JULY/AUGUST 2018
®
Volume 34, No. 4 — Published by Adventure Publishing Group
Jonathan Samet Publisher jsamet@adventurepub.com
DEPARTMENTS 7
Editor’s Viewpoint
8
Industry Update
9
Sweet Suite 2018
10 Toy Association Happenings 11 ASTRA’s Insights 12 Stat Shot
14 Retail Spotlight: Wonder Works 15 Retail Spotlight: HobbyTown
48 Raising the Bar 52 WIT Stories 54 Marketing Memo
25 Talkin’ Toys: IMC
56 Euromonitor
37 Industry Perspectives
57 Industry Marketplace
46 Property Profile: Ryan ToysReview
58 Flashback: July/August 1998
features Collectible dolls are taking over the doll category.
Maddie Michalik Associate Editor mmichalik@adventurepub.com Jacqueline Cucco Assistant Editor jcucco@adventurepub.com
Lori Rubin Controller/Office Manager lrubin@adventurepub.com
17 Dolls Showcase
U.S. Corporate Headquarters
What’s New in the World of Dolls
Laurie Schacht President thetoyinsidermom@gmail.com
26 Games
A Category That Is in It to Win It
Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® 307 7th Avenue, #1601, New York, NY 10001 Phone: (212) 575-4510 • Fax: (212) 575-4521
28 Games Showcase
A Sneak Peek at New Board Games, Card Games, and More
38 Wire It Up
Technological Advances Help Fuel the Construction Category
39 Construction Showcase A Look at What’s New in the Construction Aisle This Year
49 Game On!
Cover Image: © Mitchel Wu Photography — All Rights Reserved
Stephanie Grassullo Associate Editor sgrassullo@adventurepub.com
Bill Reese Production Director bill@toybook.com
16 Mini Is Huge
A Sneak Peak Behind the Lens of Mitchel Wu, Toy Photographer
Ali Mierzejewski Senior Editor amierzejewski@adventurepub.com
Joe Ibraham Art Director jibraham@adventurepub.com
What’s Next for Toy Retail After the Loss of Toys “R” Us
50 Telling Toy Stories Through Photography
Marissa DiBartolo Senior Editor mdibartolo@adventurepub.com
Miranda Siwak Editorial Assistant msiwak@adventurepub.com
13 Where Will All the Toys Go?
Previewing this year’s Asia Toys & Games Show.
Jackie Breyer Editor-in-Chief jbreyer@adventurepub.com
Dazzling Dancer Wendy, from Madame Alexander Doll Company
The Toy Book Volume 34, No. 4 THE TOY BOOK (ISSN-0885-3991) is published bi-monthly by Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® Editorial and advertising offices are located at 307 Seventh Ave., Room 1601, New York, NY 10001, Phone (212) 575-4510. Periodicals Postage paid at New York and additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2018 Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in USA. Subscription rates: $48 one year, foreign $200. The Toy Book is a trademark of Adventure Publishing Group, Inc.® Registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Toy Book, c/o Adventure Publishing Group, 307 Seventh Ave., Room 1601, New York, NY 10001 or e-mail bill@toybook.com. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by editors, contributing writers, or solicited or unsolicited documents are not necessarily those of the management of The Toy Book.
Member, International Toy Magazine Association