Exclusive First-Look at Packaging for Hero Collector Marvel Museum | Source: Eaglemoss/The Toy Book
Last year, Eaglemoss began a major push into the U.S. market with its growing Hero Collector range of premium pop culture collectibles. This month, the brand enters the next phase of its expansion through a collaboration with Walmart that marks a significant milestone in Hero Collector’s infiltration of mainstream retail.
As seen at our sister publication, the Pop Insider last week, the Hero Collector Marvel Museum collection is a range of replica artifacts belonging to the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Today, the Toy Book has your exclusive first look at the window box packaging that will house the Hero Collector Marvel Museum line when it arrives at Walmart in May.
Exclusive First-Look at Packaging for Hero Collector Marvel Museum | Source: Eaglemoss/The Toy Book
“We’re really excited to work with Walmart on this launch,” says Matt Buss, director of national retail sales at Hero Collector U.S. “Hero Collector Museum is a new imprint for us, focused on creating collectible versions of iconic props from across pop culture — the kind of memorabilia any fan would love on their shelf — so a license with the reach of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a great fit.”
The first wave of hand-painted polyresin collectibles includes Iron Man’s Mark VII Helmet, Black Panther’s Mask, Thanos‘ Infinity Gauntlet, Captain America’s Shield, and Thor’s Mjolnir Hammer. Each item in the Hero Collector Marvel Museum series stands between 6- to 8-inches tall atop a special display stand.
Exclusive First-Look at Packaging for Hero Collector Marvel Museum | Source: Eaglemoss/The Toy Book
“Hero Collector’s ranges have a strong following, but recently we’ve been pushing more and more to develop our mainstream retail appeal, from new product lines, such as Hero Collector Museum, to display-friendly packaging for classic, well-received collectibles in our Star Trek or Alien licenses,” Buss says. “These items deserve a bigger audience, and we’re gearing up to ensure they have one. This exclusive launch with Walmart is a perfect next step in that evolution.”
Following its launch at Walmart in May, the Hero Collector Marvel Museum collection will expand into specialty retail and will be available via the Eaglemoss webstore.
In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Adventure Media and Events’ own Marissa DiBartolo, editor-in-chief of both the Toy Insider and the Pop Insider and senior editor of the Toy Book. DiBartolo manages print and digital content for the Toy Insider and the Pop Insider, including daily product news, reviews, and features, the legendary Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.
On the show, Albritton and DiBartolo discuss the importance of building connections between toymakers and families and how doing press for toys has changed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. DiBartolo shares insight from her years of experience demonstrating toys on national TV, including appearances on the TODAY Show, the Steve Harvey Show, ABC World News Now, Fox and Friends, and more.
Additionally, DiBartolo — a newly minted Genius of Play Ambassador — gives a sneak preview of the Toy Insider’s forthcoming early look at some of the biggest toy trends of 2021.
The “Power Kid Podcast” is presented by The Toy Book Podcasts by Adventure Media and Events. The long-running series presents in-depth interviews and conversations with some of the biggest names and rising stars in the toy, game, and family entertainment industries. The Toy Book Podcasts are available through all of your favorite streaming services, including Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
Adventure Media and Events (AM&E) is the publisher of the Toy Book, the Toy Insider, and the Pop Insider. Composed of an editorial team with more than 75 years of combined experience in the toy and entertainment industries, AM&E publications provide consumers, press, and trade audiences with the latest news and updates on all things play and pop culture.
Asmodee Korea’s Kevin Kichan Kim | Source: Asmodee
Following the growth of its brands including Catan, Spot It, Splendor, and Dixit across Korea, Asmodee opened a new office dedicated to serving the South Korean market.
Asmodee Korea Ltd is led by board game industry veteran Kevin Kichan Kim and marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion in Asia.
“The Korean market has been growing remarkably in the last 10 years, and we’re very excited to introduce even more fantastic game experiences to fans in the region,” Kim says. “A dedicated team on the ground will reinforce Asmodee’s leading market position and allow us to quickly scale our presence in the country through localization of distribution of the entire Asmodee catalog.”
The Toy Coach Azhelle Wade, Toy Creators Academy | Source: TCA
Following a successful launch last fall, The Toy Coach Azhelle Wade is ready to welcome another class of budding inventors into the Toy Creators Academy.
Toy Creators Academy is the first toy business program of its kind to guide students through the entire process of developing new toy and game ideas into tangible products from concept to pitch.
According to Wade, the second edition of Toy Creators Academy will “include even more actionable tips and lessons for students to help them propel their toy ideas to the next level.” The new, double-length session includes exclusive content from industry experts that aims to get products off the drawing board and into consumer’s hands.
“To me, this course has been invaluable,” says first session alumnus Pearly Tasker aka Pearly Sprinkles, as seen on Zumbo’s Just Desserts on Netflix. “What Azhelle is doing in the toy industry is paving the way for new creators like myself to enter.”
