Top-10 Most-Wanted Action Figures In July 2009, TDmonthly Magazine interviewed 49 specialty retailers around the country concerning their sales of play and action figures...
9/1/2009
Disney Makes Defensive Move With Marvel Acquisition The news that Disney was acquiring Marvel hit the entertainment industry like a thunderbolt. Yes, there had been plenty of rumors about a large Disney acquisition, but the betting by insiders had been on Electronic Arts...
9/1/2009
TDmonthly Goes Inside ... Sideshow Collectibles Unlike other manufacturers who rely exclusively on laser scans and digital-wax outputs to create character likenesses, Sideshow Collectibles still hires artists to individually sculpt 90 percent of the faces and bodies for its action figures and collectibles...
8/1/2009
Transformers and Classic Superheroes Rule Action Figure Lineups This year's action figure offerings are full of classic favorites and fresh faces. Many of the anticipated best sellers are coming to stores by way of the big or small screen, promising to captivate children and adult collectors even in a tight economy...
8/1/2009
From the Big Screen to the Toy Aisle Just as a movie starring an A-list celebrity will bring in big bucks opening weekend, toys tied to famous licenses can also have smashing premieres. Experts warn, however, that it’s important to be smart when buying...
6/1/2009
Holiday Preview - Action Figures Elves and crocodiles ready for battle could be the perfect addition to a child’s toy box this year. TDmonthly’s Holiday Preview of Action Figures also boasts other non-traditional collectible figurines, including tween characters tied to a virtual world, critters that place emphasis on diversity, and designer figurines that can spruce...
6/1/2009
Why the Recession Is Good for Kids … and Toys “The recession could be the best thing that's ever happened to children's toys,” Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a child development expert and professor at Temple University, told TDmonthly in late January...
2/1/2009
Watch Toy Fair 2009 Videos Whether you flew to New York or stayed snug at home, you can still see some of the best new products from the 2009 American International Toy Fair...
2/1/2009
Harry Potter Movies Will Lead in Toys Most of the very successful toys in 2008 were driven by movies — “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “The Dark Knight,” Wall-E” and “Iron Man” – and it hence behooves us to look at what films are awaiting us this year and next...
1/1/2009
Retailers Predict Top Mass-Market Holiday Toys I recently asked my retailer panel friends — seven mass-market and three specialty stores — to tell me which toys are likely to do the best this Christmas. Here are their rankings...
Toys in the News: 9-30-08 RC2 Corporation has announced its withdrawal from an agreement to purchase Publications International's Children's Publishing Division...
9/1/2008
TDmonthly’s Top-10 Most-Wanted Action Figures Which action figures are the last ones standing? Knights, pirates, dinosaurs and mythical creatures are strongest in battle, 55 retailers told TDmonthly Magazine, with Papo figures by Hotaling Imports dominating...
7/1/2008
Indiana May Trump Iron Man at Toy Sales When I first wrote about toy-related films roughly six weeks ago, I overlooked the fact that there is yet another entrant into the toy sweepstakes — “Wall-E” by Pixar.....
6/1/2008
Sports Action Figures Cast a Spell Sports fanatics don’t just go out and wear their favorite team jerseys or add to their baseball card collection anymore. Sports action figures are becoming a popular way for fans to support their local teams on and off season, sources told PlayZak, and just as kids are with Pokémon, many have to collect them all...
9/1/2007
Spidey's Special, But Knights Still Rule OK, knights still KO most other action figures in the specialty market, but a mass-market arachnid has caught kids in its web...
7/1/2007
Safari Ventures Into Fantasy For more than a quarter century, Safari Ltd. has been unwaveringly dedicated to toys that are both educational and fun for children...
TDmonthly's Top-10 Most-Wanted Mini-Toys Manhattan Toy's Groovy Girl Minis are tied with Papo Knights as the best-selling teeny toy, each getting a top-selling nod from 10 of 45 specialty toy-store owners surveyed...
Papo and Schleich Kick Hasbro off the Shelf Boys and dads sweep shelves clear of Papo and Schleich knights, and then drop to the floor for a jousting match before bringing the figures home...
7/1/2006
Boys Venture Into Doll Shops At Dolls by Jerree in Kingsport, Tenn., the customer demographic has suddenly shifted in the last three months to include boys and men age 10 to 40...
7/1/2006
New Action Figures Get Going Action figures encompass such a broad category of toys that they appeal to almost any age...
7/1/2006
Toy Knights Kick Jedi Butt Unlicensed figures prove big fish in the small pond of specialty toy stores...
6/1/2006
Toy Knight Jousting Match Medieval-themed figures and accessories have become a hit in toy stores across the country, and three major players are “jousting” for the top spot...
12/1/2005
Tween Girls Kick Butt Are action toys for girls the future as action toy sales flatten out for boys?...
Toypresidents Honors a Different Kind of Hero Founded in 2003 by Jesse Combs, Toypresidents, Inc. has met with tremendous success crafting collectible, battery-operated talking president action figures. This year, Combs expands the concept to include other historical figures by opening Timecapsule Toys...
5/1/2005
A Niche for Unique Action Figures As a child, Clark Gray was a fan of G.I. Joe. Then came eBay, which renewed his collector’s spirit...
5/1/2005
Age Compression Challenges Action Figure Sales Age compression, the idea that kids are getting older younger, is a term used often among toy manufacturers, retailers and other industry insiders...
