It's been a record year for Anjar & Becker Associates and a continuation of our transformation into a full-service licensing agency in 2024. Several big brands we licensed in the past two years were developed and launched in entirely new business categories. After 50+ years as leading licensors in the Toy Business, we're now licensing agents in three additional markets: Apparel, Pet Toys, and Publishing. We've also created a new Media Division and we have a new focus on Sustainability, Social Impact, Philanthropy, and Improved Mental Health for Children.
In June, 2024, we secured an Agreement with Hasbro for a new game launching next year, on behalf of two inventors we represent.
• As the exclusive global licensing agent for all Wham-O legacy brands, including Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Slip 'n Slide, Hacky Sack, Super Ball, Boogie Board, Trac-Ball and Wham-O, across all categories, we've built a global licensing program and signed several major deals in categories ranging from pet toys to retro toys to apparel.
The 75th Anniversary of the formation of Wham-O in 2023, was celebrated by licensees all year long.
Wham-O released numbered, limited-edition, collectible Commemorative 75th Anniversary Frisbee Discs with a $29.99 SRP.
• Frisbee 65th Anniversary in 2023 (Frisbee was trademarked in 1958).
• Hula Hoop 65th Anniversary in 2023 (1958 intro and trademark).
• Hacky Sack 40th Anniversary in 2023 (1983 intro).
• Jazwares, the fourth largest and fastest growing toy company, licensed Wham-O Pet Toys and established an entirely new Pet Division around these iconic ACTIVE PLAY
brands, creating over 70 original products and packaging, all approved by the licensor. Jazwares initially launched with 30 durable, BPA-free items in March 2023. In addition to the Jazwares salesforce, Phillips, Jazwares US distributor is selling the line to smaller and specialty accounts.
Wham-O Pet Toys were showcased at five trade shows in 2023, including Jazwares booths at the London Toy Fair and Nuremberg Toy Fair, the MidStates Toy Extravaganza and Rendezvous all in January, 2023, and at Global Pet Expo in March, 2023.
At retail, 1500 PetSmart Stores launched Wham-O Pet Toys on an endcap and inline in March, 2023. The products initially launched on Amazon and PetSmart.com. Wham-O Pet Toy expansion plans are underway in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Canada.
Starting in August 2023, there were five new Wham-O Pet Toys on Amazon.com, including:
The SuperBall 3 in 1 Tire Ball Puzzle
Frisbee Brightzbee
Frisbee Whizzbee
Frisbee Floatsbee and
Frisbee Gripsbee
In 2024, most of these continued, along with several dozen new introductions, including Innovative Launchers like Batter Batter Fetch (bat with balls inside to launch and hit), Sling 'n Fetch (Ball with Slingshot launcher), and Fling 'n Fetch (Frisbee with launcher), a new brand, called INDESTRUCTO, which is super high bounce and ultra lightweight, and floats on water. There's also a value line, a line of Hacky Sack items for cats, a line of Enrichment products, Tug of War items, and a new Slip 'n Slide for Pets.
The newest items: Batter, Batter Fetch ($29.99 SRP); Sling 'n Fetch ($19.99 SRP); and Brightzbee were introduced at retail through PetSmart, BigLots, Amazon and other US retailers in May, 2024.
Two Instagram content creators with 20 million followers @Hammyandolivia and @madmax_fluffyroad featured Wham-O Pets and the Squishmallows Pet Brands at CHONG FEST in Philadelphia in June of 2024.
INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION HIGHLIGHTS for WHAM-O PET TOYS (Spring 2024):
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• In another deal, we oversaw the launch of ‘Retro’ versions of Classic Wham-O products, including Frisbee, Hacky Sack, SuperBall, and Slip 'n Slide, to Winning Moves. The brand is doing well at retail and a Retro Slip 'n Slide will be available at retail in 2023 for the first time.
• We also licensed Wham-O Apparel to American Eagle Outfitters for t-shirts and Wham-O promotional products.
• Bentex, a leading licensed apparel company, will market Wham-O kids t-shirts, kids playwear, and adult t-shirts.
