What a year it has been.
In February, the 2023 edition of The BIG Toy Book kicked off The Toy Book‘s 39th volume with a refreshed look and more industry insight than ever before. For our annual State of the Industry Q&A roundtable, we assembled our biggest group of executives ever — 52 in all, representing toy and game manufacturers, retailers, marketers, and analysts. This year’s “all-star lineup” featured participants from the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia.
But over the past 11 months, much has changed.
The business outlook evolved; some participants left their companies (or soon will); mergers and acquisitions happened; and at least two companies on the list changed their names.
Now, as we close the book on 2023 and look forward to a better 2024, The Toy Book is taking a quick look back at this year’s State of the Industry Q&A series, starting with the Top 10 most-read entries based on reader traffic.
THE TOP 10 MOST-READ STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Q&A FEATURES:
- KIM BOYD — Head of Global Brands & Consumer Innovation, Hasbro
- YEHUDA SHMIDMAN — Chairman & CEO, WHP Global & Toys “R” Us
- BELINDA GRUEBNER — Chief Marketing Officer, Moose Toys
- JAMIE ELLIOTT — General Manager, Alex Baby and Toy
- NICK MURIELLA — Vice President Merchandising and Supply Chain, Toys “R” Us Canada
- ALLYSON BANKS — Marketing Director, Toys “R” Us Canada
- ANNE CARRIHILL — Director of Toys and Games, Amazon
- JAY FOREMAN — CEO, Basic Fun!
- ISAAC LARIAN — Founder & CEO, MGA Entertainment
- DAVID HENDERSON — Chief Commercial Officer, Melissa & Doug
THE REST OF THE 2023 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Q&A SERIES IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
- JULI LENNETT, Vice President, Industry Advisor, U.S. Toys, The NPD Group
- GERRICK JOHNSON, Analyst, BMO Capital Markets
- ANDY KEIMACH — President, VTech Electronics North America
- LAURA ZEBERSKY — President, Jazwares
- SUE WARFIELD — President, American Toy Specialty Retailing Association (ASTRA)
- DONNA MACNEIL — President, Beacon Communications
- SUNIPA KREUZER — Chief Merchant, CAMP
- SCOTT GOLDBERG — Managing Director and Executive Vice President, Carve Communications
- STEVE ADOLPH — CEO, PlayMonster
- STEPHANE MADI — CEO, Ravensburger North America
- HAROLD CHIZICK — CEO, ChizSix Marketing & Media
- DAVID NIGGLI — Chief Merchandising Officer, FAO Schwarz
- TIM JONES — Senior Media Director, Blue Plate Media Services
- MICHAEL FISHER — President, GPI
- ERIC BERMAN — Partner & Creative Director, Canspan BMG
- MICHAEL ALBERT — President & CEO, TCG Toys
- DAVID MIDDLETON — Managing Director, Midco Toys/Midco Toy Planet UK
- SUNNY LAURIDSEN — Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy and Licensing, Just Play
- DANIEL BENKWITT — Director of PR and Corporate Communications, The Pokémon Co. International
- HEATHER EDWARDS — Owner, Snickelfritz Toys
- CHRISTIAN ULRICH — Spokesperson of the Executive Board, Spielwarenmesse eG
- MAX RANGEL — Global President & CEO, Spin Master
- ALAN DORFMAN — President, Super Impulse
- GENNA ROSENBERG — CEO & Chief Ideator, GennComm ImaGENNation
- STEVE PASIERB — President & CEO, The Toy Association
- JOE LAWANDUS — Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Toys & Hardlines, Universal Products & Experiences
- NICK MOWBRAY — CEO, ZURU
- JEFF GREENWALD — Marketing Manager, CandyRific
- DR. LISA WILLIAMS — CEO, World of EPI
- ANDREW YANOFSKY — Head of Marketing & Operations, WowWee
- SARAH JORDAN — CEO, Mastermind Toys
- ISAAC ELLIOTT-FISHER — Filmmaker; Owner, Village Toy Castle
- ANDREW WAGAR — President & CEO, Swerve; Chair, Marketing & Communications The Canadian Toy Association
- HELENA PERHEENTUPA — Senior Vice President, ZAG Play Toy Division
- NIK NAYAR — Senior Vice President of Hardlines, Target
- JULIEN SHARP — General Manager & Country Manager, U.S., Asmodee
- DION VLACHOS — Executive Vice President, Licensing and Retail, Consumer Products & Experiences, Paramount
- VICTORIA LOZANO — Executive Vice President, Marketing Crayola
- ROBERTO STANICHI — Senior Vice President, Hot Wheels & Global Head of Vehicles, Mattel
- DEIRDRE CROSS — General Manager, Funko Games
- LAUREN DERSE — CEO, Learning Express Toys & Gifts
- DERRICK BACA, Senior Vice President, Creative, Innovation & Vision at Loungefly
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