Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 71 - November/December 2021

71 TOY FAIR PREVIEW Fun and games Toy Fair returns to Olympia in 2022, with the show seeing health & safety adjustments to make sure it adheres to government guidelines. Majen Immink, Director of Fairs & Special Events, tells us more… Toy Fair is back! After last year’s enforced absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Toy Fair is returning to Olympia London for 2022. To keep everyone safe, there will be some adjustments to the fair so organisers can ensure the health and safety of all exhibitors and visitors. Organisers the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) will continue to monitor and follow government guidelines up to and during the event. Doing so means that Toy Fair can return, something that the whole industry and associated media is delighted about. Over the last 18 months the toy industry has found a way to continue working and at times attend “events”, often in our makeshift home offices via a screen. But there is nothing like the industry being together again in person all under one roof. Toy Fair will take place at Olympia London from Tuesday 25 th - Thursday 27 th January and will once again be the UK toy industry’s premier platform to showcase the products that will be the best-sellers and trend-setters for the year ahead. There will be around 260 exhibiting companies including the sector’s biggest names such as Playmobil UK Ltd, LEGO, Character Options, Moose Toys, VTech/LeapFrog, John Adams, and Orchard Toys. There are also many exciting new companies in attendance for the first time, and some can be found in our Greenhouse Area, located towards the end of the Grand Hall. The Greenhouse offers retailers, merchandisers, and licensors the chance to be the first to some truly innovative products and companies. New exhibitors in the Greenhouse include Mr Hullabaloo, Buena Onda Games and Plasticant Mobilo, so make sure you find the time to stop by and see the Greenhouse’s fresh innovations and hidden treasures. If it is your first time at Toy Fair, one of the biggest challenges is knowing where to start! A good place is the Press Office at Stand 160 on the Grand Hall Upper Level. Outside the Press Office you will be able to see the Toy Fair’s Hero Toys display. Toy Fair’s Hero Toys is a line-up of the top, must-see products, the toys that are predicted to drive the business and generate the headlines in 2022 and beyond. The selection of the Hero Toys is based on nominations from exhibitors and retailers, with the final toys selected by a panel of experts and the BTHA. Each Hero Toy will have the toy company and stand location displayed next to it. This will give you a guide to the must-see products at Toy Fair 2022. With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, some regular Toy Fair features will not be returning for 2022. So that we can maintain social distancing and prevent unnecessary interactions, there will be no Influencer Day, Demo Zone, or Toy Fair TV. The good news is that exhibitors will be able to host their own events on their stands! Keep an eye out for announcements at the show. Toy Fair isn’t just about the toys, it is about the people too and after such a long time apart, Toy Fair provides the perfect opportunity for everyone to meet up once again. It is the ultimate networking experience for visitors at all levels within the industry. The hands-on discoveries, the face-to-face meetings, the chance encounters, the quick coffees, and the after-show drinks are all back at Toy Fair 2022. As well as your peers, Toy Fair has plenty of opportunities to meet with the media. The show attracts a whole host of mainstream media including the BBC, The Gadget Show, The Guardian, iNews, and The Times. All press will be looking for the predicted trends of 2022 and what is going to be big in the coming year. Free registration is now open for visitor passes. See you there! IN BRIEF: When: 25 th -27 th January, 2022 Where: Olympia, London Who: www.toyfair.co.uk