The board game industry is challenged structurally and has been for some time, but it’s really showing up now,” says Bill Richie, president of ThinkFun. “The most basic challenge is that kids have other forms of play, including tablets. So play activities that were formerly taken up by board games are now being shared between board games and board-like games that one can play on an app.” So how do board games compete?

The first answer is simple: they don’t. Niche pockets within the overall space are holding strong against digital and may be one key to future success. The first is preschool, and it isn’t simply the caliber of the properties—although Disney Junior properties such as Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First have played a role—but also the audience. “It’s not under the same kind of digital threat as older categories,” says Jacobe Chrisman, CEO and founder of Wonder Forge. “It’s very well protected, thanks to parents, and rapidly growing for us, especially in Target and Walmart, where we continue to expand our preschool lines.” The second niche targets the rising popularity of more complex tabletop games. Take one look at the most popular board games on Amazon and you’ll see Eurogames (a genre of highly detailed games that specialize in clever strategy often driven by economic themes) like Mayfair Games’ Settlers of Catan or Days of Wonder’s Ticket to Ride consistently holding the top spots. “Innovation is happening and it’s happening in niches, and that’s a consequence of the overall market changing and shrinking,” says ThinkFun’s Richie. “We have had the experience recently with Laser Maze and our new one Gravity Maze, which is launching this summer. These are games that are more elaborate and complex than games we’ve done in the past. It’s surprising how well those two games are doing because they are clearly targeted toward an older audience.” Bigger game companies are also putting more effort behind multi-platform gaming—in other words ensuring they are where the consumer is playing. “As the industry changes, we need to create games on multiple platforms so consumers can play them regardless of platform, while making them available regardless of channel—in the retail stores and online,” says Alan Gong, vice-president of games, Spin Master.

A Multi-Platform Approach

32 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

ThinkFun signed on to publish the Kickstarter-backed tabletop game, Robot Turtles.

Sometimes parents don’t want digital, but they still want innovative. Consumers have become more savvy and more demanding when it comes to innovation. Putting a new package on the same, old gameplay simply won’t cut it, especially when consumers have so many low-priced digital games at their fingertips. “You have to create something immediately, recognizably compelling, so that a parent looks at it and sees that it will compete with a digital experience,” says Wonder Forge’s Chrisman. Wonder Forge continues to offer packaging that blurs the lines between toy and game. “We always want to try and show off what’s inside the box more through the components and value inside, but also the play experience,” says Chrisman. “The more we can tell the story beyond a photo shoot of kids playing it, the more consumers can see that value.” Doing so has allowed the company to hold its price points at retail at around $15–20 without price degradation. This fall, it will have new offerings geared around the upcoming Star Wars Rebels TV series, with highly detailed elements that will appeal to fans young and old. One game will feature a secret electronic decoder that pops out of the packaging on shelves. Mattel has also done its research to ensure new iterations of its classics offer new twists. “We’re seeing many heritage games infuse innovation into classic play,” says PJ Lewis, senior director, global brand marketing for games, Mattel. “This year we are launching Pictionary Frame Game, which is a crazy twist on the longtime favorite. Research has shown that one of the most popular ‘house rules’ of Pictionary has been to see the

The Play Book for Innovation

other person draw or play at the same time.” The new game will feature a see-through window, where players can draw their clue and use the window to act it out. Letting consumers experience a game before they buy it can better ensure purchase. And now digital channels have improved dialog about a game’s development, engaging its consumers as it’s made. Consumers love a good story, and, when given the opportunity to interact with a game’s creators (its storytellers), it can be just as powerful as the product itself. Kickstarter is one unique path of innovation for the games aisle and a source of hope for smaller game publishers. “Kickstarter has become a great avenue for inventors who don’t have the capital to launch a game on their own,” says Wonder Forge’s Chrisman. “They aren’t necessarily crowd sourcing the idea but they are crowd sourcing the money and getting people excited about it.” According to Kickstarter statistics, games projects currently receive more funding than any other project category on the site with $241.8 million pledged to date. This level of backing by a game’s target audience can assure a game’s creators (and backers) that the game will be successful when it reaches market. “Kickstarter really is a pre-marketing device,” says ThinkFun’s Richie. “It vets through so that it becomes clear that something about the game, or project, is really resonating for consumers.” Earlier this year, ThinkFun signed on to publish Kickstarter’s most-backed game Robot Turtles (exceeding it’s original target of $25,000 by more than $600,000 to date). Created by former Google programmer Dan Shapiro, it teaches programming basics to preschoolers in a fun format. “Robot Turtles suddenly emerged as something that was getting a lot of traction because it was getting a lot of funding, a lot of press, and a lot of overall interest,” says Riche.

The Story Behind a Game

“And when we looked at the game, we thought this is exactly the kind of thing we at ThinkFun are pushing for ourselves.” While bigger companies might have the capital to propel their ideas forward, they, too, are letting consumers get first-looks to ensure their games have just as much support before launch. “I honestly think that when people tell you that they ‘know the category,’ they have no idea what they are talking about,” says Wonder Forge’s Chrisman. “You really need to listen to the broader audience.” Wonder Forge calls on its database of consumers, social media followers, and brand ambassadors to give the company early reads on its games, while Hasbro uses its social media channels to tap into what consumers are talking about. Last year, Hasbro launched the Monopoly “Save Your Token” campaign, which called on fans to vote for their favorite game token and pick a new one that represented today’s generation of players. This year, Hasbro launched a second campaign, this time for Scrabble. “Our recent Scrabble Word Showdown campaign tapped into the passion our fans have for words,” says Jon Berkowitz, vice-president of marketing for Hasbro Gaming. “We saw a number of conversations on social media about what makes a good Scrabble word and a lot of debate around whether or not words were ‘official.’ We put the power in the hands of our fans and gave them an opportunity to make their voices heard and impact a change in the game.” Through the campaign, fans were able to give their input on one new word added to The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary—its first update in nine years. (The winning word geocache is based on the game in which people hunt for hidden treasures using GPS-enabled devices.) Also driven by social media and the “generation me” movement, personalization is a trend

Games Get Personal

driving every category, and the games aisle is no exception. Later this year, Hasbro will launch the My Monopoly game, which lets players personalize the game using the My Monopoly app or website and printable stickers to customize property spaces, tokens, and cards with their own pictures. “Consumers are becoming significantly more sensitive to personalization,” says Spin Master’s Gong. “Being able to personalize your game is a great way to give the consumer a sense of ownership as well as make the game more meaningful to them when they play.” But personalization doesn’t have to mean a “me” theme. Sometimes it can mean a license that taps into fan’s passions. “When it comes to licenses and adapting them to the board game area, we look to replicate the original experience as closely as possible,” says Jim Pressman, president of Pressman Toys. “Whether it’s Elf on the Shelf, where we created an actual Elf that interacts with the child using voice and music, or How to Train Your Dragon 2, where we created a target shooting game complete with flying sheep and color-coordinated baskets to shoot them in, we always look to create a new experience for each license and not merely add a license to an existing game.” In other words, a brand-slapping approach will no longer cut it. Licensing drives a lot of immediate shelf awareness in the game aisle, so delivering on that license is even more important to sales. “When you look at what Lucasfilms has done with Star Wars Clone Wars, what they’re anticipated to do with Star Wars Rebels, it always seems to enhance the experience so that it’s an extension, so it’s our goal to do the same thing with our games,” says Wonder Forge’s Chrisman. But whether licensed, personalized just for those playing, or made for niche audiences, it’s evident that games can still compete. What it comes down to is finding a strategy, not simply price point, that is compelling enough to do so.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 33

Board Games

BY JENNIFER LYNCH

In a category that’s fighting shrinking sales, the key drivers for board games are personalization and compelling innovation for both licensed and proprietary games. Below is a sampling of new product in the space.

Hasbro

Available this fall, Hasbro will introduce My Monopoly, which lets players personalize the classic board game. Using the My Monopoly app or website, players can create their own personalized Monopoly game by customizing property spaces, game tokens, Chance Cards, and Community Chest Cards to include favorite people, places, and things. Gather images from Facebook, Instagram, Shutterfly, Flickr, or your personal devices, print them out on personalized My Monopoly game stickers, and stick them onto the game pieces and position them as you choose around the game board.

Mattel

For spring, Mattel brought the classic arcade game Whac-AMole to tabletop with the Whac-A-Mole Treasure Game for ages 3 and up. In this game, players must race to the cave of jewels before they get whacked. Land on a space with a mallet symbol and smash your mole opponents.

USAopoly

Among its latest game offerings, USAopoly’s Game of Life: My Little Pony edition lets fans choose from four collectible ponies and then journey through Equestria to the Summer Sun Festival. On the quest, which starts in Ponyville, players will overcome challenges, find supplies, and learn about friendship along the way.

