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Toy industry

What does it take to launch a successful toy?

by Stephanie Hughes
Feb 17, 2022
Americans are buying lots of toys right now. But launching a new one is still very difficult — a good idea is no guarantee of success
Clixo, a toy that launched during the pandemic, uses magnets to connect pieces. A Duplo Lego set is in the background.
Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace
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Toys R Us, under new ownership, plans to open stores

by Justin Ho
Mar 16, 2021
Since Toys R Us went into liquidation in 2018, retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon have expanded efforts in the toy sector.
People are still familiar with the Toys R Us brand, said Sean McGowan at Gateway Investor Relations. He said the company’s new stores are likely to focus on the experience of buying toys.
Leon Neal/Getty Images
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COVID-19

Delayed movie releases ripple through toy industry

by Samantha Fields
Feb 8, 2021
Some licensed toys connected to legacy franchises still sold well, and 2020 overall was a good year for toy sales
Despite delays to big theatrical releases in 2020, licensed toys connected to legacy franchises, like "Star Wars," sold well last year.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Disney
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COVID-19

Mattel banks on keeping kids busy during the pandemic

by Erika Beras
Jul 23, 2020
Mattel has pivoted, playing to the moment at hand with marketing like "play is never canceled" and an emphasis on family activities.
Hot Wheels cars, a Mattel product, weren't flying off the shelves during the pandemic like other games. So Mattel has pivoted.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Toy manufacturers adjust to a post-Toys R Us world

by Emma Jacobs
Oct 23, 2018
The retail giant's bankruptcy has Hasbro and other toymakers scrambling to prepare for the holidays.
Shoppers crowd Toys R Us in Times Square on Nov. 23, Black Friday, in 2007 in New York City.
Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images
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Toy manufacturers adjust to a post-Toys R Us world

by Emma Jacobs
Oct 23, 2018
The retail giant's bankruptcy has Hasbro and other toymakers scrambling to prepare for the holidays.
Shoppers crowd Toys R Us in Times Square on Nov. 23, Black Friday, in 2007 in New York City.
Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images
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The rise of the independent toy store

by Sean McHenry
Dec 22, 2017
Big chains like Toys R Us are having a harder time competing with Amazon than mom-and-pop shops that do their own thing.
“This is a classic toy store — the kind of toys and games you remember from your childhood,” says Christine Johnson, owner of the Miracle Mile Toy Hall in Los Angeles.
Sean McHenry/Marketplace
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For Build-A-Bear CEO, business isn't just about the toys, it's about the experience

by Kai Ryssdal and Bridget Bodnar
Nov 29, 2017
Sharon Price John weighs in on what it takes to survive as a teddy bear maker in an increasingly digital age.
Build-A-Bear Workshop provides a tactile experience that can't be replaced by iPads and cellphones, says CEO Sharon Price John.
Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Build-A-Bear
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It’s not child’s play: Hasbro and Mattel battle for success in the world of toys

by Reema Khrais
Jul 24, 2017
Hasbro, the toy and game powerhouse, reports its second quarter earnings today . So far this year, the company has been going strong, beating expectations, which is not the case for its rival, Mattel. We explore why the companies may be trading fortunes.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.
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