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Babies 'R’ Us in August launched an exclusive collection of baby merchandise created by designer Amy Coe. The assortment includes infant furniture, bedding sets, room decor, diaper bags, plush and gifts, meal-time accessories, layette and apparel.

Also last month, Toys 'R’ Us chairman and CEO Jerry Storch (pictured left), presented a $100,000 donation on behalf of the Toys 'R’ Us Children’s Fund to Save the Children. The donation will go towards efforts to help kids impacted by recent floods in Iowa. Mark Shriver, VP and managing director of STC’s U.S. programs, accepted the donation.

The Lego Group said its sales were up 20 percent and its pre-tax profits more than doubled in 2008’s first half, helped by sales gains in North America and Northern Europe. Year-to-date, the toymaker tallied pre-tax profits of approximately $112 million following a 20 percent jump in net sales to nearly $700 million. Sales were paced by “better than expected” demand for Lego City as well as its licensed Star Wars and Indiana Jones lines.

Game maker Patch Products, Beloit, Wis., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Smethport Specialty Co., Smethport, Pa., for an undisclosed sum. The privately held 85-year-old toymaker is best known for its Wooly Willy magnetic game. Its assets also include the Lauri brand of educational products and activity kits, as well as proprietary lines of travel games, magnetic playsets, board games and educational items.

The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008 was signed into law on August 14. Described as the “most sweeping toy safety legislation in decades,” the Act is expected to significantly strengthen and make uniform the safety standards for toys and other children’s products sold in the United States. It also increases consumer product safety oversight by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Commenting on the Act, Carter Keithley, TIA’s president, said: “With the health and safety of children our primary concern, the toy industry supports the creation of a uniform national standard for product safety and testing upon which consumers across the nation can rely ... This legislation helps to ensure that all companies conform to the same high standards for any toy sold in this country.”