TTPM, the leader in video product reviews for toys, baby, and pet gear, is excited to announce their Spring 2023 Most Wanted List. The Spring list highlights toys they believe will be fan-favorites across three categories: Imaginative Play, Collectibles, and Creative Play. “Innovation in creative and imaginative toys are at an all-time high. We’re seeing an increase in on-screen characters coming off-screen and encouraging play in new ways,” said Jim Silver, CEO of TTPM. “Spring is the perfect time to put down the screens and play. This list will help guide parents and gift givers to find the toys that are right for their kids. It’s the ultimate spring shopping list for kids of all ages.”
Fanhome, the leader in subscription-based collections and models, under license from global branded entertainment leader Hasbro, brings the action-packed world of Transformers home to fans across North America this summer with the launch of the Transformers Optimus Prime subscription. This is the ultimate screen accurate replica of the iconic Autobot leader as he appeared in the 2007’s Transformers that kicked off the live action film franchise. Standing nearly 2 feet tall and composed of meticulously detailed metal and ABS plastic parts, Optimus Prime will be the centerpiece of a collection with features such as light-up effects and full articulation for maximum posability. A fresh shipment from Fanhome brings the Optimus Prime figure to life each month with components for a specific part of the build, along with step-by-step instructions and all the necessary tools for assembly. (Note: This Autobot figure does not transform.)
Kingsmen Creatives Limited (“Kingsmen”), a leading creator of experiences, announced that Kingsmen Xperience, Inc (“Kingsmen Xperience”), its United States location-based entertainment focused subsidiary, and Good Vibrations Holding Co, LLC (“Good Vibrations”), an operator of family oriented destination attractions headed by Robin Turner, one of the co-founders of the highly successful WonderWorks chain of tourism driven attractions, have formed a strategic partnership for branded location based entertainment in North America.
The Insights Family – the global leader in kids, teens, parents, and family market intelligence – has been named as the number one most innovative marketing technology creator in the UK in the coveted and competitive 2023 MarTech 50 awards. The Manchester based MarTech company, which works with more than 120 clients and operates in 22 markets across 6 continents working with clients such as Amazon, BBC, Hasbro, LEGO, and Warner Media was voted as the MarTech company of the year for 2023. This is a much-improved ranking after receiving 4th place and number one outside of London in 2022 but has risen impressively to top spot in 2023. Judges are impressed by the companies’ continued growth, and how their new mission and strategy is providing actionable insight to a broad range of marketing functions across a wide range of markets.
Who, where, and with what? Clue’s famous “rule of three” goes digiTal with a social media experience for fans unlike anything seen before! To celebrate the recent launch of the reimagined Clue board game, Hasbro, Inc, a global branded entertainment leader, launcHed a month-long Clue…
Licensing Expo, the world’s largest and most influential annual event dedicated to licensing and brand extension, has announced that registration is live for this year’s show, taking place on June 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Organized by Informa Markets and sponsored by Licensing International, Licensing Expo brings together thousands of leading retailers and manufacturers to discover the widest range of brands available for license globally. The 2023 event will highlight Fashion as its core theme, spotlighting the creativity and innovation in the space and the opportunities it heralds for the wider licensing industry. As the largest licensed product category worldwide, 2021 retail sales of licensed merchandise within fashion apparel, accessories and footwear reached c.$90 billion, according to Licensing International’s 2022 Global Licensing Industry Study.
Mainframe Studios is celebrating 30-years of making life more animated. The industry pioneer has grown into a global powerhouse of animation, producing both premium original content and world-class shows for many of the industry’s biggest names, including Mattel, Sony Pictures, Spin Master, Hasbro, DreamWorks, Netflix and YouTube. “With our 30-year track record of Mainframe Studios producing some of the most iconic animated properties, we approach every day like a startup – challenging ourselves to deliver new and exciting creative innovation to every project we undertake,” says Michael Hefferon, President/Chief Creative Officer at Mainframe Studios.
YuMe Toys’ growth and success continues with the appointment of Carson Murray as VP for North America. Carson will be based out of the YuMe office in Toronto, covering the North American region. –Carson joins YuMe from Funko, where he spent the last five years of his career, most recently as the Country Head for Canada. Among his many successes, Carson points to securing a nationwide placement, in almost every retailer and retail channel, in the Canadian market, as one of the key achievements of his success.
Licensing International, the leading trade association for the $315+ billion global brand licensing industry, announced that the recently formed Licensing International Sustainability Committee will launch a webinar series slated to run through 2023. The series will share sustainability best practices and drive forward goals to reduce the corporate carbon footprint and implement Environmental, Social, and Governance guidelines. The first webinar of the series will take place February, 22 2023 at 12:00pm EST. Marco Reyes, Senior Director of Sustainability at Walmart, and Michelle McLaughlin, Chair of the Licensing International Sustainability Committee and CEO of Brand Activation Consulting, will discuss the ways Walmart is accelerating social and environmental sustainability in its supply chains. Additionally, Reyes will provide insight into the retail giant’s strategy to develop and implement integrated category roadmaps and address the most critical hot spots across prioritized categories.
