Toy Association Presents Toy Fair News and Trend Insights at ACD Games Day

May 30, 2023 | The Toy Association’s Jackie Retzer, director of event management, and Maddie Michalik, assistant manager of content & digital communications, led a presentation during ACD Games Day last week about the top toy trends of the year and key information about a reimagined Toy Fair®, taking place in New York City this fall.

The trade show was produced by ACD Distribution and took place May 24 to 26 in Madison, Wisconsin, drawing hundreds of attendees including retailers, game publishers, manufacturers, and educators.

During the presentation, Michalik provided an overview of The Toy Association’s 2023 toy trend report, highlighting the top six trends that are predicted to drive sales through the holiday season. Speaking to an audience of both manufacturers and retailers, the session also covered the ways game manufacturers and other toy companies can incorporate these trends into the product development process, and how specialty brick-and-mortar stores can use the talking points to boost sales. (The Toy Association’s team of trend specialists will give a Q4 trends update at Toy Fair 2023, taking place September 30 to October 3 at the Javits Center in New York City, as the global show kicks off the holiday season.)

Retzer then discussed the benefits of attending Toy Fair for all industry professionals, such as the opportunity to meet with more than 900 exhibitors (including more than 250 first-time exhibitors at the Launch Pad); new themed areas on the show floor, including Halloween BOOlevard, Pet PLAYce, and Hot for Holiday; robust educational programming at Toy Fair University; and more.

“The Toy Association’s participation in ACD Games Day was a great opportunity to directly connect with the gaming community and share insights on the trends that are shaping the future of the toy industry as well as Toy Fair’s continuing role as an integral trade show for the global toy community,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “The event served as a platform for us to foster meaningful conversations, exchange ideas, and establish collaborative relationships within the industry, and we look forward to the continued collaboration and innovation across the play community that Toy Fair 2023 will bring.”

More information on the Association’s 2023 toy trends and other initiatives are available on The Toy Association’s website.

Toy Fair will take place September 30 to October 3 in New York City. Attendee registration is now open. Visit ToyFairNY.com to learn more.