Industry News from MINDstyle, tokidoki and Toy2R

#1: MINDstyle's plans for 2009 are grand. I spoke to MD, who runs MINDstyle, on the phone last night. He's in the midst of putting together a whole truckload of new releases for the 2009 toy season later this year. You can expect innovative, high quality toys as always! Most notably he is working on the Michael Lau Godfather vinyl toys project (link goes to P&P as MINDstyle has not added this project to their website yet!). That series is just going to go insane. Expect total madness from all corners of the globe. However, we shall not forget that MINDstyle also has Brandt Peters' Serv-o-Matic mini figure series coming up, which I personally am very excited about.

#2: tokidoki products: Strangeco has teamed up with the tokidoki brand to create a one-stop-shop for retailers (like us) who want to support the tokidoki brand! They are adding Snooze City's tokidoki pillowcases to their lineup, in addition to a range of tokidoki iPod and Mac Laptop skins! This goes along with the tokidoki toys in plush, vinyl & plastic that Strangeco manufactures, as well as tokidoki stickers, posters and skate decks. Expect a survey (with prizes! again!) from us soon to solicit your interest in all the different tokidoki products out there. We'll put the names of everyone who responds into a hat and pick some winners to give toys to!

#3: Toy2R has a new US distribution channel which makes it easy and fast for us to get new Toy2R products, and there are a HUGE number of new Toy2R toys coming out in 2009! We have already had requests for some of the Kozik Potamus figures and a number of other Toy2R products. Keep those requests coming, we always like to hear what you want to get! In the short term, you may recall that last year as this new distributor was getting themselves set up, we ran a survey contest to ask you guys what Toy2R products you wanted, and we got a TON of replies which helped us place our first orders with them. Well, the distributor is about to receive another container of toys from Hong Kong and we will be able to fill a lot of those preorders soon. And our next exclusive will most likely be coming from Toy2R & David Horvath. Will post up more info on that as it is available.

Strangeco digs up some old tokidoki Boxed Sets!

Strangeco is doing a spring cleaning and found a few more tokidoki "Till Death Do Us Part" and "Cactus Love" Sets! Each was released on a past Valentine's Day and we of course are totally sold out of them! Highly collectible. Snap these up while you can, this will definitely be your last shot at these particular tokidoki toys!

FREE tokidoki Moofia figure with EVERY purchase during April

APRIL PROMOTION:

No matter how small your order is, we will include a FREE 3" tokidoki Moofia Minion figure with EVERY order during April! All you have to do is include a note with your payment (or just email us after you pay) and tell us which of the following Moofia figures you want: Leche, Milk Bottle, Japanese, Baby Bottle or Lowfat!

And don't forget, US customers get free shipping with any order over $100!

Blindsided: a 5-part essay on blind-box toys by Jeremy Brautman

I must have a bad case of HUTA, since I missed this last week:

Each day last week, ToyCyte's Jeremy Brautman released a piece of his essay series about blind-box toys. He managed to interview scores of artists, retailers and manufacturers during his research. It's a veritable Who's Who of movers and shakers in the toy business. 

I must say that this is one of the most thorough, well-thought-out pieces of expository writing I have ever read within our designer toy industry. Kudos, Jeremy!

Blindsided: a ToyCyte Investigation

Part 1: Toy Companies

Part 2: Toy Fans

Part 3: Toy Stores

Part 4: Toy Artists

Part 5: Toy Bloggers

Ridiculous Sale at the Wheaty Wheat store, not to be missed

Buckeye Rot Red only $10!

Buckeye Rot Black, limited to 204 pieces. Packaged in wooden crate. Only $10

Chris Lee's Mellow, limited to 660 pieces, only $7.00!

FREE TOYS with $50+ purchases:

From now till we run out:

- Spend $50+ and get a FREE Bearbrick Dawn & Death Boxed Set with your order!

- Spend $100+ and get the Bearbrick Set PLUS a Kidrobot Series 5 REACH Dunny

- Spend $200+ and get the Bearbrick Set, the REACH Dunny AND a free Dok A Mechtorian!

Don't forget, all $100+ orders shipping within the US get FREE SHIPPING!

Upcoming toys from MINDstyle

These 3 new toys are coming out in the upcoming months from MINDstyle:

(top): MINDstyle Mono Colorblok x Tim Tsui Artist Series Crossover. Limited to 300pcs worldwide. Aprroximately 10" Tall. Coming late Arpil 2009. Retail: $94.99

(middle): MINDstyle Bunny Sees Boobs by Colin Christian. Original Version. Limited to 400 pieces worldwide. Collector Edition Packaging. Approximately 11" tall. Retail: $149.99

(bottom): MINDstyle Assassin by Kei Acedera. Based on Original Artwork. Aprroximately 8" tall. Green Dress version. Limited to 250pcs worldwide. $79.99

Email us at tenacioustoys@gmail.com and let us know if you fancy any of these pieces. We are being solicited for them now.

Gary Taxali solo show in NYC opening April 4th

Gary Taxali solo show at Jonathan Levine Gallery here in NYC

529 W 20th St btw 9th & 10th Aves

9th floor

Opening 7-9pm on April 4th, 2009

Call the gallery at 212-243-3822 if you need to know more!