September 2023 - Page 8 of 13

Evergreen Licensing Launches Exciting New Snack: Hostess Popcorn

Evergreen Licensing announced that the company has added the iconic Hostess Twinkies and Hostess Ding Dongs brands, from Hostess Brands Inc (NASDAQ:TWNK), to its lineup in the fast-growing licensed popcorn category. These Evergreen and Hostess snacks are available now. “We are very proud to work with the Hostess Brands team to create this tasty popcorn treat. Our goal is always to look for innovative ways to extend our licensing platform and bring new products to our retail partners and consumers,” said Sue McCabe, President and CMO of Evergreen Licensing. “We would like to thank the Global Icons team for their support and efforts in facilitating this opportunity with Hostess Brands.”

Super Impulse Brings Pop-Culture-Fueled Showcase to New York Toy Fair

Super Impulse is making a big return to New York Toy Fair (NYTF) this year with hot new releases from its flagship and emerging brands: World’s Smallest, Poptaters, 3.75, Micro Figures and Minis-in-Minis Sugar Buzz, featuring Hershey brands. From September 30th to October 3rd, attendees are invited to visit booth 1935 to see their favorite brands and characters come to life in dynamic, collectible form!

Crazy Aaron’s Land of Dough Now Carried at Target Stores Nationwide

Crazy Aaron’s, which continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2023, announced that its award-winning Land of Dough is now available at select Target stores nationwide. Land of Dough offers kids and adults a dough experience unlike anything in the dough play universe today. It’s unparalleled softness and feel along with its whimsical designs, allows you to create, sculpt, and build like never before. Land of Dough is made with the finest quality ingredients and care and will deliver a fun and unique experience the whole family will enjoy! Land of Dough is handcrafted on Main Street USA right alongside Crazy Aaron’s world-famous Thinking Putty.

PlayMonster and TigerHead Toys Bring Girls’ Collectible Pinky Promise Gemmy Friends to the US Market in Spring 2024

PlayMonster Group LLC, a leading toy and game company, is excited to announce its strategic distribution agreement with TigerHead Toys for the US market launch of the highly-sought-after girls’ collectible line, Pinky Promise Gemmy Friends. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion. Pinky Promise Gemmy Friends has captured the hearts of children and collectors with its imaginative play and vibrant designs of collectible characters with wearable accessories. Through this new partnership, PlayMonster Group and TigerHead Toys are set to enhance the brand’s presence in the US market, building on the success it has already achieved in markets like the UK with Bandai and Spain with Bizak, along with several other European, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Asian countries that has set the stage for an equally impressive journey in the US.

Hess Toy Truck Releases Extremely Rare Collector’s Edition Explorer Boat

Fans asked; Hess Toy Truck delivered. After decades of requests for another boat, the first of which triggered a fan frenzy upon release, Hess Toy Truck has finally delivered the second boat ever produced as a full-size Hess Toy. It’s extremely rare. This is only one of three Collector’s Edition models ever made, and it will be produced in extremely limited quantities. Five years after the release of the last Collector’s Edition – which celebrated Hess Corporation’s 85th anniversary – this stunning Explorer ship and helicopter combination commemorates Hess Corporation’s 90th Anniversary, now with a bigger and bolder design, inspired by the Company’s offshore operations.

Cloud b Unveils Revolutionary Sleep Innovation: The Cloud Box

Cloud b, the pioneers in creating products designed for children’s well-being and quality sleep, is pleased to unveil the Cloud Box, a unique storyteller and projection nightlight for babies and children just in time for the holiday season. Built with patented technology, the Cloud Box features 36 original stories, eight melodies and eight distinct white noises that are synchronized with four custom light projections. The custom light projections change with each story to create an audiovisual spectacle that helps soothe babies and immerse children into magical worlds that promote the use and development of their imagination.

Toy Industry Vets, Educators and Mentors Join the People of Play Young Inventor Challenge Advisory Board

People of Play (POP), host of the preeminent toy and game industry events that occur during Chicago Toy & Game Week, is honored to announce the formation of an advisory board for the Young Inventor Challenge (YIC), a toy and game design and pitch competition for children ages 6 to 18 that is held during the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. “2023 marks the 17th year of the Young Inventor Challenge and has grown so much recently that we knew it was time to put an advisory board together,” said Mary Couzin, founder and president of People of Play. “Recent partnerships with ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailing Association) and Happy Camper Live (a company that brings the fun of summer camp to kids 365 days a year) have brought our program to thousands more young inventors! Expansion also means we need more mentors, judges and sponsors. Please reach out to us if you are interested!”

Fade Collection Naturalistas Purpose Toys

Purpose Toys Announces Expansion of Popular Naturalistas Doll Line with Fade Collection

DeeDee Wright-Ward, creator of viral Naturalistas Natural Hair Fashion Dolls and CEO of Purpose Toys (the nation’s largest and most widely distributed Blackowned culture-driven international toy company, and leader in natural hair products and culture-driven products for kids) announces the expansion of their flagship line Naturalistas, with the forthcoming release of their latest brand, “Fade Collection”! “Fade Collection” is a line of 11.5-inch contemporary “cultural-Action Figures” that aim to celebrate the warmth and influence of Black Barber Culture, our unique approach to expression through hair, and overall “Celebration of Cutz, Community and Culture,” stated DeeDee WrightWard, creator of Naturalistas, Fade Collection and CEO of Purpose Toys.

The Licensing Awards 2023 Announces Winners

The winners of the 2023 Licensing Awards have been crowned in a glittering ceremony, with over 1,200 industry executives filling The Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel for an evening of celebration. The event opened with a special message from Angry Birds’ Red, before Jakki Brown, director at Max Publishing (which owns and organises The Licensing Awards), officially welcomed everyone, saying: “It is incredible seeing everyone here at what is the largest Licensing Awards event for many, many years. I have a feeling it will be a night to remember. Tonight, there are almost 1,300 of us here all to celebrate everything that is great about our industry. These awards exist only because of you. Licensing, to be successful, needs everyone to work together. This event is testament to the enormous talent, passion, commitment and engagement from all strands of our industry.”