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[theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm WEEKEND [Together with the Ford Escape]( [Ford]( Skimmâd in [the ultimate getaway SUV]( â70,000â â [The number of pencils]( owned by one Iowa man, which may result in a Guinness World Record. Fingers crossed he doesnât end up No. 2. theSkimm With Hasbroâs Tom Warner Ever heard of [kidults](? Itâs a nickname given to adults who buy toys for themselves. And they arenât kidding around: Between June 2021 and June 2022, they reportedly accounted for 14% of US toy sales, up from 9% in 2019. That might explain why some of the biggest toy companies are [playing along]( â and making products specifically for them (see: [Lego A/S](, Build-A-Bearâs â[After Dark](â collection). To learn more, we spoke to [Tom Warner](, general manager and senior vice president of global action brands at Hasbro. Q: Why are more and more adults buying toys for themselves? Weâre at this really interesting intersection, where you have adults who grew up in the â70s, â80s, and â90s and loved playing with toys. And thereâs always been something so special about those toys you loved. But now, theyâre adults, and they have more disposable income. Theyâre looking for ways to show their passion, and toys are a natural fit for them. The other thing thatâs cool, [which we saw with] âTransformers: Rise of the Beasts,â was parents bringing their kids in. So these kidults are sharing their love with the kids now growing up. And that extends to toys. Q: In the past, there seemed to be a stigma attached to adults who played with toys. Has that changed? One hundred percent. Itâs really flipped. Iâve been in this business for a while and [can remember] the days where you were âa nerdâ if you collected action figures and such. Now, itâs the exact opposite. I equate a lot of that with the success of Marvel, Star Wars, and Transformers â they brought [these brands] into pop culture and the mainstream ... [Also] social media has really accelerated the fan or kidult economy ... [Itâs] allowed fans to connect with one another and celebrate their love for these brands in a bigger way. Q: Is there actually a difference between a toy thatâs intended for adults and one for kids? Or is it just marketing? Thereâs definitely things we do differently. Iâll use my action figure brands as an example. What weâve learned through our research is that itâs so important to get as close to the character that [adults have] seen in films or comics. Thereâs a term we use, articulation â which is the number of moving joints and things like that. Thatâs very important to our adult fans. Theyâre looking for that authenticity and we see that across a lot of brands ⦠Also, how an adult wants to play is different. Theyâre not going to do crash-and-bash play and get these toys on the ground. Theyâre going to display them, because theyâre conversation pieces or a way to express their fandom. So we make sure that our presentation and packaging allows them to do that in the biggest way possible. Q: Looking ahead, would you consider the kidult market to be a top priority? It definitely is, as is our preschool and kid markets. We donât see it slowing down. We see it continuing to grow. These are our most vocal fans. Theyâre the ones on social media, so we want to make sure they feel like part of the brands weâre creating ... For us, kidult has become its own segment within our businesses. What weâre trying to do is service a fan at any age â from preschool to kidults â and take them on these journeys with these great brands. To do that, what weâve found is you need bespoke content and toys for each one of these different segments ... So itâs allowed us to expand our brands into new areas. Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=More adults are buying toys for themselves â and that's changing the toy industry #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) What's Happening ð¤ In music⦠Taylor Swift sent sparks flying with her version of â[Speak Now](.â And sheâs heading into [her international era]( with even more tour dates. Meanwhile, Beyoncé move, move, move, [moved two Renaissance dates]( â and broke Pittsburghâs soul. And if youâre struggling with all these three-hour concerts, itâs apparently all [Bruce Springsteenâs fault](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ð½ In food⦠While some Costco lovers are going wild for [Reeseâs Dipped Animal Crackers](, TikTokers are dipping into [cottage cheese and mustard](. Also ripe for debate? The correct way to store [ketchup](. But one thing everyone can agree on: [Buffets](, which are back and better than ever. Oh and if youâve recently enjoyed an A&W bevvy, you may want to check out this [$15 million settlement](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ð In style... Turns out, this [swimsuit season]( comes with a lot of strings attached. Meanwhile, in beauty news, [tooth gems]( could be the key to a brilliant smile. Plus, more people are getting cheeky, thanks to [filler]( and [freckle tattoos](. (Yup, you read that right.) And speaking of semi-permanent trends, women arenât the only ones taking [this â80s hairstyle]( for a spin. Forward this to a friend. [Click here](mailto:?