PARSIPPANY — Toys”R”Us® has officially emerged as a new company, with new leadership and a new vision to deliver the magic of its iconic brands around the world. Tru Kids, Inc., has opened their corporate headquarters at 5 Wood Hollow Road.

Tru Kids Inc. leased approximately 26,000 square feet at 5 Wood Hollow Road

Effective January 20, the new company, Tru Kids Inc. doing business as Tru Kids Brands, became the proud parent of Toys”R”Us®, Babies”R”Us®, Geoffrey® and more than 20 established consumer toy and baby brands. Toys R Us was established in 1948; Babies R Us in 1996; and Geoffrey the Giraffe, Beloved Mascot, in 1965.
Richard Barry

Tru Kids Brands will be led by Richard Barry, the former global chief merchandising officer at Toys”R”Us, who will serve as President & CEO along with an experienced management team that includes Matthew Finigan as CFO, James Young as EVP of Global License Management & General Counsel, and Jean-Daniel Gatignol as SVP of Global Sourcing & Brands.

Yehuda Shmidman

The company also appointed brand management veteran Yehuda Shmidman as Vice Chairman to advise on global strategy and execution. Shmidman is the CEO of Wave Hill Partners, and the former CEO of Sequential Brands Group.

For over 70 years, Toys”R”Us has celebrated the joys of childhood with kids of all ages and Babies”R”Us has been the destination for all new and expecting parents.  Geoffrey the Giraffe, the beloved mascot of Toys”R”Us for more than 50 years, is adored by kids and their families all around the world.

This brand power remains as Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us generated over $3 billion in global retail sales in 2018 through more than 900 stores and e-commerce businesses in 30+ countries across Asia, Europe,Africa ;and the Middle East.  In the U.S., Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us continue to have incredibly strong brand affinity and loyalty with more than 9.5 million followers across their social media channels.

“Despite unprecedented efforts to capture the U.S. market share this past holiday season, there is still a significant gap and huge consumer demand for the trusted experience that Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us delivers,” Richard Barry, President & CEO of Tru Kids Brands. “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write the next chapter of Toys”R”Us by launching a newly imagined omni channel retail experience for our beloved brands here in the U.S. In addition, our strong global footprint is led by experienced and passionate operating teams that are 100% focused on growth.”

Global partners include Al Futtaim Sons Co. LLC (UAE), Green Swan (Iberia), Keshet-Hypertoy Ltd (Israel), Lotte Shopping Co. Ltd (S. Korea), Marketing Services and Commercial Projects Operation Company (Saudi Arabia), Tablez & Toyz Private Ltd. (India), and Toys (Labuan) Holding Ltd. in partnership with Fung Retailing Ltd. (Asia).  The Company will work closely with each to expand the Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us businesses in their respective markets as well as actively seek opportunities to bring the brands to new and emerging territories.

Tru Kids’ global partners are set to bring the joy of Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us to more customers through the opening of 70 stores this year in Asia, India and Europe and the development of new e-commerce platforms in several key markets.

Tru Kids will be headquartered in New Jersey with a skilled team of returning Toys”R”Us employees.

“We have an incredible team focused on bringing Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us back in a completely new and reimagined way, so the U.S. doesn’t have to go through another holiday without these beloved brands,” added Barry.

Further updates on the U.S. business strategy to follow.

Tru Kids^TM is the parent of beloved brands, including Toys”R”Us®, Babies”R”Us®, Geoffrey the Giraffe®, Journey Girls®, Fastlane®, True Heroes®, You & Me®, Imaginarium®, and Just Like Home®. Established in January 2019, Tru Kids is focused on growing its family of brands through innovative partnerships that deliver kid-and-parent-focused experiences that expand beyond traditional retails concepts in the physical and digital spaces.

The company delivers a wealth of services to our valued license partners around the world, in addition to design and development of over 20 additional established consumer brands. The company has offices in New Jersey, USA, Hong Kong & Shenzhen, China.

Tru Kids is a new company celebrating over 70 years of heritage with an expert team focused on families, kids, and play.

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials issued a Winter Weather Alert and are reminding motorists that Governor Phil Murphy has declared a State of Emergency and the NJ State Police issued a commercial vehicle travel restriction, both starting at 12 midnight tonight, Monday, February 11, due to the anticipated severity of Winter Storm.

NJDOT is prepared and coordinating our response with our regional transportation partners to ensure the safety of all travelers. The Department has 2,500 plows and spreaders that are ready to be activated statewide wherever they are needed.

Ice and winds could bring trees and branches down on roadways. NJDOT crews have tree-clearing equipment available to remove debris from state highways to ensure plows, emergency personnel and utility companies can get through. In addition, the Department and our transportation partners are prepared for possible flooding in South Jersey from heavy rain.

The Department is reminding motorists:

• AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL during the storm
• Consider Telecommuting tomorrow, if possible
• If you must drive and road conditions deteriorate, GET OFF THE ROAD somewhere safe and wait it out
• Always STAY CLEAR of plows and spreading trucks.  If they are behind you, let them pass
• DO NOT PASS between trucks that are in a plow formation
• Be patient and use caution

Commercial Vehicle Travel Restriction

The restriction applies to the entire length of all Interstate Highways in New Jersey including:

• I-76
• I-78
• I-80
• I-195
• I-280
• I-287
• I-295
• I-676

The restriction DOES NOT apply to:

• New Jersey Turnpike
• Garden State Parkway
• Atlantic City Expressway

The commercial vehicle travel restriction in New Jersey applies to the following vehicles:

• All tractor-trailers
• Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks
• Passenger vehicles pulling trailers
• Recreational vehicles
• Motorcycles

In order for NJDOT and our regional and local transportation partners to safely and efficiently clear roadways of snow and ice, motorists need to Clear the Roads so We Can Clear the Roads.

NJDOT will deploy our Incline Package assets on I-280 and I-78 at Jugtown mountain (between Exits 7 and 11), which includes pre-positioning towing assets, NJDOT Safety Service Patrol (SSP) trucks, and coordination with New Jersey State Police.

NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs throughout the storm to provide updates. Once conditions improve, NJDOT will lift the Winter Weather Congestion Alert.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website www.511nj.org for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news and updates follow us on the NJDOT Facebook page or on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

MORRIS COUNTY — County College of Morris (CCM) offers an affordable and convenient way to earn some extra credits, fast-track a college education to completion and lighten the course load for the next academic year through its Summer Sessions program.

Registration for Summer Sessions is open starting February 11. By registering now, students are provided with the best selection of courses to fit their busy schedules.

Courses offered cover a range of general education requirements and disciplines such as the arts, humanities, science, business, engineering, health and more. Summer Sessions courses are offered in a variety of formats – traditional in-classroom courses, online or as hybrid courses with instruction provided both in-class and online.

CCM offers four Summer Sessions for 2019:

• Early 5 Week: May 20 – June 24
• Late 5 Week: June 25 – July 29
• 7 Week: June 27 – August 15
• 3 Week: July 30 – August 19

To view available courses click here.

Individuals not currently enrolled at CCM first need to apply as a “Visiting Student” by clicking here, before registering for Summer Sessions courses.

For more information click here or call the Admissions office at (973) 328-5100.