Welcome to Your Weekly News Brief!
Happy Bloomin’ Friday!
I’ve been attending LA Previews for over a decade, and it’s incredible to see how much the event has grown! In fact, the Toy Association’s expanded footprint was featured in the LA Times today. It’s been wonderful catching up with so many of you this week, and I’m looking forward to even more meetings, networking, and events next week.
Here is a list of LA events, courtesy of the Toy Association. And don’t forget — next Tuesday is our second annual gathering at the Laugh Factory. Here are the details!
Our Young Inventor Challenge Fundraiser is almost over - your $20 contribution will help support and inspire kids around the world! We just had a class of 24 kids from Switzerland register! Watch this video!
If you missed tBR last week - we’ve moved tBR to the Toy Association’s email server, and TA’s Liam O’Malley has taken on curating the news links, selecting the bullets, videos, and a few other pieces of tBR (thank you, Liam!). I’ll continue writing and curating the intro, feature stories, cartoon, and quote—as always, please feel free to reach out to me anytime. If you have questions about receiving the newsletter, Liam will be your go-to.
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Mary and the POP Team
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Rachele Harmuth, Chief Product Officer at CrunchLabs
Turning Curiosity into Confidence
Mary Couzin - People of Play (POP): Rachele, congratulations on your promotion to Chief Product Officer at CrunchLabs! What does this new role mean to you?
Rachele Harmuth (RH): Thank you! When I first joined CrunchLabs, I knew I’d found a place where creativity and engineering could come together to inspire kids and adults alike. Becoming Chief Product Officer means I get to keep scaling that vision, guiding not just the “what” we build, but the “why” and “how.” And the best part? It’s the only job I know where a slingshot, glitter, fart spray, and a whiteboard marker are equally important tools.
MC: You’ve had a big career through some major companies. What drew you to the startup CrunchLabs in the first place?
RH: Impact. We turn curiosity into confidence. Kids build real STEM skills, because learning feels like play. At the heart of it, I want to make things that matter. CrunchLabs is more than toys or kits. It’s this powerful mix of science, storytelling, and play that builds creative confidence. Kids don’t just follow steps, they hack, they invent, they surprise themselves. That’s a skill set for life. Plus, I loved the boldness of the mission: “reach as many brains as possible.” Most companies measure success on things like “shareholder value.” We measure them by how many “brains” we reach. Read more
Young Inventor Challenge: 20th Anniversary Spotlight
Name: Julie McNamara, Teacher
Location: Palos East Elementary School
I teach a gifted and talented pull-out program for students in grades 1–5 at Palos East Elementary in Palos Heights, Illinois. I've taught ALPS (Accelerated Learning Program for Students) since 2011 in which I enrich the accelerated curriculum by incorporating STEAM-based learning.
The summer before I moved into the ALPS role, I was doing some online research looking for competitions for this new group of students. I discovered the Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) and immediately recognized its potential to inspire my students. I developed a unit on inventions and game design incorporating the engineering design process for my fourth graders, and our district (Palos 118) entered the competition for the first time that school year. The excitement it generated has fueled our participation every year since. Read more
(Note from Mary: It is the 20th Anniversary of the Young Inventor Challenge! We have BIG plans and would love to include you - be a sponsor, a judge or a volunteer. We appreciate all the help we can get to support the next generation of toy people! Contact Ahren Hoffman ahren@peopleofplay.com today.)

Cartoon Lovers, Lexophiles & People in Need of a Smile!
Cartoon of the Week: Thank you to the person who wishes to be anonymous for the cartoon this week.
Memorable Quotes: “When Americans lend a hand to one another, nothing is impossible. We’re not about what happened on 9/11. We’re about what happened on 9/12.” -Jeff Parness
Toy Industry Word of Day: If you can think of a toy/game industry word not in our POPDictionary, add it and we will connect it to you POP profile, feature it here in an upcoming week and on POP's homepage!
Have a cartoon, quote or a joke to share? Send it to me! Mary
Happiest of Birthdays to our colleagues celebrating birthdays this past week!
Eddy Goldfarb
Chris Saldana
Karen Reed
Alan Dorfman
Micheal McKay
Jason Duncan
Janis Van Tine
Merle Robbins RIP
Liza Gresko
The bid would be made mostly in cash. A deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery would be costly.
