Mattel, Inc.

LOS ANGELES — Virtual Piggy, an online service that allows parents to monitor their children's online shopping behavior, is heading across the Atlantic for the first time.

The company has signed partnership agreements with Toy Galaxy and Toadstool in the U.K. to integrate the Virtual Piggy solution into both companies' e-commerce operations. 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Retail Velocity and SAP Applications have expanded their partnership to develop and launch the Velocity Demand Data Streaming Service, which will integrate data streams from retailers and distributors and show manufacturers the impact consumers have on the supply chain.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Key Mattel brands drove Mattel sales for the first quarter of 2013. 

Mattel's net sales for the quarter were $996 million, up 7% compared to $928 million last year, and net income increased dramatically to $38.5 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to last year's first quarter net income of $7.8 million, or $0.02 per share.

BURBANK, Calif. — Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced that Jazwares, USAopoly and Mattel are among the toy companies it has partnered with to create new products in honor of the 75th Anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz" in 2014.

WAYNE, N.J. -- Toys"R"Us announced that it will be the first retailer in the United States to offer Fisher-Price's Octonauts toys.

NEW YORK — Saban Brands that Fisher-Price Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, will be the global master toy licensee for the company's newly announced Julius Jr. property. Julius Jr. is an animated preschool series slated to launch on Nick Jr. in 2013, and is inspired by the Paul Frank family of characters and its iconic monkey, Julius. Fisher-Price plans to produce a full range of products including playsets, plush, role play toys and more for the global marketplace.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Mattel reported a fourth-quarter net sales increase of 5% to $2.26 billion from $2.15 billion for the same period last year.

For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $306.5 million, or 87 cents per share, compared with last year's fourth quarter net income of $370.6 million, or $1.07 per share. 

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — According to global information company the NPD Group, consumers rewarded the U.S. retail toy industry with a strong December.

Based on data from the NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service, many shoppers waited until the last two weeks of December to do their holiday toy shopping. Looking at those two weeks, dollar sales were up 18%and unit sales were up 10% when compared to the same time period in 2011.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mattress and pillow manufacturer Tempur-Pedic has announced that its EVP of global operations, Matthew Clift, is retiring.

A succession plan and search is already underway with Clift continuing to lead the global operations team during the transition period.

Tempur-Pedic credits Clift with the global operations team’s success, which is describes as vital to the company's success and progression in recent years.

LA CANADA, Calif. — Santa Claus is coming to Sport Chalet, a sporting goods retailer, to take photos with everyone, young and old, under water.

No experience is necessary for fans to pose with Santa, who will be at the store from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 15. Sport Chalet dive experts will be on hand to assist Santa fans, who must be at least 10 years old to dive. Younger children need not despair, however, as they will be able to snorkel alongside St. Nick for their photo.