TIA Readies for NY Toy Fair 2

The Toy Industry Association is gearing up for the 112th annual North American International Toy Fair, set to take place at the Javits Center in New York City Feb. 14-17.

The show attracts more than 25,000 buyers from 100-plus countries, who can scope out the latest innovations from 1,000 toy sellers. This year's show will fill more than 420,000-square-feet of exhibit space with thousands of toys and youth entertainment items ranging from classic toys and games to the latest in eco-friendly playthings.

“With an ever-growing number of domestic and international participants, Toy Fair is considered a must attend show for any play professional vying for a stake in the $22 billion U.S. toy market as well as opportunities overseas,” says Marian Bossard, senior vice president, global market events, TIA. “Toy Fair attendees consistently report that they spot more trends and are introduced to more diverse and highly creative product lines at our North American show than at any other toy marketplace in the world.”

In addition to showcasing the hottest new products, the 2015 New York Toy Fair will offer a number of educational opportunities. TIA’s Knowledge Network hosts a variety of seminars, workshops and demonstrations tailored to the licensing community, independent and specialty retailers, toy inventors and designers, digital toymakers and stakeholders interested in updates on toy safety standards, laws and compliance requirements in both the U.S. and abroad.

Among these opportunities will be the Licensing Content Connection, a dedicated educational series created specifically for the world of licensing, a market segment that accounts for 30 percent of all toys and games purchased in the U.S. This four-session program will provide insights into the world of licensed playthings including "Licensing 101: The Basics of Licensing Explained" presented by Licensing Expo director Jessica Blue and "How to Strategically Use Licenses to Build Your Business" presented by Marty Brochstein of the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association.

Additionally, the 9th annual Digital Kids Conference will again be co-located within the North American International Toy Fair.

Taking place Feb. 16-17, the conference will address important new strategies, valuable tools and marketplace insights that will enable youth-focused media professionals to create best-selling digital toys, games and media services for kids. The pre-conference Learning Summit, scheduled for Feb. 15, will explore the rapidly changing innovations occurring in learning technology.