ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 24, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Action Products International Inc. (Nasdaq:APII), a leading toy designer and manufacturer of educational and positive, non-violent branded toys for children in preschool through primary grades, announced today that the Company's initiative to gain new distribution in the education market has been a success. Entering this market last year, the company's products will be in approximately 300 independently owned stores that provide teacher and parent teaching aids. Additionally, Action Products will have distribution in over 200 major chain stores and catalogs servicing this market, including Lakeshore, Ace Educational Supplies, School Specialty, Scholastic, J.L. Hammett, Hungates, MindWare, Scholars Choice, MasterMind, National Wildlife, Fisher Scientific, Highlights for Children, National Geographic, and Young Explorers. This significant new distribution involves many of the Company's brands including, I Dig Dinosaurs(r)(tm) and I Dig Treasures(r), Space Voyagers(r), Kidz Workshop, Curiosity Kits(r), and JAY JAY THE JET PLANE WOODEN ADVENTURE SYSTEM (tm).
Teachers, parents, and home-schoolers search for the best educational materials and teaching supplies that make learning and teaching fun. NSSEA (the international educational supplies association) released its 2004 Retail Awareness Study reporting on teachers' spending, attitudes, and behavior. This study shows that the 3.1 million public school teachers annually disburse $4.2 billion on educational products for their classroom. On average, a teacher spends $1,358 for materials and aids of which, $458 is spent in teacher and parent education supply stores. Educational stores feature children's kits and activities that stimulate a child's curiosity about learning, nurture their developmental growth, and enhancing their self-confidence.
"We are extremely encouraged by our initial entry into the education market and anticipate significant incremental sales gains from this new specialty distribution channel," stated Bill Bordegon, Vice President Sales. "Our annual sales goal in this market is over one million dollars for 2005, broadening the distribution for our brands."
ABOUT ACTION PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL
Action Products International, Inc. is a leading designer and manufacturer of educational and positive branded toys emphasizing fun. Quality brands including JAY JAY THE JET PLANE Wooden Adventure System(tm), I Dig Dinosaurs(r) and I Dig Treasures(r) excavation activity kits, Space Voyagers(r) ("The most authentic Space Toys on Earth"), Wild Climbers(tm) and Climb@Tron(tm) window-climbing animals and robots, Play and Store(tm) themed playsets, Kidz Workshop(tm) wooden projects, and Drop Zone Extreme(tm) parachute toys, and Curiosity Kits(r), a leading, award-winning specialty brand for kids' craft and activity kits. Its products are marketed and sold worldwide to specialty retailers, museums, toy stores, theme parks, attractions, zoos, catalog companies, Internet retailers, and educational markets.
For more information on Action Products' toys, email marketing@apii.com or visit the Company's web site at www.apii.com.
Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements. It is possible that the assumptions made by management for purposes of such statements may not materialize. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those relating to product demand, pricing, market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, and intellectual property rights and the outcome of competitive products, risks in product development, the results of financing efforts, the ability to complete transactions, and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement for events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.