The 69th Spielwarenmesse, which took place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, had 2,902 exhibitors from 68 countries, up from 63 last year. There were also 71,000 trade visitors from 129 countries.
Sixty-three percent of visitors were international, with Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America posting the highest growth rates. Even though the duration of the Spielwarenmesse has been cut by a day, the amount of time spent at the fair remained unchanged, with international attendees setting aside an average of 2.8 days for their visit.
Tech2Play, the activity area for electronic toys, and the Special Area for Baby & Infant Articles generated positive interest. The special show, Toys Meet Books, debuted and was well received.
The TrendGallery in Hall 3A showcased product from the three Spielwarenmesse trends—“Explore Nature”, “Just for Fun” and “Team Spirit”—and the nominees and winners of the ToyAwards.
The next Spielwarenmesse takes place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 2019.