Diamond Comic Distributors has taken the next step in attempting to seize and sell consignment inventory in its warehouse by filing adversary proceedings against 31 consignment vendors, from Ablaze LLC to Zenescope Entertainment, Inc.
Hollywood’s battle with AI is heating up as Warner Bros. Discovery alleges that Midjourney generated “countless” infringing images and videos of its copyrighted characters, including Superman, Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo, and more.
Sparkle Pop has responded to Diamond’s motion on its sales of consignment inventory, alleging that its sales of the inventory were due to lack of action by Diamond.
Collectible sales were up 63% over category sales in the same quarter a year ago, from $139.4 million in Q2 2024 to $227.6 million in Q2 2025.
Europe is unlikely to acquiesce to the White House's request to slap high tariffs on its Asian counterparts.
The Supreme Court has not indicated when it might rule on a request by the Trump administration to decide quickly on whether many new tariffs are legal.
It’s only September, but the world’s toymakers and designers are converging on El Segundo this week for an industry conference to decide on the hottest toys for next year.
In the toy department, great packaging is about more than simply holding products on the shelves or on the pegs.
Setting up a children's toys manufacturing plant requires careful planning, beginning with sourcing raw materials like plastics, textiles, or eco-friendly alternatives.
In recent years, trendy and collectible Chinese toys have gained remarkable popularity worldwide, with numerous brands expanding their reach overseas, generating overwhelming enthusiasm both online and offline.
How companies can reduce supply chain risks by diversifying their strategies.
Consumers are girding for higher inflation over the short term and long term, while sentiment is souring on job prospects for the next few months.
In the first half of the year, dollar sales increased by 6%, units sold were up 3%, and the average selling price (ASP) grew by 3% versus the same period in 2024, according to Circana’s Retail Tracking Service data.
This year includes toys from Melissa & Doug, Lego, Fisher-Price, and more.
The annual Hasbro In The Community Charity Football and Netball Tournament returned on Friday 5th September under blue skies, with a brilliant turnout of players, sponsors and supporters all coming together to raise funds for the Toy Trust.
Discover how the Lego Group's Boston HQ provides employees the space to work and play.
In 2024, when adults surpassed every other age group in money spent on toys, the industry finally sat up and took notice.
Asha Bhalsod, founder of Etopia Consultancy, shares her thoughts on why TikTok could be the new Amazon for toys.
To tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution, architect Vinu Daniel designed a circular house with its exterior wall made of earth blocks, Mangalore tiles, and 6,200 discarded toys.
The University of Oregon's mascot, The Oregon Duck, masqueraded as a popular Labubu doll during the team's home stand against Oklahoma State.
Lights, Camera, Play: The Toy Industry Assembles for Previews in LA.
An early look at The Toy Insider's 2025 picks for the hottest toy trends of the holiday season!
Toy World's Gabriela Jiménez García speaks with leading suppliers in the Pocket Money collectibles category to identify the trends and toys dominating playgrounds this year.
It’s the time of year when the ability to clone myself would come in handy.
Released in 1962 by Remco, Fascination Checkers was a two-player twist on traditional checkers, played on a distinctive corner-and-cross game board.
The original lighsaber used by Darth Vader in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” and its sequel “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” has been sold at an auction for $3,654,000.
It may feel like yesterday, but these picks are now a quarter of a century old!
“And they’re off again!”
The plush duo is a recreation of Charlotte Clark's now-treasured collectibles.
Not everything in the past was better. When it comes to science fiction franchises from the 1970s and 1980s, we often have a tendency to romanticize the so-called purity of the way things used to be.
Kenner’s Bold Star Wars Relaunch in 1995 Awakened the Force at Retail and Unleashed a Modern Collector Economy
The Dutch Pinball Museum is a hands-on experience where history and gameplay merge, offering a nostalgic journey that bridges the past and present.
Released by Matchbox in 1988, the Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Playset captured the whimsy and vibrancy of the hit television series.
WildBrain CPLG expands the Playmobil brand with worldwide promotions and cross-category partners like McDonald's, Kia Motors, and more.
This fall, 'Bluey' fans can get spooky and silly with new Halloween costumes, activities, apparel, decor, and more starring BBC Studios’ beloved characters.
