Toronto, Canada 1994
Founded in 1994, the Toronto office remains Spin Master's global headquarters, serving as the centre for most administration functions and sharing design and marketing responsibilities with the Los Angeles office.
The Seeds of First Growth: the Earth Buddy
In the earliest days you could find the guys toiling in their own garage, elbow deep in sawdust, watching their first product literally sprout before their eyes. Although Earth Buddy was just a small, panty-hosecovered head filled with grass seeds, it became an unexpected hit, providing the partners with a firm foundation to build their next ideas. Kmart believed in the item enough to order half a million units, or over $2 million in sales, providing the upstart company with the confidence to deal with mass market retailers in future.
Devil Sticks: a New Spin
The trio began marketing Devil Sticks, a set of batons used to perform tricks. Capitalizing on grass-roots marketing to their core consumer, college students were sent cross-country in vans to demo the product. By the end of 1995 the partners had sold more than 600,000 units. Taking inspiration from this new product, the firm formerly known as Seiger Marketing was renamed Spin Master.
Grow Things: First Partnerships
During the next few years the trio was forced to source several novelty products just to keep the company going while the 2 year innovation cycle continued on their core R&D items. They developed several of these finds into new distribution items, such as Devil Sticks and Chatter Rings. Grow Things represented many firsts for the young company. It was the first of these novelty items to gain significant traction, the first item manufactured in Asia, and an early example of creative in-store merchandising. The founders also negotiated their first license and third party deal: expanding the Grow Things line to include the Small Soldiers entertainment property and hinting at great licensing deals to come.
A Vision for the Future of Fun
Refusing to settle for the relative safety of a distribution model, the partners risked everything to develop their vision of an innovative research and development company. However, the development cycle required to bring this concept to market put great pressure on the company’s extremely limited resources. “1997-1998 was the hardest time in our career. With no significant revenue, we struggled to keep the lights on with novelty items. Investing everything into R&D, we trusted that in the future we could create a better consumer experience with more cool, fun, and magical products than anyone else.” - Anton Rabie
Development of Sky Shark
The two years of development required to perfect the Sky Shark was the most challenging era of the company’s history. The item represented a great deal of risk with a probable high rate of return by consumers if they didn’t get it just right. With no technical experience of their own they approached many industry veterans, hungry for knowledge and advice. They struggled to pay the bills by distributing novelty items and risked all of their accumulated profits by investing in their dream item. Their unflagging efforts, creative PR, and half-million dollar gamble paid off: Sky Shark was the third best selling toy of the year, a new toy category had been invented, and the Air Hogs brand was born.
The Sky’s the Limit
In 1998, Sky Shark puts Spin Master on the map in a huge way when the revolutionary product is named “Best of What’s New” by Popular Science and lands on many industry and parent advocacy groups’ Top 10 lists.
Hong Kong, China 1998
Spin Master’s first international location, the Hong Kong office aids greatly in the development of stronger ties to the manufacturing sectors and the community of innovators throughout East Asia, and as a centre for Manufacturing & Supply Chain operations.
Spin Master Opens Hong Kong Office
Spin Master’s toys were now available in more than 25 countries around the world, but overseeing Chinese tooling and manufacturing from North America was no longer tenable. Strategic foresight led them to open Spin Master Toys Far East Ltd in Hong Kong to oversee the firm’s manufacturing. Moving the manufacturing and supply chain to Hong Kong allowed Spin Master to ramp up their manufacturing to massive quantities, pushing them past their mid-size competition and allowing them to compete in the toy industry big leagues. CW Yuen joined Spin Master Toys Far East Ltd in 2000 as SVP & General Manager for Asia. He continues to bring a wealth of leadership experience in Engineering and various functional areas, and operating as a strategic global business partner.
Air Hogs First Flight: Sky Shark
Two British inventors introduced the partners to a revolutionary concept: a model plane powered by compressed air. Before this invention, model planes of this horsepower were only available from hobby stores, required gasoline and adult supervision. In 1998 after two years of faith and effort – and a gamble of half a million dollars – the partners launched the Sky Shark: a plane that could fly up to 100 feet in height and 100 yards in distance. Sky Shark was an overwhelming smash hit, bringing affordable model airplane flight to the masses, ranking as North America’s third best-selling toy that year and driving the company’s revenues over 500% higher. A fleet of innovative air-powered vehicles was soon under development, Spin Master had their first major inventor relations success, and the Air Hogs brand was born.
Finger on the Pulse: Flick Trix
Spin Master unveiled a line of miniature collectibles called Flick Trix Finger Bikes. At 2-1/2 inches tall, the licensed replicas of popular BMX brands - such as Mongoose, Redline, and Huffy - had working brakes, steering, and even tiny U-locks. Over the next year some 6 million Flick Trix were sold, making extreme sports aspirational for kids. The new line became the season’s hottest frenzy and retailers scrambled to replenish stock, even paying for expensive air freight at their own cost. Soon expanding into an extreme finger sports line that boosted the company to break the $50 million sales mark, Flick Trix was a legendary item at Target and Spin Master’s first admittance to big business partnerships with major mass retailers.
Entrepreneurs of the Year
Ernst & Young names Spin Master partners Anton Rabie, Ronnen Harary, and Ben Varadi their Entrepreneurs of the Year, 1999.
One to Watch
Spin Master’s burgeoning corporate excellence is acknowledged as one of Profit magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies in Canada and Deloitte’s 50 Best Managed Private Companies, while the partners are honoured by Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 – at that time the youngest inductees ever.
The First Annual TOTYs
As relative newcomers in 2000, the inaugural year of the industry’s TOTY Awards (Toy of the Year), Spin Master entered the crowded field of industry heavyweights by earning two nominations: Boy Toy of the Year for Flick Trix, and Spring/Summer Toy of the Year (later changed to Outdoor Toy) for Air Hogs.
Semi-charmed Life
The introduction of Key Charm Cuties marked Spin Master’s first large scale financial failure. Going head to head against Mattel’s core brand Polly Pocket, it was a risk that did not pay off. When the item crashed at retail, tooling and media costs were significant and a key lesson was learned: do not compete against the big players without a significant point of difference, or you won’t give consumers a reason to lure them away from their trusted favorites.
Not Shrinking Away from Success
A popular toy of the 1970s and 1980s, Shrinky Dinks had been out of the public IN A BOTTLE eye for a decade when Spin Master snapped it up and dusted it off. Partnering with co-inventor Betty Morris, the in-house design team reimagined the brand for the new millennium, adding a self-contained “oven” for safety. Shrinky Dinks was the sales sensation of the Christmas season with droves of nostalgic GenX parents buying the toy for their children. The publicity assault was unavoidable and Spin Master’s powerhouse PR engine became known for consistently punching above its weight, generating previously unprecedented media impressions through popular TV shows and with print cover stories.
Freezing Out the Competition
Spin Master burst into another new retail category with the licensed ICEE Maker - an activity toy that makes slushy snow-cone drinks. With Ben Varadi’s keen instinct for ideas paired with the ideal licensor, the ICEE Maker vaulted to number two in the food toy category behind only the venerable Easy-Bake Oven.
Catching Lightning in a Bottle
In an early demonstration of Ben Varadi’s keen intuition for sensing the next hit product, Spin Master purchased novelty item Catch-ABubble on the spot in a Hong Kong hotel room, signing the back of an envelope. The product was then launched at lightning speed at the annual New York toy fair - the proving ground for new products - where it sold a remarkable 4 million orders and won the 2003 TOTY Outdoor Toy of the Year Award. Incredibly, Spin Master manufactured and delivered Catch-A-Bubble orders to retail in an unprecedented 43 days.
A TOT(all)Y Awesome Year
In 2003 Spin Master proved how diversified a toy company it had become, with recognition for five varied products in five different categories. Mighty Beanz was nominated for Activity Toy of the Year, The Wiggles Musical Guitar for Infant/Preschool, Air Hogs brand for Marketing Campaign, and Bounce ‘Round and Air Hogs Regenerator RC each won TOTYs for Outdoor Toy and Vehicle of the Year respectively.
Full of Beanz
Spin Master introduced Australian import Mighty Beanz to North America: wobbly little plastic capsules decorated with cartoon characters. Children sought to “collect them all,” as the commercials implored. Spin Master artfully fostered a Mighty Beanz frenzy by first rolling out the products and publicity in only one test city, known as an Inventory Management System, or IMS. Therefore they boosted national retailers’ confidence in the item before they placed their orders, and working out any kinks in the marketing plan. If an item created a shock and awe reaction in one IMS city – Mighty Beanz were banned from classrooms, a great PR story showing that kids were obsessed – retailers would place large national orders. If the item failed, manufacturing was halted, resulting in great savings. Mighty Beanz soared indeed, to over $40 million by year’s end, creating a blueprint for many future IMS tests.
Wiggling to Success
Now developing a proven track record with over a dozen financial hits, Spin Master was fostering a reputation as a toy company that was here to stay, not just the lucky recipient of a series of one-off successes. This increased prominence helped the company to land Wiggles as its first master license, the only company to create toy products for this entertainment property. At the time, the Wiggles were the equivalent of the Beatles for 6-year-olds: a worldwide musical phenomenon of epic proportions. Landing this agreement furthered the company’s momentum and 2003 became a tipping point for the company, with sales doubling to $300 million. The toy industry was taking notice of this solid new player and inventors were choosing to approach Spin Master first with their ideas.
