With a few exceptions, every major publicly-traded toyco reported a drop in sales of licensed toys/games. TLL breaks down how the year went for Mattel, Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, Lego, and Funko…
Best in Show
L.O.L. Surprise! Sweeps Toy & License of the Year Awards
March 4, 2019
The list of winners from this year’s TOTY awards is topped by none other than MGAE’s L.O.L. Surprise! Plus more from Lego, Mattel, Spin Master, and other category winners…
Toys & Games
What’s the [Toy] Story? Same as Last Year, Just Better!
February 25, 2019
Straight from the floor of New York Toy Fair, TLL brings you the latest and greatest in toy trends. They just happen to be the same as last year’s—Only more nuanced, thoughtful, and developed…
Business
M&A: New Faces, Same Places
February 25, 2019
The latest in business news takes us full circle, from home brands (Oneida, Zippo) to publishing (Penske Media, Hearst) to talent agencies (UTA) to retail (Walmart, Sears, TRU)…
Entertainment/Character
Feature Creatures: Horns, Hooves & Hybrids
February 25, 2019
Take a moment to recall last year’s feature headline for New York Toy Fair: Blind Bags, Glitter & Poop. This year, we can safely replace the last one with: Unicorns…
Corporate/Trademark
Going Corporate: 2019 Toys/Games Built on a TM
February 25, 2019
Lest TLL neglects to honor those corporate trademarks/brands with influence in the toys and games space, here are some of the top highlights…
Video games
State of the Union: Reviewing Video Games in 2018
February 15, 2019
The U.S. video gaming industry broke records in 2018 to hit an estimated $43.4 billion in sales—and retail sales of licensed products based on those games are expected to follow in those same footsteps…
Licensing Law
Right of Publicity & Using Celebrities Without Permission
February 11, 2019
In the U.S., can a company utilize a person’s intellectual property without being under a licensing agreement? The answer: “Yes, sometimes.” While it might seem an anathema for any sensible licensing professional…
Domestics & Stationery
Living Coral: 2019 NSS, NY Now & Surtex Edition
February 11, 2019
Conscientious, Organized, Retro, and Animated Living—From the floor of the 2019 National Stationery Show (NSS), Retail Renaissance NY Now, and Surtex, TLL brings you the latest in home, stationery, and surface design…
Estates
Ruth, Ross & Rogers: America’s Top Personalities
February 11, 2019
Americans can’t seem to get enough of the three R’s—RBG, Bob Ross, and Mister Rogers. They’re calm, they’re collected, and they’re what we need right now…