Powerhouse Team of Industry Veterans to Debut Inaugural Product Range at LA Fall Previews

BENTONVILLE, Ark. and MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Traverse Group, a privately owned retail group generating over $1 billion annually in GMV, has officially announced its expansion into the global toy market with the launch of its new venture, ToyVerse.

Owned by retail veterans JD Hayes and Clint Lazenby, Traverse Group, based in Bentonville, has developed capability expertise in sales strategy, retail brokerage, manufacturing, brand development, licensing, eCommerce, warehousing, fulfillment, logistics, and supply chain execution under one platform for major global retailers and brand partners.

Recognized for four consecutive years on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, Traverse Group maintains robust ongoing supply programs with major global retailers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target and Costco Global. Notably, Traverse Group has become the #1 supplier of toys globally into the Club channel in dollar share, largely driven by managing the Pokémon trading card program.

“Launching our own toy development company was a natural progression given the retail reach and customer base the Traverse team has built up over the years,” said JD Hayes, Co-Founder of Traverse Group. “We are excited to build on our strong retail footprint and leverage our end-to-end supply chain infrastructure to bring innovative products directly to consumers worldwide.”

Product design and development, global brand strategy and licensing for ToyVerse will be driven out of a newly established innovation hub located in Melbourne, Australia. Heading the hub is industry leader Claire Carroll, who joins ToyVerse following successful tenures as SVP of Strategy for Toy Monster as well as Global Head of Girls Toys for Moose Toys and Disney ANZ.

ToyVerse will make its industry debut on the Toy Industry Association’s LA Fall Preview circuit this month, offering retail partners an exclusive first look at its innovative portfolio. ToyVerse products are scheduled to officially hit retail shelves in Fall 2027.

The inaugural ToyVerse product range will span multiple core categories, including Construction, Novelty, Plush, Craft, and Collectibles, with additional announcements regarding global licensing partnerships expected in the coming months.

About Traverse Group:

Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Traverse brings together sales strategy, retail brokerage, manufacturing, brand development, licensing, eCommerce, warehousing, fulfillment, logistics, and supply chain execution under one platform. The core category focus includes Home, Consumables, Petcare, Homewares, Toys, and Owned Brands, Traverse supports the full lifecycle of retail growth from product development and commercial strategy to operational execution with major global retailers and club channels.

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SOURCE ToyVerse