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PLAYMONSTER AND HASBRO EXTEND KOOSH® LICENSING AGREEMENT

New deal retains PlayMonster as global master toy license through 2027

PlayMonster and Koosh logos

BELOIT, Wis & PAWTUCKET, R.I. (September 19, 2024) — Today, leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC announced an extended three-year agreement with Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) that renews its licensing rights for the iconic KOOSH® brand through 2027. As a master toy license, PlayMonster will build upon its line of KOOSH products with enhanced offerings and new innovations designed to engage kids with soft, silly, sports fun.

“Together with Hasbro, we are expanding on a successful relationship that introduced KOOSH to a new generation,” said Jonathan Berkowitz, CEO of PlayMonster. “As we grow the brand, KOOSH will continue to emphasize active play and safe sports fun, while delivering kids and families all new ways to experience KOOSH.”

Nearly 40 years after the “easy to catch, hard to put down” ball first debuted, KOOSH remains an icon in the toy aisle, known for tactile, fidgety fun that can be played with nearly anywhere. Since becoming part of the company’s portfolio in 2021 via a licensing agreement with Hasbro, PlayMonster has amplified the KOOSH brand and brought to market classic toys, new lines, and dynamic play experiences, with standouts including the vibrant and colorful KOOSH classic, the action-packed KOOSH Paddle Play Set, and the lacrosse-inspired KOOSH Flix Stix.

“Since 2021, PlayMonster has reignited the playful spirit of KOOSH and created moments of magic and connection for families,” said Bradley Bowman, Senior Director, Global Toy, Licensed Consumer Products, Hasbro. “We look forward to the continued evolution of the KOOSH brand and fresh twists on classic fun developed with PlayMonster’s partnership and vision.”

PlayMonster will continue to grow the KOOSH brand through expanded product offerings and new introductions designed to create playful and silly sports experiences for kids aged 5 years and older. Exciting upcoming releases include KOOSH Kornhole, a kid-sized KOOSH take on the wildly popular sport, available at retail Spring 2025.

For more about PlayMonster including the latest KOOSH launches, visit www.playmonster.com.

About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” 5 Second Rule Relay and Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus Pigs on Trampolines, The Magical World of Disney Trivia, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Koosh®, and the Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

About Hasbro

Hasbro is a leading toy and game company whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers play experiences for fans of all ages around the world, through toys, games, licensed consumer products, digital games and services, location-based entertainment, film, TV, and more. With a portfolio of over 1,800 iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen. Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com or @Hasbro on LinkedIn. © 2024 Hasbro, Inc.

Media Contact: Marissa Lambert

mlambert@litzkypr.com

(201) 222 – 9118

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PLAYMONSTER TEAMS WITH TOP SOCIAL TALENT TO ESTABLISH PLAYMONSTER INFLUENCER NETWORK

Featured content creators will amplify PlayMonster’s social reach and drive brand growth

PlayMonster Influencer Network LogoBELOIT, Wis (August 14, 2024) — Today, leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC unveiled the PlayMonster Influencer Network, a collective of top social personalities that will propel the company’s digital presence and engage with expansive audiences across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

The PlayMonster Influencer Network will leverage the talents of a select group of creators to connect with a combined reach of more than 50 million followers through playful and shareable content featuring PlayMonster games, toys, crafts, and activities.

“Launching the PlayMonster Influencer Network is a cornerstone of our mission to connect people through social, shareable play experiences,” said Jonathan Berkowitz, CEO of PlayMonster. “Our founding network partners will enhance our digital presence through fall 2025 and beyond, and connect our brands with a captive consumer audience directly on the platforms where they’re finding new products, creative inspiration, and viral trends. We can’t wait to see the twists our influencers add to PlayMonster products.”

Inaugural members of the PlayMonster Influencer Network include Games.4two, the board game loving couple who have amassed a platform boasting millions of followers that tune in for game tutorials, reviews, and friendly competition; TurboToyTime, a fun-loving family channel starring a father and his sons sharing their love of toys and games; and GettiShow, a performer – and world-record setting hula hooper – who captivates her audience with comedy sketches, challenge videos, pranks, and performances. Additional creators will reach demographics spanning board game enthusiasts, crafters and ASMRtists, tweens, and families seeking kid-friendly fun.

Through this strategic initiative, PlayMonster will showcase new launches and beloved classics including Five Second Rule, Pigs on Trampolines, Yeti in My Spaghetti, Spirograph, Koosh® and more through entertaining social content authentic to each participating creator’s channel and audience.

