Author: James Zahn

Learning Express Toys Launches Fashion Angels Shop in Westborough

Learning Express Toys Launches Fashion Angels Shop in Westborough

Posted by | Mar 22, 2019 | ,

Learning Express Toys opened a new Fashion Angels pop-up shop inside its Westborough, Massachusetts location.  The new boutique-style display features a wide selection of Fashion Angels products geared toward tween girls’ lifestyle and activity interests. New items include activity kits, fashion sketch books, DIY crafts, licensed products, fashion accessories, room décor and natural beauty care. Local store owners Stacey and Rob Kracinovich regularly seek out new products that appeal to a wide audience. Fashion Angels seeks “to empower tween girls to become confident and stylish young women by providing them with experiences that encourage them to believe in themselves, express...

Read More
George Sherman Levels Up to CEO at GameStop

George Sherman Levels Up to CEO at GameStop

Posted by | Mar 21, 2019 | , ,

Following a lengthy search, GameStop has a new CEO to lead the company through its next evolution. The company’s Board of Directors appointed George Sherman as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, effective April 15.  Sherman has extensive retail experience, most recently serving as chief executive officer of Victra, the largest exclusive authorized retailer for Verizon Wireless products and services. He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, in which he served as an officer for nearly seven years. “We are very excited to welcome George to the GameStop team. His extensive retail leadership at several top brands including...

Read More
Nickelodeon SlimeFest Returns for a Second Year

Nickelodeon SlimeFest Returns for a Second Year

Posted by | Mar 21, 2019 | ,

The U.S. version of Nickelodeon SlimeFest is back. The two-day, family-friendly music festival returns for a second year, taking place Saturday, June 8, and Sunday, June 9, at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago, Illinois. For its second round, Grammy Award-winning artist Pitbull, singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha, Nickelodeon star and YouTuber JoJo Siwa, and Grammy Award-winner T-Pain will perform. Additionally, numerous family experiences featuring the network’s signature green slime will take place. This year’s festival is sponsored by DIRECTV, Super Heroic and Ring Pop Gummy Gems. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj0JIWxgTQM/ New for 2019, Nickelodeon SlimeFest  will include a Slime Maze and an expanded...

Read More
Mary Couzin Honored at 36th Annual UK Toy Inventors’ Dinner

Mary Couzin Honored at 36th Annual UK Toy Inventors’ Dinner

Posted by | Mar 21, 2019 | , ,

Mary Couzin, founder of the Chicago Toy & Game Group, was honored at the 36th Annual UK Toy Inventors’ Dinner during the London Toy Fair. Couzin received the International Designer and Inventor of the Toys Award (also known as the I.D.I.O.T. Award), an honor bestowed upon luminaries who have made outstanding contributions to the toy industry. “Mary Couzin had a vision to turn her hometown of Chicago (the birthplace of American toy invention) into a celebration of all the creative people that make this industry successful and a wild and fun place to work,” said Rich Mazel, Hasbro’s head of product...

Read More
DHX Media Promotes Darcee McCartney and Rebecca Lugo

DHX Media Promotes Darcee McCartney and Rebecca Lugo

Posted by | Mar 21, 2019 | , ,

DHX Media promoted both Darcee McCartney and Rebecca Lugo. As newly named sales managers, they will report to Jerry Diaz, VP, distribution. “Both Darcee and Rebecca are passionate about kids’ and family shows and have a keen understanding of the international content market,” says Mr. Diaz. “We’re confident they’ll be strong assets on the sales team, and we’re happy they’ll be joining us at Miptv this April to share our exciting slate of new shows with clients, as well as our deep library of classics.” McCartney (pictured top left) will oversee client relationships for Central Eastern Europe, Poland, Russia, Portugal,...

Read More
Fingerlings Narwhals Put the ‘Unicorns of the Sea’ at Kids’ Fingertips

Fingerlings Narwhals Put the ‘Unicorns of the Sea’ at Kids’ Fingertips

Posted by | Mar 21, 2019 | ,

They’ve been called the “unicorns of the sea,” and now kids can have narwhals at their fingertips. WowWee‘s latest “Fingerlings Friday” brings the release of Fingerlings Narwhals — a new wave of the ever-popular electronic toys. With new “magic motion sensors,” the narwhals have a special mood horn that will light up different colors in reaction to interaction. When kids pet their narwhal, the creature will flap its tail and blink its eyes to indicate how it’s felling. The narwhals will also give kids “magical kisses” that get bigger and louder the longer kids press the narwhal’s face to...

Read More
Michael Lachance Tapped to Head Miramax Family & Animation Division

Michael Lachance Tapped to Head Miramax Family & Animation Division

Posted by | Mar 21, 2019 | , ,

Former Sony Pictures Animation VP, Michael Lachance joined Miramax as executive vice president its newly created Family & Animation division. Lachance, a 20-year veteran of the entertainment industry, developed Hotel Transylvania, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, and the Smurfs franchise for Sony.  At Miramax, he will oversee creative direction of the Family & Animation division under Bob Osher. “Miramax has always been a home for visionary filmmakers and original storytelling, so I’m thrilled that Bill [Block, CEO] and Bob have asked me to bring those qualities to its new Family and Animation division. I’m looking forward to...

Read More
ASTRA Puts the Importance of Play on Stage at 10th Annual Play for Life Conference

ASTRA Puts the Importance of Play on Stage at 10th Annual Play for Life Conference

Posted by | Mar 20, 2019 | ,

Play experts Ahren Hoffman, CTRS, CPE, and Jean Bailey, CPE will be featured presenters at the 10th annual Play for Life Conference. The event is part of the US Play Coalition’s program, of which the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is a partner. Hoffman and Bailey will lead two seminars — Play Risks: Exploring Research and Interventions and Incorporating Play into Your Workplace. “ASTRA is delighted to see increased attention on the importance of play by all the audiences participating in the Play for Life conference: play researchers, park and recreation professionals, educators, health scientists, architects, landscape architects, designers, planners, business and...

Read More
LEGO Unveils Latest Disney Minifigure Series

LEGO Unveils Latest Disney Minifigure Series

Posted by | Mar 20, 2019 | , ,

There will be a new wave of Disney LEGO minifigures for fans to collect starting May 1. The individually-sold, blind-packaged figure collection expands with 18 new characters from across a wide range of Disney properties. Following the announcement of the LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie building set, Vintage Mickey and Vintage Minnie join the collection in black and white, complete with nautical accessories including a ship’s steering wheel and life ring, respectively. From Disney’s DuckTales, there’s Scrooge McDuck along with his adventurous nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Chip and Dale are in the mix as well. From the Walt Disney...

Read More
eOne’s ‘PJ Masks’ Makes Broadcast Debut in China

eOne’s ‘PJ Masks’ Makes Broadcast Debut in China

Posted by | Mar 20, 2019 | ,

eOne‘s PJ Masks arrives on broadcast television in China this week. The first season of the global hit will debut on FTA CCTV14, marking the first time that the series, which was previously only available on SVOD in the territory, will appear on broadcast. PJ Masks will debut March 21, with daily airings at 1 p.m. in blocks of four episodes shown back-to-back. Families in the territory can also explore the preschool heroes’ world by following the official PJ Masks WeChat account (ID: shuiyixiaoyingxiong). “Securing broadcast for PJ Masks on China’s leading children’s channel will boost viewership and awareness for the property significantly when...

Read More

Latest Issue

Subscribe to Toy Report!