Now Icecat has become a certified Gold Partner at the dominant e-tailer and marketplace in the Benelux, brands can easily manage and publish product information on Bol through Icecat.

Icecat and Bol have had a longstanding collaboration in providing product information. With this Gold Partner certification, brands can be assured that Icecat meets the criteria set by Bol for Product Information Management (PIM) tooling partners:

• Data category mapping is done in a proper manner
• PIM-tooling is a service that can be used as a single service
• Connected to Bol API and connectivity criteria/test
• CE certifications are incorporated into the tooling
• PIM-tool makes it possible to process videos and documents
• Quality and IT security check by Bol

Brands can easily manage and publish product information on Bol through Icecat. Icecat will handle the mapping for the brand, ensuring that the product information is published on Bol.

In addition to Bol, thousands of other retailers and marketplaces are also utilising Icecat, which allows brands to distribute and publish product information to other e-commerce platforms. This enables brands to save time and publish complete product information, resulting in an enhanced online experience for visitors and increased conversion.

To find out more about making product content available to Bol, contact Icecat account managers or book an online demo directly.

The Toy Association announced the 2024 board of directors and new executive committee during the annual general meeting. 

The Toy Association has announced the election of seven new members and two term renewals to its board of directors, including the election of Sharon Price John, president & CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, as chairperson. The announcement was made during The Toy Association’s annual general meeting, which was open to all toy industry stakeholders.

The meeting included updates on the ways in which the organisation is listening to, engaging with and bringing together the industry, the Association’s fight against harmful legislation and other obstacles threatening the toy and play community’s ability to get toys effectively and safely into consumers’ hands, as well as details about the upcoming LA Fall Preview and Toy Fair 2025 events.

The meeting opened with remarks from chairperson emeritus Aaron Muderick, founder & executive chair of Crazy Aaron’s, who presented the 2024 Chairperson’s Award to Steven Aarons, founder of Child’s Play Toys & Books. With the end of a successful two-year term as chairperson, Aaron will take over the role of chair of the board nominating committee and serve as a member of the chair’s advisory committee.

“We are grateful to Aaron Muderick for his leadership these past two years and dedication to protecting and promoting the collective interests of our industry,” said Andy Keimach, president & chief executive of The Toy Association. “As an inventor, entrepreneur and accomplished business owner, Aaron’s tenure has been characterised by a profound understanding of our diverse membership base and a steadfast commitment to advocating for all within the expansive toy and play community.”

“With Sharon Price John assuming the role of chairperson, we welcome an exceptional visionary whose guidance promises to steer our organisation toward continued growth and innovation,”Andy continued. “Sharon’s diverse toy background and impressive tenure at Build-A-Bear Workshop speaks volumes about her strategic acumen and leadership. Her proven track record of revitalising brands across companies and driving sustainable success will undoubtedly bolster our mission of advancing the toy and play industry.”

During the meeting, Toy Association membership elected seven new members, representing companies of all sizes, to serve terms on The Toy Association board of directors: Vish Chandran, CEO of Wild Republic, Tim Kilpin, president of toys, licensing & entertainment at Hasbro, Bryan Scott, vice president of merchandising at Target, Wes Hardin, CEO of Diverse Marketing, Max Rangel, director, global president & CEO of Spin Master, Rob Michaelis, vice president of commercialisation, parks, experiences & consumer products at The Walt Disney Company and Duncan Billing, chair of the board of advisors at Moose Toys.

Two members were elected to serve additional two-year terms: Anne Carrihill, director, general manager and category leader of toys & games at Amazon, was elected to serve a third term, and Geoffrey Greenberg, co-president of Just Play, was elected to a second term.

The Toy Association’s 2024 executive committee, elected by the board members during their winter meeting on 26th February, will include Sharon Price John as chairperson, Geoffrey Greenberg of Just Play as vice chairperson, Tim Kilpin of Hasbro as secretary-treasurer and Jared Carr of Lego Systems and Vish Chandran of Wild Republic as members at large.

