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TOMY International Promotes Julie Gwaltney to Vice President, Toys

TOMY International has named Julie Gwaltney its Vice President of the Toy Division, promoting her from Senior Director of Toys.

Gwaltney brings more than three decades of experience in the toy industry. In her new role, Gwaltney will oversee all TOMY International toy brands across the company’s Oak Brook, IL, and Dyersville, IA offices. Popular TOMY brands include Lamaze, Club Mocchi- Mochi-, TOMY Games, and a number of farm toy brands. TOMY’s Amazon business team will additionally report to Julie.

“Julie works very well with her team, the designers, our licensors, and our industry partners to help find great opportunities for TOMY and make lasting contributions to childhood play.

Greg Kilrea, President of TOMY International

Gwaltney got her start in the toy industry at RC2, later purchased by Takara Tomy, where she worked on the Lamaze brand. She led a variety of projects, including the global launch of the Chuggington brand. Following her time at RC2, Gwaltney consulted for a number of companies in the toy and baby industry, ultimately working with Sassy Baby to establish its licensing program.

Eventually rejoining TOMY, Gwaltney has been actively involved in efforts toward DEI. Gwaltney has served as a member of TOMY’s DEI Steering Committee and Women in Toys (WiT). Since 2021, she’s been WiT’s Chicago Chapter Co-Chair. She was also recently elected to the Board of Trustees for The Toy Foundation.

“TOMY’s mantra is to ‘Make the World Smile’ and that truly is what I love about my job,” says Gwaltney. “I love knowing we can bring joy to people of all ages and stages in life.”

Licensing Expo’s Opening Night Party to Include CeeLo Green

Licensing Expo is coming this May 21-23 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Plans for the Opening Night Party, platinum sponsored by TreImage, are in full swing. The event will welcome Chapel Hart, Jordyn Sugar, and CeeLo Green to provide musical entertainment for the evening, with a custom drone light show from Pixis to close things out.

CeeLo Green is a rapper and singer known for popular songs including “Crazy” and “Forget You.” He will serve as the headlining act for this year’s Opening Night Party. “His presence and amazing sound will electrify and bring the energy to the show,” says Charles Singleton, CEO, TreImage.

Jordyn Sugar will open for CeeLo Green. | Source: Jordyn Sugar Facebook

Pop music maker Jordyn Sugar will open for CeeLo Green. Sugar is a self-taught drummer, guitarist, and pianist who appeared as a music mentor on The Fashion Heroes series hosted by AJ McLean.

The musical guest performances will set off the dynamic week of connections, networking and engagement at Licensing Expo, focusing on ‘Brands at Play’ as the main theme.

Anna Clarke, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Informa Markets

Country music vocal group Chapel Hart will start the evening. The group is composed of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart as well as their cousin Trea Swindle. Opry Entertainment (Booth No. D134) will host a meet-and-greet at Licensing Expo with Chapel Hart on May 22 from noon-1 p.m.

Chapel Hart will be kicking off the night with country music. | Source: Chapel Hart Facebook

“Chapel Hart is a great example of talent that understands the importance of branding themselves beyond music, as evidenced by their recent campaign with Ford Music’s Truck Month campaign, featuring their new hit song, ‘This Girl Likes Fords,’” says Robert Strand, Partner, The Blake Project and Licensing Agent, Opry Entertainment and Chapel Hart.

The Opening Night Party will end with a drone show act presented by Pixis. The event is open to exhibitors and attendees registered with Licensing Expo. Tickets for the party can be purchased on the event registration form for $95.

Be sure to connect with The Toy Book and The Pop Insider at Licensing Expo at Stand No. G234. Click here to view our profile page on the Licensing Expo Meetings Platform.

Submissions Open for The Toy Insider’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

The Toy Insider, the consumer-facing sister publication to The Toy Book, is officially accepting submissions for this year’s Holiday Gift Guide.

