Coinciding with its 70th anniversary, product groups will be restructured or reconceptualized at Spielwarenmesse next year, taking place from January 30 to February 3, 2019.
The Electronic Toys product group will celebrate its debut, and changes will happen with existing product groups, including Festive Articles, Carnival, Fireworks, and Model Railways and Model Construction.
Initial talks with exhibitors took place at the last event. The biggest move is that Model Railways (until now in Hall 4A) and Model Construction (until now Hall 7A) will merge in Hall 7A. At the same time, the profile of the Model Construction segment will be raised by relocating those suppliers whose ranges target the toy trade as opposed to stores specialising in model construction. They will be moved to Hall 4A.
A new product segment for Electronic Toys will be created here, encompassing R/C vehicles, drones, planes, robots, and more. This new distinction provides independent retailers and buyers with guidance in the field of technology and digitalization, both of which have evolved from a fleeting fad to a firm facet of the toy sector. The foundations for this latest move were laid in 2017 when the Tech2Play activity area was first introduced.
The product group Festive Articles, Carnival, and Fireworks in Hall 9 is likewise undergoing considerable change. The toy retail sector is an important sales market for this segment. The extra space and the growing international composition of this sector will allow for this product group to be reflected more broadly. The new highlight, an Activity Area, will enhance the overall appeal, giving exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their products at fashion shows and presentations for maximum exposure.
In addition, the report for Spielwarenmesse 2018 is now available here. The event had 2,902 exhibitors showcasing 120,000 products to more than 70,000 attendees.