“The Toy Association team, alongside our board of directors and numerous volunteer committees, is laser focused on addressing the diverse needs of members across all scales and sectors and the industry as a whole,” said Andy. “Whether they are established household brands or emerging startups and inventors, every company contributes significantly to the vitality, expansion and innovation within the toy and play community. Between our advocacy work, data-driven research and education offerings, trend reports and other strategic initiatives, we will continue to protect the industry from legislative roadblocks, deliver toys to children in need through The Toy Foundation, provide invaluable resources for navigating market complexities and champion the importance of play.”

Preshow Noël Toys & Games has created Fan Zone, a professional meeting place for entertainment products dedicated to kidults, fans and collectors. 

Preshow Noël Toys & Games is pleased to announce the launch of Fan Zone, which will take place on the same dates as Preshow Noël, from 18th to 22nd November 2024, at the Hôtel Barrière Le Royal in Deauville. This new event will take place on the 7th floor of the venue, where industry previews of the end-of-year N+1 collections will be revealed during Preshow Noël.

The Kidult market is an increasingly important segment to the toy industry. With sales surging +7% in 2023, or 75m euros in additional turnover, purchases by kidults are the main growth driver for the toys and games sector, accounting for 28% of its activity in 2023 (source: Circana – January 2024).

This new impetus for the consumption of collectors’ and premium products, linked to pop culture heroes and objects, whether classic or in the colours of event-based and intergenerational licences, has very quickly resonated with suppliers, who have been able to develop new, adapted collections, and with distributors, who have set up dedicated areas in shops and published specific catalogues.

“In its 380 shops, King Jouet covers the main needs of this population in a dedicated area, clearly signposted and identified as such, called King’Dults, complemented on the online sales site by an extended range,” said Thierry Le Lan, purchasing manager at King Jouet. “The brand also publishes a 40-page catalogue dedicated to kidults, containing 200 products and relayed by a funny and offbeat short-format web-series on the adventures of a family of King’Dults, broadcast on the brand’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.”

A tailor-made event to meet the needs of professionals looking for the latest trends and new products for kidults, fans and collectors, Fan Zone is an opportunity to bring together the community of professionals working in the pop culture, kidult, geek, fans, licensing and collection sectors for 100% business meetings.

For suppliers specialising in these areas, Fan Zone is an opportunity to present flagship products and latest releases in total confidentiality to a targeted audience of purchasing decision-makers from the general and specialist retail sectors keen to develop the best offer in the field.

Exhibitors at Preshow Noël Toys & Games, offering kidult products, will also be part of one-to-one meetings. Fan Zone is based on a concept that has already proved its worth at Preshow Noël, with one-to-one meetings in rooms transformed into private showrooms showcasing the collections. Distributors and suppliers are housed in the same hotels, providing the best possible conditions for socialising and networking.

In all, some 1,800 professionals will be in Deauville for a week to take part in the two events celebrating toys, games and products for fans and collectors.

Krista Berger, who has worked for Mattel for 15 years, has been heavily involved in the success of Mattel’s Dolls division and of the Barbie brand. 

Krista Berger

Mattel has promoted Krista Berger to senior vice president, Barbie and head of Dolls. The news was announced by Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and chief brand officer at Mattel, to whom Krista reports.

“I am delighted to announce Krista Berger’s well-deserved promotion to senior vice president, Barbie and head of Dolls,” said Lisa. “Krista’s stellar, 15-year journey with Mattel reflects her unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to the company. I have had the privilege of working closely with Krista for years, and her promotion is a testament to her dedication, strategic vision and exceptional leadership. I look forward to seeing Krista excel in her new role and continue to elevate our Dolls category to new heights.”

Krista will lead Product and Brand Marketing for Mattel’s Dolls category globally. Krista’s career at Mattel began in the Dolls division, where she established a robust foundation of intellectual property, licensor management and commercial expertise across the Dolls portfolio and the US Barbie business. When Mattel acquired Mega Brands in 2014, Krista served as a key member of the integration team, leading the Mega strategic rebranding initiative that resulted in increased distribution and impressive double-digit sales growth in the construction category. In 2017, Krista returned to the Barbie team and helped drive record performance by increasing the toy business by over 60%. Her vision and leadership also played a pivotal role in the re-establishment of Barbie as the No. 1 global doll property.

