Just Play plans to expand into arts & crafts and activities categories through the acquisition of Tara Toy.
Just Play has announced the acquisition of Tara Toy, a leading manufacturer of licensed arts & crafts products sold at major retailers in the US. Tara Toy has grown its business over the past fifty years with a portfolio of licensed arts & crafts, activities, toys and more.
It holds top tier licences including Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Nickelodeon, L.O.L., Barbie and Hot Wheels. With this acquisition, Just Play will take a strategic step further into these same categories beginning autumn 2024.
Geoffrey Greenberg, Just Play’s co-CEO, said: “It’s an honour for us to carry on the incredible legacy that Bruce and the team have built over the last nearly 50 years. Just Play and Tara Toy are synergistic in many important ways. Licensing and retail partners look to us to deliver quality value and speed to market. We are looking forward to welcoming the team from Tara Toy into the Just Play family, seamlessly integrating operational processes and brand portfolios.”
“One of the main benefits of the acquisition is that it allows Just Play to expand into new product categories,” added Charlie Emby, Just Play’s co-CEO. “This addition to Just Play’s portfolio will provide supplemental global growth opportunities, including through our new subsidiaries across Europe, Latin America and Asia.”
Bruce Pearl, CEO and founder of Tara Toy, will continue his role with the company and expresses his heartfelt gratitude to Tara Toy team for its contributions to making it the company that it is today. Key factors in his decision to sell to Just Play were alignment in core values and that his team would have the opportunity to continue the work it has put so much energy into.
“We have admired Just Play for many years and are excited about Tara Toy’s bright future as we join the Just Play family and grow together,” said Bruce. “We are thrilled that Just Play will maintain US-based staff to support US employment. I would like to give Brian Specht, executive vice president of Design and Development at Tara Toy, a special nod. He has been a trusted partner and I look forward to his continued contributions.”
