Archive for October, 2010
« Older Entries | Newer Entries »This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
K.I.D.S. Celebrates “Make A Difference Day” Times 10
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) is launching its first “Make A Difference Day Times Ten” in celebration of the 20th annual “Make a Difference Day,” a national service event. For every dollar that is donated to K.I.D.S. throughout the month of October, K.I.D.S. will contribute 10 times that amount to the donor’s hometown in the form of new merchandise. All “Make A Difference Day Times Ten” donors will be featured on the K.I.D.S. website.
Possible ways K.I.D.S. may donate, says the organization, include:
-$100 worth of books to a Newark library or after school program for every $10 donated from Northern New Jersey.
-$500 worth of new clothing to a homeless shelter on Skid Row for every $50 donated from Los Angeles.
-$1,000 worth of new cribs to families with newborns in Indianapolis for every $100 donated from that city.
-$5,000 worth of new toys for ill children in Dallas-area hospitals, such as The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, for every $500 donated from Dallas.
Tags: HandsOn Network, K.I.D.S., Kids in Distressed Situations, Make a Difference Day, USA Weekend
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Holiday Spending Expected to Rise Slightly This Year
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
According to another NRF survey, 2010 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions, U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $688.87 on holiday-related shopping, a slight rise from last year’s $681.83. More than 60 percent of shoppers said the economy would impact their spending, down from last year’s 65.3 percent, but shoppers plan to compensate by spending less (81.5 percent), comparison shopping online (30.9 percent), shopping for sales (54.1 percent), and using more coupons (40.6 percent). The most important factors when shopping this holiday season, said survey respondents, were sales and discounts (41.8 percent).
As in years past, most holiday gift-givers will spend most of their budget on gifts for family ($393.55), followed by friends ($71.45), and co-workers ($18.26). Total spending on gifts ($518.08) is expected to increase 2.1 percent from last year. Other holiday purchases will include decorations ($41.51), greeting cards and postage ($26.10), candy and food ($86.32), and flowers ($16.86).
For more results, click here. This survey was conducted by BIGresearch.
Tags: holiday sales, holiday season, holiday shopping, National Retail Federation, NRF
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Report: Nearly Half of Dollars Spent on Kids Were Requested by Children
Monday, October 18th, 2010
According to a new study by The NPD Group, Spotlight on Kids: Understanding Cross-Category Purchasing: Data from July 2010—Back To School, 49 percent of all dollars spent on kids in July were specifically requested by the children. The survey also found that girls were more likely to request apparel and books and boys typically asked for sporting goods and video games.
In July, most products purchased for kids were apparel (20 percent), then footwear (13 percent), toys (8 percent), and video game consoles (7 percent). Apparel also took the No. 1 spot (56 percent) in terms of the percentage of dollars spent on sale items, followed by arts & crafts, consumer electronics, and school gear.
Nearly two-thirds of dollars spent on kids came from their parents, followed by grandparents with 19 percent. When comparing the percentage of dollars spent on used and pre-owned items by category, video game software, books, and video game hardware were the leaders at 19 percent, 11 percent, and 9 percent, respectively.
In terms of dollars spent, 28 percent were on licensed goods. Forty-two (42) percent of all dollars spent on kids ages 3 to 5 were for licensed products.
Tags: back-to-school, The NPD Group
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
FAO Redesigns Brand with New Logo, Packaging
Monday, October 18th, 2010
FAO Schwarz has unveiled a brand redesign that includes a new logo, new packaging, a new retail look, and an expanded product line.
Fashioned in a color palette of deep red and two shades of silver, the new FAO Schwarz logo emphasizes the initials (F, A, and O) of the retailer’s founder, Frederick August Otto Schwarz. A new character, “Wit,” also debuts in the logo, adding “a fairytale element of fun and surprise.” The retailer is also debuting a new package design featuring the new logo. The packaging is designed so that it requires no additional wrapping if given as a gift.
FAO is also expanding its line of signature products, with some old favorites—such as The Big World Map and Sleepy Time Teddies—making a comeback. Additionally, FAO Schwarz, its pop-up shops, and FAO.com will feature the retailer’s brand new color scheme, including the redesigned logo.
