August 2010

Report: Moms of Tweens Use Facebook More than Other U.S. Adults

The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association (RAMA), a division of the National Retail Federation, and BIGresearch have conducted a new survey about moms of tween adolescents. The study, Moms of Tweens: More In-Tune Than You Think, looks at the similarities, differences, and habits of moms of tweens compared to the average U.S. adult.

The survey was conducted between Oct. 15 and Dec. 28, 2009. According to the report, 48.2 percent of moms with pre-teens use Facebook regularly, compared to 39.9 percent of other adults. Nearly eight out of 10 moms preferred coupons opposed to word of mouth in determining which products to buy (in regards to apparel and groceries). The survey also reports that moms with tweens read blogs more than the average adult.

New Plush Dogs from Douglas Company

From the Douglas Company‘s puppy farm comes 10 new purebreds in various sizes. The 16-inch pups include an Apricot Poodle, Great Dane, German Shorthaired Pointer, Greyhound, and Pomeranian. A Bernese Mountain Dog (pictured above), Dalmatian, Sheep Dog, and Weimaraner round out the 8-inch collection, while a German Shorthaired Pointer debuts in the 23-inch plush family.

The new breeds are available in stores now. More puppy plush pictures after the jump. Read More…

Orbeez, Colorful Beads that Grow in Water, Debuts

Hobbeezone, Inc. (part of The Maya Group) unveiled its newest creation recently, Orbeez. These colorful, sesame seed-sized beads grow to the size of marbles in water, and then can be bounced, used in arts and crafts, or recycled in a garden.

The line is available at mass-market retailers and online outlets, and is suitable for ages 5 and up.

Check out the commercial above that premiered last Saturday on Nickelodeon.

New Company Acquires Little Capers Children’s Brand

Newly founded company, Little Capers Acquisitions, Inc., has purchased the children’s apparel brand Little Capers. The brand features T-shirts decorated with non-commercial icons and detachable capes, encouraging children to use their imagination, create their own superhero, and select their super powers. Little Capers Acquisitions will focus on two seasonal launches per year starting with the 1950s Space Exploration theme this fall/holiday season and continuing with new spring/summer lines in 2011. Each season will be uniquely themed and will feature two to four new characters.

Little Capers will also introduce Powerband Wristbands in the fall. The company is actively exploring additional licensing opportunities in complementary categories including, but not limited to, backpacks and lunchboxes.

Photo Credit: LittleCapers.com

ASTM International Develops New Standard for Lead Testing

ASTM International has developed a new standard that the organization says will help quickly detect and quantify lead concentration in toys and other children’s products. The new standard, F2853, was developed by subcommittee F40.01 (Test Methods) as a part of ASTM International’s committee F40 on declarable substances in materials.

ASTM F2853 uses the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy technique and the test described in the standard enables lead quantification separately for the substrate and paint level in a 5-minute measurement cycle. ASTM International is also inviting all interested parties to join the task group responsible for F2853 as it considers future revisions to the standard.

Games & Puzzles: Unusual Suspects

Fundex Games introduces the third product in its Dice Slide Game line, Unusual Suspects. In the game, players role play as the detective, but must also protect their own secret identities from being framed for committing the crime. The game starts with each player blindly drawing a card from the deck, which will show his or her secret identity. The crime scene is set by dealing cards and rolling the dice, and then players try to solve the case by matching their six fingerprint cards to the six fingerprint dice. Players can “tamper with the evidence” by drawing a new card or re-rolling one of the die. The first player to match their fingerprint cards to the dice is the winner and becomes chief inspector.

Check out The Toy Book‘s July/August issue for more games and puzzles!

Yogi Bear Stars in New Video Game, Movie

D3Publisher (D3P) has announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Yogi Bear: The Video Game, to be released this holiday season for the Wii and Nintendo DS. The new video game will be released in conjunction with the theatrical release of Yogi Bear.

In Yogi Bear: The Video Game, players help Yogi Bear (voiced by Dan Akroyd who also stars as Yogi in the movie) save Jellystone Park from being shut down forever. Players can jump, crawl, belly slide, sneak, zip-line, and explore Jellystone Park as they search for wildlife, objects, and go on adventures. Yogi Bear’s sidekick Boo Boo also helps with difficult challenges.

Yogi Bear: The Video Game is under development by Monkey Bar Games.

CPSC Recalls 96,000 Fisher-Price Toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, in cooperation with Fisher-Price, have issued a voluntary recall of approximately 96,000 Fisher-Price Little People Play ‘n Go Campsite toys. The toys were sold at major retailers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and by online retailers, from October 2009 through August 2010.

Although no injuries have been reported, the plastic Sonya Lee figure in the playset can break at the waist, exposing small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children. The CPSC has received eight reports of the Sonya Lee figure breaking.

Consumers are advised to stop using the recalled products immediately, and to take the Campsite’s Sonya Lee figure away from children. Consumers can contact Fisher-Price at 1-800-432-5437 to arrange for the figure’s return in exchange for a free replacement. For more information, click here.

RC2 Acquires JJ Cole Collections

RC2 Corporation has acquired substantially all of the assets of JJ Cole Collections, a privately-held, developer and marketer of travel, storage, and other products for moms. According to RC2, JJ Cole is best known for its “bundleme” brand of soft travel products, and the company has recently developed a line of diaper bags, blankets, and soft goods, as well as decorative nursery storage products.

JJ Cole Collections products generated net sales of approximately $15.5 million in 2009. RC2 funded the acquisition with approximately $40 million from its existing cash. JJ Cole Collections’ senior management will retain approximately 9 percent carry-over ownership. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

JJ Cole Collections’ CEO and Founder Jeremy White will remain with the company.

Photo Credit: jjcollections.com

Clue Named as Latest The Hub Series

Clue has been announced as the latest series to join a lineup of shows, which will be broadcast on the new network The Hub, to launch on October 10 (10-10-10). Clue, produced by Hasbro Studios, will feature a youthful, ensemble cast (to be announced) that work together to uncover clues and unravel mysteries.

Other shows that will be broadcast on The Hub include Dan Vs., Family Game Night, G.I. Joe Renegades, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Pictureka!, Pound Puppies, R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, and Transformers Prime.

The Hub is a joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc. and is expected to be available in 60 million U.S. households at launch.