Disney Unveils New E-Commerce Initiative
Disney launched shopDisney, a new e-commerce destination offering an assortment of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel products for fans of all ages across fashion, accessories, toys, home, and more.
A new prototype Disney store design was also revealed and is being tested in select locations around the world.
The new product assortment at shopDisney.com is tailored for different audience demographics, from kids and families to millennials. New categories have also been added to round out the assortment including: Trend Fashion & Accessories, Toys, Home, Collectibles, and Parks. Longtime fans will find twice the amount of authentic Disney Parks merchandise and ‘Create Your Own’ customizable products as previously available.
Co-branded products and collaborations will be featured from brands such as Coach, Le Creuset, Spyder, Steiff, rag & bone, and more. New and exclusive capsule collections from fashion brands will regularly be introduced on the site’s shop-in-shop “The IT List”, launching with denim from SIWY featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse; and Disney Princess and Villain nail wraps from NCLA.
Disney stores around the world will also incorporate more product for guests of all ages, beyond their traditionally child-centric assortment. With a contemporary look and feel, The new prototype stores and site were designed with dynamic layouts that allow flexibility in featuring the different worlds of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel as new content comes to market. In store, digital elements such as giant LED screens were incorporated for custom-designed guest experiences that reflect Disney’s storytelling tradition.
Cast Members and Characters engage with guests in a variety of interactive experiences such as opening the store each day with a special Welcome Celebration, learning and play activities in the stores’ Play Room as well as personalized celebrations for any guest. Guests can also gather to watch the parade stream ‘LIVE from Disney Parks’ and every evening before store closing when a specially created digital fireworks display is shown on the giant storefront screen.
The new Disney store prototypes are now open in Century City, Calif. and Northridge, Calif. in the US as well as in Nagoya, Japan and Shanghai, China. Two more prototypes will open in 2017: in Miami, Fla. Sept. 28 and Munich, Germany later this year.
Luna Petunia Rolls Out in UK
Saban Brands, in partnership with Cirque du Soleil Media, announced its UK launch strategy for the first line of toys inspired by Luna Petunia from global master toy partner, Funrise Toys.
Kicking off the UK merchandise rollout this month, Smyths debuted Funrise Toys’ toy range unveiling the Luna Petunia playsets, figures, plush, dolls and roleplay items available both in-stores and online. Funrise will launch various marketing initiatives, from TV and in-cinema advertising to promotional campaigns with Tiny Pop, girl-targeted magazines, and activities with influential moms. Launches will follow with Amazon, Debenhams, Toymaster, Ken Black Toys, and independent retailers in October.
To drive awareness of the launch, Saban Brands has teamed up with YouTube influencer, Emily Tube, to showcase the toy range in a series of videos that went live September 8–11. Emily Tube has 4.25M subscribers on YouTube and highlighted key SKUs including the Luna Petunia Talking Doll, collectible figures, plush, Sparkle Gem Necklace and the Fabulosa Café playset. The unboxing video is currently set as the featured video on Emily Tube’s YouTube channel and can be viewed here:
New Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live Tour Announced
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE!, the musical production from The Fred Rogers Company and Mills Entertainment based on the PBS Kids preschool series hits the road again with King For A Day this fall.
In Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE! King For A Day, Daniel and his friends invite audiences to ride along as they embark on a musical adventure to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where Daniel learns what it really takes to be King: kindness. The series’ characters come alive on stage with new songs, moments, and surprise guests.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood from The Fred Rogers Company, which airs nationally on PBS Kids, follows the everyday adventures of four-year-old Daniel Tiger and uses musical strategies grounded in Fred Rogers’ social-emotional curriculum. Through imagination, creativity and music, Daniel and his friends learn key social skills for success in school and in life.
For a complete list of tour dates, ticket links, and more information, visit www.danieltigerlive.com.
ChiTAG Announces Preliminary Lineup, 2017 Theme
The 15th Annual Chicago Toy & Game Week (ChiTAG) will take place from November 16–19, featuring the Toy and Game Inventor of the Year (TAGIE) Awards, and the Young Inventor Challenge. The weeklong event brings together non-hobby toy and game brands, inventors, acquisition executives, retailers, and distributors in North America to play, celebrate, support, promote, and participate in the creation of toys and games.
The theme for ChiTAG 2017 is Play for Peace. In celebration of the theme, the fair will feature a large-scale, 3-D motorized sculpture with water elements created by Jeffrey Breslow, an inventor in the toy and games industry prior to becoming a sculptor.
ChiTAG will also host the 10th annual TAGIE Awards Gala on Friday, Nov. 17; the Young Inventor Challenge, offering kids ages 6–18 the opportunity to present their original toy and game concepts and inventions to industry professionals, members of the media, and the general public; and the Innovation Conferences, Nov. 16–17, which offer customized professional development and networking.