Hi Andrew! I look forward to seeing you during POP Week and thank you for Duracell's big presence—literally! ! Welcome to The Bloom Report. For our readers, who are you and what do you do? I’m Vice President, Head of Global OEM, Ingredient Marketing and Licensing at Duracell.   … and what does all of that mean? I work with toy inventors to explore what’s possible with battery technology, help manufacturers find the right power solution, and create marketing and licensing partnerships that bring our brands together. We like to think we bring energy to the industry as the heart of many toys! And there’s no shortage of great ideas in the toy industry.   You’ve been at Duracell for almost 11 years, but you’re somewhat new to toys. How did you get here? By a very long route!   I started at Procter & Gamble in Johannesburg, working on brands like Pampers, then moved to Nairobi to lead P&G’s East Africa business. From there I headed to Cape Town to run sales and marketing for one of the world's largest canned fish brands, enjoyed by more than three million people every day. When Berkshire Hathaway bought Duracell I was recruited to build our Sub-Saharan Africa business, and moved to Frankfurt to run the business in Northern & Central Europe and am now based in London.   As somebody who comes from fast-moving consumer goods, I’m still amazed at how “fast moving” the toy industry is. How much can change in a year, how quickly supply chains pivot, how the designer community keeps moving things forward. CPG may move a lot of units, but the toy industry really knows the importance of fast! And as you’ve known since you were a kid, Duracell makes things go even faster!   What trends in toys excite or worry you? I’m overwhelmingly in the excited camp!   I love seeing the industry finally move beyond redesigning the shelf and the character while keeping decades-old electronics under the skin, and innovate from the bottom up instead. New categories like Puppetronics are doing really well, both at the awards and in sales.   I’m also fascinated by how kids and parents discover toys nowadays. A great idea no longer needs a front window at the toy store to get noticed, which is good news for independent inventors and designers. That’s one reason we’re partnering with The Toy Insider on its 2026 Holiday Gift Guide this year.   From a Duracell perspective, I’m very proud of our child-safety innovations in coin cells. Safety has to stay central as toys and their electronics evolve, and it will let designers use smaller batteries in the future.   If one thing concerns me, it’s price driving decisions at the expense of performance. As more toys are bought online, the in-store “try me” moment is changing, which makes it even more important that the toy delivers when a child opens the box.   What are you working on now? Right now, we’re getting ready for ChiTAG, my first year attending. I’m bringing experts from our R&D, marketing and commercial teams.   We’ll join our friends at Jazwares for a panel on Thursday, November 5. We’ll also have our Mobile Innovation Center on-site, where you can get a closer look at what’s possible with Duracell technology.   Most toy designers aren’t electronics or chemical engineers, and that’s where we come in. We want to be a partner you can turn to when you’re developing something new or trying to solve a technical challenge. If you’ve got an idea, come talk to us. We’d love to hear it.   To connect with our OEM team any time, visit Global OEM Battery Sales | Duracell.     What advice do you have for inventors pitching you? Be brave. You don’t have to be limited to the same old electronics you used before.   Start by telling us what you’re trying to create. What do you want the toy to do? How do you want a child to experience it? You don’t need to come with all the technical answers, and we’ll advise you on the right battery for the heart of your device. Our “power boost” ingredients aren’t just marketing speak. Our engineers are here to help.   What do you do outside of work? Since moving to Europe, I love traveling and exploring the history and cuisines with my family. I love getting out into the forests and mountains to de-stress.   If we were in a zombie apocalypse, where would you hide? What do you mean “if”?!   I’d go home to Cape Town. Sun, sea, mountains, wildlife, good wine. I have everything I need to hide out for as long as it takes. And I’d bring a few extra packs of Duracell, just in case!   But seriously… what do you mean, “if”?!