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Spin Master

Spin Master will introduce its Logo Billionaire Game for fall, in which big brands earn players big money. Players collect famous brands to build companies in brand categories: Transportation, Snacks, Sweets, Tech, and Home. Collect three or more brands in the same category, then try to earn big as you launch your company. But watch out—a Bust card will set you back and let opponents attempt a takeover. Be the first to earn a billion dollars to win.

Patch Products

This summer, Patch Products gives a re-boot to the classic board game Stratego for a new generation. With an updated theme of battling armies on distant planets, two players set up opposing armies and move to strike their opponents. If a player strikes an opponent with a lower value, he wins. If she strikes with a higher value, he loses. The first player to penetrate enemy lines and captures the opponent’s flag wins.

Wonder Forge

Wonder Forge’s Pictopia is a Disney-themed picture trivia board game that tests players knowledge with 200 trivia cards featuring Disney characters, past and present. The game features characters from Disney/Pixar, Disney Princess, Disney Junior, live-action films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as classic animated favorites such as Bambi. It is for two to six players, ages 6 and up.

Goliath Games

ThinkFun

ThinkFun has brought the most backed board game in Kickstarter history to the games aisle. Robot Turtles slyly teaches preschoolers the fundamentals of programming, from coding to functions, while making silly turtle noises in this game for ages 4 and up.

This spring, Goliath launched a new game that tests your concentration while messing with your vision. Googly Eyes is a family board game, in which players must complete drawing challenges while wearing zany, vision-altering glasses. The glasses have three sets of lenses that go from easy to hard, and the color of the space you land on determines which lens you’ll use. Make it to the finish line first to win the game. It’s for ages 7 and up.

Pressman

Pressman’s Tic Stack Toe takes the classic game of Tic Tac Toe and adds a third dimension to it. Like the original game, players take turns placing their Xs and Os on the board to form rows, columns, and diagonal lines, but in this game you can also build up with the stackable pieces. This two-player game is for ages 8 and up.

Blue Orange Games

Battle Sheep is a new strategy game from Blue Orange, in which the goal is to occupy the most pastures with your sheep tokens. Players split a stack of their sheep and move a portion as far is it can go in a straight line on the pasture board. The game comes with 16 pasture board pieces so a different playing board can be assembled each time you play. Watch out for sneaky sheep and plan your moves carefully to fence out your foe and win the game. It is for two to four players, ages 7 and up.

Ravensburger

Ravensburger has created a 3-D board game based on the popular app game Doodle Jump. In this version, Doodlers must race to the tops of their boards, rolling, and adding their dice to jump to the most strategic pads. The first player to reach the top of their board wins the game.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 35

Puzzles

NANCY LOMBARDI

With the growing popularity of smartphones, devices, and all things tech, it may seem that something as traditional as puzzles would no longer have an audience. However, the opposite is true. Puzzles still play an important role for preschoolers as parents look to balance their child’s screen time with traditional play. Plus, parents know that puzzles offer countless educational benefits. It’s a category that also appeals to adults with art-based licenses, travel imagery, and popular movies and TV shows. Here is a sampling of what will be on shelf in 2014.

Cardinal has a line of puzzles based on the pop art of Lisa Frank. With an appeal that spans many age groups, these puzzles are bright and colorful with images of unicorns, animals, and rainbows. The puzzles come packaged in a variety of styles such as lunchbox-style tins (shown), boxes, and bags. Cardinal also offers a puzzle binder with eight puzzles packed in a binder with compartments to store the puzzles and pages where the puzzles can be displayed when completed. Cardinal has a host of new licensed puzzles this year including the U.S. Army and Game of Thrones. These puzzles complement the existing line of licensed puzzles from such companies as Disney, Marvel, Nickelodeon, Sanrio, Twentieth Century Fox, NBC, Warner Bros., Sesame Workshop, HIT Entertainment, Lucasfilm, Mattel, Hasbro, and more. These puzzles come in a variety of packaging styles such as carryalong bags, pencil cases, tins with handles, foil bags, shapes tins, and more.

Cardinal

Buffalo Games has a range of jigsaw puzzles targeting adults with a 300- to 4,000-piece count. Key licenses include Coca-Cola, Charles Wysocki, The Peanuts, and M.C. Escher.

Buffalo Games

Pressman Toy announced a partnership with DreamWorks Animation to release an extensive line of puzzles, action, card, and board games based on the motion picture How to Train Your Dragon 2. The line is now available at mass and specialty retailers nationwide. Pressman will introduce two 100-piece puzzles that showcase the animation from the film.

Pressman Toy

Ravensburger has a variety of puzzles for kids of all ages. But here the focus is on puzzling challenges for adults. There is the Complete Puzzle Set, which the company says comes with everything needed for a display-worthy piece of puzzle art. Each puzzle features a box that starts as an assembly surface then transforms into an integrated frame. The new 500-piece offerings include New York Colors, South Seas Flair, Colorful Ocean, and Boutique Street. Each includes puzzle glue and picture hangers. In the What If? puzzles, adults finish these 1,000-piece puzzles to find out what actually could have happened in the proposed What If? scenario. The box displays one image of a “hoped for” situation, while the completed puzzle pieces together an entirely opposite scenario. Designs include The Lottery, At the Vet, Home Makeover, and Garden Tours. Large Format puzzles are 300- and 500-piece puzzles that feature large pieces that come together to create a wide variety of scenes. Styles include 300-piece Tin Robots, Lighthouse Rocks, Over the River, Turtle & Friends, Flowers & Hats, Waiting for the Day, and Cottage Dream. There’s also the 500-piece Flower Truck, Lion Pride, Let’s Golf, and Fairy Houses. In Krypt Colorful Spiral (shown), puzzlers put their skills to the test with the newest introduction in the Krypt line. Featuring swirling action, the 654-piece design-within-a-design is perfect for advanced puzzlers and those who crave a serious challenge.

Ravensburger

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TCG’s proprietary puzzle brand, SureLox, offers puzzles in a variety of piececounts ranging from two-piece to 2,000piece, for puzzle enthusiasts of all ages. In the kids’ segment, TCG has the license for Peppa Pig and Fisher-Price. The Peppa Pig assortment, for ages 3 and up, features puzzles with 24 and 48 pieces featuring Peppa’s friends, family, and familiar surroundings from the TV series. The Fisher-Price line features the Deluxe Song & Sound Wood Puzzle, which is available in three styles. Designed for ages 18 months and up, it features eight-piece wood inlay with sounds when pieces are matched and plays a song when the puzzle is completed. There are big easy-to-grasp wooden pieces and audio cues encouraging interaction. The Fisher-Price World of Wheelies Floor Puzzle is also available for ages 3 and up.

TCG

Ceaco has the exclusive license from Universal Partnerships & Licensing to make jigsaw puzzles based on Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me film franchise. Ceaco offers two 100-piece puzzles and one 550-piece puzzle that feature characters from the 3-D CGI feature. Ceaco has the exclusive rights to produce a series of puzzles based on Thomas Kinkade’s Disney Dreams Collection, which is a group of paintings inspired by great moments from famous Disney movies. Each puzzle in the line is 750-pieces. Ceaco has the license for two Disney Junior TV series. The first is Small Potatoes, which is a rocking quartet of musical spuds that sing, dance, and rock their way through music videos and comedy sketches. The other is The Hive, a colorful animated series for preschoolers that follows the fortunes of Buzzbee and his many friends. This series is about the everyday things that concern children such as playing, being friendly, spending time with your family, and finding out all about the world and how it works. Both of these series are captured in 24-piece puzzles with three images each.

Ceaco

4D Cityscape focuses on the element of time as its fourth dimension. Two new puzzles for this year include Dubai (shown) and a version for Barcelona. The Dubai Time Puzzle, which has more than 1,200-pieces, recreates Dubai’s famous skyline, not only in three dimensions using scale-model buildings, but using time, spanning more than 100 years of architectural history. The puzzle includes 72 plastic building replicas that depict the city as it appeared as far back as 1787 through to 2013. The buildings fit into pre-cut holes in a traditional 2-D jigsaw puzzle that form the city’s street layout. The product, for ages 8 and up, includes a time poster that directs puzzlers through time to rebuild Dubai’s skyline history.

4D Cityscape

MEGA Brands’ MEGA Puzzles line features segments for kids, families, and adults. A sampling of what is available this year is presented here. The 3,000 Deluxe Puzzle has colorful images featuring beautiful artwork. The puzzle is large enough to share the challenge, or puzzlers can take on this extra-large challenge for themselves. The Vibrant Calendar Multipack offers a new puzzle for every month. Each of the six, two-sided puzzles slides easily into the calendar frame to create a one-of-a-kind calendar. Paw Palettes is a tribute to pets. The puzzle features images of cats and dogs in the style of famous painters. With the Disney Map Puzzle, kids can learn the states and capitals with favorite Disney characters. This puzzle features 300 extra-large pieces sized for even the smallest hands. Disney Friends Frozen Puzzles each feature images from the Disney blockbuster Frozen. With extra-large pieces, these puzzles are easy for the whole family to enjoy.

