Strong toy sales from evergreen brand PAW Patrol and emerging IP Gabby’s Dollhouse in Spin Master’s new preschool, dolls and interactive category (formerly girls and preschool) bolstered the company’s Q4 2021 revenue to US$620.5 million, up 26.5% from US$490.6 million in the same period a year ago.

Fourth-quarter gross product sales for the preschool, dolls and interactive segment increased by 25.8% to US$251.8 million, compared to US$200.2 million in Q4 2020. Wizarding World and Purse Pets also contributed to the growth, which was offset by a sales decline for Hatchimals.

Spin Master also renamed its boys category as wheels and action, which delivered US$146.1 in gross product sales, up 19.7% from US$122.1 million a year ago. Strong performances from DC licensed products and Tech Deck drove the growth, which was partially offset by a decline for DreamWorks Dragons.

As for the activities, games, puzzles and plush category, higher sales from Spin Master’s Kinetic Sand, Rubik’s and Orbeez brands bolstered gross product sales by US$32.6 million (18.7%) to US$206.5 million, versus US$173.9 million in Q4 2020.

With so much play activity taking place outdoors in 2021 due to the pandemic, the company’s outdoor segment experienced the biggest increase at 48.1%, although it represents the smallest piece of Spin Master’s Q4 revenue at US$23.1 million. Gross product sales increases for SwimWays and Aerobie led the charge.

Overall toy revenue spiked by 24.8% to US$542 million, compared to US$434.3 a year ago. However, digital games revenue generated the biggest lift, increasing 57.2% to US$50 million. This growth was mostly driven by Toca Life World.

Meanwhile, Spin Master’s L&M sales were the main contributor to its entertainment and licensing revenue finishing the quarter at US$28.5 million, up by 16.3%.

Globally, gross product sales rose 32.8% in North America, 11.6% in Europe and 9.5% in the rest of the world.

CFO Mark Segal said in the earnings call that the company is watching the situation in Ukraine, but that less than 2% of its gross product sales is derived from Russia, and the toyco is credit-insured. It does have a small warehouse in Moscow, but Spin Master’s primary distribution centers are in Central and Northern Europe, which aren’t directly connected to Russia, he added.