Uncommons Publishing Names Asmodee USA As Exclusive Distro Partner

Asmodee USA has been named Uncommons Publishing‘s exclusive distribution partner for its tabletop gaming division, UP Games. Asmodee will distribute Floristry, a tabletop board game and the first title from UP Games, to all retail channels.

UP Games was founded by David Gordon, TAM, Ammon Anderson, and Greg May, founder and CEO of The Uncommons board game cafes. Anderson designed Gnome Hollow, and Gordon and TAM co-designed Monkey Palace. Monkey Palace was released through a collaboration between Asmodee and the LEGO Group.

Source: UP Games

Asmodee is an industry leader in board games; Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Exploding Kittens are among its 300+ titles for distribution. “Asmodee’s global reach, extensive expertise, and dynamic team will help us navigate worldwide distribution of our first release Floristry,” said Gordon.

UP Games describes Floristry as “a quick, app-driven auction game for two rival flower shop owners.” The game debuted last year at the PAX Unplugged Rising Showcase. 

“At Asmodee, we’re always on the hunt for the next big thing to ignite gamers’ excitement,” said Julien Sharp, Country Manager, Asmodee North America. “Teaming up with the creative minds at UP Games allows us to offer players light strategy games crafted by renowned designers, ensuring a fresh, fun experience for every type of gamer.”

Floristry will be available next March through Asmodee‘s distribution. For more information, visit admodee.com.

Spin Master and Tetris Collaborate to Bring Classic Game into Physical Realm

A collaboration between Spin Master and Tetris will bring the iconic game from the screen to the physical realm. Tetris fans can play through tangible products, including multiplayer board games, puzzles, cards, and more.

The partnership is facilitated by global licensing agency IMG. Spin Master manufactures the Rubik’s Cube, among other bestselling toys. “Tetris has a massive following and a storied legacy of stimulating minds around the world,” said Adam Hyman, VP Marketing and Global Business Team Lead, Games & Outdoor. “We are excited to infuse Spin Master’s signature innovation into a line of physical puzzles and games inspired by this iconic video game delivering new twists on the classic challenge of Tetris.”

Tetris was released as a playable game in 1985. It has been published on over 65 platforms and set a Guinness World Record for the most ported game. Though long published by Nintendo, the rights belong to creator Alexey Pajitnov.

“We are delighted to work with Spin Master to further extend the Tetris brand into a new realm of interactive play. Tetris has always been about challenging the mind and sparking joy, and now, through this agreement, we’re taking that experience beyond the screen and into homes around the world,” said Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris. “We look forward to seeing how fans of all ages will connect with the Tetris-inspired puzzles and games, and we are excited about the future this collaboration promises.”

The new toys are available in stores and online through major retailers. To learn more about this collaboration, visit spinmaster.com

New Little Tikes Fraggle Rock Plushes Take Us Back to the Rock

It’s time to play the music and light the lights — the Muppets are back and better than ever.

The classic 1980s puppet series Fraggle Rock made a historic return to modern televisions in 2022. MGA Entertainment, the master toy licensee for the Jim Henson Company reimagining, is releasing a new-stalgic line of Fraggle plush under their Little Tikes brand. The Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Plush Collection breathes new life into the colorful characters and brings the magic of the iconic series to a new generation of fans.

Whether fans share Gobo’s thirst for adventure or just need a cuddly friend like Sprocket, the Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Plush Collection invites everyone down to Fraggle Rock. Inspired by the original Muppet designs, the line transforms beloved Fraggles Red, Gobo, Mokey, and Wembley into huggable plush figures. These plushes are a colorful addition to any Muppet collection and a fun way to inspire the creativity of new Fraggle fans.

Silly Creatures from Outer Space can also adopt the loveable dog Sprocket into their homes. True to the series, the Sprocket plush is larger than the Fraggles for bigger hugs and bigger imaginations. The entire Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock collection is crafted with high-quality fabrics and whimsical designs to capture the effortlessly timeless charm of the beloved franchise.

