More Articles By Staff

• NRF: Holiday sales surge, but may not last
  Dec. 1, 2008—The National Retail Federation has announced that, according to its annual Black Friday Weekend survey, sales over the four-day holiday weekend rose to an estimated $41 billion, helped by a 7 percent increase in shoppers’ average spending, compared to 2007. More
  
• TOTY Award voting open
  Dec. 1, 2008—The Toy Industry Association today released a list of 74 nominees for the 9th annual Toy Of The Year (TOTY) Awards, due to be bestowed during the 2009 American International Toy Fair. More
  
• HobbyTron intros Ed Hardy R/C line
  Dec. 1, 2008—HobbyTron.com, the online retailer and distributor of hobby-grade remote control toys, today announced the introduction of a special edition line of Ed Hardy branded helicopters, flying objects and boats. More
  
• Every Baby Co. gets Mottola money
  Dec. 1, 2008—Music mogul Tommy Mottola’s The Mottola Company has made an equity investment in Every Baby Company, creator of the Eebee’s Adventures infant/preschool entertainment brand. More
  
• Sesame Workshop adds marketing execs
  Dec. 1, 2008—Sesame Workshop has added two marketing veterans to its team in newly created positions as the non-profit children's programmer staffs for the continued expansion of its presence globally and in the digital realm. More
  
• Brio plans layoffs
  Nov. 28, 2008—Faced with falling sales, Brio plans to pare approximately 30 white-color jobs from its payroll as a cost-cutting measure. More
  
• Mega's site adds online sales
  Nov. 26, 2008—Just in time for holiday sales, Mega Brands this week began selling direct-to-consumer via its website. More
  
• TOY FAIR 2009 Editorial Submission Deadline
  FINAL DEADLINE  — JANUARY 9! It's not too late to have your 2009 products included in our American International Toy Fair coverage. For Playthings ' Toy Fair issue submission specs and requirements ... More
  
• Alexander plans Paramount movie dolls
  Nov. 25, 2008—Alexander Doll will issue collectible dolls based on five Paramount Pictures properties in 2009, the studio announced today. More
  
• I Can Do That! deals for Curious George games
  Nov. 24, 2008—I Can Do That! Games has signed an exclusive multi-year license with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to develop games based on the Curious George television series. More
  
• Jakks buys into the Halloween biz
  Nov. 24, 2008—Jakks Pacific will expand into the Halloween business, the company announced today, having signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of costume and Halloween-themed décor company Disguise Inc. and a related Hong Kong firm for an undisclosed sum. More
  
• Obituary: Betty James, Slinky founder
  Nov. 24, 2008—Betty M. James, the Toy Industry Hall of Fame member who co-founded Slinky maker James Industries, died on November 20. She was 90. More
  
• TAGIE Awards honor best in design biz
  Nov. 22, 2008—The debut TAGIE Toy and Game Inventors Awards honored recipients in three categories during a gala at the Toy and Game Inventors Expo on November 21. More
  
• ImagiPlay recalls bead mazes
  Nov. 20, 2008—ImagiPlay is recalling approximately 500 bead maze toys because they pose a potential laceration hazard. More
  
• 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. More
  
• 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. More
  
• 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. More
  
• 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. More
  
• 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. More
  
• 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. More