Panini’s Official England Sticker Collection Tournament Edition 2024 is available now, with 387 stickers to collect.

Panini has announced the launch of the eagerly anticipated Official England Sticker Collection Tournament Edition 2024.

Featuring 100% official kits and packed full of past, present and future Three Lions stars, plus elite players from four of Europe’s greatest national teams, Panini says the collection is the ultimate companion to the summer of football.

The collection boasts 387 stickers, including 130 special stickers. Collectors can kick start their collection with a starter pack that includes an album plus five sticker packets.

Commenting on the collection, Katie Gritt, head of Marketing for Sport at Panini, said: “The Official England Sticker Collection Tournament Edition 2024 has landed, ready for football fans to collect their favourite England players ahead of what promises to be a memorable summer of football. As well as the current England squad – and the favourite players from France, Germany, Italy and Spain, all in 100% official kit – this must-have collection features England Legends, Next Gen players and amazing facts and stats on Europe’s biggest superstars. It’s the sticker collection to have this summer.”

Panini’s new collection features a Legends series with the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, all available to collect.

Former Liverpool and England star, Steve McManaman, who also features as a Legend in the series, said: “It’s a really proud moment being included as a Legend and those specific stickers standing out with a unique design. My 12-year-old boy will be talking to his mate about the stickers in the new collection, and now his dad is on one of them. For football lovers, sticker collections and the quest to try and fill up your book, is one of the great memories of growing up.”

The Official England Sticker Collection Tournament Edition 2024, is available now at www.panini.co.uk/englandstickers and retailers nationwide.

Diaframma has been adapting its strategies to customer’s needs in the ever changing marketing landscape to start the year off strongly. 

Given the importance of digital marketing strategies, Diaframma’s customers are increasingly briefing the company in different ways, looking for content which is different from the ‘classic’ TV commercial, such as ads which can be used on a variety of platforms, or which have a very broad target audience.

“This can go from reformatting a video, to thinking about a completely different type of creative,” explained Alice Morrison, international sales director. “I think there is always an element of trial and error to take into consideration when trying out new strategies and platforms, but content is always key. We need to not only adapt our strategy to our customers’ needs, but also to the type of product we are advertising and its target.”

Alice has found that one piece of content does not always work on different platforms, because the variety of consumers watching the video is so much wider. If the brief has this information from the beginning, the creative is worked on with this in mind, and the team has seen some great results in return. Alice added: “This involves us providing more content, but also helps our customers to reach more consumers.”

Diaframma’s high season is fast-approaching, with its presence at Toy Fairs paying off. Upcoming campaigns cannot yet be revealed, but the team has much excitement in store for the season ahead. Last year was a strong year for the company, which reports that fantastic content was produced with some of its most cutting-edge technologies. The Diaframma website has been updated with some of this latest work at diaframma.com.

The kids and family marketing agency now has more than 45 years’ experience in toy advertising and has kept with the times from an innovation perspective, as well as a creative one.

Alice said: “I think our expertise, our equipment and our team are what draws customers to work with us. There isn’t much we haven’t seen before, and we always strive to get even better. We pride ourselves on giving clients top-notch services and production quality, all at a competitive price.”

The June edition of Toy World will include a specialist feature on the Arts & Crafts/Creative Play category.

This issue will contain a comprehensive feature on Arts & Crafts – a category that encompasses a wide range of products, from DIY kits and handmade artworks, to jewellery making and finger paints. Arts & Crafts and Creative Play give children many developmental benefits and provide them with an outlet to be creative and imaginative.

Arts & Crafts is just one of the features in the upcoming June issue, which will also include comprehensive category features on Wheeled Toys (scooter, bikes, skateboards and ride-ons etc), Infant Toys and Action Figures & Kidult Toys, as well as regular features such as Talking Shop, Letter from America, Allegedly, all the latest industry news and a selection of exclusive interviews.

The deadline for editorial in the June issue will be the 1st May, and the deadline for adverts will be the 14th May. Please ensure you plan for these deadlines in good time.

For further information regarding editorial opportunities in the June issue, or to take part in our popular Talking Shop feature, please contact:

• Rachael Simpson-Jones – Rachael@toyworldmag.co.uk
• Marianna Casal – Marianna@toyworldmag.co.uk
• Caroline Tonks – Caroline@toyworldmag.co.uk
• Gabriela Jimenez Garcia – Gabriela@toyworldmag.co.uk

The editorial team can also be reached on 01442 502 406.

To find out more about advertising opportunities, in the June issue or any other edition, contact Mark Austin, mark@toyworldmag.co.uk.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our website and daily newsflash for all the latest toy industry news and the latest roles in our popular recruitment section.

Licensing Expo has announced the opening keynote presentation under the event theme ‘Brands at Play’.

