How Coronavirus is Affecting the Toy Industry (Upd...

Posted by James Zahn | Mar 28, 2020

MasterPieces Says Puzzles are Soaring in a Changin...

Posted by James Zahn | Mar 27, 2020

State of the Industry

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: LEGO

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Wonder Works

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: PlayMonster

Talkin’ Toys: Diaframma Leads the Charge in Video Production for the Toy I...

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: MGA Entertainment

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Diverse Marketing

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Cra-Z-Art

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Blue Plate Media Services

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: eBay

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Bonkers Toys

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: ChizComm

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Basic Fun!

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Jada Toys

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: ASTRA

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: WowWee

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: The Toy Association

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: FAO Schwarz

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Jazwares

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Camp

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: VTech Electronics

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Learning Express

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Just Play

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Spin Master

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Target

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Moose Toys USA

Looking at the Factors Behind Last Year’s Toy Sales Decline

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Tru Kids Brands

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Mattel

A Year of Contrasts: The NPD Group Reflects on the State of the Toy Industry

State of the Industry Q&A 2020: Amazon

Outright Games, Cyber Group Studios Launch ‘Gigantosaurus: The Game’

by Josephine Baran | Mar 27, 2020 | New Products, News, Video Games

Outright Games, Cyber Group Studios, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, and Wildsphere Studios...

Navigating Uncertainty: Toy Association Activities Support Members and Families Across North America

by Guest Contributor | Mar 27, 2020 | Articles, Features

by STEVE PASIERB, president and CEO, The Toy Association From business restrictions, mandated...

The Toy Association Calls on Manufacturers, Designers to Help Medical Community During COVID-19 Pandemic

by Nicole Savas | Mar 27, 2020 | Around the Industry

The Toy Association has a list of resources for how those with 3D printers can help.

COVID-19: Toy Companies Must Rethink, Not Shutdown Marketing and Communications

by Guest Contributor | Mar 27, 2020 | Articles, Features

by BILL SOUTHARD, president and CEO, Southard Communications As uncertainty around COVID-19 and...

GameStop Sales Fell 19.4% Last Year; Guidance Suspended Amid COVID-19 Spread

by James Zahn | Mar 27, 2020 | Financial, News, Retail, Video Games

Following a dismal holiday season in which its sales fell 27.5%, GameStop’s Q4 and full-year...

MMG Brands Shifts Production from Toys to Personal Protective Equipment

by James Zahn | Mar 26, 2020 | News

MMG Brands, the company behind Moosh-Moosh plush, has joined the fight against COVID-19. The...

Rethinking Brand Messaging and Ad Spend in Times of Crisis

by Guest Contributor | Mar 26, 2020 | Articles, Features

by DAVID BECKER, president and CEO, Blue Plate Media Services (BPMS) Where do I start? It was just...

The ORB Factory Shifts Production from Play Compounds to Anti-Bacterials

by James Zahn | Mar 26, 2020 | News

The ORB Factory, parent company of ORB Toys, is shifting production to help meet the need for hand...

1
...
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
...
1050

News

New Docuseries to Explore Specialty Toy Stores During Quarantine

by Nicole Savas | Mar 26, 2020

Most of the country is shut down, but specialty shops keep running.

Mattel Delivers Toys, Art Supplies to “LA Students Most in Need” Initiative

by James Zahn | Mar 26, 2020
ZAG Expands Global Licensing and Merchandising Team

by Ben Goren | Mar 25, 2020
MGA Entertainment Launches ‘Operation: Pac-Man’ to Provide Masks and Supplies to Healthcare Workers

by James Zahn | Mar 25, 2020

Articles

We Own Play, and That’s a Powerful Commodity

by Guest Contributor | Mar 25, 2020

by DONNA MACNEIL, president, ChizComm By now we’ve all heard the communication speak a million...

Challenge Accepted: ASTRA Members Were Born for This

by Guest Contributor | Mar 18, 2020
Working from Home Is One Thing; Running a Business Is Another

by Guest Contributor | Mar 18, 2020
Coronavirus Impact: What Independent Toy Stores Should Expect and How to React

by Guest Contributor | Mar 17, 2020

International News

WildBrain CPLG Realigns European Teams

eOne’s ‘Ricky Zoom’ to...

WildBrain CPLG Expands German Sales Depa...

eOne Zooms into Latin America with New R...

Cartoon Network, India’s POGO will Launc...

WildBrain CPLG Grows Greek Executive Tea...

Spacetoon, Toei Animation Team Up to Bri...

Kids India Registration Is Now Open

Hello Kitty, Team USA Partner for Tokyo ...

WildBrain CPLG, LC23, and Diadora Lace U...

ZAG, ON Kids & Family Partner with ...

