Category: Events

ABC Kids Expo, the organizers of North America’s premier juvenile products gathering, just wrapped their 2023 show in Las Vegas, where thousands of new products from strollers to car seats to items you didn’t know you needed, but now after seeing them, can’t live without, were featured. The ABC Kids Expo team scoured the floor to find the top trends in the industry. “The innovation level of our industry is at an all time high,” said Aaron Pederson, President, All Baby & Child, ABC Kids Expo. “From the materials being used to new spins on classic products to tech forward solutions, we’re seeing companies, both big and small, really developing products that are going to be a huge asset to both parents and kids alike. It’s an exciting time in the industry and we can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Art licensing and design company The London Studio has announced that two US greeting card publishers the company represents have between them won four Louie awards – the prestigious awards given by the Greeting Card Association, the US trade association that serves the greeting card and social expressions industry. The 34th Louies, also known as the International Greeting Card Awards Competition, took place in San Francisco on 26 April. Fine Moments and Mossy Blue Paper, two admired US greeting card designers and publishers represented by The London Studio, received seven nominations and four wins at the Louie Awards.

Pet Partners, the nation’s leading organization in registering therapy animals for animal-assisted interventions, is proud to announce its ninth annual National Therapy Animal Day on April 30, 2023. National Therapy Animal Day was created by Pet Partners to recognize all of the exceptional therapy animals who partner with their human companions to bring comfort, joy, and healing to those in need. Therapy animals and their human partners help people of all ages in a variety of settings including hospitals, veterans’ facilities, schools, assisted living facilities, and after crisis events.

WonderFold, the original luxury stroller wagon brand, is thrilled to announce the launch of their first-ever rolling event, WagonThon! As the original luxury stroller wagon brand, Wonderfold is dedicated to inspiring families to get out and explore the world with ease and peace of mind. WagonThon registration is a seamless opportunity to bring our community together for a shared cause, with all proceeds going to children’s charities across the country.

Licensing International is proud to announce the full list of finalists for the prestigious 2023 Excellence Awards, dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements and innovation in the global brand licensing industry. The 2023 Excellence Awards feature 201 finalists in 30 categories. More than 850 submissions were reviewed by a panel that includes 200 judges from 20 countries. Several new categories were introduced this year, including the award for Most Impactful Service Provider, which honors companies that help the industry run more effectively, including accounting and law firms, brand protection and approval software companies, and design agencies. And the Best Sustainability Initiative award recognizes a licensed product or product range that is making measurable improvements in sustainability.

Crazy Aaron’s, the mastermind company behind the iconic, U.S.-manufactured Thinking Putty and Land of Dough, is going all out for its 25th anniversary! Fans have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of history by contributing small mementos such as pictures, artwork, or letters to a commemorative time capsule from now until May 10th. Selected contributions will be buried alongside Crazy Aaron’s own treasures at an exclusive event held at the historic Globe Knitting Mills building in Norristown, PA next month. The famous textile building will also be celebrating 125 years standing in 2023.

After initially debuting in Japan, a Nintendo Live event is coming to the U.S.! Nintendo Live 2023 is a new way to experience the games and worlds of Nintendo, with fun gameplay, live stage performances, exciting gaming tournaments, memorable photo ops and more. Held in Seattle in September, the in-person event will celebrate Nintendo’s unique entertainment on the Nintendo Switch system, inviting all members of the family to come together, play and have fun.

C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S. After two days of heated play, champions were crowned at the annual North America School Scrabble Championship, sponsored by Hasbro! Nathanael Campos, a 7th-grader from Ridgefield, CT, Walden Giezentanner, an 8th-grader from Webster Groves, MO, and Ruth Li, a 12th-grader from Toronto, Canada won the high-stakes competition hosted at the Planet Word Museum in Washington D.C.