Bring the silliness of the Fraggles into the real world! The Little Tikes Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Plush collection is available now at the link below.


LITTLE TIKES FRAGGLE ROCK: BACK TO THE ROCK PLUSH COLLECTION

Head down to Fraggle Rock with Little Tikes' new plush collection. | Source: MGA Entertainment

This Sprocket plush is a fan's best friend. | Source: MGA Entertainment

Connect with your spiritual side with this Mokey plush. | Source: MGA Entertainment

This Red Fraggle plush is for those who never give up! | Source: MGA Entertainment

Don't start "wembling!" This Wembley Fraggle plush is available now. | Source: MGA Entertainment

Cuddly adventures are always out there with this Gobo plush. | Source: MGA Entertainment

These soft plushes from Little Tikes bring Fraggle Rock to life! These colorful plushes recreate the iconic puppets from the series. The collection includes Gobo, Red, Wembley, Mokey, and even the adorable dog Sprocket.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99 – 39.99

Buy Now

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NRF: Holiday Retail Spending Expected to Smash Records in 2024

With inflation on the rise and spending cooling, all eyes turn to the 2024 holiday season for an idea of consumer behavior. The forecast? Surprisingly strong.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) conducted a new survey of consumer spending approaching the winter holidays. According to their research, consumer spending is expected to reach a record-high average of $902 per person. By examining the way consumers plan to shop and what products they plan to invest in, the NRF paints a picture of behaviors that will influence the market even after the Christmas tree hits the street curb.

A consumer spending average of $902 is the highest recorded amount in the survey’s history, a stunning increase to 2023’s figure. It is $16 higher than the previous record, set in 2019 with an average of $886, and $25 higher than last year’s average spending. The growth is primarily due to shoppers prioritizing spending on their families. Of the $902 shoppers plan to spend, $641 is allotted for gifts for family, friends, and co-workers, an increase of $21 from 2023. The remaining money is projected to be spent on other holiday essentials such as food, decorations, greeting cards, and more.

This graph displays the fluctuations of holiday spending throughout the years. | Source: National Retail Federation

If the holidays seem to start earlier every year, there’s a reason! Over recent years, nearly half (45%) of holiday shoppers plan to browse and buy holiday items prior to November 1st. Shoppers do this to spread out their budget, avoid the stress of last-minute shopping, dodge crowds, and take advantage of promotions that can’t be missed. Although shoppers get an early start, they still take their time finding the perfect items on their list. Most consumers (62%) anticipate finishing their shopping in December.

Despite the shorter window of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, retailers are prepared to meet the needs of consumers by providing holiday shoppers with earlier deals and sales and by ensuring inventory is available for the most in-demand items this year."
— Katherine Cullen, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights

With a variety of shopping destinations to choose from, consumers can find exactly what they are looking for at a price that meets their budgets. Online shopping remains the most popular avenue, with 57% of consumers planning on purchasing their holiday must-haves over the internet. Department stores (46%), supermarkets (46%), and discount stores (45%) trail closely behind. This year, research showed a surprising spike in the popularity of thrift store holiday shopping, namely for the 18-24-year-old demographic (20%). This increase is most likely due to this age group’s commitment to saving money and behaving more sustainably

This year’s holiday favorites remain largely unchanged from previous years. Roughly half of consumers have gift cards (53%) or clothing/accessories (49%) at the top of their wish lists. This is followed by books and media (28%) and personal care/ beauty items (25%). 

Visit the NRF website for the complete survey data and to discover more sales trends projected for this holiday season.

PMI Kids’ World Introduces Pudgy Penguins to Walgreens Stores

PMI Kids’ World has expanded the reach of its Pudgy Penguins brand — the plush penguins are now available in select Walgreens locations. The expansion follows the introduction of Pudgy Penguins to Walmart and Target locations.

Families can find four collectible Plush Buddies while shopping, including an exclusive Walgreens plush. The exclusive, 8-inch Pudgy features a white beanie that reads “Pudgy” and a hot pink hoodie. It’s only available in stores.

