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Rock & Pop Turtle & songs g 4 sin -alon g dies o l e 15 m

Pop a ball into my tummy!

For more details please contact 01235 555545 trade_sales@vtech.com

TnP Pop a ball Vtech.indd 1 DPS advert 0817 v1.indd All Pages

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Turtle toy which spins around, popping balls whilst playing music, phrases and songs. Teaches; numbers and more.

Placing balls into the turtle’s tummy develops motor skills.

Also in the range

Swirly Snail

Pop & Drop Digger

Ball Pit

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CONTENTS Regular

17 er 20 Octob No. 1 7 Vol. 3

TEAM TnP Group Editor Mirella Anstey mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

7

Leader – with Mirella Anstey

8

News – the latest toy industry headlines

9

Coffee break with Lindsay Hardy of Trends UK

12 Media News – the multimedia rundown 13 M edia Charts – the latest kids’ TV viewing figures and toy TV advertising spend 16 Retail News – the latest from across the retail landscape 28 W hat’s New – new products that you need to get your hands on 44 S potlight on…Smart Games – one new product, all the USPs explained 46 Trade Talk – we give suppliers a chance to talk business

Editor Mairead Wilmot mairead@lemapublishing.co.uk

Writer Rhys Thomas rhys@lemapublishing.co.uk

Group Advertisement Manager

62 T nP Ambassadors – our tiny testers put products from Character, Flair and Alpha through their paces 65 S tep Back in Time – a slice of toy history from the industry’s longest running magazine

Features 34 E ducational toys – consumers are looking for more learning from their toys

Publisher

52 S cooters – little ones love wheeling around – we look at the best in the category

Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

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64 Don’t Miss – unmissable products for all buyers and retailers

Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

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60 W atch Out For… – a round up of toys you really don’t want to be without

Special Report 10 People get ready! Prepare now for Toy Fair 2018 18 R etail Interview – Lee Shawyer, Business Development Director at Menkind gives us a rundown of their hits 26 Cover Story – Chicco tell us about the Food Truck 2 in 1

Design and Production Marian McNamara marian@lemapublishing.co.uk

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Circulation Manager Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

30 H ASBRO SPECIAL Watch Out For… – a round up of Hasbro’s toys you really don’t want to be without 32 P laying to Win – TOMY EVP Mark Foster runs us through their hot highlights

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48 R EVELL SPECIAL - unmissable products for all buyers and retailers from Revell

Columnists 14 M edia Analysis – Generation Media’s Alex Taylor-Smith looks at naming trends 22 R etail Opinion – editing your range is a sales winner according to John Ryan

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At the heart of retail A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,125 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

24 T he Independent and Secret Supplier – What will sell this Christmas 58

edia Opinion – Clive Crouch gives us his take M on the digital world

BLE 2017 Flip Cover Special Flip this issue of TnP over and get stuvk into our preview of the European licensing show – BLE 2017! Find out the hottest properties from the world’s greatest brands and get to grips with why this show is a must-do for all buyers and retailers.

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Helping everyone sell more

N O S I E M I T !

E D I S R U YO

AVAILABLE

SEPTEMBER

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Demon can operate for up to 20 MINUTES on a charge, giving you plenty of time to compose the perfect photo or shoot the ultimate video... or both - it’s up to you!

Additional Features: 720P HD Video & Stills Camera / 3 Speed/Skill levels Headless mode / Flips / Auto-start / Auto-land / Altitude Hold Revell GmbH, Unit 10, Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane, Tring, HP23 4QR. For trade enquiries Tel: 01296 660 291. Email: ukbranch@revell.de © 2017 Revell GmbH. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc. Revell_DemonFlyer_138x210.indd 1

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FLY VR!

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Revell GmbH, Unit 10, Old Airfield Industrial Estate, Cheddington Lane, Tring, HP23 4QR. For trade enquiries Tel: 01296 660 291. Email: ukbranch@revell.de © 2017 Revell GmbH. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc.

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LEADER Revell

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A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

Independently audited ABC circulation of 5,121

here is no mistaking that we are about to get into the golden quarter — or for many toy specialists — make or break time. Just last month we learnt of the bankruptcy of Toys R Us in America — a sure lesson to suppliers and buyers alike.

For suppliers, many have categorically stated that they will continue to support TRU. Mattel publicly stating that the embattled retailer is: “one of our most important retail

1 July 2015 to 30 June 2017

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partners”, and Ben Gadbois, global president of Spin Master, told The Sunday Telegraph it would “continue to support Toys R Us as they restructure their business”. “Toys R Us is an important part of the toy industry and we wish them the best”, said Gadbois.

But for some suppliers, ultimately the decision will be made by insurance companies and FDs. For the retailers — what can be learnt from the near-demise of the toy giant?

Well, how about a bit of theatre?

How about a bit of fun, joy and a touch of the old razzle-dazzle?

It’s all well and good to have huge superstores dotted around the country — all well-stocked, but it can be a somewhat soulless experience trawling the aisles with a huge trolley staring up, and up, and up and up at loads of product, but with no cheer, little atmosphere and pretty harsh lighting.

It’s never good to see a retailer suffer — it’s bad for business all round — and we certainly

hope that the retailer takes this opportunity to pull itself out of Hasbro the quagmire.

October sees BLE hit our shores.

We bring you some highlights from the show — what to expect if you do attend and what you need to be aware of in case you do not. Our BLE preview is on the back (and upside down) part of this month’s TnP — so turn it over and have a good old gander.

Chicco really put the happiness factor into all their products — that is so evident in their Food Truck 2-in-1 which is our cover star this month. Turn to page 26 to read more about how Chicco is planning to support this at retail and message to consumers.

Another big thing for this month is the numerous Top 10, 20, 100, 1,000 (delete as appropriate) Christmas toy lists — well, they are all good and worthy and relevant — and really good for the industry at large. While we wait for the announcement of the Dream Toys Top 12 next month, our very own columnist, the Independent has had a good long think about what he feels will sell like hot cakes in the coming months. Take a look at his suggestions on page 24 and see if you agree. In response to his musings, his nemesis (or perhaps worthy opponent) The Secret Supplier says: “Get the selection right and top toy sales really can be the icing on the cake but the top toys usually are a small percentage of total toy sales” — bring him back down to earth with a bump, eh?!

This month we take a good long look at Revell and some of their really excellent and quality products — this is a company which has had a magnificent year and it looks like ending on an even higher note. Their ranges span from basic toy construction sets for pre-schoolers to some real high flying drones — full of features and excitement. Turn to page 48 to catch up on Revell.

And one last thing, our friends at Hasbro are really wowing us with some great products, year after year, aren’t they. We take a look at some of their coolest toys that you need to Watch Out For right now on page 30.

Christmas toy lists — well, they are all good and worthy and relevant — and really good for the industry at large

Chicco takes our cover this month

If you would like to subscribe to any of our other market leading titles please call Robert Thomas on 01442 289930 or email your request to robert@ lemapublishing.co.uk

Mirella Anstey

”

news Elves Behavin’ Badly spread Christmas cheer

Toy State gears up for Monster Jam Toy State has expanded its portfolio of high-powered licenses by partnering with Feld Entertainment on the Monster Jam brand.

The three year, multi-territory agreement grants Toy State construction toy category rights for the development of Monster Jambranded toys within the company’s Machine Maker product line.

“Working with Feld Entertainment on Monster Jam is an extremely exciting opportunity,” said Toy State President Andy Friess. “As Toy State continues to expand our presence in new categories within the toy industry, we are looking to align with best-inclass partners. The Feld and Monster Jam teams are masters at delivering edge-of-your-seat entertainment to fans, and we aim to deliver that same fun and excitement to children of all ages through our new Monster Jambranded toys.”

Hooray for Vernon!

What started life as creative fun aimed at young children throughout December, has exploded into a Christmas phenomenon! From 30 November, social media is awash with images of elves, posted by adults who are trying to outdo each other and capture the best photo opportunity. PMS is supporting the brand with a nationwide publicity and marketing campaign, and PMS’ website and Facebook pages will be devoted to Elves Behavin’ Badly.

Consumers creative enough to dream up a scene that hasn’t already been publicised are being encouraged to post it on www.elvesbehavinbadly.com or on the PMS Facebook page. A series of exclusively created videos will also be released in the lead up to Christmas. Meanwhile, Elves Behavin’ Badly spread Elf Love at Blog On Xmas in Manchester last month.

Congratulations to Vernon Franklyn, a toy veteran of 60 years who recently celebrated his retirement.

Thanks to Marcello Rossi, his retirement was celebrated in great style with quite a number of his long-term mates.

With masks courtesy of Rubie’s there are nearly as many in the picture as the number of years Vernon has been selling toys in Bridport, most recently as Frosts Toymaster of Bridport.

As one of the nicest men in the industry, what a great way to celebrate his retirement and diamond jubilee!

Trend spotting Adrienne Appell, trend expert at The Toy Association, explores trends for this Christmas and beyond Global toy sales in the fourth quarter will get a boost from collectables and upcoming entertainment properties, according to industry analysts. The toy industry is projected to grow about four per cent for the full year.

“Many family-friendly movies are still due to be released across the globe in the second half of 2017, and sales will be driven especially by the more toyetic movies,” said Frédérique Tutt, global toys industry analyst at The NPD Group.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie, Justice League, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi 8

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The key, as always, is to create toys that offer immense play value and keep kids coming back for more

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are among the most anticipated new releases this autumn, leading to an array of toys and games that incorporate movie themes and characters. Licensed toys that encourage STREAM learning are especially in demand, because they skillfully combine popular licenses with educational subjects and innovative technologies.

“Toymakers who infuse their licensed playthings with an array of creative components, including new technologies and educational play, really help kids expand their horizons while role-playing with their favourite characters,” says Adrienne Appell, trend expert at The Toy Association in

toysnplaythings.co.uk

disney unwraps Top Picks for Christmas Bringing even more magic to Christmas this year is Disney’s Top Picks, a collection of finely selected products inspired by muchloved Disney, Marvel and Star Wars characters and stories. Disney’s Top Picks includes a special must-have gift for every member of the family, helping fans of all ages prepare for this festive season. disney’s Top Picks are: Ultimate Lightning McQueen by Sphero Moana’s Island Adventure by LEGO Choose Your Path Lightsaber by Hasbro Star Wars Rey and BB-8 Adventure Dolls by Hasbro Ultimate Florida Speedway Playset by Mattel Pua Soft Toy Spider-Man Talking Action Figure Mickey and Minnie Mouse Teapot & Mug Micro Animator Belle Playset Disney Couture Beauty and the Beast Rose Gold-Plated Bracelet DisneyLife Subscription Remote Control Twin Pack Lightning McQueen and Racing Cruz

Jumbo MD steps down Stewart Middleton has stepped down as Md of Jumbo games after two and a half years in charge.

Stewart is leaving his post to take up a new role as Sales director at iMC Toys from next month.

After joining the company in 2015, Stewart worked very closely with the team to focus on the company’s core strengths and instil a positive and clear strategic approach that has successfully seen the company maintain its position as theUK’s number one Adult Puzzle & Accessories and to continue its 2016 growth in the adult puzzle market, with double-digit growth this year.

the United States.

The collectables market, which grew 15 per cent in the first half of 2017, is also helping to spur global sales. But competition is fierce, thanks to an influx of collectables on store shelves.

“The key, as always, is to create toys that offer immense play value and keep kids coming back for more,” says Adrienne. “Blind bags are leading the collectables market, since kids love the challenge of trying to find coveted limited edition collectables – and blind bags give them that experience. The thrill of unwrapping and not knowing what they are going to get is fuelling purchases, and the affordability factor keeps them coming back for more.”

OCTOBER 2017

Looking Beyond the Holidays – new York Toy Fair 2018 Excitement is already building for the 115th North American International Toy Fair – worldrenowned for launching hundreds of thousands of creative and innovative toys and games that drive global toy sales. Taking place 17th to 20th February 2018, the show will welcome more than 30,000 toymakers, buyers, and play professionals from 100 countries to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

To register for Toy Fair as an exhibitor or attendee, visit www.ToyFairNY.com

COFFee BReAK Lindsay Hardy is the Marketing Director of Trends UK. Here she gives us insight in to some of their top trends and best sellers of the year so far Lindsay, tell us a little about what we can expect from Trends UK in Q4?

We can’t keep up with demand for the Slither.io toys!

These are based on the hugely popular app game played by millions of kids in the UK every month.

The range includes collectables, squishies and plush.

We have also introduced the Xtrem Bots range, affordable robots with a wealth of functions.

Trends UK has some outstanding partnerships with the likes of discovery, Haynes and Megableu – to name a few. Tell us about some highlights.

We have exciting new additions for these popular brands. For the Haynes Build Your Own line we’ve launched a Haynes Jet Engine kit which is being supported by Haynes’ social media channels and our assembly and demonstration videos which is very exciting. The Discovery range features the new Galaxy Tracker Smart Telescope, which has access to an award-winning app describing the night sky that you are viewing. From Megableu Games there’s the TV-promoted Tumball to test your balancing skills and with Beat the Flush players have to flip the critters into the toilet bowl quickly or risk getting wet!

And tell us sabout your early learning range.

It’s fun to learn with Peppa Pig! Earlier this year we launched Peppa’s Laugh & Learn Alphaphonics focusing on phonics and spelling.

Right now we are shipping Peppa’s Interactive Play Mat which has lots of learning features and encourages kids to get active.

For this autumn we have also launched a new range for Thomas & Friends fans with favourite characters and sounds to explore.

We also have a new Mr Tumble’s Something Special Learning Pad and the Paint Sticks range from Little Brian has fantastic word-of-mouth endorsement from parents.

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Toy Fair 2018

People get ready!

‘Tis the season to be…organised! Yes, it’s October and London Toy Fair 2018 is cioming around fast. Get ahead of the pack and start readying yourself for the (second) busiest time of the year Toy Fair, the largest dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition in the UK, returns to West London’s Olympia on 23-25 January 2018. The three-day event, organised by the British Toy and Hobby Association, is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for visitors to discover thousands of exciting and original products from established manufacturers, smaller and start-up toy companies.

Celebrating its 65th year, the 2018 show will once again occupy the entire upper and lower sections of the Grand and West Halls at London’s Olympia. The show floor will host more than 250 exhibiting companies, including well-established names such as Character Options, Flair Leisure Products, Golden Bear Products, Spin Master Toys, Tomy, John Adams, Vivid Toy Group and Great Gizmos.

On top of these established companies, Toy Fair will welcome 44 businesses exhibiting at Toy Fair for the very first time including Djeco, Holibob Bear, Savvy Games and Cobi UK. Many see Toy Fair as a

Majen Immink, Head of Toy Fair Operations and Sales says: be able to “I’m delighted to confirmed exhibiting r welcome all of ou Fair 2018. There is a companies to Toy mpanies at the show fantastic mix of co e of the biggest m this year, from so , to start-ups and ly al ob companies gl een. All of which tw everything in be vation and creativity showcase the innoket. I’d like to thank of the UK toy mar hole for supporting w the industry as a n, and I can’t wait ai ag ce Toy Fair on until January.”

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launch-pad into the industry and an opportunity to make a name for themselves.

Leeson George, owner of Push It Games and a first-time exhibitor, commented, “After visiting Toy Fair last year and seeing what a fun filled event it was, we wanted a piece of the action. That is why we’ll be sharing our wooden table-top flicking game, Push It.” Many of the first-time exhibitors, 30 of the 44 mentioned previously, will be exhibiting in the Greenhouse Area. Now in its 14th year, the Greenhouse Area is an incubator for brand new and small companies looking to launch their products to the toy industry.

A number of companies who started life in the Greenhouse Area are now established in the toy industry. For example, Accentuate Games will be returning for their fourth Toy Fair in 2018, after having exhibited in the Greenhouse Area in 2015.

Among the list of exhibitors, a number have also returned after time away. David Westnedge, CEO of the company which holds his name, commented, “We are back at Toy Fair after a short break away as we feel it is the best platform to showcase all our playing cards and games.”

However, the mainstay of Toy Fair are the exhibiting companies who return year-on-year to launch their exciting and innovative products. A number have increased their stand size for 2018, including Vtech, Jazwares, Epoch Making Toys, Playmobil, K’nex, Clementoni and Funko (formally Underground Toys).

Whether it is to discover what products will be the hottest in 2018, or looking to be inspired by the next big thing, Toy Fair has established itself as a must-attend event in the industry calendar.

Toy Fair 2018 will be no exception.

When and where?