• Becker Associates is the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for Ukrainian-based 3D OKTO Clay sensory art, which was on display at the 2023 Nuremberg Toy Fair! This high quality product and packaging is safe, natural and is now trending at the intersection of Kidults and Mindfulness. Okto Clay air dries in 2-3 hours, allowing enough time to paint with clay and texturize the canvas. Safe components and natural, sustainable materials, allow for sculpting and encourage the creative process. Buy yourself time. Get in the flow. OKTO CLAY can heighten a sense of well-being and flow can increase positive emotions.
"Flow is often associated with athletes, artists, or scientists who are fully-absorbed in order to achieve peak performance. Yet, flow-like states also occur in more mundane situations, such as when engaging in certain tasks during work or leisure time (Bakker, 2008; Demerouti et al., 2012; Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). An example is a gamer spending hours behind the computer without feeling bored, fatigued, or hungry. Experiencing flow is accompanied with sense of accomplishment, meaningfulness, and positive mood states (Csikszentmihalyi and Nakamura, 2010), and as such, flow also plays a role in well-being. During flow, stress levels are low and so are worries and self-reflective thinking. People who experienced flow often, at least retrospectively, reported feeling in control, having a clear sense of direction (i.e., clear goals), and a condensed perception of time (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). The latter means that time seems to fly when people are in a flow (Hancock et al., 2019)."
Already on Amazon.com, we're providing support for this vertically-integrated company, founded by a woman and run by women. These beautifully packaged 3D Kidult products target 12+ women. Kidults (people 18 and older) are the biggest source of growth for the Toy Industry. Kidults represented 14% of U.S. toy sales ($5.7 Billion) and 60% of the dollar growth for the 12 months ending September, 2022. Many designs come with wooden frames and produce incredible wall hangings and vertical pictures, so different from traditional Play-doh, which is mostly a manipulative. OKTO CLAY is a self-funded start-up, founded in 2016, and has overcome great challenges including the ongoing war in UKRAINE. Okto's younger, Lovin Brand provides Slime and themed-packaging for private label and educational suppliers. Becker Associates has the rights for all OKTO brands. Target ages: 18 months - 118 years. Many logistics, including banking and shipments have been relocated to Poland. There are currently distribution partners in 15 mostly Eastern European countries, including: Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, as well as Italy, Spain, and Portugal. If you're interested in global distribution or licensing in the U.S., Europe, and more than 75 other countries, please contact us.
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• Big Fat Yarn by Jazwares launched at Target, Walmart and Amazon in August, 2022. These finger-knitting activity craft kits are targeted to girls 6+. The super soft fabric creates pillows, purses , hair accessories and scarves in minutes! No tools or knitting needles are needed. There are more than 550 million impressions of Big Fat Yarn on social media and over 17.6 million views on YouTube as multiple YouTube videos have gone viral! (as of 2/23). There we more than 7.7 million views on social media in the first six weeks of launch. The YouTube Short with Piper has over 8.1 million views, as of 2/23 and the Plush Decor YouTube Influencer Video has over 5 million views, as of 2/23! This is our first experience with the HUGE potential of social media going viral and our licensee is very excited about it. Big Fat Yarn is the winner of many awards, including the Good Housekeeping Award, and it has been featured in numerous Hot Holiday Lists for 2022. Big Fat Yarn has also been featured on at least three morning talk shows - in Tampa, Houston and NY - including the #1 daytime talk show in the U.S., The View!
In 2023, you can buy 5 Big Fat Yarn DIY Finger Knitting Fun Craft Kits at Target Stores, 4 Big Fat Yarn Kits on Amazon, and 2 Big Fat Yarn Kits at Walmart. Big Fat Yarn is also available in Walmart Canada and on eBay. Big Fat Yarn distribution continues to expand in the U.S. and around the world into the UK and Europe in 2023 at these locations:
• Winter Accessorize URself Kit (#BFY0007, $29.99 at Target) DIY scarf, hat, gloves, ear warmers, or boot cuffs.
• Plush Decor Kit (#BFY0002, $19.99 at Target) DIY Watermelon Pillow or a Round Pillow.
