September 2010

NRF Releases Expected Top Costumes List for Halloween

Fairy Tale Princess costume by Rubie’s Costume Co., Inc.

For the sixth consecutive year, princess costumes will be the No. 1 costume for children this Halloween, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. The NRF’s 2010 Top Costumes survey, conducted by BIGresearch, reports that 4.3 million children will celebrate Halloween dressed as a princess. According to the survey, witches are the preferred adult costume for this year (11.4 percent) and the No. 1 costume for pets is expected to be pumpkins (10.3 percent).

New to the Top Costumes for Children list is Buzz Lightyear (648,000) and Harry Potter characters (459,000). Nearly 1.8 million children will dress as Spider-Man (No. 2), and 1.7 million children will dress as a witch (No. 3).

For adults, vampires will take the No. 2 spot with 2.6 million adults dressing as the characters. Pirates are next on the list at No. 3 with 1.9 million adults. Nurse costumes returned this year at No. 4.

For pets, traditional costumes will reign such as a devil (9.7 percent), a witch (5.1 percent), a hot dog (3.9 percent), and a bee (3.6 percent).

Fisher-Price Recalls More Than 11 Million Toys and Baby Gear

Fisher-Price, in cooperation with Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has recalled more than 11 million toys and baby products that were sold in the United States and Canada.

The company is recalling 14 models of the Fisher-Price Trike and Tough Trike toddler tricycles (approximately 7 million units in the U.S. and 150,000 in Canada), which can cause serious injury including genital bleeding when a child sits or falls on the pretend plastic ignition key. According to the CPSC, there have been 10 injuries reported.

Also recalled are seven models of infant activity centers with inflatable balls, a total of 2.8 million units in the U.S. and 125,000 in Canada. The models have been deemed a choking hazard as the valves of the inflatable balls can come off. The CPSC was notified of 46 incidents in which the valves had come off, including 14 that were found in children’s mouths.

Tinga Tinga Tales Producers Set Up Children’s Fund

Co-producers Classic Media and Tiger Aspect Productions of new animated preschool series Tinga Tinga Tales have announced the establishment of the Tinga Tinga Tales Fund, devoted to enriching the lives of children in Africa primarily through education. To kick off the new partnership, Classic Media and Tiger Aspect Productions have agreed to contribute a portion of their net profits from the Tinga Tinga Tales brand to the fund. The companies are also encouraging all Tinga Tinga Tales partners to participate and contribute, and some key contributions have already been made. Tiger Aspect and Classic Media have a goal of 100 percent participation by partner companies.

Already on board is Safaricom, Kenya’s leading integrated telecoms company, in partnership with Citizen TV, signing on to sponsor the Tinga Tinga Tales series in Kenya as well as setting up The More You Know! The More You Grow! campaign to support the enhancement of primary education. On behalf of Tinga Tinga Tales, Safaricom has committed to building 48 new school classrooms in some of the most underprivileged districts in Kenya.

New Product: Gotcha! From Buffalo Games

Buffalo Games has announced plans to release a new party game of rules called Gotcha! In Gotcha! players race to hit the buzzer whenever they see someone breaking a rule, while making sure they are following the rules themselves. Group rules and individual rules are displayed during the game, and the more rules that are in play, the funnier the game can get. You have to be alert and aware or you are out!

Stay tuned for more info from the company.

Photos: TIF and My Stuff Bags Foundation Event in the Bronx

The Toy Industry Foundation, in partnership with the My Stuff Bags Foundation, recently held an event at the Mott Haven Academy Charter School, located in the Bronx, N.Y. The school is the first in the city designed to serve kids from broken homes. Children at the charter school received new school supplies, toys, and more from the two organizations.

Photos below:

Chanler Findlay, 5, opens his “My Stuff Bag” at the Toy Industry Foundation event held at Haven Academy in the Bronx.

Kindergartner Malachi Taylor shows off a new toy, courtesy of the Toy Industry Foundation at an event hosted with My Stuff Bags at Haven Academy in the Bronx.

