07/24/2012 | White Paper and Checklist on Children’s Online Privacy and Mobile Apps Now Available
The Toy Industry Association’s Responsible Marketing to Children (M2C) Committee has developed a White Paper, The Changing Privacy and Data Security Landscape: From Mobile Apps to OBA, and a corresponding Checklist for Mobile Apps and Promotions to assist TIA members in understanding an ever-expanding array of laws and regulations, policy initiatives, self-regulatory standards, and reports addressing various aspects of privacy and data security.
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07/17/2012 | NTIA Hosts Inaugural Privacy Multistakeholder Meeting on App Transparency
More than 300 individuals representing industry, consumer groups and government came together last Thursday (July 12th) in Washington, DC to participate in a government-led initiative to develop a “code of conduct” by which companies would disclose to consumers how they handle personal data collected through mobile apps.
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05/22/2012 | An Average Of 12 Downloaded Apps Are Currently On Mobile Devices Used By Kids
According to Kids and Apps: A New Era of Play, the latest report from leading market research company, The NPD Group, there are an average of 12 apps on mobile devices that kids have access to, with 88 percent of those apps being acquired for free.
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05/01/2012 | TIA Hosts Mother’s Day Social Media Promotion
In recognition of the hard work done by mothers across the country every day, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) is hosting a social media contest leading up to Mother’s Day (May 13, 2012) to give a few lucky Moms a well-deserved break.
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04/23/2012 | Sandbox Summit Explores Digital Kids, Parents, and Play
Educators and scholars, toy and game designers, developers, child psychologists, digital media producers, analysts and innovators of all kinds converged at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last week for the 2012 Sandbox Summit, Going Mobile, Going Global: Tracking the Anywhere/Everywhere State of Play.
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04/10/2012 | PERSPECTIVES: A Conversation with Claire Green and Wendy Smolen, Co-Founders of Sandbox Summit
In 2008, Claire Green and Wendy Smolen launched Sandbox Summit – a series of conferences designed to address how technology affects the ways kids play, learn and connect. This year’s conference, Going Mobile, Going Global: Tracking the Anywhere/Everywhere State of Play, will take place April 17-18, 2012 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (registration for the Summit is now open.) Toy News Tuesday editors spoke with Claire and Wendy to gain some insight into how the mobile revolution has impacted the “tools” and “rules” of play.
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04/02/2012 | PERSPECTIVES: A Conversation with Chris Sherman, Founder and CEO of Engage Digital
As the Founder and CEO of Engage Digital, Chris Sherman is on the cutting edge of play and technology. His company executes trade shows featuring the latest in business-to-consumer commerce. Engage Digital’s upcoming 6th annual Digital Kids Conference will be held in Los Angeles from April 25-26, 2012; it’s the largest gathering of professionals engaged in building online and mobile products and services for kids. Toy News Tuesday editors sat down with Chris to learn about the significance of this conference in our hyper-digital age.
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03/27/2012 | PERSPECTIVES: A Conversation with Warren Buckleitner, Children’s Technology Expert
Toy News Tuesday editors recently sat down with Warren Buckleitner, New York Times children’s technology reviewer, to get his opinion on the future of technology, toys and play.
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03/26/2012 | Digital Kids Conference to Explore Toys and Digital Worlds; Discount Offered to TIA Members
The blending of the physical and digital worlds of toys and entertainment will be the focus of the 6th annual Digital Kids Conference (formerly Engage! Expo) held in Los Angeles, CA this spring. Endorsed by the Toy Industry Association (TIA), the conference is offering a discounted rate for TIA members, who may save $100 on a one-day pass or $200 on a two-day pass for the April 25-26, 2012 event at the Pasadena Convention Center.
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03/23/2012 | Easter Spending to Jump Past $16 Billion in 2012
In the 2012 edition of its Easter Consumer Spending Survey, the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts that consumers will spend an estimated $16.8 billion on Easter-related merchandise in 2012, up from $14.6 billion last year, as Easter spending grows to reach pre-recession (2007) levels in key categories.
