Category: Press Releases

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                                                                         

PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 275

lisaw@playmonster.com

 

Play the Award-Winning Game Show at Home with Celebrity Name Game from PlayMonster!

 

BELOIT, Wis.- PlayMonster brings one of the hottest television game shows of 2015 to your living room with a version that you can now play at home!

Celebrity Name Game® – Now you can play the fabulously fun game, just like they do on TV! Celebrity Name Game debuted as the number one syndicated show among women ages 25 to 54 in its first season, and celebrated a Daytime Emmy Award win for host comedian Craig Ferguson. The show is currently in season two!

Game play is a blast: You get the names of celebrities, characters, famous places, etc., and you make up clues to get your team to guess the names! For instance, if you had the card with the name Craig Ferguson, you might say, “funny guy, tall, wears some wild suits when he hosts Celebrity Name Game!” Just don’t forget to hurry; it’s a race against the clock to see how many points you can get, and you absolutely can’t include any part of the answer in the clues you provide! The included electronic timer creates some audio fun while you play! It’s a great party game for 4 or more players in teams, ages 13 to adult.

About PlayMonster

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®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat^TM, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate^TM and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

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Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann

PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 275

lisaw@playmonster.com

PlayMonster Launches New & Improved Sets for Their Award-Winning Roominate STEM Line

BELOIT, Wis.— Roominate is an award-winning line of complete building sets that are designed for girls in order to bridge the gender gap in STEM. The line was started with one simple mission: open up possibilities for girls by showing them that creativity and engineering are fun.

The success through the implementation of this mission has led Roominate to win many awards, including Forbes “Top 10 Toys to Watch in 2015,” TIME “Toy of the Year,” 2015 TOTY Finalist and many more. 

For 2016, PlayMonster improved upon the highly successful Roominate line by increasing motor power and creating unique building pieces and more play-friendly dolls! With all sets, girls can build the creations shown, or use their imagination to create their dream project! It’s fun for them to “Think it, Build it and Switch it on!” The 2016 line will include: 

• Emma’s Townhouse—Build a tall townhouse, or a wide one, either way you can design a colorfully modern home! Use the included motor to build a ceiling fan, or anything you can think of! Includes Emma doll and her pet pig Hodgkin. Ages 6+.
• Cotton Candy Carnival—Build a fun Ferris wheel, carousel, swing, game tent and more! Includes two motors to bring rides to life, along with Bettina and Jenna dolls. Ages 8+.
• Zoey’s Pet Vet Van—It’s a mobile pet care unit that really drives! Includes one motor, Zoey doll, and five pets! Ages 8+.
• Cozy Corner Café—Create a relaxing café where dolls can just chill! Includes one motor and dolls Bettina and Emma. Ages 6+.
• Sophie’s Ice Cream Cart—It’s a fun addition to the café or carnival because who doesn’t love ice cream?! No motor included, but can be motorized with pieces from other sets. Includes Sophie doll. Ages 6+. 
•  Alice’s Mansion—Build this glorious house for dolls Alice and Bethany! Includes two motors so you can make the garage door open and close, the pool spin, an elevator go up and down, a ceiling fan, or whatever you dream up! Ages 8+. 

Alice Brooks, co-founder of Roominate, worked diligently as part of the PlayMonster team, and is very excited about the enhancements: “It’s amazing seeing Roominate grow and expand, and I really enjoy being a part of its evolution,” says Brooks, “I know our Roominators will love this next level of engineering fun!” 

About PlayMonster

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®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat™, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate™ and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

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Contact                

Lisa Wuennemann

PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 275

lisaw@playmonster.com

PlayMonster Debuts My Fairy Garden, a Line that Combines Growing & Playing

 

BELOIT, Wis.— 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! Children plant the quick-germinating seeds, and care for their garden, all while setting up and playing with adorable fairies, woodland friends and accessories! It’s a great collectible line and a fun addition to the ever-growing STEM category of toys, for children ages 4 and up!

