Magformers: A Positive Attraction
Magformers: A Positive Attraction Less than a decade ago, magnetic toys had a scarlet letter on their back. The dangers associated with unsafe magnetic toys had become headline news, and…
here you’ll find a sampling of some of my most recent work, including profiles and in-depth trend features covering the toy industry and the state of kids entertainment.
Brand Profile: Fingerlings
Brand Profile: Fingerlings In August 2017, WowWee introduced us to the world of Fingerlings wearable interactive toy monkeys on what it dubbed #FingerlingsFriday. From the start, the company took an…
BuzzFeed’s New Biz Plan Cooks Up Success
BuzzFeed's New Business Plan Cooks Up Success More than likely your first experience with BuzzFeed came by way of a catchy article, quiz, or listicle. You clicked it and it…
A Genius Retail Solution
A 'Genius' Retail Solution Most people have experienced bad customer service at least a handful of times and simply shrug it off. Maria Singman is not most people; after just…
Animoodles: Turning the Plush Aisle on Its Head
Animoodles: Turning the Plush Aisle on Its Head In the past, if a child ripped the limb off their favorite stuffed animal, you'd think it was destroyed for good. But…
Shop Talk: Ri Happy
Shop Talk: Ri Happy In 2018, we introduced a new section to Toys & Family Entertainment magazine, profiling different brick-and-mortar toy retailers worldwide finding success in today’s retail environment. In…
Mattel: Creating Play with a Purpose
In late August 2018, I had the chance to speak with Mattel's current president and COO Richard Dickson about how the company is getting back to the basics to restructure…
The Kidult Rising: How Today’s Adult Fans Offer New Opportunities for Brand Owners
Geek culture has fully infiltrated the mainstream, and with sales of toys for adults rising, this means new opportunities for brand owners.
As Kids’ Content Gets Shorter, Strategy Gets More Complex
Short-form content has become an essential piece of the puzzle for kids’ entertainment, lending itself well to how kids are watching. In this article, I explore the overall state of kids' entertainment and the complex strategy to finding success with young viewers.