Netflix and YouTube won't be the only ones offering this iconic preschool series on their platforms.
The money will help support the studio, which is developing Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with Simon & Schuster for Nickelodeon.
Licensing partnerships include Abrams for publishing, Ashtel Studios for personal care, BBC International for footwear, Franco Manufacturing for bedding and bath, and Komar for sleepwear.
Threewise Entertainment is giving the beloved British stop-motion character a big-screen sequel for 2027.
OpenAI hopes Critterz will convince wary film execs to embrace AI with its low budget and accelerated production schedule.
The first teaser for season 2 of A24's hit animated series Hazbin Hotel has arrived, and the show's vast fandom is going to be picking over it frame by frame.
The groundbreaking superhero series, which originally aired from 1981–1983, will return in an all-new comic series premiering in 2026—led by an all-star team that includes the original Hero himself, William Katt, as Executive Producer.
Heathside Trading and WWE have announced a new licensing partnership, with the Khadou brand promising lines fans will be proud to collect.
The deal, brokered by licensing agency Think Influence, brings the digital gardening sensation into the physical world with a new range of toys designed for building, collecting, customizing, and sharing.
Mattel is revving up for a revival. A new season of Hot Wheels Matchbox Adventures is coming to YouTube, sporting all-new races and rescues.
Mattel is expanding its portfolio of digital content with an all-new American Girl series on YouTube, 'The Great American Girl Challenge.'
Barney is back, and he’s busting a move! Mattel’s lovable purple dinosaur is starring in a new YouTube series to get kids moving and grooving.
The deal could potentially cover kids and family titles like Danny and the Dinosaur or Magic: The Gathering.
This brings the job cuts to nearly 100 in recent months, as the pubcaster continues navigating the complete loss of federal funding.
The retailer is developing costumes based on Netflix's kids movie sensation.
Also, Sesame Workshop has appointed Kendall Hubert as EVP of revenue and philanthropy, and Sarah Rose is leaving Paramount to join The Royal Foundation as CEO.
Lawrence, who served as the students’ formal introduction to toy safety, has been presenting her “Building Safety into Toy Design” session to FIT’s Toy Design class for more than 25 years.
In this role, Harmuth will lead product strategy and innovation as the company expands beyond its successful subscription business into new toy and education verticals, positioning CrunchLabs as a global STEM toy brand.
The move reflects the company’s continued investment in its global brands and commercial growth strategy.
Also, former Bandai UK exec Nic Aldridge has landed at Heathside Trading to head up Khadou's toys and marketing.
With the goal of $49,000, Michael Harring's Wayward Ghouls Kickstarter is almost at 50% with a $19,000 pledge but as he shared in this interview, for some reason, pledges have stalled.
For Ronald Rudat, working at Hasbro was more than just a paycheck — it was a passion.
Honorees were recognized in Los Angeles this week.
Members of the toy trade can register now for Toy Fair New York, book hotels at the best rates and map their personalised agenda with the Toy Fair mobile app.
The CHITAG organisers report that this year’s event is set to be the biggest yet, with a host of sponsors and exhibitors already on board.
Toy inventors and designers are now invited to apply for a chance to pitch their ideas to top toy and youth entertainment professionals and manufacturing partners at Toy Fair® this February.
The Toy Building brings together global toy companies, mid-sized manufacturers, and emerging startups, whose showrooms will attract buyers, licensors, and key decision makers from around the world to preview toy prototypes, scout new toy trends, and hold private meetings
Toy World's Caroline Tonks and Mark Austin took a trip up to Birmingham earlier this week to visit Autumn Fair 2025 and see what the show had to offer for Toy exhibitors.
At The Big Christmas Press Show 2025, consumer specialists, retail insiders, shopping experts and trendsetters have come together to reveal this year's most coveted products for Christmas.
As 2025’s trade show season winds down, ASTRA is already building toward a bigger, brighter 2026.
SEGA and Atlus have announced their plans for this year’s Tokyo Game Show and judging from what’s been revealed there are four surprise titles which obviously have yet to be announced.
The Kidult Awards judging panel has come up with a host of stand-out items that they expect to be on Christmas lists this year.
The purpose-driven collaboration combines the sensory and creative play of the PLAY-DOH brand with the magic of Disney storytelling.
