BURGER KING(R) Restaurants Nationwide Launch the WHIPLASH WHOPPER(R) for Paramount Pictures’ and Marvel Entertainment’s “Iron Man 2″

editor — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:48:06 +0000

press release

The King Jumps into the Action and Joins Forces with Marvel for New “Iron Man 2″-Themed Promotions

MIAMI, Apr 27, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Burger King Corporation catapults customers into the thrilling world of “Iron Man 2,” opening in theaters everywhere May 7, with an action-packed national promotion featuring the WHIPLASH WHOPPER(R) sandwich. This limited-time addition to the BK(R) menu captures the sharp edge of the film’s villain, Whiplash, with an intense, red-hot flavor combination featuring a flame-broiled WHOPPER(R) sandwich topped with melted Pepper Jack cheese, crispy red peppers and spicy mayonnaise. The fiery sandwich will be available for a suggested price of $3.79 at participating restaurants throughout the four-week promotion.

To further mark the return of this popular movie franchise, Burger King Corp. has created an exclusive collection of BK(R) Kids Meal toys that bring the power and attitude of “Iron Man” into restaurants. This collection of eight film-inspired premiums are available with the purchase of a BK(R) Kids Meal and include four lifestyle accessories for girls and four action-packed toys for boys, including an exclusive “Iron Man 2″ figurine that stands a full seven inches tall when assembled.*

“BKC is proud to have been a part of the theatrical debut of ‘Iron Man,’ and we are thrilled to continue our support with ‘Iron Man 2,’” said Mike Kappitt, chief marketing officer, North America, Burger King Corp. “We’ve invested more than ever before in our promotional elements so our guests can expect a new cutting-edge, Stark Industry-inspired promotional line-up featuring fan favorites like our collectible toys that are bigger and better, as well as some exciting new elements aimed at satisfying the hungriest of adult heroes.”

Additionally, the movie promotion will feature separate adult and kid-focused advertising. The promotion flies into participating restaurants in celebration of the highly-anticipated sequel, which hits theaters on May 7.

King Gets into the Futuristic Action with National Advertising Campaign

In the national adult television commercial, the King armors up with a futuristic “Iron Man” suit. In the spot, the “Iron King” introduces the latest technologies from the BURGER KING(R) brand to the curious visitors at the Stark Expo. In his quest to deliver high-tech value with flame-fresh taste via another new great product, the Buck Double sandwich, he ends up wreaking havoc at the Expo.

Additional marketing support will include separate kid-targeted television advertising, online activation on BKC’s Web site for kids, ClubBK.com, and in-restaurant merchandising. The kid-focused TV commercial highlights BK(R) Kids Meals that meet BKC’s strict nutrition standards and features the “Iron Man” action figure coming to life as a child’s imagination takes his toy to new heights. On ClubBK.com, visitors help Tony Stark navigate his new suit in the game “Iron Man 2 Zoom Space.” In addition to the traditional merchandising elements often in restaurants, guests will also see “Iron Man” come crashing through the ceiling holding an ice-cold Dr Pepper(R) through a unique merchandising element, plus dramatic life-size window clings of both “Iron Man” and War Machine.

* One toy per Kids Meal, while supplies last.

ABOUT BURGER KING CORPORATION

The BURGER KING(R) system operates more than 12,000 restaurants in all 50 states and in 73 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of BURGER KING(R) restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. In 2008, Fortune magazine ranked Burger King Corp. (BKC) among America’s 1,000 largest corporations and in 2010, Standard & Poor’s included shares of Burger King Holdings, Inc. in the S&P MidCap 400 index. BKC was recently recognized by Interbrand on its top 100 “Best Global Brands” list and Ad Week has named it one of the top three industry-changing advertisers within the last three decades. To learn more about Burger King Corp., please visit the company’s Web site at www.bk.com.

ABOUT MARVEL

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

SOURCE: Burger King Corporation

Edelman
Marisa Vrona, 312-240-2642
marisa.vrona@edelman.com
or
Burger King Corporation
Lauren Kuzniar, 305-378-7939
lkuzniar@whopper.com

Nostalgia (and Frisbees) in the air at Wham-O

editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:18:03 +0000

from sfgate.com

Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer

You never know when a Frisbee or Hacky Sack might come sailing overhead at Wham-O Inc., the company that launched those iconic brands, along with the Slip ‘N Slide, the Hula Hoop and the SuperBall. Cubicle dwellers at Emeryville’s Wham-O get used to ducking when exuberant colleagues start doing some hands-on product testing.