Bouncing Ideas
Spin Master’s first business acquisition brought into the corporate fold Bounce ‘Round, a backyard version of the carnival ‘moonwalking’ attraction. The item was selling very well on a small scale in Toys R Us stores, but with Spin Master’s streamlined infrastructure and solid retailer relationships, Bounce ‘Round business owners decided Spin Master was the company to take their idea mainstream. It proved to be another evolution of the company’s business model, leveraging trusted relationships and established pipeline to acquire smaller companies, speeding up Spin Master’s own corporate growth.
A Marshmallow World
Tucking into yet another new category, Spin Master innovated the Flip Open Sofa, child-sized furniture that folds out into a sleepover-ready mattress, and then acquired Ready Bed from World Apart in 2005 to launch a room decor division named Marshmallow. Now ubiquitous in North American living rooms after selling over $300 million, Ready Bed is one of Spin Master’s true evergreen successes. Dozens of partnerships with the most valuable properties of the entertainment world, from Dora the Explorer to Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse to Spongebob Squarepants, prove Spin Master’s talent at forecasting licensing trends.
Writing our Own Ticket
One of Spin Master’s first true innovation partnerships came from the new Japanese office. Working with inventors at Japanese pen company Pilot, they took a technology concept and developed the Aquadoodle drawing mat. With its fleeting images drawn in water instead of ink, Aquadoodle nabbed the 2004 TOTY Activity Toy of the Year award and remains a mess-free favourite of parents and creative kids everywhere, racking up lifetime sales of $200 million.
Paris, France 2004
The Paris office reduces dependence on third-party distributors by building crucial retailer relationships and providing localized marketing expertise in the French and other EU markets.
Bentonville, USA 2004
In the United States, the Bentonville office caters to the world’s largest retailer Walmart on their home turf, providing a showroom & sales support for Walmart buyers.
A Flurry of Activity
Previous licensing boundaries were dashed when Spin Master inked a four-year partnership with fast food giant McDonald’s: their biggest deal yet. The McDonald’s McFlurry Maker recreated at home the chain’s famous ice cream treat, and kids scooped it up.
Bella of the Ball
Partnering with Australian inventor Mary Toniolo and her daughter Gabby (aka “Bella”), Spin Master launched in North America the hugely popular Bella Dancerella instructional video series. The hourlong videos were developed internally; early long-form productions that foreshadowed Spin Master’s eventual launch into entertainment content. Bella took off immediately, captivating little ones everywhere with its easy-to-follow ballet steps while capturing the attention of Oprah and other media tastemakers. Toys R Us named it Best of the Season and it danced away with the TOTY Girl Toy of the Year award.
Tokyo, Japan 2005
The Tokyo office aids greatly in the development of stronger ties to the community of inventors and innovators throughout East Asia.
Casting a Wider Net
Diversifying beyond the toy aisle for the first time, Spin Master showed how well they know kids, scoring a category-busting mega-hit with the Rocket Fishing Rod. Rather than traditional casting of the line, this rod shot out the hook and bobber in the style of a toy rifle, allowing even the smallest kids to get their line out. Sporting Goods newcomer Spin Master jolted that industry when Rocket Fishing Rod became the #1 children’s fishing toy in the USA. The marketing campaign was the first to use direct response advertising, another Spinnovation that carried forward successfully with many brands to come.
Calling Tokyo
The company was aggressively seeking out new hit toys to continue its hot streak. Searching the world for ideas but specifically in certain countries with a proven track record of innovation, Spin Master moved its director of global licensing to the most fertile region for toy development: Japan. Spin Master became immersed in the culture and established strategic relationships in its massive inventor network. This vision of Japanese partnership paid off in a massive way with the birth of Bakugan a few years later.
Leading the Way
By 2005, the partners had the foresight to realize that sustainable growth of the company required operational excellence, and Spin Master hired its first executive team. Mark Segal was hired as CFO in 2001, while COO Iain Kennedy and EVP Marketing & Design Mark Sullivan each joined in 2005. Sales VP Chris Beardall, who was strategically hired away from the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, in 2000, was promoted to the executive team in 2005 as EVP Sales. This executive team was the tipping point, leading Spin Master to embrace a world class executive force beyond the original three founders
Starting a Global Wave
Air Hogs scored yet another massive hit with the spacy Vectron Wave, a UFO-like floating disc powered by altitude-sensing technology and with no remote control unit. The new spin on RC flew off shelves in North America and beyond. Its European success was a key factor in Spin Master’s successful expansion in that region.
Dominating!
Adapting the hugely successful Bella Dancerella instructional play pattern to a martial arts theme, Spin Master introduced the Black Belts Home Karate Studio, nominated for a Activity Toy of the Year TOTY along with the 7-ElevenTM Slurpee Drink Maker which made the famous slushees at home. Air Hogs Zero Gravity wall climbing RC vehicle was also nominated this year – for both Boy Toy and Innovative Toy of the Year – while the stealthy Air Hogs R/C Dominator took home the prize for Outdoor Toy of the Year.
Dongguan, China 2006
The Dongguan office aids greatly in the development of stronger ties to the manufacturing sectors and the community of innovators throughout East Asia, and as a centre for Quality Control & Innovation.
London, UK 2006
The London office reduces dependence on third-party distributors by building crucial retailer relationships and providing localized marketing expertise in the UK and other EU markets.
Los Angeles, USA 2006
Hollywood is famously the heart of the entertainment industry: major animation and film studios; childrens' entertainment toy development; creative, licensing, and marketing talent pool. Spin Master opened a Los Angeles office to be immersed in this business culture and shift the company's mindset from an item-based philosophy to the building of world-class brands and franchises
Lessons in Management from Canada's Best Managed Companies
Spin Master was named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies from 2000 – 2004 and was the focus of a chapter in the book "Building the Best: Lessons from Inside Canada's Best Managed Companies." From the authors: "The children's products industry, particularly the toy sector, values innovation and speed to market above all other entrepreneurial traits. With a gift for instinctive risk-taking, Spin Master has mastered both of these traits through strategic alliances with inventors, retailers, manufacturers, and by beating larger competitors to the next big thing."
A Line in the Sand
Going up against the titan of compounds, Play Doh, Spin Master partnered with Swedish inventor Jonas Modell to launch Moon Sand in 2007. After winning the TOTY Awards for Activity Toy and Infant/ Preschool Toy, it was a great success at retail for many years. The sand that never dries out, Moon Sand wowed kids with its vibrant colours, molding and building capabilities, and all of the fun of the beach, at home.
Wreaking Havoc!
Bringing expensive hobby-grade radio controlled technology to the masses by improving safety, durability, and affordability, Spin Master launched the breakthrough Air Hogs Havoc Heli at retail. The RC heli proved such a hit it sold over a million pieces in it’s first year alone.
Driving Up the Walls
Always searching to conquer new territory, the Air Hogs Zero Gravity line of ground RC vehicles went where none had gone before. Wowing spectators with its ability to drive up walls or across ceilings, the cars seemingly defied gravity with patented wall climbing technology. The innovation’s initial success was multiplied over the years with the introduction of Mini and Micro versions, as well as new features such as laser-chasing play.
Yo Gabba Gabba
In 2007 Spin Master took its licensing business to a whole new level by signing its first worldwide exclusive toy licenses for animated series Storm Hawks and kid/cult fave Yo Gabba Gabba. The latter’s catchy tunes, colourful characters, and celebrity appearances – by the likes of Elijah Wood, Sean Kingston, Jack Black, Sugarland and many more – made it a favourite of kids and cult viewers alike. Spin Master beat out Fisher Price to win the Yo Gabba Gabba license, and it proved a seminal point in Spin Master’s evolution of learning to work with content.
Tech Deck
Spin Master acquired the world’s most authentic collectible skateboard replicas, TECH DECK. The original company’s founders were motivated to sell and Spin Master seized the opportunity. Upping the ante for collectors, Spin Master joined forces with the biggest stars of skateboarding to push the products even further through rare autographed collector’s items and rolling out plans for digital entertainment extensions.
Exploding Sphere Around the Globe!
Another pinnacle moment for Spin Master came from scribbles on a cocktail napkin and led to the biggest Spin Master hit ever, in 53 countries around the world. Bakugan brilliantly combined all elements of the toy world trifecta: competition, transformation, and collectibility along with red-hot Japanese anime. Kids were addicted to the trading card game combined with little spheres that sprang open to become one of dozens of unique monster figurines. Bakugan was a runaway success, selling out for Christmas 2008 and named 2009 Toy of the Year, the industry’s most prestigious award. Spin Master became the licensor in this case, with other companies contracting to use the Bakugan characters and logo to adorn everything from knapsacks and pencil cases to baseball caps and shoes. Working with Sega, TMS, Japan Vistec, Corus Television, and Nelvana Entertainment, Bakugan was Spin Master’s single biggest example of the success of partnerships, instituting a revenue sharing model that is now a pillar of the company’s success.
To the Moon and Back
2007 was Spin Master’s best representation at the TOTY Awards yet, with an impressive 8 nominations including Moon Sand winning Activity Toy of the Year. We competed against ourselves in a few categories with Lil Luvables Fluffy Factory also nominated for Activity Toy, Aquadoodle Sing N Doodle vs Elmo Giggle and Shake Chair (Infant/Preschool Toy), Air Hogs RC Storm Launcher vs Moon Sand (Innovative Toy). The “insane all terrain” Storm Launcher was also recognized with a Boy Toy nomination, and Phlat Ball vied for Outdoor Toy of the Year.
Mexico City, Mexico 2008
The Mexico City office reduces dependence on third-party distributors by building crucial retailer relationships and providing localized marketing expertise in Latin American markets.