MEGA Brands

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 37

ASTRA 2014 NANCY LOMBARDI

ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy takes place in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 8–11 this year. Attendees can expect an even larger show than in year’s past with more breakout sessions, networking opportunities, lunches, and evening receptions. For more information about the American Specialty Retailing Association (ASTRA), visit astratoy.org. For more information specifically about this event visit astramarketplace.org. COMPILED BY

COROLLE

Corolle’s Mon Premier Diaper Backpack is an ideal accessory for girls ages 18 months and up. With soft quilted fabric in a bunny print, this lightweight sleeper makes it easy for little girls to tuck in a favorite baby doll. This diaper backpack fits baby dolls up to 12-inches tall. Dolls are sold separately. Mon Premier Bébé Calin Paris Party is a first baby doll for little girls ages 18 months and up. The doll has a soft beanbag body and it can be posed like a real baby. It features brown sleeping eyes and vinyl skin that is delicately scented with vanilla, which is a signature Corolle feature.

FOLKMANIS

Folkmanis is introducing an extensive line of products, some of which are highlighted here. The Grunting Pig and Ostrich embody the elements depicted in the Folkmanis brand puppets and each is complemented with extra features for distinct appeal. Squeeze The Grunting Pig’s pot belly for a realistic sounding grunt. Soft plush of pale pink with gray patches and a curly tail come to life with a workable snout, mouth, and front trotters. This puppet is recommended for ages 3 and up Ostrich Puppet and it measures 14-inches long. The Ostrich has soft plush and long eyelashes and the puppet holds its head up high when you insert your hand up the neck into the beak. Two-handed wing movement adds play value. It is recommended for ages 3 and up and it measures 23-inches tall.

Mon Premier Bébé Calin Paris Party

PEACEABLE KINGDOM

Peaceable Kingdom introduces Sunny Day Pond for ages 3 and up. Two to four players have to work as a team to build the three animal puzzles before “the rain” arrives. Players take turns spinning the spinner and adding puzzle pieces. Finish the puzzles before all the rain drops are on the board and everyone wins. This cooperative game is made from 100 percent green materials. Jean Tattoos are temporary tattoos for denim. The company says they are easy to apply and easy to remove. Simply cut out the tattoo, place on jeans, and rub on with the included wooden stick. The tattoos will come off when jeans are laundered normally. Jean Tattoos come in eight styles including dinosaurs, peace and love, funny faces, pirates, flowers, and more. Foil Art Sticker Packs, for ages 6 and up, allow kids to create their own 3-D foil art stickers. Decorate the thick stickers with foil, then pop them out to stick anywhere.

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ASTRA 2014

SnuggleTime Blooms

ADORA

Adora’s SnuggleTime Blooms dolls have removable flower hoodies that are made of microfiber plush available in three colors. The dolls feature vinyl heads and soft bodies weighted with beans. Adora BathTime babies are designed for the bath or pool. Each BathTime baby comes with a washcloth and removable animal-themed bath robe that, when taken off, shows a swimsuit-printed body. Adora’s QuikDri body will dry in no time and be ready to play again, according to the company. Share the joy of friendship with an 18-inch Adora Friend, each with its own unique style. The dolls come with friendship bracelets for wear-and-share play. ToddlerTime dolls have realistic features, life-like hand-painted faces, baby powder-fresh scented vinyl, and hand-sewn costumes.

ELENCO

Elenco introduces Snap Circuits Motion Model SCM-165. Snap Circuits Motion has 165 projects and contains more than 50 parts with a colorful instruction manual. Additional projects include a lighted fan that changes colors as it spins, the air fountain motion detector, mini car, tilt and vibration switches, and much more.

Snap Circuits Motion Model SCM-165

U.S. GAMES

The Big Ball of Whacks, from U.S. Games, introduces several new design features. It’s nearly 50 percent bigger than the original and has 192 rare Earth magnets inside. The 36 magnetic design pieces include two entirely new pyramid-shaped elements. There are 24 Whack pieces, six Half-Whack pieces, and six flat Whack pieces. This complex structure presents a greater challenge in reconstructing the Ball shape. It also opens up far more handson creative options as you design your own shapes. The Big Ball of Whacks is also available as a Multi-Color version, which makes an intriguing brainteaser puzzle. The Big Ball of Whacks includes a 96-page guidebook.

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GALT

Marble Racer

The Nursery Trampoline helps develop a young child’s confidence as well as encourages coordination and balance. It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use with a tubular steel frame, padded cover, easy-grip handle, and rubber feet. Adult assembly is required for this item, which is designed for ages 12 months and up. Designed for four players, Marble Racer features three special racing pieces, a starter gate, racing vortex, and podium. A variety of chutes and wheels are also included. It is for ages 4 and up.

ASTRA 2014 WONDER FORGE

Wonder Forge is introducing the Disney Planes Sky Race Action Game. Fly your plane through the Wings Around the Globe Rally to win. However, players must watch out because flight conditions change, which brings up surprising challenges. Toss the planes with your eyes closed, between your legs, lying down, and more. Wonder Forge says the game promotes imaginative play, physical dexterity, and creativity. The game is for two to four players, ages 4 and up.

SET ENTERPRISES Penguin Popper Key Chain

HOG WILD

Hog Wild is expanding its Poppers line, which the company says has sold more than 3.5 million Poppers to date. At this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ASTRA show, Hog Wild will introduce a new collection including the Sword Popper, Popper Key Chain, and expansions on its original line. With the Sword Popper, insert the foam balls into the end of the barrel, then pull back the handle and release to fire balls up to 20 feet. The Sword Popper comes with 12 foam balls. With the Popper Key Chains, the stringattached ball pops right out with a small squeeze, and never rolls away. The collection includes six different mini poppers: Pig, Sock Monkey, Dog, Cow, Penguin, and Dino. Squirrel, Pig, Chicken, Horse, and Zombie versions of the original-size Popper are also available.

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Karma, from Set Enterprises, is a game where everyone winsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; except the last player holding cards. On each turn, play a card of equal or higher value to avoid picking up the entire discard pile. Move through your cards faster by playing doubles or triples. Karma Cards, like wild cards, can be played on any card. There are four different Karma Cards in the game: Give the Pile to a Friend, Play a Table Card, Bottoms Up, and Five or Below. Karma Cards can get players out of a jam, but be sure to use them wisely. The game is for two to six players, ages 8 and up.

PLASMART

PlaSmart introduces Wonky Wheels Wonky Wheels for ages 3 and up. Steer Wonky Wheels with your finger. Then see how Wonky Wheels wobbles, rotates, and creates new moves every time you play. Wonky Wheels helps kids enhance fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination, says PlaSmart. Sprinkle Gelli Baff powder evenly over the surface of bath water, let the goo magically form, stir well, climb in, and have fun. When the fun is done, add the dissolver to the bath water, and the goo disappears, says PlaSmart. This is unique, tactile, safe for skin, clothing, and the environment, says PlaSmart. It is for ages 5 and up.

2014 HOLIDAY SHOWCASE This one-day event gives exhibitors the opportunity to showcase products in front of key media, encompassing print, broadcast, and online news outlets as well as the most inďŹ&#x201A;uential parenting bloggers. TTPM will also unveil its coveted Most Wanted List and the hottest trends and properties for the season.

Tuesday, October 1 10 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;3 p.m. Metropolitan Pavilion 125 W. 18th Street, New York, NY

To reserve your space today, contact Bob Glaser 646.763.8720 bob@anbmedia.com

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Donna Moore 646.763.8718 donna@anbmedia.com

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ASTRA 2014 SENTO SPHERE

Sento Sphere’s My Perfume Maker is a classic among its educational kits. Eight natural essences or fragrances allow children, ages 7 years and up, to create more than 100 different types of “eau de toilette.” The kit includes a perfume guide that makes creating perfumes a fun and educational activity, says the company. Optical Mysteries allows kids to discover the secrets of light with 25 amusing and educational experiments. Find out the effect of light on colors and pictures. Why is the sky blue? Why is it orange at dusk? How do you harness the sun’s energy? Why aren’t colors on a computer screen the same as on paper? How do you create a rainbow and build a kaleidoscope? How do you communicate with friends using optic cables? This kit is recommended for ages 8 and up.

DIGGIN ACTIVE

Diggin Active’s Lazer Pitch Baseball is a pitching machine that allows kids to control the timing of each pitch. Press the button on the handle of the remote control bat to activate the pitch. The set includes the pitching machine, a radio control 26-inch bat, and five balls. It features adjustable pitching angles that range from normal fast balls to softball lobs to 90 degree pop-ups for beginners. It shoots pitches up to 25 feet, says Diggin Active, and the red light will confirm that a pitch is coming. For kids who want to use their own bat, the machine has an “auto” mode that will shoot pitches every eight seconds. Designed for ages 5 and up, it requires four D batteries and one 9V battery, which are not included.