These days, the action is coming fast and furious at the venerable toymaker, with a new owner, a push into preschool playthings, an eco-friendly toy material and a sense of overall renaissance.

“Wham-O is a nostalgic brand of America,” said Kyle Aguilar, who bought the company this summer with a group of private investors and now serves as its CEO. “It’s one of the top historic brands, like Coca-Cola and Levi’s. That’s what attracted me to it. But it’s been dormant for a long time; it hasn’t brought any new, jaw-dropping, incredible products to market in the past 10 years.”

Founded in a Pasadena garage in 1948, Wham-O has bounced around much like its SuperBall in the recent past. It spent three years in the mid-’90s as part of toy giant Mattel, was independent for nearly a decade, then in 2006 was purchased by a Hong Kong company.

“They didn’t have much intention to make it grow,” Aguilar said. “You need somebody who has an emotional attachment.”

Aguilar, 29, enjoyed a Southern California boyhood filled with Frisbees and Slip ‘N Slides. He brings a background in manufacturing – he owns and runs Manufacturing Marvel Inc., which produces toys and promotional products from plastic, glass, tin, porcelain and other materials at factories in the United States, China and Mexico. Marvel already was making some Wham-O products internationally, but now some Wham-O manufacturing will return to the United States at Marvel factories in Lompoc (Santa Barbara County) and Michigan.

Getting greener

As part of its resurgence, Wham-O in February acquired Sprig Toys Inc., a small Colorado company with an emphasis on eco-friendly preschool toys, for an undisclosed price.

Wham-O will use Sprig’s “green” Sprigwood material in Frisbees, Hula Hoops and other products. Made from recycled plastics such as margarine tubs, yogurt containers and milk jugs – and sawdust reclaimed from sawmills – Sprigwood feels like a slightly heavier plastic with visible flecks of wood and emits the scent of cedar.

Sprig’s nine employees will stay based in Fort Collins and design products for the company’s new Wham-O Jr! line for preschoolers. Like Wham-O, Sprig emphasizes toys that rely on kid power instead of batteries.

“Our idea was to bottle the energy of a 4-year-old,” said Chris Clemmer, one of three Sprig co-founders. For instance, toy trucks feature a self-charging capacitor that a child operates by pumping the vehicle’s back side up and down, producing power to illuminate lights or make sounds.

David FitzGerald, senior product design manager at Wham-O, has the enviable job of “coming up with crazy ideas and figuring out how to make them cool.”

For instance, he took jai alai throwers and tweaked them to shoot out snowballs at the flick of a wrist. He recruits his three kids, plus children at his church youth group, for hands-on product testing.

Besides whipping up toys in-house, Wham-O accepts ideas over the transom. That’s how the Frisbee came to be. Building inspector Walter “Fred” Morrison (who recently died at age 90) brought his Pluto Platter to the company in the late 1950s.

Renamed and marketed as a brand-new sport, the Frisbee became ubiquitous everywhere from college quads to neighborhood parks; more than 200 million of the flying discs have been sold, making it Wham-O’s best-selling product.

Few financial details

Privately held Wham-O declined to share financial information, but executives confirmed a published report that its 2005 sales were $80 million; as with most companies, they have since declined along with the economy.

With the acquisition of Sprig, the company has a stable of about 180 products, ranging from simple toys for less than $15 to professional-caliber surfboards that cost several hundred dollars. Its best-known products, such as the Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Slip ‘N Slide, and Boogie Boards, account for slightly more than half its revenue, said Chief Financial Officer Blake Wong.

While Aguilar has added some electronic games for computers and TV, they continue Wham-O’s focus on being active, requiring the player to run on an electronic pad as part of a soccer game, for instance.

Fusing the nostalgic and the contemporary, Wham-O’s walls display black-and-white photos of bobby-soxers madly twirling their Hula Hoops – but there’s also a big picture of Michelle Obama using a Hula Hoop this fall as part of her campaign against childhood obesity.

In fact, Wham-O’s products, with their emphasis on outdoor recreation and family interactivity, fit right into the current focus on getting kids off the couch and into the yard for some exercise.

The Hula Hoop, which for a brief, shining moment in the 1950s was the biggest craze in the nation, has returned in a new guise. Wham-O’s $20 Hula Hoop FX, which weighs in at 1.5 pounds, more than triple the original hoop’s weight, is being used in hooping exercise classes nationwide.