That’s Entertainment
Bakugan and its accompanying zeitgeist provided the catalyst for Spin Master to build upon this content development success with further TV shows and videogames. With a mandate to develop compelling “toyetic” cross-platform children’s content in tandem with great toys, Spin Master launched an Entertainment division in 2008. Over 200 half-hours of children’s episodic programming for tv, web, and film has been produced to date. By integrating new IP and existing internal brands across all toy categories within original content, Spin Master is attaining its goal of being a 360 ° entertainment company.
Winning the Battle for TOTY
For the first time taking the overall Toy of the Year award, in 2008 Spin Master had truly arrived. The Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle took the crown, and also landed nominations for Innovative Toy and Boy Toy. Moon Sand Adventure Island also scored Infant/Preschool Toy of the Year honours, another category first for Spin Master.
Nanjing, China 2009
The Nanjing office aids greatly in the development of stronger ties to the manufacturing sectors and the community of innovators throughout East Asia, and as a centre for Manufacturing & Supply Chain operations.
Liv on the Edge
Attempting to preemptively fill the massive void that would result from Bakugan’s inevitable dip in sales, in 2009 Spin Master attempted to enter the largest but toughest toy category: fashion dolls. It was a tall order: in 50 years only one other effort had come close to challenging the behemoth Barbie (MGA’s Bratz). Spin Master created a line of high-end fashion dolls featuring realistic-looking glass eyes and innovative wigs: the beautiful Liv doll. Unfortunately this point of difference was not significant enough to penetrate the crowded market and the line, while critically well received, failed commercially. Undaunted, the company would try again in 2012 with the La Dee Da line of fashion dolls.
TOTY two-fer
Really hitting stride, Spin Master took home the overall Toy of the Year TOTY for a second year in a row, this time for Bakugan! By 2009 the entire toy industry was amazed by the phenomenon of Bakugan. The Battle Brawlers Battle Pack Series 1 Spheres also won Boy Toy of the Year and was nominated for Innovative TOTY, losing to Spin Master’s own Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro (which in turn was also nominated for Boy Toy). PixOs Super Studio rounded out the year’s accolades with a nomination in the Activity category.
Game On!
With the drive to further diversify the company, Spin Master began an aggressive growth strategy into the Games aisle. Introducing to North America proven international hits such as Hedbanz and Logo the Board Game, the company then absorbed games company Imagination Entertainment, acquiring its stable of board games. Rather than adapting existing toy staff to the games portfolio, Spin Master attracted and built a dedicated games team. With multiple acquisitions and the internal development of new games, the Games Division came out of left field to build a $50 million portfolio in only 2 years. It is now the #3 Games company in the USA and has begun to build the Spin Master Games business globally, a pillar of profitability and stable growth for the company.
Munich, Germany 2010
The Munich office reduces dependence on third-party distributors by building crucial retailer relationships and providing localized marketing expertise in Germany and other EU markets.
Fast company indeed
Fast Company recognizes Spin Master as the year’s Most Innovative Consumer Products Company, listing third amongst such hard goods industry heavyweights as Whirlpool, SC Johnson, Nike, P&G, and Dyson. The company is also named Toys R Us Vendor of the Year, and joins the Platinum Club of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Private Companies.
No Hiccups in This Licensing Deal
In 2010 Spin Master partnered with DreamWorks to create a line of licensed toys and collectibles for the animated feature film How To Train Your Dragon. Based on a popular series of children’s novels, the movie was a smash success, sending Spin Master soaring with one of their most successful global master licenses and enjoying a repeat performance with the sequel’s release in 2014.
Paying It Forward
Spin Master partnered with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation to launch the Spin Master Innovation Fund, encouraging young entrepreneurs to turn their innovative ideas into booming businesses. “With the Spin Master Innovation Fund we have the opportunity to give back to young entrepreneurs – we are here to finance young people with great ideas and match them with a great mentor, the only collateral that we ask for is integrity, passion, determination to win, the ability to listen and ask questions” – Ronnen Harary, Chairman and co-CEO.
Innovation on a Roll
Applying Spin Master’s popular Bakugan mechanism/technology to a ‘nurturing’ play pattern, the Zoobles roll out was another big hit with parents and kids. When placed on their magnetized ‘Happitats’, each colourful sphere’s spring-to-life transformation revealed a lovably vibrant character inside. A licensing partnership with Japan’s Sega Toys led to a Zoobles videogame, as well as many branded products such as knapsacks, t-shirts, and stickers.
A record-making year at the TOTYs
2010 proved to be a record-making year for Spin Master, with 10 TOTY nominations overall! Bakugan took home Boy Toy for the hugely popular 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid, and also Property of the Year, recognizing Spin Master’s first foray into developing entertainment and licensing. Bakugan Traps was nominated for Game of the Year. Liv Dolls scored Spin Master’s first nomination in the Girls Toy category and ChixOs Design a Luxury Loft was recognized as an Activity nominee. The other 4 nominations went to Air Hogs items Switchblade (Boy Toy) and Zero Gravity Laser (Outdoor), both nominated for Innovative Toy.
Bratistlava, Slovakia 2011
The Bratislava office provides Supply Chain & Multilingual Customer Care for EU markets.
Amsterdam, Netherlands 2011
The Amsterdam office reduces dependence on third-party distributors by building crucial retailer relationships and providing localized marketing expertise in Benelux and other EU markets.
Milan, Italy 2011
The Milan office reduces dependence on third-party distributors by building crucial retailer relationships and providing localized marketing expertise in Italy and other EU markets.
Bringing Dreams to Fingertips
In 2012 Spin Master’s Digital Games Division launched into yet another medium with its first digital gaming app. Over 2 million users to date have downloaded the Tech Deck app so they could watch their favorite classic Tech Deck fingerboards spring to life in a free HD quality game with world class animations. The Digital Games division grew rapidly, developing Spin Master’s winning entertainment IP into the mobile games space. 2014 saw the release of Sick Bricks, an amazing combination of mobile app and toy that allowed players to scan toys into the app to unlock over 60 new characters. Other anticipated titles include Savannah, Game properties Battle of the Sexes and Would You Rather and Girls small dolls tie-in Kawaii Quest, with an exciting slate of games and apps planned for release in 2015.
Monster Opportunities
Having partnered with Disney to produce a line of plush characters for Monsters Inc. a decade earlier, Spin Master procured much wider licensing rights to for its massively popular sequel Monsters University, in addition to Cars, Tron and other iconic properties. Spin Master’s robotics and Air Hogs divisions are excited to partner with Disney once again for the Star Wars VII sequel in 2015.
On a Mission to Sell Accessible Technology
The tuck-in acquisition of Spy Gear provided Spin Master a mission to refresh and re-envision an established product line acquired from a challenged company. The Air Hogs team of engineers, designers, and marketers was a natural fit to take over the unit and redefine “role play” to “real play”. With a heightened emphasis on impressive but financially accessible technology, the line launched a stealth attack at retail and arrested the competition.
Taking the Lead
Ben Gadbois, Global President & Chief Operating Officer, joined Spin Master in 2012, providing outstanding leadership, strong strategic vision, and great team-building insights with more than twenty years of best-in-class Fortune 500 consumer goods experience. The reins of Spin Master’s presidency were released by the partners for the very first time, into the very capable hands of this new “fourth wheel” of the leadership team.
Air Hogs: First 15 Years
In 2013, Spin Master celebrated Air Hogs’ 15 year anniversary as the toy industry’s category-defining RC brand. Combining at-home affordability with hobby-grade performance, Air Hogs keeps pushing RC innovation forward with an impressive string of category busters, from Sky Shark to Intruder – the first mass-market RC plane – to Havoc to Vectron Wave to Zero Gravity to Helix and beyond. Air Hogs remains Spin Master’s most successful and longest-running brand, challenging kids to push their boundaries both indoors and outdoors and to imagine possibilities beyond known limits.
Calais, France 2013
The Calais office is the home of Meccano factory facilities & operations.
Meccano: a Future Building from the Past
Spin Master gained a further foothold in the construction aisle with the acquisition of Meccano / Erector, the iconic global brand. Spin Master learned from Meccano’s heritage - a century of “real engineering” - and added their own Spinnovation to build both entities.
On Track at the TOTYs
In another diverse year of TOTY nominations, Air Hogs Battle Tracker was nominated for Boy Toy of the Year, Fibber for Game of the Year, and La Dee Da Doll dolls for Girl Toy of the Year.
Magic Takes Flight
Developed through several of Spin Master’s in-house innovation centres, the Flutterbye Fairy was a revolutionary reimagining of existing Vectron Wave hovering technology with a fashion doll exterior. A true category buster, where no such product had existed before, the first RC in the doll aisle swept the holiday season at retail, bringing fantasy to life by putting the magic of fairy flight in children’s hands.
Nothing Moves Like a Helix
The Air Hogs Helix X4 offered the hobby-enthusiast-grade quad copter concept at a mass retail price point. Built with two distinct control modes, beginners could easily learn to fly, while advanced pilots could challenge themselves to master flight. With a push of one button, you could easily perform three preprogrammed stunts. Utilizing state-of-the-art gyro stabilization and 4 ducted fans, the Helix X4 was aggressively manoeuvrable and moved incredibly fast: the best performance from an Air Hogs RC yet.
Litters of Zoomer Flying Off the Shelf
In collaboration with inventors G2, Spin Master shook up the toy aisles again bringing technological innovation to life with Zoomer, the most technologically advanced robotic dog ever made at a mass retail price point. Kids’ real best friend could bark, talk, scoot around and learn new tricks with life-like expressions and voice-activated commands. Zoomer won the hearts of shoppers - as well as Toy of the Year and the cover of Walmart’s catalog - prompting the launch of the Spin Master Robotics division.
