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Toys

For "Black Panther," what happens when culture meets commodity?

by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Kimberly Adams
Mar 2, 2018
We sit down with comic writer and journalist Evan Narcisse and Black Girl Nerds's Jamie Broadnax.
An exhibitor organizes 'Black Panther' items at the Hasbro showroom during the annual New York Toy Fair, on February 20, 2018, in New York. Toys and accessories linked to the movie, which is also making waves for its strong black female leading roles, have the potential to become an enduring presence in stores, like Spider-Man and other iconic figures, company executives say.
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Iconic Cleveland toy store is closing after 27 years

by Kai Ryssdal
Feb 6, 2018
Operating a small business, especially in a niche industry, can go either really well or not. For a couple decades, business at Steve Presser’s vintage toy store in Cleveland was booming, despite the challenges. We checked in on him on several occasions to see what it was like to be a small business owner in America’s heartland. Now […]
The view from outside the Big Fun Toy Store in the suburb of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Charlton Thorp/Marketplace
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The rise of the independent toy store

by Sean McHenry
Dec 22, 2017
Big chains like Toys R Us are having a harder time competing with Amazon than mom-and-pop shops that do their own thing.
“This is a classic toy store — the kind of toys and games you remember from your childhood,” says Christine Johnson, owner of the Miracle Mile Toy Hall in Los Angeles.
Sean McHenry/Marketplace
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Toy fads: The everlasting holiday trend

by Sean McHenry and Paulina Velasco
Dec 22, 2017
What makes a toy a fad? Lots of demand and a lack of supply.
The egg-shaped Tamagotchi virtual pet is a toy fad from Christmas past.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
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Should a toy put your child’s privacy at risk?

by Ryan Kailath
Dec 22, 2017
With the holidays upon us, shoppers might want to take a look at the U.S. Public Research Interest Group’s annual report about dangerous toys. The group highlights, of course, toys with small parts that can be choking hazards, some fidget spinners with dangerous lead level. But what caught our attention was a warning about internet-connected […]
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Toys R Us files for bankruptcy, but keeps stores open

by Marketplace Contributor
Sep 19, 2017
The toy retailer is struggling with $5 billion in debt.
People gather outside Toys "R" Us for Black Thursday in Times Square back in 2012 in New York City. 
Andrew Kelly/Getty Images
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How Paddington, Peppa and Pooh bring in the big bucks

by Jana Kasperkevic
Jun 29, 2017
Toys and TV deals can bring in billions.
 Paddington attends the German premiere of the film, "Paddington," on November 30, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. 
Christian Marquardt/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why the FDA doesn't like chocolate eggs with toys inside

by Jana Kasperkevic
Apr 14, 2017
Would you risk a $2,500 fine for a seasonal treat?
The original Kinder Egg packaging, pictured above, is banned in the U.S.  
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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The hottest holiday toy has some parents fuming

by Annie Baxter
Dec 30, 2016
Spin Master troubleshoots the birds' failure to hatch.
gardener41/Flickr
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Shelf Life

Cracking the Rubik's Cube

by Kai Ryssdal and Cerise Castle
Oct 19, 2016
In his book, Ian Scheffler gives competitive puzzle solving a twist.
 
Sonny Abesamis/Flickr
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