Tag Archives: toy Fair

London and New York toy fairs going ahead as planned

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The organisers of the London and New York toy fairs have both issued strong statements regarding their plans for the events, which are slated to go ahead this January and February respectively.

The Toy Association expects to safely host Toy Fair New York at the Javits Center from February 19-22, 2022.

“Hundreds of small and midsize toy & play companies, entrepreneurs, and inventors across North America depend on Toy Fair New York for access to the market and new opportunities,” says Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “Many have been looking to the 2022 show to help their businesses recover from the negative impacts of the past two years of the pandemic. While international attendance will be down, and some major players do not plan to be present, Toy Fair New York is still set for the second half of February.”

To ensure the health and safety of all Toy Fair attendees, New York City’s strict indoor activity guidelines and the Javits Center’s own policy requiring proof of vaccination for admission to events will be rigorously enforced. All who enter Toy Fair will be required to wear masks. “Our steadfast requirement for proof of vaccination and mask wearing was seen as somewhat controversial last spring and today provides confidence that all health and safety standards are in place,” added Pasierb.

The Javits Center, now operating at 100% capacity, allows for social distance and is among the safest venues in the country, having received the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) accreditation and with the installation of hospital-grade High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters (the entire volume of air within the building is completely changed five times per day). Toy Fair has been planned from the onset with wider aisles as part of its health and safety preparations.

“Our industry is one of creativity, human connection, and collaboration, which is something we all desperately need and want – and something Toy Fair uniquely provides,” said Pasierb. “Toy Fair and the Javits Center have the standards and practices in place to deliver a safe environment to gather in person, meet with customers and friends, conduct business, and enjoy networking. With these tools in place, the industry has the opportunity to utilize them.”

Given that no new Covid restrictions are being mooted for England, the British Toy and Hobby Association has released a statement regarding Toy Fair 2022:

“Over the past months and weeks, we have continuously been monitoring the government regulations and industry guidance in order to best prepare and work towards delivering a safe and successful Toy Fair 2022 for the industry.

“We are pleased to confirm, given Government has not changed the conditions under which the fair can take place, that we look forward to delivering a great Toy Fair 2022 at Olympia and to welcoming the industry.

“The current regulations allow for large indoor events like Toy Fair to take place with mandatory mask-wearing and COVID-19 status checks, which we will be operating for allparticipants. The requirements for anyone accessing the halls, including exhibitors, contractors, visitors and staff will be either proof of full vaccination, a negative PCR or Lateral flow test (within 48 hours prior to arrival) or medical exemption.

“We would recommend all participants take a Lateral flow test before entering the show.

“The health and safety of our participants is of utmost importance and hence we continue to track the guidance in order to comply with regulations. We are working closely with Olympia to provide a safe environment with enhanced cleaning, multiple hand sanitising stations and two points of entrance/exit to avoid crowding.

“We continue to recommend that exhibitors also strongly factor hygiene into their planning by regularly cleaning high frequency touchpoints and demonstration products, offering hand sanitiser to all visitors and monitoring numbers to avoid overcrowding on a stand. We would recommend participants make appointments to help avoid potential overcrowding issues.

“We would also advise in this exceptional year in light of the ongoing pandemic that exhibitors be prudent on expenditure where possible, especially in case the situation or requirements from government necessitate changes.

“Once again, we thank you for your understanding, patience and support during these difficult times and look forward to welcoming the industry to Toy Fair at Olympia from 25-27 January.”

Spielwarenmesse Summer Edition cancelled over prolonged pandemic problems

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Organisers of the Nuremberg toy fair, Spielwarenmesse have confirmed the cancellation of the show’s first Summer Edition, a postponed edition of this year’s show that was scheduled to take place this July.

The fair had been moved from its traditional January slot in order to beat the restrictions in place at the hands of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Spielwarenmesse eG had pulled out all the stops to provide the industry with a suitable networking platform this year.

