In celebration of the Barbie doll’s 54th birthday, dolls of all ages can commemorate their own special day with the new Birthday Wishes Barbie Doll. Barbie celebrated on March 9, the same day the famous doll made her first appearance at the New York Toy Fair in 1959. The new Birthday Wishes doll is available now at BarbieCollector.com and at retailers nationwide.
Matchbox Kicks Off 60th Anniversary Campaign
March 8, 2013 By
To commemorate its 60-year anniversary, Matchbox, from Mattel, is kicking off a three-month national campaign that will include the Matchbox Heroes Wanted Sweepstakes with a $60,000 college scholarship award and a national retail promotion for fans to purchase Matchbox die-cast vehicles for 60 cents for a limited time at participating retailers now through March 10.
The Matchbox Heroes Wanted Sweepstakes calls on parents to celebrate the heroic attributes of their children by submitting a picture and caption of their hero-in-training dressed as their favorite real-life icon. Submissions will be showcased on the Matchbox Heroes Wanted Facebook gallery and are automatically entered to win a $60,000 college scholarship. Parents with children between the ages of 3 and 10 can enter the contest now through May 13. Sixty prize pack giveaways will be awarded weekly consisting of a Matchbox-branded gift box, a personalized photo-frame thank you card, and four heroic Matchbox vehicles. To learn more about the contest and read stories from the heroes that inspired Matchbox vehicles, visit www.Matchbox.com/Heroes.
Mattel Wants You to Help Take a Bite Out of Chocolate Bunny Extinction
March 5, 2013 By
Mattel’s North American team has week kicked off an Easter program called Save the Bunny.
The chocolate bunny has been an Easter tradition for more than 200 years, but the future of this holiday icon is… well, melting. This Easter, Mattel, the Endangered Chocolate Bunny Commission (ECBC), and celebrities such as Chris Harrison, Stephen Collins, and Kate Flannery, have come together to Save the Bunny with a special hare-raising and entertaining PSA.
Help support our chocolate friends and sweeten up Easter baskets with toys at www.savechocolatebunnies.com. Visitors to the site have the opportunity to win a Mattel toy, download exclusive coupons on toys from Mattel brands, and win grand prize money.
“Barbie in The Pink Shoes” Marks 25th Title for Iconic Doll
February 26, 2013 By
Barbie takes center stage as a ballerina in the new DVD movie Barbie in The Pink Shoes, available now. After 12 years and more than 110 million DVDs sold to date, the newest title marks a milestone for Barbie Entertainment as the 25th release. In the movie, Barbie stars as Kristyn Farraday, a ballerina with big dreams. When she tries on a pair of sparkling pink shoes, she and her best friend are whisked away to a fantastical place. Embarking on a magical adventure, she learns when you dance from your heart, dreams can come true. Girls can continue dancing with a Barbie In The Pink Shoes line of dolls and toys currently available at retailers nationwide.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products Unveils Product Lineup for “The Wizard Of Oz” Anniversary
February 21, 2013 By
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has announced its roster of licensees set to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz next year. Master toy partner Jazwares, as well as USAopoly and Mattel, are among the partners. [Read more...]
Barbie to Leave Malibu and Search for a New Dreamhouse Location
February 8, 2013 By
Barbie is officially putting her Malibu, Calif. Dreamhouse on the market and is packing up her three-story pink palace, signaling the launch of a year-long global brand campaign by Mattel. Over the next few months, Barbie will embark on a worldwide tour to find a new dream home. This year’s campaign will feature real-life, life-sized experiences, online engagement, and retail touch points that bring the Barbie Dreamhouse to life for Barbie fans.
Fictitiously valued at $25 million (see the Trulia listing), her scaled 8,500 square foot, three-story, one-bedroom, one-bathroom mansion is the only house in Malibu with unobstructed views of the ocean—after all, it only has three walls.
Barbie will open the doors to her Dreamhouse with the “Barbie The Dreamhouse Experience,” which will debut in Florida in the U.S. and Berlin in March. Inspired by the popular web series, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse, this interactive installation celebrates Barbie’s fabulous life, allowing fans a look inside her pink palace.
In addition, Mega Bloks and Barbie are transforming the way girls can build, design and decorate their Barbie world with the global launch of Mega Bloks Barbie, the first-ever Barbie building collection designed specifically for girls. The complete construction toy line—including a Dreamhouse-inspired Luxury Mansion—lets girls literally build Barbie doll’s world, piece by piece.
PHOTO: Toy Insider Mom Joins Barbie’s Moving Crew
February 8, 2013 By
Toy Insider Mom and The Toy Book publisher Laurie Schacht helps Barbie move out of her Malibu Dreamhouse. For more info on Barbie’s move, click here.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products Debuts Worldwide Man of Steel Toy Program
February 4, 2013 By
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) zooms into this year’s American International Toy Fair season with a roster of global licensees ready to support the studio’s portfolio, led by this summer’s tentpole film release Man of Steel, which will be supported by DC Comics master toy licensee Mattel, as well as many other toy partners. [Read more...]
Toy & Game Industry Luminaries Celebrate Inventors at Annual Industry Gala
December 18, 2012 By
As part of the Chicago Toy & Game Week, industry leaders from 18 countries gathered at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History for the 5th Annual Toy and Game Inventors Awards, known as “The TAGIEs,” to honor the creators of some of the world’s best known playthings.
Nearly 400 industry movers-and-shakers gathered for the event, at which famed inventor Bruce Lund gave a keynote address after being introduced by a full-sized marching band. Kevin Harrington, chairman of As Seen On TV, Inc., and “Shark Investor” on the show Shark Tank was also in attendance to present the Young Inventor of the Year Award. [Read more...]