PATCH PRODUCTS

Lazer Pitch Baseball

Patch Products, exclusive specialty distributor of the Perplexus line of 3-D maze games, offers the latest design called Perplexus Warp, which is shaped like a warped sphere. This version features what Patch is calling Warp Drive, which is an external slider used to manipulate the ball inside. This is the first external manipulation device used with Perplexus, and it’s crucial at a certain section of the maze track. Perplexus Warp features nine internal cups, which act as baskets when maneuvering the marble to leap into them, and a new internal pivot that gives the illusion of a magnet sticking to the ball, defying gravity, as it travels across a bridge with no rails. Warp has six flagged check points and 80 challenging events. Perplexus Warp, for ages 6 and up, joins the line of four spherical 3-D mazes: Original, Rookie, Twist, and Epic. There are two new additions to Patch’s preschool toy line Mirari. The myPhone, for ages 6 months and up, looks like a parent’s smartphone. The 5.5-inch durable play phone features a touchscreen with 12 colorful light-up icons that children can press to hear the ABC song, a lullaby, “snapshot” sound, and more. The phone also has a “record-and-ring” feature—family members can record a message on the phone for children. Then, using the included remote-control heart, adults can activate the phone ringer from up to 25 feet across the room (unobstructed), and children will hear the message, according to Patch. Bouncy Bop Shape Sorter is a colorful classic shape sorter with an added bouncing feature. Children can fit the six colorful shapes into the coordinating holes on top of the eight-inch tall Bouncy Bop Shape Sorter. Once all the shapes are inside, children can push the side handle to activate the paddle and watch the shapes bounce. This is designed for ages 12 months and up. myPhone and Bouncy Bop Shape Sorter join the family of six existing Mirari items. 44 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

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ASTRA 2014 NATIONAL SPORTING GOODS

National Sporting Goods introduces a variety of pogos called Grom, Flight, and Condor. The pogo sticks feature a concealed low friction spring that enables smoother, higher, and quieter bounces. Grom and Flight are designed with comfortable foot pedals and handle bars for improved balance, control, safety, and durability. The Grom (shown) is designed for smaller kids, ages 5–10 between 40 and 90 pounds. It is available now in purple or red. Flight is for older kids, ages 9 and up weighing between 80 to 180 pounds, and is available now in black or blue. Condor is engineered for a higher bounce (three to four feet for an experienced user). Its features include a redesigned footplate with a flat underside and replaceable grind plate allowing for more tricks and stunts. That version will be available in July. It is recommended for ages 8 and up, with a maximum weight of 200 pounds. It will be available in black or white.

LITTLE KIDS

Little Kids’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle product extensions include new toys in the bubble (turn to page 30), water, and food activity lines, for ages 4 and up. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Water Blaster squirts water more than 25 feet, according to Little Kids, and is available in four styles. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splash Out Ball is a new twist on a classic game. Fill the ball by pouring water in the top, or completely submerging the ball; then close the flip cap. No balloons are needed. Toss the ball back and forth and once time runs out the water chamber pops open. Pass it quickly or get splashed. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Frozen Treat Maker allows kids to create their own “sewer slush” treats, which Little Kids says are healthy. Using ingredients that parents have at home, kids can use the TMNT Frozen Treat Maker with frozen fruit, yogurt, juice, veggies, and more. With this kid-powered mechanism, simply drop frozen cube-sized items into the sewer pipe, push the plunger down, and crank the handle. A frozen concoction extrudes out of the front opening and into a cup. The set includes Frozen Treat Tower, spoon, and sewer-slush recipe ideas. 46 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

MINDWARE

Mindware’s Playful Chef Deluxe Cooking Kit offers two versions, one for ages 3 and up and another for ages 6 and up. Playful Chef tools are sized for kids’ smaller hands. The set’s measuring cups and spoons are color-coded and coordinate to each recipe, so children can instantly recognize the correct measurements. Hands-on lessons in kitchen safety, science, measuring, nutrition, seasonings, and clean-up are also part of the experience. The Deluxe Cooking Kits each include an adjustable tool-belt apron, five laminated age-appropriate recipe cards, four color-coded measuring cups, four color-coded measuring spoons, mixing bowl, muffin liners, safety scissors, plastic safety knife, silicone spatula, silicone basting brush, stainless steel whisk, wooden spoon, and a tip booklet.

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ASTRA 2014 B

THAMES & KOSMOS

Babies can spin B kids Bebee’s Ferris Wheel over and over while watching Bebee and his friends Fefe and Zuzu whirl around independently on their own. Ear-catching rattle beads inside Bebee add even more interactive fun for infants and the enclosed roller ball creates a clicking sound when spun. A suction cup attachment ensures it will stay in place on any smooth surface including highchairs and stroller trays, says B kids. It is recommended for ages 6 months and up.

Thames & Kosmos Remote-Control Machines DLX is a deluxe version of its Remote-Control Machines kit. Kids can build their own motorized vehicles and machines and control them with a wireless remote control unit. A six-button infrared remote allows kids to control three different motors simultaneously, moving each of them forward or in reverse, with easy-to-activate touch sensors. The three motors can be combined to make complex vehicles and machines in numerous configurations. Assemble 20 models demonstrating different ways in which the motors can be used including a three-wheeled car, bat-bot, stag beetle, robot, battle car, ball collector car, forklift, tunneling vehicle, truck, drilling machine, crane, robotic arm, and more. The kit comes with three motors, remote control unit, battery holder, 155 building pieces, and a 128-page, full-color instruction book.

Bebee’s Ferris Wheel

ENDLESS GAMES

Endless Games has an extensive lineup of products for 2014. Endless Games is introducing The Christmas Pickle. The origins of the Christmas Pickle are shrouded in mystery, according to the company. Whatever its origins, the Christmas Pickle now appears on Christmas trees all across America. On Christmas morning, whoever finds the pickle ornament hanging on the tree receives an extra present and good luck throughout the year. Hide the ornament on your tree and use the “Pickle Paper” to wrap the special gift to continue this tradition with your own family. The Christmas Pickle set contains a pickle ornament, pickle wrapping paper, and the “Legend,” which explains the story of The Christmas Pickle. Switcheroo is the quick-thinking category game that is fast, funny, and frenetic. Players try to get rid of their cards first by responding to hilarious subjects. Slap the timer to pass the subject to the next player. 48 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

KIDS

But be careful, a Switcheroo can happen at any time, changing up the subject just when you had a great response in mind. With Zippity Do, six picture cards are spread out on the table. Players then try to be the first to sing a song with one of the images. Sing the song and pick up the card you’re singing about. Then replace it with a new one from the deck. Snatch the most cards to win the round. The singers can even make up a song for added humor. Part stacking game, part race against your opponent, The Tower is all fun. Try to build your column of blocks to match the color sequence on The Tower. Balance your blocks to reach the top. But with a limited number of colors, you might get close and realize you don’t have the color you need to complete your column. It takes a steady hand, and an intuitive mind to match The Tower.

Playoff Electric Football

TUDOR GAMES

Tudor Games Playoff Electric Football offers a wide range of features including a PlayAction Remote for precision play, a SpeedTurf playing field that runs fast and quiet, and Invisibases for strength and speed. Players have the full ability to set the plays and control the action. This set includes everything needed to play the game. Customize, trade, and collect official teams, play solo, or join an Electric Football league.

ZING TOYS

Zing Toys introduces a host of outdoor toys for this summer including the Zano Bow, which is an all-new bow-and-arrow combo that is about one-third of the size of the company’s Z-Curve Bow, for ages 4 and up. Combined with new mini Zartz, kids will have a complete indoor archery set that is safe and “parentapproved” for use around the house, says Zing. The Zano Bow can launch arrows more than 30 feet and will stick to most flat-surface targets with the mini Zartz arrows’ soft-foam suction cup tips, says Zing. The X6 Zoom Rocket is an auto-rotating, multilaunching Zoom Rocket from Zing. The multi-rocket launch tower has six soft-foam rockets loaded in a rapid fire, air-powered, auto-rotation system. Zing says the rockets zoom in succession into flight more than 100 feet in the air. The harder kids stomp, the higher the rockets fly. Designed for ages 8 and up, it comes packaged with six rockets, tower, and stomp pad. Sky Gliderz are soft foam stealth planes that loop and glide more than 120 feet, says Zing. Using the same Rip-Zip bungee-launcher as found on the Sky Ripperz handheld rockets, kids can lock and load their Sky Gliderz and send them flying with whistlescreaming action. To prepare for takeoff, hook the planes on the bungee loop, pull back, flick the wrist, and watch them ascend into the sky. The set, for ages 8 and up, comes with two foam planes and the Rip-Zip.

GREEN TOYS

Green Toys’ Train is made in the U.S. from 100 percent recycled plastic Green Toys’ Train milk jugs that the company says saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The brightly colored steam engine, for ages 3 and up, pulls two additional cars that link together to form a long train, or easily unhook for stand-alone play. The open wagon can haul all kinds of cargo, while the caboose features a spacious interior and removable roof. Two conductor bear figures are included with the set, encouraging open-ended play. With no metal axles or external coatings, the Green Toys Train is safe and versatile for both indoor and outdoor play, and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The train is BPAfree and contains no phthalates or PVC. Also, Green Toys says it is packaged using recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks.

