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Issue: 145 November 2013
MEET THE TEAM
Samantha Loveday Editor
Samantha.Loveday@intentmedia.co.uk
Billy Langsworthy Deputy Editor
Billy.Langsworthy@
intentmedia.co.uk
Robert Hutchins Staff Writer
Robert.Hutchins@
intentmedia.co.uk
Jodie Holdway Sales Manager
Jodie.Holdway@intentmedia.co.uk
Abigail Fanger Senior Production Manager
Abigail.Fanger@intentmedia.co.uk
Lisa Carter Publisher
Lisa.Carter@
intentmedia.co.uk
Editorial: 01992 535646 Advertising: 01992 535647
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Regulars 06 News 14 NPD Analysis 15 Playtime 15 Campaign of the Month 16 Industry Movers 19 Exclusive Dubit Research 20 Industry Opinion 22 Toy Shop UK 32 Good Toy Guide 72 Toy Talk 74 Jon Salisbury
Features 12 Analysis: LEGO Cusoo 24 The Big Interview: Jumbo 26 Sector Focus: Dinosaurs 30 Supplier Profile: Jakks 34 Anatomy of a Blockbuster Toy: Forever Friends 37 Toy Fair TV
Licensing.biz 38 News 40 BLE 2013: The Verdict
Pre-School (sponsored by VTech Baby) 43 News 44 A Parent Blogger’s View 47 Sector Guide
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Retail 54 News 55 Counter Insurgent 56 The Big Interview: Waterstones 58 Recommended 60 Retail Advisory Board 62 Mystery Shopper: Colchester & Essex/Suffolk Boarders 64 Indie Profile: The Cinema Store 67 Sector Guide: Wheeled Toys
Show stories COMMENT
The likes of Doc McStuffins,
Monster High and Sofia the First are a reminder that new brands can, and do, succeed.
FOR US and many others in the toy trade, Brand Licensing Europe marks the start of show season and the beginning of the Christmas run in. The next few weeks will see us attending a number of events and previews up and down the country, as well as finalising details of our special Toy Fair 2014 and Spielwarenmesse issue. And maybe sneaking in a couple of Christmas parties along the way. The industry always seems to pick itself up after BLE, as if the show is a marker in the sand for when we can start to feel optimistic. And there was certainly an air of optimism around Olympia last month. A number of the licensors I met
with – and who have given feedback for our show review in this issue – expressed confidence with how licensees and retailers were reacting to their brands. Those that had been risk averse
before are beginning to consider new properties again – a true sign that confidence is returning to the market. The likes of Doc
McStuffins, Sofia the First, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand Monster High among others have reminded the wider industry that new brands can, and do, succeed. It’s also encouraging to read about firms as varied as Character Options, The In Thing and Goldfish & Bison stating they expect strong starts to 2014 (see our news section this month). Character is particularly buoyant – helped in no small part to the fact it has what many were calling the next hot licence at BLE, Minecraft, in its stable. Expect to see more the next time the toy industry returns to Olympia in January.
Samantha Loveday ToyNews takes soundings from its Retail Advisory Board on toy industry issues. The current members are: RETAIL AD ADVISORY BOAR ARD
WELCOME
Stuart Grant, The Entertainer
Fiona Murray-Young, Toys R Us
www.toynews-online.biz
Andrea Abbis, Argos
Brian Simpson, Toytown
Tom Folliot, Sainsbury’s
Marc Dean, Morrisons
Annalise Quest, Harrods
Steph Strike, Asda
Ian Edmunds, Toymaster
Ben Redhead, Firebox
Steven Bradley, Boots
Helen Gourley, Toy Hub
Miles Penhallow, Play-Room
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