Category Archive
Below you'll find all posts in the category "Toy Industry"
Learning Express Andover featured in article on Needoh craze
NORTH ANDOVER, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe recently spotlighted the national craze surrounding NeeDoh, the squishy sensory toy from Schylling that has become one of the hottest toys in recent memory. The article traces NeeDoh’s rise from a clever, retro-inspired stress-ball alternative into a full-blown toy…
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Naperville franchisee discusses the Needoh trend on local television
NAPERVILLE, Illinois. When a classic sensory toy suddenly became one of the hottest items in retail, the owners of Learning Express Toys & Gifts in Naperville were ready to explain why. In a feature by Naperville Community Television, local store owners shared firsthand insight into…
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CEO Lauren Derse interviewed in viral Needoh article in USA Today
BEDFORD, Massachusetts. The viral NeeDoh craze is sweeping the country, and independent toy stores are right at the center of the excitement. As highlighted in a recent USA Today feature, shoppers are lining up and shelves are quickly clearing as demand surges for these colorful,…
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When Toy Trends Go Viral: NeeDoh Hunting Drives In-Store Excitement
AVENTURA, Florida. A new viral trend is bringing families into toy stores across the country, and Learning Express store owners are right in the middle of it. In a recent feature by NBC Miami, Isaac Bendrao of Learning Express Toys & Gifts Aventura store shared…
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Birmingham store featured in local holiday shopping feature
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama. In a recent feature from WVTM 13, the team at Learning Express Toys Cahaba Heights was highlighted during the final days of Christmas shopping. Shoppers were in great spirits, even those rushing to finish their lists, and store team members played a key…
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A Family Business With Deep Roots
DEVENS, Massachuetts. Recently, the article “Learning Express: A Family Run Toy Empire” appeared in The American Executive, a business-and-leadership magazine. The piece chronicles how Learning Express Toys & Gifts has successfully navigated a retail landscape dominated by e-commerce giants by embracing a community-centric, nostalgia-infused model.…
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The Toy Association Celebrates Hall of Fame Inductee and Learning Express Founder, Sharon DiMinico, at the 25th Toy of the Year Awards
The 25th Anniversary Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards celebrated the most innovative and creative toys in the industry, but this year’s event held special significance for Learning Express Toys and its visionary founder, Sharon DiMinico. As a pioneer in the specialty toy industry, DiMinico’s…
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Gearing Up for Toy Fair New York 2025
NEW YORK, New York. At Learning Express Toys & Gifts, we are always on the lookout for the most exciting and innovative toys to bring to our customers. That’s why we’re eager to explore the opportunities at Toy Fair New York 2025, which will return…
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Toy Association Inducts Learning Express Founder Sharon DiMinico Into Hall of Fame
NEW YORK, New York. The Toy Association has announced that Sharon DiMinico, founder of Learning Express Toys, will be inducted into the 2025 Toy Industry Hall of Fame for her significant contributions to the specialty toy industry and her support of neighborhood toy stores. DiMinico’s…
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Cautious optimism from the Toy Man
Toy World Magazine October 2023 – After 20 years working at A.C. Nielsen/D&B Research Company, Rick Derr opened the first Learning Express Toys franchise in the Chicago area in 1996, and then became a sub-franchiser, opening nine more stores. Although leaving the corporate environment behind,…
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