NPD names EuroToys chief
Nov. 19, 2008—Market research firm The NPD Group has tapped David Pritchard to head its European toy market tracking business.
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GameStop borrows $150M
Nov. 19, 2008—GameStop is borrowing $150 million from Bank of America, the video game retailer said this week in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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CPSC: Phthalates ban won't be retroactive
Nov. 18, 2008—The Consumer Product Safety Commission will not enforce the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act’s phthalates related provisions retroactively, the CPSC’s general counsel said in a letter this week.
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NPD: Toy sales held steady thru September
Nov. 18, 2008—Despite a worsening economic downturn through 2008’s first three quarters, U.S. toy sales during the period, worth $11.89 billion, were essentially flat compared to the first nine months of 2007, according to The NPD Group.
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Summiteers list product safety priorities
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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Attendance jumps at Shanghai show
Nov. 18, 2008—Last month’s China Toy Expo saw visitor growth jump 20 percent, according to the tradeshow's organizer.
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HK train firms to merge
Nov. 18, 2008—Kader Holdings, parent firm of toy train maker Bachmann Industries, has acquired fellow toy train producer Sanda Kan Industrial for $8.5 million, according to published reports.
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LeapFrog plans layoffs
Nov. 18, 2008—In an S.E.C. filing this week, LeapFrog Enterprises said it plans to layoff approximately 10 percent of its worldwide workforce, including “several” members of its senior management.
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APII sees sales gain
Nov. 14, 2006—Action Products (APII) reported its first quarter-over-quarter sales increase in more than two and a half years in its recently concluded fiscal third quarter.
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Charge derails Mega Brands' profit
Nov. 13, 2008—Mega Brands reported a large net loss and a nearly 12 percent decline in sales, but tallied an operating profit for its fiscal third quarter thanks to cost saving efforts.
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Ja-Ru recalls toy trains
Nov. 13, 2008—Ja-Ru of Jacksonville, Fla., is recalling 18,000 My Little Train Classics wooden trains because they pose a choking hazard.
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Cobra recalls TRU-exclusive toys
Nov. 13, 2008—Cobra Electronics of Chicago is recalling 8,000 sets of children’s two-way radios because they pose a burn hazard.
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Lego loses EU trademark
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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McClure joins Senario
Nov. 12, 2008—Toy and children’s entertainment products maker Senario has appointed kid business veteran Tom McClure as vice president of marketing.
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Topps closes WizKids
Nov. 11, 2008—The Topps Co. has shuttered its WizKids division, maker of collectible miniatures games, and discontinued its product lines.
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Cookie Jar ups three
Nov. 11, 2008—Children’s programmer Cookie Jar Entertainment this week announced the promotion of three executives at its growing consumer products division.
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Juvenile biz lets Russ overcome gift slip
Nov. 11, 2008 —Thanks to product diversification, gift and juvenile products maker Russ Berrie and Co. overcame the slumping performance of its Shining Stars plush to tally a profitable third quarter.
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‘Wumblers’ store to open
Nov. 11, 2008—The Giddy Gander Co., creator of The Wumblers, this week opens a branded brick-and-mortar store dedicated to the property.
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HIT shuffles execs in North American reorg
Nov. 10, 2008—HIT Entertainment today detailed several appointments and promotions as the children’s programmer realigns its North American business units under one roof.
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'Astro Boy' licensing takes shape
Nov. 10, 2008—Imagi Studios has signed the first worldwide licensing agreements for its upcoming computer-animated film Astro Boy .
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