Action grows UK distribution By Staff - 04/13/2009
April 13, 2009—Action Toys has signed an expanded UK distribution deal for its products with England’s Treasure Trove, the first of what the toymaker says are pending agreements for additional overseas sales. More
Paramount adds international reps, retailers By Staff - 03/09/2009
March 9, 2009—Paramount Licensing has signed agreements with three international licensing agencies and two international retailers to leverage its properties.
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Nick places international efforts under one exec By Staff - 02/25/2009
Feb. 25, 2009—Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer has given Jean-Philippe Randisi oversight of all of the company’s operations outside of the U.S.
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Lego sets sales records in 2008 By Staff - 02/13/2009
Feb. 13, 2009—Lego Systems achieved a record 38 percent jump in U.S. consumer sales in 2008, the building toy maker said today. The North American division of Denmark’s privately held The Lego Group attributed the results to “a well-balanced product portfolio, healthy retail partnerships and the brand's heritage and reputation for quality play materials and long-lasting play value.”
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Obituary: Hans Beck, Playmobil designer By Staff - 02/06/2009
Feb. 6, 2009—Hans Beck, creator of the Playmobil figure, died on January 30 at age 79, according to published reports.
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Chinese say factory standards on the rise By Staff - 01/13/2009
Jan. 13, 2009—The number of Chinese toy factories receiving “quality” licenses has grown by more than 200, Chinese officials said at last week’s Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2009, held during the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair.
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Li & Fung addresses KB's debt to Chinese factories By Staff - 01/05/2009
Jan. 5, 2009—KB Toys' former buying agent, Li & Fung, said today 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.
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Summiteers list product safety priorities By Staff - 11/18/2008
Nov. 18, 2008—A summit meeting of top product safety officials from the U.S., the European Union and China held this past weekend in Brussels will result in stepped up efforts to better harmonize safety regulations between the three regions, including those involving toys.
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Lego loses EU trademark By Staff - 11/12/2008
Nov. 12, 2008—Lego this week lost its latest effort to retain the trademark rights to its iconic building brick in the European Union.
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HL Games goes global By Staff - 08/29/2008
Aug. 29, 2008—Board game publisher HL Games USA has signed international distribution deals for its products in several English-speaking countries.
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Steiff flees China By Staff - 07/02/2008
July 2, 2008—Steiff is moving its production efforts back to Germany, according to published reports, four years after sending them to China.
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Lego to end outsourced production By Staff - 07/02/2008
July 2, 2008—The Lego Group said yesterday that it was moving its production largely in-house, announcing a plan to end its three year outsourcing relationship with Singapore–based Flextronics during the course of 2009.
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Nikko closes factory By Staff - 07/02/2008
July 2, 2008—Remote-control toy maker Nikko abruptly shuttered its factory in Prai, Penang, this week.
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Grand reopens search for IPI buyer By Staff - 06/27/2008
June 27, 2008—Grand Toys has reopened bids for its International Playthings unit following the discontinuing of exclusive discussions with an un-named purchaser.
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Plastwood to re-open U.S. office in California By Staff - 06/23/2008
June 23, 2008—Magnetic construction toy maker Plastwood Corp. is heading west, closing its East Coast distribution center and offices in favor of the San Francisco Bay area.
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Hasbro bows MP3 robot By Staff - 06/19/2008
June 19, 2008—Hasbro’s Tiger Electronics division has technophiles buzzing over a new music-player robot making its public debut at this week’s Tokyo Toy Show.
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UK's Toyzone to close By Staff - 05/27/2008
May 27, 2008—British toy retailer Toyzone will shut down this summer, new owner JA Magson announced late last week.
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Corgi sells namesake division to Hornby By Staff - 05/05/2008
May 5, 2008—Corgi International Limited is selling its flagship Corgi collectibles die-cast business to Britain’s Hornby Hobbies Ltd., including the "Corgi" brand name, tooling and existing inventory for a combined $16.6 million.
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Simba-Dickie gets Smoby By Staff - 03/05/2008
March 5, 2008—Germany's Simba-Dickie Group has been approved by a French court to acquire the assets of bankrupt French toymaker Smoby.
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