I.M.P.S. (International Merchandising, Promotion & Services s.a.) in Brussels published the
Smurf News.
It is a smurfy pleasure to see all the colourful images of Smurfy items from all around the world.
I.M.P.S. licenses the Smurf figurines and all the Smurf related items around the world. For any information concerning the Smurfs in your country, contact the publisher Hendrik Coysman or Florentina Calatayud at
And here is a summarized Internet version of Issue No. 7 of the Smurfs News by I.M.P.S.
"It is good to look back when your past has been glorious. The Smurfs forty years are full of so many good memories and events that it is worth putting them together in a book. That way, our business partners and the fans that have been so loyal to us over the years will finally be able to get the official biography of Peyo and the full story of the Smurfs first 40 years. The upcoming 40th anniversary is a good opportunity for Smurf licensees to organise special events with us, to create collectors items, to set up special in-store events and to celebrate what is truly a happy event. As you can read in this issue of the Smurf News, the Smurfs are alive and kicking. New territories are discovering them. Old friends are coming back and the range of products is simply astounding. The story has only just begun."
In front of hundreds of kids in Munich, the Smurfs recently picked up the second Zeppi award from the TV channel Nickelodeon. In October 1996, 30,000 kids were asked to choose their favourite characters. The Smurfs were awarded the No. 1 spot in the category for cartoon figures. The Zeppi award is the equivalent of the Kids Choice Award in the US.
One of the great Smurfing success stories in the early 80s was the foil balloons produced by Anagram. Millions of dollars worth of Smurf balloons floated across the skies of Europe and the US. So I.M.P.S. was delighted when Anagram came back with some ideas for great new ballons. The first reactions at the Nuremberg Toy Fair were really enthusiastic. The star of the show was the first ever walking Smurf balloon.
This hilarious Smurf is the latest item from Leblon-Delienne, France's manufacturer of highquality resin collectibles. Only 5,000 were produced and each one comes with a certificate. More Smurfs will follow.
And that is one of them:
Special Fun Factory jeeps so successful a second series is on the way!
All Predictions were outstripped when Suzuki put its Smurfmobile "Fun Factory" jeeps onto German roads this spring. As the name implies, the car is fun to drive and is popular with families. So the Japanese manufacturer decided to run a limited edition with specially-designed Smurf illustrations of sports, party and skateboard scenes. The reaction was immediate. The family car was a success with young and old. So much so, in fact, that Suzuki decided to market a second series of 300. Presented at trade fairs in Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg and München, the car was seen by some 700,000 visitors. In addition, 70 articles in newspapers meant that 4 million readers heard about it. A special competition on Pro Sieben, the channel airing the Smurf series, meant that three lucky families will be spending their summer in a brand new - and exciting - car.
The very first Smurf platform game that Infogrames released, The Smurfs, was a runaway success in the French-speaking world for children of six and over. More than one million copies were sold in Sega and Nintendo. Since then, there have been other titles. But infogrames recently decided to reissue the Smurf game but as a PC CD-Rom this time. I comes under the banner "Tes heros favoris" (your favourite heroes) in French, English, German, Spanish and Italian.
And here is the summarized Internet version of Issue No. 6 of the Smurfs News by I.M.P.S. You just wanna move to Europe!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a Smurf! The sky really was the limit as the Smurfs become airborne with Sabena, the national airline of Belgium and one of the biggest carriers in Europe.
The deal to use Smurfs in Sabena communications literally took off when large Smurfs were painted onto the cockpits of Sabena's long-haul A-340 planes, making a daily impact in places as far away as the USA, Africa and the Far-East, which has, like Europe been swept away by Smurfmania. The sky is certainly blue for Sabena airlines!
Smurf Cookies
When Delacre, the renowned quality biscuit manufacturer, sought a character upon which to base a new brand of biscuit, it did not take long to identify the Smurfs as the perfect partner. They provide a character perceived as positive, friendly and universally appealing - important attributes for a product aimed at children.
Nine months of extensive research and development led to the initial launch of the product in France and Belgium. This proved to be so successful that the biscuits will soon be launched in, among other places, the United Kingdom, Germany, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. The biscuits, designed for children as a mid-morning snack, are a mixture of chocolate and biscuit and are therefore not too sweet. Each is shaped like a favourite Smurf character, and they come in small, easy to carry packets as preferred by the Smurfs and are highly recommended by the Greedy Smurf.
And many more brand-new smurfy items are for example:
PIERO LUCO of Switzerland are returning to a great novelty idea: selling ice cream filled Smurfs heads.
And, little Smurfling toes will be kept warm this winter with these hot water bottles adorned by a Smurf, produced by FASHI.
I could go on forever! Isn't that wonderful?!
And now, let us look back to the previous issues of Smurf News.
Smurf News, Issue No. 5 for June 1996. Here is, as promised a summarized Internet version of this issue.
