iStory Animation Studios, a spin-off of Laser Pegs Ventures LLC, announced that it signed an agreement with DQ Entertainment International to produce a 52-episode Peg Heads CGI-animated series that will be proposed to international broadcasters. The characters will also be available as a line of toys that are compatible with other Laser Pegs building sets. [Read more...]
Laser Pegs’ iStory Animation Teams Up with DQ Entertainment for New TV Series
February 17, 2015 By
Toy Fair 2015 Promises to Be the Largest Yet
February 11, 2015 By
The global toy industry will gather at the 112th North American International Toy Fair this weekend for a sneak peek at this year’s new creative and skill-building toys and games. An exclusive event for trade guests and media hosted by the Toy Industry Association, Toy Fair will open its doors on February 14 for a four-day run. [Read more...]
Toy Fair 2015 Sells Out of Exhibit Space
December 10, 2014 By
As reported by the Toy Industry Association (TIA), exhibit space for the 112th North American International Toy Fair, scheduled for February 14 to 17, has officially sold out. The show has already surpassed a record-breaking 419,000 net square feet of exhibit space at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and going forward, prospective Toy Fair exhibitors will be placed on a wait list (under no financial obligation).
The expanded show floor, equivalent in size to more than seven football fields, will feature hundreds of thousands of innovative new toys, games, and youth entertainment products. The North American International Toy Fair draws buyers, licensors, entertainment executives, and other play professionals from 100 countries, who will be on-hand scouting toy trends, spotting unique product lines and brands, and writing orders for next year.
Major global retail outlets already registered to attend include Toys “R” Us, Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, Apple, and Hobby Lobby.
Painting Lulu to Launch at Toy Fair 2015
December 2, 2014 By
Painting Lulu, a traditional coloring book that bridges the gap to the digital world, will officially launch in February at North American International Toy Fair, located at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Kids color in the Painting Lulu Activity Book, and then with the help of their parents, scan the page using the free Painting Lulu app on a smart device. The coloring page instantly appears on the device, and kids can continue coloring where they left off using the Painting Lulu Digital Crayon.
With a tap of the Digital Crayon, which is designed with a smooth touch and thick grip to fit in a child’s hand, kids can easily re-touch, save, and print their creations. The one-click share feature also makes it easy for kids to share their artwork with their parents.
Each 32-page Painting Lulu colouring book is made with 100 percent recycled paper, and the brand’s 10 different characters–including Milky, the milk carton; Toby, the plastic water bottle; and Max, the broken calculator–are intended to teach children about recycling while they color.
In preparation for its Toy Fair launch, Painting Lulu has engaged ChizComm Ltd. to handle marketing and communications initiatives, and Perpetual Licensing to manage license acquisitions.
Toy Fair PR Bootcamp Webinar to be Held on December 11
November 4, 2014 By
Toy companies exhibiting at the North American International Toy Fair can participate in the Toy Industry Association (TIA)’s annual Toy Fair PR boot camp webinar, scheduled for December 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.
The free webinar, entitled Tips for Developing Your TF’15 PR and Promotion Strategies, will review tools and techniques for attracting the attention of retail buyers and media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, Forbes, as well as trade magazines and bloggers that attend Toy Fair.
Webinar participants will learn how to develop a well-rounded media list; leverage social media to attract media attention; strategically present product, brands, and trend information to different media audiences; and more. The session will be presented by Adrienne Appell, TIA’s senior manager of public relations; Kimberly Carcone, TIA’s senior director of trade shows and event marketing; and Gina Espinosa from Virtual Press Office.
Registration for the webinar is now open and is free for all Toy Fair exhibitors. Questions may be submitted in advance to TIA’s Jackie Retzer at jretzer@toyassociation.org.
Buyer, Trade Guest Registration Open for North American International Toy Fair
October 24, 2014 By
Buyer and trade guest registration has opened for the 112th North American International Toy Fair, according to the Toy Industry Association. Toy Fair 2014 is scheduled to take place February 14 to 17 in New York City.
The event, formerly the American International Toy Fair, was recently re-named the North American International Toy Fair, as part of a new affiliation agreement between TIA and the Canadian Toy Association. CTA and TIA will have a single toy fair, rather than single marketplace events in the U.S. and Canada.
Last year’s Toy Fair had a record-breaking 414,060 net square feet of exhibition space and welcomed an 11 percent increase in international buyers, an 8 percent rise in exhibitors, and a 5 percent spike in attendees.
Lum Lums Circle of Friendship Sighting!
March 3, 2014 By
Lum Lums‘ Valerina, from Imperial Toy, holds hands with her friends at the recent American International Toy Fair. Valerina and her fellow dolls encourage positive social play for girls. Their goal is a world of inclusion in which kids can experience the treasure of friendship.
Toy Fair 2014 Shows Increase in Attendees, Double-Digit Rise in International Visitors
March 1, 2014 By
Last week’s American International Toy Fair in New York City drew nearly 26,500 toy professionals from 94 countries, and boasted a record-breaking 414,060 net square feet of exhibit space. According to the Toy Industry Association (TIA), Toy Fair 2014 also welcomed an 11 percent surge in international buyers, an 8 percent rise in exhibitors, and a 5 percent spike in overall attendees, bringing the total attendance to 26,493.
There was an estimated 1,153 exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sales agents, and nearly 10,000 buyers from more than 5,000 retail outlets, including delegations from Amazon, Target, and Toys “R” Us. Members of top press outlets including Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, and The New York Times scouted top toy trends.
Next year’s Toy Fair has been scheduled for February 14 to 17, and will once again take place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Show information will be available in the coming months at www.ToyFairNY.com.
COMMENTARY: Back to Basics: Sketch, Doodle, Paint, and Play
February 24, 2014 By
After Toy Fair 2013, the words “and there’s an app!” were ringing in my ears for weeks. This year, however, appcessories seemed more like a taboo than anything else, with most companies shying away from toys with app-enhanced features or reliability. Honestly, it was less than disappointing. I think keeping screen time and toy time separate is perfectly acceptable, and apparently, what kids and toy buyers prefer.
This year will truly mark a return to traditional play patterns. Rainbow Loom, a simple bracelet-making kit for kids, was huge in 2013, eventually snagging four Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards, including the overall Toy of the Year. That said, Toy Fair 2014 brought tons of cool innovations in the activities category, with companies fighting to be the next big thing once the Rainbow Loom craze comes to an end. [Read more...]
COMMENTARY: Plush With a Purpose
Last week at Toy Fair, I was incredibly moved and encouraged to see so many toy companies giving from their compassionate hearts. When I was younger, I wanted to write about cancer research or world hunger. This week, Toy Fair reminded me that the toy business is an incredible outlet to make a huge difference, and these toy makers are using the toy industry to teach kids the importance of giving, love, and compassion. I’ve fallen in love with a handful of toy makers who are using their platform to make a real difference. Toys may seem trivial, but aren’t kids the ones in whom we delegate our future? [Read more...]