Buyer attendance slips at Fall Toy Preview
Oct. 28, 2008—The Toy Industry Association said a total of 750 buyers attended its 2008 Fall Toy Preview earlier this month in Dallas, a slight decline from the show's 2007 edition.
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Jakks auctions CPK candidate dolls
Oct. 28, 2008—Jakks Pacific this week teams with eBay to auction for charity four one-of-a-kind Cabbage Patch Kids in the likenesses of this year’s U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates.
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Ty's Toy Box adds customizable apparel
Oct. 28, 2008—Ty’s Toy Box owner Brand Performance has signed agreements with four character brands to offer personalized and customizable apparel featuring those brands' characters.
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Toys 'R' Us upgrades site
Oct. 27, 2008—Toys “R” Us has unveiled an enhanced version of its U.S. e-commerce site, www.Toysrus.com, with new features and functionality.
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IKEA donates holiday toy proceeds
Oct. 27, 2008—Furniture retailer IKEA said this week it would donate a Euro to two children’s charities in return for every soft toy it sells at its stores worldwide in the run-up to Christmas.
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Maclaren names new prez, COO
Oct. 27, 2008—Baby stroller maker Maclaren USA has appointed Dan Pennachio president and Paul Cuthbertson chief operation officer.
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Action Products gains in Q3
Oct. 10, 2008—Action Products International said today that sales from its children’s business grew approximately 3 percent in the third quarter versus the comparable period of 2007.
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Kids technology summit returns to CES
Oct. 9, 2008—The Sandbox Summit, a conference and exhibition focused on children and technology that debut at the 2008 International CES, will return to the consumer electronics tradeshow this January under a new name, Kids@Play.
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Fundex preps 'El Chavo' toys
Oct. 9, 2008—Spanish-language media company Grupo Televisa S.A. and licensing agent United Media have tapped Fundex Games for a toy line based on the animated version of GT’s popular sitcom El Chavo .
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Hasbro recalls 330K Nerf dart guns
Oct. 9, 2008—Hasbro is recalling 330,000 units of its Nerf N-Strike Recon Blaster foam dart gun because the toy poses a potential injury hazard.
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MGA names licensing VP
Oct. 8, 2008—MGA Entertainment has appointed licensing industry veteran Caroline Wong-Spencer vice president of licensing.
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Playmates tapped for Rainbow Brite relaunch
Oct. 6, 2008—Playmates Toys has been granted the master toy license for Rainbow Brite, Hallmark’s ’80s-era girls brand that licensing agent United Media is working to revive.
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Toy vets join DreamWorks
Oct. 3, 2008—DreamWorks Animation’s consumer products division has tapped Brad Woods and Chris Hewish—two toy business veterans—for licensing posts.
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Family Dollar's profits rise
Oct. 3, 2008—Family Dollar Stores reported good news for its fiscal fourth quarter: double-digit gains in profits powered by stronger sales.
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GameStop buys French video game chain
Oct. 2, 2008—Video game retailer GameStop is acquiring Micromania, France’s leading video game retailer, from private equity fund L Capital for approximately $700 million in cash.
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KB cuts prices on 200 toys
Oct. 2, 2008—KB Toys today unveiled temporary price reductions on more than 200 toys to $10 or less in its latest effort to allow consumers to “stretch their dollar in these challenging economic times.”
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Creative Properties adds licensing vet
Oct. 2, 2008—Creative Properties has named licensing industry veteran Steven Scebelo senior vice president, business development.
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Feely joins Sprig's board
Oct. 1, 2008—Former Radica Games Ltd. CEO Patrick Feely has joined the board of directors of eco-friendly toymaker Sprig Toys Inc.
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Wal-Mart begins holiday price cuts
Oct. 1, 2008—Wal-Mart this week reduced prices on 10 toys as it begins efforts to attract early Christmas shoppers.
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Mattel seeks end to MGA’s Bratz sales
[Corrected] Oct. 1, 2008—Mattel on Monday filed a motion with the court overseeing its ongoing case over ownership of MGA Entertainment’s Bratz dolls and related intellectual property.
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