EXHIBITION
NEWS
ToyAward winners revealed Four winners were awarded a prestigious ToyAward on the opening day of Nuremberg Toy Fair, beating 601 products from 318 exhibitors to top their respective categories. The award is a special acknowledgment within the global toy industry, which gathered together for the world’s biggest toy fair in Nuremberg 28 Jan to 2 Feb.
Toymaster May show sells out Exhibitor space for the 2015 Toymaster May Show in Harrogate has sold out. In a statement, Toymaster said: “All space has been filled. Toymaster would like to take this opportunity to thank those attending for their support and we look forward to seeing you in May.” The 2015 Toymaster May Show runs from 12-14 May and will be held once again at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.
So what do all the winners have in common? Top marks for quality, creativity, safety and educational benefits. The following products topped their category’s podium this year:
Baby and Infant category (0-2 years of age) Roll Around Rattles/ Skip Hop
Pre-School category (3-5 years of age) Highwayfreak/ Scoot & Ride
School Kids category (6-10 years of age) Zoomer DINO/ Spin Master International
Teenager and Family category (11 years of age up) Hobbyzone Sport Cub SAFE/ Horizon Hobb
Influx of toys at Harrogate This year’s Harrogate International Nursery Fair is set to be the most playful ever, as the show organisers report an influx of pre-school toy and gift exhibitors signing up for the show. The number of new toy exhibitors makes a visit to this year’s show a must for toy retailers seeking exciting new baby toys, infant gifts and add-on ranges. As well as many returning toy companies, such as 1 Two Kids, East Coast Nurseries, Halilit and B Kids UK, new exhibitors include Casdon Toys, Golden Bear, Galt, Micro Scooters and Ryantown Toys & Gifts, among others. “Now that Christmas and the popular January and February trade shows are out of the way, it appears that suppliers of pre-school toys, gifts and related products are looking for new opportunities,” said show organiser Adrian Sneyd. “We have had bookings pouring in over the past few weeks. The show now has over 40 companies exhibiting pre-school toys and gifts, and with more than a few weeks to go until the show, this will potentially increase.” Attendance at Harrogate International Nursery Fair, which takes place from 29-31 March 2015, is free. It offers a packed line-up of events including a hugely informative Seminar Programme, Concept & Innovation Awards, the BPA’s BANTA Party & Awards Night, plus a free Monday night drinks party. Visit www.nurseryfair.com for more information.
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Spielwarenmesse kicks off a year brimming with innovations The toy world knows that the widest, most creative product offering is to be seen at the Spielwarenmesse, thus the number of international buyers at this year’s trade fair rose to 58 percent. Around 72,000 trade visitors (2014: 75,088) worked their way through the innovative products presented in Nuremberg by the industry. Retailers appreciated the TrendGallery as a transnational platform for planning their ranges amid the huge variety. In Nuremberg they encountered a record-beating offering by a total of 2,857 manufacturers (2014: 2,748) from 67 countries. The next Spielwarenmesse takes place from 27 January to 1 February 2016. Since the date did not coincide with the Chinese New Year, more Asian buyers were in attendance. However, the current economic and political situation also impacted on the Spielwarenmesse. Due to the concentration in the retail trade, fewer German retailers visited the fair. Exhibitors also clearly noticed the decline in Eastern European buyers (51 percent fewer Russian trade visitors). However the number of customers was just fine, in the opinion of Manfred Holl, Managing Director, Dickie-Tamiya Modellbau GmbH & Co. KG: “All the main customers were there, even if we did note that their teams were smaller.” Spielwarenmesse fulfils its pivotal role between makers and retailers with bravura. After all, 35.1 percent (2014: 32.1 percent) of buyers attend no other fair. 78.3 percent (2014: 68.7 percent) of trade visitors rated the benefits of attending the fair as very high or high. And 78 percent (2014: 77.3 percent) were extremely happy with the overall impression of the fair. This feeling is shared by 81 percent (2014: 81.1 percent) of exhibitors. Ernst Kick, Chief Executive Officer, Spielwarenmesse eG, is particularly interested in the intention of 90 percent (2014: 90.8 percent) of exhibitors to come back again: “We are all delighted to have created a marketing platform that is positively rated by our exhibitors on a regular basis.”
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