Tag Archives: Harry Potter

The London Toy Company teams with Wow! Stuff and Warner Bros to launch Harry Potter plush

Posted on by

The London Toy Company has collaborated with the teams at both Wow! Stuff and Warner Brothers to develop its first range of plush toys based on the ever-popular Harry Potter franchise.

The firm, who rebranded from High Resolution Designs this year, already specialises in the development of ultra-realistic and iconic plush toys, having previously found success in the licensed plush space through partnerships with Transport for London and Pringles.

Its new collection – developed in partnership with Warner Bros Consumer Products – features three iconic vehicles from the Harry Potter franchise, including The Knight Bus, Ford Anglia, and the Hogwarts Express Train.

“After initially being introduced by Russ Winter to the guys at Wow! Stuff, it became clear very quickly that there was something about our product that fitted with Wow’s ethos of delivering exactly that – wow factor toys,” said Joel Berkowitz, MD of The London Toy Company.

The partnership sees The London Toy Company launch and sell the new lines, available now. According to the firm, much interest has presented itself already and retailers are encouraged to get in touch.

“Our partnership with Wow! Stuff and Harry Potter is a huge step for us as we celebrate five years since incorporation along with a brand new trading name [previously High Resolution Design]. Working with Kenny, Richard and the team to deliver this project has been a pleasure and I thank them for their trust and dedication in getting on board with us to deliver these incredible new lines,” Berkowitz added.

Enquires: please contact Joel Berkowitz at joel@thelondontoycompany.co.uk

 

The Wizarding World launches Harry Potter At Home hub of activities, videos, puzzles and more

Posted on by

The team behind the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has detailed the launch of its Harry Potter At Home hub, a free online collection of child-friendly activities, videos, puzzles, illustrations, quizzes, creative ideas, and more.

The new hub has been designed to bring the Wizarding World into the homes of children and families across the globe as the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic through self isolation and social distancing measures.

Harry Potter At Home has taken on the mission of celebrating reading for pleasure, as well as introducing children to Harry Potter and his friends for the first time. Visitors to the hub will find an array of games to keep users entertained, including special activity kits from Bloomsbury and Scholastic.

There’s also a collection of arts and crafts videos, as well as updated activities, quizzes, and articles. There will also be an ever-evolving collection of new resources that are easy for parents, teachers and carers of children to find and access.

“The Harry Potter At Home hub aims to help inspire you, your family, your friends, and especially children all around the world to read for pleasure and enjoy the stories, as well as bring some magic-infused joy and entertainment to all the family,” read a statement from the Wizarding World team. “But the hub is also a place for those of you who have loved Harry Potter for decades: a place for you to feel the warmth of the fire in the Gryffindor common room or a much-needed hug from Mrs Weasley.

“For over twenty years, Hogwarts has always been there to welcome you home, so whether you’re starting Chapter One of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone for our US readers) with your child for the first time, or you’re halfway through the audiobooks, or you’ve just finished the seventh book (again), the Harry Potter At Home hub is here for you.”

You can visit the Harry Potter At Home hub here.

The Harry Potter store magics £20m retail revenue as it plans world’s largest shop in New York

Posted on by

Harry Potter is continuing to cast its magic upon the UK retail space, having generated £20.1 million of revenue over the 15 months to the end of February last year.

Financial statements have revealed that through a chain of just three stores located within the UK – two in the departure lounges of London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and one at London’s Kings Cross railway station – Potter maintains its spell over UK shoppers.

The stores are operated by the British company Platform 9 ¾ Kings Cross, which also managed the retail for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre shows in London, Melbourne, New York, and San Francisco, ultimately owned by WarnerMedia.

According to a report from Forbes, over the 15 months to the end of February 2019, Platform 9 ¾ Kings Cross made a £0.4 million net profit after paying £25.6 million of costs. Its biggest expense was the £7.5 million spent on stock, followed by the £3.7 million on wages.

Amid the financial reports has come the announcement that Warner will now open the world’s largest Harry Potter store in New York this summer.

The new store will be located next to the Flatiron building at 935 Broadway and will span more than 20,000 square feet across three floors. It will also house the largest collection of products based on the Harry Potter movies, as well as the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs.