Page 32 - Toy & Hobby Dec-Jan 2020

HEADLINE MAKERS
YEAR IN REVIEW
Looking back on 2019
JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2019
ON THE COVER: CROWN & ANDREWS | GOLIATH GAMES
NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2018
ON THE COVER: VENTURA GAMES
MGA ENTERTAINMENT COMING TO AUSTRALIA Chairman and CEO of American toy company MGA Entertainment, Isaac Larian, announced in November on LinkedIn that an Australian office of the business would be opening in February 2019. In the post, Larian announced that Sapienza Salerno was to be the managing director of the Australian arm and was to be based in Sydney. Larian also thanked CEO
of Headstart International, Andrew Hendy and the Headstart team for the work they had previously done in the Australian market on behalf of MGA.
KID-INFLUENCER PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN AUSTRALIA Australia's very first safe, kid-influencer, incubator program was launched in November by digital media company TotallyAwesome. The program, called the Squadstar Academy, helps to develop kids' talents and assist them with making videos and content for social platforms. The program also teaches kids about being a kid-safe and brand-safe influencer, as well as safety and privacy in the digital space.
its European expansion plans and grow its portfolio of properties.
MODERN BRANDS ADDS
BRIO TO PORTFOLIO
Modern Brands began distributing the Swedish toy range Brio in Australia and New Zealand
in December 2018. Brio became a part of the Ravensburger Group – the toy range of which Modern Brands has been distributing for 43 years – in 2015 and produces simple toys under the mission statement of, “creating happy childhood memories.” General manager of Modern Brands, Tim Clarke, said that the company was thrilled to add Brio to its portfolio of brands. “Australia and New Zealand are very relevant and important markets for the Brio brand. We are both honoured and excited to represent Brio and look forward to working with our retail partners to build the brand in both markets,” he said.
DAVID JONES OPENS DISNEY- THEMED FLOOR
Department store David Jones opened its Disney themed floor, David Jones Kids in December. The floor is located on the ninth level of its redeveloped Elizabeth Street
store. The floor features five Disney inspired neighbourhoods – The 100 Acre Wood, the Marvel Zone, the Star Wars galaxy, the Disney Princess area and the High Street – and provides an experiential place to shop, play and explore. It houses the latest in kids' toys, games, books, puzzles and fashion from Australian and international brands.
AND THE WINNERS ARE...
Toy & Hobby Retailer was thrilled to announce the winners of its Business Excellence Awards. Putting the focus on people, the program highlighted Australian toy businesses who are leading the way in innovation and business excellence. The winners were:
• Small Retailer of the Year – Knock on Wood Toys
• Large Retailer of the Year – Toymate
• Online Retailer of the Year – Crayons
• Most Innovative Licensing Partnership –
Centa IP partnered with Headstart
• Most Innovative Shop Display – Toymate • Business Technology Initiative
– Johnco Productions
CATCH EXPANDS TO MEET CUSTOMER DEMAND
Australian online retailer, Catch, doubled the size of its Chadstone pop-up store to meet consumer demand during the Christmas period. Housed in the ex-Toys R Us site in the shopping centre, the pop-up expanded its floor space from 500sqm to 1000sqm and increased the number of products from the top 500 sellers to the top 1000. The pop-up traded until the end of January.
JASNOR AUSTRALIA WELCOMES NEW CEO
Former sales and marketing director at Jasnor Australia, James Thurlow, was appointed
to CEO of the business in January. Prior to Thurlow’s appointment Jasnor did not have a CEO and Thurlow's father, Noel Thurlow, had been serving as the managing director for over 20 years, but moved to operate as the chairman of the board. James
has been working
for Jasnor for over a
decade and Noel said
that his leadership and
relationship building
skills forged over his
career is what helped
solidify the decision.
MOOSE MOVES ON
WORLDS APART
Australian toy business, Moose Toys, announced its acquisition of UK toy business, Worlds Apart in November. Worlds Apart is recognised for its work on popular properties such as Ready Beds, Kid Active and Scruff-a- Luvs. Moose acquired the business to bolster
32 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER NOVEMBER / DECEMBER / JANUARY 2020