Author: DEPlabs Admin

PLAYMONSTER ADDS TOP-SELLING SUPER SPINNER SWING TO GROWING PORTFOLIO

Patented Swing Provides Safe and Fun Rides for Kids of all Ages

 

September 27, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – PlayMonster, LLC announced today it has acquired the worldwide rights for Super Spinner®, the new top-selling, innovative outdoor children’s swing that comes fully assembled with the necessary hanging materials, allowing kids to swing and spin safely in a new, fun way!

 

A contemporary and upgraded take on the tire swing, Super Spinner‘s round swing seat, adjustable double-braided ropes and weather-resistant clips ensure children’s safety. Made in the USA, the Super Spinner holds multiple patents and is designed to swing and spin from a tree, a play set or a secure structural beam.

 

“Bringing innovation to classic play is our mission at PlayMonster, and Super Spinner is a perfect example of this. It’s a great product to add to our portfolio, because it gets kids off the couch and away from their screens to promote active play. ” said Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster LLC. “Super Spinner provides a safe and fun experience for kids young and old.”

 

“Eight years ago we set out to create our spin on the traditional tire swing and successfully introduced a safe alternative in outdoor play,” said Greg Cordray, founder of Super Spinner.

“We’re thrilled about our partnership with PlayMonster, whose commitment to the power of play aligns perfectly with our company as we continue to grow.”

 

Easy to install and made with durable materials, Super Spinner swings are built to withstand the elements and can accommodate riders of many sizes. There are two Super Spinner versions currently available. The original Super Spinner is perfect for one or two kids, engineered to hold up to 200 pounds; available in red, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. The Super Duper Spinner allows for more fun with multiple riders, and even adults, with a weight capacity of 650 pounds; available in hunter green only.

 

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing innovative, fun products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, along with other award-winning toys and games like The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Farkle, OK to Wake!®, My Fairy Garden®, Wonder Crew®, Automoblox® and Marbleocity® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

# # #

 

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

Tic-Toc! PlayMonster^TM Makes Mornings Fun with
Sleepyhead^TM Animated Alarm Clocks

Innovative Gradual Wake System Wakes You Up Gently!

August 17, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – PlayMonster LLC‘s Sleepyhead^TM Animated Alarm Clocks light up mornings with gradual sounds and action of the 3-Sound Wake System! 

Sleepyhead Animated Alarm Clocks feature bright colors, motions, lights, sounds and music. The battery-operated clocks feature an LCD clock display with an auto shut off, and are available in two fun themes: train and carousel.

Dreamland Crossing^TM begins the wakeup process with gentle train sounds, which leads to a resounding, “All aboard!” Finally, at the set time for the alarm, the action starts! The train moves along the circular track, and the lights of the signal flash. It’s a great way to wake up! Plus, if you want to see the train in action, press the button at any time!

Carousel Medley^TM starts off in the morning with playful animal sounds, then a fun carousel medley, and finally the carousel twirls and the animals move up and down. It’s a magical way to wake up, starting the day off on a positive note! Additionally, with a press of the button, you can hear the medley and see the action anytime.

Sleepyhead Animated Alarm Clocks are priced at $14.99 and make a great addition to any nightstand!

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

About PlayMonster LLC
Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing innovative, fun products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, along with other award-winning toys and games like The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Farkle, OK to Wake!®, My Fairy Garden®, Wonder Crew®, Automoblox® and Marbleocity® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

# # #

 

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PlayMonster Brings Life to the Party with Two New Games

Accentuate® and Go BLEEP Yourself® Will Have Players Laughing!

August 17, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – PlayMonster LLC continues to roll out laugh-out-loud party games for family and friends, with Accentuate® and Go BLEEP Yourself®, must-have additions to game night!

Accentuate is the hilarious guess-the-accent game! One player reads a movie quote, and then rereads it in a randomly chosen accent while their team tries to guess which accent they’re trying to speak! It’s often hilarious because not everyone is good at every accent. Plus, it’s funny to hear a Rom-Com quoted in a Transylvanian Vampire accent, or an action flick in a Jamaican accent, etc. Players also get extra points for knowing the movie that’s quoted! It’s big fun for 4 or more players in teams, ages 12 and up. Accentuate is available for a suggested retail price of $24.99.

