TFNY

Last month, toy industry representatives from more than 100 countries gathered at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the 117th annual Toy Fair New York.

In its annual recap, The Toy Association says that exhibitors from more than 30 countries showcased more than 100,000 toys and games across a sold-out show floor that was the equivalent of nearly eight football fields. The global influence of the North American show continues to grow, with retail visitors from Bolivia, Finland, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, New Zealand, Thailand, Turkey, and Ukraine returning following an absence last year.

“Over the past 117 years Toy Fair New York has evolved from business meetings in New York City’s iconic Toy Building to a crucial global hub for play professionals seeking the hottest new trends, new business opportunities, access to New York’s finance and media communities, and unrivaled educational programming,” says Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association. “This year’s marketplace unveiled fresh product lines, innovative twists on classics, exciting new tech and interactive playthings, and licensed toys driven by digital and traditional media IP — all competing to top kids’ wish lists and vital to driving the $27 billion U.S. toy market and U.S. toymakers’ integral role in the $90 billion global toy industry.”

This year’s show offered more programming than ever with dozens of daily educational seminars, panel presentations, and demos covering every toy and play topic imaginable, including safety, compliance, sustainability, toy invention, design, entrepreneurship, top trends, global trade and market expansion, licensing, and more. The expanded Creative Factor program, inaugural Student Congress, and the second annual CF@TF Inventor Day were cited as highlights.

Toymakers also had the opportunity to share their new products with more than 1,000 members of the media and a growing number of family content creators and influencers.

Retail buyers from the top 25 toy retailers in the U.S. were joined by buyers from specialty retailers, independent toy stores, and international outlets. Companies on hand included Amazon, Target, Walmart, Big Lots, Dollar General, Best Buy, eBay, Disney Store, Learning Express, BJ’s Wholesale, Pilot Flying J, Hobby Lobby, Six Flags, Dave & Busters, The Entertainer (UK), Smyths Toys (UK), Hudson’s Bay (Canada), A.S. Watson Group (Hong Kong), and more.

Additionally, entertainment companies including Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, Lionsgate Entertainment, Netflix, Sesame Workshop, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Universal Brand Development, and ViacomCBS were in attendance to make new licensing deals for their owned IP.

The 118th Toy Fair New York will take place from Feb. 13-16, 2021 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Toy Fair Dallas, The Toy Association’s long-lead marketplace, will take place from Oct. 6-8.

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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