EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  NEWS RELEASE

FOR:                       ACTION PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONTACTS:                  Ronald Kaplan, CEO
                           Robert Burrows, CFO
                           (407) 481-8007
                           investor@apii.com


ACTION PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL BOARD AUTHORIZES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

$250,000 Available to Enhance Shareholder Value

ORLANDO, FL - October 17, 2001 - Edu-Toymaker Action Products International,
Inc. (NASDAQ: APII) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized
the repurchase of up to $250,000 of the Company's outstanding common stock. The
repurchases will be made from time to time in open market transactions in such
amounts as determined at the discretion of the Company's management and will be
funded out of the Company's working capital

Ron Kaplan, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "Our Board
of Directors believes that the recent trading price of our common stock does not
adequately reflect the company's value and, accordingly, offers an excellent
opportunity to increase stockholder value through reduced share dilution
stemming from a buyback. This stock repurchase program reflects our continued
commitment to improving shareholder value."

ABOUT ACTION PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Action Products International, Inc. is a toy manufacturer emphasizing
educational children's brands, including Earth Lore(TM) I Dig Dinosaurs(R) and


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I Dig Treasures(R), Space Voyagers(R) "The most authentic Space Toys on Earth",
Climb@Tron(TM) window-climbing robots, Thomas & Friends(R) Creative Play arts
and crafts kits, and Play and Store(TM) portable playsets. Its products are
marketed and sold to toy stores, specialty retailers, Internet retailers,
museums, zoos, theme parks, attractions, catalog companies, and education
markets in the United States and worldwide.

For more information on Action Products toys, email marketing@apii.com.or visit
the company on the World Wide Web at: www.apii.com or www.spacevoyagers.com.

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 NOTE: 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
effort, the ability to complete transactions, and other 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 statements for
events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.


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