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03/20/2012 | CARU’s 2nd Annual West Coast Summit to be Held April 3
The Children’s Advertising and Review Unit (CARU) will host its 2nd Annual Children’s Advertising and Online Privacy Summit at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, CA, on April 3rd, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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02/27/2012 | Sandbox Summit@MIT Tackles Mobile Revolution & Play; Discounted Hotel Rates Available through March 12
Educators, toy and game designers, developers, child psychologists, digital media producers, analysts and more will come together to present discussions and lead workshops at the 2012 Sandbox Summit, Going Mobile, Going Global: Tracking the Anywhere/Everywhere State of Play, held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from April 17-18, 2012.
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02/21/2012 | FTC Publishes Report on App Privacy Disclosures; Announces Public Workshop
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently published a staff report called “Mobile Apps for Kids: Current Privacy Disclosures are Disappointing,” highlighting the lack of information available to parents prior to downloading mobile apps for their children and calling on app developers, app stores and third parties providing services within apps to present greater transparency about their data practices through standardized disclosures.
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01/27/2012 | Save the Date for 2012 Sandbox Summit; Early Bird Registration Now Open
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) announced today that it will once again be a sponsor for Sandbox Summit 2012 -- Going Mobile, Going Global: Tracking the Anywhere/Everywhere State of Play, to be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts from April 17-18, 2012. Registration for the event is now open; early bird registration extends through February 4th.
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01/17/2012 | Gigantic Touch Screen to Make North American Debut at 109th American International Toy Fair
The 109th American International Toy Fair – owned and operated by the Toy Industry Association (TIA) – announced today that “Fair Necessities,” an interactive, digital wall, will make its North American debut in New York City next month at the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. An LCD multitouch display screen designed by the European IT firm uma, the “Fair Necessities” technology wall will turn show data into useful, fun, hands-on tools for the 30,000+ guests in attendance at Toy Fair, February 12-15, 2012.
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01/10/2012 | Toy Fair 2012 ‘Life-Sized iPad’ to be Interactive Gateway for Show Attendees
Keeping on the leading-edge of the technology curve, the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) 109th American International Toy Fair has added an interactive touch screen wall to the show floor that will raise the bar of engagement, play and resources for attendees, while giving exhibitors an additional opportunity to enhance their exposure in front of the 15,000+ industry professionals visiting from around the world.
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12/13/2011 | Toy Industry Association Adds Loyalty Platform Provider PunchTab as Partner to Power “Play Happens” at the 109th American International Toy Fair
Play Happens, the official game for registered attendees of the American International Toy Fair, will be more interactive, more engaging and more “rewarding” thanks to a new partnership announced today between the Toy Industry Association (TIA), owner of Toy Fair, and PunchTab, the world’s first instant loyalty rewards platform.
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12/06/2011 | “12 Days of TOTY” Social Media Campaign Kicks Off Dec. 7th
At just two weeks into voting for the 12th Annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, the Toy Industry Association (TIA) has already received more than 12,300 votes from 3,000+ unique voters on the ToyAwards.org consumer voting website. To keep the momentum going through the holiday shopping season, the TIA Public Relations team is launching a social media campaign on December 7th.
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11/29/2011 | Black Friday and Cyber Monday Retail Sales Skyrocket
Eager holiday shoppers across the nation flocked to stores and websites over Black Friday weekend, spending a record $52 Billion on everything from toys to electronics, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).
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10/11/2011 | CARU East Coast Conference Covers COPPA Reform, Tackles Critical Issues in Advertising to Kids
The Children’s Advertising and Review Unit’s (CARU) East coast conference, “Marketing to Children: Privacy, Food and Digital Media” was held on October 5, 2011 in New York City, to provide updates and information on the children’s advertising industry as well as an overview of the recently proposed changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule, which gives parents control over what personal information websites may collect from children under 13.
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10/11/2011 | Annual Strategy Meeting Focuses on Priority Issues for the Toy Industry in 2012
Members of the Toy Industry Association (TIA) Federal Government Affairs Committee, State Government Affairs Committee, Safety Standards and Technical Committee, Environmental Sustainability Committee and Marketing to Children Committee gathered in Dallas last week to prioritize key issues that TIA staff and member companies have identified for the toy industry.
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08/23/2011 | PERSPECTIVES: A Glimpse Inside the Re-Vitalized Toy Association of Southern California (TASC)
Peter Wachtel, President of the Toy Association of Southern California (TASC), recently spoke with TIA editors and offered the following thoughts on the resurgence of TASC, its activities and what’s in store for the organization … including an October 27th educational and networking event that will provide toy industry stakeholders with information about selling toys in a tough economy and reaching new markets through social media.