For more about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com.

 

About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” 5 Second Rule Relay and Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus Pigs on Trampolines, The Magical World of Disney Trivia, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Koosh®, and the Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

 

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PLAYMONSTER AND DIVERSE MARKETING ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC 3-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

Effective immediately, Diverse Marketing will represent PlayMonster across most key retail accounts

BELOIT, Wis (July 9, 2024) — Today, leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC, and premier wholesale representative group Diverse Marketing, announced a 3-year open-ended agreement for Diverse Marketing and Diverse Brands to represent PlayMonster across the majority of the company’s retail accounts nationwide. Effective immediately, the partnership aims to streamline representation and enhance service for PlayMonster partners spanning mass retail, specialty toy, and independent retailers.

By combining their expertise and resources, PlayMonster and Diverse Marketing will provide best-in-class service to customers, continue to drive growth for PlayMonster, and enhance the company’s retail presence across games, toys, arts and crafts, activities, and more. The agreement with PlayMonster and Diverse Marketing/Diverse Brands marks one of the biggest national partnerships in their history.

PlayMonster continues to be a dynamic force in the toy industry, both nationally and globally. Throughout 2024, PlayMonster is set to expand upon their portfolio offerings that encompass key categories including games, arts & crafts, outdoor, and activities.

For more about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com.

For more about Diverse Marketing, visit www.diversemarketingtoy.com.  For more about Diverse Brands, visit www.diverse-brands.com.

About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” 5 Second Rule Relay and Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus Pigs on Trampolines, The Magical World of Disney Trivia, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Koosh®, and the Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

About Diverse Marketing

Diverse Marketing is a premier wholesale representative group with divisions focusing on specialty toys, gifts, and key account sales. They represent top manufacturers and serve major retail partners across the nation. Their showrooms, located in Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and Seattle, provide spaces for customers to engage with and select products.

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JONATHAN BERKOWITZ APPOINTED AS NEW CEO OF PLAYMONSTER

BELOIT, Wis –  (March 6, 2024) – PlayMonster Group LLC, the leading international toy and game company, today announces that Jonathan Berkowitz has joined PlayMonster as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A seasoned executive, Berkowitz comes to PlayMonster with an abundance of knowledge and over twenty years of leadership experience in the toy industry. With an unmatched passion for innovation, a keen eye for market trends, paired with his visionary approach to digital marketing and e-commerce, Jonathan will lead PlayMonster into new areas of growth and product development.

“PlayMonster is known to champion the power of play through their products, and I am thrilled by the opportunity to join a team filled with great innovators who have a clear dedication to the toy, game and craft spaces,” said Jonathan Berkowitz, PlayMonster CEO. “Together, we will unlock the company’s creative potential that will ignite a culture of success and propel the brand to sustainable growth.”

Berkowitz joins PlayMonster after a 17-year tenure at Hasbro, where he held several marketing and leadership roles culminating in his role as President of Hasbro Brands. During his time, he reinvented Nerf to become Hasbro’s top brand, revitalized Hasbro Gaming as well as built an industry-leading team that revolutionized the games category with Game of the Year winners like Pie Face and Speak Out.  Most recently, Jonathan was the COO of Barstool Sports where he led the day-to-day execution of the world’s top sports multimedia social and e-commerce brand.

With this announcement, Steve Adolph will be stepping down from the CEO role. The PlayMonster team thanks him for his contributions to the company during his tenure.

PlayMonster continues to be a dynamic force in the toy industry, both nationally and globally. Throughout 2024, PlayMonster is set to expand upon their portfolio offerings that encompass key categories including board games, outdoor toys, preschool toys and arts and crafts.

For more about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com.

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About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” 5 Second Rule Relay and Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus Pigs on Trampolines, The Magical World of Disney Trivia, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Koosh®, and the Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

 

Media Contact

5W Public Relations

PlayMonsterPR@5wpr.com

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PLAYMONSTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER

BELOIT, Wis – (November 29, 2023) – PlayMonster Group LLC, the leading international toy and game company, today announced that Brian Fitzharris has joined PlayMonster as the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

With an impressive background in the toy industry, Fitzharris brings a wealth of experience that will undoubtedly strengthen PlayMonster’s global market position and enhance both client and vendor relationships. In this new role, he will be responsible for driving the growth and success of North American, UK, and International Sales. Fitzharris will also lead the Marketing organization, e-commerce operations, go-to-market strategies, and drive global sales growth while optimizing revenue and profitability.