Showcased on toyinsider.com and distributed in print, The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide spotlights the latest and greatest toys and gifts for the upcoming holiday season. The guide features more than 350 toys and also includes The Toy Insider’s well-known Hot 20, 12 under $20, and STEM 10 lists.

Submitted toys are reviewed based on their play value, originality, skill-building, product integrity, and fun factor, as well as basic quality standards.

The Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide reaches millions of consumers each year, acting as a trusted resource for gift-givers. In 2023, The Toy Insider generated more than 21 billion earned media impressions.

Those interested in submitting will need to fill out the submission form by June 12. Products must be new for 2024 and available for purchase by Nov. 1. There is a submission fee of $150 per toy, and companies must also send a sample of their product to The Toy Insider office no later than June 30.

The Holiday Gift Guide will launch this Sept. 17. To have your toy, game, or gift featured in this year’s guide, fill out the submission form on The Toy Insider gift guides page.

Introducing Confluxion: Fun In Motion’s Latest Innovation Set for ASTRA Marketplace & Academy Debut

Fun In Motion Toys, known for its innovative creations, has unveiled a new category of construction toys: “Confluxion,” building toys that move and flex. The toys will be featured in aisle 800 of ASTRA Marketplace & Academy.

Fun In Motion will occupy booths 804 and 809, where retailers can sign up for the in-store play programs, tutorials, demos, and display units. Attendees can also get their hands on the latest toys and meet the inventors. Some toys will be spotlighted from brands including TECTI, HyperTiles, Nockles, Shashibo, and Wandini.

A range of colors with HyperTiles | Source: Fun In Motion

Different ways to play with Nockles | Source: Fun In Motion

Playing with the Wandini Glow.0 | Source: Fun In Motion

Shashibo in various series | Source: Fun In Motion

How many ways can you shape TECTI? | Source: Fun In Motion

Some “Confluxion” toys have been recognized and become best sellers. The TECTI Kinetic Building System was just named as a finalist in the Building category for this year’s ASTRA Play Awards. The magnetic puzzle cube, Shashibo, topped the Amazon sales charts in the Toys & Games category consistently in the fourth quarter of 2023. The company has sold more than 5 million Shashibos so far. Additionally, the Wandini Glow.0 was named one of last summer’s top toys by The Toy Book’s consumer-facing sister publication, The Toy Insider.

If you’re like us, you don’t like to sit still. We’re constantly looking for something fun to engage with, or a new activity to learn, which is why we created products for all ages – from 8 years old to adults. Our unique movement toys have consistently hit a sweet spot with consumers, so we hope our newest 2024 products help our independently owned specialty partners succeed in today’s challenging economic environment."

– Kevin Daniels, Fun In Motion Toys President and Co-Founder

Attendees can meet toy inventors including former Missouri Teacher of the Year, Robert Becker, who created HyperTiles, David Silvergate who designed Nockles, and artist Erik Åberg, the brain behind TECTI.

Find our very own Editor-in-Chief, James Zahn, alongside James Devin and Thomas Stephen Jr., next month at ASTRA Marketplace & Academy where they’ll debut The Toy Book’s 2024 Specialty Toys & Gifts Issue.

Crayola Searching for Partners to Expand Crayola Creativity Week

Crayola plans to extend the outreach of its upcoming Crayola Creativity Week event through partnerships and collaborations. The global education initiative will take place from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, 2025. The week-long program helps kids understand the importance of creativity and helps educators implement creativity into curriculum to enrich learning and boost confidence.

Crayola is now seeking partnerships and sponsorships for the 2025 program. Crayola Creativity Week supports the brand’s mission to celebrate and nurture kid’s creativity. The program introduces kids and educators to different people who explain the role creativity plays in their lives, such as authors, illustrators, astronauts, musicians, entrepreneurs, and athletes. It also engages students and educators with hands-on learning and is provided at no cost.