However, following the unrelenting uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic both on a national and international level, the organisers have decided to pull the plug on the event to to focus on Spielwarenmesse’s 2022 show.

The resolution was passed at the supervisory board meeting on March 25th.

Ernst Kick, CEO Spielwarenmesse eG, stated: “Initially, we received excellent feedback about the Summer Edition from both exhibitors and visitors. In recent weeks, however, the disappointingly slow improvement in the pandemic has been fuelling uncertainty across the industry.

“Our top priority remains the health and safety of all our participants.”

The lack of political perspective with regard to trade fairs has had a considerable impact on the ability of exhibition organisers to make firm plans and for international manufacturers and buyers to schedule and book their travel and accommodation.

‘Despite the measures already set in motion, it would be impossible to stage the Spielwarenmesse Summer Edition successfully without having the all-important run-up to the fair clearly mapped out,’ read a statement from the organisation.

The group has stated that from now on, all energy will be channeled into the regular Spielwarenmesse which is scheduled to run from February 2nd to 6th next year and will take place in conjunction with Spielwarenmesse Digital, a platform that – for the first time in the show’s history – will link the experience of the live show in Nuremberg with the virtual world.

“We’re receiving such a positive response from across the board. The market players cannot wait to get together again in February. And we’re very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Nuremberg for the 72nd Spielwarenmesse,” concluded Kick.

The London Stationery Show confirms new May dates for 2021

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The London Stationery Show will be making its return in 2021, taking up a new summer slot across May 18th and 19th at the Business Design Centre.

Exhibitions in the UK have been halted over the course of the pandemic and were originally due to resume in October. The government Department for Culture, Media and Sport has already approved the event industry’s Covid-19 guidance, and was also satisfied with pilot events which took place in September.

It is now expected that events will be allowed to restart from March 2021.

The London Stationery Show is the latest in a calendar of events to have to adapt to the current climate and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week, the organisers of the annual Spring Fair confirmed that its 2021 show would not be going ahead, but instead be held as an all-virtual event ahead of the return of its physical format with Autumn Fair 2021 and Spring Fair 2022.

Last month, the British Toy and Hobby Association made the decision to call off London Toy Fair.

“We are confident that exhibitions will resume in the spring,” said London Stationery Show’s event director, Alex Butler “And to ensure we’re in the best position possible to host a second-to-none event, we have secured a slightly later date than usual for next year’s show.

“From speaking with exhibitors and visitors over the course of this year, we know that everyone is craving the opportunity to meet face-to-face. The industry is in agreement that nothing can replace the organic business which comes from an exhibition.

“The health and safety of everyone involved will continue to be at the core of our planning, and we will be working hard to communicate our plans to ensure everyone feels confident attending the show.

“We are ready to safely open London Stationery Show’s doors and cannot wait to see everyone there.”

London Stationery Show will take place on Tuesday 18 May and Wednesday 19 May 2021. For more information you can contact the team at stationeryshow@oceanmedia.co.uk.

London Toy Fair 2021 cancelled over Covid-19 restrictions

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Toy Fair 2021 has been cancelled, the BTHA has confirmed in an update sent industry-wide today.

Owing to the latest in government restrictions amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the BTHA, in conversation with London Olympia, have made the decision to cancel the 2021 event. The industry body has stated that it looks forward to the show’s return in 2022.

A statement from the BTHA reads:

“We have been working closely with Olympia London and we have together taken the decision that despite all best efforts and endeavours by both parties, regrettably the Toy Fair 2021 is unable to take place.

“This conclusion is due to government restrictions now in place on large scale indoor events in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The wellbeing of our exhibitors, visitors, staff and contractors is paramount and currently the risks are considered too great to allow the show to go ahead as dictated by the government regulations.

“We empathise with the industry’s disappointment – this is the first year that Toy Fair will not take place in 66 years. We express our thanks to all exhibitors for their patience and understanding and for the support of the wider industry, and very much looking forward to a big return in 2022 from 25-27 January.”

