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Oct 1 2012
NRF’s 2012 Halloween Survey
A record 170 million Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, reports the National Retailer Federation. Each consumer is expected to spend $80 on holiday necessities, including costumes, candy and decoration. Total spending is expected to reach $8 billion. The survey found that more than 50 percent of shoppers will browse retail stores and websites for […]
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Sep 24 2012
Zodiak Kids Announces New Licensees
Zodiak Kids is teaming up with Just Play and Established Brands to create new products for the children’s brand. Just Play was appointed master toy licensee and will produce children’s toys for the new Nick Jr. pre-school show Tickety Tock. The toys will make their debut in October at the Dallas Toy Fair and will […]
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Sep 24 2012
J.C. Penney Teams Up with Disney
Specialized Disney merchandise, which was once only available in Disney stores and theme parks, will hit shelves at J.C. Penney just in time for next year’s back-to-school season. The products, which will include apparel, plush toys, footwear, sleepwear, costumes and backpacks, will be available in approximately 520 stores and on jcp.com. Children’s brands Carter’s and […]
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Sep 24 2012
Roald Dahl Goes Digital
The beloved classic stories by author Roald Dahl are now available as e-books. Puffin released the children’s books on September 13 to celebrate the late author’s 96th birthday. Titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, George’s Marvelous Medicine, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. The e-books […]
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Sep 24 2012
Walmart Announces Top Toys For Holiday
Last week the popular chain store released its list of the top 20 toys for this upcoming holiday season. Toys on the list include Furby, Monopoly Millionaires, Playskool Rocktivity Walk ‘N Roll Rider, Monster High High School Playset, Barbie Sister Cruise Ship, Hot Wheels Terrain Twister R/C Vehicle, Fisher-Price Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle Play Set […]
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Sep 24 2012
Kind + Jugend Sees Strong North American Attendance
International juvenile product fair, Kind + Jugend, reports more than 21,000 attendees from 103 countries during the Sept. 9 to 13 edition. The Cologne, Germany-based show featured 938 exhibitors from 46 countries and saw an uptick in overall international traffic. North American visitors were up 15.7 percent from last year. Exhibitors included 4Moms, Sara Kety […]
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Sep 24 2012
Amazon Leads Smartphone Hits
Web and mobile measurement firm comSource Inc. reports four of every five U.S. adult smartphone owners (85.9 million in total) used their phone to access retail content in July. Amazon was named the top retailer amongst smartphone users with an audience of 49.6 million unique monthly visitors. Apple, eBay, Wal-Mart and Target attracted a significant […]
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Sep 24 2012
Spending at Small Retailers Rose in August
Spending at small businesses rose 6.8 percent in August, beating July’s growth rate and outshining sales at retailers overall, according to a survey released last week by Mastercard and Wells Fargo & Co. The report defines small retailers as having annual sales of less than $35 million and fewer than 200 employees. Total retail sales, […]
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Sep 24 2012
Justice to Add Boys’ Clothing to More Stores After Successful Test Run
Tween Brands announced Wednesday that it will put its Brothers boys’ line in 20 more Justice stores before the holiday season. The line was first introduced online in 2010 and made its way onto store shelves earlier this year. The company did not say how many stores its initial test included but said stores with […]
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Sep 17 2012
Julius Jr. a TV Star
Last week Saban Brands announced that an animated television show based on the Paul Frank brand and characters is being developed in partnership with Brain Power Studio. “Julius Jr.” will officially premiere in October at MIP Junior and MarVista Entertainment is said to issue the series on international television channels. President of Saban Brands Elie […]
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Sep 17 2012
Toys “R” Us Creates Own Tablet
The popular toy store has teamed up with Google’s Android to create a kid-friendly tablet called Tabeo. The device is preloaded with such apps as Cut the Rope, Fruit Ninja, Angry Birds, Tiki Golf and Temple Run, and has its own app store to create a selection just for kids. “Over the past year, we’ve […]
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Sep 17 2012
September is Baby Safety Month
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is sponsoring September’s Baby Safety Month. The annual campaign includes information for parents about safely selecting second hand and heirloom goods on a special microsite, www.babysafetymonth.org and a special section just for retailers with ideas and helpful hints for promoting Baby Safety Month in-store.
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Sep 17 2012
JPMA Awards Scholarships
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association awarded $10,000 in scholarships to five high school graduates for the 2012-2013 academic year. Recipients of the $2,000 scholarships were children of JPMA member company employees. Since the scholarship program began in 1995, JPMA has awarded more than $200,000 to 105 students.
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Sep 17 2012
American Eagle Sets Special Dividend
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. said Wednesday that its board declared a special cash dividend of $1.50 and a regular quarterly dividend of 11 cents. The Pittsburgh-based retailer said the total cash dividend of $1.61 will be paid on October 10 to shareholders of record as of September 26. American Eagle said the dividends are part […]
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Sep 17 2012
Abercrombie Hires Goldman Sachs
Reuters and CNBC reported Wednesday that Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in the wake of pressure from activist investor Relational Investors. The source would not specify the nature of the pressure or name the investors.
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Sep 10 2012
Hasbro Signs New Licensing Partners
Last week the game company announced new licensors in various countries for brands such as My Little Pony, Transformers, Littlest Pet Shop, G.I. Joe and Nerf. Licensed products will begin their debut this fall season continuing into next year. U.S. licensing partners for Hasbro include: apparel from Goodie Two Sleeves featuring Littlest Pet Shop, Monopoly, […]
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Sep 10 2012
Nickelodeon Characters Stage Comeback with Jazwares
Jazwares has partnered with Nickelodeon to create plushes and figures from such classic cartoons as “Rugrats,” “T.U.F.F. Puppy,” “Rocko’s Modern Life,” “Hey Arnold!,” “Jimmy Neutron” and “Ren and Stimpy.” The line will feature six- and four-packs of 2-inch figures, individual six-inch and two-inch figures and a seven-inch plush. “Nicktoons is a brand enjoyed across generations, […]
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Sep 10 2012
Stella McCartney Joins Sanrio
Sanrio is partnering with the British designer to put together a Stella McCartney Kids collection for this fall/winter season. This exclusive capsule collection, which is geared towards girls from newborn to 14 years old, will feature the Little Miss Stella character and can be found online at the designer’s website as well as at stores […]
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Sep 10 2012
Ralph Lauren Hosts Fall Girls Runway Show
On Wednesday, September 5, Ralph Lauren kicked off fashion week with the Ralph Lauren Girls Fashion Show. The show featured fall and holiday fashion looks, including bright prep school-inspired classics, fairisle motifs, plaids, blazers and sophisticated outerwear. The holiday collection was all dressed up in silks and satins, including a standout look where a model, […]
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Sep 10 2012
Elyse Kroll Leaving ENK
Elyse Kroll is said to be stepping down from her position as chairman of ENK International. Before founding ENK Productions Ltd. in 1982, she was the head of public relations at men’s wear show The Collective, which she eventually grew into ENK International that now includes Intermezzo Collections, Children’s Club, Fashion Coterie, TMRW, Accessorie Circuit, […]