“In this dynamic era of play and innovation, the PlayMonster portfolio stands as a cornerstone in the arts & crafts, toys and games categories. I am excited to join such a strong team of knowledgeable, talented and dedicated people, ” said Brian Fitzharris, PlayMonster CCO. “Between the strong items and brands we have in the portfolio and the best-in-class partnerships that the team has established, PlayMonster has the ingredients required to elevate the business to new heights of creativity and market prominence.”

Fitzharris joins PlayMonster after a 17-year tenure at Mattel, where he held several critical senior leadership roles, including Global Marketing positions on iconic brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie, International Marketing roles in Europe and Asia Pacific, and, most recently, as the Head of Sales to Walmart / Sam’s Club. His extensive experience across functions and geographies will be instrumental to the construction and execution of PlayMonster’s strategic roadmap.

“At PlayMonster, where our relentless commitment to growth and innovation propels us forward, we’re thrilled to have Brian join our team. His proven track record in discerning a brand’s trajectory and navigating that path to success, aligns seamlessly with our vision,” said Steve Adolph, PlayMonster CEO. “I am particularly eager for the injection of his fresh perspective, not just for 2024 but beyond.”

PlayMonster remains at the forefront of the toy industry’s growth and leadership, with an ambitious expansion plan highlighted by a dynamic lineup of new products and partnerships set to launch in 2024. The company is strategically enhancing its brand portfolio, aiming to elevate its presence and influence both nationally and globally.

For more about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com.

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About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” 5 Second Rule Relay and Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus Pigs on Trampolines, The Magical World of Disney Trivia, 5 Second Rule®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Koosh®, and the Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

 

Media Contact

5W Public Relations

PlayMonsterPR@5wpr.com

 

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PLAYMONSTER WINS 2023 TOY OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 5 SECOND RULE RELAY

5 Second Rule Relay Clinches Toy of the Year Award in Game of the Year Category

BELOIT, Wis – (November 5, 2023) – PlayMonster Group LLC, a leading international toy and game company, is proud to announce that 5 Second Rule Relay has been awarded a Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award, the industry’s most prestigious honor, in this year’s Game of the Year category. The category highlights games for families and children (ages 0-14) including board, card, electronic, or other physical game formats and puzzles, exclusive of video or app games.

5 Second Rule Relay is a loved game by all that brings family and friends together and offers rapid-fire fun. With the all-new Relay baton, players must list one thing in their category, then hand off the electronic baton to any other player—you decide who must answer next! Then watch and laugh as the ridiculous answers start slipping out!

“Receiving the Toy of the Year Award in the Game of the Year category for 5 Second Rule Relay is a momentous achievement that fills us with immense pride and gratitude,” shared Sharon Fosbery, Chief Marketing Officer at PlayMonster. “This prestigious accolade reflects the passion and dedication we invest in creating games that not only foster laughter, and connection, but create unforgettable family moments. It’s a true testament to our team’s commitment to enriching the playtime experiences of families everywhere, and we’re thrilled to be recognized as a leader in the industry.”

The Toy of the Year® Awards honor the “best of the best” in the toy industry. Administered by The Toy Foundation, these awards are frequently referred to as the “Oscars” of the toy industry. Finalists are announced from a field of hundreds of nominations and are determined by elite members of the toy industry including retail buyers, industry influencers, academics, media, and more.

For more information about 5 Second Rule Relay, and other award-winning games, visit playmonster.com.

About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Relative Insanity®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, My Fairy Garden®, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Snap Ships®, Koosh®, and the recently acquired Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-Tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

 

Media Contact

5W Public Relations

PlayMonsterPR@5wpr.com

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PLAYMONSTER’S 5 SECOND RULE RELAY SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR 2023 TOY OF THE YEAR AWARD

The New 5 Second Rule Relay is in the running for the 2023 Game of the Year Category; Voting is now to fans and members of the public

BELOIT, Wis. (August 21, 2023) — PlayMonster Group LLC , a leading international toy and game company, is excited to announce that 5 Second Rule Relay has been named a finalist for the 2023 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, the industry’s most prestigious honor, in this year’s Game of the Year category. Packed with excitement and camaraderie, this game is designed to bring friends and family together for unforgettable moments of rapid-fire fun.

The Toy of the Year® Awards honor the “best of the best” in the toy industry. Administered by The Toy Foundation, these awards are frequently referred to as the “Oscars” of the toy industry. Finalists are announced from a field of hundreds of nominations and are determined by elite members of the toy industry including retail buyers, industry influencers, academics, media and more.

