Top 5 Things at This Week’s Preview & Holiday Market
September 20, 2022 | The Toy Association’s 2023 Preview & 2022 Holiday Market kicks off today, bringing global toy professionals together to do business, network, and celebrate innovation across the industry. Here’s a roundup of five not-to-miss, business-building show experiences happening this week:
Meeting a Record Number of Global Buyers
The Preview & Holiday Market has seen a 33 percent increase in registered retail companies compared to 2019’s toy show in Dallas and pre-registered international participation is up nearly 60 percent. More buyers mean more opportunity to reach new markets and audiences – mass and specialty retailers from around the globe are descending on the Dallas Market Center to discover the next hot toy and order ready-to-ship items to end the 2022 holiday season on a high note.
Promoting Your Brand
Companies are putting their ’22 holiday playthings front and center for media and buyers and taking meetings with The Toy Association’s trends team to inform its 2023 Toy Trends report, which will be unveiled during The Toy Association’s Q1 media event, The Play Date (March 8, 2023), developed in partnership with Adventure Media & Events. Related products will also be incorporated into The Toy Association’s media messaging, including TV segments and trade and consumer articles, throughout the year.
Celebrating Play
The Toy Foundation’s TOTY Awards & Opening Night Party, taking place in the Grand Pavilion atrium of the Dallas Market Center tonight at 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., combines the premier toy networking event with the “Oscars of the toy industry” ceremony celebrating TOTY category winners and the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation (TTF).
Supporting Students & Kids in Need
Hasbro, Jazwares, Paramount, and Target will headline TTF’s brand-new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program for University of North Texas (UNT) at Dallas students, young professionals, and the toy industry on September 21. Sponsored by Jazwares, the full day of programming is available for all trade show attendees to join and participate.
TTF will close out the show with a toy collection, sponsored by Amazon. Exhibitors are encouraged to donate their toys and games, which will benefit underserved children in the Dallas area. Learn more here.
Pitching Product Ideas to Walmart & Top Toymakers
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) hosted its annual WiT Empowerment Day on Monday at the Dallas Market Center. Female entrepreneurs, inventors, startups, and women-led businesses took part in mentoring sessions, networked, and pitched their products directly to Walmart buyers and top toy companies including Basic Fun!, Educational Insights, Jazwares, Hasbro, PlayMonster, TOMY, and other industry experts for licensing opportunities and feedback.
Missing out on all the Preview & Holiday Market has to offer? Be sure to save the date for next year’s Toy Fair, taking place September 30 to October 3, 2023.