For more information on My Stuff Bags, visit www.mystuffbags.org.

Scholastic Encourages Fans to “Get Goosebumps” this Halloween

Scholastic Media, licensor for Goosebumps, has launched its second annual “Get Goosebumps” marketing and media campaign in support of the brand this Halloween season. The campaign includes new books, DVDs, a mall tour, and more.

New this month is the release of two new Goosebumps HorrorLand titles, The Wizard of Ooze and The Slappy New Year, as well as two classic Goosebumps stories, You Can’t Scare Me and Return of the Mummy, released as collector’s editions featuring new bonus material.

Chorion Announces New Little Miss Character

At Brand Licensing Europe, Chorion introduced the newest addition to the Little Miss family, Little Miss Princess. Adorned with a crown and pink all over, Little Miss Princess is fashion-ready and sweet as sunshine. The company is showcasing Little Miss Princess-inspired fashions, accessories, and homewares designed for girls and young adults at BLE. The Little Miss Princess book title, published by Egmont in the UK and others around the world, will be available next spring along with a range of accessories and apparel.

Additionally, Chorion has secured a number of new licensing deals for the Mr. Men and Little Miss brand. Digital Goldfish will launch new Mr. Men and Little Miss apps globally at the end of October, debuting first in the UK and U.S. In France, Cesar will launch new plush, Pixi is producing a range of new plastic toys and figurines, and Jouceo will launch a range of toy products for sale through kiosks and toy stores.

Justin Bieber Dolls to Come to Stores this Holiday Season

Bravado, a global music merchandising company, and The Bridge Direct, Inc, have caught “Bieber Fever” and will launch an exclusive line of collectible dolls, singing dolls, toys, and plush based on teenage music star Justin Bieber.

The new Justin Bieber toy line will debut this holiday season, starting with the JB Style Collection Figures, Justin Bieber Music Video Collection Singing Figures that feature accessories and a portion of Bieber’s most popular songs, and In Concert Microphones that play two of Bieber’s hit songs, plus sound effects. Also to be released will be collectible Signature Plush.

The products are expected to be available in major mass retailers on or before December 4, and will also be available for pre-sale online starting this week.

For more information on the Justin Bieber toy line, visit www.justinbiebertoys.com, or follow @JBieberToys on Twitter and “Like” the Justin Bieber Toys page on Facebook.

Photo Credit: www.justinbiebertoys.com

New Razor Packaging Allows Consumers to See Product In Action

Razor has introduced Microsoft Tag technology to its product packaging, which will allow customers to see the product in action right at the store. Each custom Microsoft Tag will send users to that product’s television commercial on the Razor YouTube Channel.

To view, shoppers download the free Tag Reader on their web-enabled camera phone and then scan the tag. Razor’s custom Microsoft Tag appears on all 2010 new products, including the Razor Sole Skate single skate, the Razor Siege caster scooter, and the Razor Ground Force Drifter, an electric-powered drifter kart. Additional Razor and RipStik product packaging will feature the tag by December.

Razor is also releasing its first iPhone scooter game, which will be available for download for free in early October. The game, Razor Ultra Pro Rider, allows Razor fans to perform tricks like the pros on Team Razor.

Build-A-Bear Partners with U.S. Bank, Introduces Virtual Bank in Bearville

Build-A-Bear Workshop, as part of a partnership with U.S. Bank, has introduced a new area in its Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world that aims to increase children’s financial literacy. The virtual U.S. Bank of Build-A-Bearville, located in the virtual train station at buildabearville.com, allows the world’s citizens to save and budget through interactive games and online activities.

The bank has similar features to real-life banks, such as ATM machines, a vault, a welcome desk, and a teller counter. When citizens visit, they will find financial and savings tips. Visitors can also deposit money for investments and play banking-themed games that encourage responsible money management. Additional ATMs will be located around town, which will teleport citizens to the new bank area when used.

U.S. Bank is the fifth-largest commercial bank in the U.S.