Santoki has revealed its newest addition to the LEGO lifestyle lineup: The LEGO Clock Collection. The four clocks in the collection debuted at LA Fall Preview Market Weeks in El Segundo, Calif.
If there’s one truth in entertainment, it’s that music connects us. The right song can instantly transport you to a high school dance, the front seat of your first car, even just a brief moment in time.
The company has announced collaborations with Fun In Motion Toys and Horizon Group USA to bring its fan-favorite characters into new formats.
The franchise also released a podcast and YouTube series in honor of Star Trek Day.
With an exclusive U.S. retail debut at Target and the addition of My Creative Box to its portfolio, CONNETIX is setting new benchmarks in magnetic play while fueling Brave Toys’ global growth strategy.
It chronicles Mattel’s transformation from its founding in 1945 in a California garage to its present-day status as a global leader in toys and family entertainment.
With the ongoing success of the original Pickle Everything Game and everything "pickle" trending worldwide, it is no miracle that this relished new version made its way to retail so quickly.
Discover how pocket.watch’s Clock.Work helps brands reach Gen Alpha kids and parents through COPPA-compliant campaigns across YouTube, OTT, and gaming — building safe, authentic connections in the spaces where families play and engage.
Trick-or-treating just got even sweeter! Hasbro is teaming up with Hershey’s for Furby Minis that put a tasty twist on the toy box favorite.
NUK and Ms. Rachel partnered for a new sippy cup collection, designed to make the transition from bottles to cups easier.
The vehicle collection brings a battle royale element to the race track.
ModelGiant customers will be welcomed into a refreshed shop with a bold new identity, revised opening hours and a new look and feel.
Maison Battat has asserted that it holds exclusive distribution rights for Mr. Pa and Laura for the UK and Europe.
Phillips Hobbies in March, Cambridgeshire is the latest retailer to become a member of the Toymaster group.
The Werebears brand has been brought back to life by David Middleton of Midco Sourcing and Midco Toys, working together with Kandy Toys.
The retailers are partnering to bring POP MART’s must-have collectibles and IP to Books-A-Million locations across the US.
The Luna StoryTime Projector library expands with Mattel brands, like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Thomas and Friends and Angelina Ballerina.
About a year ago, Walmart began offering collectibles through its online marketplace, allowing merchants to sell dolls, sports memorabilia, comic books and other coveted collectibles on the platform.
Long-running French board game publisher Ludonaute is calling time on creating new games at the end of 2025, saying the hobby's huge expansion in recent years had seen passion within the industry leech away in favour of economic decision-making.
Lego revealed that a set is in the works with an Instagram post set in the Enterprise’s transporter room.
Asmodee has launched a dedicated kids-focused brand as it prepares to release a slate of re-worked, simpler and shorter versions of some of its most popular titles.
With a total of 9,023 pieces, the Ultimate Death Star is the largest Lego Star Wars set to date, recreating some of the most legendary moments in cinematic history.
Combining fun and educational outcomes, the Activity Pads foster creativity, problem-solving and hands-on skill development beyond the classroom.
The brand returns with new content, global distribution, and six launch titles.
Set to hit North American shelves this summer, the revived line updates the original concept with vibrant new colors, fresh characters, and expanded interactive features.
Hasbro deepens Peppa Pig's emotional storytelling and builds fresh momentum across global retail.
From a theatrical debut to a nationwide tour, new toys, and a video game launch, Gabby's Dollhouse is expanding beyond the screen with its biggest year yet.
The brand brings baseball, pickleball, soccer, volleyball, and football sets to retail this fall.
Top Trumps USA sharpens its strategy, expanding retail reach and stacking the deck for 2026.
The agency’s new identity unites PR, marketing, influencer, social, and retail activation under one banner.
YuMe's Paul Fish details the company's distribution relationships, upcoming collaborations, and more.
Lionel Trains honors its past and builds the future with catalog callouts, event exclusives, and behind-the-scenes access.
DohKins from MGA Entertainment combines adorable characters with moldable, never-drying dough across various playsets.
The relocation is part of the company’s Playing to Win strategy, designed to drive innovation, expand partnerships, and attract top talent.
Sky Castle has announced a series of partnerships with globally recognised brands and digital content creators to expand its award-winning Sticki Rolls product line.
