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Remember Big Mouth Billy Bass?

Dec 18, 2019
The inventor of one of the most popular novelty toys looks back.
Cleveland Brown 1/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The big toy trend this year? Surprise! Seriously, it's surprise.

Dec 17, 2019
These popular toys bring with them something of a snag.
Hatchimals come in many varieties, large and small.
Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Prepping for the holidays with one eye on politics

Nov 20, 2019
One toy store owner says potential tariffs could eat up almost half of his profits.
Much of what Hobby Works sells is from China — and destined for a 15% tariff scheduled to start Dec. 15.
Nancy Marshall Genzer/Marketplace

Mattel isn't having much fun these days

Oct 29, 2019
Rival toymaker Hasbro reported disappointing earnings last week, and Mattel faces similar headwinds from tariffs and store closures.
Mattel's offices in El Segundo, California, in 2009.
David McNew/Getty Images

Toys R Us and Target make a holiday deal

Oct 8, 2019
The toy store's creditors — basically a bunch of banks — are trying to figure out how to make money from the brand.
Black Friday 2015, better days for Toys R Us.
Yana Paskova/Getty Images

Lego fans help keep tabs on counterfeits

May 16, 2019
Private investigators and sales teams can only do so much, says Lego's China vice president.
Mascot Jinbao made of Lego bricks is on display on day three of the China International Import Expo at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China.
Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Bang for your brick: behind Lego’s thriving secondary market

Mar 4, 2019
Lego fans and investors maintain a robust, independent online market for rare and valuable pieces.
At age 15, Kaleb Johnson sold some of his Harry Potter-branded Legos, which included a similar Mad-Eye Moody figurine. That sale netted him $2,000.
dbowker3d/Flickr

For public good, not for profit.

Mattel, Hasbro to offer snapshot of toy industry

Feb 7, 2019
Mattel and Hasbro will both report their earnings this week. Mattel reports Thursday after the market closes, and Hasbro reports Friday. Combined, these two companies will give us a sense of how the toy industry fared during the all-important holiday season and how they’re coping with the closure of retailer Toys R Us.
There are more than 20,000 variations of Hot Wheels, according to Mattel.
Renata Sago/Marketplace
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Gender-specific toys mean more revenue for toy makers

Nov 26, 2018
One growing trend in toy-buying is so-called gender-neutral playthings – toys that don’t reinforce gender stereotypes like trucks for boys or dolls for girls. But those stereotypes appear hard to shake for both toy makers and consumers. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 
A child rides a 'Morfboard Scoot & Skate' at a 'Dream Toys' event to unveil the top twelve toys this Christmas on November 14, 2018 in London, England. 
Jack Taylor/Getty Images