Ken Wee’s Post

For more than 100 years, Hasbro has brought generations of kids, families and fans together for great play experiences. Its brands are much more than toys, spurring full franchises with in-person experiences, fashion, entertainment, digital games, music, publishing and promotions. The special Hasbro supplement, included as part of the jam-packed Autumn issue of Licensing Source Book takes a look at Hasbro’s stable of brands and learns how its franchise-first mindset is transforming business. Over the past year, Hasbro has dedicated a tremendous amount of time transforming its business to drive greater operational excellence and invest more in its winning brands, as Tim Kilpin, president of toys, board games, licensing and entertainment explains: “While the foundation of our business will always be toys, we are energised by a renewed focus on product innovation and expansion into new categories driven by consumer insights. It’s clear that a franchise-first mindset – with toy and game, licensing and entertainment team working cross-functionally alongside world-class partners – is vital to realise the full potential of our brands and exceed fan expectations.” Read the supplement online here: https://lnkd.in/ePJrZSR6 #Hasbro #LicensingSource Hasbro

Moose Toys makes four leadership hires 👏 The toy specialist has entered a new stage of strategic growth, with the appointment of four new senior leaders, including John Coyne as Chief Brand Officer, Craig Drobis as Global General Manager of Licensed & Preschool, Deirdre Cross as SVP of Games, and Stephen Davis as Entertainment & Franchise Advisor. Coyne, a seasoned marketing executive, has held senior roles at many high-profile companies in the industry, including Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco Europe and Mattel, Inc. He will lead the development of long-term Moose-owned brands as well as the expansion of its portfolio. Drobis brings almost three decades of experience to the company with significant contributions at JAKKS Pacific and Mattel, Inc. He will be tasked with executing best-in-class product development and consumer marketing. Cross arrives at the group from Funko, where she also served as General Manager and Head of Brand. At Moose, she will look to grow the company's rapidly expanding games division. Davis is the former EVP of Hasbro and has already served on the Moose board of advisors. His new role will support the growth of entertainment initiatives and include the management of the entertainment and franchise teams. Ronnie Frankowski, Global President of Moose Toys, commented: "Our evolved structure is now fully in place to unlock the next phase of our strategic plan. These four extraordinarily accomplished thought leaders have joined the Moose team to supercharge our strategy for sustainable, long term transformational growth." "This is an incredibly exciting time of change and opportunity for the company. We are more than ready to capitalize on our growing momentum.” #News #Toys #Entertainment #Games #Executive #Brand #Strategy #Growth #Leadership

Now that's a partnership! Can't wait to see what's in store! Hasbro and Playmates Toys Inc. partner on Power Rangers toy range The new Power Rangers toy range will comprise action figures, blasters, plush, role-play, vehicles and accessories, and will be distributed globally (excluding Asia). Hasbro has announced a global licensing agreement with Playmates Toys to produce and distribute Power Rangers product. Playmates is debuting its first Power Rangers collection with a kid targeted Mighty Morphin Power Rangers toy line in 2025. As part of the agreement, Playmates holds licensing rights to develop additional cross-category Power Rangers products, including action figures, blasters, plush, role-play, vehicles and accessories. The deal encompasses global distribution across all regions excluding Asia. #toys #toynews #powerrangers ##actionfigures #partnership #toyindustry

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The reinvention of Lego under Jorgen Vig Knudstorp's leadership is a remarkable tale of resilience and strategic vision. In the early 2000s, facing financial turmoil, Lego underwent a transformative journey. Knudstorp's focus on returning to the core essence of the Lego brick, understanding the audience, and driving innovation paved the way for the company's resurgence. By embracing simplicity, investing in R&D, and leveraging partnerships with iconic franchises, Lego not only revived its brand but also became the world's most profitable toy company. Knudstorp's story serves as a poignant reminder of the power of reinvention, resilience, and unwavering commitment to core values in navigating turbulent times. #Lego #Reinvention #LeadershipLessons

# A Year from Now You May Wish You Had Started Today ## Hasbro \(NASDAQ:HAS\) Surprises With Strong Q2, Stock Soars 🚀📈💰 In this dynamic investing landscape, it's important to keep an eye on companies that consistently deliver exceptional performance. Hasbro \(NASDAQ:HAS\) is one such company that has surprised investors with its strong second-quarter results, propelling its stock to new heights. ## Riding the Wave of Success 🏄📈💪 Hasbro, a renowned toy and entertainment company, reported a remarkable Q2 performance, surpassing market expectations. With substantial revenue growth, the company demonstrated its resilience and ability to adapt to changing consumer trends. This impressive performance has been primarily driven by strong sales in its brands and licensing segment, which includes popular franchises like Transformers, Marvel, and Star Wars. ## Growth Strategies Paying Off 🌱📈🦾 Hasbro's success can be attributed to its strategic initiatives, including expanding its digital presence and diversifying its product offerings. By capitalizing on the growing demand for gaming and entertainment products, especially during the pandemic, the company has positioned itself as a leader in the industry. Moreover, Hasbro's recent acquisitions and partnerships have further strengthened its portfolio, allowing it to tap into new markets and demographics. ## Seizing the Opportunity ✅🤝📈 Investors looking to secure their financial future and grow their Health Savings Account \(HSA\) should consider including Hasbro in their investment portfolios. The strong Q2 results and the company's ability to adapt to evolving consumer preferences make it an attractive long-term investment option. By investing in Hasbro, you can participate in the company's continued growth and potentially benefit from future increases in stock value. Don't miss out on this opportunity to invest in a company that has consistently outperformed expectations. Act now and harness the potential growth of your HSA. Start today to ensure you don't miss out on the rewards tomorrow! #hsa #investing #healthcare #health #family #wellness 🚀💰🏄