Go BLEEP Yourself can get as wild, or stay as tame, as players want because they’re filling in the BLEEPs! One player reads a card like, “I picked up BLEEP on the street today.” Then everyone writes down a word to take the place of the BLEEP. Players are trying to match what they think the reader will say, or they try to write the funniest answer… because both score points! Available for a suggested retail price of $24.99, Go BLEEP Yourself is a laughing good time for 4 or more players, ages 18+.

Both games are great for face-to-face interaction and good times with friends and family!

                                                                                                                                                                                           

About PlayMonster LLC
Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing innovative, fun products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, along with other award-winning toys and games like The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Farkle, OK to Wake!®, My Fairy Garden®, Wonder Crew®, Automoblox® and Marbleocity® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

# # #

 

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PlayMonster Grows My Fairy Garden® Line

New Plant, Grow, Play Set Featuring Magical Message Beans Amazes Children!

August 17, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – PlayMonster LLC plants a new seed in its popular My Fairy Garden® line, as an all-new theme and plant life take root and bring smiles to fairy garden fans! 

My Fairy Garden is the first of its kind: a toy that’s also a real, live garden! Children love kits that allow them to grow plants at home; it gives them a connection to nature and a sense of satisfaction at having nurtured a living thing. My Fairy Garden takes it to a new, exciting level by allowing children to interact with it as part of an enchanting play set!

The new addition to the line, Bean Blossom, is a brightly-colored watering can and includes soil and beans to grow plants inside the top area! And what children grow is magical-it’s a plant with a message! The beans have words on them that appear in the greenery when the plant sprouts and grows tall along the trellis! Children’s beans could have messages such as DREAM, SMILE, AMAZING, and more.

As children grow their plant, they can also play in their fairy world! The set includes Misty, a beautiful fairy, and her frog friend FiFi. Misty can sit on the included swing, or she can tend to her plant with the included gardening tool. The watering can also features a door than opens to a small hidden room for the fairy to play in!

This new grow-and-play set is designed for ages 4 and up, and is a fun new addition to any girl’s fairy world! Available for $12.99.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

About PlayMonster LLC
Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing innovative, fun products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, along with other award-winning toys and games like The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Farkle, OK to Wake!®, My Fairy Garden®, Wonder Crew®, Automoblox® and Marbleocity® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

# # #

 

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PlayMonster Races Ahead with Ultra Dash – It’s a Blast!

Kids Set Up Their Own Course, and When the Colors Flash They Better Move Fast!

The Perfect Activity for Kids to Get Up and Move During their Screen-Free Time

 

 

June 30, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – Ready, Set, Race! PlayMonster LLC is excited to introduce Ultra Dash^TM, the newest addition to its Active Play game line! With cool sound effects and flashing bright lights, it’s a fun way to get kids, as well as adults, up and moving! Ultra Dash could also be exactly what the doctor ordered for a great family activity during our society’s much needed screen-free time. When played, Ultra Dash can provide fabulous fun and exercise for everyone!

 

Ultra Dash provides a thrilling rush of excitement as kids race to match the color of the flashing light on their tagger to the color of the targets! Each time kids play, it’s a different game because the order of color flashes randomizes, plus kids can rearrange their target course however they want.

 

Ultra Dash has three game modes: Beat the Clock is a race to hit all five targets and see which player is fastest; Target Tally allows players to choose their time and then race to see how many targets they can hit in that time; and Relay Race is team vs. team, with each player racing to hit five targets and then passing their tagger to the next player. The first two games can be played as single player, with kids trying to beat their own time or target count.

 

Designed for one or more players or teams, ages 6 and up, Ultra Dash is available for a suggested retail price of $19.99?$24.99.

 

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Stinky Pig^TM, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate^TM, My Fairy Garden^TM and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

# # #

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

 

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PlayMonster^TM Expands Maureen Hiron Collection
of Quick-Playing Card Games

 

7 Ate 9^TM, Qwitch^TM and Grabolo® Have Players Racing to Match Letters, Numbers, Colors and More!

 

APRIL 26, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – It’s fast-paced game-playing with 123s, ABCs and colors…PlayMonster LLC introduces two new games that complement 2016’s Grabolo®, expanding its Maureen Hiron line of card games that has the whole family racing to win!