Taking place 21st-23rd May at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, Licensing Expo brings together thousands of leading retailers, manufacturers and marketers to connect, identify future trends and secure consumer product deals with the world’s most influential brands.

Roughly 48% of the global population consider themselves either casual or active gamers. With mobile gaming capturing more players than ever before, the video game segment is building a community of billions and gaming is expected to be the next major category for consumer products growth. This opening keynote panel, Video Games: Driving Billions to Play, explores the ‘why’ behind gaming’s massive growth in popularity, what gamers look for in a brand and how the next franchise model will lead with video games, either from brand-new IP or the revival of heritage titles.
Panelists include Nick McWhorter, director of Global Licensing, CD Projekt Red; Doug Rosen, senior vice president, Games and Emerging Media, Paramount; Maya Rogers, CEO, Tetris and Ivo Gerscovich, chief Business and Brand officer, Sega of America; moderated by License Global’s Ben Roberts, Content director.

“Licensing Expo is where we plant the seeds for how we creatively approach emerging trends we see across the market. These phenomenal global leaders in gaming IP are at the forefront of tomorrow’s leading brand extensions, tapping into what resonates best with their communities,” said Anna Clarke, senior vice president of the Global Licensing Group, which produces Licensing Expo. “Especially as this year we focus on all iterations of Brands at Play, we are setting the stage by shining the light on gaming as the category of the future. Digitisation impacts brand engagement and is a critical area to provide education and ideas into how we can expand.”

As the gaming segment connects a community of billions globally, video games are quickly becoming the next major category for licensing growth. Licensing International reported 9.8% of the $340.8b global sales revenue of licensed merchandise and services in 2022 came from video games, software and apps.

More than 300 exhibiting companies, including Paramount, The Lego Group, Warner Bros., Nintendo, Riot Games, The Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Sega, Mattel, Crunchyroll, Minecraft, NASCAR and many more will be at Licensing Expo.

To learn more about Licensing Expo and register to attend, visit www.licensingexpo.com.

SmartGames has unveiled 5 Little Birds, a puzzle game where players must work out where each of the five birds fit on the tree.

SmartGames has annnounced its latest one player puzzle game. The brand’s 5 Little Birds is a new logic game with 60 different challenges, where players must solve clues to fly the birds back to their homes.

Made for children ages five and above, 5 Little Birds tests players deduction. To solve the puzzle, players must use their concentration to work out where the five little birds perch in the tree. They will use the picture clues provided on each challenge to clip each bird to the branches. To solve the puzzle correctly, each bird must face the right direction and perch next to the right friend.

Playing 5 Little Birds stimulates key logic and deduction skills. With five levels of fun that get progressively more difficult, the game increeases in difficulty from easy to hard. Players may work at their own pace to solve each level, as the birds get more and more demanding. This game involves both dexterity and some real thinking as the it progresses.

Commenting on the launch of 5 Little Birds, Karen Clarke, UK brand director at Smart Toys and Games, said: “We are delighted to unveil this exciting new game. Now that spring has sprung and the birds are tweeting, we are sure players will be excited to fly these five little birds home. It really is bursting with fun and is a great way to put players logic and problem-solving skills to the test.”

The countdown is on to the Real FX Disney Stitch First Edition being unleashed on June 26th, which will include a Stitch certificate that verifies it as first off the production line.

Wow! Stuff has announced that pre-orders will shortly open for one of the most hotly anticipated toys of 2024. Real FX, the Disney Stitch First Edition will be in the hands of fans for the first time on June 26th.

Designed and developed in-house, over several years, by the engineers and scientists at Wow! Stuff, Real FX new Disney Stitch was first teased at international toy fairs and received a phenomenal reception (not least from the Toy World team). Now, the company reports that many major retailers around the world are already calling it their 2024 toy of the year.

A high-tech animatronic puppet, Real FX Stitch will be launched in limited numbers as a First Edition on 26th June 2024, to commemorate International Stitch day. The First Edition will include a Stitch certificate that verifies it as an official first model off the production line.

Real FX Stitch is truly distinctive. Fans can commandeer the authentic animatronic Stitch toy using the hand-insert controls to generate over 100 incredible action and sound combinations. Real FX Stitch has been designed to captivate onlookers with his cute blinking eyes, mechanically controlled rising and drooping ears, mischievous smile and wonderful dialect spoken in his alien native tongue of Tantalog – a combination of Hawaiian, Chinese and Chezcreekian.

Real FX Stitch even features touch-sensitive sound activations: stroking his blue fur will elicit infamous phrases in Stitch’s native tongue of Tantalog. His owner can hear him excitedly respond when they stroke his head, purr softly as he warms to their cuddles, or play-bite those who dare touch his tongue. Ultimately, Real FX Stitch always retains his soft and cuddly side, proving to be a best friend ready to sniff or snooze on request.

