Play is Happening at International Toy Fair

International Toy Fair

More than 34,000 toy lovers from all corners of the globe are expected to swarm New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, where the 109th American International Toy Fair is taking place.

Owned and operated by the Toy Industry Association (TIA), Toy Fair 2012 (Feb. 12-15) is projected to welcome a 4% increase in overall attendance compared to last year, including nearly 16,000 buyers, 1,000+ exhibitors and 1,300+ media representatives from around the world, who will flock to the largest toy tradeshow in the Western Hemisphere to scope out 100,000 innovative toys, games and youth entertainment products being showcased across 366,339 net square feet of exhibit space.

“Toy Fair is a critical hub for the $83 billion global toy industry, opening the doors to both the U.S. and worldwide toy markets,” said Carter Keithley, TIA president.

Among Toy Fair’s anticipated attendees are buyers from all 25 of the of the Top 25 Toy Sellers – including retail powerhouses Target, Walmart, Toys ‘R’ Us, Costco, CVS, and Amazon.com – as well as a spike in licensors (+11%) and entertainment executives (+41%), who will preview thousands of brand new products in search of the next big toy.

The Toy Fair playground includes action figures and dolls; games and puzzles; arts and creative activities; bikes, trikes and ride-ons; RC vehicles; infant and preschool toys; cars, trucks, and trains; puppets and plush, and much more.

TIA is a not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, representing 550 companies who account for approximately 85% of domestic toy sales.