A head full of dreams? A head full of plans? Topps are currently doing good business in throughout Europe with this novel idea: a head full of sweets!
Smurf Pogs
In Belgium the celebrated cheese "Caprice des Dieux" offered a collection of 35 Pogs, two of which were included in each packet.
New Season at Smurf Park
Yes, the season is well and truly under way at Walibi Schtroumpf park near Metz in France. Located close to the borders of Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, the Smurf park has a number of attractions which are unique. Looking for thrills? Try Anaconda, Europe's biggest wooden roller-coaster. A splash? Go for the rapids. Every year, the park also welcomes a new show.
Smurfs Loving Hamburgers!
The hamburger chain Quick ran a promo in France and Belgium which proved almost TOO popular. They literally ran out of stocks of the six figures and their accessories. A 15 seconds commercial ran on eight channels, leading to an increase in 57% of sales in France. (The figurines are Supersmurfs: A variation of the Smurf in the Bathtub, Smurfette with Vanity table, Smurf driving Logcar, Papa Smurf in Rocking Chair, Smurfette driving pink car. All of them have the Quick stamp.)
Blue is good for business
Ferrero thinks small is beautiful, as they made five plushes that fit into eggs! They also made a stunning Easter collection which included working models of a Smurf village. When stocks ran out, they had to pull the ad.
Smurf Books
New Smurf books span the globe. It has been a busy year for the Smurfs in print! They have had to perfect their French, German and Chinese.
Pop-up Books are still an attractive present for younger readers. The Belgian publisher (HEMMA) is currently selling a great little selection absolutely filled with Smurfs having fun. Each page is a little story in itself.
In China the new developments concerning copyright laws ties in perfectly with Culturecom's decision to release the entire Smurf series over the next three years. The first issues are already in shops - and they look great! The re-introduction of the Smurfs into the Far East is therefore happening in a big way, and promises great opportunities for the future.
Future Champs?
The Smurfs took to the greens recently for a fun golf tournament organised by IMPS. The competition to be held in 14 different Golf Clubs is sponsored by Editions du Lombard (publisher of Smurf Comic Books), Schleich (Manufacturer of the swinging Smurfette figurine), Ralph company (licensee for golf balls with Smurf characters printed on andother golf accessories) and the Belgian Golf Federation. The originality of the Smurf Gold Cup is to get pairs of adults and children playing together. One holds five special Smurf golf balls, the other the five balls featuring a smurfy putting story. Towels and caps were also produced.
The following is taken from Issue No. 4 of Smurf News from January 1996.
EMI Music in Holland kicked off with "No Limit": one of two singles from the album "Ga je mee naar Smurfenland" by top star Irene Moors and De Smurfen. It was followed by two other albums and two further singles. The latest album also came with a special Christmas single in a gatefold CD pack. Within just weeks of the release, 50,000 copies of "Houseparty" had been sold giving it gold status. At EMI, they had never seen anything like it - and the competition came from within their group, with acts such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen releasing major albums at the same time. The Smurfs went on to sell more than all these acts combined!
Our old Spanish friends at Segura Perfumes recently redesigned their presentation of Smurf products - and created new packaging for children. Their perfume and bathfoam bottles can now be transformed into a complete Smurf scene!
No less that three companies (JPI in G.A.S., Time and Diamonds in France, Wallonia and French-speaking Canada and New Tec in Holland and Flanders) are working on Smurf watches, alarm and wall clocks for Europe and Canada. Although they are all still in development we could not resist giving you a sneak preview of the lovely JPI watches!
Dimi have come up with this surprising range of marshmallows in the UK and the Benelux. They come in a variety of packages.
Down in Spain, General de Confiteria sells chewing gum with a difference: it smells nice! Kids in Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Korea can enjoy it, as well as the free Smurf transfer.
Clever, these "Opzetbiskwie" sold by Bolletje in Belgium and the Netherlands! By fitting two biscuits together kids can make the Smurfs stand up! A Smurf illustration also comes with the pack.
In Italy, Colussi Perugia sells tasty milk and honey biscuits embossed with Smurf figures. (You'll find Colussi Perugia's Web Pages in Astro's favourite links!)
Johan and Peewit are already on their 15th successful album! The new title, "Les troubadours de Roc-a-Pic", is another gripping Mediaeval mystery. "And mysteries are made to be solved!" as Johan points out. This time, he and Peewit look into a very strange case. Three ruffians are picking on a young knight for some reason. Yet he refuses steadfastly to accept the challenge. Why?
The release of this album at the end of 1995 coincided with a major new breakthrough. The two Peyo characters are having their first formal introduction to the American market thanks to Fantasy Flight Publishing.
Believe me, there is much more to tell. If you are interested to receive future issues of "Smurf News" contact the I.M.P.S. at the address above! This page will be updated with info from Smurf News as it becomes available!