Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. 3/18/2019 Toysmith appoints Michael Keaton to the role of CEO. Keaton currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Toy Association in the U.S. … [Read more...] about Who’s News—March 2019
Barnes & Noble
Roundup: M&A & Partnerships
Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. New Media Frontiers At a London event, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish shared that the company is looking at launching a branded AVOD portal that will draw in viewers by providing them with free digital content. Viacom will not, however, "follow Disney down the path of developing a Netflix-type streaming service because of the massive … [Read more...] about Roundup: M&A & Partnerships
Who’s News—7/9/2018
Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Email the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter are appointed the new Chief Creative Officers of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, … [Read more...] about Who’s News—7/9/2018
Who’s News—2/19/2018
Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Email Jen at jen@plainlanguagemedia.com and we'll announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. Sanrio names Craig Takiguchi as their new COO. Having previously headed up new business development, Craig brings a new vision for expansion into … [Read more...] about Who’s News—2/19/2018
Publishing Driven by Kids; General Market Softens
Retail sales of licensed publishing—including books, comics, and magazines—reached over $3.7 million in the U.S./Canada for 2016. Meanwhile, the general sector has relatively soft performance that continued into 2017. Unit sales of print books were up 1.9% in the U.S. in 2017, continuing the modest single-digit growth book sales have seen over the past few years, according to … [Read more...] about Publishing Driven by Kids; General Market Softens
Mergers & Acquisitions
Phoenix Asset Management increases its stake in Hornby Hobbies to over 70% after increasing its stake to over 50% last month. Italian toy manufacturer Giochi Preziosi sells its 50% stake in Prenatal Retail Group to Artsana, giving Artsana full ownership of European retail brands brands Toy Centre, King Jouet, Prenatal, and Bimbostore. The deal is estimated to be worth 105 … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
Store Check: Licensed Offerings at B&N
I visited a local Barnes & Noble this week, one of the "last remaining massive bookstores" in the city, at Union Square, New York. It's a bookstore, but I'm not checking out the books. One of the biggest growth areas for the chain bookseller is toys, games, and gifts/novelties. Here's a look at the licensed options that B&N was pushing last week: It's Father's Day on … [Read more...] about Store Check: Licensed Offerings at B&N
Soft Book Sales as the World Celebrates Reading
To mark the 20th anniversary of Read Across America (or World Book Day in the rest of the world), children around the world dressed up as their favorite publishing-based characters. The holiday is also known as Dr. Seuss Day in honor of American writer Theodore Seuss Geisel, whose birthday falls on March 2nd. The Roald Dahl Literary Estate launched Roald Dahl’s Imaginormous … [Read more...] about Soft Book Sales as the World Celebrates Reading
Retail Roundup
Barnes & Noble will host its first Harry Potter Magical Holiday Ball on Dec. 9th at stores throughout the U.S. The event will feature activities including a designated themed craft-making station, wizarding charades and games, a coloring station, photo opportunities, face painting, fortune telling, and Harry Potter lookalike showcases. Select stores will also feature treats … [Read more...] about Retail Roundup
Retail Roundup
Barnes & Noble will host its first Harry Potter Magical Holiday Ball on Dec. 9th at stores throughout the U.S. The event will feature activities including a designated themed craft-making station, wizarding charades and games, a coloring station, photo opportunities, face painting, fortune telling, and Harry Potter lookalike showcases. Select stores will also feature treats … [Read more...] about Retail Roundup