Splash Entertainment, KiXi Entertainment...

Animaccord Brings Consumer Product Deals...

Funko, Bandai Partner for Exclusive Dist...

French Animated Series ‘Stinky Dog’ Adop...

Cosmos-Maya to Produce First Animated Fe...

Rainbow Appoints Michael Block as CEO of...

pocket.watch Plots Global Expansion Acro...

WildBrain CPLG Taps Victoria Whellans to...

’44 Cats’ Is on the Prowl in...

‘Gigantosaurus’ Launches in China

Spin Master’s ‘Super Dinosau...

Mattel Closes Factories in China, Indone...

Cosmos-Maya Appoints Priti Karandikar to...

TFNY: Coronavirus Fears Hit Toy Industry...

Spielwarenmesse Wraps Up 71st Internatio...

Hasbro, Maxx Group Ink Licensing Deal fo...

Licenses, Licensing Deals

Mattel, American Pinball Collaborate on Hot Wheels Pinball Machine

by James Zahn | Mar 21, 2020

The first-ever officially licensed Hot Wheels Pinball machine will speed into arcades later this...

LEGO, Nintendo Reveal Full Details on Super Mario Bros. Collaboration

by James Zahn | Mar 12, 2020
LEGO Partners with Super Mario

by Nicole Savas | Mar 11, 2020

Movies & TV

Hot Wheels ‘Life Size’ Revs Up MotorTrend Premiere

by James Zahn | Mar 24, 2020

For years, Mattel‘s Hot Wheels Garage of Legends has been the home to life-size 1:1-scale...

Sesame Workshop Debuts ‘Caring for Each Other’ Initiative

by Miranda Siwak | Mar 20, 2020
ZAG’s ‘Power Players’ Goes Global with Netflix, New Broadcast Deals

by James Zahn | Mar 8, 2020

People

U.S. Toy Co. Bolsters Sales Team with Toysmith Vets

by James Zahn | Mar 21, 2020

The U.S. Toy Co. hired Jeff Bunkowske and Christina Clayton, both formerly of Toysmith, to...

Hasbro Star Wars Designer Mark Boudreaux Retires

by James Zahn | Mar 18, 2020
Blue Plate Media Services Celebrates 20 Years with 5 Strategies for 2020 Media Plans

by James Zahn | Mar 11, 2020

Collectibles

TFNY: Super7 Serves Up a Video Recap of New Products

by James Zahn | Mar 4, 2020

Toy Fair New York is behind us, but many new products shown at the Javtis Center will continue to...

Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House Children’s Books Launch New Products and Events

by Josephine Baran | Feb 27, 2020
Hasbro’s Snake Eyes G.I. Joe Figure Arriving in April

by Nicole Savas | Feb 21, 2020

Retail

GameStop Sales Fell 19.4% Last Year; Guidance Suspended Amid COVID-19 Spread

by James Zahn | Mar 27, 2020

Following a dismal holiday season in which its sales fell 27.5%, GameStop’s Q4 and full-year...

New Docuseries to Explore Specialty Toy Stores During Quarantine

by Nicole Savas | Mar 26, 2020
Toys ‘R’ Us Canada Launches Stay-at-Home Play Initiative

by James Zahn | Mar 20, 2020

Podcast

Iscream’s Jennifer Mines Appears on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’

by James Zahn | Mar 24, 2020

In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power...

‘Power Kid Podcast’ Invention Week Part 4: What’s Next?

by James Zahn | Mar 20, 2020
‘Power Kid Podcast’ Invention Week Part 3: Presentation

by James Zahn | Mar 19, 2020

Financial

GameStop Sales Fell 19.4% Last Year; Gui...

Funko Withdraws Financial Guidance, Offe...

Spin Master Sees Supply Chain Improvemen...

Cra-Z-Art Is Bringing More Production Ba...

New Lawsuit Alleges Toys “R”...

‘Call of Duty’ Reigns Once M...

Target Gains $1.7 Billion in Toys and Ba...

Funko Delivers a 16% Full-Year Sales Inc...

Spin Master Reports Q4 Sales Growth, 1% ...

The LEGO Group Delivers Growth Across Ke...

Martin J. Elliott Promoted to CFO at MGA...

Strong Licenses, Disguise Power Jakks Pa...

Global Toy Industry Sales Declined 3% in...

Horizon Group USA Inks $25 Million Finan...

Action Figures, Vehicles Drive Mattel to...

TFNY: Never Wrong Toys Acquires Laser Pe...

Disney+, Partner Brands Drive Hasbro to ...

Funko Hits a Snag in Preliminary Q4 Earn...

Bambini Partners, IJW & Co. Team Up...

Action Figures, Dolls Grow as U.S. Toy I...