Lock. Build. Unlock. Reimagine. BederCube is a patented modular construction system available for licensing. Connect cubes into rigid three-dimensional structures, unlock the mechanical connections with a key, and rebuild the same parts into a new creation. Working physical prototypes demonstrate the connection mechanism in several assembled objects. The demo includes the inventor standing on a small stool built from the cubes, illustrating the rigidity of that particular prototype assembly. A smaller cube version combines a structural core with interchangeable face panels for character building. Two panel types provide key access from the opposite side or directly through an opening in the face. A wheel integrated into one face of a cube adds possibilities for vehicle-based play. Potential development directions include open-ended construction sets, buildable characters and vehicles, and activities exploring structures and mechanisms. BederCube is currently a prototype system seeking a commercial partner. U.S. Patent No. 12,741,228 was issued on September 22, 2026. Co-inventors: Yury Bederov and Sergei Bederov. Sole patent owner and licensing contact: Yury Bederov. Toy and construction-set partners are invited to discuss licensing, prototype demonstrations, or acquisition of the U.S. patent. Contact: yb@bedercube.com Website: https://bedercube.com/ Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBBAAZqGCjg

Ashley Eckstein to Host "The Force of Play," a TAGIE Celebration Kicking off the 50th Anniversary of Star Wars   CHICAGO, IL | October 7, 2026 – People of Play™, a division of The Toy Association™, will celebrate some of the most influential innovators in play — and kick off the 50th anniversary of Star Wars — at the 19th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards on Friday, November 6 at Joe’s Live Concert Venue in Rosemont, IL.   Themed “The Force of Play,” this year’s TAGIEs will honor American Girl Founder Pleasant Rowland with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Exploding Kittens Co-Founders Elan Lee and Matthew Inman as Industry Game Changers. The evening will be hosted by Ashley Eckstein, actress, entrepreneur, founder of Her Universe, and the original voice of Star Wars character Ahsoka Tano. In celebration of five decades since the original Star Wars movie debuted in 1977, every guest will receive a specially created commemorative coin featuring the Star Wars 50th anniversary emblem on one side and the TAGIE Awards logo on the other.   "For nearly 50 years, Star Wars has inspired fans to believe that even the unlikeliest hero can change the galaxy — and this year's honorees embody that spirit. From Pleasant Rowland shaping how generations of kids connect with history and storytelling, to Elan Lee and Matthew Inman turning a bold idea into one of the world's most successful tabletop game brands, these creators are pushing play forward," said Robb LaFlamme, Director of Hardlines at Disney Parks Retail and Development and Chairman of the TAGIE Awards Committee. “As we kick off the Star Wars 50th anniversary celebration at the TAGIE Awards, ‘The Force of Play’ reminds us that creativity, risk-taking, and innovation move our industry — and Disney is proud to celebrate the people leading the way."   Pleasant Rowland is an educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of American Girl. She established the company in 1986, combining historically based characters, dolls, and books to introduce children to American history through storytelling and play. Before founding American Girl, Rowland worked as an educator, writer, and publisher. In 1998, she opened the first American Girl Place in Chicago, expanding the brand into experiential retail. Rowland has also supported education, literacy, historic preservation, and community initiatives through her philanthropic work. She was inducted into The Toy Association’s Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2021.   Elan Lee and Matthew Inman are the co-founders of Exploding Kittens, the tabletop game company that has sold more than 80 million games in 30 languages across 50 countries since 2015. The company has produced more than 100 titles and holds the record for the most backers on a Kickstarter campaign. Adding another fitting connection to the evening, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor will present the Game Changer Award to Lee and Inman. Exploding Kittens began as a Kickstarter phenomenon in 2015 and remains the platform’s most-backed campaign.   Before co-founding Exploding Kittens, Lee served as chief design officer at Xbox Entertainment Studios, co-founded 42 Entertainment, and worked as a lead designer on the original Xbox at Microsoft. His honors include a Primetime Emmy Award, Peabody Award, Game Innovator of the Year Award, and IndieCade Trailblazer Award.   In addition to co-founding Exploding Kittens, Inman is the cartoonist behind the webcomic The Oatmeal, which he launched in 2009 and grew to millions of monthly readers. Inman has also served as showrunner of the animated Exploding Kittens series for Netflix.   Throughout the evening, TAGIE awards will also be presented to winners in 10 categories. Public voting for each category is open through October 21.   JoAnn McLaughlin, Senior Vice President of Licensed Product Design & Development at Disney Consumer Products, and Brad Schoeneberg, Vice President of Vertical Product Design and Development at Disney Parks Retail and Development, will deliver welcome remarks. Together with host Ashley Eckstein, the evening will bring “The Force of Play” theme to life as the TAGIEs celebrate innovation, creativity, and the upcoming 50th anniversary of Star Wars.   This year’s awards are sponsored by Disney (Presenting Sponsor), Duracell, Kickstarter, Hasbro, Mattel, University Games, Longshore Ltd., Super Impulse, KenKen, Nextoy, The Play Makers, Backdrop.com, Brown Creative, Baby Paper, and Design Edge.   Founded in 2008, the TAGIEs celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world. The awards ceremony takes place annually in the fall in conjunction with People of Play’s annual POP Week (November 5 to 8 in Rosemont, IL), including the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge, and Chicago Toy & Game Fair.   Click here to vote for the TAGIE finalists. Click here to purchase tickets for the 2026 TAGIE Awards.   About People of Play™ peopleofplay.com People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors, and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources and connection points as well as a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIEs) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Thought Leaders Summit, Toy Takedown and more.   About The Toy Association™ toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.orgFounded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $155.7 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.    As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities at The Toy Building in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.

