Regulars 6 News 10 Exclusive NPD analysis 12 Campaign of the Month 12 Playtime 14 Industry Movers 16 Dubit research 18 Industry Opinion 67 Marketplace 72 ToyTalk 74 Jon Salisbury
Features 20 Toys on YouTube 24 2012 Review of the Year 28 The Big Interview: Spin Master
30 Stardoll 32 Nuremberg 2013 35 Toy Fair Photo Quiz
Retail 37 News 39 Counter Insurgent 40 Indie Profile 42 Recommended 45 The Good Toy Guide 46 Sector Guide: Pocket Money Toys
In with the new COMMENT
MAKEOVERS traditionally come as part of the New Year’s resolution making process, so it’s only fitting that we’re unveiling our new- look to our readers in the last issue of 2012. The news front cover will have
“A greater emphasis on exclusive news means we can bring you the best stories from all corners of the business.”
been your first clue to our spruce up – and this is just one of the changes we have made to underline our strengths. We pride ourselves on being able to deliver exclusive news to the industry each month – not just re- runs of stories you will have already seen online. A greater emphasis on news means we can bring you the best stories from all corners of the business. Just one example is our cover story –we surveyed a cross section of parents to find out how much they’re planning to spend on gifts for their children this Christmas. And it makes for interesting reading. We’ve also introduced the
ToyNews Retail Advisory Board (see page six). Each month a select group of key retailers will discuss their views on the latest trends and challenges in the market. Feel free to email us with any questions you would like us to put to them. Our exclusive deal with NPD for monthly data continues, as does our involvement with the Good Toy Guide, Dubit and Generation Media. We’ve also placed more emphasis on your opinions, with a dedicated section each month. We hope you like the changes
we’ve made, and we welcome any feedback. After all, we are here to support the trade and reflect what is important to you.