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Toy Industry News for February 2012

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Toys in the News is updated Mon-Fri at 9:15 am PST

Retail Sales Gain in January. February 3, 2012 — Retail same-store sales increased 4.9 percent in January, which was up over December’s 3.6 percent gain...

The NPD Group Signs Point-of-Sale Cooperation Agreement With Walmart. February 3, 2012 — The NPD Group, Inc., a global leader in consumer and retail market research for a wide range of industries, has reached an agreement with Walmart to receive and analyze its point-of-sale information, according to a press release.

Top toys for 2012 in video from London Toy Fair. February 3, 2012 — With just 46 shopping weeks until Christmas, we've been getting a sneak preview...

Consumer confidence rises in U.S. February 3, 2012 — The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index revealed Thursday that consumer confidence in the U.S. climbed...

K’NEX Brands and Rovio Announce New Licensing Partnership. February 3, 2012 — Young Angry Birds fans will soon be able to build and play with characters from their favorite App with new licensed building toys by K’NEX®, according to a press release.

Facebook’s future and the implications for retail. February 3, 2012 — Social media has transformed the way brands connect with consumers...

Toy Fair preview: Movie toys coming in 2012. February 3, 2012 — With the 109th annual Toy Fair International in New York just around the corner...

Licensing Hotline: February 2, 2012. February 2, 2012 — One of the strongest current licenses for Modern Publishing—which was acquired...

'Turtles' Return to Toy Fair. February 2, 2012
Nickelodeon and Playmates previewed their extensive new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles product line...

Mattel Names HIT Execs. February 2, 2012 — Mattel has completed its acquisition of HIT Entertainment, and has appointed David Allmark...

Winners of the ToyAward 2012 at the International Toy Fair in Nürnberg. February 2, 2012 — An independent jury has selected the ToyAwards for the International Toy Fair in Nürnberg...

Trend for Augmented-Reality, App-Enabled Toys Grows. February 2, 2012 — IPad-compatible toys featuring augmented reality that combine physical objects with on-screen displays...

12 Best Children's Museums In The U.S.. February 2, 2012 — When families travel, one of the hardest challenges facing parents is keeping their kids entertained...

How a Mother's Love Changes a Child's Brain. February 1, 2012
Nurturing a child early in life may help him or her develop a larger hippocampus...

Mattel Completes Acquisition of HIT Entertainment. February 1, 2012 — Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) announced today that it completed the acquisition of HIT Entertainment from a consortium of funds led by Apax Partners for $680 million in cash...

Mattel Raises Toy Prices to Fight Higher Costs. February 1, 2012 — Prices of Mattel Inc (MAT.O) toys like Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars have gone up...

The Container Store Recalls Brightly-Colored Power Strips Due to Fire Hazard. February 1, 2012 — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product: About 7,200 Lush Life® power strips from The Container Store Inc., sold at the Container Stores nationwide and on the firm’s website www.containerstore.com from October 2011 through December 2011 for about $15. The power strips have undersized wiring, and the wiring and plastic strip fail to meet the requirements for fire resistance, posing a fire hazard. Consumers should stop using the recalled power strips immediately and return them to any of The Container Store locations for a full refund plus a $15 merchandise card.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products Announces Worldwide Licensing Program for The Dark Knight Rises. February 1, 2012
— The Bat-Signal has summoned "The Caped Crusader" to an adventurous Toy Fair season...

Tablets for Kids Help Leapfrog Rule Toy Fair. February 1, 2012 — The LeapPad, which is pitched as a learning tablet for four- to nine-year-olds, was voted Toy of the Year by retailers last week at the British Toy and Hobby Association's Toy Fair...

Toy Fair 2012: Excitement Builds for Show Activities. February 1, 2012 — With less than two weeks away until the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) 109th American International Toy Fair (February 12-15, 2012) opens its doors in New York City, registration continues to soar...

Sell More, Lose More was Amazon’s Q4 Motto. February 1, 2012 — Amazon.com enjoyed tremendous sales growth in the fourth quarter, but it came at a steep price...

Baby Girls Make Dads More Interested in Equality. February 1, 2012 — There's a trend among fathers documented http://socialforces.unc.edu/content/90/1/209.abstract by sociologists Emily Shafer and Neil Malhotra....

Teens Migrating to Twitter - Sometimes For Privacy. February 1, 2012 — Teens don't tweet, will never tweet - too public, too many older users...

U.S. Toy Industry Retail Sales Generated $21.18 Billion in 2011. January 31, 2012According to leading market research company, The NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of toys generated $21.18 billion in 2011 compared to $21.68 billion in 2010, a decline of 2 percent.

Toy Company Owners to Be Sentenced in Drug Scheme. January 31, 2012 — For more than four years, a Los Angeles toy company that sold cuddly stuffed animals...

Toy Fair Expands Exhibitor Space to Accommodate Wait-List. January 31, 2012 — After selling out all available exhibit space, the 109th American International Toy Fair is expanding this year's event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The newly added 5,900 square feet of exhibit space will be made available in Special Events Hall 1D, immediately adjacent to the Toy Fair Press Center, according to a press release.

Mattel 4th-quarter profit climbs 14 percent on strong holiday demand for Barbie, Hot Wheels. January 31, 2012 — Strong holiday demand for toys including Barbie and Monster High dolls helped push Mattel Inc....

Aurora World Announces All New Plush Lines for Infants, Toddlers. January 31, 2012 — Aurora World Inc. today announced details for three brand new plush gift lines geared towards new parents and their children. Infants and toddlers can get cozy with Aurora’s western-themed Lil’ Howdys, an interactive collection of Crinkle Friends “Brights,” and Quizzies – a plush line using the most luscious and comforting fabric in the marketplace, according to a press release.

Mattel's Acquisition of 'Thomas & Friends' Maker HIT Entertainment to Close on Wednesday. January 31, 2012 — Toy giant Mattel on Tuesday said its $680 million acquisition of HIT Entertainment...

Teenagers in focus as Nuremberg Toy Fair set to open. January 31, 2012 — Teenagers will be a new focus of this year's Nuremberg Toy Fair...

Lego Reveals More 'Lord of the Rings' Minifigs Including Gollum and Other Foes. January 31, 2012 — The Fellowship of the Ring assembled for a group shot in a display showcased during the UK Toy Fair last week...

Silly Dragon, Robots Are for Toddlers. January 31, 2012 — I noticed the trend starting at Toy Fair last year: robots for kids...

Toy Industry Association Joins The Sustainability Consortium. January 31, 2012 — The Toy Industry Association (TIA), the not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, has announced its membership with The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), an independent organization of diverse global participants working to design and implement credible, transparent and scalable science-based measurement and reporting systems accessible for all producers and users of consumer products.

The Saga of STRETCH ARMSTRONG: Universal and Lautner Toss, Relativity Toys With Project. January 31, 2012 — In what’s turning into the tortured ballad of Hasbro toy STRETCH ARMSTRONG and his journey to Tinseltown...



Read news from past 3 months:

Toy Industry News for January 2012
U.S. Toy Industry Retail Sales Generated $21.18 Billion in 2011... read more toy news from January 2012


Toy Industry News for December 2011
Wimpy Kid Wins Restraining Order Against Comics Parody... read more toy news from December 2011


Toy Industry News for November 2011
McDonald's will charge for Happy Meal toys in SF... read more toy news from November 2011


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