Students can create artwork during Crayola Creativity Week. | Source: Crayola

According to Crayola, the initiative has grown by 205% since its debut in 2022. This year, more than 405,000 teachers from 100 countries participated in Crayola Creativity Week, and more than 6 million students were immersed in literary experiences, creative challenges, and celebrity videos.

“Our growth strategy for Creativity Week includes extending our reach both domestically and internationally,” Victoria Lozano, Executive Vice President, Marketing at Crayola, says. “Now is a pivotal moment to join this rapidly growing program that boosts learning with creativity and helps kids reach their full potential. Our strong brand equity positions Crayola and our partners to create unique new content and experiences together.”

Teachers can introduce creativity to several subject areas — such as math and literacy — through the program’s downloadable resources, which align with the education standards in 15 countries and are translated into eight languages. Schools and different learning communities can gather together to enjoy the culminating assembly and result of the hands-on experiences. This year, more than 10,000 pieces of artwork were posted on social media.

“Crayola Creativity Week provides children with tools to express their thoughts and imagination and inspires innovative thinking while helping kids develop lifelong creative mindsets,” Cheri Sterman, Senior Director of Education at Crayola, says. “It’s part of a larger brand initiative to support childhood creativity and help educators and parents celebrate more creative moments with children.”

Crayola representatives will be available to discuss collaborations at Licensing Expo, Booth No. A165.

LEGO Introduces LEGO DreamZzz Season 2, New Dream Initiative

The LEGO Group’s animated series LEGO DreamZzz will air the first episodes of its two-part second season on May 17.

LEGO DreamZzz is the series that centers around LEGO teens who fight to keep Dream World, a magical land that can be accessed when sleeping, safe while working for their secret agency, the Night Bureau. Part one of Season 2 introduces an exciting new villain: the Never Witch. The high school pals must stop the Never Witch as she wields her powers to steal dreams and threaten Dream World.

The two-part season will introduce a new villain. | Source: The LEGO Group

LEGO DreamZzz season 2 will bring back the central friend group, with the characters Mateo, Izzie, Cooper, Logan, and  Zoey all returning.

A new initiative, the LEGO DreamZzz Census, is debuting in tandem with the release of the second season. Via the LEGO DreamZzz Census, kids are encouraged to sit down with parents and share their dreams to create a library of dreams.

Additionally, nine new LEGO sets commemorating the second season hit shelves in August. The new sets include Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle, Cooper’s Robot Dinosaur C-Rex, Castle Nocturnia, and more, priced from $4.99-199.99. These become available just before the second part of the second season releases, which will consist of 10 episodes airing in September.

Until then, it’s only 10 days until LEGO DREAMZzz: Night of the Never Witch streams on LEGO YouTube.

Miniso Opens Doors to IP Store at American Dream Mall

Last weekend, on May 3, Miniso unveiled its first IP Collection Store in the U.S. at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The grand opening, which was attended by The Toy Book and its sister publication, The Pop Insider, featured a swimming pool-themed photo op in the mall’s atrium, with a 16-foot-tall inflatable PenPen penguin, a ball pit, games, giveaways, a DJ, mascots, discounts and more.

The new Miniso location at the American Mall features toys from a variety of IP, including original Miniso brands. | Source: Miniso

The new Miniso location at the American Mall features toys from a variety of IP, including original Miniso brands. | Source: Miniso

The new Miniso location at the American Mall features toys from a variety of IP, including original Miniso brands. | Source: Miniso

The 4,000-square-foot store features an all-pink interior, with zones dedicated to popular collaborations, including Disney, Snoopy, Barbie, Minions, Care Bears, and Miniso’s original Mini Family.

“This store is just the beginning,” says Tyrone Li, US General Manager for Miniso. “We look forward to bringing more innovative and engaging shopping experiences to our customers here in the U.S.”

In the future, Miniso plans to collaborate with influencers for dynamic social media campaigns featuring the American Dream Mall location.

MAGNA-TILES Strikes UK Distribution Deal with Wow! Stuff

Following news that Illinois-based MAGNA-TILES is expanding its U.S. reach through a deal with Walmart, the company is making waves across the pond.