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08/09/2011 | CARU East Coast Conference to Explore Relationship between Technology and Children’s Advertising
The Children’s Advertising and Review Unit (CARU) will hold its 2011 East coast conference, “Marketing to Children: Privacy, Food and Digital Media” on October 5, 2011 in New York City. The event will focus on the challenging issues currently faced by the children’s advertising industry; speakers will address the ways that technology has changed kid-targeted marketing as well as regulatory and self-regulatory initiatives in the areas of social media, food advertising and sweepstakes and promotions.
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07/21/2011 | TIA Seeks Member Products, Photos and Promo Materials for ToyInfo.org and More
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is always looking for hot new products and trends, interesting industry news and photos, and press materials and information for ToyInfo.org videos and articles, TIA’s Facebook and Twitter pages, broadcast segments, and more.
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05/24/2011 | CARU West Coast Conference Focuses on Children’s Online Behavior
The Children’s Advertising and Review Unit (CARU) hosted its 2011 Children’s Advertising and Online Privacy Summit in Universal City, California last week. The event focused on children’s online behavior and corresponding actions to assure that youth remain safe. Attended by nearly 100 persons, the session included strong representation from the toy industry. TIA staff reiterated the toy industry’s request that CARU ensure its guidelines accurately reflect current technologies and that its self-regulatory guidelines be regularly maintained to keep pace with change.
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05/13/2011 | House Introduces Bipartisan “Do Not Track” Kids Online Privacy Legislation
Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas), co-chairs of the Bi-Partisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, introduced on May 13th a bill that would amend the COPPA (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998) to provide new protections for children and teens.
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05/06/2011 | PlayCon 2011 Delivers Content-Rich Sessions, Progressive Ideas
Toy industry leaders, experts and visionaries from across the country gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona last week to attend PlayCon’s stimulating seminars and networking events, held from May 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch.
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05/03/2011 | 2011 Sandbox Summit Buzzes with Creativity and Ideas
Toy designers and developers, scholars and educators, authors and entrepreneurs, technology gurus and innovators of all kinds came together at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on April 28th and 29th for the 2011 Sandbox Summit … Game Changers: People, Products and Policies That Empower 21st Century Kids. Conference participants were buzzing – both at the conference and on Twitter.
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04/26/2011 | CARU West Coast Conference to Shed Light on Children’s Online Behavior
CARU will host its 2011 Children’s Advertising and Online Privacy Summit on May 18th in Universal City, CA. The one-day Summit will shed light on children’s online behavior, hot button issues to consider when planning ad campaigns, socially responsible messaging to children, mobile marketing, food marketing campaigns, and sweepstakes and contests. Also on the agenda will be a discussion of recent changes and enforcement actions to the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. Anastasia Goodstein, Director of Digital Programs, Inspire USA Foundation will deliver the keynote address.
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04/18/2011 | Sandbox Summit 2011 Focuses on Game Changers That Will Empower 21st Century Kids
Toy industry stakeholders are encouraged to meet with designers and developers, scholars and educators, authors and entrepreneurs, technology gurus and innovators of all kinds later this month as the 2011 Sandbox Summit, Game Changers: People, Products and Policies That Empower 21st Century Kids, convenes at MIT (Cambridge, MA) on April 28-29 to explore how innovations are inspiring new ways for children to play and how that evolution is challenging, engaging and empowering today’s youth to become leading “players” in the 21st century.
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03/29/2011 | CARU West Coast Conference to Address the Challenges of Advertising to Children in Different Media
The Children’s Advertising and Review Unit (CARU) will host its 2011 Children’s Advertising and Online Privacy Summit at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City, CA, on Wednesday, May 18th. The one-day event will examine domestic and global challenges to self-regulation in the areas of virtual worlds and social networking, mobile marketing, and food and beverage advertising, as well as various state and federal regulatory aspects and perspectives of advertising to children in different types of media.
