Game sales in hobby stores were up from 5 to 10 percent in 2009 despite the worst economy in generations, according to a report in the new issue of Internal Correspondence. The growth was driven by a resurgence in Magic: The Gathering sales and by board game sales up by double-digit percentages. Yu-Gi-Oh! and the return of HeroClix also helped support improved sales. Non-collectible miniature sales were slightly down, and RPG sales were down approximately 10 percent in 2009.
Month: March 2010
Ex-controller at Cepia Charged with Embezzling $400,000
According to the St. Louis Business Journal, a former controller for Cepia, LLC, manufacturer of Zhu Zhu Pets robotic hamsters, was indicted for mail fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $400,000 from the company. Joseph Van Gronigen was indicted by a federal grand jury on two felony counts of mail fraud, the U.S. attorney’s office said Thursday.
According to the indictment, between September 2007 and January 2010, Van Gronigen allegedly embezzled more than $400,000 from Cepia for his own use and to pay his own expenses. He was employed by Cepia from 2005 to January 2010 and had been the company’s controller since 2008.
Cepia brought the situation to the attention of the FBI and attorney general’s office.
Intertek to Provide Consulting Services for K’NEX
K’NEX has teamed up with Intertek, a global provider of quality and safety solutions, to implement a new quality management strategy over a period of 3 years. Intertek will provide consulting services in the areas of product development, safety testing, certification and compliance to enhance supply chain quality management at K’NEX. Intertek will help K’NEX to meet and exceed quality levels, assure product safety, speed up time-to-market, and support innovation in the future.
As an accredited third-party testing facility, Intertek will also assist K’NEX with applicable certifications such as ASTM F963, CPSIA, Proposition 65, and other regional safety requirements.
Popples as Art & Fashion
American Greetings Properties and Mindworks recently completed an exhibition called The World of Popples, which featured Popples original artwork from the 1980s, videos, and vintage Popples products.
The show included a Popples Room that was filled with a collection of toys, clothing, accessories, novelties, and even a fur-covered TV, all put together by designer 6%DOKIDOKI and Mindworks Entertainment.
6%DOKIDOKI also hosted a special pre-event where several of the 6%DOKIDOKI shop girls held a fashion show with dresses that converted into Popples. 6%DOKIDOKI’s founder, Masuda Sebastian, also led a talk on the culture of Popples. 
Vikings Take Over Times Square!
This morning, instead of going directly to my office, I made a stop in Times Square, which was overrun by Vikings… could be a little scary… but they were all smiling, taking pictures and generally enjoying the fact that their big Viking Boat (40 ft) was grounded in the heart of NYC. (Since I’m a native New Yorker, I have to say it was grounded in the heart of America).
After taking a few pictures… trying to hear what actress America Ferrera (Ugly Betty and the voice of Astrid) was saying to the cameras, I had the pleasure of spending a few minutes with Walmart’s SVP and General Manager of Entertainment, Gary Severson.
So how does America’s giant retailer decide when and how much muscle to put behind a new movie launch/property, well, Gary gave me some insight.
There are a lot of great movies that come out every year, but not all translate into merchandise, specifically toys, very well. But the How to Train Your Dragon property has such appeal, especially to boys, that it was clear that this was something to look at. Dragons are a terrific play pattern, and there is a demand for this type of product. Compound this with the studio behind the movie, DreamWorks, and the first toy partner to see the potential—Spin Master—well Walmart knew that this could be something big.
This great partnership launches today in Walmarts around the country and in theaters this Friday. Will your kids love this movie? …the answer is yes! They will love the story about Hiccup, a Viking teenager who just doesn’t fit in and the dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to look at the world differently. And, they will love the array of products that will be available at Walmart exclusively, such as toys (helmets and swords of course… made of foam), snacks, apparel, and other products to keep the story alive. We’ll see the DVDs later in the year so be ready to add it to your holiday list!
–Laurie
Nintendo to Release 3-D Portable Console
Nintendo has announced that it will release a 3-D portable console, the Nintendo 3DS. The system will use two screens, will be backwards compatible with current DS and DSi games, and—most likely the biggest feature—players won’t have to wear any special glasses to see the game in 3-D.
Last month, Ars Technica posted a video (above) of a downloadable game that is currently out in Japan, which allows the user to see a 3-D effect by peering into the game and moving the console back and forth. The 3DS may use similar technology.
The Nintendo 3DS is scheduled to be release before the end of the fiscal year, sometime between April 2010 and March 2011. The company has yet to release any images or videos of the upcoming system, or explain how the games will look or be played.
I Made a Maqet! (Part 2)
So, the wait is over. My maqet showed up today. I’m still wondering how it’s pronounced…does it rhyme with “packet”? Or does it sound more like “Rockette” with a “muh” sound in the front? And why oh why is there no letter “u” following the “q”? This goes against everything I know about the alphabet.
When I first opened the package, I wondered why there were Styrofoam packing peanuts in the box to cushion a plush toy. Upon further inspection, I realized that my maqet is not a plush, as I for some reason thought it would be, but a little hard action figure-type creature.
He (it?) came with a little nametag with spaces for me to fill out my name as “artist” and for me to fill in the name of my maqet. The maqet’s birthday, March 14, 2010, is on the tag as well; I’m assuming this is the day I designed him/her/it on the website. How cool would it be to design one the day your child was born; then you’d forever have this little one-of-a-kind creature that you made that’s exactly the same age as your own little one-of-a-kind creature that you made.
One of the most notably awesome things about my Maqet (other than the fact that I got to design my own super-cool action figure), is the disclaimer on the back of the package. It reads: “We hope you enjoy your new maqet! Handle with care. Don’t eat your maqet or throw it across the room at someone; it might break.”
Wiser words could not be spoken.
—Jennifer Sinclair, Senior Editor, The Licensing Book
K’NEX Signs On to Produce “Roary” Building Sets
K’NEX Brands has signed a licensing deal with Chapman Entertainment and HIT Entertainment to manufacture and market a line of construction toys based on the Sprout series, Roary the Racing Car.
K’NEX will produce Roary building sets, including builable figures and buildable vehicles. The sets will be available at mass retailers in the U.S. and Canada in fall 2011.
Last month, Bandai America announced that it was named the U.S. master toy licensee for the brand, and will manufacture a full line of Roary toys, available exclusively at Toys “R” Us stores.
WowWee Presidents Make Purchase Offer
Richard Yanofsky, president of WowWee Canada, and Peter Yanofsky, president of WowWee USA, have set up a company to buy out the current shareholders of the Optimal Group, of which WowWee is a wholly-owned subsidiary, and have the support of Optimal’s board of directors.
The offer of $2.40 per share represents a premium of approximately 50 percent over the closing price of the Class “A” shares of $1.60 on the NASDAQ on March 16, 2010. The purchase would make Optimal a privately held company.
International Children’s Trade Show to Premiere in New York
Playtime—the international trade show dedicated to children, junior, and maternity products—will premiere in the U.S. as Playtime New York. The New York City edition of the show will be held July 31 to August 2, during the Children’s Market, at 82 Mercer in Soho. The event is scheduled to take place bi-annually, during market in March and July/August.
Playtime New York will feature a comprehensive international selection of today’s collections in the children’s and maternity marketplace, including infant and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, baby gear, toys, deco/design products, childcare, and maternity.
A website for the show, www.playtimenewyork.com, is being developed in the same format as Playtime Paris. For more information, call (212) 925-6349.