Getting kids moving

Berkeley child-development expert Steveann Auerbach, who reviews toys under the moniker “Dr. Toy,” thinks Wham-O is well positioned to tap into current concerns about couch-potato kids.

“For under $25 you can get a kid some really good, basic products that could be used on the school grounds to get them moving at recess – things like the Hacky Sack, Frisbee,” she said. “They’re easy to transport, reasonable in price. Every generation has to rediscover these products again.”

E-mail Carolyn Said at csaid@sfchronicle.com.

ToySplash Introduces New Disney Themed Product to Its Online Selection

editor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:16:59 +0000

press release

ToySplash.com adds to its online collection of water toys and accessories

Mesa, Ariz. (PRWEB) March 8, 2010 — ToySplash.com, a leading source of water fun, today announced a new addition to its line of Disney themed pool toys. New for 2010 are the Disney Toy Story Dive Sticks, manufactured by Swimways. With the new “Toy Story 3” movie debuting in June of 2010, these water toys are sure to sell out fast. At just $12.99 for Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Alien, they’re the perfect water accessory for children five years and older.

”We’re thrilled to add the Toy Story Dive Sticks to our Disney line “

”At ToySplash, we are happy to provide countless options for outdoor adventure that are sure to encourage family fun. “

“We’re thrilled to add the Toy Story Dive Sticks to our Disney line,” said ToySplash Owner and Director of Fun, Mark Heitz. “At ToySplash, we are happy to provide countless options for outdoor adventure that are sure to encourage family fun.”

In addition to the new Toy Story Dive Sticks, ToySplash offers many Disney accessories such as Disney Glitter Dive Wands, Disney Princess Baby Spring Float and the Finding Nemo Baby Spring Float. ToySplash provides a wide assortment of pool toys, beach accessories and inflatable snow tubes.

About ToySplash
ToySplash was launched in 2005 and has since become the place to find everything you need for water fun for the pool or beach. ToySplash is committed to offering its customers the largest selection of unique pool toys, beach toys and water toys. These toys and water equipment items are made with high-quality materials, and are designed by some of the best technicians in the business. ToySplash’s Water Fun Experts conduct extensive research for fun pool toys and then offer them to customers at low prices. ToySplash offers free standard shipping on all pool toys, pool rafts and pool floats over $50. For more information please visit us at www.toysplash.com or at 800-998-6977.

SuperStar Barbie Doll Twitter Giveaway

editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:17:03 +0000

from parentdish.com

by June Occhipinti (Subscribe to June Occhipinti’s posts)

The 2010 SuperStar Barbie, left, and a reproduction of the 1977 original SuperStar Barbie.

In honor of Barbie’s 51st birthday, Mattel is giving away a glam Barbie.

Entries must come through Twitter by retweeting the following:

Win SuperStar Barbie #BarbiesBday RT this & follow @ParentDish & @BarbieStyle to win Enter by 11:59 p ET on March 8 rules http://ow.ly/1f3yf

All entries must be tweeted before 11:59 pm ET on March 8.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing

The winner will receive each of the following dolls:

Barbie My Favorite Time Capsule 1977 SuperStar Doll

In celebration of Barbie doll’s 50th anniversary, Mattel reproduced the vintage 1977 SuperStar Barbie doll. The package includes a reproduction Barbie doll in a pink halter dress from the era with a boa and matching shoes; an extra reproduction dress, shoes and boa in black; and a collector’s booklet. For ages 3 and up. (retail value $29.99)

-
Barbie 2010 SuperStar Doll
The ever-popular SuperStar Barbie from 1977 is reinterpreted for 2010 in an iconic pink dress and boa plus groovy ring and necklace. Doll cannot stand alone. For ages 3 and up. (retail value $7.49)

Open to residents of the 50 United States who are 18 years and old.

Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified through Twitter using Direct Message. When requested, please provide name and address and email address so that we can send you the prize. Note, this information will only be used in conjunction with this giveaway. In honor of Barbie’s 51st birthday, Mattel is giving away a glam Barbie.

Entries must come through Twitter by retweeting the following:

Win SuperStar Barbie #BarbiesBday RT this & follow @ParentDish & @BarbieStyle to win Enter by 11:59 p ET on March 8 rules http://ow.ly/1f3yf

All entries must be tweeted before 11:59 pm ET on March 8.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing

The winner will receive each of the following dolls:

Barbie My Favorite Time Capsule 1977 SuperStar Doll

Barbie 2010 SuperStar Doll
The ever-popular SuperStar Barbie from 1977 is reinterpreted for 2010 in an iconic pink dress and boa plus groovy ring and necklace. Doll cannot stand alone. For ages 3 and up. (retail value $7.49)

Open to residents of the 50 United States who are 18 years and old.

