MGA Beats Mattel or Something Like That

Apparently something happened today in the "most tedious courtroom drama" winner each year for the last, what feels like, decade. As the MGA vs Mattel lawsuit continues to head towards Jarndyce vs Jarndyce proportions, it seems there was some sort of result which will be no doubt be overturned in due course.

In case you don't follow toy industry litigation particularly closely, the whole thing is about the date on which a toy I really don't like was designed. Will there be retrials, mistrials, recriminations, counter-recriminations, more lawsuits and lawsuits about the lawsuits? Of course. Will any of it interest me? Nope.

High Street Sales Fall

Nestled into a quiet corner of today's Toy News email was the particularly unsurprising news that High Street sales have plummeted in March. Hmm. I'm no Economics Professor but with inflation outstripping wage rises, it's a natural consequence. Retail needs people with money in their pockets and quickly. We've seen big and small name casualties and there'll be many more. Of course all this reduces tax revenue and the words 'downward spiral' spring to mind.

As I said, I'm no Economics Professor but someone who is, recently told his 3rd Year Economics class, only half in jest, that the quickest way to kick start the economy would be to treble the student grant - the one group of people that would immediately take the money and pump it straight back into circulation. Someone needs a good idea fast and its the best I've heard so far ;)

The Sad Loss of Corinthian

Sad news in the toy industry today, with the announcement that Corinthian has gone into administration. They've blamed a number of things - particularly the bad weather in the run up to Christmas. Maybe another day, I'll have a rant about some of the other reasons I think toy distributors are struggling, but today all I'll say is that I'm sorry to see them go.