The Play Date is coming to the Big Apple!
Adventure Media & Events, publisher of the industry-leading media outlets the Toy Book and the Toy Insider, and The Toy Association, the trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages, have pulled back the curtain on plans for The Play Date.
The Play Date is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for toy companies to showcase their 2023 lineups and offer sneak peeks to the press on March 8, 2023 at the brand new etc.venues space located at 360 Madison Avenue in New York City. The event will be held across two floors with available exhibit space, private display areas, and a host of eye-catching sponsorship opportunities for enhanced media exposure.
“Thanks to the combined forces of The Toy Association, the Toy Insider, and the Toy Book, The Play Date will attract the powerhouse media outlets that toy companies want to meet with,” says Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association. “It’s an exclusive opportunity to show new lines and priority items early in the year, affording your company Q1 press opportunities to get in front of consumers. Whether you are looking to highlight spring and summer launches or offer a sneak peek at the hottest toys for holiday ’23, the new Play Date is a strategic advantage to your 2023 media plans.”
“For more than 100 years, toy companies have taken advantage of Q1 as an opportunity to showcase their long lead items to the media,” says Laurie Schacht, CEO of Adventure Media & Events. “While Toy Fair has moved to September, the Toy Book, the Toy Insider, and The Toy Association realize that there is still a need for media exposure early in the year. The Play Date will give top media their first look at the products that will be coming to store shelves in 2023, and a jump on the hot new toy trends for the year.”
The Play Date will be a single-day, invitation-only media event. Media and a very limited number of VIP influencers will be vetted under strict guidelines before they are approved to attend. The Play Date is not a retail-buyer event.
Companies of all sizes are welcome and will have numerous options to participate and showcase new products and prototypes.
More information, including exhibitor registration and sponsorship opportunities, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