Air Hogs Atmosphere
This powerful levitating sphere had no remote control and hovers above any surface! Kids became the controller, flying it with the palms of their hand or watching it fly autonomously! With safety and durability as prominent features, the spherical shape allowed the AtmoSPHERE to smoothly bounce off walls and ceilings for non-stop flight. Captivated buyers drove sales to over 1 million units in its first year.
Walmart’s “toy Supplier of the Year”
In 2014, Walmart - the world’s largest retailer - named Spin Master their Toy Supplier of the Year, an enormous acknowledgement of the business relationship the two companies had built together. Previously, Target awarded the company “Vendor of the Year” in 2009, and Toys R Us did the same many times: in 1998, 2010, and a five year run from 2002 through 2006. “Our goal is to collaborate with all of our retail partners to be a world class supplier and deliver high quality and innovative products – we are so honored to have received such great recognition from Walmart” – Ben Gadbois, Global President & Chief Operating Officer, Spin Master Ltd
20th Anniversary Celebrations
Spin Master celebrated the company’s first two decades of success with a momentous event at Toronto’s elegant John Bassett Theatre. Twenty years of memories were curated into two floors of exhibits, and a retrospective documentary film debuted to an audience of over a thousand staff, alumni, friends, and family. The evening of speeches and presentations was capped off by a characteristically joyful night of Spin Master-style revelry at Maison Mercer nightclub.
Top Dogs on a Roll
Entertainment and Design teams converged to roll out Spin Master’s first fully in-house developed multi-platform property: the adorable Paw Patrol toys and Nickelodeon aired animated series. Springing from the mind of “Bob the Builder” creator Keith Chapman, the show’s puppy heroes taught kids lessons of friendship, safety, and teamwork, while becoming the #1 preschool show in North America. The associated line of transforming figures and vehicles capitalized on the series’ success, proving Spin Master’s multi-platform model and setting the stage for future similar successes.
Boom Boom Balloon Popping Records!
Spin Master’s drive to grow the business’s Games segment was further augmented with the acquisition of Boom Boom Balloon, a retail success and winner of the company’s first Game of the Year TOTY.
Zooming and Booming at the TOTYs
Hugely popular robot dog Zoomer took home the 2014 Innovative TOTY, edging out Spin Master’s own Flutterbye Fairy (also nominated for Girl Toy). In the battle for Games TOTY, Spin Master took two of the five slots, with Boom Boom Balloon beating out Hedbanz Act Up.
Little Charmers
Spin Master’s Entertainment, Preschool Design, and Engineering departments worked closely together and in collaboration with Nelvana Animation to create the 360 entertainment brand Little Charmers. The multi-year development process began with a concept devised to captivate young kids: three young witches learning their craft in Charmville must work together to undo their own mixed-up spells. The real world toys were designed to have attributes that would be exciting to watch within the television episodes, digital apps and games, as well as additional mobile and online content. In turn, the animation team brought the Little Charmers world to life, infusing the real world toys with a sense of magic and providing kids the opportunity to interact physically with beloved television characters. Working together, these partners have crafted a complete world, engaging children in all the ways in which they now experience “play”.
Spin Master Goes Public
Debuting on the Toronto Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol TOY, Spin Master became public on July 30, 2015. With an initial stock price of $18, the company raised $220 million with the offering.
The Toy Movement launches
All children have a right to enjoy the feeling of fun, to be inspired, and to experience the benefits of play. This is the central purpose of The Toy Movement, a global initiative led by Spin Master. All over the world children who are victims of their circumstances find themselves caught in situations that rob them of their childhood: natural disaster, poverty, war and conflict, or other difficult situations. To ensure that these children have the opportunity to play, learn, and grow regardless of their conditions, Spin Master has brought together partners from our industry to provide toys and school supplies in an effort to let kids be kids.
Meccanoid at CES
Meccano — an iconic global brand with over a century of history — was refreshed and reimagined after its acquisition by Spin Master. Its real engineering focus was further heightened by new features such as electronics to keep pace with today’s technologies. The star of the revamped product line, the Meccano Meccanoid G15 KS robot, made an extraordinary debut at CES in Las Vegas with glowing coverage earned in the Wall Street Journal, Wired UK, BBC, and dozens of other media outlets. In 2015 Meccanoid also won the prestigious Grand Prix du Jouet 2015 Award from France, chosen by a professional jury from within the toy industry, as well as the Innovation Toy of the Year from Sweden.
Sick Bricks
Marrying an inventor’s brick characters idea with another inventor’s video game concept and combining them with licensed scanning technology, Sick Bricks bridges the physical world of toys with digital technology. After a year in development, kids can now join Jack Justice in the battle against mutants, monsters, and aliens in Sick City by mixing-and-matching elements from over 60 real world characters and scanning them into the Sick Bricks app using a smartphone camera.
Paw Patrol Tour
Harkening back to Spin Master’s past van tour promotional triumphs with Bakugan, Devil Sticks, and other items, Paw Patrol toured the continent to large crowds of faithful fans.
Spin Master Has the Force
Partnering again with licensor Disney, Spin Master created a robust line of robotic and RC items for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Legendary Jedi Master Yoda provides kids and collectors alike the opportunity to train with the ancient warrior through full voice recognition and dynamic motorized body movement touted as the most realistic Star Wars toy ever. The Millennium Falcon Drone is a realistic 14” RC model of the famous spaceship with impressive stunts and tricks. The line of items launched to great fanfare on #ForceFriday in September, including eminent comic book superstar Stan Lee’s laudatory post on Facebook.
SpindoTV launches
Expanding our kid entertainment options beyond television, Spin Master partnered with Mondo Media to launch SpindoTV on youtube.com. In addition to internally created shows like Sick Bricks, SpindoTV also engages external independent producers, artists, writers, and YouTubers to create its short, episodic content (averaging 90 seconds) featuring funny, strong, distinct characters.
Dino Might at the TOTYs
Zoomer Dino cleaned up at the TOTYs winning the Boy Toy category, as well as overall Toy of the Year, Spin Master’s third crown in only 8 years! Air Hogs Rollercopter was also recognized in the Boy Toy category, Cool Baker Magic Mixer for Girl Toy, Paw Patrol for Preschool Toy and Property of the Year, and Shark Mania and Moustache Smash duked it out with Games category nominations.
Big Bridge Build Breaks World Record!
Officials from Guinness World Records confirm that the Big Bridge Build – a bridge spanning almost 100 feet across Belfast’s Clarendon Dock – is the world’s largest Meccano structure. This year-long project was the brainchild of Queens University Belfast’s School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering. The students celebrated their achievement by walking across the bridge for the first time, which was officially declared open by Meccano’s Meccanoid Robot.
Spin Master Acquires Cardinal
Spin Master announces that it has completed the acquisition of Cardinal Industries Inc., one of the oldest privately-held games and puzzles companies in the United States. Cardinal Games, a recognized leader in games and puzzles, was acquired to further Spin Master’s dominance in the Games sector. A family operated business since 1945, Cardinal specializes in licensed versions of classic games and puzzles.
Spin Master Acquires Etch a Sketch
Spin Master announces its acquisition of the iconic Etch A Sketch and Doodle Sketch brands from Ohio Art Company. Selling over 175 million Etch A Sketches since 1960, Ohio Art Company entrusted Spin Master to carry on the Etch A Sketch legacy. While adding unique Spinnovation to create the popular Freestyle, Spin Master still produces the instantly recognizable classic model with its iconic white knobs and red frame.
Spin Master Wins Two Toy of the Year Awards
Continuing to push the boundaries of creativity, innovation and fun, Spin Master is awarded two TOTY Awards. Organized by The Toy Association, the TOTY Awards are known as the "Oscars" of the toy industry. Spin Master wins for Bunchems, Activity Toy of the Year and Meccanoid G15, Innovative Toy of the Year. Nominations were also received in three other categories: Air Hogs, Boy Toy of the Year; Zoomer Kitty, Girl Toy of the Year; and PAW Patrol for Property of the Year.
A Winning Week for PAW Patrol
PAW Patrol receives two new accolades: a Canadian Screen Award from The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, as well as top honors at UK-based Licensing Biz's People Awards. In London, UK, Spin Master's PAW Patrol team took home the top prize, Licensee Team of the Year.
Toca Boca and Sago Mini Join Spin Master
Spin Master expands further into digital apps, acquiring Toca Boca, the number one mobile-first children’s brand in the App Store. Toca Boca creates digital toys and other playful physical products which are designed from kids’ perspectives, sparking imagination and creating opportunities for open-ended play. Since 2011, Toca Boca apps have been downloaded around the world more than 250 million times.
Etch a Sketch Day World Record
Spin Master team members celebrate Etch A Sketch Day internationally on July 12, 2016 by setting a new Guinness World Record for most people drawing simultaneously on an Etch A Sketch: 440!
SwimWays Joins Spin Master
The acquisition of SwimWays’ seasonal portfolio of pool and outdoor items diversifies Spin Master’s operating rhythm with summertime fun.
Tech Deck Partners with Street League Skateboarding Foundation
As part of the partnership, Tech Deck and SLSF launch the Foundation's first-ever, public fundraising campaign. The funds raised assist with building and maintaining skateboarding plazas as well as creating educational programs and events that both increase understanding of and encourage participation in skateboarding. Through ongoing outreach, SLSF aims to show how designated skate plazas can invigorate and enrich communities while creating safe and legal places for kids to skate and be active.
