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The Toy Book‘s 39th volume continues with the 2023 Classics & Specialty Issue!

In this issue, we’re gearing up for the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s (ASTRA) Marketplace & Academy with a look at some of the hottest Specialty Toys & Gifts that retailers will be stocking in the months ahead.

Behind our cover, you’ll discover The State of Specialty Q&A, a roundtable discussion with a panel of specialty retailers, manufacturers, and distributors covering the trends, challenges, and wins of 2023. From there, our signature new products showcases highlight dozens of new toys, games, and related products across multiple categories, including Arts, Crafts, & Activities, Construction, Dolls, Games & Puzzles, Plush, Ride-Ons, Vehicles & R/C, and Made in the USA.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE CLASSICS & SPECIALTY ISSUE!

Additional highlights include:

  • Specialty Gets a Glow Up: Senior Editor Jackie Cucco shines the spotlight on a trio of independent toy store owners who are leveraging the power of community and toy tourism to build the business.
  • Smells Like Tween Spirit: While kidults snagged the mainstream headlines over the past year, there’s another hot market that’s driving sales, especially for the indies: Tweens.
  • Backstory: The Madame Alexander Doll Co.: Senior Editor Madeleine Buckley explores a century of this classic doll brand.
  • Slot Car Renaissance: Don’t call it a comeback, they’ve been here for years, but slot cars are enjoying some hot laps as a cross-generational family activity.
  • Backyard Adventures: Editorial Assistant Annabelle Canela delivers an update on how STEM-infused toys are helping fuel kids’ discovery of the amazing things in the world around us.

But that’s just the beginning!

As always, The Toy Book is packed with actionable insights from ASTRA, The Toy Association, Circana, and more.

If you’re not already a Toy Book subscriber, you can pick up a physical copy of our 2023 Classics & Specialty Issue on the racks at ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in Columbus, Ohio next month.

In the meantime, flip through the pages and let us know what you think, and feel free to shoot me a note via email or on LinkedIn if there’s something that you would like to see in The Toy Book

As always, be sure to check out toybook.com early and often and follow us on TwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn to stay on the #pulseofplay with the latest toy news, trends, and new products all year round!

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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