1959 First EVER Barbie Commercial

editor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:09:34 +0000

from BarbieCollectors

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-avPUxyno

This is the first Barbie commercial that first aired during Mickey Mouse Club!

Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara at play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children’s toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel’s directors.

During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli. The adult-figured Lilli doll was like what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung.

Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the design of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was given a name, Barbie, after Handler’s daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. This date is also used as Barbie’s official birthday. Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped. The first Barbie doll wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a “Teen-age Fashion Model,” with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. Around 350,000 Barbie dolls were sold during the first year of production.

Barbie was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on television advertising, which has been copied widely by other toys. It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with the well-known fact that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.

The standard range of Barbie dolls and related accessories are manufactured to approximately 1/6th scale, which is also known as playscale.

Barbie products include not only the range of dolls with their clothes and accessories, but also a huge range of Barbie branded goods such as books, fashion items and video games. Barbie has appeared in a series of animated films and makes a brief guest appearance in the 1999 film Toy Story 2.

Uniquely for a toy fashion doll, Barbie has become a cultural icon and has been given honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974 a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed Barbie Boulevard for a week, while in 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie.

Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents’ names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie has been said to attend Willows High School and Manhattan International High School in New York City, based on the real-life Stuyvesant High School.

Today the Barbie line is responsible for more than 80% of Mattel’s profits.

Hasbro Releases Line of Iron Man 2 Toys

editor — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:41:31 +0000

from tradingmarkets.com

press release

Hasbro, Inc. announced the introduction of its Iron Man 2 toy line to retailers nationwide.

According to Hasbro, toys in the Iron Man 2 toy line, a Marvel Entertainment offering, include the following:

- The new Iron Man helmet includes mission directives from Jarvis and a “slow release” visor that slides into place. Kids can also attach the Iron Man Arc Chest Light to their shirt.

- An R/C walking Iron Man. The remote control allows boys to send Iron Man walking forward across the floor and fire projectiles from his hands and shoulder rockets. Pressing his chest arc reactor engages other test modes, sounds, and familiar phrases. Available in the fall, this toy is destined to be high on boys’ lists for Santa.

- Rocket Boost Iron Man is designed to allow fans to participate in Iron Man’s adventures. Rocket Boost Iron Man is in 10.5 inch “chunky-type” figure that is suited to young kids’ hands.

Marvel Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics).

Hasbro is a provider of children’s and family leisure time products and services with a portfolio of brands and entertainment properties.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

For full details on Hasbro Inc (HAS) HAS. Hasbro Inc (HAS) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on Hasbro Inc (HAS) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

BuyBoxShip.com Continues to Expand its Line of Eco-Friendly Toys while Marching Towards Becoming a Force in the World of Toy Sales

editor — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:34:49 +0000

from prweb.com

press releaseLog Out

Bringing forth an Imaginative Collection of Toys, BuyBoxShip.com eases the mind of parents while offering “Fun & Safe Play” for kids.

Odenton, MD (PRWEB) January 21, 2010 — Online Toy Store Retailer, BuyBoxShip has announced its plans to expand its toy line to include Eco-Friendly toy sensations CitiBlocs, Green Toys, Keva Planks, Sprig Toys & ImagiPlay. “We are very excited about our partnerships with each of these innovative toy manufacturers” states, Antonio Diaz, Founder & President of BuyBoxShip. “As parents we are always looking for toys that stimulate creative play within our children while at the same time giving us a sense of security that what they are playing with is safe from unnecessary toxins. This is why we offer an environmentally safe product line keeping kids active and our planet safe”.

BuyBoxShip launched their store on ebay (in 2008) with a lot of success and decided to branch out with their own eCommerce site. Antonio Diaz brings over 25 years of experience serving customers. He has held key management positions within the service industry and believes in the importance of listening to his customers and building strategies that address their needs while driving towards providing exceptional service experiences with each transaction.

We offer an environmentally safe product line while keeping our children active and their planet safe.

“Our goal is to bring the best in products to you and to provide the highest level of service possible for you. We realize that there are many online stores that provide the same product lines (as we do) but we feel that with our commitment to service it will help separate us”.