Toy Fair 2018 takes place from Tuesday 23 January to Thursday 25 January. Press day is Tuesday 23 January. To register for a free pass or to find out more about the show visit www.toyfair.co.uk.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

MEDIA

news

Interplay hits Disney Junior Interplay’s sponsorship of Disney Junior weekday afternoons has begun, with activity for its award-winning Fuzzikins Craft range running from 3-5pm up until the end of November.

Meric Pekcan-Butcher, Market Manager at Interplay, said: “We are very excited about the sponsorship as the channel includes popular shows; Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Curious George and The Lion Guard, which are perfect for the Fuzzikins Craft target audience of girls and boys, aged 4-6. From September 11 until late November, Interplay’s brand new My Mermaid Lagoon range will also sponsor Disney Junior along with a strong advertising campaign. “ For further campaign details or to order stock and benefit from this campaign, contact Interplay on 01628 488 944.

Challenge accepted!

Mattel has unveiled a new Hot Wheels brand campaign in partnership with BBDO San Francisco, called Challenge Accepted.

As today’s parents are focused on finding products and services that help their children grow and develop, Hot Wheels is rethinking its marketing to better communicate the benefits of its products directly to parents.

To launch the campaign, a 60-second video focuses on a mother and son, and draws parallels between play and reality to convey that life is full of challenges that build resilience and champion the challenger spirit in every kid. It emphasises how Hot Wheels is more than a source of fun, but also a great way to learn important life skills.

“Hot Wheels has remained a beloved brand for nearly 50 years. Car play is an intuitive playpattern which has contributed to Hot Wheels’ success as the number-one selling toy in the world,” said Chris Down, Senior Vice President and Global Brand GM, Hot Wheels, “We aim to nurture the ‘Challenger Spirit’ in all kids by encouraging them to try, fail, and repeat to achieve success. Our Challenge Accepted campaign does exactly this in an unexpected and exhilarating way.”

The campaign will launch in the UK on 20 September supported with an extensive marketing campaign which includes digital media spend, social support, plus an exciting Instagram influencer ambassador campaign that will showcase a real-life mum and son relationship.

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Nick’s new game Nickelodeon UK & Ireland has launched its first ever online multiplayer game.

Based on the hit Nicktoons animated show The Loud House, Living Loud: Lincoln’s List is available on the Nicktoons website and features a shareable URL function allowing kids to invite friends to join them as they explore the hectic home of Lincoln Loud.

“Games are far and away the most popular activity across our sites and we know that kids want to be able to share their gaming experience with their friends,” said Suzie Adams, Digital Director, Nickelodeon UK & Ireland. “The team at Ralph has constructed a truly immersive experience that answers the question of how to safely allow our audiences play online with their friends. We cannot wait to see how our fans and kid gamers alike react to the game.”

Peppa Pig World expands Fans of the Entertainment One (eOne) hit TV series will be snorting with delight when the two new rides, The Queen’s Flying Coach Ride and Grampy Rabbit’s Sailing Club, are unveiled to the public on Wednesday May 16, 2018.

The Queen’s Flying Coach Ride will take families on a tour around the newly extended part of Peppa Pig World in individual coaches on a monorail that starts from the top of the Queen’s castle. Children and parents will also be able to hop aboard boats at Grampy Rabbit’s Sailing Club where they can cruise along the new water route around Peppa Pig World.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

MEDIA

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Housewives Children Aug 16 vs Aug 17 Aug-16 Aug-17 10000 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000

elcome to the Media Report for August, the last of the summer months. This month we are reporting viewing levels for Boys & Girls 4-9 years and Housewives with Children Pre–School.

When we look at the viewing levels for the boys I can say from the outset this group is down by a massive 31 per cent when compared with August 2016. The biggest fall in viewing comes from Cartoon Network and Pop. Tiny Pop is showing a massive increase on viewing, however I think it’s fair to say this increase is coming from the younger end of the 4-9s market. We take this view based on the programming content of these stations, which is pitched towards the TAL younger end of the market.

HE TO P BY T For the Girls it is a ET IS U better picture overall.

MARK R CENT, A E Viewing is down, but 16.2 PEHY INCREAS by only 4.4 per cent.

HEALT IS PERIOD Nickelodeon Junior H FOR T YEAR continues to be market E H OF T leader followed by Pop, with Nick Junior 2 also doing well. It is interesting to see for the Girls a total reversal regarding Tiny Pop compared to the boys. It’s clear for August it’s the boys that prefer this station. Channel 5 does well; the others are mainly down.

Looking at the Housewives with Children, Nickelodeon Junior is market leader and has been for some time, followed by Nick Junior 2 and Channel 5. Most of the other stations are down. Overall market is down by 6.7%.

Looking at the top 10 spenders in August, overall the reported spend is up by 11 per cent, we see the top three spenders are the same as August 2016. Newcomers to the top 10 are Drumond Park and Spin Master. The total market is up by 16.2 per cent, a healthy increase for this period of the year.

The next report we will continue to look at both Girls and Boys 4-9’s. We will also report on Housewives with Children. This will be the first report of the autumn market.

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Boys 4-9 TVRs Aug 16 vs Aug 17 Aug-16

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Girls 4-9 TVRs Aug 16 vs Aug 17 Aug-16 Aug-17

Aug 2016 Toy Company TV Expenditure

Aug 2017 Toy Company TV Expenditure

Company Name

TV Expenditure

Company Name

TV Expenditure

Vivid Imaginations Ltd Zuru Toys Inc Vtech Electronics Ltd Mattel Uk Ltd Imc Toys Uk Ltd Mga Ent Character Options Ltd John Adams Leisure Ltd Flair Leisure Prod Ltd Hasbro (Uk) Ltd

452,904 459,807 471,198 511,328 560,851 593,141 874,859 992,844 1,122,250 1,204,742

Drumond Park Ltd Mattel Uk Ltd Vivid Imaginations Ltd Character Options Ltd Spin Master Toys Ltd Vtech Electronics Ltd Imc Toys Uk Ltd John Adams Leisure Ltd Hasbro (Uk) Ltd Flair Leisure Prod Ltd

378,453 425,630 599,785 626,158 734,400 741,282 762,310 807,615 1,470,025 1,534,725

For more information on viewing levels please contact Mike Penfold. mike@globalmedia.me.uk Tel: 01494 763178.

All graphs and information supplied by Global Media Services

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

MEDIA

ANALYSIS

What’s in a name?

The daunting task of naming his first-born gets Generation Media’s Alex Taylor-Smith thinking about children's individuality, an often overlooked facet of market segmentation for targeted advertising

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n the busy world of toys and games, we can all often find ourselves guilty of spending more time at our computers than actually understanding our end consumer — kids! This month, the annual list of Britain’s most common names was released, allowing the industry to imagine (for a moment) who may be playing with our toys and games.

This list, while giving a glimpse of our potential consumers, was also highly topical for people: namely how they develop as me, expecting my first baby any day they get older, the role family plays, now. As my wife and I have found in We are the importance of friendship and, more recent months, choosing a name can often guilty of recently, the impact of technology and be an overwhelming task for soon-tothinking about social media. However, it is the extent be parents, as it will not only stay with young people in to which these influences play a part our child for their lifetime but also in their world that allows us to be able play a part in the person they will terms of their to segment them into smaller groups. soon become. age group or It is these differences (and similarities) The below list highlights top baby gender, whereas that have formed the foundation of a names in England & Wales, as stated by bespoke research study conducted by ultimately they The Office for National Statistics (ONS). iGen Insight and DC Thomson termed While there are some names within the are all Youth Squads. top 10 that have gained momentum this individuals This qualitative segmentation year, most remain unchanged. Olivia has of young people aged 7-14 years replaced Amelia as the top choice for (supported by data from Youth TGI, a girls, while Oliver scoops first place for boys, and George, consumer survey of 6,000-plus children), Harry, and Jack remain popular for boys. segments all young people 7-14 years into 11 squads, based on a deeper, more threeTop 10 Boys' Names 17 Top 10 Girls' Names 17 dimensional understanding of what makes Oliver Olivia them tick. These groups can not only help Harry Amelia marketers to identify their core consumer, George Emily but also to understand where to reach them Jack Isla and how to most effectively communicate Jacob Ava with them for more informed and engaging Noah Isabella marketing campaigns. Questions the Youth Charlie Lily Squads research can answer for your brand Muhammad Jessica include: Which squad is most relevant for Thomas Ella my brand? Where can this audience be most Oscar Mia effectively reached? Where are they spending most of their time? How should I talk to them It is unsurprising that the naming of your child in a way that will resonate best? is a daunting task, as you attempt to give them For more detailed information about the the first part of their individuality before even makeup of the Youth Squads and how you meeting them! This point of individuality is can access the reports available for purchase, an important one, as we are often guilty please contact Maxine Fox, iGen Insight on of thinking about young people in terms 020 7307 7916. of their age group or gender, whereas For those of you still reading, my wife and I ultimately they are all individuals. That decide on Arthur Grey, for our little boy born is not to say that there aren’t of course on 28th September. commonalities that exist among young

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Generation Media is the UK and Ireland’s largest independent media buyer of toys and games advertising. Visit generationmedia.co.uk or call 0207 307 7900 to learn more.

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Retail

news

Toys R Us files for bankruptcy Toys R Us has filed for bankruptcy in the US and Canada in a move to restructure debts of £3.7b and set a path for investment in long-term growth.

The toy retailer, which has around 1,600 stores globally, said the Chapter 11 filing would impact only its business in North America, highlighting Asia and the UK as unaffected.

“Today marks the dawn of a new era at Toys R Us where we expect that the financial constraints that have held us back will be addressed in a lasting and effective way,” said Dave Brandon, the retailer’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Together with our investors, our objective is to work with our debtholders and other creditors to restructure the $5 billion of long-term debt on our balance sheet, which will provide us with greater financial flexibility to invest in our business, continue to improve the customer experience in our physical stores and online, and strengthen our competitive position in an increasingly challenging and rapidly changing retail marketplace worldwide. We are confident that these are the right steps to ensure that the iconic Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us brands live on for many generations.”

A statement released by Toys R Us says it has received a commitment for more than $3b (£2.2b) in debtor-inposession financing from various lenders, including a JPMorgan-led bank syndicate and a other current lenders.

The statement added that the toy retailing giant “is committed to working with its vendors to help ensure that inventory levels are maintained and products continue to be delivered in a timely fashion”.

Argos launches first toy catalogue Argos has launched its first ever children’s toy catalogue.

The brand new Totally Awesome Toy Guide is 152 pages packed full of Christmas inspiration for children and parents alike, featuring hundreds of toys for all ages, big brand names and fun competitions for all the family.

Prizes up for grabs include a Star Wars: Season Of The Force holiday for four to Disneyland Paris, 10 Magical My Little Pony: The Movie bundles and 10 Ultimate Nerf blaster bundles.

Linzi Walker, Chief Toy Buyer for Argos, said: “We’re so excited to announce the launch of our first ever Totally Awesome Toy Guide. It can be hard to pick out the perfect toys for children at Christmas with so many new products to choose from — so the catalogue has a number of handy features all in one place: a userfriendly format, top toys for Christmas predictions and links to our YouTube unboxing videos.

“We know that sitting down with the Argos catalogue and circling perfect gift ideas has made Christmas memories many of our customers over the years. So, what better way to ensure today’s children can make these memories too?”

Mothercare appoints new CFO Mothercare has appointed its caretaker Finance Director Glyn Hughes as its new Chief Financial Officer.

After a handover period, Glyn will replace the current CFO Richard Smothers, who resigned in May this year and will leave 1 December 2017.

Mark Newton-Jones, Mothercare CEO, said “I am delighted that Glyn is joining Mothercare as our Chief Financial Officer. Glyn’s extensive international retail knowledge and finance experience will be a huge support to the team and me as our business goes through the next phase of its transition.”

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Beating the queues Sainsbury’s is currently testing an app which allows shoppers to pay using their smartphones, making queueing a thing of the past.

The app, which was developed in-house, is being trialled at a small store at London Euston station and is currently only being tested with shoppers who buy the On the GO meal deal.

Essentially, once downloaded to their smartphone, the app allows shoppers to scan the barcode, add everything to their shopping basket, checkout and pay by phone.

According to Sainsbury’s Head of Customer Experience Natalie Dunn the company is “some way off from rolling this out”, but says “we are keen to understand how we can take the concept and develop an offering that is genuinely useful”.

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Poundland reshuffles for Euro expansion

Local toy shop saved!

Poundland’s Trading Director, Barry Williams, has been promoted to Managing Director as part of a major restructure which will see the company make serious in-roads to Europe.

Finance Director Roy Ellis remains and is the Group

Services Director and oAustin Cooke and Marcin Langowski have been appointed newly created roles. All of this is intended to allow Chairman Andy Bond more time and opportunity to establish the company overseas.

It was an act of heroism that William Wallace would have been proud of — Helensburgh native Val Reynard has saved the local independent toy shop.

The owner of The Toy Shop, located on the high street of one of Scotland’s most picturesque towns, had announced that she was closing the store down, disappointing legions of local fans.

However, an employee for the past five years, Val stepped in to save the store.

She told the local paper: “I am very excited about it. I have been working in the shop for about five years or so, but have been a customer since the start. I have three daughters who are also excited at the prospect of running it with me as a family business.”

Fioan Miller, the former owner, told the Helensburgh Advertiser: “She is passionate about Helensburgh and has a strong desire to see independent retail thrive on our high street. I am confident she’s the best person to take The Toy Shop into the next generation and I wish her every success.”

The Entertainer appoints Commercial Director The Entertainer has appointed John Driscoll to the position of Commercial Director. With over 20 years of experience in the retail industry, John will join the executive team to drive forward the buying and merchandising functions and support the future growth aspirations of the business, as it continues to expand both internationally and domestically.

John originally trained with multinational retailer Marks and Spencer, followed by a period of retail consulting at Accenture. Subsequently, he spent nine years at Tesco where he held a number of senior commercial roles within the management team, including overseeing the toy category since 2014. John brings a wealth of experience in strategy, relationship building and effective leadership, which will put The Entertainer in a strong position for 2018.

OCTOBER 2017

Frosts Toymaster changes hands

John Lewis goes 360 Facebook’s 360 Collections ads allow customers to view products in a real-life setting from the full 360 degree angles, before making a one-click purchase directly from the retailer’s website — and John Lewis is the trailblazer in this.

Eva Bojtos, John Lewis’s Senior Manager for Social Marketing, said: “We want to test this new format as demand for immersive content is growing at speed. These ads offer customers a seamless experience from being inspired by products shot in a beautiful setting to being one click away from buying the product.

“This trial forms part of our strategy to offer our customers more inspiring experiences both in shops and online.”

Vernon Franklin and Adrian Franklin from Frosts Toymaster in Bridport, Dorset are retiring and have decided to sell their business to Howleys Toymaster’s Ian Moore. Vernon and Adrian handed over the keys on 11 September.

In a statement to the trade, the Toymaster team said: “We would like to take this opportunity to wish Vernon and Adrian well in their retirement.”

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RETAIL MENKIND

Gadget man!

The world we live in has never been so complex, nor its consumers so tech-savvy, so it stands to reason that gadgets and toys with a technological edge are more popular than ever before. We spoke to Lee Shawyer, Business Development Director, for multi awardwinning retailer Menkind – leaders in the gadget and gifting market – about what puts them ahead of the competition…

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Young people are extremely important to us – in fact many of our trends originate from the schools and playgrounds

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You’ve worked for many companies over the years, but how did you come to work for Menkind and was it always your ambition to work with gadgets and products that sit on the cutting edge of technology?

one and, quite simply, the timing was right for me to come on board!

I met Paul Kraftman, our CEO nearly 15 years ago and, coming from a B2B Business background, have been working as a supplier partner to the business ever since - Menkind was even the subject of my Masters Dissertation! I

The first toy I remember loving was a talking Scooby-Doo camera – I was gobsmacked that the toy could talk, what strange magic was this?! Collecting Star Wars toys took over my life for a while and, being football mad

What were you like as a child and what kind of toys did you enjoy playing with growing up?

We asked…

In terms of licensing what branded products are currently doing well for you and what’s coming up?

Game of Thrones and Harry Potter have been exceptional for us this year but we are finding increasing success with stand-alone items where the license works perfectly with the product, for example our Beauty and the Beast Chip mug. We’re also trialling some less mainstream licences like Rick and Morty.

in such a technologically advanced age now, do you think the scope for this product niche is to grow and grow?

have always been impressed with the vibrancy of the working culture, enthusiasm of the team and quickness of decision making. The company never stands still and this has kept it positioned at the forefront of the latest trends and product innovations whilst staying true to the key brand values of discovery and engagement. The strategic vision for the future is an exciting

OCTOBER 2017

in our house, when we weren’t outside kicking a ball around, we’d be inside creating Subbuteo tournaments. Playmobil and Action Man played a part in my younger years but gave way to the Commodore 64, which hailed the start of my relatively shortlived gaming career.

