TOY ASSOCIATION HAPPENINGS
FALL TOY PREVIEW 2018
Cutting-Edge Toys & Games, Special Sessions, Networking Opportunities, & More by LAURIE CHARTORYNSKY, communications specialist/content developer, The Toy Association THE GLOBAL TOY INDUSTRY IS GEARING up for this year’s Fall Toy Preview in Dallas, where hundreds of companies will show off their newest and most innovative playthings for holiday 2019. Deal-making and scouting the next hot products will take priority for buyers at the show, but attendees will also have plenty of opportunities to connect with industry colleagues and participate in several special sessions that will make their time in Dallas well worth it. Exhibitors from veteran brands to small, specialized toymakers will present some of the most unique educational products, action figures, dolls, building sets, licensed products, tech toys, and everything in between, when the show returns to the Dallas Market Center, Oct. 2 to 4. “Buyers consistently tell us that Fall Toy Preview is a critical market event that is vital to the long-lead buying cycle and we are confident that this year’s show won’t disappoint,” says Marian Bossard, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association, the organization that produces the show. “Whether they are viewing products ready for market or still in the development phase, buyers will see thousands of fresh and exciting takes on toys and games.” SPECIAL SESSIONS, NETWORKING, AND MORE Kicking off Fall Toy Preview on Monday, Oct. 1, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) will host its annual WIT Empowerment Day at the Dallas Market Center, a free event for WIT members, held in collaboration with Walmart. The day will provide exclusive opportunities for women entrepreneurs to pitch their products to Walmart buyers; top toy companies, including Hasbro, Spin Master, Jazwares, PlayMonster, and Basic Fun!; and other industry experts for licensing or feedback. The day will also include networking opportunities and mentoring sessions, during which members can seek guidance from
industry experts on a variety of topics, including intellectual property, product and packaging design, manufacturing, sales, distribution, marketing, social media, and more. WIT will also host a Walmart buyer panel, an inventor relations executives panel, and educational sessions on e-commerce, licensing, and Google and Facebook advertising. At the close of the first day, Tuesday, Oct. 2, The Toy Association will once again host a themed opening night cocktail party for all attendees. Tickets cost $25 per person with the proceeds benefitting The Toy Foundation. Show exhibitors will receive two complementary tickets. On Wednesday, Oct. 3, attendees can sit in on an engaging lunch-and-learn session with David Becker, president of Blue Plate Media Services, who will bust the myths of traditional media strategies and share strategies for a “balanced diet of media buying.” The session is open to all Fall Toy Preview participants. NEW TRENDS Products shown at Fall Toy Preview will lay the foundation for The Toy Association’s top toy trends of 2019. Toy Association trend specialists will be on-site in Dallas to meet with exhibitors and discover the latest developments in toys, play, and youth entertainment. Trend information will be kept under embargo until the 116th North American International Toy Fair in February, when The Toy Association will unveil the biggest trends of the year in front of media and buyers. At Fall Toy Preview 2017, the team spotted an array of educational toys, particularly STEM/STEAM toys and toys that teach kids social responsibility, leading to the “Toys that Teach” trend announced in February. At last year’s show, they also saw an influx of nostalgic toys for a new generation of kids to enjoy with their parents, leading to the “Millennial Nostalgia” trend unveiled at Toy Fair. NEW FEATURES ON SHOPTOYS365.COM
10 THE TOY BOOK | JULY/AUGUST 2018 | toybook.com
Looking to get a head start on deal-making? ShopToys365.com, The Toy Association’s digital marketplace, allows toy companies to showcase their products in virtual showrooms, and enables buyers to discover new suppliers and securely place orders online. ShopToys365.com hosts more than 20,000 toy buyers and sellers and has more than 90,000 products. Platform operator Balluun recently developed and launched two new features, SalesMatch and Lead Insight. These highly targeted matchmaking and lead management tools help users manage their connections and target communications using analytics and messaging features. The ShopToys365 team will be onsite at the Dallas Market Center to host one-on-one meetings and training sessions with buyers and exhibitors. “ShopToys365 has helped countless companies grow their sales and contacts in markets around the globe,” says Bossard. “We encourage all Fall Toy Preview attendees to sign up for ShopToys365, so that they can maximize their business before, during, and after the show.” » For more information about Fall Toy Preview, visit falltoypreview.org. Exhibitors interested in meeting with a member of The Toy Association’s trends team should contact Akshata Hase at ahase@toyassociation.org to book an appointment. Priority will be given to Toy Association members. To learn more about ShopToys365, contact Scott Evans at scotte@balluun.com.
Laurie Chartorynsky has been a member of The Toy Association’s communications team since September 2016. At The Toy Association, she is responsible for the weekly e-newsletter Toy News Tuesday, and writes articles based on the latest trends in the toy industry for trade publications. Chartorynsky has a Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.