Magali Clouzet and Joanna Richards take on new responsibilities as brand managers.

L-R: Joanna and Magali.

GP Flair is strengthening its marketing team with the promotion of two key members.

Joanna Richards has been instrumental to the success of Flair’s Just Play Division, bringing to market highly successful brands such as PJ Masks and, most recently, Hairdorables. Joanna will extend her brand responsibilities in the Just Play portfolio.

Magali Clouzet, who thrived in her previous product manager role, will build on her experience in product development and managing high profile brands such as Pikmi Pops, taking increased responsibilities in the Girls and Arts & Craft categories.

Emmanuelle Cadet, head of marketing, GP Flair, commented: “I am delighted to announce these new positions for Joanna and Magali. Their experience and enthusiasm for their roles are essential to the team and will be asset to Flair and Just Play for the years to come.”

Over 200 entries were received, and each one was judged by bloggers from all over the UK.

The Kids@Play Harry Potter Real Talking Sorting Hat won the Blogger’s Choice Award at this year’s event.

The BlogOn Toys Christmas Event, which took place on 16th September at Hotel Football in Manchester, saw the voting and winners announced of the 2nd BlogOn Toy Awards.

The BlogOn Toy Awards are made up of 15 categories, plus a Blogger’s Choice Award which is given to the toy with the most votes overall.

Laura Seaton, BlogOn founder, commented: “We have been amazed by the huge number of entries and want to say a big thank you to all the toy companies who took part. Our attendees thoroughly enjoyed the judging process and selecting their favourites and in turn make the definitive list of top toys for Christmas 2018 as chosen by parent bloggers/influencers. We can now say without doubt that following another successful Toy Awards it will certainly return next year.”

Laura added: “Our first dedicated event for toys has been a real success, and we hope it will now become a must-attend event for both bloggers and toy brands.”

The winners are as follows:

Adult

1st: Scrawl – Big Potato Games
2nd: Gutterhead – Gutterhead games
3rd: Sh*t Happens – Cheatwell Games

Baby/toddler toys

1st: Kullerbü – Play Track City Stroll – Haba
2nd: Baby Unicorn – Clementoni
3rd: Playmobil 9118 1.2.3 Pirate Ship – Playmobil

Collectibles

1st: Hatchimals Colleggtibles Season 3 – Spin Master
2nd: Untamed T-Rex – Wow Wee
3rd: Icon Lights – Paladone

Construction toys

1st: GraviTrax Starter Set – Ravensburger
2nd: Engino STEM Heroes Greenhouse Set – Re:creation
3rd: Geomag Confetti – 88 pieces – Geomag

Creative

1st: Kinetic Sand Beach Sand Kingdom – Spin Master
2nd: Paint Sticks – Little Brian
3rd: Kumi Kreator – Spin Master

Educational toys

1st: 2 in 1 Globe Earth & Constellations – Brainstorm
2nd: Tobbie the Self-Guiding AI Robot – MenKind
3rd: Pepper Mint: Great Treehouse Adventure – Thames & Kosmos

Family games

1st: Colourbrain – Big Potato Games
2nd: What a Performance! – Orchard Toys
3rd: Kersplatt! – Paul Lamond

Imagination toys

1st: Playmobil 9060 Aquarium – Playmobil
2nd: Fairy Light Garden – Interplay
3rd: Dream Tents – Re:creation

Interactive/tech toys

1st: Clementoni Science Museum Robomaker – Clementoni
2nd: Smart Globe Adventure AR – Oregon Scientific
Joint 3rd: Boxer – Spin Master
Joint 3rd: Robo Alive Dino – Zuru

Licensed toys

1st: Harry Potter Real Talking Sorting Hat – Kids@Play
2nd: Children’s Range Rover Evoque Ride On Car Toy – ToyStar
3rd: Playmobil 9225 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Playmobil

Outdoor toys

1st: Light up unicorn scooter – H Grossman
2nd: Tonka Steel Mighty Dump Truck – Funrise
Joint 3rd: Colour In Skateboard – Wilton Bradley
Joint 3rd: Discovery Young Explorer Kit – Trends UK

Plush/dolls

1st: Fingerlings Hugs – Wow Wee
2nd: Talking Peter Rabbit Movie Soft Toy – Rainbow Designs
3rd: Fuggler – Spin Master

Puzzles

1st: World Map – Orchard Toys
2nd: Addict a Ball – Brainstorm
3rd: Escape Room – Paladone

RC toys

1st: Hexbug Robot Wars Arena – Hexbug
2nd: Teksta 360 – Character Online
3rd: Air Hogs Thunder Trax – Spin Master

Wooden toys

1st: Brio Smart Tech Engine Set with Action Tunnels – Brio
2nd: Little Friends collection – Haba
3rd: Designafriend Boutique Playset – DesignaFriend

Blogger’s Choice Award – Harry Potter Real Talking Sorting Hat – Kids@Play

In a first for the company, Accentuate Games has licensed a title from a new designer in a bid to strengthen its portfolio on a global scale.

Strategic card game, Rats to Riches, is the first creation from Singaporean student Eugene Lim. Based on the financial ‘Rat Race’, Eugene has developed the game and put it through rigorous playtesting whilst studying Management at The University of Manchester.

