Page 8 - Toy & Hobby Retailer Magazine May-July 2019

TOY, HOBBY AND LICENSING FAIR 2019
2019 ATA AWARD WINNERS
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
• Toy of the Year: Boppi The Booty Shakin Llama
• Action TOTY: Treasure X Aliens - Moose Enterprise
• AustralianDevelopmentAward:HairDooz Cutie Case - HeadStart International
• Collectable TOTY: Lego Minifigures - Lego Australia
• Construction TOTY: Vex Robotics Offroad Truck - Innovation First International
• Craft & Activity TOTY: TYBO Design Studio - Modern Brands
• DollTOTY:Snapstar-BigWheelToys
• EducationalTOTY:Lalaboom
Interconnected Beads - Jasnor (Australia)
• Electronic TOTY: Boppi the Booty Shakin
Llama - All Brands Toys
• Games TOTY: Tiny Pong - Hasbro AU
• HobbyTOTY:JigpixSmartJigsawPuzzle-
Funtastic Limited
• Infant/Preschool TOTY: Imaginext DC
Super Friends Transforming Batmobile
RC - Mattel
• Outdoor TOTY: Rollplay Nighthawk -
Hunter Products
• PlushTOTY:BiGiggles8InchTalkingPlush Teddy - HeadStart International
• Specialty Award: Project Thunder - Big Wheel Toys
LICENCE OF THE YEAR
• Girls License of the Year: Lol Surprise - Haven
• Boys License of the Year: Avengers Infinity Wars - The Walt Disney Company
• Pre-School License of the Year: PJ Masks
- Entertainment One
• Boutique License of the Year: Hey
Duggee - BBC Studios
• Best Promotional Campaign: Jojo Siwa -
Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products
STAND OF THE YEAR
• BestShellSchemeStand:RoyalSelangor
• Best Open Space Stand up to 100sqm:
Bobangles
• Best Open Space Stand 101sqm-200sqm:
Jasnor AUS
• Best Open Space Stand 200sqm+:
Educational Experience
• Best New Exhibitor Stand: Mizzie the
Kangaroo
Popi Doli product utilises elements of surprise and incorporates the unboxing experience into the play, as the box becomes the playset where kids can play with the doll. This product resonated with me as I had actually made an exploding box for my boyfriend on one of our anniversaries and had filled each section with photos of us together – cheesy, I know – so I found it interesting that this had now become a toy.
Over at the Crown & Andrews | Goliath stand
the team were showcasing four new iterations of the iconic Rubik's Cube. Rubik's Orbit takes the cube out of the Rubik's Cube and replaces it with a spherical shape which requires solving all six, 360 degree rings, so that they're matching the entire way round. The Rubik's Cage is a modern twist on tic, tac, toe and can be played by up to four players. Players try to get three-in-a-row by twisting and turning the cube, while also reshuffling the cube to deter opponents. The Rubik's Edge is a single-layer cube where only the corner pieces can move around, while the Rubik's Colour Block is the ultimate Rubik's challenge. July is set to be a big month for the Rubik's brand, as
the World Cube Association (WCA) will hold the 10th WCA Speedcubing World Championship in Melbourne, of which Rubik's is the major sponsor.
As my first Melbourne Toy Fair came to a close, although exhausted, I felt energised for the year ahead. No matter the retail conditions, no matter the global challenges, these brilliant Aussie businesses are just getting on with it.
The Australian Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair will return in 2020 from 01 to 04 March. ❉
2019 RISING STAR AND HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
RISING STAR – ALAN NGOV
The Rising Star Award is awarded to an individual under 40 who has made a significant contribution to the industry
and in 2019, the recipient of this award
was national sales manager at HeadStart International, Alan Ngov. “Alan received the award in recognition of his leadership skills and overall passion for the toy industry,” the ATA says. “He has been described as one of the most likeable, intelligent and hardworking people at HeadStart with an innate ability to breakdown issues and solve problems collaboratively.”
HALL OF FAME–
MAURICE LEVY
Maurice Levy was inducted into the ATA’s Hall of Fame in 2019. Maurice and his wife Viviane, started a toy business in 1964 after immigrating to Australia. Through 20 years of hard work, determination and a hunger to succeed, that business is today known as MJM Australia, with sons Jacques and Marcel now operating the business. “Maurice was passionate and enthusiastic about the toy industry – it was his second family. He worked relentlessly and tirelessly to find products for Australian children. His motto was honesty and integrity. His word was his bond,” the ATA says.
8 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER MAY / JULY 2019