Kids can also collect Scarface Skylar, a penguin wearing a light pink hoodie and brown cap; Sombrero Sal, a friend in a blue hoodie, glasses, and colorful sombrero; and Wizard Willie, a penguin in a bowtie, black shirt, and blue wizard hat.

After selecting their favorite plush characters, kids can use the attached QR code to bring their selections to Pudgy World. The online, open-world game showcases the physical Pudgy Penguins in a digital world, and the QR codes can unlock traits, exclusive collectibles, and more online.

“Our launch at Walgreens marks a significant step in bringing the Pudgy Penguins universe to even more consumers nationwide,” Luca Netz, CEO of Pudgy Penguins, says. “Pudgy Penguins has always been about making a positive impact on people’s lives, and it’s this connection that has brought us to where we are today — building a brand that brings joy, spreads good vibes, and resonates with fans across the globe.” 

The toys are available at 2,000 Walgreens locations. For more information regarding the brand, visit pudgypenguins.com.

Hasbro Q3 Earnings: Play-Doh, Transformers Grow Amid Declines in NERF, Star Wars

Following yesterday’s news regarding continued organizational changes, Hasbro reported its third quarter earnings this morning.

The Rhode Island-based toy and game company says revenue declined 15% (9% excluding eOne) compared to the same period last year with Consumer Products (including toys) dipping 10%. Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming slid 5% attributed to tough comps against last year’s launch of Baldur’s Gate 3.

The company says that its owned inventory is down 39% over last year, including a 40% reduction in Consumer Products inventory compared to Q3 2023.

Outperformance within our gaming and licensing businesses in the third quarter highlights the strength in two of our highest profit areas. Our key initiatives around digital, licensing and reinvigorating our product innovation are bearing fruit.”
— Chris Cocks, CEO, Hasbro

In the Consumer Products segment, Hasbro says that Transformers, Beyblade, and Furby saw growth alongside an uptick in licensed consumer products revenue for My Little Pony.

On an earnings call this morning, Hasbro executives cited declines in NERF and Star Wars as impacting the business, with Star Wars particularly underperforming in September — a move that led, in part, to adjusted guidance pulled into Q4. The Action Figures category, plagued by overproduction and closeouts in recent years — much of which was offloaded to closeout channels with product landing at Ollie’s and Ross Dress for Less — was called out repeatedly as a focus area for future growth. Meanwhile, Play-Doh is said to have experienced its “best back-to-school season ever,” while the outbound licensing initiatives are paying off with 50% year-over-year growth for Littlest Pet Shop (Basic Fun!) and furReal Friends (Just Play). Additionally, the LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee was called out as a success fueled by inclusion in LEGO’s “Adults Welcome” marketing campaign.

The Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming Segment saw revenue decrease 5% as growth in Magic: The Gathering (3%) was offset by declines in Licensed and Digital Gaming compared to the Q3 launch window for Baldur’s Gate 3 last year. Scopely’s Monopoly Go! is contributing $10 million a month in licensing revenue to the company, racking up $30 million in Q3 alone.

The Entertainment Segment saw revenue fall of a cliff, with a decline of 86% due to the eOne divesture. With eOne excluded, revenue declined 17% due to the timing of delivery deals. Operating profit of $10 million was a win compared to an operating loss of $469 million in Q3 last year.

By the Numbers:

Operating profit was $302 million with a 23.6% margin, including $27 million in intangible amortization related to eOne and “costs associated with the company’s transformation.” Adjusted operating profit was $329 million, with a 25.7% adjusted operating margin, driven by a favorable business mix, supply chain productivity, and reduced operating costs. The company achieved $87 million in net cost savings and approximately $177 million year to date, aiming to meet its full-year savings goal.

Reported net earnings were $1.59 per diluted share, with adjusted net earnings of $1.73 per share. The company paid $98 million in cash dividends to shareholders.

“We continue to execute our turnaround efforts and are poised to finish the year with improved profitability, cash flow and operational rigor,” says Gina Goetter, Hasbro’s Chief Financial Officer.

