News
U.S. retail holiday sales jump 4.9 percent, biggest increase since 2011
Despite thousands of store closings this year, Americans supplied a final flurry of spending to give retailers their best holiday season sales since 2011, figures released Tuesday show. U.S. year-end holiday retail sales rose 4.9% compared to... more »
Animoodles kickstarter raises 400 percent of goal
Introducing Animoodles, A Building Set Made Of Stuffed Animal Parts! The Toy Jungle Just Got Really Wild (In A Lovable Way) Traditional children’s toys, like stuffed animals and building sets, have not changed much over the... more »
New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada debuts latest book at Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Award-winning author Kobi Yamada will be signing copies of “What Do You Do With a Chance?” on January 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Tango showroom (Building 2, 10th Floor, #1000B) of the Atlanta International Gift... more »
NY NOW Winter Market spotlights gift trends
As the 2017 holiday season wraps up, buyers looking to restock their store shelves in 2018 can find all of their gifting product needs at NY NOW, the Market for Home, Lifestyle + Gift. This February 4-7,... more »
Retailer Spotlight: Poor Richard’s Books & Gifts and Little Richard’s Toy Store
Patricia Seator and Richard Skorman, owners Richard Skorman and Patricia Seator have been inviting locals and visitors to make themselves at home for more than 40 years. In 1975, while a student at Colorado College,... more »
Icon Honors call for entries now open
The ICON HONORS Call for Entries opens today launching the 2018 competition for the home and gift industry’s most celebrated and recognized mark of achievement. Competition for ICON HONORS recognition is open to the home and gift... more »
Karen Allweil Studio to move within AmericasMart
Karen Alweil Studio is pleased to announce that it will be moving to a new space in the AmericasMart for the upcoming January market. The new showroom can still be found on the 10th floor of... more »
Creativeworld 2018 to feature street art products
Street art is trending and has made the leap from the back streets to the world’s museums and DIY markets. At Creativeworld, street art is the subject of a special show with numerous renowned manufacturers... more »
Las Vegas Market offers products, programs for casual & outdoor industry
Las Vegas Market has announced that two educational sessions — addressing casual and outdoor category trends and business opportunities — will be presented in partnership with Casual Living during the Winter 2018 Las Vegas Market, Jan. 28-Feb.... more »
How retailers prep for the snow and cold of winter
As the largest external driver of consumer need, weather is more than just a conversation-starter for retailers. Evan Gold, EVP of global services at Planalytics, a company that helps retailers account for weather, says the trick... more »
Young Inventor Challenge winners announced during Chicago Toy & Game Week
The winners of the 11th Annual Young Inventor Challenge, held annually as part of Chicago Toy and Game Week (ChiTAG), were announced at Navy Pier in early December. The competition invites girls and boys between... more »
Comic book giant Stan Lee among three to be inducted into Toy Industry Hall of Fame
The Toy Association announced Dec. 7 that it will induct Andrea Barthello, co-founder and COO of ThinkFun Inc., Stan Lee, former editor-in-chief, publisher and chairman of Marvel Comics, and the late James R. Becker, founder... more »