In her most recent role as vice president for American Girl Marketing, Partnerships, Content Development and Sales, Krista’s experience was instrumental in driving the success and innovation of the American Girl brand.

“Having the opportunity to develop products and experiences that allow children to see themselves reflected in the world is a tremendous honour,” added Krista. “In collaboration with my exceptional team, leadership across Mattel and our external partners, I look forward to advancing Mattel’s iconic portfolio of beloved brands for years to come.”

Krista’s contributions and dedication to excellence have earned her several industry recognitions including the Ad Age 40 Under 40, Brand Innovators 40 Under 40, and the Women In Toys Wonder Women Award. She is highly active in the Women of Mattel ERG, serving as president from 2020-2022 and current executive sponsor.

Having signed with toy industry rep agency Toyology, Chronicle Books is now preparing to make its showroom debut at ToyFest in Las Vegas. 

Chronicle Books, a global publisher and distributor of illustrated books, toys and games for all ages, has announced it is joining Toyology’s impressive list of prestigious toy brands.

Toyology’s representation will officially kick-off at next month’s ToyFest show in Las Vegas, where Chronicle will display an array of offerings from award-winning lines including Petit Collage, Ridley’s Games, Galison and Mudpuppy in the Toyology Showroom at the World Market Center (WMC) to over 1,300 attendees.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about partnering with Toyology,” said Bill Miller, president of Galison and Mudpuppy and publisher of Ridley’s Games and Petit Collage, a subsidiary of Chronicle Books. “Knowing we are joining the ranks of so many iconic brands who have trusted Toyology’s expertise in the toy industry is very exciting for us.”

Representing manufacturers throughout the Western US, Toyology has enjoyed a decades-long reputation as a premiere manufacturer’s rep agency.

“We are so proud to be representing an esteemed company like Chronicle Books,” said Carl Buchbinder, principal of Toyology, Inc. “Toyology prides itself on working with the most respected toy brands in the world. Adding Chronicle Books to our portfolio of top vendors, while teaming up with its book and gift representatives, will help expand ithe company’s significant presence in the toy market.”

To drum up further excitement at ToyFest, Chronicle is set to debut new product launches at the show and offer attendees the chance to win exclusive gifts such as a Chronicle Books Bundle filled with 2024 offerings from brands including Petit Collage, Ridley’s Games, Galison and Lego at Chronicle Books, and a signed copy of Thor and Loki: Midgard Family Mayhem by Jeffrey Brown.

Showpath Entertainment and Curious Hedgehog have joined forces with Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro to present Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern theatrical experience.

Showpath Entertainment and Curious Hedgehog unite with Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro to bring the first-ever officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons theatrical production to the stage in New York this spring.

A global phenomenon and leader in cross-platform fantasy entertainment, D&D is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the festivities, producers David Hutchinson and Nathan Brine of Showpath Entertainment, Sarah Davis Reynolds and David Andrew Laws of Curious Hedgehog present an all-new, unique and audience-engaging production that is guaranteed to be unlike anything that Dungeons & Dragons fans have ever experienced.

David Hutchinson, CEO of The Path Entertainment Group, said: “We are committed to producing innovative experiences that allow audiences to engage with IP in unique formats. Monopoly Lifesized has been hugely successful for over two years in London, and we are thrilled to broaden our licence with Hasbro with our third IP -Dungeons & Dragons. The use of role-play within D&D, the history of the game and the breadth of the lore, offers significant storylines and themes which makes up the incredible live event adventure that is Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern. This combined with the launch of Hasbro’s film and digital gaming adaptations in 2023, and the celebration of 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons this year, makes it an incredibly exciting time to be adapting the IP for this interactive experience.”

At Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern, the audience is not just a viewer but the fourth player, influencing key decisions via Gamiotics, a browser-based software that allows audiences to vote on where the story will go — what characters appear, what experiences they explore, and more. With a cast of five actors and over 30 playable characters, audiences will experience an expansive fantasy world set in the Forgotten Realms, and face riddles, puzzles, combat and more, to help shape the story.