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03/22/2011 | Mike Bonifer, Author and CEO, to Deliver Keynote at PlayCon 2011
Mike Bonifer, author of GameChangers – Improvisation for Business in the Networked World and co-founder and CEO of GameChangers, LLC, will share his philosophy of “improvised brand narratives” and the critical importance of playing games to foster communicating, collaborating and learning during one of two keynote addresses that will be delivered at PlayCon 2011, the Toy Industry Association’s International Conference of Play Professionals.
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03/09/2011 | 2011 Sandbox Summit Reveals Impressive Roster of Speakers from Education, Toy Design, Child Development and Digital Media Fields
Cutting edge technologies are a driving force in the development of youth-oriented products and shape the way kids interact, play and learn. This phenomenon will be explored in depth as an impressive roster of speakers from the fields of education, toy design, child development, and digital media come together for the 2011 Sandbox Summit@MIT : ‘Game Changers: People, Products and Policies that Empower 21st Century Kids’ to be held April 28-29 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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03/08/2011 | PlayCon Announces Esteemed Faculty of Speakers for May 4-6, 2011 Conference; Early Bird Registration Now Open
PlayCon, the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) International Conference of Play Professionals, will bring together forward-thinking industry leaders, experts and visionaries armed with the freshest ideas and most relevant information for toy industry stakeholders attending the May 4-6, 2011 event at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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02/15/2011 | 5th Annual Engage! Conference and Expo Opens Today during Toy Fair
The 5th annual Engage! Conference and Expo, co-locating with the 108th American International Toy Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, opened its doors this morning for a two-day run.
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02/14/2011 | 2011 Toy Trends Reflect 21st Century Values and Desires
NEW YORK, February 14, 2011 – From toys that inspire kids to be “everyday heroes,” to miniature product lines at affordable prices, to “geek chic” games that make learning “cool,” Toy Industry Association (TIA) experts have identified the freshest toy trends for 2011, currently on display at the 108th American International Toy Fair and destined for store shelves between now and the 2011 holiday season.
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02/07/2011 | Engage! Conference and Expo to Offer “Speed-Networking” Session
The 5th annual Engage! Conference and Expo, co-locating with the 108th American International Toy Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, has announced that it will be holding a special, energetic “speed-networking session” on February 15th at 12 p.m.
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01/14/2011 | April 2011 Sandbox Summit to Explore Youth and Digital Media; Early Bird Registration Now Open
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) has announced that it will be a sponsor for the 2011 Sandbox Summit conference, which will be held April 28-29, 2011 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Early bird registration for “Game Changers: People, Products and Policies that Empower 21st Century Kids” is currently open – from now until February 12th, 2011, the two-day event is just $595.
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01/11/2011 | Engage! Conference and Expo Information for Participants
The 5th annual Engage! Conference and Expo, co-locating with the 108th American International Toy Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City next month, has announced its second-day keynote speaker as well as other information pertinent to those planning to attend the two-day program.
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01/07/2011 | ‘Play Happens’ at Toy Fair; Registration Now Open for Virtual Game
‘Play Happens,’ an innovative trade show game that marries the online and offline activities of Toy Fair 2011 has officially launched. Toy Fair participants wishing to make the most of their time in New York City are encouraged to visit the Toy Fair NY blog for game rules, contest details and to register for the exciting new game that will turn the city into a virtual game board from February 12-16, 2011.
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12/14/2010 | Debut of ‘Play Happens’ Among Exciting Events during Toy Fair 2011
“Play Happens,” an innovative virtual and social board game created to bridge the online and offline activities of Toy Fair attendees and exhibitors, will turn the city into a virtual game board during the show, from February 13-16, 2011.
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12/07/2010 | “Super Earlybird” Registration for Engage! Conference and Expo Closes December 10th
Toy industry professionals and enthusiasts looking for a great rate to attend the 5th Annual Engage! Conference and Expo this February are encouraged to take advantage of the “Super Earlybird” registration, which closes on December 10th.
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11/16/2010 | 10th Annual Dust or Magic Conference Highlights
A select group of children’s product technology experts gathered at the 10th annual Dust or Magic Conference from November 7-9 to discuss the relationship between digital trends and child development, and to evaluate the hundreds of children’s technology products launched in 2010. The Toy Industry Association (TIA) was represented at the event by toy trend expert Reyne Rice.
