The new Barbie building blocks range represents Mega Bloks’ largest launch in the UK. The girls’ construction line – out in the UK on March 9th and licensed by Mattel – will be backed by mammoth marketing ...
Tags: Barbie, Mega Bloks, girls construction line
Toy companies are being called on to produce more goods for children with special educational needs. The Good Toy Guide, the review website for parents, retailers and suppliers, wants to review more toys that can be used by all kids, ...
Tags: Toy companies, children, The Good Toy Guide
Dr Amanda Gummer discusses niche markets and how to make the most of them. With margins on mass market products being cut to the bone due to tough competition, it’s worth looking at some of the niche markets which aren’t quite ...
Tags: toy markets, toy, toy manufacturers
The toy industry should not underestimate the value of mummy bloggers, says Playmobil. The company was talking to ToyNews as part of a feature on the rise of mummy bloggers, along with other suppliers' marketing execs and bloggers ...
Tags: toy industry, toy, mummy bloggers
Loubilou opens doors in April, selling toys, gifts, accessories and clothing. A new website offering parents a global emporium featuring individual sellers of children's toys, gifts, accessories and clothing is hitting the UK in April. ...
Tags: toys, children toys, toy industry
Flair will launch Australian Toy of the Year this summer with heavyweight marketing campaign. The 2013 Australian Toy of the Year, Glitzi Globes, will launch in the UK this summer. Created by Australian toy giant Moose Enterprises, the ...
Tags: toy Glitzi, Globes, toy giant
GP Flair will hold a National Bug Survey with schools and parents in conjunction with its outdoor brand Backyard Safari. Launching on March 15th and running until July, the survey will be promoted with advertorials in children's newspaper ...
The British Toy & Hobby Association has welcomed feedback to this year's Toy Industry Awards and says this will help shape the next event. The news comes following the toy industry's call for an Awards shake-up. The BTHA's committee has ...
Tags: Toy Industry, Toy Fair, Toy
There's nothing better than receiving a toy endorsement from a real mum or dad. But what are the challenges of managing blogs and what do parents really want from you? We ask mums and marketing execs. Forget the pain (and pleasure) of ...
Tags: toys, toy endorsement, mummy blogger
The Trash Pack Recycling Campaign has been met with huge response from schools for the second year running. Over 300 schools encompassing 75,000 children have been successful in their bid to take part in the campaign, and will receive ...
The UK’s biggest independent toy chain's owner Gary Grant (middle) and his directors – and sons – Stuart (right) and Duncan (left), explain how the retailer is offering the traditional toy shop ideal on a national scale. ...
UK like-for-like retail sales rose 2.7 per cent in February. On a total basis, sales were up 4.4 per cent, against a 2.3 per cent rise in February 2012. Excluding "distortions" caused by the timing of Easter in previous years, that's the ...
Tags: retail sector, retail, retail sales
The toy industry should shout louder about new product launches in order to reap greater rewards, says Gary Grant. The owner of the UK's biggest independent toy chain The Entertainer says it works more closely with suppliers and licensors ...
Tags: toy industry, toy chain, toy
Canton Fair has reached new attendance peak in 2012 No doubt, the Canton Fair with its ever expanding exhibition buildings and numbers of visitors is an impressive event. Yet the ever growing exhibition space and amount of suppliers makes a ...
Tags: Focus Vision, China, Canton Fair Visit, economy
The UK toy trade wants its annual awards ceremony overhauled. ToyNews received feedback from 30 toy firms, many of which called for better recognition for smaller brands, as well as a tweaked format and product reviews process. ...