Sean McGowan, Consumer Leisure and Lifestyle Analyst of Needham & Company, LLC shares his observations of third quarter ’09 results in the toy industry and his projections for the fourth quarter.
Charisma Acquires Adora Doll
Charisma Brands, LLC, has acquired Adora Doll, a global manufacturer and marketer of heirloom-quality dolls founded by David Lin and Frank Ren. Adora is a well recognized brand and is known for its baby dolls. Adora’s dolls are distributed worldwide including the United States, Europe, South America, and Russia and can be found in more than 1,500 retail outlets including toy, gift, department, and collectible stores.
Charisma is already shipping 2009 Adora product to customers and will introduce 2010 Adora designs at Idex and Toy Fair trade shows beginning in January. Adora’s customer service and sales administrator, Sandy Fawzi, will join the Charisma team and will continue in her role.
Adora joins other collectible Charisma brands Marie Osmond, Paradise Galleries, Kewpie, and Penny Brite.
The Toy Book Toy Report-10/12/09
To view this week’s Toy Report, please click here.
Hosung to offer Eco-Friendly Dr. Seuss Plush
Dr. Seuss Enterprise has selected natural toy maker Hosung NY Inc., the makers of miYim organic toys and accessories, as a North American eco-friendly plush toy licensee for the Dr. Seuss brand. The new My Natural Dr. Seuss product line is expected to launch in spring 2010.
Under the agreement, products based on Dr. Seuss properties are slated to include eco-friendly plush characters and certified non-toxic infant accessories with Hosung’s My Natural brand, and the Lorax Project, Dr. Seuss’ new eco-initiative.
The My Natural Dr. Suess Collection will include plush toys and infant accessories such as rattles and teething blankies made from certified non-toxic natural cotton, and colored with Hosung’s chemical-free PureWaterWash process.
JAKKS to Give Away UFC Tickets and Toys to Facebook Fan
JAKKS Pacific is giving away a UFC prize pack, which includes a pair of tickets to UFC 107 in Memphis, Tennessee on December 12 and a full set of JAKKS UFC action figures and toys to one lucky Facebook Fan!
Become a fan of the JAKKS UFC Action Figures Facebook page by December 1, 2009 to automatically be entered to win the JAKKS UFC prize pack, which includes 2 tickets to UFC 107 (the main event title fight will be BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez), air transportation to Memphis for 2 people, hotel accommodations for 1 night in Memphis (double occupancy), a full set of JAKKS UFC Wave 0 Action Figures, the Official Scale Octagon Playset, and a replica UFC Championship Belt.
You must be 18 years of age or older to participate. This special Facebook giveaway will run until noon, PST on December 1, 2009. The winner will be announced thereafter on JAKKS’ Facebook page. Visit www.facebook.com and search “UFC Action Figures – JAKKS Pacific” to become a fan.
American Girl Controversy
So American Girl’s latest doll, Gwen, was once homeless. This seems to be a point of controversy to some parents. What do you think?
Kids Most Loved Brands
Wii, DS, Oreo, and McDonald’s Top Kids’ Most Loved Brands List
Kids participate in more than $500 billion in consumer spending every year. Parents consider their preferences in categories ranging from school supplies to desserts to family entertainment. Market research and consulting firm Smarty Pants reveals the 100 Most Loved Brands of America’s kids and tweens. Nintendo’s Wii and DS top the 2009 list. Read on for the list!
Sanrio Partners with Razor USA
Sanrio, best known for its Hello Kitty brand, has announced the signing of a new licensing agreement with Razor USA. Marking Razor USA’s first-ever license agreement, the new Hello Kitty A kick scooter is a co-branded version of the original Razor A kick scooter, and is slated to make its retail debut the first week of November. The agreement is effective immediately.
The Hello Kitty Razor A kick scooter is one of the first Razor kick scooters targeted specifically to girls. At a suggested retail price of $39.99, the scooter, which comes with a small Hello Kitty accessory bag, will be available at www.razor.com, www.sanrio.com, and select retailers for the holidays, with expanded national distribution in 2010.
Razor USA also announced that two more co-branded Hello Kitty products – the Razor Pocket Mod miniature electric Euro-style scooter and Razor E100 electric scooter – will debut next year.
Imperial Toy feature-September/October 2009
To view the Imperial Toy feature from our September/October 2009 issue, please click Imperial Toy: Still Bouncing High After 40 Years.
Madame Alexander’s New Pink Ladies
Madame Alexander introduces a trio of collectible dolls – Frenchy, Sandy and Rizzo, also known as “the pink ladies.” The dolls stand 10 inches tall, have an SRP of $99.99 each, and are being sold at specialty and retail now.
