ALEXANDER DOLL ACQUIRES MIDDLETON DOLL Alexander Doll Company has purchased the Middleton Doll Company. The purchase was made official on March 11. The Middleton Doll facility was not acquired as part of the business asset purchase and its future is yet to be determined. Robert Porell, CEO of Middleton Doll, has stated in reports that there is a possibility the doll shop and former factory in Belpre will be purchased by Alexander Doll Co. If this occurs, the Lee Middleton Doll store will remain open and Alexander Doll Co. shipping operations could move there. The building has been up for sale since last fall. Middleton Doll production was moved to China in 2004.
WHAM-O MERGES
WITH
SPRIG TOYS
WHAM-O, Inc. has merged with Sprig Toys, Inc., and the two have created a new line of battery-free, kid-powered preschool products under the new WHAM-O Jr. brand. WHAM-O will now have access to Sprig’s reclaimed wood and recycled plastic material, Sprigwood. In addition to Sprig’s products, such as the Eco-Trucks Dump Truck and the Dino Adventure Rig, the WHAM-O Jr. line will include WHAM-O’s inflatables and outdoor play products.
TIA ELECTS NEW BOARD Eight new members were elected to the Toy Industry Association (TIA) Board of Directors at the Association’s Annual Business Meeting during Toy Fair New York. Retiring Board Chairman Al Verrecchia, CEO of Hasbro, passed the gavel to Mattel International President Bryan Stockton, who will take over as chairman for a one-year term. Stockton had previously served as vice chairman. Soren Torp Laursen, president, LEGO Systems, will return to the board and assume the role of vice chairman. The other newly named board members include Andrea Barthello, ThinkFun, Inc.; William Beebe, Hoogaloo Toys; David Hargreaves, Hasbro, Inc.; Sam Harwell, Big Time Toys, LLC; Shirley Price, Funrise Toy Corporation; Chuck Scothon, Mattel, Inc.; and Robert Wann, Patch Products, Inc. The new board members will serve a two-year term starting this month. ■
MARCH/APRIL 2010