7 ATE 9^TM challenges players to quickly add or subtract 1, 2 or 3 to match the numbers on the cards in their hands so they can discard. The first to play all their cards wins! It’s think-fast fun for 1 to 4 players ages 8 and up.

Qwitch^TM dabbles in numbers, too, but adds letters to the mix! While players are trying to race and play matching cards on top of the pile, the letters and numbers can go up, down or stay the same…and switch at any time! It may seem easy, but seeing letters and numbers can play tricks on players’ minds! For 1 to 5 players ages 7 and up.

Grabolo®, the Maureen Hiron game that started the line at PlayMonster in 2016, challenges players to race and find the card the matched the color/number combination of the dice roll. The first player to grab it keeps it, but beware…it could get stolen later! For 3 to 5 players, ages 6 and up.

Each of these family-friendly card games is available for a suggested retail price of $9.99 each, and is packaged in a colorful and handy storage tin.

 

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Stinky Pig^TM, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate^TM, My Fairy Garden^TM and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

# # #

Lisa Wuennemann                       Sarah Gumina 

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PLAYMONSTER ACQUIRES TINKINEER AND ITS STEM LINE, MARBLEOCITY

 

Wood Sets Introduce Children to Engineering Principles and Physics Concepts with Dynamic Hands-On Model Kits

 

May 11, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis.- Today PlayMonster announces the new acquisition of Marbleocity, a line of laser-cut wooden STEM kits created by Tinkineer and made in America. The intricate and beautiful designs of each module stand alone or fit together to form an expansive marble empire. With four different sets currently available and more on the way, Marbleocity brings STEM toys to a whole new, wondrous level.

Bob Wann, CEO of PlayMonster, is very excited and impressed by the uniqueness of this new STEM line: “There are so many STEM concepts being introduced this year, but what really impressed us about Marbleocity was its unique combination of teaching STEM skills and providing great entertainment value for kids, so that they learn while having fun!”

“We designed the Marbleocity line to be a satisfying and fun building experience,” said Adam Hocherman, founder of Tinkineer, and now PlayMonster’s Vice President of New Business. “Each set includes a graphic novel designed to communicate meaningful STEM concepts in an engaging format. Our cast of Tinkineers – Kelvin, Joule, Newt and friends – come together in each story to teach a physics or mechanics lesson that children can understand and that relates to the model they are building.”

 

There are currently four different models in the Marbleocity line with more planned. All sets are made of laser-cut Baltic Birch and do not require batteries:

• Mini Coaster – For the beginner Maker! Build your own wild ride full of dips and turns with some engineering and physics thrown in. Can be completed in around an hour. Consists of over 30 laser-cut wood parts.
• Dragon Coaster – Construct your own wooden roller coaster full of dips and turns with some engineering and physics thrown in. Inspired by the real wooden roller coaster of the same name, located at Playland in Rye, NY. Consists of over 80 laser-cut wooden parts.
• Mini Skate Park – We’ve put a lot of physics action into a small space, including a stair descent, rail slide and … a jump! Yes, the marbles get air! A multi-gear lift gets your marbles into position to take the jump before hitting the stairs and rail slide. Can be completed in about an hour. Consists of over 30 laser-cut wood parts.
• Skate Park – Highlights the physics of skateboarding with a half-pipe, stair descent, rail slide and … a jump! This module can stand on its own or adjoin the Dragon Coaster module to allow circulation of marbles between the two. Consists of over 80 laser-cut wooden parts.

 

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Stinky Pig^TM, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate®, My Fairy Garden® and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

# # #

Contact                                  

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PLAYMONSTER TAKES HOME TWO COVETED AWARDS
DURING THE 2017 INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR

 

Yeti in My Spaghetti and Marketing Executive, Lisa
Wuennemann Receive the Industry’s Top Honors 

 

BELOIT, Wis. – The 114^th North American International Toy Fair was a huge success for PlayMonster, the company whose portfolio includes a myriad of award-winning toys and games. They now have two more awards to add to their collection, as the company’s Yeti in My Spaghetti® received the toy industry’s most revered accolade, a TOTY (Toy of the Year) Award, and Director of Marketing, Lisa Wuennemann, was presented with the esteemed Women in Toys Wonder Woman Award.

Yeti in My Spaghetti was crowned Game of the Year at the TOTY Awards Ceremony at New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Friday, February 17, 2017. The event, often referred to as the “Oscars” of the toy industry,  kicked off Toy Fair Week, which took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center February 18 through February 21, 2017.