Hatchimals Take the World by Storm
Hatch Day arrives on October 6, 2016 to great fanfare! The idea of a toy that hatches itself from inside an egg was a series of engineering challenges progressively solved by our internal innovation teams and the partners at Shoot the Moon. The entire company mobilized to create these furry little learning robots that became the #1 toy – not just of the year, but joined the industry’s greatest toy crazes of all time.
The Toy Movement Reaches Mexico
With a long history of donating toys to children in need, Spin Master’s Toy Movement brought more than 18,000 toys to disadvantaged children in Tijuana, Mexico. Partnering with TECMA Group who temporarily converted their facilities into a gift factory, Spin Master helped bring the magic of the holidays to those in need.
TOTY Time!
Continuing Spin Master's legacy of industry recognition for innovative toys and following nine nominations across eight categories, Spin Master receives three TOTYs: Innovative Toy of the Year for Hatchimals; Vehicle of the Year - Star Wars X-Wing vs. Death Star, Rebel Assault branded Air Hogs and License of the Year for PAW Patrol. These awards bring Spin Master up to 82 Toy of the Year Nominations, winning 21 TOTYs across all categories.
UK 2017 Toy of the Year Awards
Presented by the British Toy & Hobby Association and the Toy Retailers Association, Spin Master wins three coveted UK Toy of the Year Awards: Toy of the Year 2017 for Hatchimals, Licensed Toy of the Year for PAW Patrol and Preschool Toy of the Year for the PAW Patroller.
Spin Master Acquires Marbles Games
With the acquisition of Marbles, a leader in brain-building and high-quality games, gifts and gadgets for all ages, Spin Master's presence in the Games and Puzzles super category rises further. Marbles' marquee game, Otrio, was the Finnish Family Game of the Year and the Swedish Family Game of the Year in 2016. Joining Spin Master's world renowned portfolio of products are Oh Snap!, Newton and The Sherlock marking Spin Master among the top three manufacturers in the Games and Puzzles super category.
Hatchimals CollEGGtibles
Hatchimals CollEGGtibles are unveiled! These adorable little collectible characters represented the first time Spin Master took a high-priced item and created a much lower-priced version - mini eggs you break open to reveal a collectible character inside. With over 70 characters to collect in season 1, the shell's bright, colorful speckles indicate which of the 13 families the Hatchimal inside belongs to, giving kids a tiny glimpse of who their new friend may be and letting them decide whether to keep or trade their Hatchimals CollEGGtible even before hatching.
Spin Master Recognized as Iconic Canadian Brand for Canada 150
Spin Master is recognized by Interbrand Canada as one of the 150 companies, organizations and institutions that make us authentically Canadian! In its report, Interbrand Canada included Spin Master as an iconic company, with a 23-year history which continues to play a vital role in Canadians' lives.
Spin Master and Feld Entertainment Inc. Announce Decade Long Partnership
Spin Master announces a licensing partnership with Feld Entertainment Inc. as the new worldwide master toy partner for Monster Jam, the most accessible and family-friendly sport in the world today, delivering edge-of-your-seat, adrenaline-charged excitement. The 10-year licensing partnership will begin in 2019 and significantly expands Spin Master's efforts to continuously push the boundaries of innovation, creativity and fun.
Spin Master Continues to Grow with Acquisition of Aerobie
The Spin family continues to grow with the acquisition of certain assets of Aerobie Inc., a leading producer of outdoor flying disks and sports toys. This newest member to Spin Master further demonstrates the company’s focus on the outdoor business segment, building on the 2016 acquisition of Swimways, Aerobie products continue to push boundaries of creativity and innovation, even receiving a Guinness World Record for the farthest thrown object attributed to the breakthrough design of the flying ring.
Luvabella and Luvabeau
The arrival of Luvabella and Luvabeau, mark a breakthrough in Spin Master tech! With lifelike facial expressions and hundreds of interactive responses, Luvabella is the most lifelike baby doll ever. While adults are impressed with the technology, kids become fully immersed in the imaginative world of nurturing a real baby. Luvabella required several years of engineering and design to seamlessly merge state of the art technology with believable human behavior.
Spin Master Continues Expansion with New Poland Office
Spin Master further expands into Central Eastern Europe (CEE) with a new Sales and Marketing office in Warsaw, Poland.
Moonlite Brings Stories to Life!
Partnering with Canadian Natalie Rebot, Spin Master helps bring her popular Kickstarter campaign for Moonlite to life, and onto retail shelves. Inspired by her daughter's love of shadow play before bedtime, mother and former Google veteran, Natalie Rebot created Moonlite, a children's story book projector that attaches to almost any mobile phone and uses the flashlight of the phone to project vibrant story images onto the ceiling or wall.
The Toy Movement Journeys to South Africa
Spin Master continues to inspire change over the holiday season. Together with Play Africa 45,000 toys are delivered to children in need within South Africa. To date, the Toy Movement completed missions in Mexico, Israel, Jordan and Turkey.
Spin Master Acquires Perplexus
Spin Master announces the acquisition of one of the world's most innovative toys – Perplexus. Co-invented in 2001 by teacher and artist Michael McGinnis and Klitsner Industrial Design Group of San Francisco (KID Group), and manufactured by Busy Life LCC, Perplexus has become famously popular for its ingenious sculptural designs, wide appeal and various levels of challenge. Spin Master has distributed Perplexus since 2013 and with this transaction, Spin Master now owns the global rights to the Perplexus brand.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman!
Continuing its growth in licensing, Spin Master announces a three-year global licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Beginning Spring 2020, Spin Master will be a new toy licensee for DC in the boy's action category, remote control and robotic vehicles, water toys and games and puzzles including legendary superheroes, Batman and Superman.
Spin Master Continues to Win
Spin Master continues to receive global industry recognition for highly innovative products as presented by the British Toy & Hobby Association and the Toy Retailers Association. The company continues to excel, winning four coveted UK Toy and Supplier of the Year Awards: Collectible of the Year for Hatchimals CollEGGtibles, Doll of the Year for Luvabella, Pre-School Toy of the Year for the PAW Patrol Basic Vehicle, and the prestigious Supplier of the Year award.
Cleaning Up at the TOTYS
The company is recognized for three Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and nine nominations across seven categories at the 2018 North American International Toy Fair in New York City: Game of the Year – Soggy Doggy, Vehicle of the Year – PAW Patrol Sea Patroller and Preschool Toy of the Year – PAW Patrol My Size Lookout Tower.
Spin Master Acquires GUND
Spin Master announces the purchase of GUND, welcoming the oldest soft toy brand in the United States to the company. Established in 1898, GUND is one of the leading plush toy manufacturers in the world, recognized by the American Brand Council as one of the most trusted toy brands in the U.S. Universally known and loved for its iconic "Gotta Getta GUND" campaign, the brand connects effortlessly with multiple generations of people who have shared special moments of their lives with this affordable luxury.
Spin Master Celebrates Friendship Day with KUMI Kreator!
On July 30th, Spin Master Celebrated International Friendship Day at the Toronto HQ with the Ultimate KUMI Kreator BFF Hangout! The Cool Maker KumiKreator offered a breakthrough way to braid beautiful friendship bracelets before your eyes. Drawing inspiration from the art of Japanese Kumi bracelets (Kumihimo in Japanese means “gathered threads”), the KUMI Kreator makes it easy to create stylish and intricate Kumi friendship bracelets.
New Global Headquarters in TO
Spin Master opens its new global headquarters nestled in the Theatre District of Toronto, Canada. The new office showcases the company’s rich history of product and content innovation and is designed to inspire creativity and fuel collaboration.
Air Hogs Supernova is Taking Off
Equipped with an intelligent on-board system and motion-sensitive lights and sensors, Supernova is added among the ranks of Air Hogs legends. Responding to your every movement – no remote control or touching is needed! To activate, just toss to launch and Air Hogs Supernova will levitate mid-air, awaiting your command. This affordable, kid friendly, drone is the first of its kind to hit shelves.
Zoomer Playful Pup
Full of life and personality, this interactive dog can walk, bounce, pounce and play! Playful Pup becomes the newest innovative addition to the Zoomer robotic line and just like a real puppy, Playful Pup responds to a child's touch as they pet, tickle and give belly rubs. Zoomer continues to expand traditional play patterns and offer technological advancements, supporting the Spin Master mission to push the boundaries of innovation, creativity and fun.
Spin Master Surpasses 100 Toy of the Year Nominations
Spin Master receives seven nominations for the 2019 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY), bringing the total TOTY nominations the company has received to date, to 103. Nominations include: License of the Year – Hatchimals, Collectible Toy of the Year – Twisty Petz, Vehicle Toy of the Year – PAW Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck, Creative Toy of the Year – Cool Maker KumiKreator, Plush of the Year – GUND Flora the Bunny and Specialty Toy of the Year – Marbles Otrio and GUND Super Pusheenicorn.
The Global Battling Phenomenon, Bakugan, Meets a New Generation of Kids
Spin Master reignites the brawling excitement of "BAKUGAN", the global phenomenon that captured kids’ imaginations a decade earlier, with the launch of a newly-evolved anime series, innovative toy line, card game and mobile app. Building on the brand's rich heritage, the long-awaited relaunch introduces legacy fans and a new generation of kids to the battling phenomenon.