• SQUISHMALLOWS Fashion Accessory Kit (#BFY0010, $12.99 at Target).
• Winter Accessorize URself Kit (#BFY0007, $29.99 at Target) DIY scarf, hat, gloves, ear warmers, or boot cuffs.
• Hair Bundle Pack (#BFY0006, $10.99 at Target).
• Plush Decor Kit (#BFY0002, $22.97 at Walmart).
• Hair Bundle (#BFY0006, $9.97 at Walmart).
• Plush Decor Kit (#BFY0002, $32.97 at Walmart Canada).
• SQUISHMALLOWS Cozy Accessory Kit (#BFY0026, $19.99 on Amazon.com) DIY SQUISHMALLOWS scarf or hat.
• Winter Accessorize URself Kit (#BFY0007, $29.99 on Amazon.com) DIY scarf, hat, gloves, ear warmers, or boot cuffs.
• Accessory Kit (#BFY0003, $29.99 on Amazon.com).
• Plush Decor Kit (#BFY0002, $19.99 on Amazon.com) DIY Watermelon Pillow or a Round Pillow.
• Fantasy Animal Kit (#BFY0001, $16.99 on Amazon.com).
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• Dan Dee and Animal Adventure, our Sophie la girafe licensee, and one of the world's largest plush companies, is marketing a beautiful, extensive line of 15 Sophie la girafe brand plush products available spring, 2023. The initial line features anti-bacterial plush, super soft everyday infant plush in three sizes, light-up feature plush, a quilted activity mat, stroller toys, mobiles, a big rocking horse, and a soft Sophie infant chair, which is low to the ground and perfect for crawlers and walkers. Storage cubes, baby wedges, and seasonal products are planned in the future.
• Tomy is selling Rock 'n Roller Piano globally throughout the world since 2022. Prior to that, Rock 'n Roller Piano was one of Fat Brain Toys top sellers in the US and Canada. Fat Brain Toys was purchased by Tomy in late 2020.
Anjar is well-known for marketing many games that have sold more than a million pieces. The familiarity and proven success is highly desirable after the uncertainty the world faced from Covid. Several of these included: Go for Broke (MB-1965), Tumball, and Fireball Island.
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• Go for Broke! the board game where players compete to be the first to lose all their money, continues to sell well in eight European countries in 2023. Licensees include John Adams (UK), Lansay (France) as La Flambeur, Hutter (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) as Mankomania, and Identity (Benelux) as Bankroet. The game was completely revised and updated relaunched in 2021. Go for Broke! was the 1988 Arets Spil Best Family Game Winner
In 2023, new licensees and distributors launched Go For Broke in 10 countries: Greece, Romania and Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Portugal, Denmark and Norway, Finland and Sweden.
• These launches include a license by AS Company (Greece, Romania and Cyprus); and four new 2023 distribution deals through John Adams:
• IMC Toys Spain SA (Spain and Portugal) distributes Go for Broke under the name Bancarrota
• Rocco Giocattoli S.R.L. (Italy), distributes Go for Broke under the name Crack!
• Liniex (Norway) distributes Go for Broke under the name LAMILLI000.000NERNE RULLE with this tagline: Vær den første som taber/taper en million! (The Game you WIN by Losing a MILLION!)
Liniex submitted LAMILLI000.000NERNE RULLE! to the 2023 Best Game of Year Competition in Denmark.
• Toy Rock (Finland and Sweden) distributes Go for Broke under the names SPEL LÅT PENGARNA RULLA! (Swedish) and TÖRSÄÄ TONNIT-Peli! (Finnish).
• Our award-winning action game Tumball (Badaboule, Balla Balla, ValliBalli, BadaBum), continues to be sold in dozens of countries through our licensee and long-time customer, MegaBleu. Distribution expanded into several new countries in 2021, including the U.K. through John Adams, and Kawada in Japan.