There is such a thing as win-win in business. Success does not have to be a zero-sum game. This is something I hold very dear. Also: Transformers x Hot Wheels is just really damn cool.

Lots of reorganizing at Boohoo - largely a consequence of incredibly poor trading. The Daventry distribution center was taken over to help boost capacity after the acquisition of various Arcadia brands. Unfortunately, those brands continue to suffer from the dull images they had prior to their acquisitions, and Boohoo’s attempts to revitalize them have largely failed. The group is now looking to rationalize costs in this area of the business off the back of weak sales.   The Thurmaston Lane factory was opened in better times for Boohoo, but ultimately now that financials are under pressure it is likely proving too costly for a brand that is trying to compete with the ultra-low prices of players like Shein.    Ultimately, all of this points to a company that is trying to maneuver itself out of trouble. Great to chat with Sourcing Journal about the issues (link in comments). #retail #retailnews #fashion #ecommerce

Hasbro releases first quarter results In the latest set of results from Hasbro, the company points to “solid progress in our turnaround efforts” in the first three months of the year. In the first quarter of 2024, overall revenue for Hasbro Inc declined by -24%, driven primarily by the sale of the eOne film and television business; excluding this divestiture, revenue declined by -9%, with growth in the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment (+7%) and Entertainment (+65%) offset by declines in Consumer Products (-21%). Adjusted operating profit of $148.6m (+$101.4m compared to the same period in 2023) and adjusted operating margin of 19.6% (+14.9 points compared to last year) were driven by what Hasbro terms a “favourable business mix, supply chain productivity and reduced operating costs.” Within the consumer products segment, Furby continued to perform well over the quarter, supported by the launch of Furblets in December 2023. Read more here: #toys #toynews #financials #financialresults #hasbro #toyindustry

On the last day of #CannesLions2024, Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel, Inc., received the Entertainment Person of the Year Award in the Palais. He also delivered a keynote that was a masterclass on #leadership of #creative companies and an exploration of #fandom, the power of #brands and the future of #entertainment. Interviewed by CNBC anchor Tania Bryer OBE, Kreiz spoke about the multiyear transformation strategy of #Mattel, from a toy company to an IP-driven entertainment company, and about what it takes to assume the kind of creative risks involved in producing movies like ‘Barbie,’ which became a cultural phenomenon, achieving the largest global box office in 2023 and becoming the industry’s 14th-highest-grossing movie of all time! ▶ “The way you approach risk is to partner with the best creators in the world. There are, of course, no guarantees, but if you trust creative geniuses and support them, magic happens.” 📌 My 4 key takeaways from this inspiring, insightful keynote are: 1️⃣ When Kreiz took the job as Chairman and CEO of Mattel, Inc. in 2018, the company was facing serious financial issues, but what he saw was a creative company with enormous #IP potential. His vision to transform Mattel from a toy manufacturer into a successful entertainment business came from his deep understanding of the #transformative #media and #entertainment industry (Kreiz managed three other creative companies before Mattel). ▶ “Today it’s all about access, ownership, or creation of content that stands out, and that’s where Mattel has a competitive advantage due to our IP but also the strength of our brand portfolio and our franchises.” 2️⃣ Mattel is an iconic American start-up that will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year. How do you take timeless brands like Barbie ®, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, or Bob the Builder that have been around for 2 or 3 generations and make them timely again? ▶ “By infusing brand purpose and cultural relevancy into everything we do, this is not just about marketing.” 3️⃣ There are many different ways to build fandom and emotional connection with consumers through entertainment. ▶ “The advantage of starting with toys is that they are tactile: people hug our product. Even in the digital age, this drives stronger emotional connection than anything else.” 4️⃣ Mattel’s journey to become a force in the world of entertainment has only just begun. They have 16 movies in development, including “Masters of the Universe 2026,” and 13 TV shows and series on air. They are launching their first adventure park in the US before the end of the year, as well as new digital and mobile games. ▶ Leadership of creative companies requires bravery, empathy, and “an ability to infuse #creativity and #innovation in everything you do.” 🔴 What do you think of Ynon Kreiz's approach to transforming Mattel, Inc., and can you name other brands facing similar challenges?