The pre-order list is expected to open on 1st June in the UK and Europe at leading retailers, where fans pre-ordering will secure their First Edition model for delivery on 26th June or soonest thereafter. Pre-orders will take precedent and be on a first come first served basis, and more stock is expected later in 2024.

For availability please contact sunny.walia@wowstuff.com (North America) or tony.white@wowstuff.com (Rest of World).

Wow! Stuff’s stated mission is ‘to work until our brains hurt to deliver toys and pop-culture products that are really innovative, on brand, in universe, always!’. The team has won multiple awards and global recognition for its unique tech-toys and world first inventions, is a five times TOTY (Toy Of The Year) award nominee and a winner of the Toy of The Year Innovation award.

For more information see www.wowstuff.com.

B&M sales in the UK rose 8.5% year-on-year, up 3.7% on a like-for-like basis, as the retailer opened 47 new stores.

B&M group sales have grown to £5.5b and revenues increased 10.1% for the financial year to March 30th 2024. The retailer said these results were ”underpinned by volume growth and positive like-for-like performance”.

B&M added that it expects its preferred profit measure, adjusted EBITDA (pre-IFRS 16) to be at the top end of its guidance range, £629m. This would represent a 9.8% increase on last year, which reached £573m.

Sales in the UK rose 8.5% year-on-year, up 3.7% on a like-for-like basis, while France saw 19.2% growth and Heron Foods rose by 15.3% year-on-year.

During the year, B&M opened 47 new stores across the UK, which was slightly ahead of its previous guidance. The company said its new openings were trading well, and the former Wilko stores it acquired, were “performing ahead of expectations.” B&M bought 51 Wilko stores out of administration last year.

B&M CEO, Alex Russo, commented: “The group has performed well in the year delivering strong operational execution. We serve our customers through a relentless focus on everyday low prices, great product ranges and excellence in operational standards.

This delivers profitable, cash generating growth for our shareholders. The business and team are well set up for the year ahead, our pipeline remains on track to open not less than 45 UK B&M stores in each of the next two financial years and our French and Heron businesses continue to demonstrate significant profitable growth potential.”

In January, B&M reported that sales increased by 5% over its third financial quarter, and Alex Russo said the performance across the golden quarter was very pleasing.

The Lego Group has announced its Lego Star Wars 25th anniversary collection will continue to expand with new launches on Star Wars Day: May the 4th.

The TIE Interceptor building set which was part of the first launch of the Ultimate Collector Series in 2000 is back in a new and redesigned version. Fans of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi can relive the action of the movie, as they recreate the distinctive wings, detailed cockpit and laser cannons of the magnificent Lego Star Wars TIE Interceptor building set.

The 1,931-piece set is an impressive 16 inches long and comes complete with an exclusive TIE Pilot minifigure and Mouse Droid figure, currently limited to this set. The model is mounted on a stand with a printed plaque and includes a 1.3-inch wide printed brick with the Lego Star Wars anniversary logo.

Meanwhile, fans of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace can dive into building a dynamic snapshot of Tatooine with the Mos Espa Podrace Diorama building set. The 718-piece display set includes Anakin Skywalker, the Arch Canyon and a plaque with Qui-Gon Jinn’s advice: “Remember. Concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don’t think. Use your instincts.”

With the 640-piece Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator building set, fans can fold out the wings and retract the landing gear for flight, fire the two spring-loaded shooters and press the trigger to drop three DRK-1 probe droids from the front compartment.

Alternatively, fans can check out the brick-built destroyer droid, Droideka set with 583 pieces. For those who prefer brick-built display characters, there are six collectible Lego BrickHeadz figures featuring Jar Jar Binks, Anakin Skywalker, Queen Amidala, Captain Panaka, Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul.

For Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith fans, there is also a BrickHeadz Clone Commander Cody set. Anyone who is team Grogu will be pleased to now be able to immerse themselves into the building experience of the 221-piece BARC Speeder Escape alongside Kelleran Beq.

May the 4th celebrations continue in Lego Fortnite, with exciting new Lego Star Wars content to discover in the survival crafting game beginning on 3rd May.

Also launching for pre-order on 1st May is the new Lego Star Wars Coffee Table Book, The Force of Creativity. The book includes development art, character designs and gives fans a true insight into the Lego Star Wars galaxy and is available for pre-order here.

Fans are also invited to join the 25-Second Film Festival, which will be open until 22nd April and culminates on 4th May and invites fans to submit their own 25-second clip that recreates their favourite Star Wars moments or forges a new one with Lego Star Wars building sets and minifigures they treasure.

From 1st to 5th May, Lego Star Wars fans will receive all three ‘gift with purchases’ when purchasing the new Lego Star Wars TIE Interceptor, including the Battle of Yavin collectible depicting Darth Vader’s cockpit view, the Trade Federation Troop Carrier set commemorating the 25^th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and the AAT building set. These offerings coincide with the Lego Star Wars May the 4th live stream event featuring special offers, set reveals, designer presentation and giveaways such as a signed TIE Interceptor set in the US, UK and Germany on 1st May.

The new Lego Star Wars products will be available from 1st May. The Lego Star Wars TIE Interceptor set is available exclusively at Lego stores and online with Lego Insiders early access from 1st May, and all shoppers from 4th May.

The upcoming June issue of Toy World will include a specialist feature on the extensive Wheeled Toys category.

The Wheeled Toys category comes into its own as the weather starts to get warmer and kids look forward to being released from school for six weeks. The category includes products such as scooters, bikes, skateboards and ride-ons, all of which get kids outdoors and active.

Throughout the year, wheeled toys are a larger purchase, especially for birthdays and Christmas, and retailers are already ordering such items for the run up to Q4. in the current economic climate, wheeled toy suppliers have to ensure their products are good value for money, which kids can pass down to younger siblings, or have features such as exciting looks from using the hottest licences.

Toy World will also be publishing an in-depth article on the category, featuring the leading players in the market and spotlighting the current trends for wheeled toys.

Advertisers in this issue are guaranteed generous editorial coverage and the chance to get involved in additional content opportunities. As the UK’s leading toy trade magazine, this means your company will be able to place its brands in front of the many indie retailers attending the event that turn to Toy World at the start of each and every month for the latest industry news and product information.

This is just one of the features in the upcoming June issue, which will also include comprehensive category features on Arts & Crafts/Creative Play, Infant Toys and Action Figures & Collectibles. It will also include regular features such as Talking Shop, Viewpoint and Allegedly, as well as all the latest toy and licensing industry news and insight, plus selected company profiles and special interviews.

The deadline for editorial will be 1st May, while the deadline for adverts will be 14th May, so don’t delay getting in touch with the team if you haven’t already secured your spot.

For further information regarding editorial opportunities in the June issue, or to take part in our popular Talking Shop feature, please contact:

To find out more about advertising opportunities, in the June issue or any other edition, contact Mark Austin, mark@toyworldmag.co.uk.

The Hot Wheels City Experience is arriving in Manchester this summer and will feature a design centre, an immersive museum, a playground, a gamer zone and a Hot Wheels Lab.

Live Nation, BeFun and Mattel have announced that Hot Wheels City Experience will be arriving at the BEC Arena in Central Manchester this August, making its European debut in an interactive experience as it brings the legendary toy cars to life.

Spanning a series of immersive stations and interactive activities, this event guarantees surprises for families and devoted collector fans alike, inviting them on a captivating journey fuelled by creativity, playfulness, nostalgia and cutting-edge technology.

Opening its doors on 13th August 2024, the 6,000 square metre experience will consist of 10 stations including a design centre, an immersive museum, a playground, a gamer zone and a Hot Wheels Lab.

Fans will be taken on a journey through the colourful world of Hot Wheels, starting with an introductory video in the briefing room, taking a deep dive into the history and culture of the brand and a trivia quiz. The next station features an immersive museum and expo where visitors can enjoy an exclusive glimpse into the best of the Hot Wheels collections including graphics with the history of Hot Wheels, classic arts of the brand and the Hot Wheels life-sized cars.

Alongside the museum and expo, visitors can immerse themselves in the Gamer Zone, tailored for console enthusiasts and gamers eager to show off their skills. In the Design Centre, the latest technology is used to introduce vibrant colour and graphic projection mapping onto virtual cars, and there are further stations including a digital “build your car” and painting workshop where kids and adults alike can freely create and have their work emailed to them or projected on the venue walls.

The Hot Wheels Lab provides an area for fans to play with the most popular Hot Wheels toys including giant tracks and pre-built racecourses where the Hot Wheels Challenge Accepted Championships take place, alongside the opportunity to win prizes.

During a visit to Hot Wheels City Experience, guests are encouraged to capture the memorable day out with a series of backdrops and photo opportunities, alongside the opportunity to take home their own personalised Hot Wheels driving licence, complete with an official branded lanyard, photo and name.

An official merchandise store will offer an array of exclusive merchandise featuring cars, tracks, clothes and much more.

The record breaking performances of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party, which debuted in Mexico City on 13th and 14th April, have also seen great success with 70,027 guests attending four sold-out shows at Mexico City Arena.

After its successful first run in Mexico City, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party is set to return to Mexico in 2025, with stops in Mexico City (5th-6th July, 2025), Monterrey (12th-13th July, 2025) and Guadalajara (19th-20th July, 2025).