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| □ | About Playmates.   A reputed quality house with decades of experience and dedication to making family entertainment products, Playmates Interactive Entertainment Ltd. thrives on a by combining innovative ideas, cutting-edge technology and inspired play value. From its offices and facilities in North America and Asia, Playmates distributes its extensive brands of feature dolls, action figures and interactive electronic toys throughout the world. Shares of Playmates Interactive Entertainment Ltd. are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. |
| □ | Playmates Toys Timeline Historical Timeline 1966 Sam Chan founds Playmates as O.E.M. doll company. 1969 Playmates launches first proprietary doll brand; "Precious Playmates" 1970's Playmates grows into one of the largest O.E.M. doll companies in the toy industry. 1978 Playmates launches first branded pre-school product line; "L'il Playmates". 1981 Pre-school product line extended with introduction of first licensed Disney® items. 1982 U.S. subsidiary, Playmates Toys, Inc., Incorporated in California 1984 Playmates became first publicly listed toy company in Hong Kong (Ticker:0075) 1986 "Cricket" doll, company's first promotional product, ships in U.S. 1988 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® launch in the U.S. 1990 Group sales exceed $500 million, operating profits exceeds 38% of turnover as Turtle business explodes. 1991 Waterbabies® brand introduced in U.S. 1992 Playmates acquires master toy rights in Star Trek® franchise and launches collector line in U.S. 1993 Toy company spun off as separate listing on SEHK (Ticker:0635). 1997 Playmates's Nano® brand captures large share of worldwide virtual pet market. Thomas Chan appointed Chairman as Sam Chan retires after 30 years. 1998 "AMAZING AMY" ships in U.S. - first of 6 best selling dolls in Amazing brand. 2000 Playmates revolutionizes collector business with Intelli-Tronic Simpsons® figures. 2001 Playmates Disney Princess® brand launches with "My Interactive Princess" Cinderella. Lou Novak appointed President of toy group. 2002 Playmates becomes Disney's No. 1 large doll licensee. 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return with all NEW entertainment, products and marketing support. |
| □ | History The heritage of Playmates was founded in 1966. In its formative years, Playmates principally engaged in the manufacture of dolls and was recognized as a major supplier of high quality dolls for toy companies around the world. A direct sales force was set up in the United States of America in 1978 to sell and distribute proprietary lines of dolls and preschool toys marketed under the "Playmates" brand name. On 12th November 1984, a predecessor of Playmates Holdings became the first company in the toy industry listed on the then Hong Kong stock exchanges. Following the public listing, Playmates transformed into a marketing-based promotional toy company and directly competed with the largest toy companies on a global level. In 1988, Playmates Toys launched the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" line of toys which went on to become one of the most successful brands in the history of the toy industry. The sustained success of the Turtles brand established and affirmed the position of Playmates Toys as a major player in the promotional toys arena. Since then, Playmates Toys has continued to create and bring to market worldwide numerous innovative, award-winning and popular toys. Playmates first engaged in property development and investment in the 1970's when it developed and managed an industrial property for its own use then with a gross floor area of over 300,000 sq. ft. During the 1990's, Playmates engaged in further property developments and investments and diversified into other associated business activities, applying the same philosophy of quality, innovation and brand-building to create value in new areas of opportunities. 1966 Chan Tai Ho founds Playmates as O.E.M. doll company. 1969 Launches first proprietary doll brand; "Precious Playmates". 1970 Grows into one of the largest O.E.M. doll supplies in the toy industry. Develops Playmates Factory Building which remains an investment property. 1978 Launches first branded pre-school product line; "Li'l Playmates". Establishes sales office in Randolph, near Boston in the USA. 1981 Extends pre-school product line with introduction of first licensed Disney® items. 1982 Playmates Toys Inc., incorporated in California. 1984 Playmates becomes first publicly listed toy company in Hong Kong. 1986 Ships first promotional product: "Cricket" animatronic doll. 1988 Launches Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® brand. 1990 Named by Forbes® as the most profitable toy company in the world on the phenomenal success of the Turtles. 1991 Introduces Waterbabies® brand. Diversifies into property development and investment. 1992 Acquires master toy rights in the Star Trek® franchise. 1993 Playmates Holdings Limited acquires SEHK listing in current form (Ticker:0635). 1997 Playmates' Nano® brand captures large share of worldwide virtual pet market. Thomas Chan appointed Chairman as Chan Tai Ho retires after 30 years. 1998 Launches “Amazing Amy”, first of 6 best selling dolls in Amazing brand. 2000 Revolutionizes collector toy business with Intelli-Tronic Simpsons® figures. 2001 Launches Disney Princess® brand with "My Interactive Princess" Cinderella. Lou Novak appointed President of toy business group. 2002 Playmates becomes Disney's No. 1 large doll licensee. 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® return with all NEW entertainment, products and marketing support. 2004 Acquires master toy rights in Peter Jackson's new King Kong® movie franchise. |
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| The Action Figure Archive - Sunday, February 16, 2020 |