Canadian Toy Association and Toy Industry Association Announce Affiliation Agreement BRANDORA Editorial Staff - May 2014

 
Effective July 1, 2014, CTA to Become an Affiliate of TIA with Shared Membership and Single Toy Fair

The Boards of Directors of the Canadian Toy Association (CTA) and the U.S.-based Toy Industry Association (TIA) announced today the approval of a formal relationship that will “strengthen synergies between the two northern American neighbors and provide greater benefit for their members and the toy industry.” Both Associations are not-for-profit membership trade groups; they have many mutual members and a long-standing history of close cooperation on topics of shared interest.

Commencing July 1, 2014, CTA will become an affiliate of TIA.

Under the terms of the initial three-year agreement, any TIA member with operations or sales in Canada will be eligible for CTA membership at no additional charge; CTA members – including distributors – will also become eligible for membership in TIA. A representative of each organization will sit on the leadership committee of the other body. CTA will maintain its Canadian incorporation, and its own mission and bylaws.

“This new partnership will strengthen the services CTA is able to offer its members and stakeholders,” said Kerry George, CTA Chairman and Director of Customer Development for the LEGO Group. “We are building on what was already a very positive working relationship to create even more benefit for members of the toy industry across Canada and throughout North America.”

Financial support provided by TIA will support CTA’s advocacy activities and operational programs such as public relations, education and information services, networking, and the promotion of toy sales in the Canadian market.

“TIA and CTA will be working together to support members of the toy industry in new and improved ways,” explained John Gessert, TIA Chairman and President/CEO of American Plastic Toys. “In important areas such as advocacy and regulatory affairs, for example, we’ll be able to better represent the toy industry’s interests with aligned voices to the U.S. and Canadian governments.”

The TIA-hosted American International Toy Fair and Fall Toy Preview events will also be enhanced to offer U.S. and Canadian toy companies and retailers targeted business development opportunities, greater efficiency and cost-savings. CTA will no longer organize or host any trade fair or toy marketplace event.

“We are pleased to welcome CTA’s exhibitors and buyers to TIA’s trade events,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president and CEO. “This is a wonderful opportunity to grow the recognition of Fall Toy Preview and the New York Toy Fair as ‘must-attend’ stops on the global toy buying circuit. TIA’s new partnership with CTA creates terrific new opportunities for toy manufacturers and toy retailers across North America and from around the world to meet and do business.”

The agreement was approved by the TIA Board of Directors at its meeting on May 7th and by the CTA Board of Directors at its meeting on May 8th.