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Industry
Fun Fact
The Rubik’s Cube will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. The Cube has been an inspiration for architecture, design, apparel, merchandise, apps, and more. This truly universal toy crosses language barriers by not requiring written instructions. It has been covered by top-tiered media outlets, ingrained into pop culture, and played by more than 1 billion people. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, Rubik’s Brand Ltd. has launched a new Cube in the U.S. The new Cube features molded plastic tiles (no more stickers or cheating), an internal mechanism for smoother turning, and new packaging. A global traveling exhibition, “Beyond Rubik’s Cube,” will launch at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey in April. The exhibition will include a working Rubik’s Cube made from $2.5 million worth of diamonds and gems, a Cube artwork installation, Cubesolving robots, a glowing 35-foot Rubik’s Cube that can be controlled by smartphones, and interactive features courtesy of Google, the exhibition’s lead sponsor and creative partner.
The new Rubik’s Cube
10 • THE TOY BOOK
SONY CELEBRATES GHOSTBUSTERS’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH NEW LICENSING PROGRAM With Ghostbusters celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) has launched an all-new program in categories including toys, apparel, construction, collectibles, and publishing. The global toy licensees supporting the anniversary include Diamond Select, Mattel, World Tech Toys, and Factory Entertainment. Funko and Underground Toys will produce collectibles and novelty products.
WOMEN IN TOYS COLLABORATES WITH WALMART AT TOY FAIR 2014 Women in Toys (WIT) and Walmart will once again collaborate to help womenowned businesses pitch children’s products and brands to Walmart buyers at the 111th annual American International Toy Fair in New York City in February. Scheduled for February 18, the second annual WIT-Walmart Women’s Global Economic Empowerment Initiative will kick off with a morning panel discussion featuring Raquel Taylor and Kelly Deimel of Bobo Buddy. Immediately following the panel presentation, by-appointment-only pitch meetings between women-owned toy companies and Walmart buyers will take place in Room 1C01 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. More information is available through Patti Becker at pbecker@beckerassoc.com; (203) 321-6813.
SENATORS INTRODUCE NATIONAL TOY WEEK RESOLUTION As reported by the Toy Industry Association (TIA), Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John Boozman (R-AR) sponsored a bi-partisan resolution to designate December 22 to 28 as National Toy Week in recognition of the value of toys and play. The resolution, which was passed by the U.S. Senate on December 20, encourages people to observe by coming together to play with toys and games. It also recognizes the toy industry’s importance for the national economy, noting that it supports more than 600,000 fulltime jobs and had an economic impact of more than $75 billion this past year.
SPIN MASTER’S PAW PATROL HELPS BOOST NICKELODEON’S RATINGS Spin Master’s Paw Patrol has helped make Nickelodeon the children’s TV network leader, according to a report on Bloomberg News. Nickelodeon cited Nielsen data that reported it averaging 918,000 viewers a day among kids ages 2 to 11 in the fourth quarter through December 15, compared to The Disney Channel’s 874,000 viewers. According to Bloomberg News, the ratings shift is accelerating ad sales for Viacom, which posted its best quarterly growth in at least two years last November.
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014