In the first nine months of 2024, Hasbro’s overall revenue declined 18%. Growth of 7% in the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment was offset by declines in Consumer Products (-16%) and Entertainment (-87%, or +1% excluding the eOne divestiture).

Updated Guidance:

Hasbro issued updated guidance for 2024 with the following changes:

  • Consumer Products Segment revenue to be down 12% to 14%; Adjusted operating margin 4% to 6%.
  • Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming Segment revenue flat to down 1%; Operating margin of approximately 42%.
  • Pro-Forma Entertainment segment revenue down $15 million; Adjusted operating margin of approximately 60%.
  • Total Hasbro Adjusted EBITDA of $975 million to $1.025 billion.
  • Gross savings target of $750 million by year end 2025.

Mattel Kicks Off Q3 Earnings Season, Adjusts Guidance

The house that Barbie and Hot Wheels built reported global net sales of $1.84 billion in the third quarter, a 4% decline versus the same period last year. Sales in North America fell 3%.

“We continue to execute on our multi-year strategy to grow our IP-driven toy business and expand our entertainment offering. In line with our priorities this year, we continue to improve profitability, expand Gross Margin, and generate significant cash flow. We expect topline growth in the fourth quarter driven by a good holiday season, market share gains and a toyetic theatrical slate and are well positioned for long-term growth and shareholder value creation.””
— Ynon Kreiz, Chairman & CEO, Mattel

Reported operating income was $488 million, an improvement of $14 million. Adjusted operating income was $504 million, a decrease of $2 million. Reported earnings per share were $1.09, an improvement versus $0.41 per share. Mattel says its adjusted EBITDA of $584 million is an improvement of $5 million

For the first nine months of 2024, net sales dipped 2%. Looking ahead, the company expects sales for 2024 to be flat to slightly down compared to last year.

Exclusive: Hasbro Continues Organizational Changes to Fuel Growth, Innovation

[An earlier headline has been updated to reflect continued changes at the company.]

Ahead of this week’s third quarter earnings report, Hasbro has implemented a sweeping round of organizational changes.

The Toy Book can exclusively reveal that fewer than 100 employees will be affected by a workforce reduction amid operational streamlining across the board. According to the company, these changes should increase speed-to-market by trimming at least three months from the process while empowering teams to make decisions quickly and to “design to value” (design with price in mind) from the start. These latest round of reorganization reflect Hasbro’s “all in” bets on digital, direct, and technology-assisted innovation.

The changes are as follows:

  • Commercial integration into Hasbro’s Toy and Wizards of the Coast business units. Tim Kilpin will expand Toys Games Licensing & Entertainment to include Global Brand, Regional Marketing, and Commercial groups into one team.
  • Lisa Gilbert will lead the commercial business for the Americas, and Bhavesh Somaya will lead commercial for EMEA and APAC, both reporting to Tim.
  • Kim Boyd will take on the expanded role of President, Global Toy Brands and Licensed Consumer Products reporting to Tim Kilpin. The toy leads and licensing will report to her. Brian Baker on Board Games will continue reporting directly to Tim.
  • Hasbro is uniting Design and Development as well as Demand and Supply planning.
  • The newly combined Innovation, Design and Development team, led by Dean Carley, will work to speed innovation and design to value efforts at the source of production.
  • Dan Rawson, who now leads Direct for the entire company, is developing a unified backend platform and managing the front end for brand-focused initiatives like Hasbro Pulse, Secret Lair and DDB. Dan Shull will consolidate IT and Technology into one cohesive team.
  • Hasbro is elevating its internal Marketing organization
  • Jason Bunge, CMO, will oversee Wizards of the Coast and digital gaming marketing as well as centralized marketing services functions.
  • Gina Goetter will become COO in addition to her role as CFO

The following announcement, provided to The Toy Book, was sent via email to Hasbro employees this afternoon. It is presented below, unedited, and in its entirety:


Playing To Win Organizational Update

Team,

Today we are announcing organizational changes to drive our Playing to Win strategy. These changes aim to empower teams to make quicker decisions and deliver innovation faster. Our commitment as a leadership team is to offer each of you a great place to work with opportunities for impact and growth.

