Category: Press Releases

ALICE BROOKS WINS RISING STAR
INVENTOR OF THE YEAR TAGIE

 

Co-Creator of Award-Winning STEM Building Sets Roominate®

Bestowed Toy & Game Innovation Award at ChiTAG

 

November 22, 2016 – BELOIT, WI – PlayMonster announced that Alice Brooks, co-founder of the company’s STEM-focused building line Roominate®, was honored with a Rising Star Inventor of the Year TAGIE Award at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair’s (ChiTAG) ninth annual awards ceremony.

Roominate was designed to inspire girls to build, and gained widespread recognition and popularity when Brooks and her partner landed a deal with Mark Cuban on “Shark Tank.” PlayMonster has since acquired Roominate, bolstering Brooks’ resources to further innovate Roominate’s award-winning building sets.

Brooks adds the TAGIE to a growing list of awards and recognitions including being named in Forbes 2015 “30 Under 30” list and Forbes 2016 “30 under 30 All-Star Alumni” list. This past summer she was invited to attend the White House conference “Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Media and Toys,” and asked to be a member of a panel at the 2016 Forbes Women’s Summit, “The Lives You Impact: The Role of Culture in Educating and Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders.”  Brooks holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford. She started Roominate with one simple mission-open up possibilities for girls by showing them that creativity and engineering are fun.

“We’re thrilled Alice has been recognized by yet another industry powerhouse,” said Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster. “Since Roominate has become part of our portfolio, Alice has worked hand-in-hand to continually innovate the designs and playsets. Her commitment to bring fun STEM sets to girls is unwavering and she is very much deserving of this honor.”

Roominate has been praised by parents, toy industry insiders and gender advocates alike. This fall PlayMonster is rolling out six new building sets featuring increased motor power, unique building pieces and more play-friendly dolls.  With the sets, girls can build the creations shown, or use their imagination to create their dream project! It’s fun to use sets to “Switch on Your Imagination!”

The Roominate line has garnered top awards including one of the this year’s top STEM toys by The Toy Insider, Forbes “Top 10 Toys to Watch in 2015,” TIME “Toy of the Year,” a 2015 and 2016 TOTY Finalist and many more.

 

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® 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        

 

Contact                      

Lisa Wuennemann                                                                               

PlayMonster LLC

(800) 524-4263, ext. 275

lisaw@playmonster.com

PlayMonster’s Innovative Soothers for Infants and Toddlers Help Parents Get More Sleep!

 

BELOIT, Wis.- PlayMonster’s continued success with the Mirari® and OK to Wake!® lines has added two new products to further help parents get more sleep. Thousands of parents have raved about the positive results of OK to Wake and now there is a new product made especially for infants. Not only that, but PlayMonster has also introduced a product to help the child get to sleep, not just stay in bed before it’s time to get up. Covering the best of both worlds, these two new bedtime products for children are sure to add to the growing happiness and success to help parents get more sleep!

 

OK to Wake!® Owl with Night-Light & Music

This huggable sleep buddy acts as a night-light by emitting a soft glow that changes color to let children know when it’s OK to get out of bed! The 8″ owl also speaks to children and plays soothing lullabies!

 

Mirari® Glow to Sleep^TM

It takes several months for a baby to develop a circadian rhythm and sleep routine. Soothing them as they learn to adapt to a 24-hour cycle can be difficult, but that’s where Glow to Sleep comes in! Help calm baby with the included music and sounds, or customize using your own songs, stories and messages using your Bluetooth®-compatible device or SD card! Each baby responds to different sounds, so you can play whatever works best for your baby!

 

The gentle LED lights also help soothe baby, and they’re a convenient night-light for parents peeking in on baby! Lights can be turned off to create a dark room as well. Includes a micro USB cord and rechargeable back-up lithium battery.

 

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.

PlayMonster’s Popular Lauri Pegging Sets Expand Play Value with Action-Stackers!

BELOIT, Wis.- PlayMonster is excited to announce new changes for the ever-popular Lauri® line of pegging sets. Children, parents and educators have long-since enjoyed Lauri products for their educational play value with early construction, and now they can enjoy their favorites even more with Action-Stackers^TM that include pieces for movement!

PlayMonster has taken Lauri® Tall-Stackers^TM and added some fun action to them by introducing Action-Stackers. With new connectors that allow children to build in all directions, and wheels that allow movement, these sets are both fun and educational. And of course, no batteries required!

Action-Stackers debuts with two separate sets. Build one awesome creation or multiple at once! Little Builder Set includes 40 Tall-Stackers pegs, 4 wheels, 2 hexagon connectors, 15 square connectors and crepe rubber pegboard. Big Builder Set has even more with 75 Tall-Stacker pegs, 6 wheels, 5 hexagon connectors, 30 square connectors, 8 crepe rubber tower mats and a large crepe rubber pegboard. Both sets include an activity guide for tips and suggestions, but these sets are also open-ended for limitless creativity!

Action-Stackers broadens the Lauri educational experience and expands play value by providing pieces for movement and fun. What’s more, is that all these pieces work with existing Lauri product! The history behind the consumer-loved Lauri line has stood the test of time for over 50 years, and these new editions are sure to be a hit!

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.

###

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

PlayMonster^TM Acquires Award-Winning

Wood Vehicle Line, Automoblox®

 

Continues Strategic Expansion with Third Acquisition in Less Than Two Years

 

 

September 7, 2016 – BELOIT, Wis. – PlayMonster LLC (formerly Patch Products), announces its third acquisition in less than two years with the closing of Automoblox®, an award-winning line of high-quality, collectible toy vehicles that innovate the classic wooden toy car category. Automoblox puts kids and adults in the driver’s seat with collectable build-and-mix interchangeable parts that reinvent play.

 

Automoblox 2016 C9 Sportscar

 

“With Automoblox, we’ll continue building on their vision to innovate the vehicle category, and empower fans to mix-and-match their way to customization,” said Bob Wann, Chief PlayMonster of PlayMonster LLC. “From cool sedans and rugged trucks, to sporty vans, sleek sports cars, and just about the coolest police car I’ve seen, we love their impressive designs, high-quality materials and creative building features. We’ve had our eye on Automoblox for some time, and are excited to add their range to PlayMonster’s growing multi-brand portfolio of innovative toys and games.”

 

Each Automoblox vehicle sports a body made of European beech wood, and includes multiple interchangeable components, including tires, rotors and calipers. It’s easy enough for kids as young as 3 to get in on the fun, and the cool, collectible, and mix-and-match designs appeal to older kids and adults as well.

 

Automoblox has received attention from the media in publications such as Motor Trend, Newsweek, Parents Magazine and Car and Driver. Automoblox also received the prestigious Oppenheim Platinum Toy Award for its line of emergency vehicles.

–          Over   –

 

Page 2

PlayMonster Acquires Automoblox

 

 

PlayMonster plans to continue to grow the Automoblox brand and make it more widely available both at retail and online.

 

About PlayMonster LLC

PlayMonster is a diversified toy and game company based in Beloit, Wisconsin, committed to delivering great play value, with a powerful portfolio that keeps play alive for of all ages from infants through adults. They design, manufacture and market quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Perplexus®, Stinky Pig^TM, Yeti in my Spaghetti®, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate®, My Fairy Garden^TM and Wooly Willy®.

 

# # #

 

 

     

Contact
Lisa Wuennemann	Genna Rosenberg
PlayMonster LLC	GennComm for PlayMonster LLC
(800) 524-4263, ext. 275	(818) 839-1461
lisaw@playmonster.com	Genna@GennComm.com

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.

 

###

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.

 

### 

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.

 

###

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.

 

###

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.