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Playthings EXTRA for January 7, 2009

WONDER WOMEN AWARD NOMINATIONS OVERDUE!
Time is running out to nominate someone for this year's Wonder Women of Toys Awards, presented by Women In Toys and Playthings magazine. The FINAL DEADLINE is now JANUARY 15. Nominations can be made online at www.womenintoys.com

Haba may halt jewelry sales in U.S.
Haba USA is contemplating a complete halt to its distribution of children’s jewelry in the U.S. in response to new toy safety standards that begin going into effect next month. Click to continue

Li & Fung addresses KB's debt to suppliers
KB Toys' former buying agent, Li & Fung, said this week it would do what it could to help a group of Chinese factories recoup what was owed them by the bankrupt retailer, but that it was not personally responsible for paying KB’s debts to suppliers. Click to continue

Action Toys tweaks sales force
Action Toys, the toy making division of Action Products International, is realigning its sales structure with the appointment of a new mid-Atlantic sales rep and an expanded internal sales team. Click to continue

TOY OF THE WEEK
The Lubies ($8.99) are distinctly round, super-soft plush animals that can be caught, cuddled and collected—with no secret codes. Each animal has a circumference of about 12 inches, the size of a softball. Included in the first series are Cat, Cow, Polar Bear, Pig, Brown Bear, Elephant, Dog and Penguin as well as two seasonal releases just in time for Easter—Chick and Bunny. Click to continue

MGA may get breathing room in Bratz case
The judge overseeing Mattel’s case against MGA Entertainment over the rights to the Bratz doll franchise has agreed to consider a request by MGA to allow it to continue to manufacture and market new dolls past the Feb. 11, 2009 deadline set in early December. Click to continue

Fisher-Price gains global Thomas rights
Thomas & Friends licensor HIT Entertainment has granted Mattel’s Fisher-Price division global master toy rights for the train-themed preschool property in a multi-year deal. Click to continue

Dr. Toy resumes full program
Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., better known as Dr. Toy, has announced that the organization built under her trademark will bestow a full slate of seals of approval on new products in 2009. Click to continue

New leadership at WICM
Women in Children’s Media has announced that Ashley Fenwick-Naditch, a producer for Sesame Workshop and CEO of Children’s Media Consultants, is now the trade association’s president. Click to continue

Out of the Toy Box Blog: Hong Kong - Day 1
Richard Gottlieb writes: I had just asked a seasoned sales rep about his expectations for 2009. His eyes squinted, his body unconsciously went into a boxer’s crouch and his head and upper body began to weave back and forth like a fighter shadow boxing. He wasn’t throwing any punches; he was, however, dodging plenty of invisible ones that, from his reactions, appeared to be coming fast and furious. As he dodged and weaved he said, “2009 is going to be weird..."

Click to continue

PLAYTHINGS.com POLL

Will you attend this month's NY International Gift Fair?

Yes, as an exhibitor
Yes, as a buyer
No. We don't exhibit there
No. We don't send buyers there
Still undecided

To vote on this week’s poll, or to see the results of previous poll questions, visit www.Playthings.com.

For daily news updates visit the "Breaking News" section of www.Playthings.com

Have a profitable week,

Cliff Annicelli, Editor
Karyn Peterson, Managing Editor

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