• Badaboule by MegaBleu was awarded the "Grand Prix du Jouet, in the skill games category" in 2017. MegaBleu innovates once again by presenting this game where you will need a steady hand and nerves of steel, otherwise... BADABOULE! As the white balls pile up, watch as the cluster of colored balls hanging from the hook begins to move... further and further apart until suddenly ... BADABOULE!
In 2023, Balla Balla was featured in a game show as a 10' lifesize version on Disney RTL TV.
• In the U.S., Tumball is sold by Blue-Orange Games beginning in 2024.
• Vibr'Action, a laugh-out-loud, adult party game for 2-4 players by MegaBleu. Introduced at the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2023 and launched in France and Benelux in 2024. VR Distribution is distributing Vibr'Action Game in the UK starting in 2024.
• A mass-market version of the classic game Fireball Island: Race to Adventure, and brand extensions including, The Curse of Vul-Kar and Wreck of the Crimson Cutlass continue to be sold in the U.S. and Internationally by Goliath since 2021. Created as brand extensions to Fireball Island, originally licensed by Anjar in 1986, it appeals to a cult-like following. Fireball Island was the third highest grossing Kickstarter game campaign of all time, raising $2.8 million.
• 2024 further solidified our role as Children's Publishing Agent with the launch of The Doggos series of 15 books by S.K. Edwards. The first four titles are Simon & Butch, Fiona & Dora, Stephen & Scrappy, and Charlotte & BooBoo! The books launched in soft and hard-cover on Amazon and IngramSpark. Each of the original, heart-warming stories about dogs and the kids who love them, focuses on the story of a sad, abandoned, dog and an unhappy, out of control, or lonely child. The books are inspiring parables that depict the special relationships between children and dogs. Many children suffer from anxiety, loneliness, bullying, or hyperactvity, but, when just the right dog comes into his or her life, magic happens. Dogs are reservoirs of unconditional love and can make a child feel valued and secure.
Timber Tots Bathtub Bay encourages toddlers to take a bath and lets them have fun playing with water. You can find it in Tomy's infant/toddler line.
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Timber Tots Schoolhouse was introduced during the pandemic in 2021, so a slightly older child could 'play school' even if they didn't have in-person classes.
The brand continues to expand each year, with new winter-themed introductions in 2022 and additional products added to the line in 2023.
Timber Tots miniaturized collectibles of a few of the best-selling items have been added for 2024 and will be available in 4th quarter.
• We added a new licensee, MJM Australia for Steve Kaufman Puzzles in 2021 and MJM Australia further extended the Steve Kaufman Puzzle line in 2022, following their big success during Covid. Steve Kaufman was a protégé and apprentice of Andy Warhol, and his Pop Art is in high demand, including new NFTs and two pictures hanging at the NY Stock Exchange. We've been licensing products to MJM Australia for 40+ years.
• TCG Toys added new selections for their 2021 and 2022 Steve Kaufman Puzzle line because they sold so well during the pandemic.
• MJM Australia also renewed their license for the beautiful Anne Geddes Plush line for the 4th time in 2023. The pink Baby Fairy, Baby Bee, Baby Tiger, purple Baby Bunny, and the Baby Bear sold extraordinarily well in Toys R Us and Aldi in 2022 and that will continue in 2023.
• Funskool has fueled our continued expansion into India since 2021, launching Jigstars, an exciting party game in a new category called puzzle-games, and Backlash, a simple checkers-like game. As a manufacturer and exporter, these Funskool games are now available globally for licensing and distribution to all other countries.
• We’ve previously licensed other games and exciting crafts, such as Tapeigami Kits to Funskool in India, and have Indian sourcing and pricing available for your products, regardless of where your warehouse is. Tapeigami is essentially Origami using tape. We've created a line of proprietary tape, and proprietary processes, that include animals, vehicles and other themes. Customers can create an entire collection of products as small as a penny or life-size, using four simple techniques. Instruction videos and no-reading required booklets are included.
• We represent many inventors, entrepreneurs, brands, and manufacturers, and we have some tooling available, as well as already manufactured games and crafts you can distribute. As mentioned, we also have sourcing in China and India. Our new Media Division offers content around the IP we own or represent, including some wonderful children books that can be used for all types of media, including streaming, TV commercials, and YouTube videos.