  Ashley Eckstein to Host "The Force of Play," a TAGIE Celebration Kicking off the 50th Anniversary of Star Wars   CHICAGO, IL | October 6, 2026 – People of Play™, a division of The Toy Association™, will celebrate some of the most influential innovators in play — and kick off the 50th anniversary of Star Wars — at the 19th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards on Friday, November 6 at Joe’s Live Concert Venue in Rosemont, IL.   Themed “The Force of Play,” this year’s TAGIEs will honor American Girl Founder Pleasant Rowland with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Exploding Kittens Co-Founders Elan Lee and Matthew Inman as Industry Game Changers. The evening will be hosted by Ashley Eckstein, actress, entrepreneur, founder of Her Universe, and the original voice of Star Wars character Ahsoka Tano. In celebration of five decades since the original Star Wars movie debuted in 1977, every guest will receive a specially created commemorative coin featuring the Star Wars 50th anniversary emblem on one side and the TAGIE Awards logo on the other.   "For nearly 50 years, Star Wars has inspired fans to believe that even the unlikeliest hero can change the galaxy — and this year's honorees embody that spirit. From Pleasant Rowland shaping how generations of kids connect with history and storytelling, to Elan Lee and Matthew Inman turning a bold idea into one of the world's most successful tabletop game brands, these creators are pushing play forward," said Robb LaFlamme, Director of Hardlines at Disney Parks Retail and Development and Chairman of the TAGIE Awards Committee. “As we kick off the Star Wars 50th anniversary celebration at the TAGIE Awards, ‘The Force of Play’ reminds us that creativity, risk-taking, and innovation move our industry — and Disney is proud to celebrate the people leading the way."     Pleasant Rowland is an educator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of American Girl. She established the company in 1986, combining historically based characters, dolls, and books to introduce children to American history through storytelling and play. Before founding American Girl, Rowland worked as an educator, writer, and publisher. In 1998, she opened the first American Girl Place in Chicago, expanding the brand into experiential retail. Rowland has also supported education, literacy, historic preservation, and community initiatives through her philanthropic work. She was inducted into The Toy Association’s Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2021.     Elan Lee and Matthew Inman are the co-founders of Exploding Kittens, the tabletop game company that has sold more than 80 million games in 30 languages across 50 countries since 2015. The company has produced more than 100 titles and holds the record for the most backers on a Kickstarter campaign. Adding another fitting connection to the evening, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor will present the Game Changer Award to Lee and Inman. Exploding Kittens began as a Kickstarter phenomenon in 2015 and remains the platform’s most-backed campaign.   Before co-founding Exploding Kittens, Lee served as chief design officer at Xbox Entertainment Studios, co-founded 42 Entertainment, and worked as a lead designer on the original Xbox at Microsoft. His honors include a Primetime Emmy Award, Peabody Award, Game Innovator of the Year Award, and IndieCade Trailblazer Award.   In addition to co-founding Exploding Kittens, Inman is the cartoonist behind the webcomic The Oatmeal, which he launched in 2009 and grew to millions of monthly readers. Inman has also served as showrunner of the animated Exploding Kittens series for Netflix.   Throughout the evening, TAGIE awards will also be presented to winners in 10 categories. Public voting for each category is open through October 21.     JoAnn McLaughlin, Senior Vice President of Licensed Product Design & Development at Disney Consumer Products, and Brad Schoeneberg, Vice President of Vertical Product Design and Development at Disney Parks Retail and Development, will deliver welcome remarks. Together with host Ashley Eckstein, the evening will bring “The Force of Play” theme to life as the TAGIEs celebrate innovation, creativity, and the upcoming 50th anniversary of Star Wars.   This year’s awards are sponsored by Disney (Presenting Sponsor), Duracell, Kickstarter, Hasbro, Mattel, University Games, Longshore Ltd., Super Impulse, KenKen, Nextoy, The Play Makers, Backdrop.com, Brown Creative, Baby Paper, and Design Edge.   Founded in 2008, the TAGIEs celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world. The awards ceremony takes place annually in the fall in conjunction with People of Play’s annual POP Week (November 5 to 8 in Rosemont, IL), including the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge, and Chicago Toy & Game Fair.   Click here to vote for the TAGIE finalists. Click here to purchase tickets for the 2026 TAGIE Awards.   About People of Play™ peopleofplay.com chitag.com People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors, and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources and connection points as well as a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIEs) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Thought Leaders Summit, Toy Takedown and more.   About The Toy Association™ toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.orgFounded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $155.7 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.  As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities at The Toy Building in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.