It’s All Fun & Games with Big Potato
Growing its leading position within the Games category, Spin Master announces a license agreement with London-based indie board game company Big Potato Games. Known for its range of simple, fun, family and party games, Big Potato will work with Spin Master to bring 15 of existing titles to the US. Bestsellers in the lineup include 'whodunnit' family party game The Chameleon and trivia game Linkee, launching in the US in 2020.
The Toy Movement Makes Its 15th Mission, This Time to Kenya
Partnering with Save the Children, Spin Master brings the Toy Movement to children in Dadaab refugee camp in rural Kenya. Executive leaders and employees from both organizations delivered over 50,000 toys and GUND teddy bears to children living in the camp and host communities. Since 2017, Spin Master and Save the Children have partnered to bring toys to children in emergency situations around the globe.
Spin Master Bolsters Hedbanz Presence Globally
With the acquisition of the international Hedbanz intellectual property and the launch of an all new Hedbanz App, the company expands its popular games portfolio. Spin Master originally acquired the rights to Hedbanz for the US and Mexico in 2011 and the quick question game of "What Am I" has become one of the most successful titles within Spin Master's portfolio of hundreds of games ever since.
A Wet, Wacky, Soft and Squishy Fun Addition to Activities
Spin Master completes the acquisition of the award-winning Orbeez brand and other select brands from Maya Toys, complementing its growing Activities segment. Orbeez are wet and wacky, soft and squishy, fun and funky, bouncy and beautiful water beads. Beginning as tiny seeds, Orbeez magically grow to a round form when water is added. The versatile technology is applied to a variety of toys, ranging from arts-and-crafts sets to pampering products.
New Animated Preschool Series, Abby Hatcher, Premieres on Nickelodeon
Spin Master Entertainment showcases its latest animated preschool series, which features Abby Hatcher, an adventurous seven-year-old with a giant heart and endless love for her favorite creatures, the Fuzzlies. These furry, zany creatures come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own uniquely special abilities. Following the US premiere on Nickelodeon, Abby Hatcher rolls out on Nickelodeon's international channels in 2019 and also launches on TVO in Canada.
Monster Jam Toy Line Up Revs into Retail
The first of the official Spin Master Monster Jam toy line, produced in collaboration with Feld Entertainment Inc., revs into retail locations. With a commitment to detailed design and an authentic Monster Jam experience, the trucks incorporate realistic features and new technology, giving fans the opportunity to recreate the magic of the stadium show in their own homes.
Spin Master Takes Home Several Awards in the UK
Spin Master takes home top honors for its innovative products at the Toy Industry Awards presented by the British Toy & Hobby Association and the Toy Retailers Association including two coveted UK Toy and Supplier of the Year Awards for Game of the Year – Jumanji Board Game and Preschool Range of the Year - PAW Patrol. Additionally, PAW Patrol Ultimate Construction Vehicle was named one of Toy Fair's Hero Toys. Decided by an independent panel of industry judges and the BTHA, The Toy Fair Hero Toys recognizes the 25 most exciting and creative toys launched at Toy Fair.
Spin Master Wins Two TOTYs
Spin Master once again is the proud winner at the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, bringing home the esteemed awards are PAW Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck for Vehicle Toy of the Year and Cool Maker KumiKreator for Creative Toy of the Year.
A New Space for Creative and Entertainment
Spin Master officially opens the 7th floor of the global headquarters dedicated to the Creative Content and Entertainment Teams, giving our content makers greater resources in-house, and more opportunities to collaborate. With a sleek open concept design, the space features state of the art technology and collaborative workspaces named after iconic locales from Spin Master’s entertainment series including PAW Patrol, Bakugan Battle Planet, Abby Hatcher and Rusty Rivets and Super Dinosaur.
Spin Master Named Global Master Toy Partner for New DreamWorks Animation Series
Building on its licensed properties portfolio, the company becomes the global master toy licensee for the DreamWorks Animation’s all-new preschool series, Gabby’s Dollhouse. The new series debuts on Netflix in 2020 and Spin Master will bring the characters from the show to life through a new toy line that will include playsets, figures, plush, games and puzzles in 2021.
Bakugan Coming to Nintendo Switch™
Spin Master, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WayForward introduce Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia, an all-new, action role-playing video game coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch™ on Nov. 3, 2020, expanding on the wildly popular, global Bakugan franchise alongside the exciting anime adventure TV series, innovative toy line, card game and more. The game will center around an all-new original story and the franchise's signature Bakugan brawls as players befriend powerful creatures known as Bakugan and customize teams for fiercely strategic head-to-head battles.
Spin Master Signs New Deal with Rubiks for Co-Brand with Perplexus Puzzles
Spin Master teams us with world-famous Rubik's Cube to launch Perplexus Puzzles with a twist. Together they will develop a co-branded* Rubik's x Perplexus* range, which will feature 3-D ball-in-a-maze puzzle and labyrinth toy. By twisting and turning the cube, players attempt to manoeuver a small steel ball through an intricate maze composed of a number of steps along narrow plastic tracks. The result creates the ultimate Rubik's Cube puzzle and maze, adding in another level of fun and making the Cube even more challenging than ever before.
Two More Awards for Spin Master in the UK
The company receives two major awards from the UK's Toy Industry Awards presented by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) and the Toy Retailers Association including being named Global Supplier of the Year and winning for PAW Patrol in Pre-School Range of the Year. Additionally, the BTHA names Spin Master's newly launched DC toy Batman 12inch Deluxe Figure with Rapid Change Utility Belt as one of the 'Toy Fair Heroes', selected by an independent panel of industry judges and the BTHA, recognizing the most exciting and creative toys launched at Toy Fair.
All Aboard Mighty Express
Spin Master Entertainment announces its all-new animated Preschool Series which will debut on Netflix in September 2020. From PAW Patrol creator Keith Chapman, Mighty Express is Spin Master Entertainment’s largest production to date with the award-winning, Vancouver-based animation company, Atomic Cartoons, bringing the visuals to life. Preschoolers, (and their families), will love this imaginative world where kids run the stations and work together with the Mighty Express on heroic adventures.
Etch a Sketch Celebrates 60th Anniversary
The iconic Etch a Sketch, the classic red-framed drawing toy, is shaking things up in 2020 to mark its 60th anniversary. To celebrate the original magic screen, the Etch a Sketch brand teamed up with other iconic names, including Monopoly, Rubik’s, NASA and Stan Lee to unveil a series of limited edition launches.
PAW Patrol Announces Its Big Screen Debut
The global powerhouse preschool franchise is going from the small screen to the big screen. The major motion picture animated feature film, a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, will be distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is slated to arrive in theaters in August 2021 and will be directed by animation veteran Cal Brunker (Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature; Escape From Planet Earth).
Supporting the Need for PPE for Frontline Healthcare Workers
With a growing need for personal protection equipment due to the strains of COVID-19, Spin Master employees felt compelled to help out. In just three days, the product development team came up with an ingenious solution using existing headbands from the Hedbanz game, along with plastic (polyethylene terephthalate or PET) inserts, to create a face shield for healthcare workers. The company donates more than 400,000 face shields for over 120 hospitals, shelters and long-term care facilities.
Responding to Children in Need During the Pandemic
With a long history of giving back, the company continues the tradition by donating close to 90,000 toys, plush, games and activities at a retail value of approximately US $1 million to children in need in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Charities benefitting from the donation include Baby2Baby, Toys for Tots, School on Wheels, Variety The Children's Charity of Southern California, Chai Lifeline West Coast, Chai Lifeline Canada, Children's Aid Foundation of Canada, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada, Save the Children, Toronto Firefighter's Toy Drive and additional charities through the help of Impact Giving.
PAW Patrol is on a Roll Winning Four Canadian Screen Awards
Spin Master’s Entertainment Team continues their winning streak, bringing home four Canadian Screen Awards, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, for its global hit preschool series PAW Patrol. PAW Patrol, wins Canadian Screen Awards for the Best Pre-School Program or Series, Best Sound - Animation and Best Original Music - Animation categories for the second year in a row. PAW Patrol also receives the award for Best Direction in the animation category.
Spin Master Rides into Supercross License
Building on its successful relationship with Feld Entertainment Inc., Spin Master announces it is the new global master toy partner for Supercross, the premier off-road motorcycle racing series, attracting top professional riders from around the world, chasing their dreams in the most well-known stadiums to become the Supercross Champion. The five-year licensing agreement begins in 2021, growing its presence in the vehicle play category.
Spin Master Declares the First Global Kinetic Sand Day
In celebration of the original, squeezable sand that kids and parents just can’t put down, the company celebrates the first ever Global Kinetic Sand Day. Founded for fans to share the magic of the one-and-only Kinetic Sand, the day’s celebrations encouraged families to share how they play with Kinetic Sand at home from molding to cutting or creating using the #KineticSandDay.
Spin Master Joins Forces with the League of Legends® Franchise
Spin Master announces a multi-year agreement to become the global master toy licensee for Riot Games' League of Legends, the most-played PC game in the world. Spin Master will develop products including action figures, playsets and role play items, with an anticipated on-shelf date in the Fall of 2021.
Spin Master Debuts New Preschool Series Mighty Express™
Spin Master announces the debut of Mighty Express, a CG animated preschool series that rolls onto Netflix September 22, 2020 globally. This new original series builds on Spin Master's legacy of creating powerhouse franchises marking the company's 10th series overall.
Spin Master Launches Latest Toy Innovation, Present Pets™
Spin Master reveals its newest, imaginative toy packed with innovation, love and excitement – Present Pets puppies, the interactive pets so excited to meet their new owners, they unbox themselves.
