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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LeapFrog recalls Didj recharger unit
Oct. 23, 2008—LeapFrog Enterprises is recalling 35,000 units of the recharging station for its Didj game system because their rechargeable batteries pose a burn hazard.
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Mega grabs 'Gabba!'
Oct. 22, 2008—Mega Brands has signed an international licensing deal for construction toys based on W!ldbrain’s preschool television series Yo Gabba Gabba!
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Big Lots' site adds daily 'deal'
Oct. 21, 2008—Closeout retailer Big Lots today added online shopping to its repertoire, adding to its otherwise e-commerce-free website an online-exclusive “deal of the day” feature.
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Jakks' sales up in third
Oct. 21, 2008—Jakks Pacific reported a double-digit increase in sales and a tax benefit-fueled jump in earnings during the third quarter.
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TIA unveils job site
Oct. 20, 2008—The Toy Industry Association has launched a toy business-specific job site.
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Mattel's numbers up in latest quarter
Oct. 20, 2008—Mattel today reported a 6 percent gain in net sales, driven largely by greater sales at home, and an uptick in profitability during the recently completed third quarter.
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Hasbro sees sales, earnings growth in Q3
Oct. 20, 2008—Hasbro today reported a 6 percent jump in third quarter revenue and increased profits compared to a tax inflated 2007 period.
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Meijer joins holiday price droppers
Oct. 20, 2008—Midwestern discount retailer Meijer said today it has lowered prices on more than 300 products in its toy department in an effort to boost its customers' ability to shop for holiday gifts.
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Show Buzz: Fall Toy Preview
Oct. 16, 2008—Toy manufacturers looking toward 2009 had plenty of new product to show buyers at the Fall Toy Preview here in Dallas the past three days. There was much enthusiasm on display, even as products reflected the growing challenges toymakers are facing in reaction to rising costs or production delays due to safety/testing issues, sourcing concerns and changing consumer demand for “green” products.
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Show Buzz: Fall Toy Preview
Oct. 15, 2008—The Toy Industry Association’s Fall Toy Preview has been under way now for two solid days and so far the comments most commonly heard contain cautious optimism about retailers’ plans for 2009 tempered by grave concerns over cost increases and the crimp they are putting in manufacturers’ creativity, and more crucially, their profitability.
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Jakks ups doll biz with two buys
Oct. 14, 2008—Jakks Pacific has acquired the children’s product businesses of Hong Kong-based Tollytots Ltd. and Westborough, Mass.-based Kids Only Inc.
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Costs doom half of Chinese toy exporters
Oct. 14, 2008—Feeling the pinch of rising production costs, more than half of China’s toy exporters have closed since the beginning of 2008, China’s General Administration of Customs said in a report released on Monday.
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Spin Master births entertainment division
Oct. 13, 2008—Spin Master announced at this week’s MIPCOM Jr children’s programming event that it is launching Spin Master Entertainment, a division of the toymaker focused on the design, development and production of cross-media entertainment properties.
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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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