• Schedule a Zoom meeting if you’d like to see new products.
Becker Associates LLC & Anjar Co. LLC are an award-winning, full service, global licensor and IP brand management agency. We’ve licensed over 1,500 products and brands, and our licensees have sold more than $2.5 billion worth of our toys, crafts, kits, games, and dolls. We're the proud recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Licensing Agent Award and have been called, ‘The Best Run Licensing Agency in the Country.’ We were humbled and honored to be named as the Mojo 100 Most Influential People in the Toy Industry three years in a row (2020, 2021 and 2022). We've also received the Play Connects Philanthropy Award in partnership with the Toy Industry Foundation.
As Past-President of Women in Toys, Licensing and Entertainment (WIT), Patti helped initiate the impactful relationship with Walmart, when she envisioned the WIT Walmart Empowerment Day for Women-Owned-Businesses, in 2012. The Walmart program helped WIT catalyze retail partnerships in a new way and became a pilot program for Walmart's $20 billion initiative to diversify their supplier base. Patti also initiated and oversaw the repositioning of WIT to include Licensing and Entertainment, global expansion, an increased budget, and respect for the WIT organization.
Patti is currently advocating for mental health and wellness to have parity with physical health for children and young adults, focusing on those transitioning from college to careers. Patti is also a Play Ambassador for the Toy Association's Genius of Play Campaign. The Founder of Anjar, my ‘Dad' James R. Becker, is in the Toy Industry Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at ChiTAG as a Pioneer in the Licensing Industry. He was also honored with the prestigious International Designer and Inventor of Toys Award (also known as the I.D.I.O.T. Award). The Award is given to luminaries who have made outstanding contributions to the Toy Industry.
Schedule a Zoom meeting or email us for an in-person meeting, and we'll personally demonstrate exciting proprietary products, proven best-sellers, and well-known brands. Every appointment is customized to fit your needs. In 2023, our trade show planning includes: Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg, Germany, NY Now, Play USA in NYC, ToyFest in Las Vegas, Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL, Spring PlayDate, various Wham-O Anniversary Celebrations, ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, Atlanta Gift Show, ASTRA Marketplace in Columbus, Ohio, DisTOY in London, Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, Tokyo Toy Show, Super Zoo in Las Vegas, Brand Licensing Show in UK, ZooMark 2023 in Bologna, Italy, Toy Fair in NYC, and ChiTAG in Chicago. We began to attend in-person industry trade shows again in March of 2022, including: Toy Fair West, The Global Pet Show in Florida, DisToy in the UK, Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, SuperZoo in Las Vegas, 2022 Holiday & 2023 Preview Show in Dallas, Mojo Pitch, Licensing Summit in NYC, and ChiTAG in Chicago.
Every day we make sustainable choices that we believe will have a long-term positive impact on the health of our planet and well-being of our society. At Becker Associates, our licensed products are increasingly made from non-toxic, ethically sourced ingredients by major manufacturers around the world who are prioritizing sustainability. We do our best to encourage our licensees to make and package our toys and games in eco-friendly packaging that can be recycled or repurposed. On a trip to Alaska, we were made visibly aware of global warming, which continues to dramatically affect our planet. We were exposed to glaciers that were identified annually as they receded, with a simple sign stating the year, placed next to the outermost edge of the glacier. That visual was stunning. As advocates for children and the importance of play, we’re acutely aware of the role we have in protecting the environment for future generations. Because I've always had a passion for play, I've also recently become a PLAY AMBASSADOR for the Toy Association Genius of Play Initiative. I've recently joined the Executive Board of MESHhelps.com, leveraging MESH skills and the Power of Play to build resilience. Mental, Emotional, and Social Health can be improved through problem-solving, self-regulation, conflict resolution and communication strategies by helping children identify and overcome obstacles, explain what they are experiencing, and ask for help when they are stuck.
We're always looking for new products! If you're an inventor and have a new concept in any category, please submit it to us for review on the Inventors page of this website.
• Schedule a Zoom meeting if you’d like to discuss your new products.