Rats to Riches casts every player as a filthy, scheming rat. They all race to collect 100 coins and work their way to a better class of sewer, by investing in assets, hiring gangsters and – of course – stealing whatever they can.

The euro-style strategy game will be showcased on Accentuate Games’ stand at London Toy Fair in January and will be available at UK retail from March 2019. The company will also leverage existing relationships in the US and Europe to deliver the game to a global audience, as it has done with its first two creations – Accentuate and Frenetic.

Accentuate’s CEO Graeme Fraser-Bell commented: “We’re pleased with the success of Accentuate and Frenetic, which have given us presence in the ‘Party Game’ and ‘Word Game’ spaces. However, we knew there was a gap in our portfolio for something more strategic and we were keen to explore expansion by tapping into games design talent beyond our own. Over the last year, we’ve met with many promising young designers but Rats to Riches leapt out at us as the perfect fit.”

Accentuate Games is currently working with its trusted PR, creative and design partners to hone the game-play and create a robust identity for the game before its debut at Toy Fair.

Trade enquiries: Fiona Fraser-Bell, Accentuate Games Ltd, fiona@accentuategames.com, 07748 184 525.

The senior buying manager is heading to Warner Bros.

Garry Lawford is set to leave Tesco on the 2nd October for a role at Warner Bros, after nearly six years working for the retailer as a senior toy buying manager.

John Hext, category manager, Toys & Nursery, commented: “While we’re sorry to be losing Garry, we are of course very pleased that he has been given this opportunity and we’re sure he’ll be a big success in his new role.”

John was also to share some changes that Garry’s departure has created within the toy buying team.

Ongoing, Claire Urquhart-Deane will be senior buying manager for outdoor toys, pre-school toys and nursery, while Ladislav Gajdos will become senior buying manager for girls, boys, construction and games.

John added: “Claire played a lead role in the relaunch of our Carousel brand which has been a huge success, and I know she will continue the great work Ladi and the team have done on outdoor toys. Ladi has a wealth of toy experience across UK and CE, which he will bring to his new role along with his usual passion and enthusiasm.”

A 3-in-1 activity centre, the unicorn helps teach ABCs, colours, numbers, animal names and noises. 

Adding to the Baby Clementoni portfolio, and strengthening the unicorn trend following the launch of the Baby Clementoni Unicorn plush early this summer, Clementoni has launched its new Baby Clementoni Interactive Ride On Unicorn.

Offering a whole range of play possibilities, the Unicorn is a 3-in-1 activity centre. The electronic mane makes it educational by teaching children their ABCs, numbers, colours, animal names and noises and much more, all with cheerful rhymes and songs in both English and Spanish.

The Unicorn also senses movement, activating realistic sounds and melodies when the child rocks and rides.

Spin Master’s first takeover of Board Game Club created instant favourites on 19th September.

Guests were captivated by the Cat Game, mesmerised by Jumanji, grossed out by Pimple Pete, sucked in by Santorni, found their silly side with The Sock Game, as well as discovering the irresistible strategy game Otrio.

According to Board Game Club founder Lesley Singleton, Otrio’s instant appeal is exciting: “It’s not often you see every table wanting to try out the same game. Otrio looks stunning, though, so it grabs attention – and it’s instantly addictive.”

The Spin Master takeover also offered regulars a chance to see the new version of The Sock Game. The undisputed hit of 2016’s UK Toy Fair returned to Board Game Club with one of its inventors, Nick Green. After an extraordinary journey, the appearance felt like something of a homecoming. Lesley commented: “It’s fantastic to have the new-look Sock Game here. Our guests absolutely loved the original, so we’re all excited to see it reaching a bigger audience – it really deserves to.”

Dharaa Patel from Spin Master commented: “We are delighted that our latest Spin Master Games proved such a hit with the Board Game Club guests – there really is something for everyone and that shone through at the event. It was a great night and there was a real buzz about the place. We are looking forward to a busy and exciting Christmas period.”

Now in its fifth year, Board Game Club continues to feature card, party, and novelty games, providing “can’t-miss” dates in the diary. The ever-popular evenings let games enthusiasts and industry insiders meet, mingle and play in a relaxed, informal way. Board Game Club returns to Century Club, Soho, on Wednesday 17th October. The guest list is open now.

Stink Bomz is the brand new collectible plush range from Tomy that appeals to children who love grotesque traits, smells and sounds.

The new line launches in October and features ten characters.

Tomy knows that gross fun toilet humour continues to be very popular. Stink Bomz will mainly be targeted at boys aged 3+ and launches with eight main characters and two special ones, each featuring unique colours, dedicated scents and three naughty sounds. The range will also appeal to consumers for its collectibilty factor and affordable price point.

To support the launch Tomy will be executing a targeted media and influencer gifting campaign. Leading influencers including YouTuber stars and children’s magazines will receive exclusive Stink Bomz gifts featuring the full collection and will be encouraged to share their thoughts using the hashtag #jointhefarty.

Tomy has also created a series of hilarious promotional teaser videos. Content reveals the cheeky personality of each character and can be viewed across the Tomy YouTube page.

At retail, shoppers can expect fun packaging as well as engaging merchandising solutions, including counter holders and free-standing display units.