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Playthings EXTRA
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Playthings EXTRA for May 27, 2009
 

Playthings at Licensing Show

Playthings' editorial department is currently making appointments with exhibitors at next month's Licensing Show in Las Vegas. If your company would like to get onto our itinerary, email us at licensingshownews@reedbusiness.com.
 
 

GameStop expects slowdown after record Q1
Video game retailer GameStop reported record sales and earnings for the first quarter but forecasts trouble ahead on expectations of dropping same-store sales. Click to continue
 
Larian back in control of MGA
MGA Entertainment founder and CEO Isaac Larian has regained control of the toymaker from a court appointed receiver. Click to continue
 
 
Hasbro TV channel moves forward
Hasbro completed its joint venture with the Discovery Kids Network that will see Discover Kids rebranded as a Hasbro television channel after the government made no move to block the deal. Click to continue
 

TOY OF THE WEEK
Mindtwister, creators of Pentago and Element, recently debuted Sushi Roll, for ages 6 and up. It's a fast-paced game for three to eight in which players take turns as the “Sushi Chef” by rolling the four sushi dice. Whoever is the first to match the sushi cards in her hand to the Sushi Chef's roll, earns all the cards for her points pile; the player with the most cards at the end of the game wins! Click to continue
 
Think Wow's got 'Juice'
Jamba Juice has tapped Think Wow Toys to produce Jamba Juice branded playings as part of an effort by the smoothie chain to increase revenue derived from ancillary business opportunities. Click to continue
 
 
10Vox
10Vox preps virtual puzzle site
10Vox Entertainment, creator of Tracksters and KooKeys Web-connected toys, is set to unveil in August a line of traditional jigsaw puzzles that unlock virtual versions in the form of a massively multiplayer online game. Click to continue
 
Cabbage Patch Kids get NASCAR'd
Jakks Pacific this weeked debuted an exclusive Cabbage Patch Kids doll done up as a NASCAR driver on home shopping network QVC, the first in a planned series. Click to continue
 
 
Product
Product Showcase:
Active & Outdoor Toys
This week’s Product Showcase features active and outdoor toys from Alex, Funrise, Fundex, Hasbro, HQ Kites and Step2. Click to continue
 

Out of the Toy Box Blog: The 'science' of fads
Richard Gottlieb writes: There was an interesting piece on fads in the May 17 New York Times entitled “Quick Arriving Fads Quick to Flame Out.” Fads have always interested me because, unlike well orchestrated marketing campaigns, they take on a life of their own. I’ve also felt that in launching other products there is little to learn from a fad driven product. It’s a bit like lightning in a bottle.

Click to continue
 
PLAYTHINGS.com POLL

How do you stimulate mid-week sales at your store?

  • One-day sales
  • In-store events
  • Later closing time
  • New release specials
  • None of the above

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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