PlayMonster Joins Hundreds of Exhibitors to “Make Magic Happen” in Dallas

July 26, 2022 | In less than two months, thousands of play industry insiders will descend on the Dallas Market Center for The Toy Association’s much-anticipated 2023 Preview & 2022 Holiday Market, taking place September 20 to 22. The show will serve double duty for leading buyers and hundreds of top toymakers offering a sneak peek at 2023 product as well as the toys that will be on store shelves this holiday season.

For many, the show brings a level of excitement the industry hasn’t seen in over two years, said Scott Flynn, CCO of PlayMonster, one of the hundreds of exhibiting companies that will be at the Preview & Holiday Market. The show offers the long-awaited opportunity to meet in person with buyers; make new business connections with top North American retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, IT’SUGAR, Learning Express, Urban Outfitters, and more; as well as connect with attendees representing 16 countries (in addition to industry professionals from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico), and counting.

“We’ve all been on Zoom watching videos and staring at PowerPoint presentations, but we’ve missed that in-person energy trade shows generate,” said Flynn. “Showing a really cool feature of a toy or game with a video or a Zoom camera close-up is fine if that’s what we have to do, but having buyers, media, partners, and others actually touch the toys, press the buttons themselves, and make the magic happen themselves — that will always be the best way to present new items!” 

PlayMonster is also taking advantage of the show’s hybrid booth options to preview its innovative product for next year behind closed doors while also helping buyers fill holes for the upcoming holiday season with on-display Q4 items.

“The energy of the exhibitors excited to show everyone everything they’re so proud of, and the wonder of the attendees excited to see so much fun in one place – it will feed our toy industry souls,” said Flynn. “At the show, you’ll have everyone’s total attention during their visit to your booth, and you can make their experience a memorable one. We’ll still have a majority of our 2023 line in our closed booth, but we’re also going to have an open area showing key drivers and 2022 items that are available now. It’ll be an area with so much energy and fun that it’ll trigger your FOMO!” 

Attendees looking to network will also not want to miss out on other events taking place over the three-day show, including the chance to reconnect with industry friends and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the industry during The Toy Foundation (TTF)’s Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards & Opening Night Party on September 20. Additional on-site happenings include Women in Toys’ Empowerment Day; TTF’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program headlined by Hasbro, Jazwares, Paramount, and Target; and the opportunity to meet with The Toy Association’s trends team as it maps out its 2023 trends report.

Toy companies interested in exhibiting can apply and buyers can register at ToyAssociation.org/PreviewMarket. An up-to-date overview of current exhibitors and the floor plan can be found here.