Day: September 12, 2023

The 14th Annual Blue Plate Media Lounge, at New York Toy Fair, sponsored by Blue Plate Media Services, in association with Toy Association, will be available free to all Toy Association exhibitors and Show attendees, on Monday, October 2nd, Room 1D05, at New York Toy Fair. This highly anticipated educational lounge, commemorating its consecutive 14th Year, will provide a series of timely, informative Media Intelligence Sessions in Room 1D05, lower level Javits, from 9AM – 4PM.

Hasbro, Inc, a leading toy and game company, has announced the Hasbro Women Innovators of Play Challenge, which is open September 12 to October 12. Hasbro is searching for the next great woman-led mass market toy or game; submitted ideas will be judged on innovation, fun factor and playability, design and aesthetics, mass marketability, and manufacturability. Those who submit toys or games to the Challenge must either be an individual who identifies as a woman or leads a team (maximum of five people) and identify as a woman. “We were blown away by the support and excitement for Hasbro’s Women Innovators of Play event – and now Hasbro is taking this initiative to the next level with our Challenge, which is open to women across 11 countries,” said Tanya Thompson, Senior Director, Inventor Relations and Innovation at Hasbro. “We know that incredible women innovators are out there and can’t wait to see the submitted toys and games.”

TOMY International was recently recognized by the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) for two of their new 2023 lines, Bebé Fuerte and Build-A-Buddy. As one of the longest running award programs in the country, NAPPA is recognized as a reliable source of information for parents and professionals seeking the best products for their children and families. Bebé Fuerte, which launched earlier this month at Walmart and independent toy stores, was created and designed by Robin Arzón, VP of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor at Peloton. Designed from a fresh, colorful palette inspired by Arzón’s Cuban-Puerto Rican roots, and the rich heritage of LatinX culture, the line features Spanish words and phrases and is presented in bilingual packaging. Build-A-Buddy, which launched with a single John Deere Tractor over 6 years ago, has been expanded in 2023 to include five items in the line from multiple licenses including, John Deere, Batman and Transformers. Nearly all items have received STEAM Accreditation by the Toy Association, in conjunction with Dr. Gummer’s Good Play Guide in the Technology and Engineering categories.