Toy Report 3/24: COVID-19 Updates; Hasbro Plans ‘Bring Home the Fun’ Campaign; Cra-Z-Art Brings More Production Back to the U.S.

March 24, 2020

The Toy Report Goes Twice Weekly

To better serve the toy industry amid changing times, the Toy Report will now hit your inbox twice a week! Look for new updates delivered directly to your inbox on Tuesday and Thursday mornings until further notice.

For the latest updates on how the novel coronavirus and the spread of COVID-19 is affecting the toy industry, visit this post — updated daily.

The Toy Insider Offers a Look at the Hottest Toys of Toy Fair

While we continue to live in times of uncertainty, one thing the world can count on is that kids will still play and that new toys are on the horizon. Our team from the Toy Book and the Toy Insider spent four days exploring the latest and greatest new toys at Toy Fair New York last month. In a new video, the curtain is pulled back on just some of the great new toys that kids and families will enjoy in the year ahead. Read more…

Hasbro Plans ‘Bring Home the Fun’ Campaign as Games, Play-Doh Boom

Hasbro is showing signs of normalcy alongside sales increases in certain categories as families stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, production in China has returned to almost pre-virus levels and the company is seeing “great demand” for items such as games and Play-Doh. Read more…

Cra-Z-Art Is Bringing More Production Back to the U.S.

The New Jersey-based maker of products such as Nickelodeon Slime, Kodak puzzles, and its namesake Cra-Z-Art supplies is producing toys and school supplies at its new manufacturing facility located in Jacksonville, Florida. Read more…

Mattel, American Pinball Collaborate on Hot Wheels Pinball Machine

The first-ever officially licensed Hot Wheels Pinball machine will speed into arcades later this year. In Hot Wheels Pinball, players face off against the villainous Draven and his army of creatures in an effort to nab the high score while completing various challenges. Read more…

MGA Entertainment Launches L.O.L. Surprise! Boredom Busters

MGA Entertainment’s popular toy brand is debuting L.O.L. Surprise! Boredom Busters every day at 1 p.m. PST in hopes of keeping kids engaged and entertained. The content is designed to be used as “play-starters” for kids to enjoy after their daily chores or homework is complete. Read more…

Toys “R” Us Canada Launches Stay-at-Home Play Initiative

The company, which temporarily closed its 82 Toys “R” Us Canada and Babies “R” Us Canada stores, plans to offer Stay-at-Home Play Packs, exclusive YouTube content, and the Wash Your Hands Challenge — a dance-along and scrub-along song on TikTok — in an effort to keep kids and families active and entertained during the evolving coronavirus situation. Read more…

Sesame Workshop Debuts ‘Caring for Each Other’ Initiative

Sesame Workshop unveiled new plans for a range of new, original Sesame Street content to entertain, educate, and comfort kids, parents, and caregivers. New kid-friendly content will feature the show’s Muppets sharing messages of love and kindness, fun learning activities, and virtual play dates. Read more…

Elenco Offers Students, Teachers Free Snap Circuits Guides

Teacher and student guides to Snap Circuits, STEM construction toys, are now free and available to use online. Teacher guides can be used with the C-100, 300, 500, or 750 sets. The guide for kids works with the Snap Circuits Junior (SC-100) set. Each includes quiz questions for reinforced learning and the teacher’s guide includes lesson plans. Read more…

Say Cowabunga to New TMNT Q-Figs

Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael are ready for action — and for fans’ collectibles shelves — in a new series of Q-Figs from Quantum Mechanix (QMx). Read more...

Amazon Offers Free Content for Kids Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

More than 40 kids’ shows are now free to watch on Amazon Prime. This includes some of Amazon’s original series, such as Pete the Cat , If You Give a Mouse a Cookie , and Just Add Magic . Kids can also watch select seasons of PBS classics, including Arthur, Caillou , and Cyberchase . Read more...

Homeschooling 101: Keep Your Kids on a Schedule

Heading into week two of COVID-19 school-related closures, many families are starting to realize the new norm of their kids’ homeschooled lifestyle. The first week may have been fun for the kids with an unexpected “vacation,” but now the reality has set in, the Google Classroom curriculum has been shared, and the vacation excitement has fizzled out. Read more...

State of the Industry Q&A: LEGO

LEGO Group’s Executive Vice President, Americas, Skip Kodak spoke with the Toy Book about strategies to innovate in the construction category, licensed product, and more. Read more…

State of the Industry Q&A: PlayMonster

Scott Flynn, vice president of sales and marketing at PlayMonster, addressed the importance of mergers and acquisitions in the Toy Book ‘s annual State of the Industry Q&A. Read more…

Funko Withdraws Financial Guidance, Offers COVID-19 Business Update

Citing the continued uncertainty regarding the global spread of COVID-19, Funko has withdrawn its previously announced financial guidance for the year. The initial outlook was issued on March 5 during the company’s Q4 and full-year earnings call. Read more…

Spin Master Sees Supply Chain Improvements, Withdraws 2020 Full-Year Outlook Amid Coronavirus Spread

Spin Master says that its production volume is beginning to approach normal levels at its facilities across China, Vietnam, and India. A further update will be issued on May 6 when the company reports its Q1 financials. Read more…

U.S. Toy Co. Bolsters Sales Team with Toysmith Vets

The U.S. Toy Co. hired Jeff Bunkowske and Christina Clayton, both formerly of Toysmith, to continue the company’s expansion. Read more…

Group Publisher:

Jackie Breyer