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11/10/2010 | Toy Fair Blog Launches for 2011 Show; Streamlines Planning for Event Attendees
Last week, the Toy Fair Blog was officially launched, making Toy Fair 2011 even more accessible for the tens of thousands of show attendees looking to get a head start on planning for the annual event.
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09/21/2010 | Blue Plate Media Services to Offer “One-on-One Strategy Sessions” at Fall Toy Preview
Blue Plate Media Services, a TIA affinity partner and leader in connecting and engaging with kids and moms, is offering TIA members exhibiting at Fall Toy Preview the opportunity to schedule complimentary media sessions in Dallas during the period of October 5th-8th, 2010.
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09/07/2010 | Counting Down to Engage! Expo’s Exploration of the Evolution of Play (and New Business Opportunities)
In just over two weeks, Toy Industry Association (TIA) President Carter Keithley will join with dozens of industry leaders across the toys, video game and silicon valley community to kick off the Games, Technology and Toys track of the Engage Conference and Expo that will be held Sept 22-23, 2010 in Santa Clara, California. Highlighting how kid, tween and teen entertainment play patterns are changing and becoming more digital, the Expo will uncover how new product innovations (like touch screen devices and motion controllers) are creating new business opportunities.
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09/02/2010 | CPSC Makes Recall Data Available Electronically to Businesses, 3rd Party Developers
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is making its product safety information on all recalls from 1973 onward available in an electronic data set for use by businesses and software and application developers. A free Recalls.gov mobile application has also been released for the Android market.
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08/03/2010 | TIA President Carter Keithley to Participate in Keynote Presentation at the Toy, Game and Technology Summit
Earlybird registration for the Toy, Game and Technology Summit is currently open. The event, where Toy Industry Association (TIA) President Carter Keithley will be a featured speaker, will be held Sept 22-23, 2010 in Santa Clara, California.
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07/20/2010 | Save the Date for the Toy, Game and Technology Summit
Carter Keithley, TIA president, will be a featured speaker during the Toy, Game and Technology Summit taking place September 22-23, 2010 in Santa Clara, California. The one-of-a-kind executive summit will bring together leaders from the toy, video game and technology industries for in-depth discussion, cross-industry networking and the opportunity to generate new business.
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07/13/2010 | Harnessing the Power of Media Research to Effectively Reach Teens
Market research is a valuable tool when considering media placement, especially for a brand with limited advertising budgets. No longer a resource solely relegated to media planning, research can help toy and game marketers navigate the media-saturated marketplace, understand their media consumption, and hone their targets and messages – especially when the target is the hard-to-reach American teen.
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06/29/2010 | TIA to Submit Comments on Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule
In response to a call for public comment issued by the Federal Trade Commission, TIA has developed a consolidated toy industry response on the FTC’s implementation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) through the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. A complete set of written comments will be submitted on behalf of the toy industry on June 30th.
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06/22/2010 | Transmedia Storytelling Weaves Powerful Brand Connections
By expanding their cross-media platform strategies with multiple communication touchpoints, smart manufacturers, entertainment studios, retailers and licensed property owners are reaching consumers where they already are, and engaging with them with meaningful interactions. TIA toy trend expert Reyne Rice describes how "transmedia storytelling" is being used to leverage the unique benefits of each platform to activate deeper brand experiences that entertain and invite participation and engagement from its users.
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06/15/2010 | Urgent Action Requested Regarding Call for Public Comments on Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule
TIA member input is needed no later than Friday, June 18th, as the Association develops an industry response to the Federal Trade Commission’s call for public comments on its implementation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) through the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. Public input is solicited on the costs and benefits of the Rule, as well as on whether it, or certain sections, should be retained, eliminated or modified.
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06/08/2010 | Toy Companies Encouraged to “Play Like A Girl!” in Online Gaming
Blue Plate Media, a strategic media partner with TIA and a media advocate for members, advises toy companies to consider advertising options on casual gaming sites that will engage Moms and other females in an environment where they will be exposed over a long period of time to the product and brand.
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06/01/2010 | FTC to Host Public Roundtable on Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule
In light of rapidly changing technology such as the increased use of smartphones and other devices to access websites and online services, as well as new methods for collecting and using information online, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a public roundtable on Wednesday, June 2nd, to explore whether updates to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) Rule are needed.
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06/01/2010 | Special Needs Children: Brands Struggle To Reach Out To A Growing Niche
Reprint of article from Youth Markets Alert (June 1, 2010). Reprinted with permission of EPM Communications, Inc.
According to the U.S. Department of Education there are more than seven million children aged 6-17 living with disabilities in the U.S., ranging from speech impediments to mental retardation. Many companies and brands find reaching out to this group a tricky situation since they are unsure whether to celebrate (or acknowledge) these children’s differences or to treat them as they treat other kids.
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05/03/2010 | Augmented Reality: What are the Prospects for Licensed Toys, Books, Games and Other Products?
Reprint of article from The Licensing Letter (May 3, 2010). Reprinted with permission of EPM Communications, Inc.
With the number of 3-D movies seeming to increase exponentially with each new release, and with the consumer electronics industry trying to push 3-D into the home, what are the prospects for licensed 3-D toys, books, card games and other products incorporating the technology known as Augmented Reality (AR)? There is definitely buzz about Augmented Reality in the toy, publishing, and entertainment industries. Back at this year’s Toy Fair, one attendee went so far as to say he has “seen the future of toys and it is Augmented Reality.”
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04/27/2010 | The Evolution of Fast Food Toy Premiums: From Physical to Digital, Exploring Niche Brands, And Making Mom Happy
Reprint of article from Youth Markets Alert (April 1, 2010). Reprinted with permission of EPM Communications, Inc.
Quick service restaurant (QSR) chains spending a collective $360 million on toys annually, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A recent article from Youth Markets Alert (reprinted by TIA with permission of EPM Communications, Inc.) explores the evolution from a simple toy to a more nuanced branding effort.
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04/22/2010 | TIF in Need of Toys & Teams to Do Good Stuff
In celebration of National Foster Care Month, the Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) is encouraging teams of corporate volunteers to sign up as participants in a Virtual Do Good Stuff-a-Thon that will be held during the first week of May. Funds raised will support efforts to provide duffel bags full of toys and necessities to foster children across the country. Volunteer registration is needed by April 29th.
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04/20/2010 | Registration Deadlines Approaching for TIA Webinars on “Green Marketing” and “Invention Success”; TIA-Co-Sponsored 2010 Sandbox Summit
TIA reminds its members and toy industry constituents of the upcoming sessions offered as part of the Association’s ongoing education and training services program: FTC-led green marketing webinar on April 21st and the Toy Invention and Success webinar on April 27th, as well as the two-day Sandbox Summit program to be held at MIT on May 18-19, 2010.
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04/13/2010 | Registration Opens for TIA Webinar on the FTC and Environmental Marketing
As a part of its ongoing education and training services program, TIA will host a webinar from 1:30 – 2:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 21, to provide toy industry stakeholders with updates on the “Do’s and Don’ts” of environmental marketing.
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04/06/2010 | Webinar Led by FTC Expert to Provide Toy Companies with Guidance on Environmental Marketing Claims
Businesses in a diverse array of industry sectors are touting the “green” attributes of their products and services. To commemorate Earth Day 2010, an expert from the Federal Trade Commission will introduce members of the toy industry to the “Do’s and Don’ts” of environmental marketing claims during a one-hour webinar on Wednesday, April 21st (1:30 – 2:30 pm). The overview is intended to help marketers avoid making unfair or deceptive environmental claims and to help helping to ensure that environmental advertisements are truthful, substantiated, and not confusing to consumers.
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03/30/2010 | Sandbox Summit Conference Announces Keynote Speakers and Panelists for 2010
The 2010 Sandbox Summit conference, iPlay, YouPlay, WiiPlay: How Play is Changing Media & Media is Changing Play, has announced several new sessions and speakers to its program line-up. The two day conference will kick-off on May 18th at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA.
The event brings together leading innovators in children’s media, books, toys, virtual worlds, and education for an exploration of the impact that emerging media and technology platforms have on kids’ play – and to share their predictions on how the new playrooms will impact 21st century literacy. TIA is a sponsor of the Sandbox Summit.
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03/04/2010 | TIA to Sponsor May 2010 Sandbox Summit Exploring the Relationship between Media and Play
TIA has signed on as a sponsor of a May 18-19, 2010 Sandbox Summit conference that will bring together leading innovators in children’s media, books, toys, virtualworlds and education for an exploration of the impact that emerging media and technology platforms have on kids’ play – and to share their predictions on how the new playrooms will impact 21st century literacy.
