Author: Maddie Michalik

Jakks Pacific Announces Strategic Reorganization

Jakks Pacific Announces Strategic Reorganization

Posted by | Jan 23, 2019 | , ,

Jakks Pacific Inc. today announced a strategic reorganization that highlights the company’s growth initiatives. “We are strategically positioning our businesses for the future, creating a more effective, global framework to serve consumers worldwide, increase growth, and maximize shareholder value,” said Stephen Berman, chairman and chief executive officer at Jakks Pacific. “Jakks has been a top tier global toy manufacturer for over 20 years. We have exemplary design, marketing, operation, and sales teams and we have strong relationships with best-in-class licensors, retailers, and industry thought leaders. As the retail landscape and consumer behaviors continue to change, we are committed to...

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James Zahn Joins Adventure Publishing Group

James Zahn Joins Adventure Publishing Group

Posted by | Jan 7, 2019 | ,

Adventure Publishing Group, publisher of The Toy Book, The Toy Report, and the Pop Insider, named James Zahn as senior editor effective immediately. Best known as publisher of The Rock Father magazine, Zahn is a writer, media personality, and industry commentator. Zahn has already been part of the Adventure Publishing family since 2016 as a Toy Insider Parent Advisory Board member and contributor of feature articles for The Toy Book and commentary for the Pop Insider. Zahn has been covering toys and children’s entertainment for decades, and his coverage of the Toys “R” Us bankruptcy was nationally recognized. He regularly serves as a brand...

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Talkin’ Toys: Reindeer in Here Shows Kids that Different is Normal

Talkin’ Toys: Reindeer in Here Shows Kids that Different is Normal

Posted by | Dec 20, 2018 | ,

When you think of holiday-themed toys, most of them involve a tradition in the month of December. But Reindeer in Here reins in a message for a year-long celebration. Reindeer In Here is a book and plush set sent by Santa in December as the first gift kids can get during the holiday season. The story behind the plush is that it wants to get to know each child and celebrate that being different is normal. Kids are then encouraged to take their new plush friend everywhere with them to go on adventures and help Santa make their Christmas...

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Kroger Brings Geoffrey’s Toy Box to Nearly 600 Stores for Holiday Season

Kroger Brings Geoffrey’s Toy Box to Nearly 600 Stores for Holiday Season

Posted by | Nov 2, 2018 | ,

As previously reported, Kroger confirmed that it is bringing Geoffrey’s Toy Box exclusive brands to nearly 600 Kroger Family of Stores across the U.S. for this holiday season. Starting this month, Geoffrey’s Toy Box branded merchandise and displays will appear in participating Kroger Family of Stores with a selection of 35 kids’ toys, ranging in price from $19.99 to $49.99. The holiday program will feature exclusive toys from Animal Zone, Imaginarium, Journey Girls, Edu Science, You & Me, and Just Like Home. Product assortment will vary by location. Click here for a full list of participating locations. “Geoffrey’s Toy Box delivers a...

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Cartoon Network, Palace Entertainment to Open Hotel Experience

Cartoon Network, Palace Entertainment to Open Hotel Experience

Posted by | Oct 30, 2018 |

Cartoon Network and Palace Entertainment partnered for a premier family lodging experience in Central Pennsylvania, to open next summer. Joining a global portfolio of Cartoon Network family experiences, the network’s first hotel will feature 165 rooms and immerse guests in the animation and antics of characters from shows such as Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, and The Powerpuff Girls. The property will entertain guests with a combination of character animation and creative technology upon the moment of arrival. The nine-acre destination will feature an interactive lobby, a resort-style pool and water play zone, an outdoor amphitheater with an oversized movie screen, lawn...

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BuzzFeed to Launch NYC Toy Store This Fall

BuzzFeed to Launch NYC Toy Store This Fall

Posted by | Oct 11, 2018 |

Internet media and news company BuzzFeed plans to open a toy store in Manhattan this fall, according to The New York Post. The toy shop, called Camp, will be located at a 11,000 square-foot space at 110 Fifth Ave. in the Flatiron District. Kids toys will be in the front of the store, while an experiential area in the back will feature a spot for visitors to post sharable social media posts and will change several times a year. The approach for Camp will be unique in that merchandise and décor will change every few months to fit different...

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FAO Schwarz Sets New York Flagship Opening Date, International Expansion Plans

FAO Schwarz Sets New York Flagship Opening Date, International Expansion Plans

Posted by | Oct 9, 2018 |

FAO Schwarz will officially open its New York City flagship store on November 16 located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The location will feature FAO Schwarz signature toys and items from partners such as Melissa & Doug, Marvin’s Magic, and Build-A-Bear Workshop, as well as FAO Schweetz in partnership with IT’SUGAR. The store will feature FAO’s staple retail experiences including the iconic dance-on-piano, magic shows, a baby adoption center, a kids’ grocery shopping experience, and a build-your-own R/C race car station. Many of these experiences will be duplicated with FAO Schwarz international partner locations. Additional expansion plans include opening permanent FAO Schwarz shops...

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Secured Lenders Acquire Geoffrey LLC’s Assets, Launch Geoffrey’s Toy Box

Secured Lenders Acquire Geoffrey LLC’s Assets, Launch Geoffrey’s Toy Box

Posted by | Oct 2, 2018 |

Geoffrey LLC, Toys “R” Us Inc.’s intellectual property holding company subsidiary, will move forward with a plan for a group of investors led by Geoffrey LLC’s existing secured lenders to acquire substantially all of its assets. The new company is “in discussions with very interested parties about how the company could look in the future,” according to Richard Barry, executive vice president of global merchandising at Geoffrey LLC, including ideas for new Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores in the U.S. Barry told The Toy Book exclusively that the company will launch a “shop-within-a-shop” concept, called Geoffrey’s...

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Basic Fun! Acquires All Playhut Assets

Basic Fun! Acquires All Playhut Assets

Posted by | Oct 1, 2018 |

Basic Fun!, purchased all assets of Playhut Inc., the California toy company that produces the EZ Twist line of indoor and outdoor play structures. Founded in 1982, Playhut introduced products that aim to enhance imaginative and educational play. The company’s EZ Twist design system allows for instant setup and foldaway storage of lightweight popup environments including playhouses, tents, tunnels, and games. “We believe that Playhut is the brand of choice for indoor and outdoor play structures,” Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, says “The company is well known for innovation and quality by consumers, retailers and licensors. They ran into serious troubles navigating...

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The Toy Insider Showcases Top Holiday Toys at Seventh Annual HoliDAY of Play

The Toy Insider Showcases Top Holiday Toys at Seventh Annual HoliDAY of Play

Posted by | Sep 21, 2018 | ,

The Toy Insider hosted the seventh annual HoliDAY of Play event on Thursday, September 20, and unveiled its expert picks for the best kids’ toys and gifts in its 13th annual holiday gift guide. More than 150 members of the press had a chance to get a first look at the hottest toys of the season, and also met face-to-face with some of the top companies in the toy industry to get hands-on experience with the best toys on the market. Guests were treated to delicious snacks and holiday-themed cocktails during this exclusive three-hour event with beautiful views of the Empire State Building...

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