There are also opportunities to join the action onstage and test strength (or dexterity, or wisdom, or charisma) through a variety of games, including trivia, charades, and the ever-popular Fantasy Beer Pong.

The original experience has played sold-out engagements in Chicago, Pittsburgh and at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The worldwide growth and popularity of D&D has spawned a diverse array of immersive products, content and experiences including a massive and passionate community of players, expansive maps, countless game guides, live events, streaming shows, an award-winning AAA video game and a major motion picture – Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Exclusive pre-sale tickets will be available from February 29th. Interested readers can sign up here for pre-sale access. General public on-sale begins on March 4th.

Previews begin on 19th April in NYC and the quest officially launches on 5th May. Plans to launch a national tour of the US are already under way.

The special is currently in production and ready to enter Poland, one of Maya the Bee’s strongest international markets, through Generation Entertainment.

The international property Maya the Bee’s success story continues to grow with the announcement of a new join-in cinema special. The 60-minute exclusive, which includes an array of exciting sequences from the CGI series as well as interactive elements, is set to be released in spring 2024. The special is currently in production and ready to enter Poland, one of Maya the Bee’s strongest international markets, through Generation Entertainment, the content distribution division of Generation Media.

Generation Media, a leading independent media specialist for children, youth and gamers, handles content distribution across various platforms and territories. This partnership with Studio 100 Media, the franchise rights holder, marks another activation by Generation Entertainment for younger audiences, fulfilling the company’s mission to distribute premium content to the masses, anytime, anywhere.

Maya the Bee is a curious and lively bee that has left her hive to discover the beauty and mysteries of nature. Ten years after the franchise’s first film release in 2014, and following a massively popular book programme, internationally successful CGI series (2 seasons with 130 episodes) and two further feature films in 2018 and 2021, this new Maya the Bee feature length special – currently being produced and translated into Polish – will allow kids to have fun as they experience interactive join-in cinema on the big screen.

Alex Taylor-Smith, director of Business Development at Generation Entertainment, commented: “We’re thrilled to be brining Maya the Bee to the big screen with our partners Studio 100 Media. 2023 was a huge year for cinema globally, demonstrating that cinema still possesses the ability to attract and excite audiences at scale, and we are expecting more of the same in 2024. Leveraging the power of cinema is the perfect way to deliver fans of Maya the Bee the best viewing experience for this latest adventure.”

Peter Kleinschmidt, director of Marketing at Studio 100 Media, added: “Maya the Bee has always captivated audiences everywhere. The upcoming special promises to immerse kids in an entertaining adventure on the big screen. We’re thrilled to partner with Generation Media, leveraging their expertise in event cinema, to bring this beloved character to new heights and offer a memorable cinematic experience for children in Poland.”

With the French Toy market now worth around 4.3b Euros, Yann Fresnel of Toy Influence gives Toy World readers an overview of 2023.

Yann Fresnel

Yann has 30 years of experience selling toys to European retailers and e-retailers. He has worked for Berchet (Smoby), Newell Brands, Berg Toys and SmarTrike. In May 2021, Yann started his toy sales consultancy, Toy Influence, which represents foreign toy firms in France. Yann also conducts direct sales and marketing with retailers / e-retailers. In this article, Yann bases his comments upon data from Circana, La Revue du Jouet, the French Toy Federation and his own observations and opinions.

Results show that the French Toy market was down -5.2% in 2023, and -8% in volume. This is a similar picture to that of the German and UK toy markets, which have both shown declines of around -5%.

The market has been consistently in decline across the year – it was tracking at -4% at the end of July and the end of September, ahead of the festive season – and Christmas sales were not sufficient to turn it around. Overall, the French Toy market is now worth 4.3b Euros (losing around 220 million Euros in 2023).

One of the factors behind the drop in sales is inflation, which has been strong – up +4.9% in 2023 after rising +5.2% in 2022. In the toy sector, inflation was lower due to a high number of price promotions. However, customers were selective and cautious and ultimately bought fewer toys overall.

In addition, the French birth rate has decreased considerably (-6.6% in 2023) at 678,000. This is the lowest number since World War II and contributes to an overall decline of nearly -20% in the last 13 years.