The PeopleFirst recognition highlights Playtime’s commitment to nurturing a supportive, inclusive and inspiring culture that celebrates individuality, fosters belonging and empowers people to thrive.
L.O.L. Surprise! and pop culture icon Care Bears are teaming up for the colourful, all-new L.O.L. Surprise! Loves Care Bears doll collection.
New blind box collectibles debut in silver and gold, featuring Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney icons.
Hot Wheels is partnering with World Champion quarterback, Russell Wilson and his five-year-old son, Win Wilson, for a campaign featuring the new Hot Wheels Speed Snap Track System.
The Loyal Subjects ushers in a plush comeback for a new generation.
WildBrain CPLG brokers new and expanded licensing programs for the IP.
The hit character will expand internationally with content and consumer products through a new partnership.
The news comes with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company suing Palworld maker Pockerpair over alleged patent infringement.
When two friends make it their mission to rescue an abandoned spaceship, they embark on a journey beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately learning the value of being connected.
Roblox on Friday announced new short-video and AI features that come amid increasing lawmaker scrutiny into how the company protects children on its platform.
Steam, the Nintendo eShop and Playstation Store among those that crashed on Friday, unable to cope with demand for the Australian-made game
The new Tamagotchi style toy features over 150 Pokemon to play with and take care of all housed in a Pokeball.
Former Nintendo developer Ken Watanabe has had the chance to chat with Bloomberg about the Kyoto-based company and one thing which came up is the company’s approach to creating new IPs.
Nintendo is busy celebrating a $2 million legal win today over Ryan Daly and a Modded Hardware website.
Other than sharing a smattering of new KH4 screenshots in May of this year, it's pretty much been radio silence for three years.
The crossover will go live on Wednesday, letting Among Us fans become the "cutest cosplayer at your Emergency Meetings," according to Innersloth.
Genki’s parent company, Human Things, will pay Nintendo an undisclosed amount of money in damages to close the case, according to a legal filing submitted on Monday.
To celebrate Holiday 2025, three new Storybook Advent Calendars are launching in September to make sure the cheer lasts all December long. What’s more, Igloo Books has once again partnered with the ultimate storytellers for these special advent calendars: Disney! The three new styles launching for this holiday season are Disney’s Stitch Advent Calendar, Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Advent Calendar, and Marvel’s Spidey & His Amazing Friends Advent Calendar ($31.99 each).
At a busy market in a small town of China’s Hebei province, Labubu is no longer the coveted collectible displayed in glass cases.
The fast-growing platform which has more than 110 million users a day playing games like Grow A Garden and Brookhaven RP has been hit by child safety concerns as experiments found children as young as five may be able to communicate with adults while playing games.
The president and CEO of Epoch Making Toys, Michihiro Maeda, has passed away at the age of 67. He first joined the company in 1989, and was appointed president in 1995.
Worldwide Magazines Weekly Top Stories
Some Added Friday Morning. Check Back for Complete Lists.
Toy Trade Monthly & Special Issues
Adventure Media & Events (US)
Toyworld (UK)
Licensing.biz Powered by Toyworld
ICv2: The Business of Geek Culture (US)
- Wizards of the Coast Unveils More Sets From 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Spider-Man' Superdrop
- WizKids Reveals New 'D&D Replicas of the Realms: Red Dragon 12-inch Trophy Plaque'
- Wizards of the Coast Bumps Up 'Magic: The Gathering' Banned and Restricted Announcement
- 'BattleTech Gothic' Heads to Retail
- Sirius Dice Explores 'D&D Undermountain'
- WizKids Unveils New 'D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures' Gem Dragon
- Big Jump in GameStop Collectibles Sales
- Venom Gets His Own 'Marvel HeroClix' Booster Set
- 'Warmachine Core Book' Hits Preorder
- Rolling for Initiative -- Good Gaming Gifts 2025
Nación Juguetes (Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile & Spain)
Global Toy News
The Bugg Report (Australia)
The Toy Universe (Australia)
hobbyDB
BoardGameWire
Toy Store (Italy)
Casual Game Insider
Casual Game Insider: Fall 2025 Issue
Video of the Week!
Tough Negotiations for Terrific Toy Collections | American Pickers
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