Page 6 - Toy & Hobby Retailer Magazine June-July 2020

NEWS
FROM THE NEWS DESK
IN BRIEF
◗ HOME GROWN BRANDS OFFERS FREE ORDERING SOLUTION
Home Grown Brands offered
the industry a solution to help retailers continue to trade when customers weren't physically coming into the store. Retailers were able to contact Home Grown Brands to have an ordering form personalised to their store. The retailer then used the form across social media
and emails to allow customers
to order from them - without
the retailer needing to have an ordering or payment system
on their website. Customers filled out the form with want
they wanted to order - didn’t have to be Home Grown Brands' products - and then the form
was sent straight to the retailer to fulfil. Home Grown Brands offered this solution for free to the industry.
Chris Loverso joins ATA Board
THE Australian Toy Association welcomed Big Balloon's director sales and marketing Chris Loverso to
the Board in April. Taking up a director nominated position
- alongside Meagan Sanders of Disney and Claus Kristensen of Lego Australia - Loverso brings his 17 years experience in the industry to the organisation. Speaking on his appointment, Loverso said that it is an interesting time to be a part of the ATA Board. “I am excited to be joining the Board of the Australian Toy Association. I look forward to working with fellow Board members and contributing to their work
for our great industry. It is a unique and challenging time to be joining the board. I hope to be able to support ATA members and retailers, so we come out of this strong and united," he said. ❉
VTech launches #LearnThroughThis
Zuru
acquires
Glove-A-
Bubbles
NEW Zealand-based toy company Zuru acquired the award-winning Glove-A- Bubbles brand from Zing in May. Created by Ogosport and sold to the market by outdoor and games experts Zing, Glove-A-Bubbles is a glove with holes that makes bubbles when the glove is dipped in bubble soap and waved through the air. The Glove-A-Bubbles brand joins Zuru’s other outdoor brands including Bunch O Balloons and X-Shot. ❉
◗ LEGO SALES UP AS FAMILIES STAY IN
Lego sales on eBay saw their biggest spike this year during the Lego Masters season
two debut, up 92 per cent
week on week. The majority
of Lego fans went to eBay between 8-9pm where more than three Lego items sold every minute. In the 24 hours following the show, Aussies spent $150,000 on Lego. Lego has also been a popular option for entertainment during quarantine with eBay data revealing since lockdown began shoppers have been buying Lego every minute on the site, with sales up 64 per cent year- on-year. Spending on Lego is also forecast to grow 33 per cent in 2020 to around $30 million.
VTECH Electronics
Australia announced its #LearnThroughThis campaign in April, encouraging families
to remain positive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilising its two brands, VTech and LeapFrog, the campaign aims to support children and families through
this time through educational and creative activities. The business is offering comprehensive resources
including free content such as articles, printable activity books and educational activities curated by its team of learning experts; an extended free trial of its learning program, LeapFrog Academy; and, recommendations for products that deliver key learning and developmental activities such as reading, writing and role-play. In addition to these resources, VTech has also partnered with Save the Children Australia to support vulnerable families. Through both the VTech and LeapFrog socials, children and parents
will be encouraged to create a drawing that sends a message of hope and positivity to families in need. For every drawing shared, VTech will donate one toy to Save the Children Australia, up to $50,000 worth of VTech and LeapFrog toys. ❉
6 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER MAY / JUNE / JULY 2020