Target Corp., Toys “R” Us, Inc., and Kmart have agreed to pay $454,000 in penalties to settle a lead claim. The three retailers, along with other manufacturers, were sued in November 2007 after they sold or made toys with excessive amounts of lead, which violated federal toy safety standards.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Target will pay $210,000, Toys “R” Us will pay $175,000, and Kmart will pay $69,000.
A study by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) states that the U.S. market for juvenile products made approximately $2.7 billion in manufacturer sales in 2008. According to the report, more than 75 percent of sales were made through mass merchandisers, discounters and specialists. Independent juvenile accounted for 16 percent of online dollar sales in 2008. The report also states that in 2008, 56 percent of total gross shipment from juvenile product manufacturers were estimated to be green and eco-friendly, compared to 41 percent in 2007.
Discovery Bay Games has been granted the rights to manufacture and market Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey products including board games, non-electronic card games, and jigsaw puzzles. “The greatest show on earth” also expanded Rasta Imposta’s Ringling Bros. licensed-products to include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey makeup and makeup kits.
The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester has announced its 2009 inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame: the ball, the Big Wheel tricycle, and the Game Boy.
Other nominees for this year’s National Toy Hall of Fame were Cabbage Patch Kids, the Game of Life, Hot Wheels, the paper airplane, playing cards, Rubik’s Cube, sidewalk chalk, the toy tea set, and Transformers.
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Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired movie rights to the board game Risk from Hasbro. Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s CEO, and executive Bennett Schneir will produce the action/military film with Overbrook Entertainment. According to Variety, the deal with Sony Pictures allows Hasbro to produce two large-scale films.
Eco Child’s Play and Goddard Systems, Inc. have announced its “2009 Hottest Eco-Friendly Toys under $30” list.
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Walden Media is acquiring the film rights to children’s book series, The Berenstain Bears. 21 Laps, Nelvana, and Walden Media will produce a family comedy, which will feature a mix of live action and CG-animated characters. Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps has produced movies such as Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Nelvana produced the animated The Berenstain Bears television series, which airs on PBS.
The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) has kicked off its month-long virtual Do Good Stuff-a-Thon in partnership with the My Stuff Bags Foundation. The event will allow individuals to stuff a duffel bag online by sponsoring items that go in each bag. Items include blankets, clothing, toiletries, and toys for foster children across the country. Individuals can participate during the month of November by visiting the Virtual Do Good Stuff-a-Thon webpage at the Toy Industry Foundation website.
Hamleys, a UK toy retailer, temporarily lost its website because its domain name was not renewed. Customers trying to visit Hamleys.com were directed to a holding web page by Network Solutions, the registers for the website, which displayed advertisements for rival toy companies. When clicked, the advertisements took customers to websites such as John Lewis, Amazon, and Argos. According to a company spokesperson, the domain name has now been renewed, and Hamleys.com is accessible again.