Empowered Business Units

We are consolidating commercial teams into our Wizards & Digital Gaming and Toy, Game, Licensing & Entertainment (TGLE) Business Units. Hobby (including WPN) under Brian Trunk and Direct under Dan Rawson, will report to John Hight. Mass and Specialty Retail will report to Tim Kilpin. As part of this consolidation, Matt Austin will move into an advisory role reporting directly to Tim. Lisa Gilbert will lead our commercial team for North and Latin America and Bhavesh Somaya will lead our commercial team for EMEA/APAC, both also reporting directly to Tim.

Our Business Units will support each other in relevant channels (for instance, Wizards will support board game sell-in to Hobby; Consumer Products will help drive D&D and Magic assortment in Mass). However, the majority of sales for each unit will be self-directed.

As part of this shift, we are also moving demand planning into our Supply Chain team. We will integrate our demand and supply planning platform to improve order fulfillment and forecast accuracy.

With these changes, our Business Units will contain all the design, go to market and business decision making disciplines they need to drive our product initiatives and achieve our business goals, supported by streamlined marketing, finance, legal, communications, and HR partners.

Restructuring Toy for Growth

In addition to the Commercial integration, the Toy team will pair Design and Development at the source. Our newly combined Innovation, Design and Development team, led by Dean Carley, will work to speed our innovation and design to value efforts at the source of production. We will prioritize our presence in Asia, with closer proximity to key suppliers, and increased collaboration with manufacturing partners. Our goal is to cut time to market by 3+ months, allowing us to better compete in an environment that favors companies that can capitalize on trends.

We are also creating a unified Brand and Licensing organization led by Kim Boyd. In addition to overseeing our Global Play Leads across Action, NERF, Play-Doh, Preschool and Fashion, we will consolidate our North America Marketing Team, our Licensed Consumer Products team, and Location-based Entertainment under Kim. This franchise model helps evolve our strategy as we focus on building profitable franchises and working with partners to expand our reach to over a billion people over the next five years. And the new structure will support decision making at a pace and scale to win.

These changes will improve productivity and empowerment but required making some difficult choices. As a result, today we are saying goodbye to several team members who will be moving on from Hasbro. We’re grateful for their contributions to our mission and wish each of them well.

A New Marketing Org

Marketing is our biggest annual investment, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. In recognition of the unique nature of our business units we are approaching marketing in bespoke ways for each, with both supported by a centralized marketing services team that manages these investments for the company.

Jason Bunge will join the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), focusing on supporting John Hight and the Magic, D&D and Digital Games teams while continuing to spearhead our go to market efforts for Toy and Game. As part of this change, the marketing teams at Wizards will report to Jason. The regional marketing teams supporting Consumer Products will shift into TGLE to align with our regional Commercial teams.

This model provides Wizards with a digital and gaming expert as we build our publishing organization, and TGLE with core marketing services for seasonal and promotional marketing, coupled with a specialized brand team for each of our major brands.

Kim, Brian Baker, and the rest of our TGLE leadership will continue to be supported by a central marketing services organization reporting to Jason spanning media and campaign planning, social, influencer and digital marketing, agency management and creative services, and marketing analytics.

2025 and Beyond

Part of our strategy is an “all in” bet on digital, direct, and technology-assisted innovation. Dan Rawson, who now leads Direct for the entire company, is developing a unified back-end platform and managing the front end for brand-focused initiatives like Pulse, Secret Lair and DDB. Dan Shull will consolidate IT and Technology into one cohesive team. You can read details about his new team here. Lastly, we’ll keep investing significantly in our video game studios, bringing on new studio capacity and expanding partnerships with some of the biggest and best names in digital gaming.

