Page 34 - Toy & Hobby Dec-Jan 2020

HEADLINE MAKERS
YEAR IN REVIEW
TOYS R US OFFICIALLY MAKES A COMEBACK
After shuttering operations across the world, Toys R Us (TRU) officially made
a comeback in February. Emerging as a new company called Tru Kids Brands, the business became the parent company of TRU, Babies R Us (BRU), Geoffrey the Giraffe and over 20 consumer toy and baby brands.
ALL BRANDS TOYS TAKES OUT TOY OF THE YEAR WITH BOPPI BOOTY SHAKIN LLAMA
On Sunday 03 March, the Australian Toy Association presented the much-anticipated product and licence awards at the glamourous Gala Dinner, held at the Crown Palladium. The room was packed with over 600 toy industry representatives, ready to eat,
drink and be merry and the awards ceremony kicked off the festivities in style. The coveted Product of the Year awards were announced with All Brands Toys taking out the 2019 Toy of The Year with Boppi The Booty Shakin Llama. The business also snagged the gong for Electronic Toy of the Year for the same product.
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
• Toy of the Year: Boppi The Booty
Shakin Llama
• Action Toy of the Year - Treasure X: Aliens
Single Pack - Moose Enterprise
• Australian Development Award - Hair Dooz
Cutie Case - HeadStart International
• Collectable Range of the Year - Lego
Minifigures - Lego Australia
• Construction Range of the Year - Vex
Robotics Offroad Truck - Hexbug Innovation
First International
• Craft & Activity Toy of the Year - TYBO -
Design Studio - Modern Brands
• Doll of the Year - Snapstar - Big Wheel Toys • Educational Product of the Year Award
- Lalaboom Interconnected Beads and
Accessories 36pc tub - Jasnor (Australia)
• Electronic Toy of the Year - Boppi the Booty
Shakin Llama - All Brands Toys
• Games Toy of the Year - Tiny Pong Hasbro
Australia
• Hobby Product of the Year - Jigpix Smart
Jigsaw Puzzle - Funtastic Limited
• Infant/Preschool Product of the Year -
Imaginext DC Super Friends Transforming
Batmobile RC - Mattel
• Outdoor Toy of the Year - Rollplay
Nighthawk - Hunter Products
• Plush Toy of the Year - BiGiggles 8
Inch Talking Plush Teddy - HeadStart
International
• Specialty Award - Project Thunder
- Big Wheel Toys
LICENSED PROPERTY WINNERS:
• Girls License of the Year - Lol Surprise - Haven
• Boys License of the Year - Marvel 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
BUILD-A-BEAR AUSTRALIA PLACED INTO VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATION
Build-a-Bear Australia was placed into voluntary administration in March, after
the US parent company reported stagnant international growth and a 7.5 per cent drop in revenue. 10 of the 30 Build-a-Bear stores across Australia closed within a fortnight, while the remaining stores continued to trade as normal. The closing locations were: Logan Hyperdome, Kawana, Mt Ommaney, Werribee, Eastland, Garden City (WA), Carousel, Marion, Green Hills and Miranda. Operating costs, including wages and rent,
and a decrease in foot traffic in shopping centres spelled the demise for the 10 Build- A-Bear Australian stores. Later in May,
the business announced it was no longer in administration and saved over 200 jobs and re-opened three store locations in Westifeld Marion (SA), Westfield Miranda (NSW) and Westfield Carousel (WA).
FIRST LEGO CERTIFIED
STORE OPENS IN SYDNEY
The Lego Group, in partnership with the Alceon Group, opened the first Lego certified store in Westfield Bondi Junction in March. Located in the old Jaguar/Land Rover site, the store boasts two levels of fun and was the first of many Lego certified stores to open across the country.
MARCH/ APRIL 2019
ON THE COVER: HASBRO AUSTRALIA
WOOLWORTHS TO SHUT
30 BIG W STORES
Woolworths Group is set to close 16 per
cent of the Big W store network and two distribution centres after completing a network review of the retailer. Over the next three years, 30 Big W stores will close, while two distribution centres – in Monarto, South Australia and Warwick, Queensland – will cease operation at the end of their lease
(F21 and F23 respectively). In July Big W announced the first three locations to close
– Chullora, Auburn and Fairfield in Sydney’s west – which will cease operations in January 2020.
DAVID JACKSON NAMED
AS NEW FUNTASTIC CEO Funtastic appointed a new CEO in April, with David Jackson taking over from former CEO Steven Leighton after he tendered
his resignation in January this year. Before taking up his role at Funtastic, Jackson had most recently served at Britax Childcare
as managing director. Prior to that role, Jackson held CEO positions at Sunbeam Corporation and Escor Group, as well as senior management positions at Myer, Pacific Brands and Pacific Dunlop.
34 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER NOVEMBER / DECEMBER / JANUARY 2020