SUPER IMPULSE

Super Impulse is a new novelty company offering an assortment of products such as Hip Grips, which are soft, squishy grips, designed to be slid over a pencil. Designed for ages 5 and up, they are available in a variety of colors and styles such as hearts, diamonds, cubes, and tubes. Electronic Glop is a squishy toy that flashes on impact for ages 3 and up. Monster Gutz are monster-style heads with gooey eyes that pop out when squeezed for ages 3 and up. Monster Muck, for ages 4 and up, is one slimy monster surprise in every bag. JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 49

ASTRA 2014 THE ORB FACTORY

Curiosity Kits Super Sonic Rockets, for ages 6 and up, allow kids to launch rockets up to 100 feet, according to the The Orb Factory. First, assemble the rocket and decorate it with stickers. Insert LED capsules to create a rocket that will light up when activated. Then, launch the rocket using the stomp pad.

THINKFUN

Gravity Maze, for ages 8 and up, is a gravity-powered logic maze that will put your visual perception and reasoning skills to the test. The colorful, translucent towers can be arranged in a variety of visually stimulating structures. However, for each challenge, players have to think carefully to build a path that will successfully carry the marble to its target. Lights and mirrors may make it feel like magic, but it’s really science and a good dose of brain power that’s needed to direct the laser beam through a series of mind-challenging mazes in Laser Maze. Flex your strategic thinking muscles and ignite the light both on the grid and in your mind. This game is for ages 8 and up.

SAFARI, LTD.

Fruits and Vegetables Toob

50 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

GUND

Gund extends its line of plush for kids and babies with its newest dino plush named Rex. This huggable dino is 13inches tall and made of a super soft and cuddly fabric. Its lighthearted expression makes Rex a perfect dinosaur playmate or a great addition to a playroom or bedroom. babyGUND has a new ultra-cuddly character named Prancy with soft pale pink fabric. Prancy comes in a 13-inch plush, with a chime, a Satineehug, and Comfy Cozies. Gund introduces its newest line of My First Teddies (pictured), which come in five different sizes. This soft light brown bear is perfect for a newborn. It features a satin paw pad embroidered with “My First Teddy.”

Safari, Ltd.’s new lineup includes Incredible Creatures Hedgehog. This toy is authentically detailed and hand-painted for added realism. Other Incredible Creatures for 2014 include a Piglet, Gouldian Finch, and Piranha. This Hedgehog measures 3.5-inches long by 2.5-inches high and is recommended for ages 3 and up. Wild Safari Dinosaurs Ammonite is a replica of one of the world’s most prevalent fossils. This toy is authentically detailed and hand-painted for added realism. This Ammonite figure measures 5.25-inches long and is recommended for ages 3 and up. Fruits and Vegetables Toob is packaged in a reusable acetate tube. This set contains eight figures: oranges, bananas, apples, pears, carrots, broccoli, corn, and artichokes. The handpainted figures measure 1.5 inches to three inches and are suitable for ages 3 and up.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Learning Resources expands on its line of educational products with the Primary Science ViewScope. Designed for ages 3 and up, it features simple 20x magnification and a clear case for viewing specimens. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a detachable viewer for on-the-go discoveries. The Primary Science Metal Detector, for ages 3 and up, features a pivoting handle and colorful design. It is designed to detect metal in a sand table, at the beach or playground, and more. It lights up and makes a beeping sound when metal objects are detected. The New Sprouts line, for ages 2 and up, offers three meal options each in its own playset. The playset, a green oval bas- New Sprouts Healthy ket, stores the toys when playtime is over. The New Sprouts Healthy Breakfast features a contemporary design, smaller size, Breakfast and soft edges. Start the day with a fresh fruit platter and yogurt, or power up with oatmeal, eggs, and more. This is an 11piece set. The New Sprouts Healthy Lunch lets kids build a turkey sandwich on wheat and serve it with a side of fruit salad. This is a 15piece set. The New Sprouts Healthy Dinner features a contemporary design, smaller size, and soft edges. On the menu is grilled chicken or salmon, a colorful serving of veggies, and a fresh side salad. This is a 14-piece set.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 51

ASTRA 2014 Jr. Astronaut Helmet

TACTIC GAMES

The goal of Junior Alias is to explain words and pictures to your teammates without actually saying the word that is being explained. The teams try to guess as many pictures as possible before the time runs out. This game is fast, frantic, and ideal for ages 5 and up Big Dice Game, for ages 5 and up, is the classic dice game that has been adapted for outdoor fun. Roll the five wooden dice and try to get as many categorized combinations as possible. The player with the highest score wins.

UNCLE MILTON

Uncle Milton’s fall lineup includes the hit Disney property Frozen featured on the following room décor items. Wall Friends brings Frozen’s Olaf the Snowman to life in a child’s room with synchronized light and phrases. With the touch of a button, Olaf lights up and talks with many fun, familiar phrases from the Disney film. The Olaf Wall Friends is more Frozen Snowflake than 13-inches tall, works as a night light with Light Dance high and low brightness, includes a remote control, and has a convenient auto shut-off for bedtime. It is designed for ages 3 and up. Kids, ages 5 and up, can create a snowflake light show in their room with the Frozen Snowflake Light Dance. Choose from six different light show programs. It includes a large Queen Elsa wall decal and it features auto shut-off for bedtime. Kids can decorate their room with the Frozen Light Vines for ages 5 and up. Watch dancing, multicolored lights come to life on 10 feet of vine. Customize the icy vine with attachable snowflakes and interchangeable light covers with popular Frozen characters and snowflakes. It connects to other light vines.

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AEROMAX

Aeromax showcases four products for 2014 that let kids roleplay as firefighters, astronauts, or even battle a few aliens invading the backyard. New for 2014 are both Firefighter and Astronaut Drawstring Backpacks. The tot-sized backpacks measure 14 inches by 16 inches. Kids, ages 3 and up, can wear them as an addition to Aeromax’s firefighter suit or NASAinspired astronaut head-to-toe outfit. The Firefighter Drawstring Backpack features a solid black pack with red and yellow accents. The center focuses on fire rescue symbols such as a fire helmet, ax, ladder, and hydrant. The Astronaut Drawstring Backpack features a white backpack with red, white, and blue accents. It also features the NASA logo, an American flag, and the word “Commander.” Also for little astronauts is the Jr. Astronaut Helmet for ages 3 and up. An alternative to Aeromax’s Deluxe Jr. Astronaut Helmet, this helmet is the same style as the original without the sound effects. Details include a moving visor, NASA logo, and additional decorative features. The Alien Invasion Light Up Flying Saucer, for ages 8 and up, is a flying disc that features a green and purple flying saucer design with multi-color LED lights.

BLUE ORANGE GAMES

Blue Orange Games is introducing the following new games at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ASTRA Convention. In Doodle Quest, kids can complete each quest with the power of their pen, drawing their way through underwater scenes on the quest cards. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not that easy, says Blue Orange. Players draw on separate transparent sheets and must trust their eyes in order to meet targets and avoid obstacles. This unique drawing game includes 36 illustrations and two levels to master. Spot it! Splash is the durable, waterproof version of Spot it! Play all five game variations while at the beach or pool side. Spot it! Freeze pits players against an electronic timer and heats up the match-fueled frenzy with three new games. Players race against the clock to spot matches between temperature-charged symbols, all while looking for their chance to freeze their opponents. Depending on the game, the timer can grant an advantage or cause a drawback. The timer opens up to store the playing cards. The goal of Battle Sheep is to occupy the most pastures with your sheep. On a turn, players split a stack of their sheep and move a portion as far is it can go in a straight line to a new pasture. Watch out for sneaky sheep and plan your moves carefully to fence out your foe. A different playing board is assembled before every game, so it is a new challenge each time you play.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 53

ASTRA 2014 EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS

Here are some highlights of Educational Insights’ offerings at this year’s ASTRA Convention. The Design & Drill Socket to Me, shown here for ages 4 and up, allows kids to design a boat, robot, race car, or rocket with a real working socket wrench and rugged bolts. Kids use the working socket wrench to attach colorful bolts and complete projects. Four hands-on construction projects are included. This set is part of a larger Design & Drill line of toys. Frida’s Fruit Fiesta Game is designed for two to four players, ages Design & Drill Socket to Me 4 and up. It’s lunchtime in the rainforest and Frida is collecting letters for her little ones. Spin, find, squeeze, and set four letters in a row and be the first to win this fruity preschool letter game. It teaches letters and the alphabet, develops fine motor skills, and strategic thinking skills, and encourages social skills and taking turns. Kitten Caboodle and Diggity Dogs are two versions of the same game—one is for cat lovers and the other for dog enthusiasts. The gameplay is the same for both games: draw from the stack or “go fish” from another player’s hand to collect cards that match all of the pet necessities and accessories of the cat or dog you want to adopt. Collect everything the animal needs and “adopt” it. Adopt the most dogs (or cats) and you win these preschool matching games. The games develop matching skills, counting skills, encourages social skills, turn-taking, and good sportsmanship, says the company. The games feature real-life pet images crowdsourced from an Educational Insights’ Facebook photo contest. It is for two to four players, ages 4 and up.