Tags: brand, FAO, logo
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
MGA Releases Statement About Ongoing Lawsuit with Mattel
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
MGA Entertainment has responded to a Mattel motion filed last night (Docket #8928) accusing MGA of additional wrongdoing:
“Mattel’s litany of lies in its ‘reply’ reveals the depths to which Mattel and its desperate lawyers will sink in order to deflect attention from MGA’s strong, written by Mattel, evidence discussed in recent hearings before the Court including: (1) Mattel’s how-to manual for sneaking into private showrooms at Toy Fairs, including tips on printing fake business cards and dummying up phony invoices for phony toy retailers and resale tax IDs for these phony retailers; and (2) a letter written by Mattel’s counsel in this same case while investigating MGA’s unfair competition claim that the Court recently stated on the record was sufficient to give rise to an inference that evidence had been deliberately suppressed by Mattel in this case.”
“We look forward to the trial in January 2011, when Mattel and the criminal activities of its executives will finally be exposed for the world to see and for MGA to be compensated for years of wrongs by Mattel.”
Tags: Bratz, Mattel, MGA Entertainment
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
K.I.D.S. Announces Partnership with The Juno Company
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) has partnered with The Juno Company, makers of the Juno Baby series and the recently released Juno Jr. series. As part of The Juno Company’s One for All program, for every Juno Company DVD, CD, or book sold through the company’s website, the company will donate a special music education DVD to a child in need through K.I.D.S. The company will provide up to 5,000 DVDs for the challenge. All donated products will be distributed by K.I.D.S. to partner agencies that serve children and families in need in Clark County, Nev., which has been identified as one of the poorest communities in the country.
Tags: K.I.D.S., The Juno Company
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Facebook Game About Toy Inventing, Selling to Debut This Month
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
Update: Fuel Games has pushed back the game’s premiere until October 25.
Fuel Games is set to debut a new Facebook game on October 25, which will challenge players to create a successful toy factory and storefront. Toy Factory is a social game of time management and creation, featuring a retro look. The goal is to build an attractive storefront and bring happiness to kids through must-have toys.
To be successful, players must become a master toy inventor and have retail genius, gaining points for research and development, increasing the treasure chest inventory, and keeping the store’s rating high enough for daily prizes. Features of the game include building and selling toys in categories such as action figures, dolls, vehicles, games, plush, and electronics; personalizing the store and workshop; helping friends through fictional disasters; and more.
Tags: Facebook, Fuel Games, Toy Factory
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
New Ben 10 Sweepstakes to Give Away Exclusive Go-Kart
Monday, October 11th, 2010
Bandai America Incorporated is giving away an exclusive Ben 10 Mark 10-style go-kart and other weekly prizes as a part of its Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Go-Kart Sweepstakes. Launched on October 10 (10-10-10), Ben 10 fans can enter to win the prizes by visiting www.bandai.com/uasweepstakes. The contest will span 10 weeks.
The limited edition go-kart made its public premiere at New York Comic Con’s Kid’s Day on Sunday, where attendees had the chance to take a commemorative photo with the vehicle and receive Ultimate Alien mini-posters.
Tags: Bandai America, Ben 10, New York Comic Con, sweepstakes
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Fall Toy Preview: Sticker Books from Fashion Angels
Friday, October 8th, 2010
StickerZine Volume 1: Love to Shop, by Fashion Angels Enterprises, is the first of the company’s new StickerZine book series. Girls complete the shopping scenes in the 16-page books by collecting stickers and placing them in the coordinating empty spots. Each StickerZine will come with one mystery pack of 28 stickers to get started, and there are seven additional mystery packs of stickers sold separately to complete the entire book. Additional volumes of StickerZines will be released throughout 2011.
For more Fall Toy Preview coverage, pick up The Toy Book‘s September/October issue!
Tags: Fall Toy Preview, Fashion Angels, stickers, StickerZine
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This post was written by Elizabeth A. Reid
Fall Toy Preview: Sakar to Release Gummy Bear Electronics
Friday, October 8th, 2010
Sakar International has signed a new licensing agreement with Street Players Holding Corporation to produce a new line of Gummy Bear-branded electronics. The products—including molded bear-shaped earbuds, bear-adorned Apple iPhone cases and Nintendo DSi cases, and molded game styluses—will be Gummy-textured, and will simulate the pliable feel and vibrant color palette of the gel candies.
Scheduled for release in first quarter 2011 in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the UK, the Sakar license marks the latest chapter in a 15-month campaign by Street Players to extend the Gummy Bear brand beyond candy.
For more Fall Toy Preview coverage, pick up The Toy Book‘s September/October issue!
Tags: Fall Toy Preview, Gummy Bear, Sakar, Street Players Holding Corporation
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