BuyBoxShip continues to build their fan base and looks to add an Infant line of Eco-Friendly Toys this Spring. “We will continue to work to hard for our customers to identify innovative toys that provide “Fun & Safe Play” for their kids”.

Celebrate the Day!
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New Toy Line Seen As “Game-Changer” for RC2

editor — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:32:30 +0000

from northwestern.edu

by Michael L. Vinson

Learning Curve Brands Inc., a subsidiary of RC2 Corp., a maker of toys and infant products based in Oak Brook, Ill., announced the international launch of a new toy line based on Ludorum PLC’s television series, “Chuggington,” a children’s program about talking trains.

“We think the ‘Chuggington’ strategy has the potential to be a game-changer for RC2,” said Craig R. Kennison, senior analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. Paul E. Purcell, CEO of Robert W. Baird & Co., sits on RC2′s board of directors.

RC2’s stock rose 1.3 percent to close at $15.24 Thursday.

The announcement comes less than a month after RC2 agreed to pay a $1.25 million civil penalty following allegations that it violated product safety rules in 2007. RC2 recalled 1.5 million “Thomas & Friends” train sets that year after lead was found in surface paint on the wooden trains.

RC2 revenues fell to $437 million in 2008, down from $489 million the previous year, an 11 percent drop.In 2008 RC2 posted a loss of $205 million or $11.82 per diluted share.Subsequently the company cut 15 percent of its workforce and has aggressively sought new opportunities.

Kennison expects that revenue from the “Chuggington” line will help offset “Thomas”-related losses.

“Chuggington,” he said, “has been a very successful television program in the U.K. and other European markets for well over a year, building mindshare for the toy launch this year,” Kennison said.

Learning Curve Brands plans to introduce more than 20 die-cast engines and several show-themed playsets this spring in the U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Canada.The toy line is expected to hit U.S. stores in the spring of 2011.

The Disney Channel picked up 52 episodes of the “Chuggington” television series in June. The show makes its U.S. debut Monday and will air on the cable network six days a week.

“With the Playhouse Disney television debut and ‘Chuggington’s’ continuing success abroad,” RC2 President Peter Henseler said in a statement, “we look for ‘Chuggington’ to be a big seller in 2010 in our international preschool play category and again in 2011.”

RC2 acquired master toy licensing rights to the “Chuggington” franchise in January 2009. The company did not pay a customary advance under the agreement. Instead RC2 bought a 50 percent stake in intellectual property rights to “Chuggington” and paid for 50 percent of the development costs. “Chuggington” creator Don Toht is a former Learning Curve Brands executive.

Kennison said, “Unlike other revenue sources, Chuggington characters, the intellectual property, are controlled by RC2, so as the franchise grows, the wealth creation accrues to RC2 and its joint-venture partner.”

Although RC2 will pay royalties on the toys to other companies with intellectual property rights to “Chuggington,” Kennison said RC2 stood to gain significantly from the agreement.

“Owning a franchise, like Barbie or G.I. Joe, has its rewards,“ Kennison said, adding, “RC2 is going forward with a property that it owns, which is the game-changer.”

Toys’R'Us Stores Continue to Receive Daily Shipments of The Season’s Hottest Toys in the Week Leading Up to Christmas

editor — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:08:51 +0000

from prnewswire.com

press release

The Most In-Demand Products, Including More Than A Million Zhu Zhu Pets(TM) Hamsters Plus Accessories, Hit Store Shelves Between Now and December 24

WAYNE, N.J., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — Toys”R”Us today assured last-minute shoppers, determined to find the toys that top their little ones’ wish lists, that its stores will continue to receive daily deliveries of the season’s hottest toys through Christmas Eve, including more than one million Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters plus accessories, and two million LEGO sets. Offering an unparalleled in-stock position of “must-have” toys further establishes Toys”R”Us as THE one-stop destination for self-proclaimed procrastinators and time-strapped parents seeking that elusive, “gotta-have-it” gift.

Daily Arrivals Make Every Morning Feel Like Christmas for Zhu Zhu Pet-Seeking Shoppers

Now through Christmas Eve, more than one million highly sought-after Zhu Zhu Pet hamsters plus accessories will be available in Toys”R”Us stores*.
On Friday, December 18, at least 100 Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters will be available at every Toys”R”Us location nationwide when the stores open at 6am*.
On Saturday, December 19, to the delight of Zhu Zhu Pets fans, hundreds of thousands of the four newest Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters – Jilly, Winky, Scoodles and Nugget – will make their in-store debut (individual hamsters and exclusive four-packs available). The first 50 customers in line when doors open at 6am will have the opportunity to purchase a Toys”R”Us-exclusive four-pack of the newest Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters*.
Sunday, December 20 through Thursday, December 24, hundreds of thousands of Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters will be available and ready to find new homes for the new year*.

