Page 25 - Toy & Hobbby Retailer Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

began producing a plastic brick in 1949, but
it was not until nine years later – and several iterations – that in 1958 the the iconic design of the familiar Lego brick arrived. The group celebrated 60 years on 28 January.
ECO TOYS ENTERS VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION Victoria-based, sustainably-focussed, independent toy store, Eco Toys, was placed under ASIC External and/or Controller- Appointed Administration in February. According to documents filed with ASIC at the time, there were no court actions, payment defaults or insolvency notices registered against the entity.
2017 GLOBAL TOY SALES ESSENTIALLY FLAT
According to figures collected by the NPD Group, in 2017 the toy industry rose by
one per cent total in just 12 global markets including Mexico, Russia, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Spain, the US, Germany, Italy, France, Australia and the UK. Global sales reached US$20.7 billion, driven largely by fidget toys, slime, dolls and collectibles, however Australia, the UK and France experienced declines of two per cent, three per cent and one per cent, respectively.
2018 ATA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARDS
• TOTY 2018: Crate Creatures – Headstart
International
• TOTY Action: Mecard Mecardimal deluxe
assortment – Mattel
• TOTY Craft and Activity: Cra-Z-Slimy
Creations: Super Slime Studio – Hunter
Products
• TOTY Games: At Home Toy Arcade Game
system – Mortal Combat II – Hunter Products
• TOTY Collectable: LOL Surprise Confetti
Pop assortment – Headstart International
• TOTY Construction: Lego City Mining
Experts Site – Lego Australia & New Zealand
• TOTY Doll: Emma Ballerina Feature Doll –
Hunter Products
• TOTY Outdoor: Inflatabull – All Brands Toys • TOTY Infant/Preschool: First Steps Baby
Walker – Vtech
• TOTY Plush: Crate Creatures – Headstart
International
• TOTY Electronic: Dino Bites – Headstart
International
• Hobby Product: Aarma 1:10 scale Granite
Voltage Electric Monster Truck – Southern
Model Supplies
• Educational Product: Tobbie the Robot
– Johnco
• Boys Licence of the Year: Star Wars – The
Walt Disney Company
• Girls Licence of the Year: Barbie – Mattel • Best Promotional Campaign: Marvel Hero
Super Discs – The Walt Disney Company • Preschool Licence of the Year: Paw Patrol
– Nickelodeon
• Boutique Licence Entertainment & Character:
Sesame Street – Haven Licensing
• Australian Development Award: Best Furry
Friends – Headstart International
• Specialty Award winner: Flight Lab Innovator 6-in-1 – Big Wheel Toys
• Best Shell Scheme Stand: Johnco
• Best Open Space Stand up to 100sqm:
Artiwood Educational Toys
• Best Open Space Stand 101sqm-200sqm:
Banter Toys & Collectibles
• Best Open Space Stand over 200sqm: Hasbro • Best New Exhibitor Stand: Les Folies
BELOW: 2018 ATA Product of the Year Award Winners.
25 YEAR CLUB WELCOMES 16 NEW MEMBERS
The ATA welcomed 16 new members into the 25 Year Club during its annual toy fair event. New inductees and standing members took the opportunity to catch up and enjoy light refreshments and a view of the Yarra and the Melbourne city skyline.
The 2018 inductees into the ATA 25 Year Club are:
• Bruce Tucker
• Steven Howard
• Bill Davis
• Gail Mitchell
• Terry Allegos
• Wayne Coghlan
• Stephen Pettigrew • Chris Robson
• Rob Smith
• Peter Berg
• Jonathan Schaffer • Diane Schaffer
• Jeremy Kirk-Smith • Loretta Lewis
• Chris Kalenco
• Peter Bando
SPIN MASTER ACQUIRES GUND
Canadian toymaker, Spin Master, acquired Gund, the oldest soft toy brand in the United States, from private equity firm Enesco, held by Balmoral Funds. The purchase consideration was US$79.1 million, which was settled
using Spin Master’s internally generated cash resources and its credit facility. The acquisition of Gund closed on 1 April 2018. The purchase of Gund is 20th acquisition Spin Master has made since its founding in 1994, and the ninth since its initial public offering in 2015.
QLD RETAILERS BAND TOGETHER TO COMBAT SCAMMERS
Retailers from the Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley participated in a new initiative – the SafeCity Network – created by the National Retail Association (NRA) in conjunction with Crime Stoppers. The trial program consisted
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of a series of workshops that allowed retailers to share their experiences of retail crime and outlined how participating businesses could utilise new reporting channels and technology to share information on scammers and thieves with each other.
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TOYS R US AUSTRALIA
GOES BUST
After months of uncertainty, Toys R Us Australia (TRUA) announced that it
entered voluntary administration after the remaining bidder withdrew their offer. After administrators at McGrathNicol explored options for the sale of the business to no avail, all 44 stores, including Babies R Us, across the country were liquidated.
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER 25
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