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Regulars 06 News 10 Campaign of the Month 10 Playtime 11 NPD Analysis 12 Industry Movers 14 Industry Opinion 40 Toy Shop UK 58 Jon Salisbury
Issue: 152 July 2014
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
Florence Beaumont Production Executive fl
orence.beaumont@
intentmedia.co.uk
Tom Carpenter Designer
tom.carpenter@
intentmedia.co.uk
Lisa Carter Publisher
lisa.carter@
intentmedia.co.uk
Editorial: 01992 535646 Advertising: 01992 535647
www.toynews-online.biz
Retail 37 News 38 Indie Profi le: Bus Stop Toy Shop
42 Mystery Shopper: Suff olk 45 Sector Guide: Construction 53 Sector Guide: Dress up/Role play
Features 17 Tech Vs Traditional: Retailers’ view
18 Tech Vs Traditional: Manufacturers’ view
20 Tech Vs Traditional: Carte Blanche interview
22 Tech Vs Traditional: iGen Insight research
24 Tech Vs Traditional: Play Diets
27 Working with inventors
Licensing.biz 29 News
Pre-school (sponsored by VTech Baby) 33 News 34 A Parent Blogger’s View
Is it too simple to say traditional toys equal
wholesome fun? Do tablets really deserve to get such a bad rep? Can’t we just all get along?
COMMENT Tech gamble
WHY HAS Sam adopted an old-fashioned, yet still remarkably trendy quiff for the July issue?
Just one question you may ask yourself when peering to the left to see Sam’s wonderful mug has changed. Well, this month, Sam headed off to Las
Vegas to bring you all the highlights of this year’s Licensing Expo (our coverage starts on page 29). And while she was schmoozing with
Grumpy Cat in Sin City, like any decent deputy editor, I’ve leapt into the hot seat to pen this month’s comment. As our cover reveals, this is our Tech Vs
Traditional special which sees us look at what the industry thinks about the recent arguments around tech and traditional toys. Is it too simple to say traditional toys equal wholesome fun? Are tablets really turning our playgrounds into something resembling a primary school production of Night of the Living Dead? Can’t we just all get along? The vast majority seem to believe the
key is moderation, that a healthy play diet (a term explored on page 24) is a balanced one. However there are some who feel tech presents a genuine threat to children’s attention span and learning capabilities. As well as toy manufacturers and
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retailers, our Parent Network coloumn this month from Emma Button (page 34) off ers an interesting perspective on the debate. Both parents in the Button family write software for a living, yet she maintains they are far from “a family of square-eyed, unsociable individuals.” Personally, I fall on the side which champions balance. The educational capabilities of apps and tablets simply can’t be ignored. Likewise, traditional toys off er children something that can’t be replicated or easily replaced. If you still have a face like a smacked arse due to the World Cup, I hope this issue can help out, whether you’re swiping through the issue on a tablet or risking the wrath of a paper cut with a good old fashioned physical copy. Also, I’ll let you know if Sam returns from
Las Vegas with an Elvis-inspired quiff . If so, I’ll have to try a new look. Suggestions on a postcard please. (On second thoughts, email would be easier.)
Billy.Langsworthy@
intentmedia.co.uk RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD ToyNews takes soundings from its Retail Advisory Board on toy industry issues. The current members are:
WELCOME
Stuart Grant, The Entertainer
Fiona
Murray-Young, Toys R Us
www.toynews-online.biz
Linzi Walker, Argos
Brian Simpson, Toytown
Clare Barton, Sainsbury’s
Neil Mitchell, Shop Direct
Annalise Quest, Harrods
Steph Strike, Asda
Ben Redhead, Firebox
Steven Bradley, Boots
Helen Gourley, Toy Hub
Miles Penhallow, Play-Room
Karla Mitchell, XBite
July 05
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