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Oct 15 2012
Marsh Mellow Names Penguin As Global Publisher
MGL’s Marsh Mellow is about to go global with Penguin Children’s as its digital, film, television, toy and gaming licensing partner. Apparel, household products, accessories, back to school items, apps and books are in development for the pre-school art brand. Pre-school apps will be the first to debut in 2013 under Ladybird, immediately followed by […]
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Oct 15 2012
Star Wars Gets Angry
Lucasfilm and creators of Angry Birds, Rovio Entertainment, have partnered to develop an Angry Birds’ game based on the hit movie series. Launching November 8 for Android, Kindle Fire, iOS, Mac, PC Windows Phone and Windows 8, the “Angry Birds Star Wars” app will showcase Star Wars stories and lands, including the planet Tatooine as […]
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Oct 15 2012
Carter’s Relocates 200 Jobs
Carter’s Inc. is moving 200 employees to the company’s Atlanta headquarters in order to consolidate retail and financial operations currently based in Connecticut. The move is expected to be completed by the end of 2013 and will cost between $35 million and $40 million.
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Oct 15 2012
JPMA Goes to D.C.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association opened an office in Washington, D.C. Managing Director of Public and Government Affairs Julie Vallese and Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Mark Fellin will lead the D.C. branch of the Philadelphia-based trade association. In a press release, the organization says the new office will help the children’s industry have […]
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Oct 15 2012
Toys R Us Pops Up at Macy’s
Just in time for the holiday rush, Toys R Us will open pop-up shops in 24 Macy’s stores across the country. The 1,500-square-foot stores open today and will remain open until Jan. 15. The shops will be stocked with must-have items of the season, as well as dolls, action figures, puzzles and more.
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Oct 15 2012
Halloween Spending Expected to Total $8 Billion
According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 71.5 percent of U.S. will celebrate Halloween this year, up from 68.6 percent last year and a record number for the holiday. Spending is also expected to increase, with consumers reporting they will hand over an average of $79.82 for decorations, costumes and candy, up from the […]
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Oct 15 2012
Graco Recalls Classic Wood Highchairs
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Graco Children’s Products Inc. of Atlanta, GA, issued a voluntary recall of its Classic Wood Highchairs due to fall hazard. Graco has received 58 reports of the highchairs’ seats loosening or detaching from the base and there have been nine reports of children falling as the […]
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Oct 8 2012
Angry Birds Teams Up with K’Nex
Kids can now hurl Angry Birds at K’Nex structures they built themselves. Early next year, Tomy will introduce an Angry Birds inspired K’Nex construction collection. Based off of the popular app, children can construct structures, complete with green pig, and then knock them down with the Angry Birds character. Each set features a buildable launcher […]
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Oct 8 2012
New Showrooms Open for Fashion Angels
Fashion Angels is adding a 600-square-foot showroom in Hong Kong and a 1,100-square-foot showroom in Los Angeles to its other three showrooms in Atlanta, Dallas and Milwaukee, where the brand’s headquarters are located. The girls’ arts and crafts brand, which started in 1996, now includes an eco-friendly line, design and craft kits, and licensed collections […]
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Oct 8 2012
Babies “R” Us Sells Project Runway Designs
The outfits designed by Project Runway designers Christopher Palu and Sonji Williams are now available in Babies “R” Us stores in Heidi Klum’s line Truly Scrumptious. The girls’ look includes a blue dress with light green appliqués, complete with matching jacket. For the boys’, the design is a two-piece set tailored to look like a […]
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Oct 8 2012
Happy Socks’ Fall Collection Kicks Off at Lester’s
On Sunday, September 23, Lester’s held an event to celebrate the Happy Socks’ Fall ’12 collection. DJ Fulano Librizzi spun tunes to entertain the shoppers, staff handed out Baked by Melissa cupcakes, and customers received a goody bag with each Happy Socks purchase and a free pair of the brand’s socks with any in-store purchase. […]
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Oct 8 2012
Retailers say sales slowed in September
Americans slowed down their spending in September as they took a pause from August’s back-to-school buying, according to monthly reports from major retailers released Thursday. Sales at stores open at least a year crawled up by less than 1 percent from September 2011, according to the 19 retailers tracked by Thomson Reuters – just half […]
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Oct 8 2012
Target to put QR codes on holiday toys
Target will introduce QR codes in stores in time for the upcoming holiday season. Rolling out Oct. 14, each of the chain’s Top 20 toys will have a QR code that shoppers can scan using the Target mobile app, allowing them to purchase the toy directly and ship it for free anywhere in the U.S. […]
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Oct 1 2012
Rugged Bear Teams Up With Bear Trust
Rugged Bear, a favorite children’s outerwear brand, is partnering with the non-profit organization, Bear Trust International, to educate children in grades K-12 about environmental literacy and conservation issues associated with bears through the subjects of math and science. “We found an organization that would combine our interest in benefiting children and somehow incorporate the essence […]
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Oct 1 2012
The Hive Is A-Buzz on Disney Junior
Disney acquired the rights to The Hive television show for cable and satellite in all countries except Australia and Israel. Agent Space Enterprises has also said that plush, toys and LeapPad and iPad apps are on their way as well. “The Disney US deal once again spotlights the series’ charm and appeal for young children,” […]
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Oct 1 2012
JLG Adds More Eric Carle Products
The Joester Loria Group is adding to the collection of products based off of The World of Eric Carle, found at select retailers. Target’s See Spot Save program expanded their selection with tote bags and stationery from Innovative Deigns, Zak Designs’ containers and feeding utensils and PS Brands socks. Infant development products from Kids Preferred […]
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Oct 1 2012
Disney Partners With Alyss Toys
Orb Factory’s Sticky Mosiacs collection will now feature characters from popular Disney films including Cinderella, Ariel, Tinkerbell and Snow White. The new characters will appear on the Original Sticky Mosiacs and the Mini Sticky Mosiacs as well as the Jewelry Box Collection. “Sticky Mosiacs is Alyss Toys’ most successful brand. We have already achieved widespread […]
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Oct 1 2012
Uniqlo Unveils U.S. Mall Prototype
Uniqlo unveiled its largest mall store in the world on Friday in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, NJ. The two-level, 43,000-square-foot store will serve as the prototype for the Japanese retailer’s U.S mall expansion. The new store joins the company’s three other U.S. locations, all of which are in Manhattan. A fifth U.S. store […]
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Oct 1 2012
H&M Delays U.S. E-commerce
On the heels of announcing lower than expected third-quarter earnings, H&M will delay the launch of the online retail sales in the U.S. until next summer. The Swedish company said building the site and adapting to the U.S. market is taking longer than expected.
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Oct 1 2012
Build-A-Bear Goes Hi-Tech
Build-A-Bear Workshop stores are reaching out to tech-savvy kids with new in-store interactive features. Eight technology stations will be integrated into store plans, including large screens so customers can play games by waving their hands in front of them. The store will begin airing nationwide commercials to promote the redesign next month.