Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Contact: Nancy Severson, 612-337-3822; nancys@manhattantoy.com
Manhattan Toy® Introduces More Than 150 New Products for 2003
January 24, 2002 (Minneapolis, Minnesota) — Long considered one of the industry's leading makers of innovative, high quality playthings, Manhattan Toy enters the 2003 season with more than 150 new creations ranging across all of its major product categories, plus an entirely new line designed especially for toddlers. As always, every toy the company manufactures is meticulously designed to delight young children while meeting their age-appropriate developmental needs, and each is carefully hand-crafted from the finest, most unique materials, making them true specialty store standouts.
"We expect our toys to be catalysts for great, imaginative fun," says Kiki Foget, Director of Product Development, "so we take every opportunity to build in exceptional quality and play value. Our goal is to excite both the specialty buyer and the customer with innovative designs, distinctive fabrics and incredible attention to detail."
Perhaps one of the company's most exciting additions this year is its line of Toddler Toys, featuring six new items designed to challenge and entertain children ages 18 to 36 months. Colorful and clever, these toys encourage stacking, linking, sorting, zipping, buttoning and other favorite toddler activities.
The company's 2003 catalog also features 34 new baby toys, including eight additions to the popular Whoozit® line. Highlights include the original Whoozit and Baby Whoozit characters, now revised with ultra-soft velour fabrics; the Whoozit Star Play Panel, featuring five different, engaging activities; the Gym to Go, a portable play space with hanging Whoozit figures to explore; and Whoozit Water Play, a set of soft, colorful nesting stars that scoop, strain and pour water. All of the new toys feature the brand's signature graphics and developmental features.
Shoppers will also find much that's new under the company's Manhattan Baby™ brand with eight new plush and snuggle toys, additions to the research-proven, developmental Wimmer-Ferguson® line, new activity toys and activity book products. Children will also enjoy several new bath toys as well as Bellybops™, soft wearable characters (a horse, elephant and car) that fit around youngsters' waists for hours of imaginative fun.
For the slightly older set, children ages three years and up, Manhattan Toy offers a colorful array of new playmates, from its classically styled Mesozaurus dinosaur collection; to four new, highly imaginative Galoompagalots monsters; to an entire family of critters wearing their own fashionable glasses. Another surprise this year is the oversized Rocketpack Jack, a 30-inch-tall super hero with a removable rocket pack that fits most young children and encourages active role-play.
The company is also introducing two new doll collections: Ballesque™, featuring three poseable ballerinas that come with removable dancewear and their own wire stands; and Little Majesties™, four royal princesses in fanciful dresses of velvet and satin. Plus, the popular Lilydoll™ collection is expanding to include new accessories and furniture, and a pet dog named Clara.
This year, Manhattan Toy launches Puppettos™, the new umbrella brand for all of its various hand and finger puppets, Merryonettes™, Lollipuppets® and puppet Theatres. There are new entries into each of these categories, including six new characters built just right for smaller hands, as well as something entirely different: the Prehistoric Pack, an innovative concept in puppet play. This set includes two caveman-themed finger puppets with chairs and blankets, a soft campfire, skewered hot dogs and marshmallows and a wooly mammoth, packed neatly into a playful vehicle/carrying case. Together, they provide all the characters and props children need to invent endless adventures.
Finally, new Groovy Girls® dolls, accessories and other items will add excitement to the already phenomenal Groovy success story. The 2003 Groovy collection includes three new dolls that carry on the brand's hip, signature style and multi-cultural focus; trendy new outfits and accessories, including a beach-themed butterfly chair, cabana and wave runner; two new pets named Pogo and Ling; and plenty of fresh revamps of last seasons' best sellers. Also debuting is a kid-sized Groovy Style® backpack that's sure to drive store traffic. The Ultra Pack is designed to hold five dolls and plenty of their stylish stuff, and is designed with the Groovy graphics and detailing girls everywhere have come to love.
Manhattan Toy is dedicated to the art of creative play, quality craftsmanship and the success of the specialty retailer. It distributes its products through more than 9,000 specialty stores worldwide. For more information on its collections, visit www.manhattantoy.com.