I’m A Girly is teaming up with The R Collective to create the world’s first upcycled, sustainable clothing collection for dolls.
The new collection will utilize excess fabric from the fast fashion industry to create new styles while drawing attention to wasteful practices in both the toy and fashion industries. I’m A Girly was launched in 2017 Swiss company Finfin AG to promote a mission of “sustainability with style.”
“We are aware of the problems our industry is facing and are working every day to improve the situation,” says Theresia Le Battistini, CEO and founder, I’m A Girly. “For example, our latest line of dolls is made of recycled materials, and to ensure our product is relevant to our target group and to prevent overproduction, all products are directly co-designed by our audience, the children.”
This spring, kids will be invited to send in designs for I’m A Girly’s sustainable doll collection as part of the Global Kids4Kids Design Competition. Winning designs will be included in the upcycled collection.
The R Collective was launched in 2007 by Christina Dean in an effort to curtail fashion waste. The organization works with select partners to utilize the enormous textile overstocks leftover by luxury fashion brands each year.
Heather Weeks | Source: Educational Insights/The Toy Book
Following the successful launch of the new Design & Drill Bolt Buddies line last year, Educational Insights has promoted Heather Weeks to senior director of product development. Weeks joined the company four years ago as a senior manager in product development and licensing prior to serving as director of product development for toys and games aimed at kids ages 2-12.
In her new role, Weeks is responsible for overseeing new product development, research, and initiatives for Educational Insights, working closely with the product leads for bestselling lines such as GeoSafari, Design & Drill, and Playfoam.
“Heather recognized early in her time here at Educational Insights that all our teams would benefit greatly from sharing ideas, experiences, obstacles, data, and successes on a more frequent basis,” says Lisa Guilli, general manager, Educational Insights. “She has made it a priority to strengthen communication, which has resulted in an inspiring and collaborative working environment that our entire company benefits from. As a team leader, Heather is a major contributor to the growth of our company the last several years and I truly believe the best is yet to come!”
“Childhood is a brief and sacred time when children are full of wonder, curiosity, and endless possibilities,” Weeks says. “It is our great privilege and responsibility as a team of inventors, teachers, and artists to play a part in shaping this time. At Educational Insights, we don’t make toys — we make memories, we build confidence, and we bring families together. It’s truly an awe-inspiring mission to head to work with each day.”
Prior to joining Educational Insights, Weeks worked in the educational services industry as corporate general manager at TestMasters.
After launching its UFC Ultimate Series last summer, Jazwares is expanding the line of 6.5-inch collectible action figures to include new designs featuring popular UFC champions.
This new wave of figures includes Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, Amanda Nunes, Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, Urijah Faber, and a chase variant. Each figure offers detailed features, such as tattoos, weight class body types, and realistic facial expressions.
Designed for UFC fans ages 8 and up, the figures have 23 points of articulation and come with swappable hands and faces and fighter-specific accessories, such as flags and UFC champion belts. They also come in branded window packaging that features images of the athlete, along with statistics about one of his or her fights on the back.
The full wave of fighter figures is available to preorder now from ringsidecollectibles.com and GameStop. The figures cost $19.99 each or $147.99 for all six (only from Ringside Collectibles). Next month, they will also be available from the UFC Store, Target, Walmart, and Amazon.
Fresh off of the company’s 90th anniversary, Fisher-Price is adding a new item to its “mini-me” line of infant toys. The new dessert-themed infant teethers and rattles will give parents the chance to serve their kids a sweet treat.
The Eat Dessert First Infant Toy Gift Set consists of infant teethers in the shape of a frosted sprinkled donut and a rattle that looks like an array of pastel-colored French macarons.
Eat Dessert First Infant Toy Gift Set | Source: Fisher-Price
The new dessert set is the latest course in the foodie favorites menu that includes: Pretzel Teether, Pizza Teether, Coffee Cup Teether, and the Fisher-Price Taco Tuesday Gift Set.
The Eat Dessert First Infant Toy Gift Set is now available at Walmart.
Hasbro Q4 and full-year 2020 earnings | Source: Hasbro/The Toy Book
Hasbro had a big fourth quarter as strong sales across the U.S. and Canada spiked 16% to drive a 4% increase in overall revenue. The Hasbro Gaming portfolio saw revenues grow 21% while the company’s entire gaming category experienced a 27% boom. Q4 revenues for Entertainment One (eOne) rose 10% alongside a 20% increase in total revenue from TV/film/entertainment and a 7% increase from Hasbro franchise brands, including Monopoly, NERF, and Magic: The Gathering.
Full-year revenues for 2020 declined 8% to $5.4 billion due to COVID-19 related closures and other challenges internationally that were partially offset by the strength of sales in the U.S. and Canada.
“In 2020, we lived our purpose of making the world a better place for all children and all families. In what was a most challenging year, the global Hasbro team fully demonstrated its resilience, tenacity, creativity, flexibility, and empathy,” says Brian Goldner, chairman and CEO, Hasbro. “Our teams successfully drove demand for several product categories across our portfolio including our entire gaming portfolio from Wizards of the Coast brands to face-to-face gaming. They found ways to reach the global consumer despite retail closures throughout the year, delivering over $1 billion in e-commerce revenues for the first time.”
