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☆ Collectible toy market: This vintage action figure set a record at auction
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The Rocket-Firing Boba Fett action figure, modeled after the “Star Wars” bounty hunter, was purchased in Dallas by an anonymous buyer for $525,000, Heritage Auctions announced last Monday. Dolls are for girls, action figures are for boysUnlike fine art or sports memorabilia, the collectible action figure market is only a handful of decades old because action figures have only been around since the mid-1960s. “The first action figure was G.I. He recounted how Hasbro executive Don Levine coined the term “action figure” as a marketing tool, because “we can’t call these dolls. Caravoulias recalls laying in bed as a kid in 1985 and wishing he could buy a $5 Rambo II action figure.

Persons: Boba, Barbie, ”, Justin Caravoulias, Joe, Boba Fett, Fett, Kenner, Brian Rachfal, “, Don Levine, ’, “ Nobody, Caravoulias, Price, Tom Derby, Darth Vader, It’s, Rambo, Rachfal, —, Paul Arnold, Arnold, Gary C, Knapp, they’re, ” Caravoulias, Circana, ” “ Barbie, ” James Zahn Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Heritage Auctions, Heritage, Kenner, Hasbro, CNN, Derby, ‘ Power Rangers Locations: New York, United States, Dallas, American, Virginia Beach, Va

☆ Adults are flocking to the toy aisle even more than preschoolers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Looking back over a longer period, the report said as many as 43% of adults purchased a toy for themselves in the past year, with the top reasons being for personal fun, socialization and for collecting. Trading cards, Squishmallows (which are a rage across age groups), Lego sets and sports toys were among the most sought-after toy products in the period, the report said. As adults play with toys more and more, the trend bodes well to counter the decline in overall toy sales. Circana said toy industry dollar sales declined by 1% through April, versus the same period a year ago but are still up 38% compared to 2019. “Tailwinds, like the growing adult toy market and spending power of higher income households and grandparents, drive positive trends,” Juli Lennett, vice president and toy industry advisor at Circana, said in the report.

Persons: Circana, “, Juli Lennett, Barbie, Aaron Lavinsky, ”, James Zahn, ” Zahn Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Consumers, Star Tribune, Getty, CNN, Marvel, Hasbro, Star Locations: New York, ‘

☆ Toy expert gives tips on how to differentiate real vintage toys from fake ones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailToy expert gives tips on how to differentiate real vintage toys from fake onesJames Zahn, editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, says "you need to find a reputable seller."

Persons: James Zahn

☆ Hasbro cuts revenue view, joins Mattel to warn of cloudy holiday quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Savyata Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Hasbro (HAS.O) cut its annual revenue forecast for the second time this year on weak toy demand and joined Barbie-maker Mattel to warn of choppy holiday-quarter sales, sending its shares down 12% before the bell. The Monopoly maker expects 2023 revenue to tumble 13% to 15% compared to a prior forecast of a 3% to 6% decline. Its third-quarter revenue and profit also missed market expectations, with revenue from its core toy business dropping 18% as shoppers cut back on non-essential spending. Hasbro saw a 40% surge in digital and licensed gaming revenue on strong demand for its "Monopoly Go" and "Baldur's Gate III" games. Analysts have warned that uncertain holiday spend and softer toy demand could prompt retailers to keep supply tight and offer steep discounts to avoid a pile-up like last year.

Persons: FAO Schwarz, Andrew Kelly, Barbie, Chris Cocks, James Zahn, Savyata Mishra, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Hasbro, Inc, FAO, REUTERS, Mattel, Consumer Products, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Hasbro to sell film and TV unit, cuts forecast on Hollywood strike hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Savyata Mishra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photoAug 3 (Reuters) - Hasbro (HAS.O) lowered its annual revenue forecast on an expected hit from the ongoing strike by Hollywood writers and actors and said it would divest its film and TV business to focus on selling toys and games. Hasbro said it would sell its eOne film and TV studio to Lionsgate Entertainment by year-end for about $500 million, adding that its revenue forecast includes the performance of the business being sold. "With the sale of its eOne Film & TV business to Lionsgate, Hasbro is dodging a bullet in terms of the content pipeline. Hasbro also lowered its growth target for adjusted operating margin to between 20 basis points (bps) and 50 bps, from 50 bps to 70 bps rise forecast earlier. Reporting by Savyata Mishra and Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: FAO Schwarz, Andrew Kelly, James Zahn, Savyata Mishra, Granth, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: Hasbro, Inc, Star, FAO, REUTERS, Hollywood, Lionsgate Entertainment, Lionsgate, WGA, SAG, Monopoly, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Not every version of Barbie was a hit. Check out these flops
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Barbie’s pregnant sidekick, MidgePregnant Midge was featured in Mattel's Happy Family Barbie Collection that also included Alan (pictured here behind the stroller). Fast-forward to 2002, Mattel introduced a pregnant Midge doll, featuring a detachable baby bump with a toy baby inside. The Midge doll created ripples. Walmart (WMT) ended up pulling the pregnant Midge doll from its store shelves, citing customer complaints about the appropriateness of a “pregnant” doll. When the FBI came after this BarbieVideo Barbie doll with a built-in LCD screen and download port for videos.