Why do you think gadgets are so popular? We live

There are two driving forces here. Number one, the human race is continually striving to find new and more efficient ways of doing things ‘to improve the status quo’ and, number two, we thrive on seeking out new experiences, something well documented in all the latest trend reports. Don’t take my word for it, have a word with those clever folks at trend forecasters WGSN. I don’t actually see gadgets as a niche, we all use them, they’re part of our DNA, this isn’t going

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RETAIL MENKIND

away anytime soon and they will only evolve, improve and become more and more exciting.

How important are toys and gifts for children and young people to Menkind?

Young people are extremely important to us and they are becoming increasingly more tech savvy and product aware at a younger age. In fact many of our trends originate from the schools and playgrounds.

What have been your bestsellers over the past year? Are there any lines that have surprised you with their level of success?

The twiddle category, stress and fidget range has been a big feature for everyone this year with young people, and their demand for all things spinning.

More sustainable, stable business has come from new technologies such as our Wall Climbing Spider (yes, a big horrible remote controlled spider that climbs the wall!) and our Motion Activated Drone. This is controlled by the movements of your hand and being incredibly easy and stable to fly and perform tricks with, it really has struck a chord with all ages!

Professor Pengelly’s Putty is the brand that has everyone here excited – putty is another huge trend from the playgrounds and this range has something for everyone from glittery unicorn putty through to magnetic putty that you can perform tricks with. As Professor Pengelly himself says, you can: “tear, I don’t bounce, pop, sculpt, snap, squeeze and de-stress!” We see gadgets also have an amazing range as a niche of Treat Factory branded we all use confectionery, from them, they’re Emoticon Poo Lollies to part of our Chilli Challenges, there’s a DNA and will stocking filler for everyone in the family! only evolve,

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improve and become more and more exciting

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What new tech toy/gadget trends do you predict will be big over the next year?

Drones continue to excite us as they evolve with more features and functions and we are watching the VR and AR space very closely. While I can’t give too much away here as we do like to be first to market, watch out for our new selfie drone with ground breaking optical recognition technology – it will literally follow you around by itself, capturing the moment on HD video and as we have achieved this without expensive GPS, it’s priced at a very reasonable £199.99!

Finally, what’s next for Menkind?

We are working very hard behind the scenes on exciting initiatives to make the consumer experience even more engaging and friction free – watch this space, these are exciting times ahead of us!

What new launches have you got coming up and what products do you think will be big for this Christmas?

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11/09/2017 10:21

RETAIL

OPINION

Flying off the shelves Our retail expert John Ryan takes a look at the gains to be made with an effectively curated toy offering — taking inspiration from Hamleys at Heathrow Terminal 2

H

ow good are you at editing? Ask a lot of people degree than elsewhere — this is retail at its reddest of tooth and claw. whether they could write an article about a The question that high street toy retailers should ask subject dear to their hearts for a newspaper themselves is whether they measure up. Are they as or magazine and the answer that would probably good at understanding their customers’ motivations, come back would be: “No problem”. The difficulty do they have an offer that will find favour, and is starts when theory has to be put in to practice. Given what is displayed the result of some aggressive range a set of facts, the task facing any aspiring journo is pruning? If they answer to all of these is yes, then they selecting which ones are relevant and to tell a story will almost certainly be overseeing very successful in a reasonably concise manner. businesses.

It’s easy if you know what you’re doing and who What you are looking at when you stare at a store is likely to be reading what you write, but there are pitfalls for the beginner and the outcome may well be like Hamleys in T2, therefore, is the distillation of all the sales information gleaned from the behemoth that unreadable. The same, broadly, is true of operating a is the Regent Street flagship, crammed into a very toyshop. The task is simple: display your wares in a modest space. It’s a bit like throwing a spotlight on manner that is engaging and which causes people to everything that works in a big shop and leaving the stop and take a look; editing by any other name. rest in darkness.

For an example of best practice, The challenge is to become look no further than Heathrow’s Hamleys has had to an everyday editor — honing Terminal 2. On the upper level the ability to spot what works airside, there’s a Hamleys outpost. take a hard look at what is Nothing terribly remarkable in likely to appeal to shoppers and to ignore everything that is peripheral. This is a highly this perhaps — the toy retailer has leaving the UK specialised, niche form of stores in a number of airports — retailing, and over a relatively but what’s interesting about this short period, the products that one is its size. will keep the tills ringing become apparent.

This is a very small unit and Hamleys has had The next time you’re passing through a big airport, to take a hard look at what is likely to appeal to therefore, take a little time to do some professional shoppers leaving the UK. Practically, this means four shop watching. Try and understand why particular mid-shop display units and a long perimeter wall on ranges are on offer and how they will appeal to those the right-hand side of the shop, which is home to a who are passing by. Do this and you’ll be undertaking pretty targeted offer of almost entirely small toys. the visual audit that will lead to better things in your The reason for the diminutive nature of the own store(s). Airports are wonderful places. merchandise is simple. Bags have already been checked in by the time the shopper reaches this branch of Hamleys, meaning most of what is sold will have to fit in cabin luggage, a fact that determines dimension.

There is also the matter of time. Airport owners refer to the ‘golden hour’. This is the time typically spent airside before boarding a flight once security has been cleared.

This is what editing is all about.

The retail cliché about ‘right thing, right place, right time’ holds good in the airport to a much greater

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John Ryan is Stores Editor at Retail Week. He has worked for the magazine for more than a decade covering store design, visual merchandising and what makes things sell in-store. In a previous life he was a buyer.

OCTOBER 2017

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THE INDEPENDENT

OPINION

My own Dream Toys This month The Independent puts his neck well and truly on the line and gives us his top 12 toys for Christmas – but do they match your own?

T

he time of year has arrived where we start to turn our minds towards the “best” toys for this Christmas. The reason I say “best” is because the Dream Toys list will come out over the next while, but from what I understand about the process of Dream Toys is that they (and to be honest I totally agree with this) have to make sure there

Best sellers: VOLUME: 1) LOL Surprise! Sisters – MGA 2) Hot Wheels Singles – Mattel 3) Hatchimal Colleggtibles 1 Pack – Spin Master VALUE: 1) LOL Surprise! Sisters – MGA 2) LOL Surprise! Dolls – MGA 3) Paw Patrol Sea Patroller – Spin Master

is a balance of suppliers represented across the list as it wouldn't be fair for any one supplier to end up with half the list.

I will take a slightly different approach to my own Top Toys for Christmas List and almost completely disregard price point, supplier and what gender the toy is aimed at (although I am a man so I will have to make an effort not to be biased for all my own favourite toys which would simply be Batman products).

I hope this makes interesting reading, but I would suggest that even if you don't agree with my own list, take the time to try and detail out what your own favourite toys are for this year.

It can make a massive

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Even if you don't agree with my own list, take the time to try and detail out what your own favourite toys are for this year

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difference to how you and your staff will sell a product if they really do think it is one of the hero items for this year.

So, in no particular order of preference, my Top Toys for Christmas List: ■ Power Rangers Ninja Steel Lion Fire Fortress Zord – Bandai ■ Little Live Babies Range – Charater Options ■ PJ Masks Headquarters Playset – Flair ■ Luvabella – Spin master ■ Hatchimals Surprise – Spin master ■ Who's The Dude – Drumond Park/Vivid ■ JoJo Siwa Dolls – Flair ■ FurReal Tyler the Tiger – Hasbro ■ Toilet Trouble – Hasbro ■ Ninjago Movie Temple of the Ultimate Ultimate Weapon – LEGO ■ Imaginext DC Superhero Friends Batrobot – Mattel ■ LOL Dolls & LOL Sisters – MGA

THE SECRET SUPPLIER

The icing on the cake Selecting the top 12 from 18,000 toys is pretty hard, says the Secret Supplier – but can the list help you make more sales and better margin? The Secret Supplier gives his view

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task to pick just 12 toys out of perhaps as many as 18,000 different toys that we suppliers offer our retailers.

So many different marketing attributes come together to make toys popular but The Independent's list should be an excellent starting point for anyone interested in industry trends.

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The

more popular they are, the less stock he will get, and secondly he will sell what he has at lower margins

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T

his month’s article by The Independent demonstrates that this person is a shrewd operator and has his finger on the pulse of what is actually happening in the minds of his consumers as he bravely lists his Top Toys for Christmas.

It is an awesome

For example Spin master’s Luvabella doll is totally awesome in its reality and function. It takes the dolls market into a new dimension for realism and is bound to get a lot of media coverage for many reasons.

And JoJo Siwa’s success is absolute evidence of the unpredictability of children’s choice and explains why so many young girls wear bows in their hair.

In January who would have thought that JoJo would be so popular?

One assumes that The Independent, besides picking

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There you have it, open to a lot of scrutiny but those are the main lines that I feel will do really, really well this Christmas. The most difficult one for me to keep on the list is the Jo Jo Siwa Doll, as I think things like this are utter madness and show a total lack of imagination in kids these days, but I will stop my rant before it starts as I realise this is just the times we live in.

The other line that makes me cringe is the Who's The Dude from Drumond Park. I can't help it, but I simply love this item!

I played something very similar to this a couple of years ago at a party with friends and each of us have never laughed so hard in our lives, such a simple twist on a classic game but it transforms it into something so wonderfully hilarious that I couldn't not put it on the list.

I do realise that my business, and indeed the entire toy trade is not hanging on a Dream Toys list

where they either make a fortune or risk going out of business, but we work in an industry that is supposed to the fun, lively and enjoyable. I try my best to do this when given the chance, but unfortunately it doesn't come around too often. I think it is healthy to have a look at the full list of products and ranges that are on offer from all the various suppliers in the toy trade and to try and pick out the best products.

It is just a bit unfortunate that most of the best toys go to the larger suppliers, but every now and again you get a diamond in the rough from a supplier and all I do, as a retailer who tries his very

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what he hopes will be the winners this Christmas, would have made some serious commitment for these 12 items. If he has he will find that best sellers typically enjoy two frustrating characteristics. Firstly the more popular they are, the less stock he will get, and secondly he will sell what he has at lower margins.

But children fortunately receive a number of different toys so there is the opportunity to sell the parent a different doll when

OCTOBER 2017

Get

the selection right and top toy sales really can be the icing on the cake but the top toys usually are a small percentage of total toy sales

”

“

The most difficult one for me to keep on the list is the Jo Jo Siwa Doll, as I think things like this are utter madness

the parent asks for a Luvabella doll.

Nowadays almost every retailers has their list of Top Toys which is really a statement to say “we want to be your destination store for toys.”

Get the selection right and top toy sales really can be the icing on the cake but the top toys usually are a small percentage of total toy sales so all retailers have

best to work well with all suppliers, is hope that these guys get a winner and handle it properly.

The only other line that I really wanted to put onto the list but I thought it was only fair to keep it to 12 products, is the Hatchimal Colleggtible Nursery Playset from Spin Master. In essence by highlighting this I am pretty much adding it to the list, but it was the line that had to go simply because Hatchimals is already represented. Which, now that I have done this, highlights just how difficult it must be to narrow a fair list of 12 toys that represents what is new and going to be highly sought after this Christmas.

The final point of note in this is just how much things sway between suppliers on any given year. I have always done business in as fair a way as possible, and feel that when suppliers have been having a tough time that I have over-supported (even though my numbers are negligible in the overall) to help them weather the storm.

Next month's article will show my frustration at how this principle of supporting each other seems to be dwindling on the other side of the table…

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to sell the inventory they own to be profitable.

And of course there is always the toy that sparks a child’s enthusiasm that even someone as smart as The Independent does not anticipate until it happens.

Unpredictability is the common thread that runs through all top toy predications.

Don’t you just love the toy industry?!

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CoVER FEaTURE CHICCo

Food gloriou s Chicco has cooked up something special with its on-trend Food Truck 2-in-1, which helps children learn, develop their bilingual abilities and have a whole load of fun to boot!

C

hildren love to mimic their parents through play — that much we all know. And let’s face it, as any parent knows, you spend half your time cooking and the other half driving them around from one social event to another. Those insightful folks at Chicco have harnessed both of these behaviours and rolled them into one exciting toy in the fabulous Chicco Food Truck 2-in-1!

This vehicle has so many different play patterns that it really does represent excellent play value as well as value for money. Holly John, Chicco Marketing Manager says the children can learn a lot through this fun toy: “Food Truck 2-in-1 is highly informative as well as entertaining for children. A fully comprehensive activity centre, it teaches children the alphabet and different colours, while the cash till helps them learn different numbers

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Children can immerse themselves in a make-believe world as they become the next Jamie Oliver

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Now for the science bit!

Chicco’s Italy-based research facility, Osservatorio, is constantly looking towards the future, researching the most technologically advanced solutions that respond to the needs of today’s parents and children.

Osservatorio continuously collaborates with experts in the medical-scientific industry, something that is vital in keeping up to date with the knowledge and progress made within the paediatric field in assessing the scientific value of proposed products.

u s food! and types of food, all in both English and French. Children can immerse themselves in a makebelieve world as they become the next Jamie Oliver, serving tasty dishes to their friends and family along their journey.”

Chicco really likes to examine trends and current social mores and apply them to its toys — all with a fun and educational spin. With this in mind, the design team hooked on the idea of a cool food truck. After all, kids are used to seeing them at food markets, football matches and their own school fetes.

And what of the multiple features — how has Chicco looked to extend and maximise the play value of this toy? Holly says: “The Food Truck 2-in-1 combines two much-loved playtime concepts to create a modern twist on a classic toy, as well as teaching children both French and English through a variety of fun and interactive activities. The first mode utilises the classic play kitchen concept and comes complete with mechanical and electronic activities. They are able to cook, prepare the bill and serve meals, stimulating their imagination as well as developing

October 2017

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They are able to cook, prepare the bill and serve meals, stimulating their imagination as well as developing their roleplay and social skills

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their role-play and social skills. To activate the second mode, children simply have to close the curtain for the kitchen to transform into a vehicle that can be guided towards tasty new adventures.”

And Chicco is fully committed to supporting this trend-focused educational toy with a huge marketing campaign. Holly tells TnP: “Food Truck 2-in-1 will appear as part of our upcoming Christmas activity in digital, print and social media, all of which receive extremely high levels of engagement year-on-year. In particular, our ever-popular #12DaysOfChicco campaign is returning to Facebook for another year of festive fun and prize giveaways! Just like an interactive advent calendar, we will be giving

away a prize every single day in the 12 days before Christmas to the winners of our daily Facebook competitions.

The Chicco elves will be returning to screens from 1 December in our festive videos, and within each video will be a question to answer for the chance to win that day’s giveaway. The Food Truck 2-in-1 will of course be one of the prizes!”

And of course, it doesn’t end there for Chicco. The Fit n Fun range is really flying and the team is expecting great things for the brand as a whole in the coming months. “Yes, we can only getting better and better, with the introduction of more popular sports on the cards,” says Holly. “Watch this space, as next year you might have the next budding basketball star on your hands…”

Holly says: “Food Truck 2-in-1 has been extremely well received by our key toy specialists, and is stocked both in-store and online.

This can be largely attributed to the rise in popularity of bilingual products, with parents becoming increasingly interested in their children being fluent in more than one language. Buyers particularly love how Food Truck2-in-1’s activity centre is packed with lots of fun and games that stimulate creativity at a young age alongside teaching language and social skills.”

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what’s n Brand spanking new launches from top toy companies to help you sell more!

Girl power!

Mattel

01628 500000 www.mattel.com Barbie inspires every girl by empowering them to imagine themselves as anything, from a princess to a president, bringing this to life as only Barbie can and showing girls that You Can Be Anything!

The world’s number one fashion doll, Barbie will support key segment Dreamtopia with a look at all new magical kingdom Sweetville. The new range includes the Barbie Dreamtopia Sweetville Princess Doll, Carriage and Castle.

New entertainment theme Barbie Dolphin Magic is an allnew underwater adventure. Key products that will feature on TV include lead doll Barbie Dolphin Magic Snorkel Fun Friends and a fun new vehicle, Barbie Dolphin Magic Boat.

Also new for AW17 is Barbie DreamHorse Barbie’s most interactive pet companion yet, which can really dance, move and respond to kids’ real movements!

