As New York Toy Fair comes to a close – it is set to end on Tuesday, with today representing the last of the four days – organisers and Brit attendees TnP spoke to have proclaimed it a success.
While many are still mulling the decision to skip 2024 with a return to New York for the final time on the lengthy history of the event and the shock announcement to head to New Orleans from 2026 for three years – this year’s event has proved to be a winner.
While at some stages the flow of visitors slowed somewhat, many of the exhibitors, not least in the more kidult-themed sections in the lower halls, told TnP they had bulging order books.
Executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association Kimberly Carcone told TnP: “Toy Fair is bustling with excitement! We have 1,021 exhibitors showing off their latest innovations, creative takes on classics, and trending toys for this holiday season and beyond to a diverse group of thousands of global attendees – from mass and specialty retail buyers, to licensors and entertainment executives, members of the press, and more.
“Toy Fair is bustling with excitement! We have 1,021 exhibitors showing off their latest innovations, creative takes on classics, and trending toys for this holiday season and beyond to a diverse group of thousands of global attendees”
Kimberly Carcone Executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association
“On top of the business connections and deal-making, Toy Fair University has been rolling out a steady stream of seminars and panel discussions exploring current industry issues and the future of play. It’s great to be back together in person at the largest toy show in the Western Hemisphere for what is turning out to be an unforgettable event!”
Lisa McCarthy from Connetix, the Australian company which picked up one of the best stand awards at London’s Toy Fair earlier this year had made the trip halfway round the world with her team for to the Javits Center in Manhattan, said: “It’s our first time here, we’re happy to be on Level 3 and we’ve been super-busy. Lots of people saw us on the app [which Connetix had a presence on].
“It’s a costly exercise for us, but it’s well worth it. We’ve had a lot of retailers coming to the stand.”
Phil Casdon from Blackpool based Casdon said: “It’s been a good show for us. We like the move to this date, we can launch new product here early. Overall it’s been busy and we’ve seen good people. Footfall seems a little bit down, but it’s been good.”
Another British exhibitor, Numskull, was wowing US retailers with its collectible licensed character duck figurines, said business had been brisk on its stand. Trade manager Erroll Thomas told TnP: “It’s been very good, very busy. We’ve been selling in to the US since the beginning but this is our first time here.”
Numskull senior sales manager Jack Fox added: “It’s been absolutely rammed.”
