Exclusively at playthings.com
By Staff -- Playthings, 3/1/2007
R/C knock-offs switched offSilverlit Toys Manufactory and Spin Master, Silverlit's North American distribution partner, won a preliminary injunction against Hobbytron.com stopping the importation and distribution of knock-off versions of Siverlit's PicooZ remote control micro helicopter. The injunction ordered the shutting down of all manufacturing and distributing of the copycat product, including all instruction manuals and packaging.
Toy Fair buzzWhen it snows…it snows during Toy Fair. But the late-show storm didn't keep buyers away from this year's American International Toy Fair, held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. More than 20,000 attendees from 94 countries stopped in to check out the latest and greatest from scores of their regular suppliers as well as from dozens of new exhibitors. Daily reports from the show are available online at Playthings.com.
Product showcaseArts and crafts, R/C vehicles, winter books and plush were some of the featured items highlighted in Playthings.com's weekly Product Showcase during the last month, including items from the following companies: Abrams, Alex, Aurora, Bestever, Candlewick, Douglas, Fashion Angels, Fiesta, Go Wireless, Gund, Kane/Miller, Kid Galaxy, Kids Can Press, Kids Preferred (pictured: Flo the Dolphin), Klutz, Maisto, Mattel (pictured: Tyco Skyforce), Megatech, Penguin and Roylco.
Licensees line up for Nick Jr. seriesThe animated Nick Jr. preschool series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! has 14 new licensees signed on to develop everything from games and puzzles to books, apparel, accessories and, of course, toys. Initial licensees for 2007 include: Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Meredith, Children's Apparel Network, Starz Home Entertainmetn, SG Footwear, Dream Apparel, Berkshire, Unique, Bakery Crafts, A.E. Nathan and CTI Industries.
T.M.X. Elmo takes T.O.T.Y. awardFisher-Price's T.M.X. Elmo was named both the overall Toy of the Year as well as the Infant/Preschool Toy of the Year at this year's annual T.O.T.Y. Awards. In total, 10 toys and one children's property were honored:
- Girl Toy of the Year: FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony from Hasbro
- Boy Toy of the Year: a tie between the Spy Video Car from Wild Planet Entertainment and Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Ultimate Black Pearl Playset from Zizzle
- Game of the Year: Cranium's Zooreka
- Outdoor Toy of the Year: Fold 2 Go Trike, Radio Flyer
- Educational Toy of the Year: Smart Globe 2.0, Oregon Scientific
- Activity Toy of the Year: Moon Sand, Spin Master
- Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year: Kid Tough Digital Camera, Fisher-Price
- Most Innovative Toy of the Year: FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony, Hasbro
- Specialty Toy of the Year: Webkinz, Ganz
- Property of the Year: Disney/Pixar's Cars, Disney Consumer Products
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association will end its spring tradeshow after this year's event, scheduled to take place in Orlando, Fla., next month. In 2008, it will instead lend its support to the ABC Kids Expo, which takes place in late summer, and recently began allowing mass market retailers to attend what had previously been a specialty store-only buying event.
Happy Birthday!Rex Games celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Tangoes line of brain teaser games at this year's Toy Fair with an in-booth party where special guest Maurice Kanbar, the game's inventor, also talked about his other claims to fame: Sky Vodka, the D-Fuzz It Sweater Comb and a motorized roll of sticky notes that will hit the market shortly.
