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Playthings EXTRA
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Playthings EXTRA for March 4, 2009
 

Toy News at Text Speed: PlaythingsMag on Twitter

If you're a toy business news junkie with a need to be first in-the-know, we have the perfect tool for you: PlaythingsMag on Twitter! Thanks to the texting technology your kids keep telling you about, you can now access our fastest headline delivery service EVER! Sign up today to "follow" us from your existing Twitter account and receive our breaking news bulletins via text message on your cell phone. www.twitter.com/playthingsmag
 
 
LeapFrogLeapFrog shrinks loss in '08 despite Q4 drop
Helped by new products like its Tag Reading System, electronic learning products maker LeapFrog Enterprises said this week that it pared its net loss for 2008 on a gain in annual sales that overcame a double-digit sales decline in the fourth quarter. Click to continue
 
Toys 'R' Us exits Holland; tests used video game sales
In a busy week of news for the toy retailing giant, media reported that Toys "R" Us would no longer have a presence in the Netherlands, had purchased another important domain name and was making a play for Game Stop's lucrative used video game business. Click to continue
 
 
Entertainment Rights close to sale
Cash strapped children’s programmer Entertainment Rights said it is putting the final touches on a sale of its business to an undisclosed bidder. Click to continue
 

TOY OF THE WEEK
Ten Ton Toys' Handtrux add a new twist to the sand toy and construction vehicles categories by allowing kids to slip their hands into the toys, gauntlet style, in order to work each product's “hand-draulic” power grip. Click to continue
 
Independent toy stores closing in NC, Texas
Independent retailer The Toy Chest will close at the end of March, according to local media reports, the Cary, N.C., area’s second specialty toy store to go under in recent weeks. Also liquidating is a long-time Amarillo, Texas, favorite. Click to continue
 
 
Licensing
Licensing underway for 'Tintin' movie
Paramount Licensing has begun soliciting merchandising partners for Steven Spielberg’s Tintin film adaptation, "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," in all major product categories. Click to continue
 
Target cuts shelf space for non-essentials
Stung by double-digit drops in its Q4 and full year 2008 profits and with comparable store sales slipping, Target said it would increase shelf space for non-discretionary product categories in a play for cash-strapped shoppers' must-make purchases. Click to continue
 
 
Hasbro
Hasbro expands gaming accessories deal
Hasbro has expanded Performance Designed Products’ rights for video gaming accessories based on the toymaker’s properties in a new multi-year, international licensing agreement. Click to continue
 

Out of the Toy Box Blog: The Future of Toy Fair
Richard Gottlieb writes: Toy Fair 2009 is now history although many of us who attended are still engaged in follow up. I have, however, been thinking about the next Toy Fair and those to come after and thought it would be interesting to have a community wide discussion of what Toy Fair might look like in the not too distant future.

Click to continue
 
PLAYTHINGS.com POLL

How has your outlook on 2009's toy business changed after having attended this year's American International Toy Fair?

  • It's gotten more positive
  • It's gotten more negative
  • It's as positive as it was prior to Toy Fair
  • It's as negative as it was prior to Toy Fair
  • Not sure

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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