Action Figures Drive Sales Without a License Without a licensed tie-in to popular media, an action figure faces a challenge that is far more formidable than battling the forces of evil — the battle for the consumer’s dollar...
5/1/2005
Before the Films, There Were Figures As the summer is the season of the blockbuster, and action figures precede blockbusters like thunder before rain, toy stores will be literally packed this spring with licensed figures from soon-to-be released feature films...
Todd McFarlane Opens Showroom and Store in Tempe, Arizona In October 2004 Todd McFarlane, who has an 11-year history in the sports and movie licensing markets, held the official grand opening of a showroom and store in Tempe, Ariz. With Phoenix the hub of his business and his family living in the outlying area, Tempe seemed the most logical location...
1/1/2005
Top Five Television Sources for Licensed Toy Products As licensed products prove to be bigger business than ever before, television has become an ever-growing source of hit characters. According to ratings supplied by the A.C. Nielsen Company, the top five television sources for hit toy tie-ins are as follows:...
1/1/2005
Play to Meet Profit at Toy Fair 2005 As retailers begin stocking shelves for 2005, the big question remains, what will be a hot sell in the new year? Of the many resources available, one good place to commence research on toy trends is at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center this February 20-23rd, where once again the Toy Industry Association, Inc. returns with its annual American International Toy Fair...
1/1/2005
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Action Figures for Collectors The research for this article was compiled by November 3, 2004. Collecting is an established sub-culture within the 1.2 billion dollar toy industry. According to an NPD group study, 25% of all toy purchases made by 18- to 24-year-olds falls into this category. Companies have begun recognizing the growing number...
12/1/2004
TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted TV Action Figures The research for this article was compiled by November 3, 2004. There is no question that kids love to grab a bowl of cereal and watch their morning cartoons. The Cartoon Network, KidsWB! and Nickelodeon have been driving forces in character-based action figures. Their viewing audience is significant as 80...
12/1/2004
The Boys´ Share of the Tween Market In the toy and hobby world, the tween market has become a hot commodity for retailers. Reyne Rice, toy trend specialist for the Toy Industry Association, explains that the industry focus for the last few years has been to retain that particular age group in toy products...
11/1/2004
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Pop Culture Action Figures Watching I Love the 80s, reading People magazine religiously and playing with a Pet Rock are not the only gateways to today’s pop culture icons. These top 10 products are easily recognized by the general public, and stand out in a media saturated marketplace. (Images will be added within two...
11/1/2004
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Sports Action Figures Every sports fan has fantasized about running towards the end zone to score the winning touchdown, delivering a bone-crushing blow in a WWE title bout, or hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to win the World Series. Alas, purchasing a triumphant action figure likeness of their...
11/1/2004
TDmonthly's Top 10 Most Wanted Female Action Figures Can action figures be fashionable and fight evil at the same time? Toymakers are breaking down traditional categories and mixing genres in the female action figure market...
11/1/2004
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Mini Action Figures Just in time to stuff stockings, action figures shrink this season. No longer just the domain of specialty and import collectors, mass-marketed figures now come in all shapes and sizes – from the hyper-articulated 18” giants to tiny, Lego-esque 1.5” superheroes. Generally, mini-characters stand shorter than five inches. Doll-makers have...
11/1/2004
TDmonthly´s Top 10 Most Wanted Political Playthings Get out to the polls and, while you’re at it, vote with your dollars for your favorite political toys. The presidential contest has been on everyone’s mind this year and will continue to generate interest as the election draws closer...
Toys Inspired By the U.S. Troops Dusty Trails Toys has come out with a set of action figures which remarkably commemorate the heroic efforts of America’s troops abroad...
What A Geek! There is a new super hero action figure hitting the toy markets. He doesn’t have a cape, doesn’t carry a gun or a light saber, isn’t the subject of some popular show or cartoon, and he doesn’t transform into something...
7/1/2004
TV Toys Couch potatoes of all ages may be glad to learn their televisions are good for more...
6/1/2004
Reality-based Action Figures Find Room to Grow There’s no shortage of historical figures, periods, and events in the world, so there should be endless niches to tap with reality-based action figures...
5/1/2004
HuckDoll: Go to the Extreme Founded by professional extreme athletes in North Lake Tahoe, NSM Resources/HuckDoll is one of the leading companies specializing in athletic figures...
Featured Products in TDmonthly Magazine: Action Figures
Since 1982, Safari Ltd., an American company based in Miami, Florida, has been a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality replica collections popular amongst children as well as adults. Our replicas incorporate the widest variety of sizes and themes in the marketplace. Our figures are 100% accurate and child friendly. Children tell us how the faces of our figures express emotion, especially their eyes. Parents appreciate their authenticity. We make sure of this by working with paleontologists, ocean biologists, equine and wildlife authorities... More information on SAFARI LTD. products.
Anywhere’s a playground is the philosophy behind each and every Schleich toy or play-set. Not only is Schleich the leading designer and manufacturer of high quality, realistic animal and historical and fantasy figurines, but it is also is a leading light in the world of imaginative play. For decades Schleich’s toys have been valued and enjoyed by children and collectors of all ages and are respected as much by parents, as they are loved by the children who play with them. They stimulate the imagination... More information on SCHLEICH NORTH AMERICA, INC. products.
