The December issue of Toy World is now available to read online. 

Packed with industry-leading content, news, views, articles and info, the final 2020 issue of Toy World magazine has started landing with a bang on desks and doormats across the country.

Boasting a decidedly international flavour, this issue contains articles on a number of international companies. The CEO of Canadian retailer Mastermind Toys, Sarah Jordan, spoke to Toy World about how the company goes the extra mile for Canadian shoppers at Christmas, while Mark Weiner, CEO of Omni Alliance, details how the company can help UK toy suppliers expand into the lucrative and burgeoning US marketplace. This issue also features a special year-end review from the ICTI Ethical Toy Program, in which Carmel Giblin, president & CEO, details how the not-for-profit’s vital work overseas is enriching the lives of toy factory workers and their children. Rick Derr of Learning Express is also back with his Letter from America column, and our Show Off feature has given companies the chance to highlight the toys and games that would have been on display at Spielwarenmesse and the Hong Kong Toy Fair – both of which have been cancelled due to Covid. Finally, Show Cloud – the online showroom service provider – details the new features the platform has added to support suppliers and buyers.

Back on British soil, the Toy World team has been catching up with a number of retailers over recent weeks. Gary and Duncan Grant lift the lid on the partnerships The Entertainer has been signing with Asda, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, while Lisa Currie spoke to a selection of indie toy retailers including Thornton’s Toymaster and Youings of Barnstaple about how they’ve been coping with the latest lockdown disruption.

We’ve also been talking to suppliers. It’s all change at IMC, as Sue Barratt explains, with new offices, a new team and new product development heralding a very exciting 2021, while 8th Wonder‘s Andrea Gornall and Louise Tyrer discuss how the company’s growing licensed portfolio is fuelling expansion plans for next year. Kelly Philp, Mattel’s UK marketing manager, also gives readers an insight into the latest development from the Barbie brand – Barbie Extra.

If that wasn’t enough, the December issue also contains a brilliant Viewpoint from new contributor Sam Muxworthy on setting up an online business, plus opinion and articles from regular contributors including the NPD Group, KidsKnowBest, Generation Media and Toy Barnhaus, our Fresh feature on the newest toys to hit the market, all the news, marketing and licensing info, as well as the latest Industry Moves.

To read the December issue of Toy World, click here.

Don’t forget, the Toy World team is now hard at work on the January 2021 issue – AKA The Big One. Don’t miss your chance to get involved with this bumper edition; to find out more about advertising opportunities, contact Mark Austin: mark@toyworldmag.co.uk or John Baulch: john@toyworldmag.co.uk.