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K’NEX

K’NEX’s Tinkertoy 100 Piece Essentials Set allows kids to build many things with their favorite Tinkertoy parts. This set, for ages 3 and up, includes spools, rods, flags, washers, end caps, and more. There are building ideas for 13 models plus building tips. Builders can add these parts to other Tinkertoy building sets, which are sold separately. Lincoln Logs: Collector’s Edition Homestead is the biggest Lincoln Logs set ever created, says K’NEX. This building set, for ages 3 and up, features 330 pieces, including real wood logs, a frontiersman figure, a buildable covered wagon, and two horses. The set also comes with colorful, step-by-step building instructions. When playtime is over, put the parts back into the storage container. K’NEX 52 Model Building Set is designed to give kids a building idea for each week of the year. The set, for ages 7 and up, includes instructions and ideas for 52 unique models. Loaded with more than 600 K’NEX rods and connectors, kids can build trains, planes, animals, and tall structures. The parts can be stored in the plastic storage tub. K’NEX 70 Model Building Set comes with 70 building ideas including a hot air balloon, boat, truck, sand castle, and more. Packaged in a large treasure chest storage box, the set contains 705 classic rods and connectors. It is designed for ages 7 and up.

DAYDREAM TOY

Daydream Toy adds to its line of SkyTrix with the SkyTrix Birds of Prey, which is a new design in flying toys. SkyTrix can climb high into the sky, dive, loop, boomerang, or become the ultimate longrange glider, says the company. The concept is simple—it’s a plane on a tether. It’s designed for a longdistance game of catch between multiple people or a game of boomerang when you are on your own. As you get the feel of the tether, you can start showing your skills by doing tricks such as casting, snap backs, and loops. SkyTrix Birds of Prey, for ages 8 and up, is currently available in an assortment of three colorful wing designs featuring an owl, an eagle, and a dragon.

USAOPOLY

USAopoly celebrates its 20th anniversary with its latest lineup that will be on display at ASTRA. Treasure Trax— The All-in-One Scavenger Hunt Game, for kids ages 3–5, is an active, play-and-learn game where kids search for clues to find hidden animal cards. In just minutes, parents can set up the cards around the house and even hide a surprise at the end of this quick journey. Reverse Charades is a twist on the classic game of charades for ages 6 and up. Instead of one person acting out a clue for a team to guess, a team acts out clues for one person to guess. Tapple is the fast-paced word game in which players compete to beat the timer. Kids, ages 8 and up, won’t even know they are learning as they rush to tap the timer. There is no need to spell. Simply say your word, tap the timer, and pass the Tapple Wheel.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 55

ASTRA 2014 MANHATTAN TOY

Manhattan Toy is introducing new additions in the Groovy Girls line. Princess Ella is a soft doll, for ages 3 and up, that features a light pink dress and golden blonde hair. The Royalty Ritzy Bed, for ages 3 and up, includes a quilt with satin lining and tulle trim and a satin pillow with tassels. The bed fits in the Groovy Girls Hip Happenin’ Doll House. Totally Tentastic, for ages 3 and up, features a zippered mesh door, nylon flaps that cover the tent opening, and Velcro-like closures above windows that keep window coverings up. The tent is collapsible for easy storage and fits up to three dolls. Special Edition Sweet 16 Groovy Girls Dolls, for ages 3 and up, Breanna include Skylar with blue hair and a purple dress; Fuchsia with purple hair and a blue dress; and Lilia with pink hair and a pink and blue dress. Core dolls that will be added to the line, for ages 3 and up, include Bayani with black hair, a blue and purple dress, and pink tights; Brooklyn with blonde hair with yellow tights; Bailey with red hair and a pink and green dress; Breanna with brown hair, dark skin, and a blue and green dress.

56 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

HABA

Haba offers new kitchen and sand toys for 2014, including a yellow Hand Sand Claw for digging deep and shifting sand into neat piles. The green Sand Water Rake leaves precision tracks in the sand. Little gardeners can mold sand into flower art with a three-piece Sand Gardening set or pick sand or pour sushi water with the Sand Sieve Magic set. In the Spielstabil line, Baby’s roleplay set Watering Can Hippo is a hippo-shaped watering can for use in the sandbox, at the beach, or in the bath. Haba’s line of soft fabric foods is expanding with some all-American favorites, including Apple Pie and a Hot Dog with Ketchup & Mustard (sold separately) that “squirts” red or yellow string. Separately, there’s a sushi set that comes with chopsticks, a wooden block, and bite-size Japanese foods (shown).

THE YOUNG SCIENTIST CLUB

The Young Scientist Club continues to promote the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education platform with its latest kits. With The Magic School Bus Math Explosion, players are able to customize math facts with a mathfact creator so that any age can play, from kindergarten to middle school. The goal is to be the first player to explode the volcano by getting the math facts correct. The kit has a double-sided laminated game board that includes both a speedy and an extended game, volcano facts in the border, a volcano for the explosions, a bowl to catch the volcanic “lava,” and colorful measuring cups as game pieces. Also included in the kit, for ages 5 and up, are bonus cards, printable math fact sheets, plus an online math creator for unlimited math facts. Become an engineer in your own kitchen with the Magic School Bus Engineering Lab. Build a solar oven, design a car, construct a bridge, create solar energy, design an electric game, make a simple machine, construct a submarine, and more. This bus-shaped kit, for ages 5 and up, comes with 33 experiment cards and a data notebook to record experiment designs. In addition to the Magic School Bus license from Scholastic, The Young Scientist Club also features Scholastic’s Clifford the Big Red Dog with Clifford Animal Science and Clifford Food Science. Both kits are for ages 3 and up.

CLOUD

Cloud b introduces a line for tweens called Groovy Globes. Each projects light patterns at night, setting a mellow mood for a restful night’s sleep. It doubles as room décor during the day. This new tween collection comes in a variety of styles designed for both boys and girls. There is a 45 minute auto shut-off, which ensures complete darkness during deep sleep. It requires three AAA batteries, which are included.

FUNKO

Groovy Globes

Funko introduces a collectible line of characters for DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon 2, for ages 5 and up. Hiccup, Astrid, Toothless, Stormfly, Barf & Belch, and Hookfang will each be depicted as a 3.75-inch Pop! Vinyl Figure.

ALEX BRANDS

Alex offers an extensive line of crafts and outdoor products for boys and girls. Color a Backpack—Cutie or Pirate version is designed for ages 4 and up. It includes five brightly colored permanent markers so kids can design and color their backpack. Deluxe Hair Chalk Salon, for ages 8 and up, allows kids to color their hair with 12 bright colors, including glittery metallics, or add strands of shimmering beads. Alex says it can be applied to dry hair of any color and it washes out easily with shampoo. The set contains 12 washable Hair Chalk Pens in a plastic storage case, 30 metallic beads, hair beading tool, 30 hair elastics, and instructions. Metallic Hair Chalk Pens, for ages 8 and up, allow kids to transform their hair from plain to “punk” in minutes. The set includes five messfree pens that glide onto hair. It can be applied to dry hair of any color and washes out easily with shampoo, according to Alex. Sketch It Nail Pens Hot Hues, for ages 8 and up, allows girls to use two-tip nail pens to paint and sketch nails in five bright colors. Paint a base with the broad brush, then add fine details with the precision tip. Alex says the set offers real, professional-grade nail polish for long-lasting looks. Sketch It Nail Pen Salon allows girls, ages 8 and up, to sketch

and paint their nails with five colors of two-tip nail pens—one tip is the nail polish brush and the other tip is a precision tip for intricate detail. Create nail designs with color-in appliques—just peel, stick, and fill in with the precision-tipped pens. The 190-piece set includes 135 nail gems, 49 color-in appliques, five Sketch It Nail Pens, nail file, and instructions. Switching gears to outdoor play is Sidewalk Mandala Sweet Stuff, for ages 5 and up. It allows kids to create mandala designs in chalk. The intricate patterns are easy to create with the included stencil. The stencil folds for easy storage and travel. This giant stencil sidewalk chalk kit includes one large plastic mandala stencil, six colors of jumbo chalk, and a guide for drawing tips and easy instructions. Poof’s Strato-Slam Rocket Super Set is for ages 5 and up. Slam the blast chamber to send the kid-powered rockets soaring. Watch them travel up to 200 feet, says Alex. The super set includes two foamtipped rockets, launching dock, air hose, and blast chamber. Poof’s Strato-Slam Rocket Battle Blast, for ages 5 and up, is a deluxe dueling set that includes six foam-tipped rockets and two launching docks—two are hoses and two blast chambers. JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 57

ASTRA 2014 HEDSTROM

Hedstrom, which describes its line as unplugged fun, has numerous outdoor items for this summer. The Yellow Spring Hopper, for ages 3 and up, is an 18-inch large hopper ball that is made of durable vinyl. The licensed version features Disney’s Frozen. The Sculpted Foam Balls, for ages 3 and up, allow kids to bounce, throw, and collect their favorite characters from Nickelodeon, Marvel, and Hello Kitty. The Azteca Soccer Ball, for ages 4 and up, is a durable 32-panel soccer ball for play on the field or in the backyard. The Mitre ball is offered in many colors and designs based on ancient Aztec artwork and heritage.

INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS

International Playthings highlights the following items at ASTRA. Expanding on its extensive Calico Critters line is the Calico Critters Cherry Cruiser for ages 3 and up. The car fits up to five critters. The tires and steering wheel rotate for realistic play. It includes a foldout picnic table, baby seat, meal trays, cans of juice, sandwiches, and baskets. The car measures 10 inches by five inches by seven inches. Earlyears Monkey Basketball, for 9 months and up, invites babies to discover rattle or crinkle sounds in each of the four colorful appliqued soft balls. The monkey’s head folds over and closes securely for storage. Royal Princess Playhouse, for ages 3 and up, is an easy-to-assemble castle that is generously sized to fit at least two children. It has a flap front door and two mesh windows. A carry case is included. Calico Critters Cherry Cruiser

Yellow Spring Hopper

CREATIVITY

KIDS

Creativity for Kids expands on its line of crafting products at this year’s ASTRA Convention with the following items. This summer, there are six new themed Creativity Cans. The themes represented in the line include Art, Build, Critters, Music, Stories, and Motion. Each is for ages 4 and up and offers an open-ended project centered around a theme. The Mini Tooth Fairy Pillow craft kit, for ages 5 and up, lets kids decorate a tooth pillow with wiggly eyes and sticky felt accessories. Add a photo and the tooth in the pockets on the back. Kids can also write and illustrate a tiny tale with the mini book and stickers included. Based on the popularity of the Color Cord Bracelets and Make Your Own Paracord Wristbands, comes a mini activity kit to make genderneutral Paracord Bracelets. The set, for ages 7 and up, includes colorful cords, buckles, glue, and instructions. With Zig Zag Headbands, kids ages 7 and up, can decorate three plastic chevron-style headbands with an array of ribbons, bows, flowers, and more. With Bright Bead Bracelets, kids ages 7 and up, can combine unique flower beads and stretchy beading cord to make three super-bright bracelets.

FOR

58 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

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ASTRA 2014

PEBBLES/KAHINIWALLA

Crafted in rural Bangladesh, Pebble Soft Toys offers heirloom quality and a safe, tactile experience for babies and young children. The knitted and crocheted toys—including organic cotton rattles that are new for 2014—are now available in specialty gift and toy stores across the U.S. The colorful Organic Bear Rattles are crocheted using 100 percent organic, hand-twisted cotton yarn and filled with 100 percent polyester. Each friendly face has a lopsided grin and a looped handle for easy grasping. Recommended for babies 3 months old and up, they are available in three colors—orange, soft purple, and blue. Pebble’s Organic Giraffe Rattles have brightly colored hooves and horns and make a gentle rattle sound. They are available in soft purple or blue and are recommended for ages 3 months and up. Floppy ears, soft bodies, and happy hues make Pebble’s new Rainbow Bunny Rattle and Large Donkey huggable companions for ages 3 months and up. Both are crocheted using 100 percent cotton yarn and filled with 100 percent polyester, says the company. Pebble products are made by a Fair Trade organization, giving jobs to more than 5,000 impoverished women in Bangladesh, according to Kahiniwalla, the exclusive distributor of Pebble in the U.S.

60 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

MOULIN ROTY/MAGICFOREST

Moulin Roty’s line of plush, wood, and activity toys come from the French village of the same name, Moulin Roty. Les Cousins du Moulin is a whimsical collection of farm animals with a French twist. Madame Pivoine is a mother hen, Monsieur Potiron is the donkey gardener, Mademoiselle Pâquerette is a cow, Monsieur Ciboulette is a lamb. Celebrating its 10th year in business, Magicforest is the American toy importer and exclusive distributor of Moulin Roty.

PLAYROOM ENTERTAINMENT

Playroom Entertainment is introducing an extensive line of games in 2014. Two are highlighted here. In Herding Cats, these felines have a mind of their own, and only the Cowdog can wrangle them back up again. Cats are lassoed by a Cowdog of a matching color, and you want to be the player to capture a herd of three cats. Beware of the Stampede card that will send the cats running and give points to other players, and look out for the Crazy Cat Lady, who may be able to help you out, if you’re in a pinch. This is for two to five players, ages 6 and up. The game should take about 15 minutes to play, according to Playroom Entertainment. In Pass the Pandas, be the first to get rid of all of your dice by rolling pandas, bamboo, or water drops. A player who rolls pandas is able to pass those dice to other players. A roll of bamboo is only beneficial if you rolled more bamboo than the previous player. A roll of water allows you to discard those dice. A blank roll does nothing to help you and you must keep those dice for your next turn. This game is for two to five players, ages 6 and up. The company says it takes 10 minutes to play.

Corolle: The Sweet Smell of Success BY JENNIFER LYNCH

ake a walk down the doll aisle and you’ll likely be bombarded by dozens of dolls, and therefore dozens of options. But while kids’ attention is constantly being pulled in a million directions, there’s a reason Corolle has remained a fixture in the space for 35 years— time-honored tradition and dedication. “It’s impossible to deny the allure or appeal of the screen, but at Corolle we know and understand the importance of doll play in a child’s life and this fact guides everything we do,” says Allison Stocker, manager of sales and marketing, North America. “A child needs to nurture and cuddle for his or her development, and while gadgets and screen-type games are prevalent, children still enjoy and benefit from classic play patterns, including doll play.” And for moms who grew up with Corolle dolls, there is a particular nostalgia for its dolls and a desire to share that experience with their child. “Those moms know, as we do, that a doll is much more than a toy,” says Stocker. “It is a cherished part of growing up, a link between the child and the world of adults. Doll play is important because it encourages children to explore different roles through caring for and sharing hopes, dreams, and experiences with an always-understanding friend and playmate.” Corolle puts a lot of thought into what children want and, more so, need from their dolls at the different stages and ages of their lives. The company works closely with child development experts as well as relies on their own experiences as parents, grandparents, and aunts to convey firsthand through product what it wants for the children in their own lives. And each of its doll collections

62 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

taps into this in a different way, from its Babi Corolle Collection up to its Les Chéries Collection for older children, ages 4 and up. “For ages birth to about 18 months, children are investigating their new world and developing essential skills,” Stocker says. “Our Babi Corolle Collection offers a wide choice of security companions, with intriguing combinations of colors, shapes, and sounds.” In addition to its first baby dolls, this collection also includes plush rattle dolls that jingle to engage baby when shaken. Likewise, Corolle’s Mon Premier Collection is designed to encourage and enhance the play patterns of toddlers ages 18 months–3, who seek to imitate the nurturing roles of their own moms and dads. But despite which collection you speak of, Corolle essentially seeks to provide kids with dolls that truly have a realistic look and feel. And each doll still gets its start at the birthplace of Corolle, France’s Loire Valley, from concept to conception. “Our faces are sculpted in the likeness of real babies,” says Stocker. “And our design team pays careful attention to each and every detail, from the color of the dolls’ eyes to the size of their freckles.” There are multiple key crafted features

All Corolle dolls are delicately scented with vanilla. Pictured is Mon Premier Bébé Calin Paris Party.

that Corolle puts into differentiating its dolls, from their supple vinyl skin to cuddly beanbag bodPictured is the Elf Grenadine's ies. But perHeart, part of the Babi Corolle Collection. The machine-washhaps the most able doll doubles as a rattle distinguishable that jingles softly. is their subtle vanilla scent. Built right in to each doll’s soft, smooth vinyl body, the scent offers a unique sensory appeal that is made to last—customer feedback shows that even years later each doll’s vanilla scent still lingers with each hug. “Our goal is to ensure the hugs a little girl gives her doll—fresh out of the box and forever—are sweet and soothing,” says Stocker. Today, Corolle is focusing its efforts on collections for its youngest consumers—Babi Corolle and Mon Premier. Among the newest offerings is the Mon Premier Bébé Calin Paris Party doll, which expands on the success of the Mon Premier Bébé Calin dolls, which feature beanbag bodies made for easy posing, sleeping eyes, and, of course, Corolle’s signature vanilla scent. (The line also features boy and multi-ethnic versions of the doll.) “These two collections are really at the forefront of building this special bond and creating a lasting relationship with Corolle beginning at birth and continuing through childhood and beyond,” says Stocker. And while the doll aisles of today may be crowded, Corolle has remained a fixture because of this committed approach to dolls. And sometimes classic is all a child really needs to stir up their imaginations.