Trans World Entertainment Plans to Sell ...

Tencent Moves to Acquire Game Developer ...

Spin Master Updates Full-Year Outlook to...

‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Star ...

NRF Says Holiday Retail Sales Rose 4.1%

GameStop Sales Tumble through Dismal Hol...

The U.S. and China Sign Historic Phase O...

Target Hits a Holiday Bump as Toys Come ...

U.S. Holiday Retail Sales Were Flat, Toy...

Cartamundi Group Completes Acquisition o...

Hasbro Completes eOne Acquisition

Toys Contribute to Amazon’s Record...

Third-Quarter Earnings Cloud Future of F...

‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Star ...

Tariff Fears Come to a Halt as the U.S. ...

Tariffs on Toys Still in Limbo as Effect...

New Toys, Classic Games Top Amazon Chart...

Holiday Season Booms with Record-Breakin...

Make it Real Acquires Three Cheers for G...

Imperial Toy Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy...

Jakks Pacific Hires John Kimble, Extends...

U.S. Toy Retail Sales Grew 3% in Q3, NPD...

PlayMonster Grows with Acquisition of Ka...

Nintendo, Disney, and Disguise Drive 18%...

Spin Master Hits Rocky Q3 as It Looks To...

No Tricks, Just Treats as Funko Posts 26...

Mattel Scores a Surprise Q3 Earnings Win...

Holiday Shoppers Plan to Spend 4% More T...

Positive Outlook Remains as Threat of Ch...

Hasbro Acquisition of Entertainment One ...

Collector Ownership Campaign Opens for h...

Just Play Reportedly Close to Buying Jak...

Jazwares Acquires Wicked Cool Toys

NRF Reports Increased August Retail Sale...

GameStop Could Close Up To 200 Stores Am...

Regional Retailer Fred’s Files for...

Jazwares Owner Makes a Play for Jakks Pa...

Sales, Revenue Grow as LEGO Group Shapes...

Sphero Acquires littleBits to Strengthen...

Hasbro to Acquire Entertainment One in $...

Disguise Grows as Jakks Pacific Looks to...

Tariffs on Toys Delayed Until December

Loot Crate Files Chapter 11, Looks for a...

Funko Continues to ‘Pop!’ Cr...

Playtime is Over: New Tariffs on Toys Co...

The NPD Group Says the U.S. Toy Industry...

Bakugan, Monster Jam, Paw Patrol Give Sp...

‘Toy Story 4,’ Hot Wheels Le...

Hasbro Continues to Beat Expectations wi...

Partners Group Acquires Schleich from Ar...

NPD Group Issues Correction on L.O.L. Su...

Tariffs on Toys: Toymakers, Retailers Te...

Toy Association Testifies at U.S. Trade ...

Winning the Retail Toy Market: New Profi...

Funko to Participate in J.P. Morgan Glob...

The Toy Association Tells Trump Administ...

PAW Patrol, Hatchimals Dip as Spin Maste...

Funko Crushes First Quarter Expectations...

Growth of Classic Brands, Barbie, and Ho...

Hasbro Beats Expectations with Classic B...

Rovio Drops ‘Angry Birds’ Co...

Spin Master Looks to Grow with Abby Hatc...

Target Sees Growth in Q4, Full Year Sale...

Harry Potter, Fancy Nancy, Morph Board B...

Spin Master’s Global Product Sales...

Shopko to Close 70 Percent of Its Stores...

Hasbro Looks Ahead to Nerf, Power Ranger...

Hot Wheels, Barbie Boost Mattel as Q4, F...

Simba Dickie Group Acquires Jada Toys

U.S. Toy Retail Sales Down 2 Percent, NP...

Wow! Stuff Selects ChizComm as Marketing...

The Next Shot at a Toys “R” ...

NPD Reports December Video Game Sales, R...

FAO Schwarz to Open in Indianapolis Inte...

ZURU Acquires Funville’s Sparkle G...

Viacom Acquires Pluto TV as Streaming Wa...

Sears Could Still Liquidate as Creditors...

GameStop Releases Holiday Sales Results

Universal Music Group’s Bravado Ac...

ESL Investments Officially Scores Winnin...

The Toy Association Fights Back Against ...

Target’s Big Christmas: L.O.L. Sur...

Retail Shipments Level Off Following Tar...

Rubik’s Brand Appoints Christoph B...

Amazon Reveals the Best-selling Holiday ...

134 Million Customers Plan to Shop Super...

NPD Reports November Video Game Sales

Nintendo Switch Becomes Fastest-Selling ...

Amazon Toy Sales Jump 30 Percent Year-Ov...

November Retail Sales Increase 5 Percent...

NRF Welcomes Delay in Tariff Increase

Total Q3 Spending on Video Games Increas...

