Latest news with #JayForeman
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US Importers Brace for Higher Shipping Costs
It has been two months since President Trump's Liberation Day when he announced tariffs on nearly every country on Earth, especially China. Since then, US retail businesses have reduced their shipments from China. Basic Fun CEO Jay Foreman explains how the tariffs have impacted the company on "Bloomberg Markets." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Your Fave Childhood Toys Are Having A Major Comeback
Between Funko Pop figurines targeting every corner of popular culture fandom and the recent rise of blind boxes, adults are collecting and playing with toys like never before. Companies like The Loyal Subjects and Basic Fun took notice and have been attracting the attention of older toy enthusiasts, specifically Gen X and Millennials, by reviving popular brands like Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, Littlest Pet Shop and several others. Loyal Subjects CEO Jonathan Cathey told us, 'I don't think we had a conscious strategy other than to go after what we liked and knew — sort of that age-old writer wisdom — 'write what you know'. Being born in '74, I came of age with these brands, so I had a visceral connection... I knew there were many folks like me... so it just seemed like a no-brainer. It's sort of the anti-data approach, just go with your gut kind-a-thing.'It was a gut instinct that paid off. The brand's Rainbow Brite re-release took home the 'Doll of the Year' award at the 2025 Toy Awards. It's also worth noting that a Transformer toy took home 'Action Figure of the Year' and an updated version of Uno won 'Game of the Year.' Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun, explained, 'What makes [these brands] popular is that they have an extra charm and appeal that makes them memorable and endearing, generation after generation. So the brands that bring back memories are the ones that tend to remain popular.' Some of the toys have been restored just as you remember. Others have been updated slightly to align with current trends. We rounded up some of these throwback toys guaranteed to send you drifting down memory lane and spoke to some collectors about their favorites. A new kind of Care Bear Care Bears were originally created in 1981 to be featured on greeting cards. In the decades since, the characters have been the focus of TV shows, movies, games and (of course) dolls. The newest line, including this Grumpy Bear, are designed to help kids express their emotions and made from materials to help comfort children with sensory it from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in 11 styles). A truly outrageous music icon Barbie has had a chokehold on the pop culture zeitgeist for generations, but the '80s were Jem's time to shine. As the star of an animated series from 1985 to 1988, her flamboyant style and personality left such a lasting impression on kids at the time that they're now snatching up the revived doll line. Our own Noah Michelson is one such collector: "I know some people think nostalgia can be dangerous because it romanticizes the past in a way that often isn't entirely accurate, but I think leaning into it can also be a relief in some ways. So much is terrible right now and these toys are a reminder of — and a portal to — a better time."Get it from Walmart for $34.95. A colorful intergalactic superhero First introduced in 1984, Rainbow Brite leads a group of heroes who protect all of the colors of the universe. The Loyal Subjects revival of toy line is one of their most popular endeavors so far, earning them awards and accolades in the industry and from fans. While this 12-inch doll is the clear standout, the collection also includes mini figurines, bag charms and enamel pins. Get it from Amazon for $14 (also available in three other styles). A set of miniature animal friends A few years before Pokémon took the world by storm in the '90s, Littlest Pet Shop had young people all over trying to collect them all. Relaunched in 2022 by Basic Fun, fans of the original pets are embracing their tiny friends again with open arms. YouTuber Emily Kay explains, "I have around 750 Littlest Pet Shops. I've been collecting since I was around 6 years old and I'm 23 now! I stopped buying LPS when I went to college, it had been so long since Hasbro had made the type of Littlest Pet Shops that collectors like myself preferred, and there were less and less people involved in the community. I find the community to be a big part of why I enjoy collecting LPS! Once Basic Fun brought back the older style, I started to collect and make videos again with my rediscovered passion."Get them from Amazon for $11.99. An adorable adoptable dog Millennials have been living by the "adopt, don't shop" mantra since we were little kids. Between Cabbage Patch Kids and Pound Puppies, we adored dolls that came with adoption certificates and gave them loving homes. The original line of Pound Puppies ceased production in 2003, but the adoption shelter reopened in 2019 when Basic Fun brought back some familiar faces and introduced a few new it from Amazon for $14.99. A boy doll from 1985 with an unforgettable theme song Historically, most dolls have been designed to appear female and they've been marketed toward girls. Hasbro attempted to shake things up in the mid-'80s by creating My Buddy for boys. There are long-standing rumors that the doll served as visual inspiration for the murderous toy star of "Child's Play" franchise, but not even Chucky could stop this little guy from making his big return to shelves in February of it from Walmart for $34.97. A special anniversary-edition figurine for horse girls (and boys) everywhere My Little Pony has had several iterations since its debut in 1981. The adult fanbase for these magical horses is large enough that it was the subject of a documentary made back in 2012. Basic Fun introduced a limited edition re-release of the original line-up to celebrate the brand's 40th anniversary in 2021. I'm not sure they still qualify as ponies at 40 years old. Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in six styles). A sweet-scented doll with some equally fragrant friends While Rainbow Brite is off on her intergalactic travel preserving color in the universe, Strawberry Shortcake and her pals are holding it down on Earth baking sweet fruity treats. The first doll was introduced in 1979 and continues to have a devoted following with each new release thanks to The Loyal Subjects. Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two styles).