The game, which involves keeping a Yeti suspended on a mound of spaghetti while players remove noodles one-by-one, was recognized for its innovation, design, product excellence and marketplace success; and it was chosen as a winner by elite members of the toy industry, including retail buyers, inventors/designers, academics, journalists, trade media spokespeople and bloggers.

“We were so excited that we set a company record this year with five TOTY nominations: My Fairy Garden,Automoblox, Perplexus Q-bot,Wonder Crew, and of course, Yeti in My Spaghetti,” said Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster. “Then to win the Game of the Year for Yeti in My Spaghetti… what a great way to kick-off the show! The entire PlayMonster team is beyond proud of this accomplishment.”

The celebration continued on Sunday, February 19^th at the Women in Toys (WIT) 13th Annual Wonder Women Awards Gala, which salutes the industry’s top female change makers and pioneers. PlayMonster’s Director of Marketing, Lisa Wuennemann received the Wonder Woman Award for excellence in Marketing for her talents and expertise in bringing PlayMonster’s products successfully to market.

“It is immensely gratifying to be recognized by the industry and to receive this distinguished award,” said Lisa Wuennemann. “The 12 nominees in the marketing category were all dynamic women from established, successful companies, and to be a nominee among them was in itself, a true win.”

The event was held at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York and was attended by more than 600 executives in toys, licensing and entertainment. Individuals were nominated for a Wonder Woman Award by industry peers in the following categories: Entertainment, Licensing, Manufacturing, Marketing, Rising Star, Lifetime Achievement and Change Maker; and winners were determined by WIT members, Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and key industry influencers.

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Stinky Pig^TM, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate^TM, My Fairy Garden^TM and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

# # #

 

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PLAYMONSTER REVEALS TOY FAIR 2017 LINE UP

 

Active Play Game Ultra Dash, Gender-Breaking Boys Line Wonder Crew and

Plant-and-Grow Playset My Fairy Garden Among Brands To Be Shown

 

FEBRUARY 14, 2017 – BELOIT, Wis. – This week, PlayMonster heads to the North American International Toy Fair in New York, where they’ll unveil a dozen new toys and games that entertain, engage and empower to make a positive difference in people’s lives. 

“This is one of our favorite times of the year,” said Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster. “We’re extending our presence in the game aisle with six new titles; revealing additions to proven, popular brands such as My Fairy Garden; and showcasing Wonder Crew, the boy-centric toy line that is helping break gender stereotypes.” 

Delivering great play for kids, families and adults alike, PlayMonster’s 2017 active play, card and interactive party game additions will catapult the company’s portfolio to over six dozen different games, further cementing their presence in a category that saw sales soar 20 percent last year. 

 Leading the way is Ultra Dash^TM, the newest addition to PlayMonster’s Active Play game line that will get players moving and thinking fast. A follow up to the popular Hyper Dash game, Ultra Dash provides a thrilling rush of excitement as kids race to match the color of the flashing light on their tagger to the color of the targets! Colors flash randomly and players can change their target course, so it’s a different game each time!

There are three game modes from which to choose, resulting in hours of play. Designed for one or more players or teams, ages 6 and up, Ultra Dash will be available in June 2017 for a suggested retail price of $19.99‒$24.99.

 Combining the love of nature and imaginative play, PlayMonster grows My Fairy Garden®, a toy set and living garden in one. New to the line is Bean Blossom, a brightly colored watering can that includes soil and beans to grow real plants! The beans are magical, and as they sprout, inspirational words such as DREAM, SMILE, AMAZING appear in the greenery. Adding to the set is Misty — a beautiful fairy — her frog friend FiFi, a fairy swing and gardening tool.

  Suggested for ages 4 and up, My Fairy Garden Bean Blossom is available in fall 2017 and priced at $9.99‒$12.99. 

The Wonder Crew® toy line is designed to empower boys to connect, nurture and build empathy through friendship, imagination and adventure. The brand is turning the table on the conversation about gender stereotypes and toys, which has largely been focused on presenting more options for girls to play. Wonder Crew fills a hole in the market by offering a toy that helps boys develop their emotional maturity, including compassion and kindness, to help them grow to be good men, husbands, fathers and more.  The line includes:

Wonder Crew Buddies – Combining the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of a stuffed animal, these 15″ cuddly heroes are: Will (Caucasian), Marco (Hispanic), James (African American) and Erik (Asian), and are in stores now. Each comes dressed in superhero gear, complete with matching mask and cape for the child.