Fiestasaurus Fiesta CraFts 020 8804 0563 www.fiestacrafts.co.uk

Small is beautiful!

For playing in a mini world, there are also three dinosaur Finger Puppets - t-rex, Pterodactyl, and triceratops! three character

Fiesta Crafts, known for its adorable Hand and Finger Puppets, along with many other successful toys, have some delightful Dinosaur toys across its ranges.

Starting with Hand Puppets, there are six dinosaur puppets available. There are two scary T-Rex-style dinosaurs in green and red, as well as a friendly looking Triceratops and a cheeky looking Pterodactyl.

Both the Triceratops and the Pterodactyl are also available as BIG puppets — supersized and even more loveable!

Fiesta Crafts also has what all dinosaur lovers want: a dinosaur chalkboard to hang wherever they want! For more dinosaurs to stick about the place the Dinosaur Stickabouts set is ideal! There is also the Magnetic Dinosaurs set which contains 20 chunky dinosaur magnets in their very own dinosaur-themed storage box.

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Mattel’s marketing map Barbie will support key lines with marketing campaigns that include TV, digital, PR and social.

So magnetic! sMart tOYs and GaMes 01903 885669 www.smartgames.eu The magic of SmartMax continues to grow with two new and exciting My First sets.

These adorable magnetic construction toys are designed to encourage logical thinking and imaginative play for children aged one-plus.

Cute, creative and clever My First: Safari Animals will take little ones on a wild adventure with all their favourite animals: crocodile, hippo, lion, rhino, elephant and giraffe. With their bright, beautiful colours and soft plastic feel, these tactile toys will truly stimulate any child.

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new Shoppies til you drop!

GP Flair 020 8643 0320 www.flairplc.co.uk With the hugely successful Shoppies doll in its portfolio as well as a new line for the YouTube generation, GP Flair is leading the way in this popular girls’ category. Shoppies have become the number eight item in the market in the UK, with girls everywhere racing to collect the quirky themed characters. With the brand now into its eight season, the latest Shoppies dolls are going on a World Vacation! The hero line, which is sure to be on wish lists this Christmas, is Skyanna’s Jet Playset which comes with the exclusive Skyanna Pilot doll, three exclusive Shopkins and themed accessories. The Jet can hold three globetrotting Shoppies and also features rotating seats and an overhead luggage compartment.

Shoppies collectors are also in for a treat with the launch of the new Super Mall playset! This extensive playset is the ultimate play and display line for fans of the range. Features include a working lipstick lift, gumball dispenser and a fashion runway for the dolls to show off their style.

Flipping good time K’Nex 01189 497000 www.knex.co.uk

Did you know?

The K’Nex Thrill Rides Web The new K’Nex Thrill Rides Web Weaver Roller Coaster was Weaver Roller Coaster includes more listed as one of Toy Fair than 400 pieces to build a roller coaster 2017’s Best New Toys and has that stands an impressive 2.5 feet tall! been shortlisted in the 2017 Featuring a glow-in-the-dark track and Made for Mums Toy Awards, motorized spider themed coaster car, with winners to be revealed which zooms around the track even while in October. they flip the coaster between horizontal and vertical thrills!

Full-colour building instructions are included and instructions for an alternate build can be downloaded online, effectively offering two toys for the price of one.

A robust PR and marketing programme will support this key item from September through to Christmas with 400 TVR’s, a brand new Web Weaver themed game on the K’NEX microsite hosted by Cartoon Network, social media activity engaging gift giving grown-ups and PopJam content generating buzz with kids.

Pure power!

Bandai

0208 324 6160 www.bandai.co.uk From Bandai’s Power Rangers Ninja Steel range comes the ultimate playset for fans of the teen heroes! The Lion Fire Fortress Megazord is the biggest Megazord playset of all time, making it an essential for Power Rangers play.

This ultimate Power Rangers playset features multiple modes for kids to discover and launch into action. In Fortress mode, kids can roll into battle, firing missiles and locking up villains in the stockade!

Megazord mode sees the playset morph into a towering Megazord at over 50cm tall with epic battle sounds. Or to activate Ultrazord mode and fire the twin blasting bazookas, kids can combine the Lion Fire Fortress with the Deluxe Ninja Megazord and any of the 12.5cm Action Figures — both sold separately.

Did you know...

The Lion Fire Fortress has over 20 battle features and accessories for non-stop, action-packed play value.

October 2017

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WATCH OUT FOR… HASBRO SPECIAL A focus on Hasbro products that are hot right now and can help you sell more Disney Tangle d Series Spin ‘n the S tyle Rapun zel

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View from the Top

Aquadoodle is going from strength to strength

Playing to Win Mark Foster, Executive Vice President, EMEA at TOMY, talks TnP through some terrific product successes, new launches and the company’s growth opportunities Mark, you joined TOMY in 2015, what’s changed in the nearly two years that you’ve now been at the helm?

Well, it’s been a phenomenally busy couple of years. On an organisational front, we have been recruiting some great new talent across all areas of the business and giving some real attention to our internal processes. It’s not something immediately apparent to those outside TOMY, but as a result I know we are quicker, slicker and more commercially focused than ever.

I’d say we are also very clear now about our overall direction and brand priorities. Over the

“

We are successfully getting back to the roots of what made TOMY successful originally

”

Greedy Granny is just one of TOMY’s brands benfiting from heavyweight TV

32

years, we’d managed to build up a portfolio that was probably a little too diverse. Now the entire organisation is fully aligned behind our strategies: building our core brands, being the best possible long-term partner for licences that complement those brands, and having some entrepreneurial fun with some of the novelties that come out of our Japanese parent company.

As well as sorting all that out, we’ve also consolidated three warehouses into one and moved offices!

With so much going on you’ve also produced some great toys! Talk us through some highlights.

We had a great run as master toy licensee on three Disney theatrical releases, pretty much back-to-back.

And before the dust was settling on those, Pokémon really took off. I’d say we’ve done a great job on these and demonstrated our abilities to effectively manage ranges globally.

But I also take a lot of pride in seeing the progress and successes we are seeing in our core brand development. Lamaze continues to be a huge brand for us, with Octotunes turning into a bit of cult product in the line. It’s funny to see YouTube postings showing how to play his musical legs — Wham’s Last Christmas is my favourite!

We are just rolling out a complete re-working of the TOMY toddler and bath products under the Toomies

brand. It looks so strong and pulls the range together brilliantly under a set of adorable characters that were designed in-house. The Foam Cone Factory has been a massive success, making us the brand leader in bath toys last year.

Aquadoodle is a proven winner and goes from strength to strength. The response to the TV advertising behind the new Super Colour Deluxe version was enormous.

Why have they worked?

Everyone in TOMY is passionate about our products and I think we have some of the best designers in the industry working for us — not just here in the UK, but we can call on ideas from our operations in the US and Japan. We are always looking for surprising innovation in all our products — features that deliver a little bit of TOMY magic.

We believe that kids should be delighted to play with our products, and that reputation builds into powerful word-of-mouth recommendations and loyalty.

This philosophy is applied equally to the simplest, and youngest-targeted toys, like Toomies Hide ‘n’ Squeak Eggs, through to the most complex Bluetoothenable toys like our Lightseekers range.

TOMY is really skilled at keeping evergreens strong and relevant. How do you achieve this?

And there’s more to come! With a renewed focus on our core brands, some of the innovations we have coming through on our evergreens are really exciting as we explore how to strengthen and refresh the key items, but also take our brands into new territories. We can’t wait to get these to Toy Fair!

15 toysnplaythings.co.uk

What can retailers expect from partnering with TOMY? “All of our brands are strong within their categories and we believe they all have place within our retailers’ selections. We are a nimble and responsive team and can work with our customers on any number of programmes.

We see our customers as true partners in making our brand be successful for both us and them. We are happy to work with the marketing tools available to us via our partners but equally are able to put together bespoke programmes and merchandising solutions as appropriate.”

Mark Foster, VP, EMEA, TOMY

One of my favourite brands in our portfolio, which people don’t always realise is from TOMY, is Britains. This range of die-cast collectable farm toys is so strong and has a passionate fan base.

We work with that fan base directly to actually shape the product develop direction — it’s a really unusual but successful model.

TOMY is really flying at the moment – what has been critical in the growth and success?

I’d say we are successfully getting back to the roots of what made TOMY successful originally: a focus on our core areas of expertise, backed up by great product development.

We’re also being much bolder in our marketing plans.

Great product is important of course, and when we find it, we are now more confident to really back it with strong marketing plans across platforms.

An example of this would be our Greedy Granny game.

We knew from consumer feedback that we had a winner on our hands, so we ‘went big’ last year and it paid off for everyone.

You’ll see more of that, and not just with what

October 2017

“

The popular Foam Cone Factory is part of the new TOOMIES brand

We are always looking for surprising innovation in all our products – features that deliver a little bit of TOMY magic

”

we have coming though in games (which is just fantastic), but across the portfolio.

How does a modern toy company manage the digital side of marketing?

We are putting a lot more emphasis on digital marketing. It’s an area where we knew we could make a difference, so we have just appointed our first dedicated Digital Marketing Manager.

We are making investments to both increase the breadth and quality of our products’ presence online, and also build relationships with our consumers on social media.

Molang has just launched — how was it received at trade and also with consumers?

Molang is looking very promising for us. The property is completely on trend as we see more kawaii [Japanese for cute]

Molang is expanding rapidly

style products in a whole range of categories, not just toys.

But what makes Molang stand out is the adorable animated series that brings Molang and his friends to life, rather than simply as a style guide execution. It’s a true multimedia property: the TV series performs extremely well, but Molang is also in publishing, a social media star, and an interactive app. The property is hot in France right now and is expanding rapidly.

And lastly Mark, what is the next phase for TOMY? We are playing to win! What you will see from TOMY is a clear and consistent approach to our brands and licences, and being really prepared to support our winners. We know our strengths, and are convinced that we have great brands and some standout individual products, so we are going to braver than ever in backing ourselves. That means bolder plans but also multi-dimensional plans as we step forward in integrating digital marketing and social media. And we’ll have some surprises in store as we pick up more unusual items from elsewhere in the TOMY group. We are all very excited about the coming year now our foundations are strong and our direction is clear.

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FEATURE

EDUCATIONAL TOYS

Mattel

Love to learn Educational toys have been strong performers for decades, but this is a broad category that’s always evolving and constantly surprising – whether parents are looking to ‘teach’ babies about tummy time or boost children’s bilingual skills.

Toys n Playthings found out more

M

ention toys with educational benefits and you could be thinking about simple bath or baby products that grab the attention through colour, characters or music — or the latest must-have construction kit designed to be as tech-savvy as today’s children are.

But that’s the joy of this constantly evolving category. So whether you’re talking coding toys and robots, products designed for keen builders, pre-school models featuring the latest licensed characters or toys designed to boost language skills, there really is something out there for everyone.

“The educational toys sector has been steadily growing for a very long time,” says David Mordecai, CEO of Tobar.

“Many toys can be said to have an educational

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“

Many toys can be said to have an educational element… and they’ve never been so in demand David Mordecai, Tobar

element though in that they teach children about the world through colours, shapes, characters or forms and they’ve never been so in demand. Parents especially love toys that make learning fun for their children, and we’ve seen this across many of our ranges.”

Joanna Drage, UK Sales Director at Thames & Kosmos agrees: “The educational toy sector has been growing ever since I’ve been involved in the industry, although they’ve become much more strategic in recent years. I think it’s great that children can now explore academic subjects that interest them in a non-formal setting via such toys — it makes it much more interesting and less of a chore.

“I’d say the

Learning Resources

interest in educational toys has really ramped up in the last five years and I can’t see any signs of a slowdown.”

At Juratoys, educational toys are a “massive part” of the business, says Sales & Marketing Manager Michelle Probert. “We pride ourselves on designing toys which not only have an element of fun but are also geared towards learning and developing skills through the ages.”

How early should you start?

Almost from the moment they are born babies begin learning from watching the world around them, so educational toys can begin to be introduced before little ones even learn to smile or sit up.

“Babies are learning from the moment they arrive,” Joanna says.

“And I believe cause and effect bath and baby toys are valuable learning tools. At Thames & Kosmos our current view is that babies need to learn basic concepts first, and so we

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Juratoys

don’t manufacture any STEM kits for children under three years.”

Michelle agrees: “Early years toys are extremely important for the development of babies. Janod have a dedicated design team who design products to develop motor skills, eye and hand co-ordination and dexterity.”

But as Shahbaz Khan, Country Manager for UK/Ireland for Clementoni explains, it is important to offer educational toys that are relevant to a particular age group.

“We need to be sensitive of offering certain technology too early, so we ensure the products we offer to parents are exactly where the child should be developmentally,” he says.

“Our infant toys are packed with features which delight babies through lights, music and characters, as well as numbers, colours and shapes.

“We don’t want to push too much technology too soon, but we continually provide innovation that is relevant.”

STEM and STREAM These days STEM and STREAM toys are increasingly important for

OCTOBER 2017

both genders. Plus, looking ahead, these toys can also provide a great grounding in learning that could even lead to better job security in life.

“Most parents are aware that there will be more job security for today’s children if they chooses sciencerelated employment,” Thames & Kosmos’ Joanna reveals. And in addition to this the government are We ensure really pushing girls into the products we sciences which has helped to offer to parents promote STEM toys.

“As a result STEM toys are exactly where — especially engineering the child products and coding kits — have seen a real boost should be in sales. developmentally Shahbaz adds: “STEM Shahbaz Khan, has certainly seen a surge Clementoni in recent years. We are definitely seeing a trend towards girls in STEM as well as STEM technology targeting younger age children, but again we come back to ensuring it’s age appropriate.”

“

Bilingually speaking As our world becomes ever more global in its outlook, a new trend has been sparked within the educational toys sector pushing products that encourage children to learn a second language. And when you consider both the popularity of this amongst parents as well as the fact that children find it easy to pick up a new language at an early age, it makes complete sense.

“Children are much more proficient at picking up new languages when they’re young, so introducing them to a second language through their toys aids this learning right from when they’re starting to speak,” says Holly John, Marketing Manager for Chicco.

“This current trend in aiding bilingual skills is set to continue, with parents increasingly interested and research showing that the best time to learn a second language is while children are still learning their mother tongue.

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FEATURE

EDUCATIONAL TOYS

Book smart JURATOYS 020 8878 2133 www.juratoys.co.uk Janod Magnetibook Shapes will boost children’s creativity and fine motor skills while they’re having fun! This activity, which is perfect for home or on-the-go play, contains 30 different pictures and 43 different magnetic pieces.

Parents simply put up the card that contains the design their child would like to match then find the pieces in the box to make it. Or they can use their imagination to see what fun and crazy images they can dream up.

The Magnetibook comes in a box disguised as a book that, once opened, creates the perfect canvas – and when little

Gearing up for school LEARNING RESOURCES 01553 819 380 www.learningresources.co.uk Possibilities are powered by imaginations with new Gears! Gears! Gears! sets by Learning Resources. A fun and affordable introduction to the award-winning range, Cycle Gears and Rover Gears, the sets contain all of the pieces needed to build one of three, illustrated vehicle designs.

Suitable for ages four and above, the fun, bright colours and easy-to-assemble pieces make these hands-on construction sets a whole new building experience.

Designs are set in motion with turning gears and spinning wheels, perfect for building engineering, critical thinking and motor skills.

Completely interchangeable, each set in the range features optional building ideas while also fostering creative, open-ended play.

ones are done for the day, its easy to pack it away and stash it on their bookshelf for the next day. The Janod Magnetibook Shapes comes complete with book-shaped play case, 43 magnetic play pieces and 30 design cards, and is recommended for children three years-plus.

Magneticbook is just one educational toy in Juratoys’ incredible range. Other star products include The vibrantly coloured Janod Baby Forest Activity Table, STEM construction line ZOOB, and more!

Keep On Track!

PAUL LAMOND GAMES 020 7254 0100 www.paul–lamond.com The ThinkFun range is an innovative collection of games designed to stretch and shape the mind, putting strategic and logical thinking to the test. New for 2017 is the Roller Coaster Challenge, a game where players solve engineering challenges by creating mini roller coaster tracks. Also new for 2017 is an innovative version of the classic Sudoku puzzle that uses colours rather than numbers. The aim is to flip and arrange the nine coloured cubes until no colours are repeated in any row or column. It sounds easy but there are over two trillion different ways to position the coloured cubes. Also look out for Balance Beans, That Flipping Word Game Kids Trivia Plus and the Chimp and Zee range.