 

My Fairy Garden includes three unique versions to choose… or collect them all!

• Willow’s Tree Hollow™ — A charming, bright fairy home! The set includes the adorable tree hollow with opening door, bottom tray, 
• table and chairs, Willow the fairy, her friend, and gardening accessories and tools.
• Calla’s Lily Pond™ — A serene garden play area for fairy fun! The set includes the teacup house with opening door, bottom tray, leaves and stem, stream, bridge, Calla the fairy, her friend, and gardening accessories and tools.
• Freya’s Magical Cottage™ — An adorable flower pot that’s a welcoming fairy home where Freya entertains friends and tends to her garden! The set includes the flowerpot cottage with opening doors and terrace, tray, cottage furniture, toadstool, Freya the fairy, her friend, and gardening accessories and tools.

 

All sets include soil and quick-germinating seeds to get your garden started! Children can add other flowers or plants if they want, too!

 

About PlayMonster

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®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat™, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate™ and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

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Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann

PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 275

lisaw@playmonster.com

 

PlayMonster Adds Stratego Classic Game to Their Popular Stratego Line

BELOIT, Wis. – PlayMonster has expanded its battlefield fun once again with Stratego® Classic! Prepare your armies to fight and capture the flag!

 

Stratego is the classic game of battlefield strategy that has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. For over 50 years, Stratego has thrilled strategy game fans by inspiring them to challenge an opponent and attempt to capture the flag!

 

This new version in the popular Stratego line embraces the Napoleonic theme with dramatic artwork, and features two smaller armies than Stratego Original, so it’s a more manageable war for novice players. Classic also makes a great addition to any Stratego fan’s collection!  It’s a fun 2-player strategy game for ages 8+.

About Royal Jumbo

The Royal Jumbo Group develops, manufactures and sells games, puzzles and toys. It also distributes several lines for other companies in its domestic markets. Approximately 130 people work for the Jumbo Group which has its headquarters in Zaandam, Netherlands with offices in Belgium, Germany and the UK – each selling to its own market. There is also an export department which handles sales to other parts of the world. To learn more about Jumbo, please visit http://www.jumbo.eu/

 

About PlayMonster

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®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat™, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate™ and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

 

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Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                                                                         

PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 275

lisaw@playmonster.com

PlayMonster Reveals Four New Games Perfect for Parties and Family Game Nights!

 

BELOIT, Wis.— PlayMonster is excited to announce four new games; each catered to excite and delight according to age and category. Whether the consumer is a fan of family, dice or party games, there is something for everyone – each with its own special twist to add laughter and a new unique way of play for the category.

 

Prove It™ — Bet who can do the task best, then Prove It™! There are four categories: Mad Skills (use your skill!), Know-How (use your noggin!), Fingers Crossed (it’s all about luck!) and Buddy System (teamwork!). For example, a card may read, “Bet how far you can launch a card, flicking it finger-football style!” Now the two competitors bet back and forth until one person ends the betting by saying “Prove it!”, and now the other player must perform the task to get the point! It’s fun for the whole family, but remember…It’s Easier Said Than Done!™ For 3 to 8 players, ages 6 and up.

  

Contact                      
Lisa Wuennemann
PlayMonster LLC
(800) 524-4263, ext. 275
lisaw@playmonster.com

 

 

PlayMonster Meets the “Snack-Sized” Toy Demand by Taking Perplexus to a Whole New Level

 

BELOIT, Wis.— PlayMonster, exclusive specialty distributor of the Perplexus® line of 3D maze games, is excited to announce an all new, smaller line of Perplexus brain teasers called Perplexus® Micro!

Perplexus Micro fits the trend of “snack-sized” toys—toys and games that are travel-friendly and lower-priced, making them easy to pick up for trips or as rewards for good behavior. They’re also a great alternative to candy in Easter baskets, stockings and more! 