Spin Master, in Association with Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures, Announces Star-Studded Cast For PAW Patrol® Animated Motion Picture
Spin Master Entertainment reveals an all-star voice cast ensemble for the upcoming animated feature film, PAW Patrol:The Movie. Kim Kardashian West, Dax Shepard, Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Perry, Yara Shahidi, Randall Park, Iain Armitage, Marsai Martin, and Will Brisbin have joined the voice cast, which is in production with creators, artists and producers collaborating remotely.
Spin Master Expands Existing Relationship with Warner Bros. Consumer Products As New Toy Licensee for Wizarding World
Spin Master announces a global licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products ("WBCP") as the new toy licensee for the Wizarding World franchise. Spin Master will develop Wizarding World products based on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films including dolls; figures and accessories; playsets; select vehicles; games; feature plush and role play/dress up categories expected to launch on shelves in Fall 2021.
Spin Master Announces Executive Leadership Changes
Spin Master announces its plan for executive leadership succession, designed to enhance the platform for its next phase of growth. Max Rangel is appointed Global President effective January 2021 and will assume the position of Global President and CEO in April 2021. Co-Founders and current Co-CEOs, Ronnen Harary and Anton Rabie, will continue their leadership of the strategic path for Spin Master in their roles on the Board.
Spin Master Launches STEAM Initiative to Inspire Children and Families to Learn Through Play
Spin Master launches a STEAM-inspired initiative giving children and families hands-on learning activities that replicate the art and science of toy-making. The DIY activities take a look behind the curtain, showing kids how their favorite toys are made with simple, playful, hands-on STEAM experiences designed to inspire a future generation of play.
Spin Master Receives Toy of The Year Award for PAW Patrol Dino Patroller
Spin Master receives a Toy of the Year (TOTY) award in the Preschool Toy of the Year for PAW Patrol Dino Patroller, at a virtual event hosted by The Toy Association.
Spin Master Announces Two Nominations to its Board of Directors
Spin Master announces the nomination of Ed Clark and Max Rangel to the company's Board of Directors. Clark will join the Board as Deputy Chair while Rangel will serve as a Director. Both will stand for election at Spin Master's Annual General Meeting on May 6, 2021.
Spin Master Issues Second Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report
On April 6th, 2021 Spin Master issues its second annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, seeking to be an inclusive employer. The company seeks to enhance the communities in which it operates and minimize environmental impacts with efforts in four CSR key areas: products, people, community and environment.
Spin Master Launches National Recycling Program with TerraCycle
Spin Master launches a national recycling program with international recycling leader TerraCycle to make its toys and games recyclable in the United States effective April 2021. Through the Spin Master Recycling Program, consumers can now send in well-loved Spin Master toys and games to TerraCycle to be recycled for free.
Spin Master’s Tech Deck Brand Becomes The Official Sponsor of USA Skateboarding
Spin Master announces that its Tech Deck brand is an official sponsor of USA Skateboarding, joining forces with the national governing body for skateboarding in the United States as the sport makes its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Spin Master Preschool Series PAW Patrol ™ Wins Two Canadian Screen Awards
Spin Master wins two Canadian Screen Awards, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, for its global hit preschool series PAW Patrol. The series won for Best Pre-School Series and Best Sound - Animation.
Spin Master Announces Comprehensive Scholarship Program to Support Individuals from Underrepresented Communities Establish Careers in Toy, Entertainment and Digital Games
Spin Master announces Future of Play Scholarship program supporting the education and career advancement of individuals from underrepresented communities in the fields of each of the company's creative centres: toys, entertainment and digital games. Spin Master commits to investing up to $100,000 annually in financial aid as well as mentorship and on the job experience.
Spin Master Teams Up with NFL-Star Quarterback Russell Wilson to Launch the New Aerobie® Sonic Fin™ Football
Spin Master debuts the new Aerobie Sonic Fin Football with the help of NFL Superstar Russell Wilson. Engineered for superior performance, the Sonic Fin Football let’s kids throw faster and farther than before - up to 100 yards!
Spin Master's PAW Patrol: The Movie™ Toy Collection is PAWsome!
Spin Master announces their debut of PAW-dropping toy collection for the upcoming feature film PAW Patrol: The Movie, a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Fans can experience the larger-than-life story for the first time ever on the big screen August 20, 2021, then head home to recreate their favorite missions and high-stake rescues with the toy line.
Spin Master's Bakugan® Franchise Enters the Roblox Metaverse
Spin Master announces its Bakugan® franchise will be the first-ever to premiere a full-length series episode on Roblox, the global online platform that brings millions of people together through shared experiences.
Spin Master Partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Deliver Arts-Integrated Programs and Experiences to Kids
Spin Master announces they are partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a national organization of local chapters focused on providing youth with equal access to opportunities and experiences, donating a total of $275,000 USD to the non-profit in 2021 to further enhance art programming for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Spin Master Discovers a New Magical Species, Peek-A-Roo™ An Interactive Panda - Kangaroo with Surprise Baby Reveal
Spin Master unveils Peek-A-Roo, a brand new interactive plush with an animated pouch that magically reveals a baby inside.
Spin Master Champions New League of Legends™ Collection
In October, Spin Master debuts their Riot Games League of Legends™ figures, inspired by the most-played PC game in the world.
Spin Master Establishes Spin Master Ventures to Accelerate Growth in Key Strategic Areas
In October, Spin Master announces the launch of their Spin Master Ventures (SMV) initiative with a focus on facilitating growth in each of the companies three creative centers, Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games. At the launch of this program SMV made investments in Nørdlight, a mobile game development company based in Stockholm and Hoot Reading, an online tutoring service that provides children with live, 1:1 reading lessons.
Spin Master Makes a Splash With New Mermaid High™ Fashion Dolls and Content Series October 20, 2021
In October, Spin Master debuts Mermaid High, a collectible fashion doll line with animated digital content and a YouTube series. Singer-songwriter and MTV VMA winner Claire Rosinkranz hosted a YouTube Live event to celebrate the launch performing the Mermaid High theme song.
PAW Patrol® is on a Roll with Second Movie, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie™, Greenlit by Spin Master Entertainment and Nickelodeon Movies, with Paramount Pictures
In November, Spin Master announces their second big screen feature film, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie™ set for an exclusive theatrical release on October 13, 2023. Nickelodeon and Spin Master Entertainment also announced a new PAW Patrol television series spin-off for one of the main pups set to debut in the same year.
Spin Master Acquires Rubik’s Cube®
Spin Master Corp. completes the acquisition of Rubik's Brand Ltd, owner of the world-famous Rubik's Cube. Spin Master will continue the Rubik's brand legacy, with plans for further innovation across the entire Rubik's portfolio and expanded distribution through the Company's global footprint.
Spin Master Renews Warner Bros. Consumer Products Global Licensing Agreement to Develop DC-Inspired Toys for Additional Four-Year Term
Spin Master renews global licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) and DC for the iconic Batman franchise and other DC Super Heroes. The agreement extends the relationship for a four-year term beginning in 2023 through to 2026.
Skydance Animation Inks Multi-Year, Multi-Film Agreement with Spin Master, Leading Global Children’s Entertainment Company.
Skydance Animation announces a multi-year agreement with Spin Master to become the studio's master toy licensee. The first feature property included under the pact is Apple Original Film Spellbound, which will debut globally on Apple TV+.
Spin Master Issues Third Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report
Spin Master issues Third Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, articulating the Company's environmental, social and governance goals and performance for 2021. Some highlights include zero consumer recalls in over a decade, increased philanthropic financial giving with $1.95 million in financial donations and 170,000 toys, impacting 300,000 children globally and launching a toy recycling program in two markets, the U.S. and Australia.
Spin Master's Sago Mini® Studio Collaborates with Otsimo On A New Speech App for Children: Sago Mini First Words™
Spin Master announces that Sago Mini studio has partnered with Otsimo, a developer of game-based learning apps for children with special needs, to release a new app focused on early speech development, Sago Mini First Words ™.
Spin Master Entertainment Brings Home The Golden Screen Award for PAW Patrol: The Movie™ - Presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
Spin Master wins The Golden Screen Award for Feature Film, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, for its box office hit PAW Patrol: The Movie. The Golden Screen Award recognizes the Canadian film that grossed the highest domestic box office over the time period of Jan 1, 2021 to Feb 24, 2022. PAW Patrol: The Movie has grossed over $7.5 million in Canadian box office sales and $152 million globally.
Spin Master Corp. Announces Election of Directors
Spin Master announces that the nominees listed in its management information circular were elected as directors of the company at their Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders. Following the results of the election two new independent board members have joined as directors: Michael Blank, the Chief Operating Officer of Polygon Studios, and Brian H. Whipple, former Chief Executive Officer of Accenture Interactive.
Spin Master Teams Up with Inner-City Arts Students in Pursuit of Amplifying Diversity Through Creative Play
Spin Master in collaboration with the Toronto-based 6ix Academy, an award-winning, inner-city business and arts program that spearheads social justice pursuits, launched the Truly You! Character Creator™ set. Using fashion plates, customize diverse characters that represent our world today including an Indigenous fashion designer, a Paralympic athlete, Muslim fashion and beauty influencer and more.
Spin Master Announces Global Master Toy Licensing Agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment's PlayStation®
Spin Master announced that it has entered into a global licensing agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). Spin Master will be the global master toy licensee for the SIE's PlayStation brand and SIE-owned PlayStation titles, including but not limited to God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us, and UNCHARTED, and will develop products in the action figure, collectible, playset, plush, roleplay, vehicles, RC, and games & puzzles categories.