Our work to resize our cost base continues, and thanks to the hard work of many of you across the company we are tracking towards our long-term cost savings goals. We are re-setting our processes, dedicating resources (including a new indirect procurement team under John Hewitt) and will be rolling out clearer spending guardrails and expectations across all areas as we move into 2025.

We will also be making investments in our team, most notably exploring a new HQ with a collaborative, modern environment that is reflective of our brands and fosters innovation. Expect an update in Q1 on our location strategy. We wouldn’t be moving until mid-2026 at the earliest, prioritizing convenience to public transit, and working closely with teams to make sure we’re building a space that works for our unique needs.

Finally, recognizing the critical importance of operational excellence and the progress to date as well as the road ahead, I couldn’t be more pleased that Gina Goetter is now serving as our Chief Operating Officer, in addition to CFO. Gina is a brilliant leader and building the strong operational foundation that is crucial to driving our strategic objectives as well as our bottom line. This foundation will drive our legacy as we delight fans for the next 100 years and make Hasbro one of the best places to work in the business of play.

Thank you for being on this journey with us. I’m looking forward to connecting in a couple of weeks at our State of the Company on November 7.

— Chris & the Executive Leadership Team


Hasbro will report Q3 earnings tomorrow morning.

Miraculous, Ghostforce Partner with Burger King France

Burger King France brings two superhero brands to their lineup for its October King Jr. Promotion. 

Superheroes Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir from the Miraculous Corps franchise and Krush from ZAG’s television series Ghostforce come together for a Burger King France promotion. 

The October King Jr. promotion started yesterday in Burger King locations across France, with the goal of engaging young customers in a sustainable way.  

These enchanting universes captivate young imaginations, and our collaboration aims to create moments of joy and adventure that will shine a spotlight on these beloved characters.”
— Elsa Faigenbaum, Family Marketing Manager at Burger King France

Unlike traditional fast-food kids’ toys, Burger King France has taken an eco-friendly approach. Each King Jr. Meal includes various sustainable and collectible paper premiums, including an exclusive Dobble card game, posters, stickers, and engaging meal packaging.

“Burger King’s passion for creativity shines through in activations, and we are thrilled to continue our successful partnership for Miraculous, bringing fans an exciting opportunity to engage with their favorite superheroes. We hope families enjoy playing Dobble together at mealtime as they connect over great food and fun,” Luca Bonnechi, VP of Licensing, Europe, Miraculous Corp., says.

For more information about this collaboration and Burger King France’s future toy partnerships, visit burgerking.fr.

Holiday Toys Are Top Concern of Parents’ Budgets

Parents are prioritizing their kids’ holiday toys this season, budgeting for toys above all else in the family budget, per the results of a survey from The Toy Association. 1,000 parents were queried in a study conducted by Wakefield Research.

Source: The Toy Association

“Though inflation has slowed, consumers remain cautious with spending. But our survey shows that parents are still prioritizing purchases that spark joy — and nothing sparks joy for both kids and, now more than ever, adults, quite like toys,” says Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association.

Source: The Toy Association

While families are discerning with their budgets overall, the concern is not directed at the latest toys. Most parents (69%) are willing to cut corners elsewhere. Dads are the biggest softies (73%) and are more willing than moms (65%) to reduce spending on other needs than toys. Most parents (72%) have games and toys on their own wish lists. Dads are also more likely to ask for toys than moms; research found that parents asking for toys plan to use it to bond with their kids.

Source: The Toy Association

Parents are budgeting for just any toy, either. They’re looking for educational toys. Most parents (56%) seek toys that promote mental, emotional, and social help. Parents under 40 are more concerned than average; 64% of younger parents are prioritizing these toys. 

Younger parents are also looking for sustainable toys. Half of this demographic considers how the toy was manufactured, how it can be disposed of, and how long it will last. 

Source: The Toy Association

A large swath (40%) of parents are concerned about toys representing different races, cultures, identities, and abilities. Three in five parents (58%) said they have purchased toys their children see on social media or shared by an influencer; the study found this is most common amongst elementary school-aged kids.

For more information about this study, visit toyassociation.org.

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