Play Fair Offers Attendees Exclusive Fan Experiences

December 17, 2015 By

PlayFairPlay Fair will welcome attendees for the first time at New York City’s Javits Center North on February 13 and 14 next year. The inaugural event, hosted by the Toy Industry Association and LeftField Media, will offer families and toy collectors the opportunity to interact with presenting sponsors Lego Systems Inc. and Nickelodeon, as well as toy and family brands, including Mattel, Hasbro, Warner Bros. Pictures, Crayola, and Toys “R” Us.

Play Fair will offer attendees exclusive fan experiences, such as seeing the new Batmobile from Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. They will also meet characters such as Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, build their own Lego car and race down a ramp against other Lego builders, watch episodes of Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears and Teen Titans GO! comedy series, and more.  [Read more...]

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Digital Dream Labs Now Available at Toys “R” Us

December 3, 2015 By

Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 5.33.10 PM

Puzzlets, from Digital Dream Labs, will now be available at select Toys “R” Us stores and online. The app-enabled toy fuses STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) learning with gameplay to teach kids new ways of thinking, using the Bluetooth-enabled Play Tray and 22 programming tiles.  [Read more...]

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COMMENTARY: Positive Outlook for 2016

October 22, 2015 By

After attending the TIA’s Fall Toy Preview in Dallas a couple of weeks ago, I feel confident that 2016 is going to be an even better year for the toy industry. While the show floor seemed quieter than in years past, the majority of companies I met with were upbeat and excited for holiday 2015 and the year ahead. A number of my meetings were cut short due to drop-ins by Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Toys “R” Us buyers, which is always a good sign.

The industry is expected to be up approximately 6 percent this year, and I expect this success to carry over to 2016. I saw a higher than usual number of new lines, and interesting expansions of successful products, proving that manufacturers are riding high on the wings of rising sales, leaving them willing and able to take some risks. [Read more...]

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Colorforms Signs on for Paw Patrol

October 16, 2015 By

ColorformsPawPatrolColorforms is launching its newest vinyl stick-on storytelling sets based on the preschool show Paw Patrol. The new sets feature glow-in-the-dark, glitter, magic reveals, and more, and will be available at Toys “R” Us.

PAW Patrol will be featured on Colorforms Take a Long, including four Colorforms sheets and a multi-fold, built-in backer card with re-closeable storage for Colorforms sheets, and Colorforms Create a Story, including an easel play area that folds out from the box, reusable box storage, six large Colorforms sheets, and four backgrounds in a closed box.

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Toys “R” Us Reports Second Quarter Results, Announces Seasonal Hiring

September 17, 2015 By

ToysRUsLogo copyThis past Tuesday, Toys “R” Us Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter ended August 1. For the quarter, Adjusted EBITDA was $122 million, compared to $83 million in the prior year period. In addition, domestic operating performance improved significantly as domestic gross margin rate remained strong. Internationally, the company continued its positive comparable store net sales trend with particular strength in Canada, Central Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.

[Read more...]

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COMMENTARY: The More Things Change with Star Wars Licensed Toys…

September 10, 2015 By

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Kylo Ren 20-inch figure, from Jakks Pacific

A long weekend ago, in a toy store far, far more crowded than I had anticipated (Toys “R” Us Times Square, though I really should have known better at that point), I checked out Destination: Star Wars—The Exhibition, which showed off Star Wars toys past and present. It closed this past Monday, but photos of all the exhibits can still be found online. Besides the opportunity to see vintage Star Wars toys, it was worth visiting because located over in its own themed corner of the store were all the new toys launched in anticipation of the upcoming, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

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Toys “R” Us Inc. Lowers Free Shipping Minimum to $19 for Purchases

September 9, 2015 By

toysrusStarting today, Toys “R” Us Inc. will lower the free shipping minimum required for online orders at toysrus.com and babiesrus.com from $49 to $19. The new free shipping threshold is the lowest the company has offered in recent history (though surcharges may apply on large and heavy items).

[Read more...]

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Revell Releases Snap-Together Vehicle Models Inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens

September 6, 2015 By

Revell Millennium FalconRevell has released an assortment of snap-together, interactive model kits inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, aimed at ages 6 and up. The first four kits consist of replicas of the Millennium Falcon, Poe’s X-Wing Fighter, the Resistance X-Wing Fighter, and the First Order Special Forces Tie Fighter.

[Read more...]

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The Force Will Be Strong at Toys “R” Us Times Square on September 4

September 3, 2015 By
Star Wars Millennium Falcon Spaceship from Kenner (1979)

Star Wars Millennium Falcon Spaceship from Kenner (1979), on display as part of Destination: Star Wars—The Experience

When the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on September 4, all Toys “R” Us stores in the U.S. will open their doors, giving customers the opportunity to purchase hundreds of new Star Wars playthings, including a wide variety of merchandise not available anywhere else.

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DuneCraft Adds Character to Homes with Character Mini Domes

September 2, 2015 By

DuneCraft, CharacterMiniDomes1DuneCraft has introduced its new Character Mini Domes, which consist of character-themed gardens, such as Franki Fly Trap and Robert Radish. Each kit includes the dome top and bottom, soil, seeds, gravel, and instructions.

[Read more...]

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