Gift Focus - Nov/Dec 2019 (Issue 116)

79 TOY FAIR Welcome to Toy Fair! As the UK’s largest toy, games and hobby tradeshow, Toy Fair has plenty to offer the gifting industry. But with so much to see, where do you start? Toy Fair opens to visitors on Tuesday 21 st January and is an unparalleled one- stop-shop experience for buyers and shop owners. Visitors are among the first to see and get hands-on with upcoming product lines for the year ahead, from pocket-money toys to big-ticket items. The show boasts more than 250 exhibiting companies, including familiar household names such as LEGO, Bandai, Hasbro and Funko. Most importantly, Toy Fair offers an unmissable opportunity to see these brands all in one place, so you can plan for the year ahead. But Toy Fair isn’t just about the big companies. The show is also dedicated to supporting independent companies and start-ups through the Greenhouse Area. With a prime location in the Grand Hall, the Greenhouse offers retailers, merchandisers, and licensors the chance to discover the next big thing before anyone else. Make sure you find the time to stop by and see the Greenhouse’s fresh innovations and hidden treasures. When you first step into Olympia, it’s difficult to know where to start. But Toy Fair’s Hero Toys really do save the day! Toy Fair’s Hero Toys are the show’s top 25 must-see products, setting the stage for the year’s most exciting trends. The Hero Toys are nominated by exhibitors and retailers, to then be judged by an expert panel comprised of industry experts and the BTHA. These top toys are displayed outside the front of the Press Office (Upper West stand 320), on day one of Toy Fair. If you don’t know where to begin, then a visit to the Hero Toys display is a fantastic starting point to discover what’s on offer at the show this year. Maybe you’re looking for something specific? Toy Fair TV is the show’s in-house TV channel, reporting on all the news and highlights from the event across the screens scattered around the hall. One fantastic segment is broadcast from The Demo Zone – from Games & Puzzles to Plush and STEM toys, each slot is dedicated to a different toy category. This is a helpful way to narrow down your search even further, as exhibitors demonstrate how their products work on the big screen – in front of our very own child judges! Toy Fair isn’t just about the toys, it’s about the people too. As the biggest event in the toy and gifting calendar, Toy Fair provides the ultimate networking experience for visitors at all levels within the industry. As well as your peers, there are plenty of opportunities to meet with media as well. The show attracts a whole host of mainstream media including BBC Breakfast , The Gadget Show , The Guardian , and The Times , who are all looking for what’s going to be big in the coming year. You may even spot their video teams in Toy Fair’s Content Creation Zone, which allows them to get to grips with the show’s hottest toys in a dedicated studio space. To attend this unmissable toy industry event, free registration is now open for visitor passes. See you there! IN BRIEF Show Toy Fair Organiser BTHA Where Olympia, London When 21 st – 23 rd January, 2020 Website toyfair.co.uk  For more information and to register for a free visitor pass, visit toyfair.co.uk