NRF Reports 40 Percent Increase in Multi...

NRF Says Young Adults Most Likely to Spe...

NPD Reports October Video Game Sales

U.S. Toy Industry Sales Grow 2 Percent, ...

Funko Releases Q3 Financial Results

Spin Master Reports Q3 Financial Results

Holiday Sales to Pass $1 Trillion for th...

Adobe Forecasts $124 Billion in U.S. Onl...

Mattel Reports Q3 Financial Results

Jakks Pacific Reports Q3 Financial Resul...

Toy Association, NPD Group Provide New R...

Consumers Will Spend 4.1 Percent More Th...

NPD Reports September Video Game Sales

Hasbro to Lay off Workers, Releases Thir...

September Retail Sales Increased 3 Perce...

Sears May File for Bankruptcy

NRF Forecasts 4.3 to 4.8 Percent Growth ...

NPD Finds Grandparents Account for $7 Bi...

Halloween Spending to Reach $9 Billion

NPD Reports August Video Game Sales

Toy Association Joins Coalition to Oppos...

August Retail Sales Increase 5 Percent O...

Video Game Spending Increases 40 Percent

NPD Reports July Video Game Sales

Hasbro, DC Comics Settle Bumblebee Trade...

July Retail Sales Increase 4.9 Percent O...

Toy Sales Across Key Global Markets Grew...

Court Approves Toys “R” Us S...

Funko Reports Q2 2018 Financial Results

NPD Group Reports U.S. Toy Industry Sale...

Brookstone Files for Bankruptcy, Plans t...

Spin Master Reports Q2 Financial Results

The NPD Group Reports June Digital/Retai...

Jakks Pacific Reports Q2 Financial Resul...

Mattel Reports Q2 Financial Results, Ann...

Great Rock Capital Closes $12 Million Cr...

DHX Media Closes Sale to Sony of Minorit...

Nylon Resin Shortage, Toy Association Ad...

Toy Association Continues Fight Against ...

HobbyTown USA to Open RadioShack Express...

Hape’s Dan Finanz AG Acquires Playwell E...

June Retail Sales Show 4.2 Percent Incre...

Yvolution Appoints Sino Foreign Trading ...

New Survey Shows Back-to-School, College...

Spin Master Grows International Expansio...

Iconkids & Youth’s Kids Licen...

Retail Imports to Set New Record This Mo...

The NPD Group Launches Retail Tracking S...

Party City to Launch Toy City Pop-Up Sto...

The NPD Group Releases May 2018 Video Ga...

Disney Raises Bid to $71.3 Billion for T...

NRF Responds to Potential Tariffs on $20...

April Retail Sales Increased 2.8 Percent...

Toys “R” Us Releases Fiscal ...

Funko Reports Q1 2018 Financial Results

Toys‟R”Us Liquidation and Early Easter A...

Mattel Reports Q1 2018 Financial Results

Jakks Pacific Reports Q1 Results

NPD Reports March 2018 Video Game Sales

Hasbro Reports Q1 2018 Financial Results

Easter Spending Expected to be Second Hi...

NRF Says February Retail Sales Increased...

JAKKS Pacific Reports Fourth Quarter and...

NPD Reports January 2018 Video Game Sale...

NRF Reports January Retail Sales Up 5.4 ...

$4.5 Billion Worth of Toys Sold on Amazo...

NRF Forecasts Retail Sales Will Increase...

Hasbro Reports Full Year and Q4 2017 Fin...

Mattel Reports Full Year and Q4 Financia...

Toy Sales Globally and in the U.S. Grow ...

NPD Reports December 2017 Video Game Sal...

Toys “R” Us to Close 182 U.S...

Nintendo Switch Tops December U.S. Sales

2017 Holiday Retail Sales Increased 5.5 ...

Toys “R” Us Inc. Reports Res...

Zuru Reports Earnings Increase

Toys “R” Us Receives Final C...

Spin Master Reports Second Quarter Finan...

LeapFrog Reports First Quarter Fiscal Ye...

Spin Master Completes C$220 Million Init...

Spin Master Corp. Releases Info on Initi...

Jakks Pacific Reports Second Quarter Res...

Mattel Reports Second Quarter Financial ...

Toys “R” Us Inc. Reports Res...

NPD Report Shows Decrease in Hardware, P...

Jakks Pacific Reports First Quarter Resu...

Hasbro Reports First Quarter Revenue and...

Mattel Reports First Quarter Financial R...

Toys “R” Us Inc. Provides TR...

Jakks Pacific Reports Fourth Quarter and...

Toys “R” Us Reports Year-to-Date and Hol...

Toys “R” Us Inc. Reports Third Quarter F...

Jakks Pacific Reports Third Quarter Resu...