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Jul 2 2012
Disney Announces Top Gifts for Holiday
Disney Consumer Products revealed its annual Top 10 list of gifts for the holiday season last week in New York, NY. The toys will begin arriving in U.S. stores in July. Some of the products coincide with re-releases, including the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray of Cinderella in October, and new releases, such as Spider-Man and Brave, […]
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Jul 2 2012
Gameloft to Launch Apps for Popular Hasbro Girls’ Brands
The Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Pony will have their own mobile games for smartphones and iOS and Android tablets at the end of this year. Mark Blecher, SVP of digital media and marketing at Hasbro, calls the French app developer a key player in their efforts to reach a global audience. “Creating highly […]
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Jul 2 2012
Abercrombie and Fitch Announces More U.S. Store Closures
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. plans to close 180 U.S. stores over the next few years in a bid to improve its financial performance. The chain has already closed 135 underperforming U.S. stores over the past two years. The closures will primarily be among its namesake and kids’ brands.
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Jul 2 2012
Children’s Pajamas Recalled by Ishtex Textile Products Due to Violations of Federal Flammability Standard
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Ishtex Textile Products Inc. of Duluth, GA, has announced a voluntary recall of the brand’s line of Gabiano pajamas, sets and gowns for boys and girls. The recall affects an estimated 6,000 units, sold from February 2010 to December 2011. While no injuries have been reported, […]
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Jun 22 2012
Reading Rainbow? There’s An App For That.
The popular PBS children’s series, which was on the air for more than 20 years, is now an app, exclusively for the iPad, that gives children hundreds of options of curated books and new videos from publishers including Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Charlesbridge Publishing, Kane Press and Peachtree Publishers. The app is meant […]
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Jun 22 2012
Goodnight Moon and Raggedy Ann & Andy Join Wildflower Group
HarperCollins Children’s Books’ Goodnight Moon and Simon & Schuster’s Raggedy Ann & Andy are signing with the firm under multi-year agreements. The Wildflower Group has licensing rights to all categories for Goodnight Moon except for electronics, and all categories for Raggedy Ann & Andy excluding ragdolls. The firm hopes to build on these two well-known […]
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Jun 22 2012
VeggieTales Turns 20
As everyone’s favorite vegetables celebrate their two-decade anniversary, the Big Idea Entertainment brand has made new licensing deals, including game apps from Thruster and Weeblets, book apps from ScollMotion, online and phone greetings from ReelCards and GreetLink, book apps from Rukus Media Group, novelty format books from Ideals Publications and stickers from StickerYou. The company […]
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Jun 22 2012
The Jungle Book in 3D
A new 3D adventure based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book is in the works at DQ Entertainment Ireland. This is the company’s first film for its recently announced feature film division, which has already lined up projects for the coming years. The film’s targeted release date is for 2014. “By leading off our slate […]
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Jun 22 2012
Car Seat Retailers Giving Poor Advice and Failing to Fit Seats Correctly
Undercover research by British consumer group Which? has found that parents seeking advice on car seats are being failed by retailers giving out misleading information and installing seats incorrectly. Babies “R” Us scored worst in the exercise. In seven visits by researchers to the store, the reporters said the seat was fitted correctly only once. […]
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Jun 22 2012
Children’s Place Retail Stores COO Eric Bauer Steps Down
Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. announced on Wednesday that Chief Operating Officer Eric Bauer has left the company. He had held the position since May 2011. President and Chief Executive Jane Elfers will now oversee the company’s supply chain, store operations, finance, information technology and real estate functions.
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Jun 22 2012
J.C. Penney’s Reworking Marketing Strategy
Last week J.C. Penney’s president Michael Francis stepped down. The company’s CEO Ron Johnson said he will not be looking for a replacement and will be taking full responsibility of improving the company’s marketing efforts for its new low pricing strategy. J.C. Penney’s stock tumbled the day after the department chain announced Francis’ abrupt exit.
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Jun 22 2012
Pittsburgh’s Babyland Closes
After 61 years, Hillary and Mark Carrozza, owners of Babyland and Kidsroom in Pittsburgh, P.A., have closed their business. The store, which was first opened by Hillary’s father in 1951, has stood in the same location since opening day.
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Jun 18 2012
Angry Birds Wins Big at LIMA
The gaming app took away three awards at the Licensing Excellence Awards during the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, NV, last week, including a win for Best Licensed Program and for Best Character or Toy Brand Program. The In Thing also announced last week that they will be creating a new range of products for […]
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Jun 18 2012
Licensing Deals for Strawberry Shortcake
American Greetings Properties has announced several new licensing partners for the lovable Strawberry Shortcake. Koba Entertainment will create a new show that is set to tour the U.S. and Canada beginning in January; Newco will produce furniture based off of the character; Penguin will expand to include e-books; and Fruit of the Loom will develop […]
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Jun 18 2012
Fancy Nancy Teams Up with Established Brands
The HarperCollins Children’s Books series, a New York Times bestseller, is partnering with Established Brands as it expands on Fancy Nancy products. The company will create numerous products celebrating the children’s book series, including stationery, toys, bedding, accessories and apparel. Bob Traub, president of Established Brands, is excited to work with HarperCollins on Fancy Nancy, […]
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Jun 18 2012
GUND to Make Pretty Ugly Plush
GUND has partnered with Pretty Ugly LLC to produce plush characters based on the UGLYDOLL brand, which was launched in January 2001 as a line that balances cuteness with observed unattractiveness. The plush dolls will be available this summer to current and new retail customers worldwide. GUND President Bruce Raiffe is excited at the opportunity. […]
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Jun 18 2012
Big Box Shoppers Believe Their Feedback Doesn’t Matter
A Consumer Insights Panel survey has found that only two in five big box consumers believe that retailers value their input. The results of the report, conducted by customer experience management solution provider Empathica Inc. and released on Thursday, found that 85 percent of the 6,500 consumers surveyed have provided some form of feedback to […]
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Jun 18 2012
Strollers Recalled by Kolcraft
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Chicago-based Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of the Kolcraft Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers. The recall affects about 36,000 units in the U.S. and 270 in Canada. Kolcraft and the CPSC have received five reports of injuries involving the hinge mechanism, including […]
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Jun 11 2012
Sanrio Expands Licensing Team
Sanrio is expanding their licensing team by bringing Laure Takaragawa on board for hard lines. Linh Forse is promoted to co-direct the division and handle soft lines. More management changes are expected to come in the next few weeks.
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Jun 11 2012
Sponsored Video
Sears Canada will launch a new baby-focused area in 55 stores. The area, which will be located near the Kids Room section, is set to offer new and expecting parents nursery, travel, activity, feeding and gifting items for baby. The Canadian retailer debuted the new area at an event in its Toronto Eaton Centre store […]
The No. 1 Magazine for Childrenswear Professionals
The No. 1 Magazine for Childrenswear Professionals
