Mattel, Hasbro Ink Licensing Pact to Create Co-Branded Toys and Games



Following a behind-closed-doors sneak preview at Spielwarenmesse this year, Mattel and Hasbro have made it official: The toy titans entered into multiyear licensing agreements to share some of their biggest properties to create co-branded toys and games. Read more…

Disney Unveils Toys for ‘The Little Mermaid’



With Disney’s live-action version of The Little Mermaid set to hit theaters May 26, industry leaders introduced a treasure chest of products for both kids and adult collectors. JAKKS Pacific, the LEGO Group, and Mattel all revealed collections featuring characters from the movie.

Even More Jurassic Park Toys Are Roaring into Stores This Summer



Toymakers are celebrating the movie’s 30th anniversary by dropping action figures, video games, and more new toys. So far, we’ve seen releases from LEGO, with five new building sets; Bandai, with two Jurassic Park-themed Tamagotchis; ToyMonster, with Jurassic Park CAPTIVZ surprise toys, and more. Read more at The Toy Insider…

Mattel Breaks Boundaries with the First-Ever Barbie with Down Syndrome



Barbie is continuing to show that beauty comes in all sorts of different forms. As part of the 2023 Fashionistas doll line, Mattel is releasing the first Barbie in history with Down syndrome. Read more…

LEGO Partnership with European Energy Builds Lower Carbon Alternative to Conventional Plastic



LEGO is ‘building’ toward a better future. European Energy has entered into an agreement with The LEGO Group to deliver e-methanol as a lower-carbon alternative to conventional plastic production. Read more…

Sea Turtles, Unicorns Join Cepia’s Pop Art Soft Herd



Cepia, the creator of the Pop Art Soft brand, is expanding its collection of elephant plushies to include sea turtles and unicorns. In addition to the new creatures, the release will also include colorful new elephant designs. Read more…

A Curious En-Tangle-ment: Tangle Creations Faces Off Against Fashion Retailer Aritzia Over Familiar Sculptures

Created by Tanglemaster Richard X Zawitz, Tangle is art, it’s a toy, and it’s a brand that is familiar to millions. Last month, Zawitz filed a lawsuit against Aritzia in a Northern District Court in California over eerily similar sculptures appearing in its stores. Read more…

Crazy Aaron’s Celebrates 25th Anniversary with a Time Capsule



Crazy Aaron’s is celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering fans the chance to contribute artwork, photographs, mementos, and other items to a time capsule. From now through May 10, fans can mail or drop off their contributions to be stowed away alongside Crazy Aaron’s very own keepsakes. Read more…

Take Your ‘Call of Duty’ Battles to Game Night with an Official Board Game



Activision is teaming up with Arcane Wonders to launch a Kickstarter campaign for Call of Duty: The Board Game. Just like the video game, Call of Duty: The Board Game is designed to be an intense, immersive experience. Read more at The Pop Insider…

Alex Toys Plots Chicagoland Grand Opening for New Store Concept



Created by the teams from Toys "R" Us Canada, FYE, and Everest Toys, Alex Toys takes its name from the classic toy brand that was acquired by Doug Putman. Alex Toys features an extensive range of toys for kids and collectors, including many brands not typically stocked in big-box stores. Learn more…

WHP Partners with El Puerto de Liverpool to Bring Toys ‘R’ Us to Mexico



WHP Global, the parent company of Toys “R” Us, is partnering with El Puerto de Liverpool to launch Toys “R” Us in Mexico. The partnership will result in flagship stores across Mexico as well as a robust e-commerce platform. Read more…

Bed, Bath, & Broke: Bed Bath & Beyond Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection



Bed Bath & Beyond is winding down its retail operations after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey. The company said that it intends to keep its websites and the remaining 360 Bed Bath & Beyond and 120 buybuy BABY stores open for the time being. Read more…

Amazon Takes Action Against Counterfeiters with New Anti-Counterfeiting Exchange



The company’s Anti-Counterfeiting Exchange (ACX) is an industry partnership designed to make it safer to shop online and more difficult for counterfeiters to move among different stores to attempt to sell counterfeit products. Read more…

Mattel Kicks Off Q1 Earnings Season; Doubles Down on Full-Year Guidance

The first quarter was a challenging one for Mattel with net sales falling 22% to $815 million amid the beginning of a reset year for much of the toy industry. Despite double-digit declines, the company remains confident in its multiyear growth strategy and has doubled down on its guidance for 2023. Read more…

Hasbro Considers Sale of eOne Division to Founder Darren Throop



Hasbro is in talks to sell its Entertainment One (eOne) Film & TV business. Its founder and former CEO, Darren Throop, is said to be one of the main contenders, with the backing of private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. Read more…

Sam Edelman to Keynote Licensing Expo 2023

Informa Markets’ Global Licensing Group tapped fashion and footwear designer Sam Edelman to keynote the event in June. Edelman will be joined by Robert D’Loren, CEO and Chairman of Xcel Brands, to discuss how their brand built its fashion empire and expanded through licensing across multiple categories. Read more…

Roz Nowicki Joins Fabacus as Board Advisor



Industry veteran, global brand builder, and licensing executive Rosalind ‘Roz’ Nowicki has been appointed to Fabacus’ Board of Advisors. Fabacus is a data management and bureau service for the licensing industry and developer of the proprietary data management software platform, Xelacore. Read more…