Spin Master Entertainment Doctors Up a Fresh Spin on Preschool with New Animated Series "Vida the Vet"™
Spin Master Entertainment announced the upcoming launch of an all-new animated series "Vida the Vet"™. Vida the Vet follows ten-year-old Vida, an animal doctor who nurtures the charming and silly woodland creatures who live outside her home.
Spin Master Makes Fast Company's Fourth Annual List of the Best Workplaces for Innovators In the Consumer Products and Services Category
Spin Master earned a spot on the "Best Workplaces for Innovators List" by Fast Company, the world's leading business media brand. The fourth annual list honors organizations and businesses that demonstrate a steadfast commitment to encouraging innovation at all levels.
Spin Master's Bakugan® Franchise Premieres New Metaverse Experience on Roblox
Spin Master announced the Bakugan® franchise will introduce more first of a kind experiences on Roblox, the global online platform that brings millions of people together through shared experiences. With over 100 anime episodes to relive, legacy fans can embrace the nostalgia while next generation fans can watch the original first season and further follow the franchises' back story as it rolls out over the course of five months starting August 5th, 2022.
Spin Master Expands Digital Games Ecosystem with Acquisition of Nørdlight
Spin Master announced the acquisition of Nørdlight, a digital game studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. The acquisition supports Spin Master's plans to grow revenue and penetration within digital gaming as well as leverage its proprietary intellectual property across all three creative centres: Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games.
Spin Master and Liberty Entertainment Group Reunite to Celebrate 10th Annual Caring & Sharing Holiday Event in Support of the Children's Breakfast Clubs
Spin Master and Liberty Entertainment Group reunited to host the 10th annual Caring & Sharing event. After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, more than 250 volunteers from Spin Master and Liberty Entertainment Group welcomed over 800 kids from the Children's Breakfast Clubs affiliated schools, helping each child select two toys – one for themselves and one to gift to a friend or sibling.
Spin Master to Acquire the HEXBUG® Brand and Portfolio of Creative Robotic Technology and 4D Brands International Inc.
Spin Master announced it has reached an agreement to acquire the HEXBUG brand of toys from award-winning toy company, Innovation First International, Inc. As well as an agreement to acquire Canadian-based 4D Brands International Inc. ("4D"), an innovative disruptor in puzzle model construction.
Spin Master Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies & Paramount Pictures announce the voice talent for the upcoming PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Animated Motion Picture.
Spin Master Entertainment, Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures revealed a star-studded lineup of new and returning talent who will join Golden Globe winning Taraji P. Henson for the upcoming sequel PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie™. Preschoolers' favorite team of pups return to the big screen with new voice talent including Golden Globe® nominated actor Kristen Bell , Christian Convery , Mckenna Grace, Lil Rel Howery , James Marsden, Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian.
PAW Patrol® Spin-Off Series "Rubble & Crew"® Debuts on Treehouse and STACKTV
Spin Master premieres of Rubble & Crew on Nickelodeon (US) and Treehouse and STACKTV (Canada). Produced by Spin Master Entertainment, the spin-off series from preschool franchise PAW Patrol follows the adventures of fan-favorite English bulldog Rubble and his construction crew family.
Spin Master Announces New Fantasy-Adventure Franchise Unicorn Academy™, With Fully Branded Experiences Planned Across Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games
Spin Master announced the debut of an exciting new, fantasy-adventure children's franchise, Unicorn Academy. A Netflix-original animated series, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, will transport audiences to a magical world as they follow Sophia™ on her journey from ordinary to extraordinary – as she discovers her destiny as a unicorn rider.
Spin Master Issues 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility Report and Releases Climate Action Plan
Spin Master issued its fourth annual Corporate Social Responsibility report, articulating the Company's evolved CSR Vision; environmental, social and governance performance in 2022; and new targets to reduce its environmental footprint.
Spin Master Acquires HEXBUG® Brand and Portfolio of Creative Robotic Technology
Spin Master acquires the HEXBUG brand of toys from award-winning toy company, Innovation First International, Inc. The acquisition of HEXBUG marks Spin Master's 28th acquisition since the company was founded in 1994 and the 18th since its initial public offering in 2015.
Spin Master Celebrates Esteemed Workplace Wins, Recognized by Fast Company as a Best Workplace for Innovators, and Earning a Great Place to Work® Certification
Spin Master celebrates two esteemed workplace wins, landing a spot on Fast Company's fifth annual Best Workplace for Innovators list, and separately securing a Great Place to Work certification. Spin Master also earned a Great Place to Work certification after a thorough, independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work Institute Canada.
Spin Master Receives Six Highly Coveted Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Nominations
Spin Master receives six highly coveted Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) nominations. Recognized amongst the best new toys in the market were Bitzee™ Interactive Digital Pet (Collectible of the Year), Cool Maker® Pop StyleTM Bracelet Maker (Creative Toy of the Year), Dumb Ways to Die™ Party Game (Grown Up Toy of the Year), PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie™ Aircraft Carrier HQ™ Playset (Playset of the Year), GUND® Sustainably Soft Plush (Plush Toy of the Year) and Monster Jam® Monster Mudders™ Vehicle (Vehicle Toy of the Year). Ultimately PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie™ Aircraft Carrier HQ™ Playset won for Playset of the Year.
PAW Patrol Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary
The PAW Patrol are on a roll, marking the franchise's tenth anniversary year. The franchise's second feature film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie debuts on September 29th achieving over $200M in worldwide box office with a third movie greenlit for 2026. The digital games creative centre launches PAW Patrol Academy, a new preschool learning app.
Spin Master’s Founders Inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame
Spin Master’s founders Ronnen Harary, Anton Rabie and Ben Varadi were inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame at the Toy Foundation's Awards gala on September 29th, 2023. They are the first founders of a Canadian company to receive this incredible honor.
Spin Master Inks Global Toy Agreement with Paramount Consumer Products for Dora
Spin Master announces a global toy license for Paramount+ original Dora, an upcoming all-new preschool series that marks the return of the ground breaking Latina heroine and the newest property in Nickelodeon's award-winning Dora the Explorer franchise.
Spin Master Debuts New Fantasy Adventure Series Unicorn Academy
Spin Master Entertainment's fantasy-adventure children's series Unicorn Academy debuted on Netflix globally, November 2nd, 2023. The original, animated series transports audiences to a magical world as they follow Sophia™ on her journey from ordinary to extraordinary.
Spin Master and YouTube Sensation Ms. Rachel Announced A New Collection of Developmental and Early Childhood Learning Toys
Spin Master and popular children's educators and entertainers Rachel Griffin-Accurso and Aron Accurso, creators of the Ms. Rachel YouTube channel for babies and toddlers, teamed up to create a collection of developmental and early childhood learning toys.
Spin Master Acquires Melissa & Doug, a Trusted Brand in Early Childhood Play for $950 million
Spin Master completes its acquisition of U.S.-based Melissa & Doug, a well-recognized and trusted brand for $950 million. The addition of Melissa & Doug sets out to strengthen Spin Master's offering by adding complementary early childhood products and further diversifying its portfolio across new channels and formats.
Spin Master’s 30th Anniversary
Spin Master celebrates its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1994 by childhood friends Ronnen Harary and Anton Rabie soon after graduating from Western University. Ben Varadi, a former classmate of Anton’s joined them that same year.
Rubik’s Cube’s 50th Anniversary
The Rubik's Cube celebrates its 50th anniversary. Invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik, the Cube became a cultural phenomenon, challenging millions with its vibrant colors and endless combinations. Over the past five decades, it has evolved into a symbol of innovation, logic, and perseverance, inspiring everything from competitive speed cubing to artistic interpretations.
Spin Master Developing Live-Action Bakugan® Feature Film
Spin Master announces it is developing a live-action Bakugan® feature film with Brad Peyton, signed on to direct, write, and produce.
PAW Patrol Adds a Third Film to The Blockbuster Franchise
Spin Master reveals PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, will hit theaters on August 14, 2026. The third feature film for the franchise will include a host of fan-favorite stars, including Jennifer Hudson, Fortune Feimster, Mckenna Grace, Jameela Jamil, Terry Crews, Paris Hilton, Emmy® winners Snoop Dogg and Bill Nye, Meredith MacNeill, and PAW Patrol veteran Ron Pardo.
Spin Master Corp. Announces Election of Directors
Spin Master announces the election of directors at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Newly elected to the Board is Gary Vaynerchuk, a leading entrepreneur and digital media expert, bringing cultural insight and marketing innovation to the company.
Spin Master Announces Leadership Transition as Christina Miller is Appointed CEO
Spin Master appoints Christina Miller as Chief Executive Officer. A longtime Board member, Miller succeeds Max Rangel and brings deep expertise in storytelling, franchise building, and digital platform strategy to lead the next chapter.
Spin Master Acquires Lylli
Spin Master announces the purchase of Lylli, the Swedish digital reading app and
storytelling platform that offers thousands of curated e-books and audiobooks that make
reading fun and accessible for kids ages 2-9.
Spin Master and Feld Motor Sports Renew Agreement for an Additional 10 years
Spin Master announces the 10-year renewal of the company’s worldwide master toy
licensing agreement with Feld Motor Sports for Monster Jam®, extending a relationship that
has delivered authentic, stunt-ready play for fans around the world.
Spin Master Teams Up with Supercell for Global Toy Line
Spin Master announces the company’s global toy licensing agreement with mobile games
giant Supercell. This exciting partnership will develop and distribute a new collection of
toys and collector items inspired by Supercell’s globally renowned gaming brands: Clash
of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars.