Post by Collector's Connection on Sept 11, 2004 17:17:23 GMT -5
Playmates Toys Expands Brand Portfolio; Core Brand Growth Continues
New Licensed and "Home Grown" Additions Expand Product Portfolio "Atomic Betty", "Evergirl" and Universal Pictures' "King Kong" Join Proven Core Brand Performers
HONG KONG, Sept. 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Following a strong first half
during which turnover grew by 62% and operating profit by 900%, Playmates Toys
Inc. ("Playmates") today hosted its semi annual business review in Hong Kong.
Playmates Toys Inc. is the wholly owned, U.S. subsidiary of publicly listed
Playmates Holdings Limited ("Playmates Holdings", "the Company") (HKSE stock
code number: 635).
Playmates Toys' exceptional first half results were led by the continued
strong performance of its core brands including: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
action figures and accessories, Speedeez micro vehicles and playsets, Disney
Princess dolls and Waterbabies, a baby doll brand celebrating its 15th
anniversary. The expanding U.S. retail presence and broader International
distribution of these brands reflects Playmates' commitment to the
comprehensive brand marketing strategies adopted in 2002. The execution of
these strategies has resulted in the creation of a core brand revenue base
upon which Playmates plans to grow its business in the years ahead.
Highlights of Playmates' holiday 2004 product line up include;
-- All NEW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures, accessories, vehicles,
role play toys, communicators, and more. All supported with non-stop
television advertising campaigns running through mid December and the six-day-
a-week broadcast of the Turtles TV series on Cartoon Network and the FOX Box
in the U.S.
-- The award winning Hummer H2 2-in-1 playset is back this fall and NEW
Speedeez "Launcher" playsets are being added to this category leading brand in
the U.S. The Speedeez Mini Cooper S 2-in-1 playset will spearhead the brand's
entry into major European markets including the U.K., Italy and Spain.
-- The NEW "My Baby Princess" doll collection inspired by the classic
Disney Princesses and developed in partnership with Disney Consumer Products.
The "Baby Princess" dolls represent the first time that the classic Princesses
have been interpreted as babies and join Playmates' "Little Princess" toddler
dolls this fall -- the best selling large dolls in the U.S. for the past two
years.
-- An all NEW packaging look and TV advertised addition to the Waterbabies
line will refresh this evergreen brand's image in 2004. The "Wiggly Giggly
Waterbabies" assortment has recently been awarded the National Parenting
Center's Seal of Approval and will be introduced with a comprehensive
promotional, public relations and national cable television advertising
campaign.
-- Blinkies is the latest entry in the youth electronics category from the
makers of the popular Nano virtual pet. With dozens of games and unique play
features, Blinkies takes virtual character play to a whole new level.
Blinkies launches this fall with Radio Disney events, Nickelodeon on line
promotions and TV advertising support.
Prior to previewing new brand and product highlights from Playmates' 2005
line-up, Mr. Lou Novak, President of Playmates Toys Inc. stated, "Having
established the core brands, streamlined operations, enhanced marketing
capabilities and improved distribution, Playmates Toys is now concentrating on
expanding its brand portfolio, as the next step in the achievement of its
longer term growth objectives."
In 2005, Playmates will extend and continue to grow its core brands and
will add new product lines to its portfolio. Among these new brand entries are
"Atomic Betty" small dolls and playsets, Nickelodeon's "evergirl" fashion
dolls and girls lifestyle products and action figures, role play toys and
playsets inspired by Universal Pictures' 2005 theatrical feature film release
of King Kong - directed by three time Academy Award winning director Peter
Jackson.
Produced by Breakthrough Studios, the "Atomic Betty" television series
premiers this fall on Cartoon Network in the U.S., Canada and several major
European markets. Playmates' dolls and playsets will capture all the comic
action and heroic attitude of this new girls action hero and will launch in
Spring of next year to capitalize on Cartoon Network's multi-million dollar
promotion of this new girls franchise.
Following the strong early response to Nickelodeon's launch marketing
campaign of its' new "evergirl" lifestyle brand and in anticipation of the
roll out of new licensed apparel and fashion accessories in Spring 2005,
Playmates and Nickelodeon will launch the Playmates doll and accessory product
line in fall 2005. This launch strategy will see Playmates product hit retail
shelves as evergirl brand awareness peaks among "tween" girls following a full
year of Nickelodeon promotion.
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group recently announced a worldwide
licensing agreement with Playmates as the master toy licensee for Universal
Pictures' 2005 release, King Kong, from three-time Academy Award(R) winner
Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy). Playmates Toys will create a
line of intricately detailed action figures and accessories with exceptional
sculpting and innovative special features. The products will capture the
fearsome power of King Kong and his adversaries and will enable kids and
collectors to recreate epic battles on the mysterious Skull Island.
"Playmates has reestablished itself as a strong global competitor among
mid sized promotional toy companies. Our product innovation, marketing
prowess and financial performance have solidified our credibility with U.S.
retailers and our international partners. With the building blocks in place,
we have embarked on a new phase in the growth of Playmates Toys," Mr. Thomas
Chan, Chairman of Playmates Holdings concluded.
About Playmates Toys Inc.
With over thirty-five years of experience, Playmates Toys, Inc. is among
the most well respected and innovative marketing companies in the global toy
industry. Playmates has a proven history in the management of long term,
proprietary and licensed entertainment brand franchises. Playmates designs,
develops, markets and distributes its products in over sixty countries
worldwide. Playmates Toys Inc. is a division of Playmates Holdings Limited, a
Hong Kong-based company whose stock is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
For additional information, please contact:
Playmates Holdings Limited
www.playmatestoys.com
New Licensed and "Home Grown" Additions Expand Product Portfolio "Atomic Betty", "Evergirl" and Universal Pictures' "King Kong" Join Proven Core Brand Performers
HONG KONG, Sept. 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Following a strong first half
during which turnover grew by 62% and operating profit by 900%, Playmates Toys
Inc. ("Playmates") today hosted its semi annual business review in Hong Kong.
Playmates Toys Inc. is the wholly owned, U.S. subsidiary of publicly listed
Playmates Holdings Limited ("Playmates Holdings", "the Company") (HKSE stock
code number: 635).
Playmates Toys' exceptional first half results were led by the continued
strong performance of its core brands including: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
action figures and accessories, Speedeez micro vehicles and playsets, Disney
Princess dolls and Waterbabies, a baby doll brand celebrating its 15th
anniversary. The expanding U.S. retail presence and broader International
distribution of these brands reflects Playmates' commitment to the
comprehensive brand marketing strategies adopted in 2002. The execution of
these strategies has resulted in the creation of a core brand revenue base
upon which Playmates plans to grow its business in the years ahead.
Highlights of Playmates' holiday 2004 product line up include;
-- All NEW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures, accessories, vehicles,
role play toys, communicators, and more. All supported with non-stop
television advertising campaigns running through mid December and the six-day-
a-week broadcast of the Turtles TV series on Cartoon Network and the FOX Box
in the U.S.
-- The award winning Hummer H2 2-in-1 playset is back this fall and NEW
Speedeez "Launcher" playsets are being added to this category leading brand in
the U.S. The Speedeez Mini Cooper S 2-in-1 playset will spearhead the brand's
entry into major European markets including the U.K., Italy and Spain.
-- The NEW "My Baby Princess" doll collection inspired by the classic
Disney Princesses and developed in partnership with Disney Consumer Products.
The "Baby Princess" dolls represent the first time that the classic Princesses
have been interpreted as babies and join Playmates' "Little Princess" toddler
dolls this fall -- the best selling large dolls in the U.S. for the past two
years.
-- An all NEW packaging look and TV advertised addition to the Waterbabies
line will refresh this evergreen brand's image in 2004. The "Wiggly Giggly
Waterbabies" assortment has recently been awarded the National Parenting
Center's Seal of Approval and will be introduced with a comprehensive
promotional, public relations and national cable television advertising
campaign.
-- Blinkies is the latest entry in the youth electronics category from the
makers of the popular Nano virtual pet. With dozens of games and unique play
features, Blinkies takes virtual character play to a whole new level.
Blinkies launches this fall with Radio Disney events, Nickelodeon on line
promotions and TV advertising support.
Prior to previewing new brand and product highlights from Playmates' 2005
line-up, Mr. Lou Novak, President of Playmates Toys Inc. stated, "Having
established the core brands, streamlined operations, enhanced marketing
capabilities and improved distribution, Playmates Toys is now concentrating on
expanding its brand portfolio, as the next step in the achievement of its
longer term growth objectives."
In 2005, Playmates will extend and continue to grow its core brands and
will add new product lines to its portfolio. Among these new brand entries are
"Atomic Betty" small dolls and playsets, Nickelodeon's "evergirl" fashion
dolls and girls lifestyle products and action figures, role play toys and
playsets inspired by Universal Pictures' 2005 theatrical feature film release
of King Kong - directed by three time Academy Award winning director Peter
Jackson.
Produced by Breakthrough Studios, the "Atomic Betty" television series
premiers this fall on Cartoon Network in the U.S., Canada and several major
European markets. Playmates' dolls and playsets will capture all the comic
action and heroic attitude of this new girls action hero and will launch in
Spring of next year to capitalize on Cartoon Network's multi-million dollar
promotion of this new girls franchise.
Following the strong early response to Nickelodeon's launch marketing
campaign of its' new "evergirl" lifestyle brand and in anticipation of the
roll out of new licensed apparel and fashion accessories in Spring 2005,
Playmates and Nickelodeon will launch the Playmates doll and accessory product
line in fall 2005. This launch strategy will see Playmates product hit retail
shelves as evergirl brand awareness peaks among "tween" girls following a full
year of Nickelodeon promotion.
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group recently announced a worldwide
licensing agreement with Playmates as the master toy licensee for Universal
Pictures' 2005 release, King Kong, from three-time Academy Award(R) winner
Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy). Playmates Toys will create a
line of intricately detailed action figures and accessories with exceptional
sculpting and innovative special features. The products will capture the
fearsome power of King Kong and his adversaries and will enable kids and
collectors to recreate epic battles on the mysterious Skull Island.
"Playmates has reestablished itself as a strong global competitor among
mid sized promotional toy companies. Our product innovation, marketing
prowess and financial performance have solidified our credibility with U.S.
retailers and our international partners. With the building blocks in place,
we have embarked on a new phase in the growth of Playmates Toys," Mr. Thomas
Chan, Chairman of Playmates Holdings concluded.
About Playmates Toys Inc.
With over thirty-five years of experience, Playmates Toys, Inc. is among
the most well respected and innovative marketing companies in the global toy
industry. Playmates has a proven history in the management of long term,
proprietary and licensed entertainment brand franchises. Playmates designs,
develops, markets and distributes its products in over sixty countries
worldwide. Playmates Toys Inc. is a division of Playmates Holdings Limited, a
Hong Kong-based company whose stock is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
For additional information, please contact:
Playmates Holdings Limited
www.playmatestoys.com