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There has been a great deal of fluctuation in ocean freight rates over the last few months. Thankfully, most of it has been down. We wanted to know what most companies were paying for a 40 foot container from Asia to the U.S. west coast. Below are the results: As you can see from the above graph, 46% of the companies surveyed are paying between $7,000 and $9,000. I don’t … [Read more...] about Results: Toy Industry Freight Survey

Released in 1969 by Whitman Publishing, Humor Rumor was an over-the-top take on “The Telephone Game.” Both classic ice-breaking party activities, these games focus on how information is inevitably changed as it is passed from person to person. Humor Rumor included two 45-card decks, a pair of large ruby-red plastic lips, a giant plastic ear, and a long cardboard tube (dubbed … [Read more...] about Pssst, pass it on: Humor Rumor from Whitman Publishing

In 1957, Screen Gems bundled together pre-1948 classic horror films from Universal Studios and released the package for syndicated television. Marketed as “Shock Theater,” the films included Frankenstein, Dracula, The Invisible Ray, Werewolf of London, and The Wolf Man, among others. The films usually aired on late night television, but many children snuck into their living … [Read more...] about Strong National Museum of Play Artifact of the Month – Monster Old Maid

Just when you thought it was safe to go back on the water, it’s ‘throwback to 2021’ time, as supply chain disruption is firmly back on the agenda once more. The potential impact of this week’s strike at the port of Felixstowe – the UK’s largest container port, which deals with around half of the UK’s standard-size container traffic – has been likened to the Ever Given getting … [Read more...] about Everyone wants a happy ending ……it’s the Friday Blog!

A measure of US profit margins has reached its widest since 1950, suggesting that the prices charged by businesses are outpacing their increased costs for production and labor. US Corporate Profits Soar With Margins at Widest Since 1950, Reade pickert, bloomberg, august 25, 2022 Chinese makers of everything from Christmas decor to clothing and tents say orders from overseas … [Read more...] about Quotes With Your Coffee #9 – Corporate Profits Soar, Most Profitable Quarter in 50 years

Barbie is hot. Not just with little girls and not only with their moms. She is hot on Wall Street. Consider these headlines: How The Barbie Movie Is Changing Mattel’s Business – CNBC, August 23, 2022 Why Barbie Fashion Is the Exhilarating Trend We Need Right Now, Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2022 The ‘Barbie’ Movie Is Coming. So Is the Trend of Dressing Like Ken, … [Read more...] about “Barbiecore,” “Kencore,” and Barbie on the Rise

Macy’s bet that adding a known retail brand like Toys R Us would jump-start its re-entry into the toy business. The bet appears to be paying off. Macy’s had decided to move from its initial experimental approach to Toys R Us to a full embrace. The company has announced that it will have Toys R Us departments in all stores. But can Macy’s generate $1 Billion in toy sales? … [Read more...] about Macy’s Is Anticipating $1 Billion in Toy Sales. Can they do it?

Some vendors have stopped shipping Bed Bath & Beyond. In addition, worryingly, factors are refusing to insure receivables. That’s according to several articles appearing over the last few days. Here are some examples: “Some Bed Bath & Beyond suppliers halt shipments on unpaid bills” – Fortune Magazine “Bed Bath & Beyond is at risk of filing for bankruptcy. How … [Read more...] about Liquidity Troubles at Bed Bath & Beyond

Click here to listen to this episode Amanda Gummer and Frances Cain from The Good Play Guide talk with Richard and Chris about their scientifically based accreditation program for evaluating toys for their potential to support STEM and STEAM learning. Beyond marketing buzzwords, this insightful conversation talks about the value of play, its role in learning…and why fun is … [Read more...] about Validating STEM & STEAM: A Chat with The Good Play Guide

The Center for Learning Unlimited, a non-public, WASC- accredited day school in Torrance, California, proudly celebrates the second graduating class of its animation career training program for neurodiverse adults. Alongside commencement, CLU announces the appointment of an entertainment industry advisory board, plus film festival honors, 3D printed collectible capabilities, … [Read more...] about The Animation Career Training Program graduates its second class, wins film festival awards, and announces Brainstorm Productions projects