MAGNA-TILES inked a deal with Wow! Stuff for distribution across the UK. According to Wow! Stuff’s Richard North, this marks the first domestic distribution deal for Wow! Stuff in the UK as it works to extend the reach of the No. 3 brand in building sets and construction.

“Yes, there are copies, as there are of many brand category leaders, but MAGNA-TILES is the original and No. 1 in magnetic construction for a reason … total focus on ‘Meaningful Play,’ innovation in the category and most loved by parents and kids,” North shared on LinkedIn. “I love the detail they’ve gone to in their brand guidelines (they even make us spell their name in CAPS) and in the absolute quality of their product.”

Source: MAGNA-TILES

Conceived in a classroom in 1997, MAGNA-TILES sets have become a must-have in the modern toy box, offering great value for money and providing countless hours of screen-free entertainment for kids while being embraced by creative minds of all ages.

Over the past 25 years, the brand has grown from being a darling of educators and specialty retailers to maintaining a presence at major retailers, including Amazon, Meijer, Target, and Walmart.

Trade Show Shuffle: GAMA Expo 2025 Shifts Dates to Avoid Toy Fair Clash

Prepare for busy times as the first three major toy and game industry trade shows in the U.S. have fallen in line for next year.

Earlier this evening, John Stacy, Executive Director of the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), issued an open letter revealing plans to shift dates for GAMA Expo 2025 to February 23-27. By moving the event forward one week, GAMA Expo avoids overlap with The Toy Association’s Toy Fair in New York, which takes place March 1-5, 2025 at The Javits Center.

Read the letter from Stacy in its entirety, below:

Dear GAMA Members –

I want to share with you some important information regarding GAMA EXPO 2025. After serious consideration, we are moving the dates one week earlier to February 23-27, 2025.

This decision was made based on several factors. The primary one being the growth we had this year over the previous show in Reno. 2024 was our largest show to date with 2,736 people in attendance and 300 exhibitors. This represents an overall growth of 34% from last year in attendees and nearly a 50% growth in the number of exhibitors. This growth made us reevaluate the space we had under contract at both the hotel and convention center for both 2025 and 2026.

Please remember that we entered into original agreements with Louisville in 2019-2020 and reserved space based on the projected growth that we experienced in Reno. This year we were able to add additional space in the exhibit hall and ballroom a few months before the show as we saw the need develop. The space was available, and we added it to the contract. Next year, however, these two areas are booked by other groups and therefore unavailable. To step backward from what we delivered this year is unacceptable.

Secondly, we have consistently heard concerns from members (from all membership groups) regarding the decision by The New York Toy Fair to schedule their show to overlap with GAMA EXPO 2025. We had a similar issue this year when ToyFest also changed their date to coincide with our show in March making it difficult for many members to attend both shows. This also played into our decision to seek a solution to these pain points.

We reached out to our partners in Louisville to look for solutions. Both the KICC and The Galt House worked with us to adjust other groups to make the space we need to have a successful show. This effort has taken most of the past two months to shift around groups to accommodate us. There are a lot of moving parts to a change like this. Of course, the benefit of the date change is that it also eliminates the overlap with the New York Toy Fair.

Due to our date change the three main industry trade shows will now be held in consecutive weeks. The dates for 2025 will be:

ToyFest — February 19-21, 2025

GAMA EXPO — February 23-27, 2025

New York Toy Fair — March 1-4, 2025

We understand this change affects everyone’s schedule, but please know, this decision was not made lightly. It was made with the best interest of our members and the overall success of the show in mind.

The date change does alter the show schedule as we will have a phased move-in of the Exhibit Hall based on when we gain access to the various spaces at the convention center. To help with planning, below is the schedule for GAMA EXPO 2025. This schedule maintains the 12 hours of hall time along with a robust seminar schedule.

GAMA Expo Schedule – February 23-27, 2025

Sunday, February 23, 2025

10am – 6pm: Registration South Pre-function area.

