Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. has sold its Darda line of toys to Simm Marketing GMBH, a long time licensee of the Darda brand in Europe. Darda has been a Walthers brand since 2005. Simm Marketing GMBH was founded in 1926, when founder Richard Simm began making costume jewelry. In 1965, the company started producing toys and today Simm distributes other toy lines in Germany and surrounding countries. Simm has been offering Darda products in Europe since 1999.
The shelves will turn a bit more ugly this year as Pretty Ugly expands its plush characters plus partners with Schylling and Abrams for additional products.
Pointy Max, who has a weakness for cheese and a phobia of blank paper, joins the Ugly Doll family along with Picksey, Mynus, Ninja Batty Shogun, Ket, Wippy, Nandy Bear, and Cozymonster.
Spin Master Entertainment and Titmouse Inc., a Hollywood-based animation studio, will co-develop and produce a new tween, animated musical series called The Special Offers. The show will follow four misfit kids who bond over their love for music and form the band, The Special Offers. Each episode will feature an original song, which will be compiled and distributed as a soundtrack album at the end of the season.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Playmates Toys, have announced a voluntary recall of Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets. This recall involves charms sold with the sets. The charm is attached to a cord using a metal ring and cylinder and included with the sets as a separate accessory that children can attach to the toy necklace, bracelet, or key chain. The cylindrical metal connector on the charm can contain levels of total lead in excess of 300 ppm, which is prohibited under federal law. No injuries have been reported.
According to The NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of toys generated $21.47 billion in 2009 compared to $21.65 billion in 2008, a decline of less than 1 percent. In the fourth quarter of 2009 (October through December), although revenues were flat, unit sales were up 4 percent compared to the same period in 2008.
As Hidden City Games expands its children’s brands and licensing divisions, the company announces that its name has officially changed to Hidden City Entertainment. As the company continues to expand its various children’s brands and licensing division in North America and internationally, the change in name better encompasses the new goals and objectives for the company as it moves forward in 2010 and beyond. Hidden City Entertainment began as Hidden City Games in March 2007 and is a global developer of original and licensed children’s entertainment content and products. The company is best known as the worldwide master licensee of Bella Sara.
Manhattan Toy has finalized a worldwide licensing and distribution agreement with Quadrilla Spielzeug Design und Herstellung, creators of “Intelligent Play in Wood,” to manufacture and distribute Quadrilla’s complete range of Marble Runs and accessories starting in 2010.
Manhattan Toy will preview the collection at the Toy Fairs in New York and Nuremburg this month.
BBC Worldwide has renewed Hasbro’s global master toy license for In the Night Garden. As part of the renewed agreement, Hasbro will extend its In the Night Garden product ranges, with the launch of the “friendship theme” this fall/winter. The theme will be extended across all BBC Worldwide-licensed categories.
HIT Entertainment has signed new licensees to develop, manufacture, and market new Thomas & Friends products. The agreement marks the first time HIT has worked with Tara Toys, Think Wow Toys, The Toy Workshop, and Upper Deck.
Tara Toys will develop a new arts and crafts line for the property including magnetic sets, rolling art desks, activity cases with pads, markers, crayons and stampers, giant activity floorpads, Sit n’ Play activity trays, and 5-in-1 activity easels. All of Tara Toys’ Thomas items will be available at both mass and specialty stores starting this fall.
Blue Plate Media will host its 3rd annual Blue Plate Media Lounge on February 16th at Toy Fair (room 1B05, Jacob Javits Center), moderating two panel discussions with Disney and Nickelodeon.
The panels will serve as an insider’s look at how to understand, reach, connect, and engage with kids and moms, across platforms such as television, online, and radio. Following the informal presentations, executives will be on hand to informally meet and greet, educate, answer questions, and review and present 2010 media opportunities. Blue Plate Media executives will also host informal, one-on-one, strategic media sessions with marketers to answer company-specific media questions, and to explain cross-platform media packages.