The BTHA has also confirmed that there will be no virtual alternative to the 2021 show, however it will be offering all exhibitors an extended exhibitor listing on its website with an opportunity to add company information, links, product photos and videos.

The organisation will also be refunding all money paid already for stand space for 2021. Those in need of refunds are asked to contact Tracey@btha.co.uk

The Toy Association outlines plans to move New York Toy Fair to May 2021

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The Toy Association has laid out its plans to host the annual New York International Toy Fair in May 2021. In a President’s letter issued by the association and penned by Steve Pasierb, it has underlined its mission to ‘bring the industry back together as soon as it is safe to do so.’

The Toy Association has therefore set the date of the 2021 International Toy Fair as May 1st to 4th 2021 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

“We have been presented with a window in the opening days of May and we are willing, ready, and able to put resources toward the show and any other projects that will continue to help members grow their businesses,” said Pasierb in the group’s official statement.

“When the time was right to provide a digital solution, we did just that by leveraging our existing technology to build and offer Toy Fair Everywhere digital market weeks. When the time was right to provide companies with private virtual preview opportunities with key retailers – Target, Toys“R”Us Canada, and Meijer – we did.

And when the time is right for a return to in-person meetings, we will make it happen.”

In his open letter to the international toy community, Pasierb said the following:

While none of us can be certain what the nation and world will look like some seven months in the distance, we all need the promise of a future for the toy and play industry, a return to a degree of business normalcy, and to reclaim some aspects of our collective pre-COVID-19 lives.

The Toy Association’s trade events effectively and efficiently help members and the industry do more business more often, whether large- or small-scale. We canvassed our primary audience of retail buyers and toy sellers to determine whether they want us to plan for a May 2021 tradeshow. They said yes! We heard from them that the first few days of May have high potential, and the timing is relevant to specialty, long-lead, and mass market retailers. May serves specialty in time for Q4 2021; is well-timed for long lead and mass to conduct or complete Spring/Summer 2022 line reviews; and may even offer some early views for Q4 2022.

There is also a healthy slate of toy, entertainment, and licensed properties targeted for 2022 that need to be acted upon. As always, Toy Fair New York is a key opportunity for influential brand owners, licensors, licensees, retailers, and manufacturers to connect in the media and financial capital of the world, New York City. To be certain, this not the Toy Fair NY we have traditionally known as we anticipate smaller footprints, a different exhibitor mix, less extravagant if not workmanlike displays, and simply a focus on making the human and product connections that Zoom and similar substitutes have not been able to offer.

Protecting everyone’s health and safety remains paramount. We are right now working closely with every entity connected to Toy Fair, including federal, state, and city officials; contractors; and support teams, to ensure a safe environment. The show will be designed to reflect these proven approaches and will follow every prescribed health and safety protocol.

We understand that not everyone will be comfortable in an in-person environment, which is why we continue to expand our other digital engagement opportunities: Toy Fair Everywhere, which is rolling out its year-round version later this year, and the aforementioned private preview program with key retailers.

What if the situation does not turn in our favor in spring of 2021? If at any time we feel that Toy Fair NY 2021 cannot be produced in a safe manner, we will cancel the show. If the event needs to be canceled, as is the long-standing show policy, any monies paid will shift toward Toy Fair New York in February 2022, when it returns to the newly expanded and state-of-the-art Javits Center. In fact, almost all 2021 exhibitors had already shifted to 2022, so May again presents a more immediate opportunity.

Our community made it clear they did not want Toy Fair NY 2021 to simply become virtual. Rather, the connections, ability to experience products first-hand, and return to some form of human connection in doing business have proven to reign supreme. Together looking toward May with optimism reflects the very nature of the toy and play community – resilience, tenacity, confidence, and a willingness to find new ways forward.

The immediate next steps are the one-on-one conversations our account executives are having with exhibitors and the conversations our team is having with retailers and other members of the show’s audience. Much more news and specificity are to come. For now, mark your calendar and together we will do whatever we can to make good things happen in a safe, healthy, and business-building manner.