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Over 1,100 exhibitors from around the world gathered to showcase an estimated 100,000 new toys and youth entertainment products across more than 345,500 net square feet of exhibit space during the 107th American International Toy Fair® held last week at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere attracted 10,600-plus buyers from 85 countries to scout for trends and place orders for the latest products to wow and engage kids of all ages. The total number of buyers in attendance increased three per cent (3%) over the previous year. “Attendance, energy and momentum were all up this year,” said Carter Keithley, president, Toy Industry Association. “Buyers lined the aisles and exhibitors were writing a steady stream of orders, creating an unmistakable buzz that carried throughout the four days of the show.” “Toy Fair 2010 was upbeat and energetic,” said Jim Engle, president, Little Kids, Inc. “We generated significantly more leads and business than a year ago. Overall, the show was a great success for us.” “This year’s Toy Fair was the best we have had in the 22 years we have been attending,” agreed Ramona Pariente, president of Safari Ltd. “We experienced even more traffic and had more quality buyers than ever before.” The total number of retail outlets represented at Toy Fair 2010 increased two percent (2%) over 2009, with 5,744 distinct organizations in attendance. The diversity of retailers spanned traditional toy sellers ranging in size from specialty toy stores to big box and warehouse retailers to drugstores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, as well as alternative toy and game distribution channels such as book and clothing stores, pet shops and travel-themed retailers. “Toy Fair has helped launch us to the next level, introducing us to a much wider range of buyers from specialty toy, book, online, and gift store buyers as well as providing a one-of-a-kind opportunity to network with other companies and increase our national visibility,” added Jennifer Conn, co-owner and creative director of Arttero, a small mom-owned business that sells eco-friendly U.S.-made art kits. “The number of buyers and the number of retail outlets both increased from last year,” observed Marian Bossard, TIA vice president of meetings and events. “Toy Fair continues to be a place where buyers and manufacturers gather to do business and strike up deals, while press flock to the show to report on new product and trends.” Nearly 1,000 media representatives from 14 countries converged at the show to report on this year’s top cross-sector trends – active, accessible, affordable and aspirational – and predict which toys and games will be on the lists of kids around the world this holiday season. Major media outlets covering the show included The Today Show, Good Morning America, AP, CBS, Fox Business and Fox News, The New York Times, MSNBC, The Wall Street Journal, and Reuters. “This year's Toy Fair was four days of nonstop business,” said Harold Chizick, vice president global communications and promotions, Spin Master. "Our booth was constantly filled with top quality buyers, deal-makers and A-list media. We are so excited about the people we met and the orders we wrote at the 2010 show that we are already making our plans for 2011.” Total attendance at Toy Fair 2010, including buyers, retailers, trade guests, media and exhibiting staff increased four per cent (4%) over 2009 to 25,030. Nearly 285 of the exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents were first time exhibitors. Toy Fair is among the top five NYC-based trade shows, and in 2009 was ranked by Trade Show Executive magazine as # 56 among U.S. trade shows that “set the gold standard for the exposition industry and the industries they serve.” The 108th American International Toy Fair will be held February 13-16, 2011, at the Javits Center. |