1pm – 6pm: Seminars & Presentations

8pm – 10pm: Membership Group Receptions

Monday, February 24, 2025

8am – 6pm: Registration South Pre-function area.

9am – 6pm: Seminars & Presentations

9pm – 12am: GAME NIGHTS & Special Events

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

8am – 6pm: Registration South Pre-function area.

9am – 6pm: Seminars & Presentations

9pm – 12am: GAME NIGHTS & Special Events

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

8am – 6pm: Registration South Pre-function area.

9am – 2pm: Seminars & Presentations

2pm – 6pm: Exhibit Hall Open

9pm – 12am: GAME NIGHTS & Special Events

Thursday, February 27, 2025

10am – 5pm: Registration South Pre-function area.

9am – 5pm: Exhibit Hall Open

9pm – 12am: GAME NIGHTS & Special Events

Friday, February 28, 2025

8am – 2pm: Final Exhibitor Move-Out

Also, as this date change took much effort on behalf of the KICC and GALT House to move the groups they already contracted, they asked that we extend our contract by an additional year. As partnerships go both ways, we agreed and will be holding the 2027 show there as well. The dates will be announced once the hotel blocks are finalized. We are working to expand the number of rooms to include several properties close to the KICC.

For some, I know that this extension will be disappointing and frustrating. For that I am sorry for any extra stress or issues this decision may cause you.

We appreciate your understanding!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the email below.

Thanks,

John Stacy
Executive Director
john.stacy@gama.org

For the latest dates on the toy industry trade shows and events you should know about, visit The Toy Book’s live event calendar.

Licensing Legends: Licensing International Unveils Hall of Fame Inductees

Licensing International, a global brand licensing industry trade association, has revealed this year’s inductees into its Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees include Joseph Kaminkow, Chief Innovation Officer at Pixie Dust, Aristocrat; Maca Rotter, President & CEO of La Panadería Licensing & Marketing; and Stu Seltzer, President of The Seltzer Licensing Group.

Kaiminkow began his career by starting a game development company, Logical Highs, which led to securing licensing rights from NASA for Williams Electronics’ hit game Space Shuttle. He ventured into pinball games with Data East Pinball, securing licenses such as The Simpsons, Star Wars, and Star Trek, and created a Wizard of Oz city builder acquired by Zynga before joining Aristocrat Technologies.

Rotter has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, branding, and licensing. Rotter authored the first and only Spanish-language book about consumer product structure and business models, founded the Licensing Association chapter in Mexico, and is the first Latin woman on Licensing International’s Board of Directors.

For more than 25 years, Stu Seltzer has led Seltzer Licensing Group, securing partnerships with brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, the DC Comics division at Warner Bros, Unilever, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and the American Red Cross. Seltzer is also an NYU professor with more than 20 years of experience teaching brand licensing to undergraduate students.

There is so much to celebrate at this year’s Hall of Fame and Rising Star Awards. We are honoring three licensing veterans who have contributed so much to our industry and also to our community. Their decades of innovation and creativity have helped to push the business forward, and I can’t wait to see what Joe, Maca, and Stu do next.

– Maura Regan, President of Licensing International

The event will be held alongside a fundraiser for the Licensing International Foundation scholarship program to support the next generation of licensing professionals. Since 2020, the program has raised more than $500,000 and awarded 31 scholarships, underscoring Licensing International’s aim to foster growth and innovation in the industry.

“This event is also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on gifted newcomers,” says Veronica Hart, Industry Executive, Incoming Chair for Licensing International, and Co-Chair of the Committee responsible for Licensing International’s Hall of Fame. “It’s crucial for the global brand licensing industry to connect with and support the next generation of licensing executives.”

The Hall of Fame and Rising Star Awards will be held in New York City on December 4th at Gotham Hall. Stay tuned for the award recipients later this year.

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GAMA Expo Schedule – February 23-27, 2025

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