5 Second Rule Relay

5 Second Rule just got even more spontaneous and unpredictable with the all-new Relay baton! It should be easy to name pizza toppings—but can you do it under the pressure of 5 seconds counting down, after another player puts you on the spot? List one thing in your category, then hand off the electronic baton to any other player—you decide who has to answer next! Time’s not on your side, so just say what comes to mind and risk ridiculous answers slipping out!

Ages 8+
MSRP  $29.99
playmonster.com

Vote for 5 Second Rule Relay for Game of the Year HERE!

“We are overjoyed to have 5 Second Rule Relay named as a finalist for the 2023 Toy of the Year Award,” said Sharon Fosbery, Chief Marketing Officer at PlayMonster. “This recognition speaks to our commitment to crafting games that foster laughter, communication, and unforgettable moments shared among loved ones. We are immensely proud of this achievement and grateful for the opportunity to be part of families’ playtime experiences.”

The TOTY Awards will take place on September 29th in New York City, where winners across 17 categories of play, as well as the coveted “Toy of the Year” award winner and the “People’s Choice” winner (based solely on consumer votes), will have their names called in what promises to be the most exciting TOTY Awards yet.

For more information about 5 Second Rule relay, and other award-winning games, visit playmonster.com.

About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Relative Insanity®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph, Colorforms, My Fairy Garden®, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Snap Ships®, Koosh®, and the recently acquired Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-Tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

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PLAYMONSTER NAMES BRYAN MARGNER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Bm Headshot 1 Scaled

Margner brings extensive experience with international organizations

 

BELOIT, Wis. (June 1, 2023) – PlayMonster Group LLC, a leading international toy and game company, today announced the appointment of Bryan Margner as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 1, 2023.

With extensive experience in retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods, Margner brings a strong track record of delivering shareholder value to international organizations. He joins PlayMonster after a decade with Instant Brands, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO of the North America business unit. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the organization’s commercial and operational aspects of the business, in addition to his CFO role.

“Bryan is a creative problem-solver and has multinational experience in all aspects of the business cycle – making him a critical member of our executive team,” says CEO Steve Adolph. “Because of his global acumen, he is best poised to shape and implement our financial and growth strategies during this exciting time of transformation at PlayMonster.”

Overseeing PlayMonster’s financial operations, Margner will be leading all efforts in accounting, internal controls, finance, forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning, deal analysis and negotiation, investor relationships, investor and creditor reporting, financing, and FP&A. Additionally, he will be responsible for driving the organization’s best-in-class inventory management and order to cash processes to help maintain focus on topline profitability. He will also lead, guide, and direct any future mergers and acquisitions.

Margner has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and he also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

For more about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com and follow @playmonsterfun on social media.

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About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Specialty Toy of the Year” Craft-tastic® Nature Scavenger Hunt Potions, “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus 5 Second Rule®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph®, Colorforms, My Fairy Garden®, Fashion Plates®, Koosh®, Playskool®, and the recently acquired Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

 

 

 

 

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PLAYMONSTER AND HASBRO ANNOUNCE EXPANDED GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP ON PLAYSKOOL AND RELAUNCH OF WEEBLES

PlayMonster Playskool Weebles My Smart House

Expanded Playskool deal marks a significant milestone in the overall global growth of PlayMonster’s partnership with Hasbro’s iconic brands

BELOIT, Wis. (March 28, 2023) — PlayMonster Group LLC., a leading international toy and game company, and Hasbro Inc., a global branded entertainment leader, have announced that PlayMonster will bring the entire Playskool brand to the company’s dynamic roster in 2024 as part of an overall global growth strategy delivering innovation and re-imagined classic play to preschoolers and their families around the world.

With a clear vision, Playskool has helped generations of babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their families play together for nearly a century, representing quality, trust and memorable play experiences that help define a child’s early years.

Following a successful Fall 2022 launch of the Playskool Glo Friends line, PlayMonster plans to re-launch Weebles in Fall 2023 with a diverse new line up of Weebles figures and playsets that will inspire a child’s imagination. Our research shows that today’s parents still recall “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.”

In 2024, PlayMonster will take over the entire Playskool line, including Glo Worm, Sit ‘n Spin, Busy Gears, Elefun, Busy Ball Popper, and Busy Poppin’ Pals, in addition to Koosh, Spirograph and Glo Friends which PlayMonster already licenses globally.

