July/August 2014
in this issue
D
04
05
06
07
08
38
40
49
50
epartments
License to Build
The construction aisle is experiencing a surge in licensed building sets.
10
Editor’s Viewpoint
The Big Toy Book’s Sweet Suite ’14 Stat Shot
Industry Update
TIA Perspectives
K’NEX De-Constructed
F eatures
The U.S. Fashion Doll Market
Lutz Muller takes an in-depth look at the doll industry, and points to a few rising stars.
42
Michael Araten, president and CEO of K’NEX, offers a tour of the company’s manufacturing facility.
14
Industry Marketplace
Flashback: July/August 1994
The Golden Age of Board Games
23
With more options on shelves than ever before, the games category undergoes exciting changes.
18
Specialty Toys & Gifts NEWS S3
P UBLISHER Jonathan Samet jsamet@adventurepub.com E DITOR IN C HIEF Jackie Breyer jbreyer@adventurepub.com S ENIOR E DITORS Marissa DiBartolo mdibartolo@adventurepub.com Ali Mierzejewski amierzejewski@adventurepub.com A SSOCIATE E DITORS Christine Duhaime cduhaime@adventurepub.com
E DITORIAL A SSISTANT Deanna Atkins datkins@adventurepub.com E DITORIAL I NTERNS Emily Kamen Magdalene Michalik Alexi Valesquez P RODUCTION D IRECTOR Anthony K. Guardiola aguardiola@adventurepub.com C ONTROLLER /O FFICE M ANAGER Lori Rubin lrubin@adventurepub.com
ASTRA’S INSIGHTS S2
MULTICULTURALISM AT PLAY S4
5 TRENDS IN GAMES S8
Volume 30, Number 4 www.toybook.com
Phil Guie pguie@adventurepub.com
What’s New
International Toy Industry: China Toy Expo
Published by Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.®
Four specialty doll companies take part in a discussion about trends in multicultural dolls.
CONSTRUCTION TOYS SHOWCASE S12
U.S. Corporate Headquarters Laurie Schacht, President laurieschacht@aol.com
Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® 307 Seventh Ave., #1601 New York, NY 10001 Phone: (212) 575-4510 Fax: (212) 575-4521
Member, International Toy Magazine Association