The Ifo World Economic Climate Indicator continued to rise and is now only slightly below its long-term average. The improvement was primarily driven by more positive expectations for the next six months. The current situation was also deemed somewhat friendlier than in last month's survey. The results confirm a trend towards recovery in the world economy.

In Western Europe and North America the economic climate indicator rose significantly and remains higher than the long-term average value in North America. In both regions expectations for the next six-months were upwardly adjusted significantly. The current economic situation, on the other hand, showed only a slight improvement.

After four successive declines, the indicator in Asia is approaching its long-term average. The current economic situation also improved, but is nevertheless seen as unfavourable. The six-month economic outlook for Asia, on the other hand, is clearly more positive than three months ago.

WES experts in Western Europe expect an increase in economic performance of 0.4% in 2012. In North America and Asia they predict stronger growth of 2.4% and 4.0% respectively. Inflation estimates for 2012 increased only slightly to 3.6% (previous quarter: 3.5%). WES experts on average expect a slight increase in long-term interest rates over the next six months.

According to WES experts the euro is slightly over-valued and the yen is somewhat more so. On worldwide average economic experts expect the dollar exchange rate to rise over the next six months.

By www.toysnplaythings.co.uk

The move is set to offer a new way for fans and retailers to engage with the brand and share their experiences.

Social media will form a key part of Playmobil’s marketing and communications strategy, informing customers and retailers of announcements, promotions and products. No stranger to changing times, Playmobil has constantly innovated and embraced technology since it began in 1974, whilst maintaining its core values of traditional and creative play.

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This seminar, which is financed by the European Commission, is part of the ‘European Toy Safety Information Campaign’. The aim of this campaign is to help economic operators (manufacturers, importers, distributors and testing laboratories) to better understand and apply the requirements of the Directive.

This year the campaign has already visited Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Further seminars will take place in France (31 May), Italy, Spain and Sweden/Denmark.

Source: TIE

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By kidscreen.com

The organization, which provides a professional networking base for women working in the toys, entertainment and licensing industries, currently includes more than 100 influential female executives.

WIT Canada co-chair and Corus Entertainment’s manager of North American licensing Mellany Masterson, with WIT Canada co-chair Jessica Gavin, are currently seeking new members from across the country and are planning quarterly events.

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Furby – the classic animatronic plush toy from the ‘90s – is set to return to toy aisles this year.

Kicking off the PR activity, Hasbro UK has posted a mysterious outline of a creature that looks suspiciously like the electronic furry friend, with the caption 'Guess who's coming back?!' on it's Facebook page:

As confirmed by Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, Furby will make a comeback this year. Could the former most-wanted toy have parents queueing around the block again, just like Christmas 1998?

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Mega Brands grew its sales to $58.2 million, up from $51 million in Q1 2011 - a rise of 14 per cent.

Toy sales increased ten per cent, fuelled by higher product shipments in the pre-school and boys construction categories, while stationery and activity products went up 26 per cent.

Geographically, Mega’s sales grew 26 per cent in North America and two per cent in international markets – a contrast to competing toy companies in the ‘States, which have typically seen international sales outpacing domestic.

Despite the revenue growth Mega recorded a net loss of $8.5 million – however this was an improvement on the $9.3 million loss in the corresponding 2011 period.

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When it comes to Internet sales, the U.S. toy market seems to lag behind its counterparts on the old continent. Indeed, even though the combined toy markets of the five largest European countries amount to just under three-quarters of the size of the American toy market, European online sales of toys are about 18 percent higher than U.S. online toy sales.

Online toy sales are currently led by Germany and the U.K. But even if those two countries have evolved with very different business models, be it cross-channel or pure-players, they both embraced online shopping long ago. In fact, over a fifth of annual toy sales were completed online in 2011 in these countries. But what is perhaps even more fascinating is that the number of buyers is still progressing, and penetration now stands at about one-third of U.K. and German toy buyers having purchased at least one toy online during the year.

For several years, many in the industry have been raving about the opportunities offered by online trading, satisfied that their performance online was good enough because they were recording a double-digit increases. And they were right. But how good is a 10 or even 15 percent increase if online sales are growing at the rate of 50 percent or more, as was the case in France in 2011?

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The top 5 traditional toy licenses for Q1 were (in alphabetical order) Cars: The Movie, Disney Princess, Star Wars, Thomas and Friends, and Toy Story, each generating anywhere from 3 percent to 10 percent of total licensed product sales. The first quarter’s top 5 growth licenses were (in alphabetical order) Angry Birds, Cars: The Movie, Hello Kitty & Friends, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Star Wars.

“Licensing is an important part of the toy industry,” said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group. “The average retail selling price of a licensed toy was nearly 50 percent larger than that of unlicensed toys in the first quarter, showing the premium a toy can generate by being associated with a child’s favourite character or property.”

The top 5 toy properties over the same time period were (in alphabetical order) Barbie, Cars: The Movie, Crayola, Hot Wheels, and Star Wars. Thanks in part to strong movie releases as well as the introduction of children’s tablets in 2011, the top 5 growth properties included (in alphabetical order) Cars: The Movie, Monster High, Lalaloopsy, LeapPad Tablet, and Star Wars.

“Licenses tend to have very gender specific appeal,” said Frazier. “While sales of Disney Princess and Hello Kitty & Friends toys are largely made for girls, the remainder of the top licenses and top growth licenses in the first quarter were largely purchased for boys.”

By www.toynews-online.biz

Packaging for LEGO's new line of LOTR toys, inspired by the three Peter Jackson movies based on the books, reveals the title is on the way.

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• Factories want improved communications channels, more opportunities to learn about ICP and ways to improve their compliance levels through increased education, training and capacity building, e.g. factory seminars, Helpline service, information on Chinese section of website.
  
• Toy buyers need to be better informed about the link between buyer behavior and social compliance. Purchasing practices such as unreasonable price demands and frequent changes of order quantity and timeframe increase the risk of non-compliances on issues such as working hours and wages.
  
• Factories and auditors need clearer communication about ICP audit standards to avoid any differences in applying them. ICP auditors should undergo additional refresher training to ensure consistent interpretation of the ICP policy and standards updates, auditor ethics and professionalism, communication and skill development.
  

• ICP continues to be more transparent in its operations, especially as it relates to auditor performance and behavior.
  

Overall, it is clear that the toy industry in China continues to experience tremendous pressure from both external factors (e.g. purchasing practices, lower prices, poor economic environment) as well as internal factors (e.g. labor shortage, higher wage rates). As such, the toy industry may continue to experience further consolidation, as some factories find it increasingly difficult to operate under such conditions. To assist ICP members and supporters, the ICP will examine steps it can take to encourage a healthier balance between corporate social responsibility and business performance.

ICTI CARE Foundation President, Christian Ewert noted that, "The ongoing objective of the annual surveys is to better understand the changing circumstances and challenges that China's toy factories face, as well as how the ICTI CARE Process can meet member factories' expectations concerning monitoring, training and communication."

To read the summary of the ICTI CARE Process Third Annual Factory Survey Report, click here

Source: ICTI