With a panel that included Jazwares, MGA, Spin Master as well as a market expert from KidsKnowBest, Toys ‘n’ Playthings took part in a toy industry debate at this summer’s Brands & Retail event held at Birmingham’s Millennium Point venue.
TnP editor Tim Murray hosted the panel and was joined on stage by Sarah Fletcher, vice president for global licensing, UK and MENA at MGA, Joel Silverman, the founder of KidsKnowBest, Tina-Louise Foster, global outbound licensing at Spin Master and Samantha Bourne, licensing director EMEA at Jazwares, to discuss everything from the current state of the industry, how things were progressing, how best to reach children and what brands, other than theirs, that they thought were working in the marketplace (all were effusive in their praise for Mattel and its current work around the Barbie feature film).
The panel was part of a busy day at the event, that included presentations from brands and companies to retailers and further panel debate, including a look at the current retail landscape, a panel made up of licensees, a panel made up of CEOs and one looking at women in licensing.
The event was capped off with a gala dinner, while most attendees further praised the venue and the move from London to Birmingham. The next Brands & Retail event will take place at the same venue in February 2024.
