Thomas And Friends Merchandise
Thomas and Friends merchandise has been produced to capitalize on the success of the television series Thomas and Friends (formerly Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends). Large numbers of manufacturers have sought to produce Thomas-branded items due to the popularity and longevity of the series that originated in 1945 with the first of The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry.
The most popular and wide-ranging items of merchandise are the models of the characters, which have been produced in many different ranges, some including accompanying railway systems. Other popular products include videos, books and magazines, and computer games. 'Thomas' merchandise has also included such diverse items as: audiobooks, annuals, colouring and activity books, jigsaws, board games, stationery, clothing, cutlery, household items such as curtains, duvet covers and lampshades, and soft drinks and spaghetti shapes.
Thomas and Friends ranked number one in the preschool toys category in the U.S. and made the top 10 for the entire U.S. toy industry in 2010. In January 2011, Thomas and Friends ranked as the number-one preschool toy property in the U.K. for the 11th year in a row. Thomas is also a top-selling toy property in Australia, Germany, Japan and Korea. While the total traditional toy industry in the United States increased 1.9 per cent in 2010, overall Thomas and Friends toy sales increased over 47.1 per cent. Fisher Price bought every railway system under the Thomas & Friends name except for the Wooden Railway. This is because Fisher Price does not have enough money to buy these popular toys from Learning Curve. However, as of 2013 Fisher Price will own the rights to produce Wooden Railway as the Contract with Learning Curve (TOMY) has expired
Read more about Thomas And Friends Merchandise: Models, Railway Systems, Electric Railway Systems, Software, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words thomas and/or friends:
“Though they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“He did not live, he observed life from a window, and too often was inclined to content himself with no more than what his friends told him they saw when they looked out of a window.... In the end the point of Henry James is neither his artistry nor his seriousness, but his personality, and this was curious and charming and a trifle absurd.”
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)