Inside Out

The acquisition last month of The Bead Shop by Small World Kids seems like a win-win all around. For one, it further diversifies Small World, giving the company entrée into the lucrative tween girl market. Secondly, it frees up The Bead Shop's creators—Goldi and Mark Miller and Goldi's sister, Myra Mouloudji, who will join Small World's board—to be, well, even more creative now that they can capitalize on their parent company's efficiencies in warehousing, shipping and manufacturing. Retailers can expect to see some 100 new products from The Bead Shop—which will become Fashion Angel Productions—at February's Toy Fair... And speaking of girls, Girl Power! LocaSmarts, Ormond Beach, Fla.—creators of the U Go Grl Activity Collectible Trading Cards—has been certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council as being a female minority-owned, operated and controlled business...And speaking of control—as in video game controllers—Nintendo, Redmond, Wash., has entered an agreement with Austin, Texas-based Wayport, provider of wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access in public locations, to extend free Wi-Fi service to Nintendo DS users at nearly 6,000 McDonald's restaurants across the United States via its new wireless gaming service, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which goes online November 14. Dave Vucina, Wayport's CEO touts Nintendo as “a pioneer”...On the acquistions front, the Omnicom Group, New York, is working with the senior management of The Beanstalk Group, New York, to acquire the agency from the Ford Motor Company.

This product was incorrectly identified in our October issue; it is the First Friends Construction Vehicle from Small World Toys, Culver City, Calif.