NY Toy Fair Sees Increase in Licensors

The 112th North American International Toy Fair booked a record-breaking 421,300-square-feet of exhibit space last week in New York City and 4 percent more licensors.

April 6, 2018

Owned and operated by the U.S. Toy Industry Association, this year's event was co-hosted for the first time with the Canadian Toy Association, in an effort to create a single North American marketplace for the toy industry.

This year's show saw a notable increase in licensors (up 4 percent), with executives from 20th Century Fox, Disney Consumer Products, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers Consumer Products and others onsite to scout new trends and forge licensing agreements with toymakers.

Close to 25,000 global play professionals from 91 countries stopped by to see the thousands of new toys and games on display despite frigid temperatures and snowstorms across the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard.

"Toy Fair is and always will be

the

dedicated North American toy show

for anyone with an interest in seeing the most innovative and creative playthings that American, Canadian and global toy manufacturers have to offer," says Carter Keithley, president and chief executive officer, TIA. "This year's attendees told us that they enjoyed a busy, successful and exciting show teeming with the best and brightest new toys and games of the year–many of which will not be seen at any other toy marketplace in the world."

A total of 1,064 exhibitors showcased their latest product lines to 9,012 mass and specialty retail buyers, including delegations from 22 of the nation's top toy sellers including Amazon, Costco, CVS, Disney Store, Target, Toys 'R' Us and Walmart. The top five countries represented by the most buyers were Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Japan and Hong Kong.

"We had a fantastic Toy Fair experience and were thrilled to see such incredible innovation throughout the show," says Richard Barry, executive vice president, chief merchandising officer, Toys 'R' Us. "We are most excited about the robotic advancements in toys, the terrific array of licensed products, as well as the continuation of the pet trend, and can't wait to get all the awesome new items on our store shelves."

Next year’s North American International Toy Fair will take place Feb. 13-16, 2016.