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The construction of new manufacturing facilities in the US has soared 116% over the past year, dwarfing the 10% gain on all building projects combined, according to Dodge Construction Network.Bloomberg News, July 6, 2022 The Duke of Windsor had a life-long hobby collecting “tiny and toys and momentos.” His secretary, Dina Hood wrote: Many of the little figures were … [Read more...] about Quotes With Your Coffee #5

Walmart is adding two new fees. They are: Walmart will charge a pick-up fee to those who choose to have Walmart pick up their products rather than ship the goods themselves to Walmart’s distribution centers. Walmart will base he payment on the order’s financial size. 2. Walmart will begin charging a fuel surcharge that will change daily based on fuel prices. Walmart is … [Read more...] about Walmart Adds New Supplier Fees

Russel D’Ambrosio is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Brand Britain, a specialist creative agency working with some of world’s biggest toy and games brands. Russ has honed his creative skills over 30 years and specialises in strategic creative direction, packaging design, ideation and in-store activation. He founded Brand Britain in 2010 with Co-Director, Steven … [Read more...] about My Interview with Brand Britain’s Russel D’Ambrosio

In the late 1950s, Remco released a hand-held toy radio that needed no batteries. The Tiny Tim Pocket Toy Radio was a kid-friendly version of a crystal set. Remco’s offering was equipped with a 35-inch antenna to pick-up AM radio signals emitted from nearby stations in the early days of radio broadcasting. A ground clip attached to the radio could be connected to a nearby … [Read more...] about Not Tiptoeing through the Tulips: The Tiny Tim Pocket Toy Radio from Remco

Prime fair for toy industry players From 30 March – 1 April, the leading toy fair in South China will welcome industry players to capitalise on the peak Chinese retail season in the first half of the year. Building block toys, one of the largest product categories at the event, have always been popular amongst consumers. Read on to find out more about the latest toy block … [Read more...] about Calling building block toy enthusiasts (Ad)

Shenzhen exhibitions return in August With the pandemic easing off in China, Toy & Edu China, Baby & Stroller China and Licensing China are scheduled to return from 5 – 7 August 2022 in Shenzhen. In just under two months, the events will be welcoming more than 1,000 exhibitors at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Register now to physically and … [Read more...] about Two more months until the long-awaited Toy & Edu China (Ad)

Throughout the year, a number of holidays and celebrations include noisemaking traditions. Firecrackers on the Fourth of July, party horns for birthdays or New Year’s Eve, and spooky sounds and pranks on Halloween all contribute to the experience of those special days. For more than a century, makers of holiday paraphernalia have assisted by producing inexpensive and colorful … [Read more...] about Strong National Museum of Play Artifact of the Month – the Tambourine, No. 120.28

Dollar Tree UNEXPECTEDLY Releases Five Senior Executives On December 13, 2021, I published an article asking: “Will Its New $1.25 Price Hurt Dollar Tree?” We may have an answer as the retailer announced that the CFO (who has been with them since 2008), the Chief Information Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and the Chief Legal Officer are all out of a … [Read more...] about Disruption Report #59 – Potential Railroad Strike, Dollar Tree Makes Big C-Suite Changes, and Manufacturing May Be Staying in Asia

Click here to listen to this episode After a successful 10-store pilot, the Canadian trend retailer Showcase is coming to the U.S., and that is big news for the toy industry. Richard and Chris talk to the retailer’s CEO Samir Kulkarni about the store, their growth, their U.S. strategy and the unique and powerful combination of high tech systems and a deep understanding of … [Read more...] about Showcase Comes to the U.S. with 27 Stores – A Conversation with Samir Kulkarni, CEO

Ocean FreighT COMPANY REVENUES INCREASED IN 2021 MORE THAN THE LAST 20 YEARS PUT TOGETHER A headline says it all; “Ocean freight carriers made more money in 2021 than in past 20 years combined.’ The article, written by Robert Dalheim, and published in FurnitureToday, cited someeye-opening statistics. Inventory carrying costs increased 25.9% last year. Spending on ocean … [Read more...] about Disruption Report #58: Ocean Freight Company Revenues Are Up a Ridiculous Amount, 3,113 Containers Lost at Sea, Just In Time Inventory May Be on the Way Out