&subject=Check out this Daily Skimm Weekend newsletter&body=Check it out . Skimm Reads â[Banyan Moon](â by Thao Thai...With a hot Florida setting and a pervasive sense of impending change, this book is so very summer. It follows Ann Tran, a young illustrator, her mother HuÆ¡ng, and her grandmother, Minh, who is close to death when the book opens. After Minh passes, Ann returns to the sprawling house where she grew up, and she and HuÆ¡ng settle into a new kind of life. But Ann finds secrets lurking in the house, and new truths emerge about each woman while they look for a way forward. Skimm Picks Here are todayâs recs to help you live a smarter life⦠1. A wearable blanket thatâll help your baby fall asleep â and stay asleep. So youâre not up all night. [Kyte Babyâs Original Bamboo Sleep Bagâ¢]( is designed for safe sleep. Plus, itâs diaper change-friendly, temperature-regulating, and feel-it-to-believe-it soft. Sweet dreams.* [Shop now](
--------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The hilarious, heartwarming movie youâve gotta see this weekend. Big news: âJoy Rideâ is out now. So [grab your tix](, head to the nearest air-conditioned theater, and prepare for an epic and unapologetically explicit comedy thatâs getting rave reviews.* [Snag a seat](
--------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Must-have products for sweaty boobs season. People of all chest sizes can agree, it's seriously hot. Get by with a little help from [our friends](. [Stay dry]( Psst...looking for more discounts on brands Skimm'rs love? Check out all of our exclusive promo codes [here](. Weekend Escape *Slams laptop shut until Monday.* We know the feeling. And weâve got some tips for escape. Craving some adventure? Consider getting your thrills at an [amusement park](. That could be at one of the obvious choices (hi, Disney and Universal). Or, it could be at one of the other wildly entertaining places [across the US](. And no, you donât have to love roller coasters to get in on the fun. Here are a few ideas... - For thrill seekers: Buckle up and head to [Cedar Point]( in Sandusky, OH. Itâs home to 18 roller coasters â which explains why some call it the â[roller coaster capital of the world](â â including the record-breaking [Steel Vengeance]( and [Millennium Force](. Have a [need for speed](? Check out [Kingda Ka]( at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ or [Superman: Escape from Krypton]( at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. Or, if you prefer to reach great heights, consider the [Intimidator 305]( at Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA or the [Griffon]( at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. - For movie lovers: No surprise, you canât go wrong with Universal Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood. Potterheads can roam around [Diagon Alley]( at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. While âJurassic Parkâ fans are sure to have a dino-mite experience at [Jurassic World](. You could also can pop over to [Disneyâs Hollywood Studios]( to find the droid youâre looking for. Meanwhile, if the MCU is your fave, check out the [Avengers Campus]( at Disney California Adventure Park. - For fun and games: Go old school with [11 classic fair games]( (like Skee-Ball and Hoop Shot) at Funland in Rehoboth Beach, DE. [Luna Park]( in Coney Island, NY is a similar option, with two full arcades. For a more interactive challenge, you could tackle a ropes course at [Nickelodeon Universe]( in Bloomington, MN. Or, you could build something by hand at one of the countryâs three [Legoland parks](. - For the whole fam: Spend 9-to-5 (or maybe longer) at [Dollywood]( in Pigeon Forge, TN. The 160-acre park has lots of rides, concerts, comfort food, and Dolly Parton memorabilia. Another berry fun option? [Knottâs Berry Farm]( in Buena Park, CA, which is the oldest theme park in the country â and yes, started as a berry farm. Equally sweet is [Hersheypark]( in Hershey, PA. Itâs the stateâs largest amusement park and includes a zoo, restaurants, even a chocolate factory tour ride. News Quiz Letâs see how well you kept up with the Daily Skimm this week. A rumored split between Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky sparked many headlines this week. Which Bravo franchise are they from? A. âVanderpump Rulesâ B. âReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsâ C. âBelow Deckâ D. âSummer Houseâ Check back tomorrow for the answer. But if you just need to know, youâll find what youâre looking for [here](. Skimm'd by: Macy Alcido, Rasheeda Campbell, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos by CSA Images via Getty Images, Hasbro, Mariner Books, courtesy of Knottâs Berry Farm Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to the Daily Skimm](. ---------------------------------------------------------------
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