As buyer and attendee registration opens for the 108th American International Toy Fair (www.toyassociation.org) in February 2011, the number of companies signed up to exhibit is already ahead by 9 percent compared to the same date last year. And of the nearly 300 new exhibitor applications that have been received to date, 22 percent are from international companies hoping to tap into the lucrative $22 billion U.S. toy market.
“We’re thrilled with the increase in sales figures and the levels of confidence and optimism they express,” commented Marian Bossard, TIA vice president of meetings and events. “This kind of positive news reaffirms Toy Fair’s reputation as the epicenter of toy and youth product creativity, originality and excellence in the Western Hemisphere.”
In response to buyer interest, an addition on the show floor for Toy Fair ’11 is a new Teen/Tween section. Aimed at buyers interested in toys, games and accessories designed to tap into the desires and interests of the powerful ‘inbetweenie’ age group, this newly created Product Zone will provide a highly-focused destination for the more than 3,000 retail buyers (18 percent of those attending the 2010 show) who said Teen/Tween products were on their shopping list.
Dubbed “the largest toy box” in North America and the place where trends are born, Toy Fair 2011 will be held February 13th-16th 2011 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
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