Search Results for: astra

People of Play Announce Winners of the 2023 Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards

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.

StickTogether Names Bill Benda as Its New Consumer National Sales Manager

StickTogether Products has named toy industry veteran Bill Benda as its new consumer national sales manager. In this role, Benda will help grow the footprint of the company’s recently-launched Puzzle Face in brick-and-mortar and online stores nationwide. The one-of-kind Puzzle Face innovation allows young and old alike to create an unlimited number of different faces – their face, a friend’s face, a famous face from history – all with one 300-piece puzzle that can be assembled and reassembled again and again.   “Puzzle Face is truly a remarkable – and magical – innovation that makes an ideal gift for any home, classroom, or office,” said Sylvia Stein, president of StickTogether Products. “As we work to bring Puzzle Face to more stores and consumers nationwide, we know that Bill’s leadership and experience in the industry will be invaluable. We are thrilled to have him join our team.”

The 16th Annual Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIES) to Debut at New Venue

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.

TFE/TFE Licensing, October 2023

In this issue:

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!”

All in the Family: The Gygax Family

I first met Peter at an ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in 2015. Later that year, he traveled from his homebase in Switzerland to our November Inventor Pitch and Conference events. Since that time, we’ve met up at our events and others around the world. Peter clearly loves our industry and always has a big smile when you see him. I was excited to find out he was the second of three generations in our industry – and they were all within and passionate about the game industry. I’m sure you will enjoy reading their story as much as I did!

TFE/TFE Licensing, June 2023

  • Toy Association: Toy Fair 2023 Highlights the Power of Licensing in the Toy Industry by Maddie Michalik
  • Design Edge: Support ‘The Innovation Restoration Act of 2023’ by Matthew Nuccio
  • Toy Family Series: Q&A with the Gygax Family by Mary Couzin
  • ASTRA: Toy Boat 2023 – A Resounding Success! by Sue Warfield
  • The Serious Side of Fun by Ava Diamond
  • ToyFest: Reflecting on a Successful ToyFest 2023 by Carrie Scanlan
  • Ultra PRO Brand Profile
  • Licensing International: the fight Against Counterfeiting by Elizabeth Foster
  • The Business of Bluey by Andrew Carley
  • The Importance of MESH by Rachele Harmuth, Dr. Deborah Gilboa, Rick Derr – Interviewed by Nick Truss
  • New Product Previews compiled by Nick Truss

    • eeBoo Prepares for Back-to-School with Helpful and Educational New Products

    Environmentally conscious, woman owned, and mother run toys and goods company eeBoo understands that back-to-school preparation can never happen too soon. For 2023, eeBoo has curated a host of helpful and educational products for different age groups to make this school year a happy and healthy one. 

    People of Play Welcomes Jenna Stirling as Executive Director

    People of Play, the visionary force behind premier toy and game industry events, curator of the dynamic POP platform, and trusted purveyor of industry news through the esteemed Bloom Report, proudly announces the appointment of Jenna Stirling as Executive Director. “Jenna is like that mythical unicorn on our team, with a treasure trove of experience in the toy industry and a mind bursting with ideas,” said Mary Couzin, the president of Chicago Toy and Game Group dba POP. “We are fortunate to be bringing her on board as we continue to rock our events, level up the POP platform, ignite sparks with Play in Education initiatives, and be the biggest cheerleaders for every tribe in the toy and game industry. It’s all about building an amazing community, making connections, and unleashing the incredible power of play!”