NEWS
Next-gen consoles a ‘natural step’ for Smyths
Retailer has seen all its PlayStation 4 pre-orders already allocated
By Billy Langsworthy
‘Busiest start to year ahead’ for Character Options
Firm prepares to launch portfolio of licensed toys including Plants vs. Zombies and Mutant Pollutants to UK market
By Robert Hutchins
CHARACTER OPTIONS is preparing for its ‘busiest and most exciting start to a year’ as the firm readies to launch a portfolio of new licensed toys into 2014. Building on the success it has enjoyed in 2013, the firm will be introducing significant new additions to its roster including lines from Minecraft, Plants vs. Zombies, The Mutant Pollutants, SportStars, Disney Princess Palace Pets, The Zelfs, Cra-Z-Loom and ChillFactor Ice Cream Maker. Jerry Healy, Character Options’ marketing director, told ToyNews: “The New Year will certainly be one of the most exciting, as well as busy starts to a year. “There are great new properties for us to bring to market for the New Year, many of which will launch in December, making for excellent foundations for a great 2014.” At the heart of
Character’s Minecraft collection will sit a range of action figures, construction blocks, survival accessories and a Minecraft Storage
06 November We are bringing some great new
properties to the market next year. Jerry Healy, marketing director
Chest, while both Pixellated Plush Animals and a Paper Craft collection will be introduced.
In collectables, the firm
will be celebrating the 2014 arrival of its Plants vs. Zombies Mystery Fun- Dead Figures alongside its brand new range of Mutant Pollutants, a collection of creatures that ‘feed off toxic waste to save the environment.’ Meanwhile, for girls the
range of Palace Pets includes characters such as Cinderella and pooch Pumpkin, Rapunzel and her pony Blondie and Snow White and her rabbit Berry, while the new series of both medium and Li’l Zelf featuring the rare Zelf Ruby are tipped to ‘keep fans occupied throughout the year.’ A pre-Christmas launch
will see the UK debut of the Cra-Z-Loom Bracelet Maker and refill packs, a line that will be supported with both TV and social
media campaigns throughout the year. With many of these additions having already launched across the US, the firm is hoping that the brands’ international successes will translate to the UK market. And Character Options
believes that it will be introducing them at an optimum time, as the UK market begins to see an upturn leading in to the New Year. Healy said: “Our new spring lines have already been really well received by the retailers and what we have coming through for autumn/winter is looking even better. “The market is seeing an upturn and there is greater consumer confidence. Combine this with what we have to offer the retailers and there is a definite positive outlook for the year ahead.” Character Options: 0161 633 9800
SMYTHS HAS spoken out about its decision to stock the Xbox One and PS4. Last month, leading toy specialists The Entertainer and ToyTown told ToyNewswhy it wasn’t right for them, but Smyths sees stocking the next- gen consoles as a ‘natural step’ for the toy retailer. “We are a leading
provider of entertainment products for all ages so stocking both consoles was a natural step for us,” Smyths’ PR and promotions manager Rob Guckian told ToyNews.
“We’ve already seen an
incredible level of consumer demand for Sony and Microsoft’s new games consoles, both tracking well ahead of where their predecessors were at the same stage, with all our PlayStation 4 pre-orders now allocated.” Microsoft’s Xbox One
arrives in the UK on November 15th, while Sony’s PlayStation 4 lands on November 29th. “Gamers are hungry for
the next generation of home consoles and they can’t wait to revolutionise their living rooms,” added Guckian. Smyths: 0203 328 5036
UK a ‘main goal’ for Art of the Brick exhibition
THE UK may soon be hosting the Art of the Brick LEGO exhibition, BME Exhibitions has exclusively told ToyNews.
Art of the Brick is an
exhibition of Nathan Sawaya’s famous LEGO artwork, and after successfully touring the US, is now embarking on its European leg this month. “The European tour will be beginning in Belgium this autumn. Showing at the Bourse in Brussels, it will run from November 2013 through to April 2014,” said Mario Iacampo, executive producer at BME Exhibitions. “After which it will go to Amsterdam Expo, and there are several cities that
are being considered after that.
“One of our main goals is to include the United Kingdom as part of the exhibition tour. We certainly hope to be there soon.” The Art of the Brick
exhibition features over 70 dramatic and reality- bending creations from Sawaya, ranging from his famous Yellow piece to a seven-metre dinosaur made up of 80,000 bricks. “The exhibition brings us all back to our childhood and at the same time allows us to dream about what is possible. LEGO is a material, a building block, but the exhibit is all about art and creation,” concluded Iacampo.
www.toynews-online.biz
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