GP Flair’s new plush collectible is proving a popular pocket money pick up.

Pikmi Pops has entered the NPD list of new properties at No. 4, also making its way into the list of Top 15 Products in Value having only launched on Boxing Day.

With Season 2 launching for Easter, GP Flair is also introducing the special confetti Pikmi Pops PushMi Ups.

In conjunction with Season 2, GP Flair will be enhancing its marketing activity with a 12-venue experiential tour for the brand. Taking the key USPs and brand values, GP Flair has created the ideal in-store activity to take on tour. Live time unboxing for budding online stars together with a fully branded ‘Pikmi up a Prize’ game will be part of the schedule for each event.

The tour will begin in mid-March, in time for the launch of the next wave of plush collectibles. The events will be publicised through social media and other channels, adding further to the brand’s activity since its launch. This has included lollipop stylised FSDUs, TV, digital takeovers and a dedicated PopJam channel that has attracted almost 20,000 followers in just four weeks. Pikmi Pops has also become popular with the girls press, with mini magazines, activity pages and branded covermounts already in the publishers’ schedules.

The Lincoln garden centre, which also stocks a range of toys, joined the buying group on Monday.

Pennells is one of the oldest garden companies in the country and is probably the oldest still in the same family ownership. The business was founded by a Richard Pennell in 1780, and today the company is run by the seventh and eighth generations Richard Pennell and his son William Pennell.

The address is as follows: Pennells Garden Centre Newark Road South Hykenham Lincoln LN6 9NT.

For more information, please contact Rachel Kirk by telephone on 01522 880 033, or email gifts@pennells.co.uk.

Alongside existing ranges, Tobar will launch new Wild series with colourful animal prints.

Tobar has been selected by Zuru as the exclusive distributor for Tangles in the UK. A classic in the toy world, having been first designed back in the 1980s by the sculptor and inventor Richard X Zawitz, Tangles are expected to increase in popularity this year. As such, Zuru will partner with Tobar to distribute the expanding range of fiddle-toys across the country.

Joining the Classic, Crazy and Metallic ranges, Tobar will launch the new Wild Series, with vibrant animal prints to mix and match. All Tangles can be taken apart and mixed up, so the more you get, the more combinations there are.

Tangles are made up from several turning pieces that can be bent and twisted into near endless configurations. On-trend and addictive, Tobar expects to see Tangles in playgrounds across the UK.

Finally, Zuru will launch a new series of television advertisements this year to introduce a new generation to all the fun that can be had with Tangles.

David Mordecai, CEO of Tobar, commented: “We pride ourselves in spotting the next big trends before they happen at Tobar, and with Tangles we know we’re onto a winner. Once you’ve picked one up, you’ll struggle to put it down. We’re extremely pleased to be working with Zuru this year as its sole UK distributor for such a fantastic and on-trend product.”

Will Collinson, sales and marketing manager at Zuru, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Tobar as our sole UK distributor. It’s set to be an exciting year for Tangles and we can’t wait to see our new fantastic Wild range launch.”

New ICTI Ethical Toy Programme website brings new content, features, and resources to members.

The website’s dynamic new design reflects the group’s refreshed Ethical Toy Programme branding and core purpose: delivering better lives for workers.

Available in both English and Chinese, the site is optimised to work across multiple platforms – ensuring a good user experience for companies, factories, and workers accessing the site on their tablets or mobile devices.

It’s also faster and easier to navigate, with a dedicated section for factories looking to start or renew certification, resource libraries to build factory knowledge and capability, and a new Ethical Toy Programme membership section for brands and retailers. Visitors will also find an introduction to ICTI’s worker well-being programmes, including its work in China to support migrant workers with left-behind children, and its project supporting women’s empowerment at toy factories in India – as well information on the free Helpline for factory workers.

Readers can view the new website here: www.ethicaltoyprogram.org

The new website is currently in its live and testing phase, and ICTI will continue to add more features and content in the coming months.

Mark Robertson,  SVP, communications & stakeholder engagement, commented: “The launch of our new website marks the final phase of our brand refresh, which sees us launching the next generation of our Ethical Toy Programme with an updated mission and strategy, a new membership model and a brand-new look and feel to deliver these exciting changes. We are very excited about these developments, and we look forward to working with you in 2018 and beyond. We hope you enjoy our new website and ask you to please share it with your colleagues and contacts via social media.”

Everything you need to know about the April issue of Toy World, and how you can get involved.

This issue will include category features on games & puzzles, pre-school toys, collectibles, and sports merchandise.

Regular features such as Talking Shop, Viewpoint, and Allegedly will also be included.

We will also be publishing a special supplement to celebrate the 10th anniversary of AIS’ plaY-room division, looking back on the buying group’s history and covering this year’s Independent Toy & Gift Show.

The deadline for editorial will be the 2nd March, and the deadline for adverts will be the 14th March.

For further information regarding editorial opportunities contact Rachael Simpson, deputy editor, rachael@toyworldmag.co.uk, or Casey Goodman, editorial assistant, casey@toyworldmag.co.uk.

To find out more about advertising opportunities, contact Mark Austin, mark@toyworldmag.co.uk.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Official Adrenalyn XL Trading Card Collection is now available. 

As fans from around the globe prepare for the world’s biggest football event, Panini has announced the launch of the long-awaited 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Adrenalyn XL Trading Card Collection.

Panini, a brand synonymous with football, will be launching the official Trading Card Collection to commemorate the event, which will kick off on Thursday 14th June and culminate in the final game on 15th July.

The exclusive trading card game, based on this exciting event, will include striking imagery and action shots of the world’s best footballers. Collectors will have the chance to get involved in the tournament with all the player images, statistics, bios and special info for the competing teams. Collectors can manage their virtual binder online using the codes on the backs of their cards, compete against other players and friends around the globe.

There are 468 cards to collect including categories such as Teams, Fans, Power Up, Rare and Extra Rare. Collectors can kick-start their collection with a starter pack which includes a collector’s album, 18 trading cards, a game board, magazine game guide and a limited edition card.

Starter Packs are priced at £5.99, with Trading Card Packets priced at £1.50.

The trading card collection will be backed by a multi-channel marketing campaign including TV advertising, an integrated digital campaign, cover-mount activity with Strike-It Magazine, press and web advertising, nationwide sampling and national and regional newspaper activity. The collection will also be backed by investment at retail across all key listings.

Nearly 75% of parents are worried imaginary games are waning in popularity as TVs and computer games take over play time.

The study also showed that a quarter of parents said their sons or daughters can be reluctant to play on their own and instantly turn to technology like smartphones or tablets to entertain them.

Jamie Dickinson, marketing manager at Playmobil, commented: “Imagination is such an important part of childhood, and something that as parents we all want to nurture in our children.

“However with the rise of technology there are now more options than ever for children when it comes to choosing how to spend playtime. It is sometimes hard for parents to get children to spend time away from the computer or TV screen and use their imagination to create their own world using toys like Playmobil, but it is a vital part of play.”

Dr Claire Halsey, clinical psychologist and child development and independent parenting expert, worked with Playmobil to investigate the results of the research.

Claire commented: “It’s important to remember that play is for fun. Play is the everyday ‘work’ of children and it is how they explore, learn and satisfy their own curiosity about their world. With so many positive areas of learning and development linked to play, it’s no surprise that it’s important for parents to ensure their child experiences a wide variety of play. Striking the right balance is key for children’s development in a multitude of ways, and parents play the central role in making good decisions.”