The fine folks from The Toy Insider have revealed their Affordable Spring and Summer Gift Guide and you can peruse all of their picks over on “The Chronicles of Piercing Ken” by clicking HERE.
Tag Archives: toy industry announcements
Updated Toy Fair Scheduling News To Members From The Toy Association
The Open Letter:
Dear Toy Friends and Colleagues,
I’m writing to you today not just as the chairperson of The Toy Association’s Board of Directors, but as someone deeply embedded in this industry, just like you. Our board is a mosaic of twenty voices from all facets of the toy world: manufacturers of various sizes, retailers, licensors, sales representatives, and more. Though our perspectives may differ on specifics, our common goal is unwavering: the prosperity of the toy industry and the growth of our businesses through healthy play.
Feedback received is that last week’s Toy Fair® was a resounding success, testament to the strength and unity of our community. Beyond the bustling trade show floor, it was a hub for learning, networking, and celebrating the vibrant creativity that propels our industry forward. If you haven’t already, please share your feedback by completing the email survey.
Feedback, not nearly as positive, was also received about future January show timing and relocation of Toy Fair away from New York City. In 2022, in response to consistent decade-long industry feedback and further fueled by unique challenges posed during the pandemic, Toy Fair was shifted to the fall with a goal of aligning to evolving dynamics in the industry. However, as it became clear that travel and business behavior was returning to more historical patterns, new feedback was received that would result in a tradeshow returning to the beginning of the year, ideally in January. Because the newly requested timeframe could not be accommodated in our current location, a comprehensive nationwide review of cities was launched for a site that could host us in January.
Continue reading Updated Toy Fair Scheduling News To Members From The Toy Association
Breaking News: Toy Association Announces Dates and Locations for Iconic Show
The Press Release:
In response to a comprehensive evaluation of marketplace shifts and thoughtful consideration of the many constituents served, The Toy Association® Board of Directors announced today that the next Toy Fair® (aka the North American International Toy Fair) will take place in the first quarter of 2025, with March 1 to March 4 secured with the Javits Center in New York City. Following the 2025 event, Toy Fair will move to January at the award-winning New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The confirmed dates are: January 17-20, 2026; January 9-12, 2027; and January 15-18, 2028. The Toy Association and its board conducted an extensive national search to determine these dates and locations as the best available fit for the toy community in the upcoming years.
“Prior to the pandemic, we heard repeated calls that changing manufacturing lead times and retailer buying patterns demanded a shift of the iconic tradeshow’s timing from February into an earlier fall timeline. These factors and similar research findings were accelerated by the pandemic and as a board we were responsive,” said Aaron Muderick, chairman of The Toy Association and founder of Crazy Aaron’s. “Now, behaviors and inputs have returned to more traditional views that Toy Fair’s key audiences find the most value in a North American trade event taking place in the first quarter of the year, ideally mid-January. We have again listened and responded by crafting an optimal pattern based on the needs of those we serve.”
Continue reading Breaking News: Toy Association Announces Dates and Locations for Iconic Show
Today: Toy Fair Returns @ Jacob Javits Center
It’s been more than three years since the banner emblazoned with the words “Toy Fair” have hung in the Javits Center and welcomed toy industry representatives along with select press and influencers and I am happy to report that it has returned and begins today. For four days this will be the place to learn what is coming out from some of the most amazing toy companies that are in business and since this is a trade show, the general public will not be able to participate. The PiercingMetal website has been attending Toy Fair since 2011 and then expanded the level of coverage over to “The Chronicles of Piercing Ken” for good measure. These days I like to use the voice of the Ken Pierce Media site when it comes to happenings that are going to be covered by each of the sides of our creative coin. To be honest I am not sure what changes will be in place for the events return but I am excited to be doing my 11th one. The pandemic prevented this from happening in 2021 and 2022 and while this used to take place in February, its been moved to September and well…here we are.
As you read this I am already on my way to the Javits Center. It’s a loaded few days with appointments and catching up with our long-standing toy reps and like I said…I’m excited to return. I’m going to be looking for all of the superhero action figure stuff, the Godzilla and other assorted Kaiju coolness and anything relating to the almighty KISS who you might remember will be ending their career in early December. All I can promise is lots of photos, editorial and some videos for all of the social media feeds and the websites. I’ll put a link down below for you to be led to all of our coverage posts as they populate but I ask that you be patient since it will most likely be a metric ton. You’re going to want to follow a bunch of the accounts listed on both PiercingMetal‘s and Piercing Ken‘s social media platforms to keep up. The hyperlinked text will launch the respective Linktree. Now, without any futher adieu. It’s go time.
For PiercingMetal and Piercing Ken Toy Fair 2023 Posts Click HERE
Official: http://www.toyfairny.com
The Toy Foundation Reveals “Toy Of The Year” Winners For 2023
The Press Release:
The Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards celebration welcomed nearly 800 members of the toy community for a night of industry awards, philanthropy, and entertainment on the eve of Toy Fair® in New York City. Barbie, LEGO®, Squishmallows, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were among the top winners of the evening, along with standout wins for Blue Marble, Thames & Kosmos, WowWee, and others that were honored with a prestigious award before Grammy Award-winner Wyclef Jean took the stage.
Hosted by and in support of The Toy Foundation™ (TTF), the TOTY Awards are an opportunity for the toy industry to unite behind their Foundation’s work delivering the extraordinary benefits of play to children in need. Collectively, approximately $800,000 was raised to support TTF’s programs benefitting the mission partners that participated in the celebration — Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Metro World Child, and University of Maryland — as well as hundreds of additional national and international nonprofits. The TOTY Awards’ Presenting Sponsors — Amazon, Mattel, Inc., and Spin Master — all joined TTF on stage to highlight the importance and impact of the mission partners’ work.
Continue reading The Toy Foundation Reveals “Toy Of The Year” Winners For 2023