Block party RAINBOW DESIGNS 01329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk Rainbow Designs offers an abundance of classic educational toys across many of its renowned licenses to encourage learning in the early years.

The beautifully illustrated wooden blocks sets are the perfect activity to encourage creative building as well as number and letter recognition. Available in the Peter Rabbit, Guess How Much I Love You and The Very Hungry Caterpillar designs, the 16 wooden blocks feature letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-10 alongside beautiful brand illustrations.

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Street food revolution – role play

For more information, please contact our Head Office on 02089536627 or visit www.chicco.co.uk

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20/09/2017 11:35

Feature

Educational Toys

Treat for the senses Tobar 01603 397 105 www.tobar.co.uk

Pop-up and play!

Chicco 020 8953 6627 www.chicco.co.uk Sam the Mole is an adorable bilingual educational activity centre, designed to encourage children to learn how to say shapes, colours and animals in both English and Italian. Much more than just a traditional shapesorter toy, once all shapes have been placed into the correct slot, Sam will pop up to congratulate you, and the game will begin again. It also features a 123 button which will teach children numbers in both languages, and an ABC button which teaches children letters in both languages too. With over 30 songs and words in Italian and English, Sam the Mole is perfect for any child learning new languages.

Recognising the huge surge in street food popularity over the last year, Chicco is starting its very own street food revolution in 2017! With the introduction of the Food Truck 2-in-1, Chicco is combining two massively popular playtime concepts, the play kitchen and play vehicle to create a kitchen that is on wheels! The first toy street food kitchen on the market to transform into a vehicle, the Food Truck 2-in-1 is an activity centre that appeals to a child’s inclination for role-play while also promoting the importance of socialising.

In the lab DKL Marketing 01604 678780 www.dkl.co.uk SmartLab’s toys help teach STEM subjects such as biology, engineering and physics in a fun way that appeals to children, making these products a win-win for the whole family. Squishy Human Body and Squishy Brain Grab the attention of all future surgeons out there. This interesting set comes complete with squishy body parts, surgery tools, bones, human body model and stand, organiser poster, and more!

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Tobar has announced a great line of sensory toys that are fun and educational for kids. The products are perfect for helping to keep children occupied, providing hours of fun exploring their senses with a range of exciting novelties, including the Furry Fun Bug and Flashing Water Snake. The company has recently introduced two new products the range – a new textured Tangle and a cool and colourful Sensory Ball, which is already proving to be a big hit. It’s seven balls in one with lots of different shapes, textures and colours, making it a popular choice for consumer on the hunt for something fresh and unique. The sensory toy line is great for all the family and fun as gifts, brilliant for keeping little ones engaged.

Sharing and caring Mattel

01628 500000 www.mattel.com Fisher-Price continues to showcase an impressive range of educationally-led toys, including innovative new launches that enable pre-schoolers to experience hours of fun through learning.

The Fisher-Price Think & Learn pre-school learning category expands with exciting new offerings including Teach ‘n Tag Movi, a fun interactive learning buddy that gets children moving. While the Measure with Me! Froggy features fun measuring games and the Rhythm ‘n Roll Hedgehog teaches skills like spelling simple words.

Autumn/winter sees the relaunch of Fisher-Price Little People with new products that teach children about emotional intelligence. The range includes the Animal Rescue, encouraging children to learn what it feels like to take care of someone else. Also in the range is the Caring for Animals Farm, focusing on teaching children core soft skills including manners and sharing, caring for others and teaching feelings and emotions.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Learning...

Building self confidence through play

Specialist in Wooden Toys, Games and Puzzles

60 amazing bath products to choose from

32 High Park Road • Kew Gardens • Richmond • TW9 4BH • United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 8878 2133 | janod.com - kaloo.com - alexbrands.com

Jura Toys.indd 1

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Feature

Educational Toys

Making learning fun

Slimy time!

01953 859539 www.orchardtoys.com

0161 633 9800 www.character-online.com

Established for over 40 years, British manufacturer Orchard Toys has a reputation for delivering quality educational games, jigsaws and activities that are trusted by both parents and educational professionals for their balance of education and fun.

Match and Spell, which was launched only two years ago, is now Orchard Toy’s second bestseller.

Double-sided boards mean this first literacy game can be played progressively to support children as they develop and gain confidence in spelling and word building.

Sitting in line with the key stage one national curriculum, the game can be used in a variety of situations, from home to school.

Designed specifically for older children aged five to seven in collaboration with teachers, Magic Maths is a fun and unique game where players take turns to solve sums and fill their board. They must rub the magical, heatsensitive patches on the back of the cards to reveal the correct answer. The game incorporates a broad range of sums including addition, subtraction and multiplication.

What’s the Time, Mr Wolf? is a classic example of Orchard Toys’ ethos of learning made fun. This unique, animal-filled board game for ages five to nine offers a fun alternative solution to help children learn both analogue and digital time telling through play.

Launching this month is Character’s Cra-Z-Slimy Creations range which will fly off shelves when kids see that the kit comes with everything needed to make your own slime.

The play pattern is not only trendy but also educational with several ingredients included for kids to concoct the perfect formula for slime. The Slimy Fun Kit comes with glue, slime activator, colourant, glitter and everything else needed to start experimenting, whilst the Silly Slimy Fun Kit comes with added sequins and googly eyes for extra slimy fun.

TV advertising is currently supporting the Cra-ZSlimy launch and further marketing activity is also in place to ensure brand awareness right through half term and into Christmas.

From Character Options’ portfolio also comes Magtastix and Magcreator. These clever magnetic toys teach critical STEM skills. Magtastix is all about imagination. Children can create hundreds of awesome structures and designs with a combination of magnetic rods and metal balls. Alternatively there’s Magcreator where children can design and build hundreds of cool designs using the brightly coloured geometric shapes.

Orchard Toys

Learning goals Clementoni 020 3206 1101 www.clementoni.com DOC is the first ever game that brings children closer to educational robotics in a fun and creative way and will accompany the child as they learn logical reasoning and problem solving skills, letters, numbers and colours, plus the names of animals. Children learn through play by programming commands from game cards and watching DOC go.

Strong focus is being placed on the infant category with Baby Clementoni. The 2017 line includes the brand new Musical Elephant — a fun musical activity centre that helps teach babies from 10 months letters, numbers and colours — and the new Interactive Football Table — a really fun, two-in-one game that teaches first letters and numbers, shapes, colours and new words in English and in Spanish, it counts all the goals and communicates the score. Players move just like on a real football table and the flags move with every kick.

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Character Options

Home development Little Tikes 0845 0533 333 www.littletikes.co.uk The Construct ‘n Learn Smart Work Bench is sure to spark the imagination of little budding DIY lovers! Including nine interactive tools including a drill, hammer and screwdriver.

A little mechanic’s work is never done as this work bench allows them to construct up to three different vehicles or use their imagination to create their very own.

Fair-y play Interplay UK 01628 488944 www.interplayuk.com My Fairy Garden offers children a imaginative, open-ended play while discovering the magic of growing real plants. With the new Unicorn Garden, children create a magical garden where Fairy Belle and her unicorn friend can make a wish.

This is a Grow & Play playset that includes seeds and everything needed to make an enchanting garden sure to attract plenty of unicorns and fairies.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

M5967 UK TnP Oct. Ed Toys ADv3_HI.pdf

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FEATURE

EDUCATIONAL TOYS

Bringing innovation ENGINO 0800 988 7068 www.enginotoys.co.uk

Do the robot!

THAMES & KOSMOS 01580 212 000 www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk Thames and Kosmos take construction and coding to the next level with brand new Robotics Workshop. Using sensors, motors, a core controller, and hundreds of snap-together building pieces, children can follow the instructions in the 96-page, full-colour manual to assemble 12 different robots or create their own designs.

Kids can begin with building ultrasound, line tracker, touch sensor or doodling robots and progress through the robotics curriculum to create more complex robots that have multiple functions, such as a ballmanipulating, crawling and grabbing robot.

The robots can be controlled directly in real-time and programmed to perform a series of commands using an easy-to-use and free downloadable app on tablets and smartphones. The app wirelessly connects to the core controller using a Bluetooth, low energy connection.

Children can create more complex programs using the open source visual block programming editor Google Blockly on a PC with a USB connection to the core controller. A great way to have fun controlling the robot’s brain!

Major draw JUMBO GAMES 01707 289289 www.jumbo.eu Jumbo’s Dessineo Learn to Draw is the new artistic educational toy that is perfect for stimulating the creativity and imagination of a child. It will keep them entertained for hours as they learn how to draw a variety of pictures, step by step, rather than just tracing finished pictures. The Dessineo Learn to Draw is specially designed for children aged four and older, providing them with simple shapes as a stencil and a wide variety of entertaining and recognisable pictures such as animals, vehicles, fantasy characters, buildings and more.

To make drawing easier, Dessineo features a light up projector that when turned on creates a perfect outline of the stencil shown on the transparent picture templates, designed to make it simpler for children to draw accurately around the lines.

6

Engino has established itself in the STEM category as a pioneer within construction through it’s Discovering STEM series and ERP Robotics Series.

Discovering STEM provides a construction range which allow students to build models that demonstrate and explain a variety of STEM subjects, including Newton’s laws, gears, levers, structures and solar power.

The ultimate STEM product from Engino is the Robotics series. Here students can not only experiment with STEM theories but can also programme their own creations for movement and activity. Students can learn to programme their own creations or follow the educational builds.

Train of thought TRENDS UK

01295 768078 www.trendsuk.co.uk Designed to help pre-schoolers develop early learning skills while having lots of fun, Trends UK ELAs feature top pre-school licenses Peppa Pig, Thomas and Mr Tumble.

The ELAs include activities for understanding colours, communication, phonetics and numeracy through interactive play features and are supported with PR.

Teach and Motivate SPIN MASTER 01628 535000 www.spinmaster.com Meccano has launched two exciting new robotic sets this autumn.

Meccano M.A.X. Robot is the most advanced Meccano robot to date, drawing on robotics technology that combines artificial intelligence learning and customisable programming to create a one of a kind personal assistant.

Building the Meccano MeccaSpider is just the start of the fun. With app control and venom attack, it’s easy to keep enemies at bay.

MeccaSpider also has an interactive personality.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Watch your sales multiply with our wonderful wooden

Educational Range

Place your order today tel: 01603 397 105 email: sales@tobar.co.uk www.tobar.co.uk

Spotlight on SMARTMAX Designed to encourage logical thinking, as well as creativity and hand-eye coordination, the unique My First: Animal Train set from SmartMax enables children to build their very own train while gaining an understanding of magnetism

le, yet p m i s e Th design e v i t c e eff ren of d l i h c s enable o engage t s e g a all roduct p e h t h wit eir own h t d l i u and b n in a i a r t e u uniq ways f o e d multitu

All parts are 3cmplus, meaning it’s super safe and will keep tots twiddling for hours!

for ages Magnetic discovery years 18 months - ďŹ ve Contact Smart Toys & Games 01903 885669 www.smartmax.eu

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Parts are compatible with all SmartMax sets

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TRADE

OPINION

Trade talk This month, Team TnP catches up with some of the industry’s finest to discover their thoughts on Q4 lines, Toys R Us, and trends to keep an eye out for

Name: Position: Company: Key Products:

Steven Russell Senior Marketing Executive Jumbo Games Wasgij and Falcon de luxe Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle Mates Jigsaw Accessories, and GOULA

What are you excited about in Q4?

We are very excited about Q4 and continuing the fantastic double-digit growth we are having across our Adult puzzles and accessories. We’ve released a further 14 brand new puzzles across our Falcon de luxe and Jan van Haasteren ranges, especially for autumn and with Wasgij sales at an alltime high this year, we’ve extremely confident that it’ll be a great quarter.

I’d recommend you check out our Wasgij and Falcon Christmas puzzles, that both offer a FREE 1,000-piece puzzle for consumers, as these are sure to drive sales this autumn.

Our Wasgij 20th Anniversary promotion continues to drive consumer interest, as fans have been given the opportunity to win a ‘money can’t buy’ Limited Edition Wasgij Original puzzle that has been produced especially for this anniversary year!

It’s not all about our Adult puzzles – we’ve got some great children’s and family games available, that we’re already seeing strong demand for from retail and consumers – most noticeably with the release of our brand new Disney Guess the Film Game.

How is the Toys R Us America situation going to impact toy retail in the UK? TRU has been such a driving force in the toy trade for so many years, and is synonymous with play and excitement throughout the year. We continue to be a supporter of Toys R Us as a major player in the industry in the UK and it is sad to read the current news stories. We trust the situation will be resolved and TRU can get back to focussing on what it does best, having such a strong affiliation with all generations.

Where in retail have you seen growth in the past year)?

We have seen strong growth across our Independent customer base, gaining new accounts and increasing sales with existing, loyal customers. Garden Centres have also been a retail channel that has grown for us and we will continue to invest in this throughout the autumn.

For the first time, we exhibited at the Birmingham Autumn Fair Show in September and we received an incredible response to our presence and as a result, gained a lot of new business for our Adult puzzles and range of GOULA wooden toys. This decision highlights our strategy and the importance we place on our independent customer base and we will continue this into Q4 and throughout 2018!

What’s the next big trend from a retail or product perspective?

I honestly believe, as we have seen this year, that adult jigsaw puzzles and this ‘family time’ way of thinking is going to continue into 2018.

46

TnP loves to hear your views. This month we speak to key wholesalers and suppliers to learn what’s on their minds.

We explore the hottest topics

Name: Position: Company: Key products:

Paul Beverley Managing Director PMS International Elves Behavin’ Badly

What are you excited about in Q4?

Our Elves Behavin’ Badly range has been a phenomenal success. We are bringing in new shipments every week to keep up with demand.

Our PR and Marketing campaign has generated even more orders and we cannot wait to see our customers sharing their scenes on our new social media platforms and website.

Where in retail have you seen growth in the past year?

We’ve seen a huge increase in traditional Christmas board games and light-hearted games the whole family can play. Our Jibber Jabber game has been a best-seller and our Prosecco Pong is proving very popular. There’s a big market for competitive games that are easy to set up and suitable for larger groups.

Name: Martin Grossman Position: Managing Director Company: H. Grossman Ltd Key products: Slime, Unicorns What are you excited about in Q4?

The next three months will be all about Slime! It is getting everywhere… also Unicorn products — they are huge at the moment too.

How is the Toys R Us America situation going to impact toy retail in the UK? It won’t have any impact. It shouldn’t make any difference to the UK at all. Things will settle down.

Where in retail have you seen growth in the past year?

There is more generic product being bought, and also an expansion in pocket money lines.

What’s the next big trend from a retail or product perspective?

Slime! And Genius Putty.

Oh and Unicorns!

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Name: Tom Ellyatt Position: Marketing Manager Company: Wilton Bradley Key products: Monster Smash Ups, Mi-Mic, Great British Sewing Bee Kids Sewing Machine Range What are you excited about in Q4?

Our exciting new Monster Smash Ups range lands in store supported by our biggest ever multichannel marketing campaign from TV advertising to instore demo days in Hamleys Regent Street Store.

We are seeing strong early sell through on our new Mi-Mic Karaoke Microphone range, with a number of majors already repeating for Q4.

We are also excited to see our new licensed Great British Sewing Bee range hit the stores supported by our huge blogger campaign.

How is the Toys R Us America situation going to impact toy retail in the UK? If what we are told is true, that the Toys R Us’s UK business won’t be affected, then we don’t see the situation having much impact here in the short term. Of course all toy retailers and manufacturers will be following the situation closely to see how it develops and Name: Position: Company: Key products:

Michael Angel UK/Ireland Country Manager Toy State B/op and R/C Vehicles

What are you excited about in Q4?

I’m really keen to see the success of our new Nikko Air DRL racing drone range, which recently launched at retail.

Given our unique proposition of working with DRL, the premier drone racing league in the world, and the real racing technology we’re bringing in these products, we know consumers will love them! This is an exciting new category for Toy State, and we’re focused on leading the way for future development.

How is the Toys R Us America situation going to impact toy retail in the UK? Given the news that just broke about TRU USA arranging US$3.1b financing facilities that will support their operations during its financial restructuring process, this will be very good news to the whole Toy Trade community worldwide.

Where in retail have you seen growth in the past year?

We have worked hard in preparing for 2017 with a significant amount of new product and licences. We’re looking for these efforts to aid in building on our successes over the past few years, giving us the springboards for business growth this year.

What’s the next big trend from a retail or product perspective?

We are expecting big growth in the Drones and branded Radio Control categories. Also, the licensed vehicle business continues to go from strength to strength. With the toy industry being so dynamic with many amazing new products in-market each year, it’s always exciting to see, and hopefully lead, the trends in this exciting business!

