September Spotlight on Toy Association Members
September 19, 2017 | This month’s Toy Association member spotlight features Ravensburger/ThinkFun, Hasbro, Velex, Funrise Toys, Mattel, and Goliath Games.
Ravensburger Acquires ThinkFun to Strengthen its Position in Games Category in North America
Ravensburger AG has acquired ThinkFun, a leading developer of logic and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) games in the U.S. market. The move broadens the company’s portfolio of brands, while strengthening its position in the games category of the U.S. toy and game market. ThinkFun joins Wonder Forge, acquired in 2012, and BRIO, acquired in 2015, as the newest company under the recently established Ravensburger North America division. ThinkFun will continue to operate as an independent brand from its Alexandria, VA headquarters.
Hasbro Brings Imagination to Life on World Play-Doh Day
Hasbro encouraged fans to use their imaginations to bring their favorite destinations to life on World Play-Doh day, which took place on September 16. The annual event is dedicated to celebrating Play-Doh – the iconic creative childhood toy that inspires millions of people worldwide to engage in open-ended, hands-on, and creative play experiences. World Play-Doh Day celebrations can be seen by using the hashtag #WORLDPLAYDOHDAY on social media.
Velex Rebrands Gorilla Gym as “Gym1”
Velex Corporation, makers of the popular Gorilla Gym brand of products, announced that it is changing the name of its best-selling product line to “Gym1.” The new name better emphasizes the evolving focus of the product line’s health benefits and long-term commitment to more formalized fitness options for kids and adults. The “1” in Gym1 was chosen because customers cited it as the “one and only Gym” that their household uses regularly – mainly due to its compact versatility and wide variety of accessories that plugged into the core doorway unit for both kids and adults.
Funrise Secures Global Master Toy License for Space Racers
Funrise Toy Corp. has secured the global master toy licensee for the popular, animated, preschool series, Space Racers. A full range of preschool toys will hit shelves globally by fall 2018. Space Racers follows Eagle, Robyn, Hawk, Starling, Raven, and their fellow cadets as they explore the solar system and the universe. Headmaster Crane, Professor Coot, and other faculty members of the Stardust Bay Space Academy guide the cadets on missions that cover heliophysics, earth science, planetary science, and astrophysics, and other science disciplines explained at a preschool level. The Space Racers brand has grown monumentally since its 2015 launch on public television and on Netflix. Its second season debuted in November 2016 on NBC Universal's Sprout network.
Mattel’s Hot Wheels Brand Gets “Hacked” by Microsoft to Teach Students STEM
Mattel’s popular Hot Wheels brand will be featured as part of the Microsoft Education Workshop's STEM Saturdays, an initiative by the technology company to host a range of free hands-on educational programs through Microsoft stores. In the workshop, which runs every Saturday through the end of September, participants hack a Hot Wheels car to learn about forces in motion, by modifying their Hot Wheels cars with a simple paper clip that acts as a switch. This allows them to measure their car's speed, visualize the shift from potential to kinetic energy, and investigate the force of impact as they race their cars on the iconic orange track.
Goliath Games Acquires JAX
Goliath Games has acquired JAX Ltd., best known for its Sequence board game. JAX will continue to be run by the Levine family, producing its own products and maintaining its brand while benefiting from Goliath’s global resources, including R&D, logistics, and TV and digital marketing campaigns. Goliath, best known for its games including Rummikub, Rubik’s Cube, Tri-ominos, and Doggie Doo, has continued to see substantial growth with the acquisitions of Pressman in the U.S., Crown & Andrews in Australia, Modelco in France, and Elephanta in New Zealand.
Want to be included in next month’s Member Spotlight? Email lchartorynsky@toyassociation.org with company news.