 Adventure Packs – Additional themed outfits for Wonder Crew Buddies include: 

●      Builder: A construction outfit and hardhat for the buddy, plus a matching kid-size vest

●      Explorer: A safari-looking outfit and hat for the buddy, and a matching kid-size hat

●      Snuggler: A set of pajamas for the buddy, and a blanket for the child.

 

Wonder Crew Buddies are recommended for boys ages 3‒5 and are priced from $29.99 to $34.99.  Adventure Packs, sold separately, range from $14.99 to $19.99. 

PlayMonster will showcase these new products, new additions to its Mirari® infant and toddler brand, and much more at booth #435 at the North American International Toy Fair in New York, February 18‒21, 2017. 

The weeklong event kicks off with the Toy of The Year (TOTY) Awards, the industry’s gold-standard and one of its most revered accolades. PlayMonster is a finalist for a company-record five TOTYs across four different categories: Activity Toy of the Year for My Fairy Garden, Game of the Year for Yeti in My Spaghetti®, and two nods in Specialty Toy of the Year for Automoblox® and Perplexus® Q-bot. Additionally, Wonder Crew®, PlayMonster’s newly licensed toy line, is a finalist for Rookie Toy Company of the Year. Winners will be announced February 17th.

  

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Stinky Pig^TM, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate®, My Fairy Garden® and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

# # #

Contact                             

Lisa Wuennemann                       Sarah Gumina 

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com

PLAYMONSTER TO EMPOWER A GENERATION OF BOYS

WITH WONDER CREW DOLLS

Company to Launch Line of Buddies that
Inspires Boys to — Go Anywhere, Be Anything —

 

BELOIT, Wis. — PlayMonster LLC announced today it has acquired the worldwide license for Wonder Crew^®, the headline-making toy line designed to empower boys to connect, nurture and build empathy through friendship, imagination and adventure.

 

Wonder Crew is turning the table on the conversation about gender stereotypes and toys, which has largely been focused on presenting more options for girls to play. Combining the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of a stuffed animal, the 15″ Wonder Crew buddies have coordinated role play accessories for their kid owners.

 

“We are thrilled to bring Wonder Crew into the PlayMonster portfolio,” said Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster LLC. “We know from consumer research that boys ages 2 – 5 are already playing with dolls, yet there is a distinct hole in the marketplace for them. We believe it’s the perfect time to introduce this important toy line to mass market as big retailers and our industry are together breaking down gender stereotypes to help boys develop their emotional maturity including compassion and kindness.

 

Laurel Wider, a psychotherapist and mom, created Wonder Crew after her son came home from preschool one day and announced that “boys aren’t supposed to cry.”  Frustrated by many of the messages boys were (and weren’t) receiving and inspired by the way play influences child development, Wider created Wonder Crew to encourage kids to connect emotionally and be their full selves.  Launched on Kickstarter in March 2015, Wonder Crew quickly drew praise from parents and media alike, and earned Wider an invitation from the White House to speak during a conference on breaking stereotypes in media and toys.

 

“As Wonder Crew reaches market scale and the industry redefines stereotypes on dolls and other toys, I feel fortunate to have PlayMonster as a partner,” said Wider. “PlayMonster’s full commitment to the brand, combined with the company’s resources and our shared values, promises to deliver amazing adventures.” 
 

As a result of PlayMonster’s commitment to Wonder Crew, the line will hit retail shelves early 2017.  Wonder Crew, targeted to boys ages 2 – 5, includes four buddies of different races each wearing Superhero gear, and packaged complete with a matching cape and mask for the child. Adventure Packs in the themes of builder, explorer and snuggler (for bedtime) will be sold separately and also come with matching gear for the child.

 

About PlayMonster LLC

Beloit, WI-based PlayMonster is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Stinky Pig™, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate™, My Fairy Garden™ and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.  

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Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                    Janis Van Tine  / Sarah Gumina

PlayMonster LLC                                      GennComm for PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 1275                         (818) 839-1461

lisaw@playmonster.com                             janis@GennComm.com / sarah@genncomm.com