update
Industry
TIA AND LEFTFIELD MEDIA TO PRODUCE CONSUMER EVENT DURING NEW YORK TOY FAIR Play Fair—“a celebration of play and entertainment for all ages”—will bring new and beloved toy and pop culture brands together under one roof this February for an interactive live event open to families, collectors, and media. Powered by the Toy Industry Association (TIA) and LeftField Media, Play Fair will take place Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14 at New York City’s Javits Center North. At the heart of Play Fair will be immersive, rewarding experiences, allowing the public to touch, feel, and interact with their favorite toys, games, and entertainment brands. Fans of all ages will experience toy reveals, photo ops, character interactions, stage performances, author readings, celebrity signings, live music, and giveaways. Retail areas will allow attendees to purchase show exclusives, limited-edition products, and rare variants of beloved toys and games. The inaugural Play Fair is timed and co-located with the 113th edition of TIA’s North American International Toy Fair. Play Fair will be headquartered inside New York’s Javits Center and will turn all of Manhattan into a giant “game board,” encouraging attendees to visit various iconic New York institutions and landmarks and unlock Play Fair discounts, exclusives, and rewards. For more information, visit www.playfairny.com.
20 • THE TOY BOOK
ASTRA NAMES KIMBERLY MOSLEY PRESIDENT Kimberly Mosley, MBA, CAE has been appointed president of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), its board of directors announced. ASTRA conducted a nationwide search to fill the position that was held by previous president, Kathleen McHugh. Mosley comes to ASTRA from the American College of Healthcare Executives. She will assume the role of president on September 28.
BANANAGRAMS NAMED NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTOR FOR CROWD-SOURCED TRIVIA GAME, LINKEE Bananagrams Inc. will handle North American distribution for Linkee, a crowd-sourced tabletop trivia game for families. Linkee challenges players to answer four questions and spot the link between the answers faster than the opposing teams. Teams that get it right win a letter, and whoever collects enough letters to spell “Linkee” wins the game. More than one-third of the cards are user-generated, with contributors getting their name on the card, as well as a free game in the mail. There is a question on every card that someone can answer, regardless of their age or generation. A Linkee app is also available for download for iPhone and Android users online at northamerica.playlinkee.com/app/.
JAKKS PACIFIC SIGNS ON FOR MAKE IT POP Through a deal with DHX Brands, Jakks Pacific will serve as the master toy licensee for the TV show Make It Pop for all territories outside of Europe. Jakks Pacific’s licensed products will include dolls, plush, dress-up, role-play, girls’ electronic toys, and Halloween costumes, which are expected to launch next year. Make It Pop
Get the latest toy industry news delivered straight to your inbox each week for free! Subscribe to The Toy Book’s Toy Report. Send an email request to subscribe@adventurepub.com, and add that address to your address book to ensure delivery. For up-to-the-minute news, follow The Toy Book on Twitter: twitter.com/ToyBook, and like The Toy Book on Facebook: facebook.com/TheToyBook. Visit our blog at www.toybook.com.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015