We trust that you had a successful holiday selling season and wish you a healthy and prosperous 2006!

If you expect a refund after filing your 2005 Income Tax Return, here are two tips for making the most of your tax refund: file electonically for a speedier refund (two-weeks versus six to eight, when filed via regular mail) and invest your refund in a great value, closeouts investment with BlueRibbon for the most return on your money!

As we predicted in an earlier Newsletter, the toy retailer will close 87 of its 674 stores locations in the coming months as part of its reorganization after being taken private last year. Inventory liquidation has already begun (on a retail level) in the stores to be closed. Toys-R-Us’ new owners, including one real state developer, has reported that its liquidation will cost it US$45 million. Bargains are sure to be found if you are near one of the stores closing but be aware that these are final sales.

In January, Marvel Entertainment, whose 5,000 comic book characters include the Fantastic Four, X- Men, Captain America (pictured here) and Spider- Man, issued a five-year license that gives Hasbro the rights to make toys using Marvel characters in return for $205 million in royalty payments. Hasbro’s news toys under the deal are scheduled to reach the market in January, 2007. Under the agreement, Hasbro will advance $100 million now with another $70 million payment in May, 2007 when “Spider-Man 3” opens in theaters and another $35 million when “Spider-Man 4” is released.

Hasbro, whose brands include Playskool and Tonka has a long- term license to make and distribute toys based on the “Star-Wars” movies, makes up a large pecentage of the toys that we ship at BlueRibbon Toys.

US board game sales approached $1 billion in 2004, or about 5% of the total toy industry. This represented a 4% increase in sales in 2004 and 2% increase in 2003 while the traditional toy sales fell 3% in each 2003 and 2004.

That’s all for this issue.

Thank you for your attention and all the best!

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