OCTOBER 2017

looking ever closer at their own strategies to review how they can positions themselves to take advantage or avoid being next in trouble.

Where in retail have you seen growth in the past year?

We have seen growth in all areas of our business through all channels this year. Our toy sales have grown healthily (alongside our leisure and sports offerings) thanks to the launch of Monster Smash Ups and Mi-Mic and our new licensed Great British Sewing Bee range. All of which I’m happy to say have been supported by a bigger marketing budget! Naturally our online customers are performing strongly as well as our direct to consumer dispatch service, allowing our customers to offer far wider ranges online than they can instore.

What’s the next big trend from a retail or product perspective?

From a product perspective – Active toys, childhood favourites / retro toys & tech toys.

From a retail perspective – Everything quicker & simpler – speed & ease of website, purchase/payment and delivery or collection.

Name Position: Company: Key products:

Alex Chavez-Munoz Director and Co-Founder Viral Talent Social Talent with a focus on “Kidfluencers”

What are you excited about in Q4?

We are fortunate to be working with some incredible businesses and brands with our influencers this year. Spin master never fail to delight with their innovative launches and have been great for our social influencers to get involved in. Hasbro’s My Little Pony range looks fantastic and as you might expect the Nerf Nitros have gone down a real treat in our office!

How is the Toys R Us America situation going to impact toy retail in the UK? Importantly at the moment the industry as a whole appears buoyant and brands that invest in marketing and promoting their products aligned close to retailers seem to be excited about Q4. We work very closely with all large toy retailers including Toy R Us UK and as yet have not felt any impact. Crucially we are all responsible for creative and cool executions at consumer level but also distributing the shopper missions and we see retailers and brands prepared to take calculated risks in the run up to the busiest consumer buying season which is needed both to support the industry but also to ensure footfall and getting product off the shelves!

Where in retail have you seen growth in the past year?

In-store theatre and offering added value are themes we are constantly talking about and promoting. It is necessary these days.

2

DON’T MISS… We bring to the fore a selection of the hottest products from Revell that will help you sell more. Buyers and retailers, get in touch with your sales contact now!

UNSC Warthog - HALO (Build & Play)

Junior Kit - Cars 3 Lightning McQueen (Build & Play)

UNSC Pelican - HALO (Build & Play)

Junior Kit - Garbage Truck (Build & Play)

Junior Kit - Cars 3 Jackson Storm (Build & Play)

Junior Kit - Cars 3 Cruz Ramirez (Build & Play)

Junkers Ju88 A-4 - TECHNIK with Working Lights/Propellers VW Beetle 1951/1952 TECHNIK with Working Lights Flower Class Corvette TECHNIK with Working Lights

48

toysnplaythings.co.uk

Tornado F.3 ADV

Spitfire Mk.Ixc

Resistance A-Wing Fighter Red (Build & Play)

Revell Control Junior – Locomotive

OCTOBER 2017

Black Pearl - Pirates of the Carribean (Easy-Click System)

First Order Heavy Assault Walker (Build & Play)

Kylo Ren’s TIE Fighter (Build & Play)

Resistance A-Wing Fighter - Blue (Build & Play)

Revell Control Junior – Airplane

49

DON’T MISS…

Spot VR - Virtual Reality Drone

Dakar - TECHNIK RC Construction Kit

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All these brands brought to you by Revell!

From award-winning construction kits to pioneering RC and VR innovations, Revell’s best-selling brands include:

Contact Revell 01296 660 291 revell.de/en

50

toysnplaythings.co.uk

P&C.indd 1

11/09/2017 09:51

Feature Scooters

Thrills on wheels There’s much more to scooters than simply speeding up the school run. TnP spoke to some of the leading brands in the market to find out more…

T

wice a day on weekdays in cities, towns and villages up and down Britain you’ll see a procession of scooter aficionados navigating the school run.

And while these skilled riders Scooters are most likely to be primary represent great school aged, or younger - with scooter fans these days often value for as little as two - the technological advances and money sheer creativity of Phil Ratcliffe, MV craftsmanship displayed in this Sports toy sector means that adults are often just as big fans.

Scooters appeal to a wide range of ages, boasting designs that go from simple to space-age, at a huge selection of price points. No wonder then that they’re viewed by many consumers as the most fun you can have on two or even three wheels.

Today electric scooters and lithium-powered hoverboard models are the latest designs to capture the attention of older children and adults alike – but the simple appeal of a starter scooter to pre-school children is also just as strong. Plus they also help toddlers develop motor skills, social skills, hand and eye coordination and speed awareness – to name just a few of the benefits.

“Scooters have the ability to evolve, and have done over the years,” explains Ying Pickavance, Hy-Pro’s Senior Category and Brand Manager.

“Not only have they proven to be a prevailing childhood staple – they also have so many other functions.

“Riding stunt scooters is a

“

popular sport, electric scooters are a safe and convenient alternative for the daily commute and scooters are now beginning to be integrated into travel to make life easier for parents and more exciting for kids – such as with our Flyte brand.”

“Scooters represent great value for money at the present time compared to other toys,” adds Phil Ratcliffe, Sales & Marketing Director, MV Sports & Leisure. “They are easy to ride, extremely durable and allow children to get active in a fun and safe way.”

Ageless appeal From pre-school kids to tweens to teens to adults, scooters are an enduring product category within the toys sector because of their timeless appeal, multifunctional benefits and the fact that both existing models and new designs continually adapt and change to meet current market needs.

So whether the consumer is looking to buy a pint-sized model to help their young family get from A to B quicker, or to perform tricks and stunts, there is something out there to suit everyone.

“Consumers are drawn to products that are multifunctional and give more for their money,” Hy-Pro’s Ying says. “Our tri to inline scooter allows children to grow up with our products by covering the scooter once they are ready to advance to the next level. While our Flyte range combines a scooter with the functionality of a cabin-sized case to add a little extra magic

for travelling families.”

Phil Ratcliffe agrees that scooters have stood out as a toy category that endlessly evolves in recent years.

“There are a myriad of different variations, from the traditional tri-scooter to tilt, stunt, racing, twist, in-line, electric and self-propelling models – to name but a few. And some scooters also have electronic, interactive and light/sound features,” Phil says.

We asked…

How important are licenses?

“Licenses are very important for MV as children love riding around and being identified with their very favourite character.”

Phil Ratcliffe, MV Sports “At Hy-Pro we certainly believe that licensing has its place with a popularity among children who recognise their favourite characters in our products.

However our focus in recent years has been to evolve the scooter and deliver the future in this market.”

Ying Pickavance, Hy-Pro

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toysnplaythings.co.uk

+34% New threadless headset on all scooters for improved durability and a smooth ride.

New improved reinforced aluminium box deck with double welded neck on all scooters.

NEW

Ramp up your sales!

TNP OCT AD 2017 - Stunted.indd 1

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ABEC 7 bearings perfect for tricks and a smooth ride.

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www.mvsports.com

0121 748 8000 12/09/2017 17:22:43

FEATURE SCOOTERS

Reaching new heights MV SPORTS 0121 748 8000 www.mvsports.co.uk Stunted is streets ahead in the highly competitive stunt scooter category offering a combination of value, innovation and quality. The brand has recently undergone an awesome refresh with improved specs and brand new, cool urban designs.

The new scooters feature threadless headsets providing improved rigidity, durability and a smoother ride, incorporating a new box section deck for both amateur stunters and aficionados. Stunted is an established brand offering unrivalled performance and specification which betters that of some more expensive marques.

With 34 per cent volume growth year on year, Stunted sales are ramping up sales with an enhanced range of awesome accessories.

Stunted ramps are robust and ready for high impact!

Easily portable, their anti skid-plates are perfect for scooters, skateboards and in line skates alike.

An extensive and innovative wheeled toy range caters for children of all ages and with nine out of the top 10 biggest licenses of 2017, plus a range of superb and TnP innovative own brand Ambassador solutions, MV’s position Edison called MV’s as the market leaders in PJ Masks Tri Scooter wheeled toys is set to reach new heights.

“My best

toy.”

Easy Glider YVOLUTION 0800 802 1197 www.yvolution.com The Y Glider scooter range from Yvolution is already a firm favourite of parents for first time riders. But now, the popular Y Glider collection has had an update that will bring with it customisable features.

The new Y Glider scooters from Yvolution are the smartest Gliders yet. The patented lean-to-steer system can now be adjusted from loose to firm as the user progresses through the ranks. The adjustable steering makes it easy to tailor the sensitivity of the

54

EVOlutionary HTI 01253 775544 www.htigroup.co.uk HTI is a leading manufacturer of wheeled toys in the UK, offering a wide selection of well-known licenses, along with its own in-house brand EVO. The company offers a range scooters of all spec levels, from entry-level for pre-schoolers, up to the top of the range 200mm commuter scooters for adults.

Scoot in style with a choice of the Move’N’Groove or Electric 3-wheel for beginners, or the stunt scooter or dirt rider for avid riders. Equipped with eye-catching cool graphics, EVO provides excellent value for money and positions as a real high-end range to be reckoned with, allowing hours of outdoor scooting fun.

Bugging to be bought!

MOOKIE TOYS 01525 722722 www.mookie.co.uk Following the success of the top selling ride-on ScuttleBug and ScrambleBug, Mookie has expanded the bug range even further with ScootieBug. ScootieBug features similar bug characters, including Bumble, Jewel, Rainbow, Flutter and Splodge, and is the perfect first three-wheel scooter for growing toddlers to help develop their balance and steering skills.

handling, allowing children to progress at their own pace.

Along with the added feature of adjustable steering all Y Glider scooters now come with colourful wheel and deck inserts for the ultimate customised scooting experience.

The Y Glider collection is made up of the Y Glider Deluxe and Y Glider XL and the Y Glider XL Deluxe.

For tweens and teens, another favourite Yvolution brand, Neon, is blazing a trail with red-hot rides and epic street fashion.

These wheels will blind the competition with their kid-powered LED lights that ensure the brightest ride possible. The Neon scooters include the Neon Viper and Neon Flash which offers a unique light up feature.

Hypro.indd 1

08/09/2017 12:35

FEATURE SCOOTERS

Leading the charge HY-PRO 01582 670100 www.zincsports.com While Hy-Pro is in the midst of new product launches, Zinc, leads the charge in the new Smart range. Zinc’s new lithium-powered scooters and hoverboards are the next generation of two-wheeled travel. With further plans to expand with more innovative models in 2018, Zinc took its wheeled knowledge to the next level with the introduction of the Smart range in July 2017.

Debuting with the Smart A hoverboard, it features innovative new technology including a lithium powered battery to aid efficiency and power the board for longer. The Smart X, due to launch November 2017, offers a refreshed and unique design aspect to the hoverboard.

And not forgetting the best known products, Zinc is set to launch the Smart Astrum, the company’s newest electric scooter. Suitable for ages eight-plus, the Smart Astrum scooter is slimline and stylish, with a new longer lasting, lightweight lithium battery to enhance the thrills.

Q4 promises to be an exciting time as to support these exciting new launches, Hy-Pro also has plans for video content. Video on demand campaigns starting in October will broadcast on mainstream channels to reach families across the UK. All hoverboards are fully UL certified and meet all industry standards for user and electrical safety to give retailers peace of mind.

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Scoot to it LITTLE TIKES 0845 0533 333 www.littletikes.co.uk The funky Lean to Turn Scooter isguaranteed to create smiles as kids zoom along. The three wheel design, easy-touch brake and soft rubber handlebars make this a safe and sturdy ride. Suitable for children aged two to four years old, these super cool scooters have an extra wide base for better control, a low to the ground deck for easier balance and a quick release handle for easy storage.

What’s more, the lean to steer teaches children balance and co-ordination.

Available in six bright and bold colours.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

media

opinion

Digital media is starting to bite H

The rise in digital media might be taking a chunk out of linear TV viewing figures, but the networks are fighting back with VoD and creative viewing experiences

eadlines are effective at achieving share of viewing, attention to draw people into a story; and in general they can be equally as powerful in turning the advertising people away from a story. revenues follow the The above headline trailed a report by Kate Bulkley, viewing shares. a respected print and TV journalist covering media In the first quarter and technology. of this year ITV posted a nine per cent Two months ago in this same TnP space, we decline in revenue, and this level of decline is forecast to reported on The Broadcast Digital Awards 2017, continue through to this autumn (re-profiled in June due highlighting the winners and finalists in the children’s to Euro football 2016). If digital media is starting to bite, genre. The Digital Awards covered digital programmes the broadcasters are actively developing their video-onacross all genres and served to demonstrate how the demand (known as VoD) services. industry is innovating and evolving.

In 2016, VoD advertising spend grew by double digits and The “bite” serves to identify the decline in is forecast in 2017 to grow at a similar level. I will return to viewing of linear audiences to television. This is best VoD, but first of all, big news is coming to the big screen demonstrated in the actual number of viewers with a new Pokémon movie. in absence. I will come back to highlight this The UK Cinema Distributors produce a successful situation in children’s TV shows, but Kids Club entertainment programme at first adult viewing. weekends, half-terms and school holidays.

The question is, Numbers can clearly and accurately In recent years, cinemas have aired live just how deep digital tell the story. In this situation they opera and ballets into their UK cinemas on are almost jumping of the page. This Sunday afternoons and evenings. media is biting into year’s Britain’s Got Talent’s final show These shows not only sell out, the the terrestrial drew an audience of 8.2 million, the cinemas are utilising unsold inventory in establishment? lowest in a decade. In 2009, the final terms of screen time. I should say that this reached an audience of 17.3 million. industry has a wealth of knowledge and While there is a natural wear out experience on how to deal with this same of long-running shows, The Digital Awards had 27 problem in a different product form. categories across channels, platform, video, app, Taking this unsold cinema screen model forward is a website and programme genres – innovating company called CinEvents, founded by Simon Reece, and evolving! formally of Digital Cinema Media. This year is the 20th Now let’s look at children’s programmes in terms anniversary of Pokémon the animated series launching on of the currency that serves this industry, Children’s GMTV. This is the company’s first venture into the children’s TVRs (television Ratings). In 2006, GMTV Kids genre with Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You. Breakfast Service supplied 5087 Child TVRs The CinEvents screening is on Sunday 5 November in to the toy industry’s advertisers; in 2016 ITV over 300 hundred UK screens, and comes packaged with Breakfast supplied 1710 Child TVRs. The an exclusive showing of the story of Ash Ketchum and advertising industry has embraced the Pikachu’s friendship. opportunities that digital has presented to All ticket purchases come with a never-seen-before the marketplace.

Pokemon TCG card, and the moviegoers also receive a The challenge is there for the QR code to unlock an in-game event in the Pokemon Ultra programme makers to address in terms of Moon videogames for Nintendo 3DS. creativity and innovation. The question is, This format of a one-off cinema event screening is a just how deep digital media is biting into good occasion for families with children on a wintery the terrestrial establishment?

Sunday afternoon.

The UK terrestrial broadcasters still hold Pokémon reaches out to engage an audience and it will the high ground with their ability be interesting to see how CinEvents follow up this event to produce high levels of reach with their next Kids’ show. that are an essential part of an I will return to VoD next month to provide sufficient space effective advertising campaign, to cover the position sector, but YouTube currently has 40 and in general are reached at a per cent share of the UK advertising VoD market, reportedly premium cost. Traditionally the worth a total of £700m in 2016, and forecast to grow by 20 channels have competed for per cent this year.

“

”

Clive Crouch www.clivecrouch.com, info@clivecrouch.com, mobile: 07831 670453

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S R O D A S S A B AM

t s a Bl ! f f o

Brother and sister Poppy and Herbie love playing fast and furious games together. But they really hit the jackpot when mum Claire surprised them with Character Options’ Laser X after school – and their pals joined in too!

Key features ■ The ultimate high-tech game of tag! Play inside or out, day or night ■ Works up to 60 meters away with pinpoint accuracy ■ As you are blasted your receiver vest will gradually change colour — hit 10 times and you’re out!

■ Complete with voice coach guidance, full colour lighting effects, stereo sound and music ■ Gameplay allows unlimited players

Claire says: “I knew they would really love the Laser X — they like to play a bit of rough and tumble, are competitive and have a great deal of fun together — so this is the perfect toy for them.

I picked them up after school and took them to the local park to play and some of the friends

came with them too. And I have to says — this is a smash hit! All the kids, and I mean all the kids, went wild for the Laser X. They all asked their mums to go and buy them that very day — they all tried the Laser X and battled well into the evening! The mums were surprised at the price — in a good way! For something as

It’s a goal!