Each Perplexus Micro in this new collectible line features a different shape and theme, and both have a unique inner maze and marble. 

• Q-bot™ is a 3.5″ by 4″ cube with an inner, funky robot that makes up the shifting, tricky maze. Those that love all things tech, are sure to add this to their game-play and possibly even their desk at work!
• Drakko™’s 4.5″ by 4″ egg shape contains a mystic, slithery dragon as its maze. This theme is perfect for fans of all things medieval and its unique shape is an immediate eye catcher!

Perplexus Micro was designed to attract the attention of Perplexus fans, as well as draw in new players with its smaller size and lower price. Buy them as a starting point of a maze game collection, or as an extension of the craze. Either way they’re easy to pick up, and hard to put down! For ages 8 and up.

Perplexus Micro joins the line of spherical 3D mazes: Original®, Rookie®, Twist®, and the 2013 TOTY Game-of-the-Year winner Epic™, along with the newer oddly-shaped Warp™!

 

About PlayMonster

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®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat™, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate™ and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

Patch Products’ BIG Announcement with Corporate Name Change to PlayMonster!

See the new logo and changes for the first time at Toy Fair 2016 in New York

BELOIT, Wis. – February 10, 2016 – Patch Products, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer in the toy and game industry, announced today that it is changing its corporate name to PlayMonster^TM.  The name change better reflects the company’s continued commitment to provide play for all ages.  From infants to adults, PlayMonster champions play with their expertise in providing fun, engaging and successful games and toys enjoyed by all. The company will be introducing its new name for the first time ever at this year’s Toy Fair taking place at the Javits Center on February 13-16 in New York City.

“The new name, PlayMonster, allows us to emphasize our belief in the power of play and how it makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Bob Wann, CEO (Chief PlayMonster), PlayMonster.

PlayMonster was founded as Patch Products in 1985 by brothers Fran and Bryce Patch. The company started by creating a line of children’s puzzles which would set the foundation for the company that has since grown into a leading manufacturer and marketer of award-winning games and toys that enrich the lives of the young and the young at heart. In the past several years, PlayMonster achieved many firsts, including the expansion of successful toy lines, such as Mirari® for infants and toddlers, Perplexus® and Stratego®. PlayMonster has also grown through two acquisitions of award-winning companies in just two years. In 2014, the company acquired Onaroo, known for the OK to Wake!® children’s alarm clocks and night-lights that teach kids to stay in bed until the light turns green, which helps families get more sleep. By the end of 2015, the next acquisition was made with Roominate^TM, a line that has expanded the company’s offerings into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) category. PlayMonster will be adding new and exciting products throughout 2016, including more one-of-a-kind products such as My Fairy Garden^TM. 

Last year, PlayMonster ran its first TV campaign to promote Chrono Bomb®, which is a finalist for a 2016 TOTY Award for Game of the Year. This gives the company an impressive eight TOTY finalists in the last six years, a reflection of its success in bringing high-quality play to all ages. PlayMonster will continue with additional TV campaigns later this year for several more popular and new products.

“Bonding through play is a great way to strengthen relationships. It inspires people of all ages to think creatively, foster communication and brings them together in a fun and engaging way,” said Wann. “Our games and toys stand the test of time and offer a way to encourage authentic and meaningful off-line connections.”

The new name is effective immediately and will begin being implemented across the company’s products and services in the calendar year 2016 and forward.

About PlayMonster

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®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat^TM, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate^TM and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster helps keep play alive for all ages.

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TFE Industry News

February 2016

• Patch Products Becomes PlayMonster as Company Evolves
• Link: Article

Contact                      

Sally May Baker

Patch Products, LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 241

sallyb@patchproducts.com

Patch Acquires Award-Winning STEM Product with Roominate

 

BELOIT, Wis.— Patch expands from puzzles, toys and games into a new category of STEM with the acquisition of Roominate™. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) has become a prominent topic within the toy industry, as it builds important education through play with the children of today who could be the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.

