Toronto-based toy and entertainment company Spin Master has launched its popular Hatchimals and PAW Patrol brands in China.
China’s multi-billion-dollar toys and games market is the second-largest in the world, and this expansion is the latest move in Spin Master’s ongoing growth strategy. Moving forward, the company will expand all of its core brands throughout China.
Both PAW Patrol and Hatchimals products will be available in China next month in 137 Toys R Us stores, along with full market support at top online retailers as well as department store chains.
Hatchimals toy eggs that hatch to reveal their inner colorful creatures debuted in October and went on to be the hit toy of the holiday season. The brand has since expanded into the collectibles category with Hatchimals Colleggtibles.
Pre-school brand PAW Patrol is also a top performer for Spin Master. Gross Q1 product sales for the company’s pre-school and girls segment went up 6.6% to US$84.7 million, driven largely by PAW Patrol.
The animated series PAW Patrol was also recently renewed by US-based Nickelodeon where it reigns as the top pre-school show across all TV (from December 26 to April 30). The Spin Master-produced series will be getting a fifth season consisting of 26 new half-hour episodes.
The move comes as companies like Mattel focus on accelerating growth in China. While Mattel experienced a disappointing fiscal first quarter, the toymaker reported a 19% net sales increase in the Asia-Pacific region.
In another story, Penguin Random House Children’s UK recently picked up world publishing rights (excluding North America) for the property.
The three-year publishing program will build the Hatchimals world with fiction, activity formats and a collector’s guide.