Just like the UK, the Outdoor Toy category in France was strongly impacted by the weather in 2023, particularly in spring, and also in July in the West/North area. Sales were also down over the whole Christmas period -6%, while December as a whole was -2%. The month historically accounts for 30% of sales (27% in 2022), but in 2023, consumers shopped very late (week 51 was +7% compared to 2022).

The best performing categories were Strategic Trading Cards (+10%), Interactive Plush (+23%), Cards (+13%), Building (+2%) and Pre-school Figurines (+13%). Electronic Junior, Plush and Games & Puzzles were also up in 2023. Kidults is a growing segment – this sector increased +7%, at 28% of global sales.

The best selling products in December 2023 were Furby, Rainbow High and Bitzee. Five of the products in the Top Ten are electronic, four from VTech and one from Canal Toys.

In early 2023, Smyths Toys rebranded all of the 41 stores it acquired from PicwicToys. Joue Club (300 shops) bought La Grande Récré (137 shops), keeping the two brands: Joue Club in the suburbs and La Grande Récré in town centres. All contracts with Total and Club Med have also been maintained.

King Jouet is taking back 70% of its business (Prenatal 30% plus three banks) and opening a special division with Prenatal for private labels and own label exclusives.

Casino Hypermakets and Supermarkets (313 shops) has been seeking a buyer in order to decrease the company’s debt. It now seems that Hypermarkets will be bought by Auchan and Supermarkets by Intermarche, which has already bought 119 Casino supermarkets.

In terms of distribution channels, the market share of Hypermarkets is still decreasing (-10%), as is Supermarkets (-9%). Non-food sections like toys are no longer a priority; instead, maintaining market share on groceries has become the main focus. However, Specialists are gaining market share and now represent more than 40% of the market. Toy chains are -3% and multi specialists +3%, helped by a focus on Kidult ranges.

Online sales decreased -5%, representing a second consecutive year of decline. Amazon remains the market leader.

Licensed product has enjoyed a good year once again, thanks to some strong box office releases. Licensed merchandise accounted for 26% of total toy sales. The top licences in France are Pokémon, Paw Patrol, Barbie, Marvel and Harry Potter. Barbie saw a boost in August, following the movie release, while Gabby’s Dolls House, Disney 100, Pokémon and Lilo & Stitch all performed well.

Trends in the French market include ‘Made in France’ products, which account for 14% of total sales. These products are being given more visibility at trade fairs, in media coverage and in Christmas catalogues. Kidult games now represent 28% of total toy sales, with adults buying these products regularly and at a higher price point.

Challenges remain for 2024, as consumer budgets will come under further pressure from higher energy prices and inflation, while business costs, such as containers (transport prices have doubled since November) and the expense of running retail premises, are still increasing.

To find out more about investing in France and entering direct to retail, see Yann on LinkedIn or contact him at +33 6 48 94 02 05 or yann@toyinfluence.com.

People of Play has announced the winners of the 18th annual Young Inventor Challenge held in November last year.

Catastrophe of Hairballs, Hike the Spike and Blanket Kingdom were among the top place finishers at People of Play’s 18th Annual Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) held on 4th November at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

The YIC is a yearly competition where students between the ages of six and 18 have the opportunity to create an original play product and pitch it to professional toy and game inventors for a chance to win big prizes. Past winners have seen their entries licensed, manufactured and sold in both speciality toy stores and in major retailers including Target and Amazon. Leading up to the competition, regional events are hosted at independent toy stores, day camps and summer school programmes to inspire and engage kids to create toys and games to be judged in the annual competition.

“The Young Inventor Challenge has a mission to inspire the next generation of innovators, but I find the kids are the inspiration. It is a joy to be a part of their journey from start to finish and watch their creativity unfold,” said Young Inventor Challenge director, Ahren Hoffman.

The Young Inventor Challenge has assembled more than 10,000 kids globally since its inception to compete. The 18^th annual competition sponsored by Mattel, Crazy Aaron’s, Boogie Board, The Toy Association, Fun in Motion Toys, Spielwarenmesse, Reyn Guyer Creative Group, Goliath and The Playmakers, included 106 ‘kidpreneurs’. The 78 unique YIC projects were submitted for judging in the virtual showcase and reviewed online by more than 50 professional inventors and executives from many well-known companies around the world.

Tim Walsh, board chair and judge of the Young Inventor Challenge, commented: “The highlight of my trade show circuit is the Young Inventor Challenge. The creativity of these kids is unreal. The entire toy industry rallies around and encourages them. It’s awesome to see.”

Each year, Young Inventor Challenge competitors have the option to pitch their project in person. This is not a requirement for participation, but an exciting opportunity for kids to present and watch the award ceremony live. In 2023, the YIC had 44 projects pitched at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and four of the eight winners were presented with trophies on stage.

Below is the official list of winners of the 2023 Young Inventor Challenge:

Best Game – Sponsored by Mattel

Senior Winner: Endless by Keegan Franck (8th grade) of Belmont, MA

Junior Winner: Catastrophe of Hairballs by Carol Pack (4th grade) of Palos Heights, IL

Most Creative – Sponsored by Crazy Aaron’s

Senior Winner: Pirates of the Spinning Sea by Analise Potsander (7th grade) of Goshen, IN

Junior Winner: Hike the Spike by Shaurya Shah (4th grade) of Chicago, IL

Most authentic – Sponsored by Boogie Board

Senior Winner: Blanket Kingdom by Wolf Danzer (7th grade) of Superior, CO

Junior Winner: Zombie Zania by Shea Curran (4th grade) of Palos Heights, IL

​

Best Pitch – Sponsored by The Toy Association

Senior Winner: Delivering Presents by Claire Schmitt (7th grade) of Evansville, IN

Junior Winner: Makeover by Marley McCall (4th grade) of Palos Heights, IL

The 19^th Annual Young Inventor Challenge registration is set to open this summer. Interested participants are encouraged to check out the resources and rules at www.younginventorchallenge.com for inspiration. Guardians, teachers and other adults can sign up to be notified when registration is live.

Readers can explore photos of 2023 winners and past published toys and games here.

Sambro International has appointed Marian van der Oord as European account director to support its ongoing pan-European growth strategy.

The newly created role will support the expansion of Sambro‘s European sales team and Marian will work closely with the European Managing Director Michiel Das to build the company’s presence in key European markets, and to grow relationships with new and existing licensors and retailers. Marian’s main focus will be on four key customers: Action, A.S Watson, Lidl and Aldi.

Bringing with her a wealth of experience and knowledge from her 20-year career in the toy industry, Marian has previously worked with companies such as Mattel, Disney and KidKraft, managing major international retail accounts.

Marian’s key objective is to work closely with these customers to define clear channel strategies and to work with Sambro’s buying, sourcing and creative teams to ensure that all product opportunities are maximised. In addition to this, working alongside the licence and marketing teams, Marian will look for opportunities to provide incremental support and develop appropriate retail activation plans. This is a key recruitment and illustrates Sambro’s ongoing commitment to cross-market European expansion with our key players.

“With Sambro really looking to focus and push EU operations to new heights this year, it’s a very exciting time to join the team, with so many amazing products set to launch for 2024,” said Marian. “I have already hit the ground running with Nuremburg International Toy Fair being a great opportunity to showcase our extensive ranges. The coming months will provide the pivotal moments to establish best working practices and create strong relationships with my customers. I am super excited to be joining the team and the business as it continues to evolve.”

She added: “Sambro already has such a strong base of key supplier and retailer relationships and as part of my role, I will work alongside Michiel and Sambro’s extensive team to drive growth through existing licensor relations, as well as identifying new opportunities across the market.”

Michiel Das, managing director, Europe at Sambro said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome Marian to our European team as one of our key new hires for the start of this year. Marian offers a hugely in-depth knowledge of the European toy market, including good knowledge of our strategic accounts and has a highly strategic skill set which will be an asset to the Sambro team as we look to continue our extensive growth throughout this year and beyond.”

Sambro’s innovative products span the categories of Plush, Creative Play, Arts & Crafts, Novelties, Stationery and Outdoor, and has numerous exciting new launches in the pipeline for 2024.