Flair says:

Six-year-old football-mad Harrison hones his skills with GP Flair’s Messi Training System Football Target M. He and mum Heather tell us more...

Harrison is rather like his dad when it comes to his passion for playing and watching football — they’re both avid Liverpool fans — and our weekends are spent ferrying him to various football training or matches around the county.

But there are times when he wants to practise in the garden on his own and so this is where the Messi Target M football trainer comes in.

From a practical point of view (basically, no mum wants loads of things strewn across the garden at all times), it is great, because it is very compact and easy

Key features ■ Become your footballing hero Lionel Messi!

■ Use Messi’s official training goal to practise your shooting accuracy ■ use it as a regular goal too ■ Easy to assemble ■ Includes Messi ball and pump 62

to put to the side of the lawn or quickly out in the shed if we are having a barbecue or something.

For Harrison though, I think he gets a lot of training out of it. While it is pretty small, there are five targets to hit — of varying difficulty which means he can really put his skills to the test.

Harrison says: “Football is my favourite game and Messi is one of the best in the world, even though he doesn’t play for Liverpool.

I go to football training every week but this Target M is really brilliant. I take shots on goal, practice my penalties and sometimes taking running shots. The corner targets are the hardest and I don’t always get them, but the more I practice, the more often I am hitting those ones too.

"I really love this Training System — I think it helps make me a better footballer."

With the Messi training goal you can practice your shooting accuracy using the target practice board to master your shooting skills. Then remove the target practise and use it as a regular goal.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

got Herbie 10 times! My friends all wanted technological as this — with two of re o m a go — boys and girls were all playing with everything in the pack to come in at t n I wa y them which made it a lot more fun! less than 50 quid represents brilliant m e so value to us all. I can say without any of thes an all play We were all chasing one another c and screaming. It was really sad hesitation that all the kids went really school when we all had to pack up and barmy for this, and their parents too r e togeth go home for dinner.”

— and actually Poppy and Herbie said And Herbie is a huge fan of the it is one of the best toys they have ever Laser X: “I want to have a Laser X party played with.” with all my friends. I want more of these Poppy agrees: “I have got really good aim so my school can all play together!” and I was really good at hitting everyone — I

Wing man!

Two-year-old Austin loves watching Super Wings on TV, so when his uncle Rob bought him a cool Mira toy he was over the moon!

Uncle Rob says: “Austin is really crackers about this show Super Wings.

He loves the action and the teamwork displayed. So, I saw one in my local Smyths and thought he would be really chuffed to bits with it, and as you can see, he is!

The toy transforms from plane to robot (just as it does in the show) and as he is so young I was worried it would be tough for him, but it’s not and he happily plays with it in both modes!"

OCTOBER 2017

63

DON’T MISS…

We bring to the fore a selection of the hottest and newest products that will help you sell more. Buyers and retailers, get in touch with your sales contact now!

Product: Power Rangers Ninja Steel Lion Fire Fortress Company: Bandai Tel: 020 8324 6160 Web: www.bandai.co.uk

Product: Ex Libris: The game of first lines and last words Company: Oxford Games Tel: 01865 351007 Web: www.oxfordgames.co.uk

Product: Nikko Air DRL Race Vision™ 220 FPV Pro Company: Toy State Tel: 020 8440 5060 Web: www.nikkoair.com

OCTOBER 2017

Product: Cra-Z-Slimy Creations Company: Character Options Tel: 0161 633 9800 Web: www.character-online.com

Product: ROBLOX Series 2 Blind Box Compay: Jazwares Tel: 020 3598 0272 Web: www.jazwares.com

Product: Despicable Me Minis Company: Posh Paws International Tel: 01268 567317 Web: www.poshpawsinternational.co.uk Product: Luvabella Company: Spin Master Tel: 01628 535000 Web: www.spinmaster.com

Product: Zomlings Series 6 Company: Esdevium Games Tel: 01420 593593 Web: www.esdeviumgames.com

Product: Tangle Company: Zuru Tel: 01604 401 719 Web: www.zuru.com

64

TNP

LOOKS BACK

Step back in time A rather personal look back through time beginning with October 1987, 1997, 2007 and 2012 by TnP Founder and MD Malcolm Naish October 2012 Volume 32 Number 1

Wishing you a happier Christmas with

happy moments Chicco spreading happiness this Christmas

Visit www.chiccohappymoments.co.uk for more information regarding this fantastic consumer promotion or turn to pages 25 and 27

Offer closes 31.12.2012 . Happy Moments reward is 2 for 1 days out, 2 for 1 extreme sports, Free pamper and Free arts and crafts session vouchers. Vouchers valid until 31.8.13. Age and date restrictions apply. Subject to the terms & conditions of rewards suppliers. Advance booking required. 16+years. UK only. Normal restrictions apply. Full terms & conditions available on www.chiccohappymoments.co.uk or on in-store leaflet.

October 2012 • Having reported the previous month that Hamleys had changed hands, we include an interview this month with Groupe Ludendo who purchased Hamleys to see what they had in store (no pun intended) for this iconic store.

• Wishing to maintain their unique retail environment was top of the agenda as well as increasing the number of stores internationally.

• Sylvanian Families celebrated their 25th anniversary with Flair pulling out all the stops to maximize on this opportunity. They hosted an exhibition of Peoples’ art from across the world at the Strand Gallery in London’s West End. We finish the evening with a Mexican meal in the company of Flair’s M.D. Peter Brown.

• Five years ago one third of all children were on line by the age of 7 and 97% by the age of 13. I must check with our Media expert Clive Crouch to see what the percentages are in 2017.

October 2007 • The French Courts place Smoby in ‘redressement judiciare’. This means that they are placed into a stage two situation with stage three being the final bankruptcy situation. MGA have been given two months to improve things.

• There’s a top 10 hit called ‘Barbie Girl’ . Mattel aren’t too happy with the words and plan to have words with the record label. Surely, any publicity is good publicity?

• Character Group then known as Toy Options beat all competition to launch a ‘Spice Girls’ range of dolls.

• Rob Mann has been appointed MD of Ertl with Trevor Simmons taking over the role of SD. For those not in the know, Ertl soon became Racing Champions. I am sorry to see Ian McMurtrie – MD of Mattel – decide to return to Australia . Along with his wife Rhonda, they were a lovely couple and very much part of the toy trade social scene during their 11 years in the UK..

• Lester Bull leaves Beatties after 24 years. All seems not well with owners the Era Group.

• Talking to Retailers they are already getting calls for ‘Teletubbies’ and with two months to go are in short supply for the Independent.

October 1987 • Hasbro appear to be in pole position for the 1988 toy year with both My Little Pony (now in year six) and Transformers (now approaching year five) offering 60% and 90% new product in their respective categories.

• The TRA’s Dream Toys best selling Christmas predictions have 11 of the 12 products being supplied by just four companies. Hasbro, Mattel, Character and Vivid.

• The suppliers of a board game named ‘Orgy’ were disappointed that the IBA banned any possible TV advertising. A spokeswoman for the company says that the game can be played by 10 year olds . We are told that nothing worse than eating an ‘After Eight’ mint occurs during the feast and orgies or giving another player a peck on the cheek.

• Labour shortages in China are getting considerably worse. We are therefore likely to see cost prices increasing for 2008 are our dire predictions moving forward.

• I comment that the orgies that I have attended involved a lot more than a kiss on the cheek or a passing of the ‘After Eights’!

• Who ever said it was easy running a toy company?

• Kenner Parker and Tonka join forces. Sadly, this means just one sales force and yet another advertiser disappearing in a merger.

• Four wholesalers leave the Premier Group to join the Club Group. Is this the beginning of many changes within the wholesale community I ask?

• Moons Toymaster is put up for sale. Val and Barry Stedham have made a tough decision to sell their Newmarket-based store.

October 1997 • Philip Harrison of Mondo invites me to spend two days in Rome along with a carefully selected number of buyers to attend their 1998 preview. As an important afterthought this also includes England playing Italy in a World Cup qualifier at the Stadio Olimpico. Great preview, great hospitality and great result for England as they qualify for the World Cup proper.

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• 20 year on and we’re still crap at football!

• Malcolm Cook (currently Hauck’s U.K. boss) joins Peter Pan Playthings as M.D. Peter Pan were a power in the land as a major games distributor.

• ALF makes his debut with a TV series. Launched at the ’87 New York toy fair, he is about to be launched nationally in the U.K. following a pilot launch in July that saw big sales and had to be pulled in order to enjoy a national launch later in the year.

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Test a publisher’s statement of circulation. In today’s business climate you can’t afford not to.

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BRAND LI CENSING EUROPE S PECIAL October 2 017

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BLE 2017 2014 Show Preview

More, more, more A totally unique event, the only one of its kind catering to the entire European licensing industry and a self-styled networking heaven where licensing deals are born, dreamed up and signed.

Join the stampede to London’s Olympia BLE 2017 is upon us…

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tatistics can be impressive things in the exciting and everchanging world of licensing – especially if they’re connected to Brand Licensing Europe.

BLE kicks off at West London’s Olympia on 10 October, running for three days, and is the one annual event where the European licensing industry comes together to sound out new licenses, get a heads up on brands that will be hitting the headlines – and stores, TV screens, social media and more – over the coming year, and get up to speed with the key industry trends that will be affecting their business. And then, of course, there’s

Show and tell What? Brand Licensing Europe Where? London Olympia When? 10-12 October Why? 280 best-in-class exhibitors, 2,500+ brands More: www.brandlicensing.eu

the myriad of networking opportunities.

“At BLE there’s the chance to network with over 7,500 retailers, manufacturers and brand owners,” says Anna Knight, Brand at BLE. “This year there will be 280 exhibitors with more than 2,500 brands on show.”

BLE’s three show zones include Character & Entertainment, Brands & Lifestyle and Art, Design & Image, and the show is nothing if not global in terms of its reach – last year welcoming visitors from an amazing 76 Johanne Broadfield, countries.

Cartoon Network Now in its 19th year, Anna says the enduring success of BLE is Enterprises EMEA testament to how much the team behind the show has listened to – and grown with – the European licensing industry to ensure that they provide both visitors and exhibitors alike with the content they need to do business better.

“We’ve also got more European exhibitors, more European retailers and licensees are registering and our focus on engaging and providing for the entire European licensing industry gets stronger every year. This year

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The perfect opportunity to engage with brands early on

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there’s also a huge European focus to the show’s educational content – including a Brexit session that will help to prepare us all for what’s about to come.”

Game on!

BLE prides itself on representing all corners of the licensing industry, and this year in addition to the show’s three key areas it is also putting huge emphasis on toys and gaming – complete with a brand new Gaming Activation Area.

“Gaming is a major theme for us this year and will feature heavily across educational seminars,” Anna Knight reveals. “Our new Gaming Activation Area is a showcase and demonstration section of the show, and aims to educate licensees and retailers on the journey of a video game IP from screen to store – including a mock retail environment where a range of IPs will be featured. It’s really exciting.

“And we’ve also partnered with Mojo Nation, who will be hosting The Toy & Game Innovation Zone. Here we will showcase some of the most interesting examples of licensed toys and games launched with the last year – as well as previewing some of the hottest new lines coming for Christmas 2017 and beyond.”

toysnplaythings.co.uk

“ Network,” Johanne reveals. “Don’t miss the Tuesday post-show party at our booth – we have some fun plans for that.”

Character licensing and animation plays a huge role in the licensing industry, and is at the heart of some of the biggest-selling toys each year.

Marc Low, SVP & General Manager, International Consumer Products, Universal Brand Development, NBCUniversal, is excited about a recent toy tie-in.

“We’re really excited about out Playmobil partnership for the DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon franchise – the playsets are f lying off shelves in Germany and other core European markets.”

And DreamWorks Trolls has been another winner for NBCUniversal this year: “In Q2 2017, Russia became the number two market for DreamWorks Trolls sales volume in Europe, second only to the UK. And in Japan, we’ve had success with innovative retail partnerships such as the Minions shop-inshop takeover at Isetan to support Illuminartion and Universal’s Despicable Me 3 theatrical debut this summer.”

And toys are high on the agenda for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, with Paul Bufton, VP of Business

2500+ The number of brands at BLE 2017

OCTOBER 2017

Match makers Last year’s smash hit Matchmaking Service has been updated for 2017. Free to use, it’s the perfect tool for visitors to set up one-to-one meetings with brand owners and get face time with IP owners. Visitors can search by company, property type or interest area to help them find the perfect connection for them.

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Movers and shakers But what about the views of those attending this year’s show – is it the networking prospects, the chance to showcase their work or brands or the opportunity to spark or seal business deals that draws them back to BLE year after year?

For Johanne Broadfield, VP, Cartoon Network Enterprises EMEA, BLE is “the perfect opportunity to engage with brands early on”.

“We’ll be bringing our growing portfolio of award-winning brands that includes both established and newly launched franchises,” she adds.

“Anchoring the line-up with be two of our original IPs that are back in action and better than ever, Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls.”

Alongside those and other Cartoon Network favourites such as Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and Boomerang Original The Happos Family, Johanne is particularly excited to bring Rick and Morty to the show. And that’s not all: “As for our stand, we’ll have a number of surprises – which you’d expect from Cartoon

This year’s BLE has more seminar content, more exhibitors, more properties, more feature areas, more networking opportunities – more of everything!

Anna Knight, BLE Brand Director

Development for the company’s EMEA business saying “It’s fascinating working with retailers in new markets as we have a number of long term partnerships in growth territories, particularly with fashion retailers.”

WBCP continues to grow its business across EMEA, but key emerging territories include Russia, Poland and the Middle East, where the team is gearing up for the opening of a new theme park, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.

Leila Ouledcheikh, SVP EMEA Distribution & Consumer Products, Saban Brands, says the company’s presentation slate for this year’s BLE will be anchored

by Power Rangers, alongside three new licensing propositions – Cirque du Soleil Junior, Luna Petunia and Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty.

“BLE is an important industry event for Saban Brands. It’s the ideal platform for us to meet with new and existing partners from all over the world,” Leila explains. “With all the great minds in the licensing industry under one roof, the show is the perfect opportunity to collaborate and identify growth opportunities.

“In 2018 we’re looking to create growth for Power Rangers in the FMCG, publishing, back-to-school and live events categories, so we’re hoping to meet with partners who will be excited to work with us in these areas.”

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Superstars Nickelodeon 020 3580 2000 www.nick.co.uk

Hugs all round!

BBC Worldwide

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0207 612 3000 www.bbcworldwide.com Doctor Who returns to BLE having renewed its licensing deal with UK master toy licensee Character Options. Also in toys, BBC Worldwide has partnered with Mr Men licensor Sanrio, signing a deal with RP2 Global to launch a range of Dr Men figurines in the UK. The first wave of product will feature Dr. First, Dr. Fourth, Dr. Eleventh and Dr. Twelfth.

Hey Duggee has recently become available to watch on Amazon Prime Video as part of a BBC Worldwide kids content deal. Master toy partner Golden Bear is developing a new Hey Duggee plush product range for AW2018, while master toy licensee in the US, Jazwares, has launched a range of collectable plastic figure packs, small plush toys and a talking Hey Duggee plush toy.

New licensees for this year on soft lines include Dreamtex and Paper Projects. Other recent launches include Aykroyd and TDP for nightwear, underwear and swimwear and Blue Sky Designs for a range of art, stationery and activity products. Publishing partner Penguin Random House has a range of companion books

4

and Immediate Media publish the official Hey Duggee magazine and also Go Jetters magazine.

Go Jetters is one of the top five programme requests for CBeebies content on iPlayer this year. The global master toy licensee, FisherPrice, launched its first range of toys in the UK in AW2016, including the Jet Pad, the Grimbler and the Vroomster. New Go Jetters lines from Fisher-Price are due to launch in Spring 2018.

Golden Bear has retained the master toy license for CBeebies show Something Special.

The brand continues to perform well at retail and latest additions include Sing Along with Mr Tumble and Large Talking Mr Tumble, which join the award-winning Mr Tumble Fun Sounds Musical Car and Mr Tumble with Fun Tumble Tapp for AW17. This autumn, award-winning CBeebies show Sarah and Duck will see its very own eShop launch online. The most recent licensee for the brand is Carte Blanche adding to existing products that include Dreamtex for bedding, plush toys, BBC DVDs and a number of best-selling apps.

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BLE 2017 will see Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) showcase its largestever pre-school portfolio including reigning hits such as PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Shimmer and Shine as well as new series such as Digby Dragon, Nella the Princess Knight and Rusty Rivets. The NVCP team will take licensees and retailers through the performance of each property as well as future programming and promotional plans.