*Quantities limited per person. Check your local store for details.

Stores Stock Shelves with In-Demand Products Round-the-Clock

Following are just some of the other hot toys gift-givers are clamoring for that will be available in Toys”R”Us stores this week, and all at great values!

300,000 Bakugan® Traps and Special Attack packs in addition to hundreds of thousands of other Bakugan® items, including thousands of the top-selling, Toys”R”Us-exclusive Bakugan® Battle Brawlers(TM) New Vestroia(TM) Maxus Helios(TM) 7 in 1
500,000 NERF products, including NERF N-Strike® Raider Rapid Fire CS-35(TM), NERF Vulcan®, NERF Recon® and NERF Swords
Approximately 2 million LEGO® sets, including the coveted LEGO® Power Miners and LEGO City® sets
Nearly 500,000 bikes and scooters, including the mom-favorite Little Tikes® 3-in-1 Smart Trike and the top-selling Razor® A Scooters
Nearly 200,000 Nintendo® Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 Consoles and hundreds of thousands of exciting Wii and Xbox 360 games

Plus, daily arrivals of tens of thousands of the following select hot items, among others:

Bendaroos® Building Sticks 500-Piece Set
ChixOs(TM) Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft
Power Wheels(TM) Quad
Tag(TM) Reading System
Paperoni® Deluxe Studio
Harumika(TM) Runway Showstopper Set
EyeClops Mini Projector
Smart Cycle® Extreme

“As THE toy authority, we work throughout the year to identify hot toys, establish and maintain a substantial inventory position, and ensure that the season’s top-sellers and ‘hard-to-find’ toys continue to arrive in our stores nationwide during the critical week leading up to Christmas,” said Karen Dodge, Senior Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys”R”Us, U.S. “We pride ourselves on offering our customers the best chance of finding the toys they want in-stock at our stores through Christmas Eve while providing the assistance of our toy-trained staff to help them successfully cross off all items on their gift list.”

This weekend, Toys”R”Us customers shopping for the in-demand toys will also have the opportunity to kick off the final week of holiday shopping by taking advantage of incredible value offerings on Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19 while supplies last, including a dozen doorbusters valid from 3pm on Friday to Saturday at midnight, FREE gift cards with select purchases, and savings of up to 70 percent. To accommodate the weekend’s last-minute holiday shoppers, Toys”R”Us stores across the country will open at 6am and remain open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Extended holiday hours, as well as unbeatable deals and discounts, will continue through December 24**.

**Store hours may vary. Check your local store for details.

About Toys”R”Us, Inc.

Toys”R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. It currently sells merchandise in more than 1,550 stores, including 849 Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores in the United States, and more than 700 international stores in 33 countries, consisting of both licensed and franchised stores. In addition, it sells extraordinary toys in two FAO Schwarz stores in the United States. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com, FAO.com and babyuniverse.com, it provides shoppers with an unparalleled online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. In addition, the company operates ePregnancy.com, an online resource for parents. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys”R”Us, Inc. employs nearly 70,000 associates worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need.

SOURCE Toys”R”Us, Inc.

Roboni-i Blends Robotics, Competition, Online Gaming

editor — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:55:37 +0000

from wired.com

By John Scott Lewinski

It’s hard to classify the new Roboni-i from high-tech toymaker Robonica. And that’s the whole point.

Billed as the world’s first fully programmable, interactive gaming robot, the Roboni-i mixes toy genres to give kids (and adults) multiple ways to experience its mix of robotics and competitive gaming.

Users can employ their personalized Roboni-i machines in real-world, one-on-one or team robo-sports. The system also employs a virtual component, allowing owners to take their robots into cyberspace for more competition.

What sets this robo-entertainment system apart from many of its predecessors is Robonica’s use of genuine artificial intelligence. Its sensors allow the system to read its surroundings and interact with other Roboni-i units.

It has shifting moods and will react differently depending on how it’s used. For example, ignore it for too long, and Roboni-i will wander around your home on its own — before backing away from you and resisting fun and games for a bit to punish your inattentiveness.

At a retail price of about $250, the system is obviously much more than a toy. But for those interested in a more immersive interactive gaming experience, the Roboni-i is indeed a great deal more complex than any toy.