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KB Toys appointed retail veteran Andrew Bailen as president and chief executive officer, replacing Gregory R. Staley, the retailer's CEO for the past two years, who left the company for “personal reasons.” Bailen joins KB after 28 years in retail, including stints at Party City, Blockbuster Video, Circus World Toys and Noodle Kidoodle.

Big Tent Entertainment, New York, has been appointed the North American licensing and marketing agency for preschool music group The Wiggles, which—with the help of their own TV show—have sold more than 5 million records and 22 million DVDs in the past 16 years. Under the partnership, Big Tent will work to attract creative partners that incorporate the values of the series, such as learning through music.

Paper dolls, musical instruments, and video games were some of the featured product categories highlighted in Playthings.com's weekly Product Showcase during the last month. Items from the following companies were spotlighted: Activision, Bebop Kidz, Best Pals, Cantarima, Dover Publications, Eeboo, Innovative Kids, Laughing Elephant, Melissa & Doug, Midway, Namco Bandai, Sounds Like Fun, Square Enix, THQ and Woodstock Percussion.

Breyer model horse producer Reeves International, Union City, N.J., has teamed with Ariat International, manufacturer of equestrian riding boots, apparel and small leather goods, to create a 2007 Ariat Limited Edition Collectible model horse. The chestnut colored mare has three white socks and the Ariat logo on its right hip. Ariat will offer the limited edition model as a children's gift with purchase of children's equestrian footwear or apparel at participating retail stores throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.

Pretend & Play World Traveler, featured in our travel toys feature story "Destination: Playtime" (Playthings June 2007), is made by Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, Ill.

More than 100 former staffers attended a reunion party on June 3 for alumni of Galoob Toys Inc., which closed its doors in 1999, one year after its acquisition by Hasbro. The celebration, held in Burlingame, Calif., drew Galoob veterans from across the U.S. and from as far away as Japan and Costa Rica. "It's remarkable the number of Galoobians who say their time at the company was the best working experience of their lives," Dave Tilbor, a former Galoob exec, told Playthings.