YOU’RE HIRED

TOMY INTERNATIONAL WILLIE WILKOV, CMO

TOMY International announced the promotion of Willie Wilkov to chief marketing officer (CMO). The board of directors of TOMY Company, Ltd., has approved this appointment. The position of CMO has been vacant since mid-2013. Wilkov joined the company in 2009 as vice-president, marketing communications, rising to senior vice-president, marketing communications and branding in 2013. As CMO, Wilkov will be responsible for the company’s corporate identity as well as working closely with key licensing partners of TOMY. He will continue to spearhead all marketing communications initiatives, including the company’s consumer, trade, and brand marketing campaigns, as well as oversee consumer insights and creative services for both the toy and infant brands across the organization. Prior to his role at TOMY, Wilkov was vice-president of marketing for the Sun-Times News Group and spent a decade before that in the agency world at Draft and Leo Burnett.

WOMEN IN TOYS

BOARD APPOINTMENTS; NEW COMMITTEE-BASED STRUCTURE

Women in Toys (WIT), a global organization for professional women in the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries, announced appointments to its board including Stephanie Barone, vice-president of product development for Innovative Designs as WIT treasurer; Caitlin Gutekunst, senior manager, content acquisition and business development at LeapFrog, as regional chapter chair; Jennifer Quattrock, independent design contractor as WIT’s design chair, and Mali Baum, CEO of Beezeebee, as chair of international chapters. Ashley Mady is president of WIT. WIT also unveiled a new committee-based structure to support the organization’s goals and mission. The committees include: community involvement, design, empowerment initiatives, finance, fundraisers, international chapters, legal, LIMA liaison, marketing & promotions, membership, public relations, regional chapters, scholarships, social media, sponsorships, TIA liaison, trade shows, video/podcasts, website, and Wonder Women Awards.

64 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

SAFARI, LTD.

ALEXANDRE PARIENTE, CEO

Safari, Ltd. announced that Alexandre Pariente has been promoted to the position of CEO. After nearly 30 years of working at Safari, Ltd., current CEO Ramona Pariente is retiring. Acting president and son of Ramona, Alexandre, is filling the position. Alexandre continues the familyowned tradition that his grandfather started in 1982.

HABA

SCOTT SCORDO, NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

Scott Scordo has joined HABA in the newly created position of national sales manager. In this new role, Scordo will manage HABA’s 80 independent toy and gift sales reps across the U.S. and Canada as well as the corporate marketing team. Scordo had worked in sales at Chicco, Reeves International, Playroom Entertainment, and Shelcore Toys.

CANAL TOYS PETER TODD

Canal Toys announced the appointment of Peter Todd as its vice-president of sales for North and South America as the company looks to aggressively extend the success that it’s had in Europe and Asia. Todd, a toy industry sales veteran for both the mass market and specialty retail categories, will oversee all of Canal Toys sales operations in the Americas, including the management of internal sales staff and outside sales representatives. He will handle key accounts and customize new sales initiatives and specific mass market programs. Todd’s previous posts include Fashion Angels Enterprises, Oregon Scientific, Spin Master, and Sababa Group.

SNAP CREATIVE

BRANT BRIDGES, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Snap Creative announced the hiring of Brant Bridges as senior vice-president, business development. Bridges will lead strategic growth initiatives and related design through manufacturing processes for Snap Creative and its division SnaPCO. Bridges joins the company from Sideshow Collectibles where he managed development, production, and marketing efforts, including business-to-business and direct-to-consumer revenue streams. Snap Creative is a company that Sideshow has a long and successful history with and Bridges’ new role at Snap is expected to benefit both companies.

MATTEL

RICHARD DICKSON, CHIEF BRANDS OFFICER AND

TIM KILPIN, EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL

Mattel, Inc., announced the creation of a new, unified marketing and creative division to span the company’s global portfolio of consumer brands. To lead this new global brand team, Mattel has named Richard Dickson as chief brands officer. Dickson will be responsible for growing and strengthening the company’s portfolio including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Thomas & Friends. Dickson will oversee all aspects of marketing strategy, creative execution, product development, and content creation across Mattel’s brands. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of branded businesses at The Jones Group, Inc. Prior to that, Dickson served as general manager and senior vice-president for Barbie at Mattel, overseeing the brand’s revitalization and successful expansion into a variety of new categories including entertainment, digital/online, and retail. Previously in his career, Dickson held senior executive positions with a number of major consumer brands, including Bloomingdales, Estée Lauder, and Gloss.com. Dickson will report directly to Mattel chairman and CEO Bryan Stockton and will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team. In a separate announcement, Mattel named Tim Kilpin executive vice-president, international. Kilpin will be responsible for advancing Mattel’s already strong international presence, and for leading the company’s growth in emerging markets throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Kilpin has held a variety of leadership roles with Mattel since 2003. Most recently, he served as executive vice-president, global brands team—boys and girls, a role to which he was appointed in 2011. Previously in his career, Kilpin was employed by The Walt Disney Company, where he served as executive vice-president of studio franchise management. He began his career with Mattel in 1984, having held numerous marketing positions. Kilpin will continue to serve as a member of Mattel’s executive leadership team, reporting to Stockton.

CARTER KEITHLEY ANNOUNCES 2015 RETIREMENT

Carter Keithley has announced that he will retire as president and CEO of the Toy Industry Association (TIA), effective April 30, 2015, after nearly a decade of leadership with the trade organization. Keithley announced his retirement last month at the TIA board of directors meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. “My years as chief executive of the Toy Industry Association were the highlight of my 40-year career as an association executive,” says Keithley. “My only regret is that I did not come to TIA as a younger man able to sustain the pace and workload for a longer time. As I enter my 70th year of life, it is time for me to pass the baton to someone with fresh energy, vision, and ambition, so that TIA can continue to serve its members and support the growth and health of the toy industry.” During his time with the TIA, the annual budget of the organization grew from less than $14 million to nearly $18 million, and TIA’s membership base skyrocketed from 470 members to more than 750 companies, including manufacturers, retailers, sales reps, licensors, toy inventors, and more. An office in Washington, D.C. was also established to accommodate a robust external affairs team comprised of nine industry advocates and technical/safety specialists. John Gessert, TIA chairman, has appointed TIA board vice-chairman David Hargreaves of Hasbro, Inc., and immediate past TIA chairman, Soren Torp Laursen of LEGO Systems, Inc., to co-chair a transition committee that will work with a professional search firm to hire a new executive for TIA.

JUNE 2014 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT 65

EVENTS OF

CALENDAR

Industry-Related Trade Shows JULY

24–27

AUGUST 2–4

16–20

Comic-Con Playtime New York

NY Now

SEPTEMBER 7–10

ABC Kids Expo

comic-con.org playtimenewyork.com

nynow.com

theabcshow.com

San Diego Convention Center Metropolitan Pavilion

Jacob Javits Convention Center Las Vegas Convention Center

San Diego New York City

New York City Las Vegas

30–10/2

Global Gaming Expo (G2E)

globalgamingexpo.com

Sands Expo Center

Las Vegas

TTPM HOLIDAY SHOWCASE

TTPM.COM

METROPOLITAN PAVILION

NEW YORK CITY

OCTOBER 2–5

7–9

10–11

10–14

iHobby Expo

TIA Fall Toy Preview

Brand Licensing Europe

MIPjunior

New York Comic Con

ihobbyexpo.com

toyassociation.com

brandlicensing.eu

mipjunior.com

newyorkcomiccon.com

Schaumburg Convention Center

Dallas Market Center

Olympia Grand Hall

Palais des Festivals

Jacob Javits Convention Center

Schaumburg, Ill.

Dallas

London

Cannes

New York City

12–15

MIPCom

mipcom.com

Palais des Festivals

Cannes

20–21

Toy & Games Conference

tandgcon.com

Navy Pier

Chicago

NOVEMBER

20–23

Chicago Toy & Game Fair

DECEMBER 7–10

9–11

JANUARY 12–15

20–22

28–2/2

Grand Strand Gift Show

grandstrandgiftshow.com

Navy Pier

Myrtle Beach Convention Center

Chicago

Myrtle Beach

International Halloween Show

hiaonline.com

Halloween Tower

New York City

Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair

hktoyfair.com

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center

Hong Kong

The Toy Fair

Spielwarenmesse Int’l Toy Fair

FEBRUARY 14–17

chitagfair.com

American International Toy Fair

66 TOYS & FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT JUNE 2014

toyfair.co.uk

Olympia Grand Hall

London

toyfair.de

Nuremberg Exhibition Center

Nuremberg

toyassociation.com

Jacob Javits Convention Center

New York City

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Jennifer Coleman jcoleman@4kmedia.com +1.212.590.2120

5/16/2014 12:16:53 PM