Persons: New York CNN —, Barbie, She’s, who’ve, Barbie Fashionistas, “ Barbie, ”, James Zahn, “ There’s, Midge, Alan, Lawrence Lucier, Zahn, Allan, Ryan, “ Allan ”, “ Allan didn’t, Mattel, “ Alan ”, Tanner, Barbie’s, Mark Ralston, Tanner playset, Tanner playsets, Barbie Mattel, Martin James Brannan, Skipper, Skipper ”, “, Miguel Villagran, Barbie Mark Lennihan, Richard Gottlieb Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bel Air, Mattel, Walmart, “, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, OREO, Nabisco, Fairfax Media, FBI, Global Toy Experts, New York Times Magazine Locations: New York, American, Barbie, AFP

☆ Global retailers cash in on Barbie movie craze
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Helen Reid | Thomson Reuters | London-Based Reporter Covering The European Retail Sector Through A Global Lens. Focusing On Companies Including Adidas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Arriana McLymoreJuly 21 (Reuters) - Shoppers are snapping up Barbie hoop earrings, perfume, jumpsuits, and dresses as retailers seek to cash in on Friday's Barbie film release, reigniting the craze for the plastic doll and her hot pink, sequin-adorned universe. Mattel says the Barbie movie is expected to boost global sales of Barbie dolls, which declined last year from record growth during the pandemic. A Gap Barbie hoodie for women was available only in size XXS online, while a pair of Barbie Crocs, priced at $59.99 - $10 more than normal Crocs - was sold out on the Crocs website. Luggage brand Beis had a waiting list for all three sizes of suitcases in a Barbie pink, priced at a premium to its usual colour range. Walmart pitched Barbie dolls in varying skin tones and hairstyles at $45 to collectors.

Persons: browses, Arriana, Friday's, Barbie, Jo Ashdown, Ryan Gosling, Ken, Zara Barbie, hoodie, Barbie Crocs, Barbie toothbrushes, James Zahn, that's, Helen Reid, Savyata Mishra, Siddharth Cavale, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Mattel, WPP, Walmart, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton, Thomson Locations: Zara's Soho, New York City, U.S, Bogota, Colombia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

☆ Hasbro 2023 forecasts disappoint as inflation hits toy demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The Hasbro, Inc. logo is seen on the Star Wars Galactic Snackin Grogu toy in the FAO Schwarz toy store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., November 24, 2021. The overall revenue is projected to be down low-single digits, while Wall Street analysts were expecting a 2.5% increase to $6 billion. "It's a cautious outlook...(but) what I'm most concerned about is that Hasbro doesn't lose sight of the consumer products segment," said James Zahn, Editor-in-Chief of trade magazine "The Toy Book". "Consumer products is what Hasbro is rooted in as a business." Hasbro expects 2023 adjusted per-share earnings in the range of $4.45 to $4.55 compared with estimates of $4.88 per share.

☆ Adults are buying toys for themselves, and it’s the biggest source of growth for the industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Sarah Whitten | Whitten Is A Social Media Writer For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

It’s an important moment for the toy industry, too, with the holiday season upon us. “The definition of adulthood has definitely evolved,” said Jeremy Padawer, chief brand officer at toy company Jazwares. Toy companies have even begun creating their own television and movie content in order to support toy lines. Still, the stakes remain high for the toy industry as it heads into the final weeks of the year. “Right now, adult toy buyers are the reason for growth in the toy business,” Larian said.

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