 

Roominate is an award-winning line of complete building sets that are designed for girls in order to bridge the gender gap in STEM. The line was started with one simple mission: open up possibilities for girls by showing them that creativity and engineering are fun. The success through the implementation of this mission has led Roominate to win many awards, including Forbes “Top 10 Toys to Watch in 2015,” TIME “Toy of the Year,” 2015 TOTY Finalist and many more.

 

Roominate currently consists of 12 sets, some for 6 years and up, and others for 8 years and up. Children can build interactive sets like a school bus, amusement park and many more that come to life through the use of things like motors and lights. The interactive app also allows “Roominaters” to remotely control motors and lights, and get design ideas from fellow “Roominaters.” In short, Roominate lets girls build the world they want to play in.

 

Alice Brooks, co-founder of Roominate, is very pleased to join Patch: “Patch’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative culture is exactly what we were looking for to help grow Roominate. We’re happy about this significant development and look forward to working with the Patch team to continue to inspire the next generation of innovators.”

 

Girls need more encouragement when it comes to excelling in the sciences. Boys are three times more likely to be interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and six times more likely to obtain a job in engineering. Roominate aims to change that, and the acquisition by Patch will help take the line to the next level. Because Patch values their expertise, the Roominate founders will remain involved and play a vital role in the future of the brand.

 

“We are excited and honored to take on a concept that gets girls excited about engineering through play,” said Bob Wann, CEO of Patch Products. “It’s also an important move for Patch because Roominate continues the diversification of our line of products: from the best-selling Mirari® infant toys, to the educational Lauri® brand, to award-winning Patch adult games, and now innovative Roominate girls’ toys.”

 

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Stephen Lebowitz, Managing Partner at Topspin Partners, owners of Patch Products, commented, “The acquisition of Roominate is part of the strategy to build on Patch’s foundation, continuing its momentum of becoming a major toy company with quality brands in diverse categories for consumers of all ages.”

 

Patch Products, LLC is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of games, children’s puzzles, infant/toddler toys, creative activities and teaching tools, with focus on innovation and growth of brands and categories. Top-selling brands include 5 Second Rule®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat™, Farkle, The Game of THINGS…®, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Mirari®, Buzzword®, Stratego®, Lauri® and Wooly Willy®.

 

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Contact                      

Sally May Baker                                                                                            

Patch Products, LLC                                                                        

(800) 524-4263, ext. 241

sallyb@patchproducts.com

 

 

Patch Products has 20 “Golden Tickets” for Holiday Shoppers

#LuckyPerplexus

 

BELOIT, Wis.— Patch Products wants holiday shoppers to keep their eyes peeled while looking to purchase a Perplexus Original® game. Perplexus inventor, Michael McGinnis, personally signed 20 Perplexus Original games before they were assembled and shipped throughout the United States in order to surprise consumers with their very rare edition of the popular game.

What’s more, Patch decided to honor this fun gesture with giving back to those in need with their new incentive dubbed, #LuckyPerplexus. In short, if a consumer finds one of these autographed games and posts it on social media using the hashtag #LuckyPerplexus, Patch will then donate an additional 10 Perplexus games to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Please help spread the word for all those holiday shopping this year, with the benefit of not only winning this ”golden ticket,“ but also giving back to an organization that does so much for children in need of advanced cures and treatment

For more information on Patch, visit patchproducts.com or call 1-800-524-4263.

 

Patch Products, LLC is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of games, children’s puzzles, preschool toys, creative activities and teaching tools, with focus on innovation and growth of brands and categories. Top-selling brands include 5 Second Rule®, Perplexus®, Don’t Rock the Boat™, Farkle, The Game of THINGS…®, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Mirari®, Buzzword®, Stratego®, Lauri® and Wooly Willy®.

 

 

 

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