Playmates Toys

Last updated

Playmates Holdings Limited
FormerlyPlaymates Industrial
Company type Public
SEHK:  869
Industry Toy industry
Founded1966;58 years ago (1966)
FounderSam Chan Tai-ho
Headquarters
Hong Kong
,
China
Key people
To Shu Sing (chairman)
Website playmatestoys.com

Playmates Toys Limited is a Hong Kong toy company. The company was founded in Hong Kong in 1966 by Sam Chan Tai-ho as Playmates Industrial, manufacturing dolls for other companies. [1] In 1975, Playmates began marketing their own line of pre-school toys, and in 1977 opened an American subsidiary in Boston. Another subsidiary was founded in California in 1983; in 1984 the company went public. [2]

Contents

The company's first big success was in 1986, with the marketing of a tape-playing, electronic robot doll named Cricket. [2] In 1989, the company marketed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures which sold extremely well. [2] Success of the two led to a golden era from 1990 to early 1993. [3] In 1990, Sales reached US$4.13 billion and net profit HK$1.21 billion. [3] In 1995 the company suffered a loss of HK$97.59 million. [3]

Proprietary brands

Tie-in media toys

Playmates Toys has often been under contract as a licensee to produce toys, fashion dolls, games, and other merchandise coinciding with popular film and television media. Examples of media that Playmates has produced toys for includes Atomic Betty , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Star Trek , Ben 10 , Godzilla , Frozen , Miraculous Ladybug , Pikwik Pack , and others. They were made in cooperation with various international media production companies, including Canadian company Nelvana and American companies such as Disney, DreamWorks Animation, and Nickelodeon. [5]

Playmates Interactive Entertainment

Playmates Interactive Entertainment Inc., which makes video games, was founded in 1994 as a subsidiary of Playmates Toys Holdings, the parent company of Playmates Toys. [6] It is co-located with the United States branch of Playmates Toys in La Mirada, California. [6] In September 1996, Playmates Toys' US branch and Playmates Interactive Entertainment relocated their headquarters, including 50 employees to Costa Mesa, California. [6] At the same time, Gary Rosenfeld and Chris Archer joined the company as vice-president of business affairs and producer, respectively. [6] In August 1997, Playmates Interactive Entertainment's president, Richard Sallis, resigned and was succeeded by Ron Welch. [7] [8] Playmates Interactive Entertainment was defunct by May 2000. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ "History". Playmates Toys.
  2. 1 2 3 Ward, Arthur (2020). Action Figures: From Action Man to Zelda. Crowood. ISBN   9781785006883.
  3. 1 2 3 Tsang, Denise (7 September 1996). "Battle ends in court for not-so-friendly Playmates". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Nano Babies Go Up Against Tamagotchi and Gigi Pets". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 97. Ziff Davis. August 1997. p. 26.
  5. ↑ "Playmates Toys: History". playmatestoys.com. Playmates Toys. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Greg (17 September 1996). "Playmates Toys to Move Offices to O.C." Los Angeles Times .
  7. ↑ Johnston, Chris (26 April 2000). "Konami, Playmates Appoint New Presidents". GameSpot .
  8. ↑ Johnson, Greg (8 August 1997). "President of Playmates Toys and Sister Company Resigns". Los Angeles Times .
  9. ↑ Nutt, Christian (2 May 2000). "Toshinden Subaru (Import) Review". GameSpot .
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