Category: Events

In celebration of Hasbro’s brand-new Monopoly campaign – All is Fair in Monopoly – the leading toy and game company is getting into the holiday spirit by partnering with SpotHero to offer over 1,000 free parking spots for Black Friday shoppers in five metropolitan US cities on Friday, November 24. In addition to the city specific, Monopoly Free Parking coupons, Monopoly and SpotHero will be offering a 10% off coupon to new and existing SpotHero users that can be used nationwide.

While ToyFest has evolved from a regional toy show for specialty retailers, based in Pomona, CA to a national show in Las Vegas, utilizing both permanent showrooms and temporary booths at the World Market Center Las Vegas, the basics have remained the same. The core value to the Western Toy & Hobby Representatives Association (WTHRA), the toy industry community, camaraderie, and celebration are at its pinnacle during the ToyFest Gala where awards are given to respected industry leaders. The 2024 Gala will see the induction of four members of the WTHRA Hall of Fame including Jan and Ken Hatch, The Erin Griffin Group; Tad Kato, Wildthings; Sandy Lepire and Andrea Peterson, Sunshine Sales; and Bruce Reynolds, Toyology. The Retailer of the Year will be awarded to Dinosaur Farm located in Pasadena, CA. The ToyFest Gala will take place at the Resorts World Lily Ballroom, Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 7:00 PM.

Almost 350 attendees from 20 countries gathered to honor the winners of People of Play (POP)’s 2023 Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards . Sponsors included Disney, Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, Longshore, Spin Master, ASTRA, Nextoy, Super Impulse, Backdrop.com, Baby Paper, Jazwares, Peggy Brown Creative and Barry & Jason Entertainment. Jill Barad, former CEO and Chairman of Mattel, and Rouben Terzian, Co-Founder of BMT Big Monster Toy were honored for Lifetime Achievement Award – presented by Jeffrey Breslow, co-founder BMT.

The Canadian Toy Association (CTA) is pleased to announce the 2023 inductees into the Canadian Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Jon Levy, Founder of Mastermind, Paule Rancourt, Managing Director of KID Toy and Kelly Woon, Vice President of North America Sales of Funrise, will be showcased and awarded for their contributions to the industry on November 16, 2023, at the Hall of Fame Gala Reception and Dinner at the Mississauga Convention Center.

Licensing International is pleased to announce that six licensing professionals will receive the 2023 Global Rising Star Award. For more than a decade, Rising Stars from around the world have been nominated by their peers and recognized for their contributions to, and passion for, the global brand licensing industry. “Licensing International is thrilled to shine a spotlight on the talented young professionals who will become the future leaders of the global brand licensing industry,” said Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “We would also like to say a huge thank you to our Rising Stars committee members, who have the difficult task of selecting among the best of the best.”

People of Play, the organization known for championing toy and game innovators around the world, will honor outstanding achievements at the 16th Annual Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs) on November 3, 2023. With the theme “Heroes of Play” and sponsored by Disney, Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), Longshore and Nextoy, the evening’s festivities, which kick-off at 6:00pm with a preview of the PlayCHIC toy inspired looks that will be on the runway the next day at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. In a year of Barbie everything and everywhere, this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will go to two people that changed the trajectory of Barbie to new heights years ago: Jill Barad, Consultant and former CEO and Chairman of Mattel, and Rouben Terzian, Founder of Terzian Enterprises and Co-Founder of BMT – Big Monster Toy.

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) celebrates the success of its first NAVC HiVE event this week with the Vet Nurse+Tech HiVE in Austin, TX. Veterinary professionals from across the country were at the Palmer Events Center for this three day event designed to elevate and advance the careers of veterinary nurses and technicians. Many of the registrants and attendees were first-time participants in any event, anywhere, fulfilling the NAVC’s goal of providing accessible learning and networking opportunities to all members of the community.

Hasbro, Inc (NASDAQ: HAS), a leading toy and game company, announced Hasbro Girl Innovators of Play at the Girls Leading Change event. In partnership with Girl Up, a girl-centered leadership development initiative of the United Nations Foundation, the program will launch in early 2024 and build on the recent Hasbro Women Innovators of Play, a Challenge that calls for the next great women-led mass-market toy or game. Girl Innovators of Play will include a robust STEM-based bootcamp and invitation to girls between the ages of 13-24 to submit a social impact project idea focused on a cause they are passionate about and receive up to $1,000 in funding to transform that vision into reality.

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is proud to announce its 2023 Wonder Women Winners, who were celebrated at the 18th annual Wonder Women Awards at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York City. The leading global organization focused on advancing and advocating for women in the toy, consumer products, licensing and entertainment industries, also honored Laura Zebersky with the Visionary Leader Award; Lisa McKnight, who received the Trailblazer Award, and Nyla Hayes, recipient of the Future Leader Award. The Wonder Women Awards honors top female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and other changemakers for their extraordinary accomplishments and impact within the toy, licensing and the entertainment industries.