“It is an honor and quite a lot of fun to expand our work on Playskool with Hasbro into new segments, more products, and increased global reach across a strong preschool portfolio of graduated ages and stages,” said Steve Adolph, CEO of PlayMonster. “We look forward to sustained growth as we continue to bring quality, purposeful and fun play to young families everywhere.”

“We are excited by the new ways in which PlayMonster is bringing forward the vision and values of the Playskool brand that still garners a universal fondness felt by parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents,” said Jess Richardson, VP Global Toys & Games Licensing at Hasbro. “This deal emphasizes a focus of our Blueprint 2.0 to offer new and innovative ways to play by aligning our iconic brands with proven industry leading partners that value them.”

For more about PlayMonster, visit playmonster.com and follow @playmonsterfun on social media.

About PlayMonster
PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives and strives to keep play alive for all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as “TOTY Specialty Toy of the Year” Craft-tastic® Nature Scavenger Hunt Potions, “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus 5 Second Rule®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Spirograph®, Colorforms, My Fairy Garden®, Fashion Plates®, Koosh®, Playskool®, and the recently acquired Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-tastic®, Craft Crush™ and Sticker & Chill™.

About Hasbro
Hasbro is a global branded entertainment leader whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging brand experiences for global audiences through gaming, consumer products and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands.

Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit www.corporate.hasbro.com.
© 2023 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Contact:
Kristin Ray
5W Public Relations
646-843-1802
playmonsterpr@5wpr.com

Crystal Flynn
Hasbro, Inc.
crystal.flynn@hasbro.com

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PLAYMONSTER GROW STRATEGIC SALES CHANNELS WITH NEW HIRES MELANIE BAILEY AND DAVE TRENTMAN

BELOIT, Wis. (March 20, 2023) – Leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC today announced the growth of its sales division as it welcomes Melanie Bailey, National Account Manager, and Dave Trentman, Sales Manager Value Channel. The two toy and game veterans will lead PlayMonster’s specialty business and value channels, respectively.

“Melanie and Dave are sales powerhouses who will be key in propelling PlayMonster’s trajectory in two strategic channels, as the retail landscape continues to evolve,” said Steve Adolph, PlayMonster CEO. “They are industry pros who have a proven track record in building long-standing relationships while delivering product and innovation to their partners. We’re thrilled to welcome them both during this pivotal time for PlayMonster.”

Bailey, who started with the company on February 13, and Trentman, who joined on February 20, have roles defined as follows:

Bailey

As national account manager, Bailey primarily focuses on providing proper structure for PlayMonster’s independent representatives and growing the company’s partnerships with thousands of specialty retailers across the globe. Bailey comes to PlayMonster most recently from HearthSong Wholesale, where she launched the organization’s new wholesale division and managed co-op relationships with retailers such as The Good Toy Group, Toy Collection, Learning Express, ACE Hardware, and Mid-States, as well as international accounts. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of South Carolina.

“The opportunity to join PlayMonster initially attracted me because of the company’s forward-thinking mentality,” said Bailey. “Especially now, independent retailers hold such a sacred space for our industry, and I’m excited to continue to grow PlayMonster’s presence in this area.”

Trentman

Leading the organization’s value channel, Trentman is the incumbent in this position – working closely alongside the Brand Teams to analyze customer trends and then applying this knowledge to positioning PlayMonster with value retailers. Prior to joining PlayMonster, Trentman served as a senior manager of national accounts with Mattel, Inc., where he maintained relationships with retailers such as Dollar General, Family Dollar, 5 Below, .99 Cent Stores, Nexcom, as well as military accounts. He is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.

“The value channel is such an integral part of the toy and game world, especially as consumers form new purchasing behaviors,” said Trentman. “I’m honored to further build PlayMonster’s strategy in this area and showcase its iconic portfolio of treasured toys and games, and new ones, too.”

For more about PlayMonster, visit www.playmonster.com and follow @playmonsterfun on social media.

 

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About PlayMonster

PlayMonster, a leading international toy and game company, believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives of all ages by delivering great play value through designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative and fun toys, games, and activities. PlayMonster’s diversified portfolio includes popular brands and products such as Koosh®, Playskool, Spirograph®, The Magical World of Disney Trivia, “TOTY Game of the Year” Yeti in My Spaghetti®, plus 5 Second Rule®, Relative Insanity®, THINGS…®, Farkle, Five Crowns®, Colorforms, Fashion Plates®, Latchkits®, Snap Ships® and the recently acquired Ann Williams Group including Loopdedoo®, Craft-Tastic®, Craft Crush™, and Sticker & Chill™.