SBS Australia
13-05-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
China-US tariffs drop: 'From apocalyptic to merely bad'
There were cheers and fading fears on Wall Street overnight after news of a truce in the trade war between the world's two largest economies. Markets rebounded strongly after the US and China agreed to cut tariffs on each other's imports by 115 per cent for 90 days. This sent the S&P 500 surging by more than 3 per cent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq catapulted 4.4 per cent higher. It means it's now 22.5 per cent above its low point in early April. While investors hailed the move, analysts were more cautious. "We've gone from okay to apocalyptic, to sort of merely bad." Marcus Noland is the executive vice president and director of studies for the Peterson Institute of International Economics. "When Donald Trump was inaugurated, we were 'okay.' The tariff rates were probably somewhere on the order of 15 percent to 20 percent. Then through an escalatory spiral, they rose to 145 percent. China's actually applied tariffs on us were even higher. And now they've been reduced to something on the border of 30 percent." Mr Noland says prices will still be higher, with ongoing uncertainty and delays likely to continue for some time to come. It's certainly good news for American businesses reliant on Chinese goods - but many of these have also reacted with measured relief. "It kind of feels a little bit like we dodged a hurricane, we didn't get free of the wind and the rain, but so far, we've dodged major impact.' Jay Foreman is the CEO of the toy company Basic Joy. "And our hope is, from here, is the 30 percent will maybe go down to 10 percent or less." Arthur Brunner says it's a hope shared by European investors. He's the director of market making bonds at ICF bank. ' The stock markets started the new week with a bang. The DAX set a new all-time high shortly after the opening. The reason here is the hope for a permanent, lasting agreement.' Asian markets were more mixed today, not matching the surge in the US and Europe. Economists warn that tariffs are still higher than before, and the future of talks between Beijing and Washington is far from certain. President Trump says he'll likely speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the end of the week. Director-general of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is calling for a bit more chill. "It's been a challenging few years for world trade. We've seen protectionism on the rise, various measures being used by different countries. We need to be very careful that trade policy uncertainty and fragmentation do not impact the world in an adverse way. Let us not to rush to take action and counter action. So, let's keep steady. Let's keep everyone deliberate. Let's chill."
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
‘We're Starting to Move Everything': Trump's China Deal Frees Up Shipping
For weeks, Jay Foreman, a toy company executive, froze all shipments from China, leaving Care Bears and Tonka trucks piled up at Chinese factories, to avoid paying President Trump's crippling 145 percent tariff. But as soon as his phone lit up at 4 a.m. on Monday alerting him that Mr. Trump was lowering tariffs on Chinese imports for 90 days, Mr. Foreman, the chief executive of Basic Fun, which is based in Florida, jumped out of bed and called his suppliers, instructing them to start shipping merchandise immediately. 'We're starting to move everything,' Mr. Foreman said. 'We have to call trucking companies in China to schedule pickups at the factories. And we have to book space on these container ships now.' If other executives follow Mr. Foreman's lead, a torrent of goods could soon pour into the United States. While logistics experts say global shipping lines and American ports appear capable of handling high volumes over the next three months, they caution that whiplash tariff policies are piling stress onto the companies that transport goods around the world. 'This keeps supply chain partners in limbo about what's next, and leads to ongoing disruption,' said Rico Luman, senior economist for transport, logistics and automotive at ING Research. After talks this weekend in Geneva, the Trump administration lowered tariffs on many Chinese imports to 30 percent from 145 percent. China cut its tariffs on American goods to 10 percent from 125 percent. If a deal is not reach in 90 days, the tariffs could go back up, though Mr. Trump said on Monday that they would not rise to 145 percent. Some importers may hold off on ordering from China, hoping for even lower tariffs later. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
