Whether you are looking at attending the New York Toy Fair, London Toy Fair or even the enormous Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse), we are here to give a little guidance on what you can expect and why you should seriously consider taking part.
For inventors and brands looking to attend for the first time, but unsure how it will play out, here is an easy guide to get you started.
Industry networking
Industry toy shows grant you the opportunity to meet with other inventors, licensors, manufacturers, and toy insiders for potential collaborations. That’s right, it isn’t just about press coverage, but also networking.
Retailers and distributors
Toy Fairs grant you the opportunity to meet with major global buyers from retailers (think Walmart, Target, etc.) and secure orders. It’s opportunities like this, getting in front of decision makers, that can completely change a company’s trajectory.
Showcasing a product
As one might expect, Toy Fairs are an excellent opportunity to unveil the latest games, toys and collectibles in order to attract retailers, press and brands that might want to partner with you or purchase what you have to offer.
Press coverage
Bloggers, influencers and journalists are all in attendance looking to find what the next hot item will be for the holiday season. This makes Toy Fairs a superb opportunity for media interviews and reviews.
Market research
Journalists attend for the latest trends in toys and games whereas others will be looking for competitor product announcements and to help anticipate future consumer shifts in order to refine their own products.
With this all in mind, attendees need to carefully consider how they spend their time at any of the Toy Fairs in order to make sure the costs associated with attendance are matched by a return on investment. Whether those returns materialize as licensing meetings, manufacturing conversations, or interviews with press and influencers that Gallium books for you, Toy Fairs can hit many sweet spots for your business, and we are here to help.