PlayMonster is proud to announce that Sakita Withers has won a 2022 Wonder Woman Award in the Rising Star, Marketing/PR category. This is one of the most prestigious awards for women in the toy industry, and PlayMonster could not be more proud to have one of their own recognized in this way!
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind the iconic Sesame Street, has named Just Play, a globally recognized leader in preschool toys, as its multi-territory master toy licensee for North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Under this multi-year partnership, Just Play will manufacture and market an expansive array of products featuring beloved Sesame Street characters including Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby. The company will also support Sesame Workshop’s mission to help kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder.
A recent study indicates that the toy industry has dramatically improved the play value of their products over the last 10 years, highlighted opportunities for improvement both overall and in specific toy categories, and probed parents’ experiences with holiday supply chain issues. Titled “US Toy Industry Play Value Report Card: After the Toys Come Home”, the survey was fielded by play expert and founder of Funosophy, Nancy Zwiers, and the Michael Cohen Group, a prominent New York-based research firm. The Michael Cohen Group also conducted the original 2011 study of the same name. Respondents to both studies include a statistically valid, nationally representative sample of parents of children between the ages of two and six years old. Participants were asked to share their thoughts on the amount of time their children played with different types of toys in the two weeks following Christmas.
Mondo TV, one of the largest European producers and distributors of animated content, has been appointed as licensing agent in Italy for the character brand and international phenomenon Gorjuss by brand owner Santoro Licensing.
Preschoolers across the U.S. and Canada can now “unwrap” a world of surprise and adventure as toys inspired by the hit series Pikwik Pack launch today at mass retailers Walmart, Target and Amazon. Produced by animation powerhouse Guru Studio, Pikwik Pack follows four adorable animal friends as they work together to deliver magical surprises to the kind citizens of their bustling town.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) has revealed a partnership with European based toy innovation company Wow! Stuff, to launch “the first kid creator movie making toys brand, MovieMates”.” The announcement was made by JAKKS SVP of Marketing, Craig Drobis.
Founded by tech innovator and visionary entrepreneur Terri-Nichelle Bradley, Brown Toy Box is on a mission to inspire children from all backgrounds that they can be successful in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) careers. After participating in the ESEA conference this month, Brown Toy Box announced a new partnership with education nonprofit DonorsChoose. Brown Toy Box also announced that the company plans to expand its in-school educational offering with the goal of reaching 100,000 students in 2022. Brown Toy Box fosters inspiration in Black and Brown children so that they can see themselves pursuing STEAM career pathways.
Moose Toys, a leading innovator in the toy industry with a reputation for creating new trends, looks to extend its on-trend track record with imaginative offerings across a range of new and established categories for 2022. Following record-breaking holiday sales of Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, which was No. 1 in Special Features Plush in December and the Fall season[1] and recently the recipient of Creative Toy of the Year award from the Toy Association, Moose will introduce even more magic to the market with Magic Mixies Mixlings. Under its new Moose Games portfolio, the toymaker is adding a spate of games designed for all ages and boasting new game play patterns. High-profile licensing partnerships will round out Moose’s 2022 growth strategy, as it leans heavily into the preschool space as the new master global toy partner for the “Octonauts” relaunch. Also in preschool, imaginative new product development is underway to meet the growing global popularity of “Bluey.”
Moose Toys, a leading innovator in the toy industry, won Creative Toy of the Year for its global sales sensation, Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron, at The Toy Association’s 22nd annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) virtual awards gala.