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02/17/2010 | Winners Selected for America Loves TOTY! Sweepstakes
Extending the excitement of the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards to broader audiences, this year TIA invited consumers to consider the finalists and register their top picks for toy and game finalists. Nearly 6,000 kids of all ages (5,852 unique respondents) shared their opinions about America’s best-loved toys; a sweepstakes component drew widespread attention as toy lovers across the nation submitted a whopping 9,162 sweepstakes entries. Eleven prize package winners have been chosen.
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01/08/2010 | The Next Decade of Innovation Heralds Tech Options for Kids and Families
The Consumer Electronics Show has always been about the gadgets, but this year it was really the marriage of technology and content that took center stage. For toy and game manufacturers, the key message is that alliances and connectivity to communication devices and partners will be an important and integral part of marketing and product development strategies for the future. Aligning their vision for brands, choosing the right technologies and partners to implement that vision and ensuring accessibility for loyal consumers will be key strategic decisions that will impact their core brands.
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11/11/2009 | TIA Participates in Mommy Blogger Brunch
TIA staff joined with fifty (50) Mommy Bloggers for the second annual “Bloggers Brunch” sponsored by Child’s Play Communications; TIA websites ToyInfo.org and the soon-to-be-launched website for the TOTY Awards were showcased.
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11/03/2009 | TIA Goes Social
From short “tweets” about Toy Fair, to videos from the trade show floor, to discussion boards and blogs intended for consumer audiences, TIA provides a multitude of social media access points for information on toy trends, safety updates, and more.
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11/02/2009 | 18% Increase Marks Record-Breaking Year for TOTY Nominations
The “Oscars of the toy industry” received a record number of nominations this year as 120 distinct organizations submitted candidates for consideration on the Toy of the Year (TOTY) 2010 awards ballot.
TIA staff noted an 18% increase in nominations compared to the previous year. The TOTY nominations committee will convene in New York City on November 5th, to review the hundreds of nominations received and select the products that will be included on the final 2010 ballot.
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10/19/2009 | Five Reasons Why Companies are Failing at Social Media
Social media isn’t complicated. When you boil it down it’s about listening to your customers, being helpful by offering your knowledge and giving them interesting content to share and thereby advocate for you. At The recent Inbound Marketing Summit speakers shared several case studies on how organizations have embraced social media to connect with and built trust and affection among customers. None of the examples required hyper-specialized knowledge or technology for a company to connect with people.
So why is it so difficult for so many companies to successfully integrate social media?
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09/23/2009 | CPSC Goes Social: Online Media Strategies Keep Consumers Informed of Safety Issues
In keeping with its commitment to protect the lives of children and families, and as a follow-up to comments by Chairman Inez Tenenbaum during her hearing before a House Energy and Commerce Committee CPSC Oversight Hearing on September 9, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPSC) announced yesterday (September 22) that it will employ a variety of technologies and social media sites to expand its reach to the public. The new information and education program dubbed: “CPSC 2.0”.
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08/11/2009 | 10 Things I Learned About Mommy Bloggers
There are 42 million women active in social media today on at least a weekly basis, and a little over half of them are moms. Of those, about 11.5 million write, comment on and/or read blogs. Stephanie Azzarone, president of Child’s Play Communications, spoke at the BlogHer 2009 annual conference in Chicago last month. In this article, she shares her observations and outtakes from the country’s largest conference of women bloggers.
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07/14/2009 | How the Toy Industry is Harnessing the Power of Social Media
In a recent interview in Toy News Tuesday, industry veteran Arnie Rubin stated “Beyond the marketplace, we are global by virtue of the speed in which issues traverse the globe. Between bloggers, Internet news and other global communication tools, the dissemination of information – both good news AND bad news – happens at the speed of light.”
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06/09/2009 | Taking the World by (Digital) Storm: How the Toy Industry Is Using Social Media
Social media is taking the world by storm... and it’s not just for kids. By using sites such as Linked In, Facebook, Twitter or even My Space, toy companies are finding unique ways to connect with consumers, get their brand in front of them and create unique experiences. Social networking sites have become the way to communicate and educate on a grassroots level.
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