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Slow Toys 2012 announced at Selfridges
The winning products were offi cially unveiled in Selfridge’s Oxford Street store at 9am on October 30th. The Slow Toy 2012 winners were: Wonderworld – Wonderworld Eco House Coiledspring – Rory’s Story Cubes BigJigs – Triangular Activity Centre Totseat – Oobicoo P’kolino – Multi Solution Puzzle My Wonder – Wondercube Play to Z – Stacking Hoops
Selfridge’s support of the Slow Toys of 2012 will see the products on sale in the toy department throughout the festive season. The Slow Toy movement and its awards aim to recognise toys that are well made, inspire the mind and provide children more than noise and fl ashing lights. The judges are all confi dent the fi nal list has uncovered some great examples. Founder of the original movement, Thierry Bourret, said: “I have always longed for this level of appreciation for good quality, well- made toys that encourage traditional play and stimulate a child’s imagination. I am overwhelmed that not only have we found seven wonderful products, we have also managed to team up with one of the country’s most prestigious departments stores to help spread the word.”
GP Flair’s Peter and Andrew Brown honoured at TAGIEs
Peter and Andrew Brown of GP Flair have been jointly acknowledged for their charitable achievements at the 2012 Toy and Games Industry Awards. The event was held at the
prestigious Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago on Friday 16th November 2012, where the father and son toy industry personalities were presented with the Hassenfeld Family Humanitarian Award, for their contribution to The Toy Trust. The accolade was also, in their opinion, a true refl ection on the whole of the UK toy industry which year on year raises huge amounts of money for disadvantaged children. Each year, the Hassenfeld Family Humanitarian award is presented to an outstanding toy industry individual or duo that has contributed to humanitarian causes over the years, and shown a true dedication to those less fortunate than themselves. Typically an American accolade, it was with great honour and privilege that Peter and Andrew accepted the award. Peter Brown commented: “It is a truly overwhelming feeling to be
recognised at the TAGIE Awards alongside my son. I feel incredibly blessed at having enjoyed a career in this wonderful industry that provides creative discoveries to the next generation. It’s been a privilege for Andrew and I to work with our Toy Trust and UK toy industry friends who together have raised close to $5million for disadvantaged children.”
14 Toyworld
Meccano releases Meccano FX iPhone App
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Bandai Power Ranger sales enjoy +104% increase
Power Rangers Super Samurai sales have shown a +104% increase YTD Oct 2012, according to NPD data. Power Rangers has maintained growth since the launch of the Power Rangers Super Samurai toy range in July and the series launch on Nickelodeon in August, as well as the Power Rangers series launch on Channel 5. Andrew Welch, senior product manager for Power Rangers at Bandai UK, commented: “It’s great to see the increasing popularity and demand for the Power Rangers toys with consumers. Since the launch of our new Super Samurai range we have continued to see strong sales increases week on week, with Bandai making the decision to air-freight key lines across their range ensuring more stock arrives before Christmas. Power Rangers is a key brand for us, and next year is a busy year with Power Rangers Super Samurai for the fi rst half of the year and the eagerly anticipated Power Rangers MegaForce TV show, and toy line launch in the second half, plus the rangers celebrating their 20th Anniversary.”
Steve Wells is new Fence Club chairman
The Fence Club recently held its AGM at the Marriot Hotel where new chairman Steve Wells was presented with his chain of offi ce by outgoing chairman John Athwal. Turner’s Simon Cox was also welcomed as a new member into the club. Picture caption: John Athwal presenting Steve Wells with his chain of offi ce (left); Simon Cox being welcomed by Steve Wells as a new member (right).
The Meccano FX App, available on the iTunes Store, lets users add Meccano construction sets with augmented reality technology into their own videos to produce sci-fi scenes straight out of the movies, with themselves as the star. Six different scenarios are available. Marking the launch of the App is a sci-fi movie short on YouTube. ‘Invasion has
begun’ shows Meccano models massing in Earth’s orbit as they prepare to invade. Set on the streets of Paris, the movie features Parisian landmarks as Meccano models swarm over the city. You can view the one-minute movie by visiting:
www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Yk0DWIPYTFI.
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