Partners will also have the opportunity to learn about Nick Jr.’s newest pre-school offering Sunny Day. In addition to their extensive pre-school portfolio, NVCP will be giving partners the first look at the reimagined Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The new series will have its worldwide premiere in 2018 and be supported by a global marketing plan.

JoJo Siwa is a true teen sensation with over 4 million subscribers on YouTube and a hugely popular range of JoJo Bows. Since NVCP took on the license for JoJo in spring 2016, the range of JoJo Siwa licensed products has expanded beyond bows to products across all categories. With over 20 UK licensees on board.

Sweet smell of success

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MGA Entertainment 0845 0533 333 ww.mgae.com

The Num Noms toy line features over 400 characters, offering thousands of combinations.

The brand has a strong digital presence with over 165 million total views on YouTube. The Num Noms Snackables YouTube Series has received over 46 million views, with 10 new series two episodes launching between June and December 2017.

The scent-sational success of the Num Noms toy line has created a scrumptious global licensing program, with MGA Entertainment partnering with over 90 A-list manufacturers worldwide across all major categories of softlines, hardlines and publishing.

Inspired by the vlogger unboxing phenomena and trend for collectible toys, MGA Entertainment’s new toy brand, L.O.L. Surprise! has become a global sell out since launching in December 2016. MGAE has developed a global licensing program for L.O.L. Surprise!, with over 30 licensing partners on board to date across key categories including apparel, accessories, back-to-school, stationary, games and puzzles, novelty, health and beauty and home décor.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION: UK Licensing: Naome Jones +44 20 3618 6552 Gaming & Digital Licensing: Bill Kispert 818.777.5446 Publishing: Siobhan Harkin +44 20 3618 5539 Live Entertainment Licensing: Carol Nygren 818.777.9507

BLE 2017 Show Preview

Toy titan

Mattel 01628 500000 www.mattel.com

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a break frame year as the brand celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

Bob the Builder continues to inspire children and parents to work as a team and build together. With more broadcasters coming on board, record YouTube hits plus season three expected to launch in fall 2018, it’s a full year of activity for Bob! Fireman Sam continues with exciting launches growing the franchise alongside strategic marketing campaigns, plus another great movie in 2018.

Fisher-Price encourages parents to ‘let children be children’, giving them the freedom to experience the joy of their own natural desire to learn, imagine and discover.

With exciting new partnerships in mobility and plush categories Fisher-Price continues to have exciting licensing potential.

Scrabble is the classic board game that is gearing up for an amazing 70th anniversary celebration in 2018.

Powerful return

Box office hits

Saban Brands

Sony Picture Consumer Products +31 244 4000 www.sonypictures.com

Mattel presents a portfolio of iconic power brands and innovative new properties, creating franchises that continue to inspire the licensing industry.

Barbie continues to evolve, empowering girls to try on every facet of who they can become, from a princess to a president, bringing this to life as only Barbie can. This year Mattel also introduces Enchantimals, with strong licensing potential make sure you check it out.

The Thomas & Friends content will see a number of new changes in 2018, content is at the heart of story-telling for Thomas, and pivoting the content to make it more appealing to both boys and girls will be an exciting new journey for Thomas as the brand is re-imagined in 2018.

Hot Wheels ignites and nurtures the challenger spirit that lives within every kid and when kids learn they can take on anything, there’s no limit to how far they’ll go. 2018 is going to be

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Sony Pictures Consumer Products is heading to BLE 2017 with an exciting line up of film licenses, featuring new properties and enduring franchises all of which include partnerships with top tier licensees and retailers globally.

The live-action CGI film adaption of Peter Rabbit leads the 2018 presentation slate this year, followed by Hotel Transylvania 3, the next film in the highly successful franchise which now includes a hit animated television series on the Disney Channel. And finally, the highly anticipated theatrical release of Barbie, one of the world’s biggest and most iconic brands, that will now be a live-action major motion picture.

The Peter Rabbit movie, which is set for worldwide release in February 2018, is a fantastic modern interpretation of Beatrix Potter’s stories that will bring the beloved world of Peter to life. The film sensitively adapts the characters without taking away from the magic of Potter’s tales, and the all-star cast including Rose Byrne, Sam Neill, Margot Robbie and James Corden as Peter Rabbit help adapt the story from page to the big screen like never before.

To date, the Hotel Transylvania franchise has generated over $1 billion in global box office and home entertainment sales and Sony is dedicated to continuing to grow the franchise through 365-day-a-year entertainment. Sony has developed an exciting line-up of activity in anticipation of the third film release. As part of the plans to keep momentum going across various content platforms, the company has just launched the all-new Hotel Transylvania TV series on Disney Channel in the US with strong ratings across key demos. The series began rolling out on the channel worldwide this autumn.

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+1 31 5575230 www.sabanbrands.com

Saban Brands is gearing up to make a strong return to Brand Licensing Europe with a diverse portfolio of both new and established entertainment brands.

Global powerhouse kid’s action property Saban’s Power Rangers spearheads this year’s presentation slate that will also feature two brand new licensing propositions, Netflix original series for pre-schoolers, Cirque du Soleil Junior - Luna Petunia, currently streaming seasons one and two, and a new animated comedy for kids and tweens, Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty.

For decades, Saban’s Power Rangers has consistently been a top 10 brand and is currently this year’s number one action figure brand in the UK. This outstanding achievement is thanks to valued partners including the continued success of Saban Brand’s partnership with master global toy partner, Bandai, and licensees continue to be attracted to the broader consumer products programme.

Saban Brands has now signed almost 50 best-in-class partners in the EMEA region across key categories including apparel, accessories and homewares.

Demand for Cirque du Soleil Junior - Luna Petunia merchandise is building and the products roll-out will soon be kicked off by master global toy partner and co-production partner Funrise Toys, with the first range of toys launching in the UK this autumn.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

FOR LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE VISIT US AT BLE STAND C35 OR CONTACT: EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: Jason Rice Director of Brand Licensing Email: jason.rice@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4568 www.sonicthehedgehog.com/uk

@Sonic

Toby Rayfield Senior Licensing Manager Email: toby.rayfield@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4494 @sonic_hedgehog

/sonicthehedgehog

Kay Ferneyhough Retail & Trade Marketing Manager Email: kay.ferneyhough@sega.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 4407 /sonic ©SEGA

Spotlight on… Sonic After more than 25 years Sonic is still going strong and has successfully traversed from being an icon in gaming to a global property behemoth. TnP takes a look at some of Sonic’s special features t f a s t e st e r s ’ d l r o c Th e w a m e c h a ra g video

H u n d re o f g a md s o f m i l l i o n d ow n l o e s s o l d a n d s ad last 25 ed in the ye a r s

More platforms than any other game franchise

as o n i c wn e s s S 6 1 0 uin In 2 e d a Go r d f o r d r a w a Rec rt W o r l dr g e s t f i n e ae d t a “ T h e l t i o n d e d i c am e i a ex h i b e v i d e o g i n g t o o n t e r ” f o l l o wa r y c h a r a c5 t h a n n i v e r s i t h t h e 2 b o rat i o n w a l l e r y colla ine Arts G F Castle

ees 0 licens O v e r 1 0r l d w i d e wo

ideo e l l i n g ve e v e r s t s e B ra n c h i s game f

Aw a r d w in m e d ia c an in g s o c ia l m p a ig n

To discuss licensing opportunities around Sonic the Hedgehog and other brands, visit SEGA® Europe on Stand C35 at BLE. ©SEGA

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Universally loved +1 818 777 4382 www.nbcuniversal.com As Universal Brand Development continues to drive expansion of its international business, the company recently announced key appointments to select EMEA territories, naming country directors in Germany, France, Iberia, Italy, Benelux, the UK and Ireland.

The new leadership team is part of a strategic shift to direct management of the consumer products business and part of an overall initiative to build global franchises across the studio’s portfolio. At this year’s Brand Licensing Europe 2017, Universal Brand Development will showcase an expanding portfolio of properties from the company’s film and television creative partners including Universal Pictures, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation.

Scheduled for worldwide release in June 2018 is Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the follow-up to one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of cinema. Key toy partners Mattel and LEGO, plus many more, will showcase the strength of the franchise at retail.

In what is truly the year of the Jurassic Dinosaur, 2018 will also

Game on!

SEGA Europe

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see the 25th anniversary of the first film, Jurassic Park.

Following the global box office success of DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, an all-new feature film is set to debut in 2020, and throughout 2017-2019, a variety of new content is set to release across multiple media platforms, including a Trolls Holiday Special in 2017.

Promising more hair, more music and more characters to engage fans, Universal, in collaboration with master toy partner Hasbro, will continue to expand the breadth and scope of its consumer products program.

Also, from DreamWorks Animation How to Train Your Dragon 3, the much-anticipated continuation of one of the most beloved animated film franchises in history, makes its theatrical debut in 2019.

Showing no signs of stopping, fanship around the How To Train Your Dragon IP continues to climb. Dragons Race to the Edge is currently one of the top TV series in multiple EMEA territories including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Illumination and Universal’s Despicable Me franchise continues to set new records and was recently crowned the highest grossing animated film franchise of all time.

Also from the creative team at Illumination in collaboration with Universal Pictures comes a newly imagined version of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role of The Grinch, which is set for release November 2018.

Also featured on this bill are preschool favourites Noddy: Toyland Detective, which is based on the classic British brand, and Dinotrux.

020 8996 4568 www.sega.co.um

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SEGA Europe will be showcasing its broadest range of IPs to date at this year’s BLE. The company’s full breadth of brand pillars will be on display, including Total War, Football Manager and the SEGA Retro collection. Unsurprisingly, though, at the centre will be one of the most iconic video game character of all time, Sonic The Hedgehog. Hot on the heels of the incredibly successful multi-platform game Sonic Mania, which launched 15 August, Sonic will feature heavily both on the SEGA stand and as a key part of the new Gaming Zone.

The future of SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog licensing programme will draw from a multimedia content plan, including new animation Sonic Boom S2 – currently rolling out globally with S1 now airing on Netflix – and a worldwide movie release, date to be announced.

SEGA’s core business is videogames and this year has seen the release of several high profile games including Sonic Mania, Bayonetta, Football Manager 2017 and Vanquish. These top selling titles will be followed by Sonic Forces later this year, the first true next generation multiplatform Sonic game.

SEGA’s varied licensing portfolio has been strengthened with the selection of several new key licensees and retail partnerships including Watermelon, Poetic Brands, Branded Clothing International, Brand International, and more.

To discuss licensing opportunities around Sonic the Hedgehog and other brands, be sure to visit SEGA Europe’s stand.

Don’t Miff-Out! DRi Licensing Ltd 0203 757 2170 www.drilicensing.com

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Exciting developments are in the pipeline for DRi Licensing’s brands. The Roald Dahl brand is more popular than ever.

Roald Dahl Day, held annually on 13 September, is a key date and this year’s Heroes theme celebrated the iconic child heroes of Roald Dahl’s stories in a unique collaboration with LEGO. Developments for the Miffy programme this autumn include a new range of classic Miffy plush from Rainbow Designs and arts and crafts from Sambro.

toysnplaythings.co.uk

BLE 2017 Show Preview

Ever growing momentum Turner Cartoon Network 0207 693 1000 www.cartoonnetwork.com

T

urner’s Cartoon Network heads into Brand Licensing Europe 2017 with a growing portfolio of brands and significant momentum behind both its established and newly launched franchises.

Anchoring this year’s line-up will be two of Cartoon Network’s original intellectual properties that are now back in action and better than ever before, Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls.

The fresh take on Ben 10 made its highly-anticipated debut on TV screens across EMEA and APAC in October 2016 and launched across North America and LATAM in April 2017. The merchandise roll-out is now well underway with a strong range of toys from master global toy partner Playmates that is already exceeding expectations at retail both in the US and Europe. Contributing to the success is a bespoke array of instore and online trade activations, including an augmented reality Ben 10 hero experience touring across key European markets.

April 2016 saw The Powerpuff Girls soar back onto TV screens across the globe. Targeting girls aged four to 12, with strong appeal to teens and adults too, the EMEA merchandise roll-out is underway

October 2017

following the first wave of toys from Spin Master. Fashion is core to the licensing programme and Cartoon Network has secured a diverse array of partners delivering multi-channel fashion offerings for girls, teens and millennial women. These ranges are now hitting shelves alongside launches in accessories, gifting, homewares, publishing and back-to-school.

Adventure Time, the best-selling, mass-market proposition continues to attract a huge fan base reaching 77 million individuals in Q2 2017 around the world. Cartoon Network continues to drive the adventure forward with a growing licensing programme, engaging fan experiences and creative marketing activations.

High profile partnerships including LEGO, Minecraft, Dr. Martens, McDonalds and Desigual are successfully taking the brand to even greater heights.

Elsewhere, Italy, Spain, the Middle East, Portugal, Poland and Eastern Europe have led the licensing programme roll-out for The Amazing World of Gumball, and now Cartoon Network is

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looking to take its global favourite family sitcom into back-to-school, toy, apparel, publishing and FMCG. Meanwhile, the adventures of three bear brothers and their awkward attempts at assimilating modern day human society in We Bare

Bears continues to captivate fans and season three will hit TV screens soon.

Over 53 million individuals worldwide have tuned in to watch the adventures of The Happos Family and season two, has been greenlit. The series of non-dialogue shorts follows a family of Happos who live in a safari park and is proving to be a big hit with its target audience of pre-school kids.

Turner’s popular adult swim brand, Rick and Morty, targeted at adults aged 1635, has cultivated a mass fan-following, and with a growing licensing programme stateside, Cartoon Network is looking to build upon this success across EMEA. Last, but by no means least, is Cartoon Network’s most recent licensing proposition, 4 Blocks, Turner’s TNT German drama series which took audiences and critics by storm when it first previewed at the prestigious Berlinale International Film Festival earlier this year.

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Retail landscape

Getting the tills ringing The ultimate licensing success is realised at the cash register — TnP finds out what’s working for some top licensors

Jamie Stevens EVP, Worldwide Consumer Products Sony Pictures Consumer Products What’s working really well for you in retail at the moment?

Exclusivity and differentiation. Working closely with retailers to align their handwriting and style to the brands within our portfolio. We are moving away from label slapping now, and looking to work more collaboratively with retailers through alignment of our brands to their trends.

Which retailers do you have a great relationship with and in which territories?

The UK remains a major market for us, and the focus on licensing is growing in this territory.

We have strong relationships with grocery, Tesco in particular have been very engaged and are very supportive. Toy specialists such as Argos and Smyths are also key to us in terms of supporting some of our major brands for 2018, including Hotel Transylvania and Barbie the Movie.

Why are those partnerships working so well?

Our retail partnerships work best with retailers who have dedicated teams and resource in licensing and who understand the opportunity but also the challenges of working with a movie studio. We have built our relationships based on integrity and collaboration. Viewing our retailers as partners and not just end customers for our products. We also understand that every retail works differently and we adopt a selective rather than scatter gun approach to how we position the brands.

What do you look for in a great retail partner?

Engagement and collaboration are key. The retailer understands their business far better than anyone else, and if we can work with them in an open way to gain insight into their challenges and where they see opportunities, it enables us to best align our brands.

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Daryl Shute Brand Director Magic Light Pictures What’s working really well for you in retail at the moment?

We are fortunate to have strong and long-standing retail partners across our portfolio of brands. We have followed a deliberate strategy over the last eight years to nurture relations with key licensees who have represented our brands beautifully throughout this time. Each licensee is handpicked for their innovation in product development or retail reach, meaning we continue to delight consumers with refreshed ranges and new introductions each season. We continue to smash records with our robust DTR relations at Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Specsavers.

New licensee Brand of Brothers this summer has sold nearly half a million Gruffalo ‘iced tusks’ into Morrisons which we’re really delighted about.

Which retailers do you have a great relationship with and in which territories?

We enjoy working with retailers that see our brands as long-term propositions and real classics to have in their portfolio. Whilst it is great to maximise promotional periods throughout the year, we are mindful that the success we continue to have is down to working with retailers that are keen to build relations for the long term with our agents and licensees. Our DTR relations as mentioned above are crucially important to us along with WHSmith, Waterstones, Mothercare and Debenhams. Also this year we have some exciting initiatives happening in John Lewis, who have been wonderfully supportive across key categories for many years, and JoJo Maman Bébé, who recently launched our new plush lines from Aurora — the perfect boutique retailer for us to showcase our nursery proposition.

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