The strength in e-commerce was due in part to increased direct-to-consumer efforts, including Hasbro Pulse. The company also ramped up social outreach efforts.
“Importantly, we focused on our numerous communities, including our most important Hasbro community of employees worldwide and their families,” Goldner says. “This emphasis included engaging on critically important issues of racial equality and justice, and a company-wide re-commitment to diversity, inclusion, and engagement.”
During Q4, sales for products from partner brands declined 14% despite strong demand and sales growth for Star Wars products, particularly those inspired by Star Wars: The Mandalorian. Goldner says that the decline in partner brands comes from challenging comps against Disney Frozen 2 products. Star Wars revenue grew 70% despite 2020 being the first year without a Star Wars feature film since 2014. Goldner says that even without The Child (Baby Yoda), collector-focused lines, including Star Wars: The Black Series and Star Wars: The Vintage Collection grew revenue for the brand alongside additional growth in the kids business, which includes lightsabers, Mission Fleet, and other items.
G.I. Joe is back on the map as an emerging brand with strong growth alongside Hasbro’s Furreal Friends. Classic games including Jenga, Connect 4, and Dungeons and Dragons drove the overall boom across Hasbro Gaming. On this morning’s call with investors, Goldner stated that while Marvel did not see growth last year — Black Widow was pushed into 2021 — the business is building into a more year-round affair as new content emerges on Disney+.
Source: Hasbro/The Toy Book
Looking ahead, Goldner points to the eOne payoff starting to emerge in future months.
“We integrated our acquisition of eOne and while live-action TV and film production was limited, we made substantial progress developing Hasbro IP for storytelling that we believe will lead to enhanced revenues and earnings power from Hasbro brands from multiple income streams,” Goldner says. “We developed toy and game lines for valuable preschool brands Peppa Pig and PJ Masks to launch later this year.”
Live-action production from eOne restarted in Q4. eOne completed production on 59 TV series and five feature films last year. The My Little Pony brand has been completely reinvented through eOne and will see new products created both in-house and through third-party licensees to support the release of the new theatrical film that is currently slated for release on Sept. 21.
“Throughout 2020, the global Hasbro team did an excellent job executing in a challenging environment,” says Deborah Thomas, Hasbro’s chief financial officer. “In the fourth quarter, we grew revenues and adjusted operating profit, overcoming tough comparisons within the partner brand category and last year’s theatrical releases. Our focus on working capital and expense management delivered $976.3 million in operating cash flow for the year, and as part of our commitment to paying down our debt, we repaid $123 million of the debt that we raised to finance the eOne acquisition. We continue to see strong retail, consumer, and audience support for our brands and content as we look to the coming year. Global point of sale increased last year, despite lockdowns and retail disruption, and 2021 is starting with strong year-over-year momentum.”
The company plans to unveil additional information about its future plans at a virtual investor event to be held at 10 a.m. ET on Feb. 25.
Hasbro’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.68 per common share. The dividend will be payable on May 17, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 3.
KidKraft Amazon Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market | Source: KidKraft/The Toy Book
A new era of innovation is set to begin in one of the most classic categories.
KidKraft and TinkerTini have teamed up to mount a search for inventors who have fresh ideas for wooden toys. For more than 50 years, KidKraft has been a market leader in dollhouses, play kitchens, playhouses, ride-ons, playsets, kids’ furniture, and more.
“KidKraft is focused on innovation now more than ever before,” says Kiyomi Haverly, vice president, creative, KidKraft. “We are planning aggressive growth in our product portfolio to continue the momentum we had last year with the Disney Princess Dance and Dreams dollhouse and innovative items like the Amazon Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market. We’ve partnered with TinkerTini to help us tap into new talent with a passion for wood-based products and ingenious ideas for features that enhance imaginative play. Inventors are in well-trusted hands with TinkerTini and I can’t wait to start seeing new concepts from the inventing community.”
TinkerTini is a full-service inventor relations agency that specializes in launching, scaling, and managing open innovation initiatives to get new toys from concept to market.
“TinkerTini is going to turbo-power KidKraft’s open innovation reach and engagement with global inventors to bring them all the best concepts relevant to their business while also expanding our inventing network to include innovators with expertise in wood materials,” says Trina McFarland, owner and general manager, TinkerTini.
McFarland says that the doors are open for “dollhouse fans, woodworkers, carpenters that dabble in toys, dads or moms that build their own skateboard ramps,” and more.
“We’ll explain the ropes of inventing, get them onboarded to our Tinkerly Innovation Platform, and then submitting concepts that we’ll review with KidKraft straight away,” she says.
Individuals interested in learning more about partnering with TinkerTini as a KidKraft inventor can get in touch for more information: info@tinkertini.net
