NY Toy Fair focuses on shelf space, innovation скачать в хорошем качестве

NY Toy Fair focuses on shelf space, innovation

(18 Feb 2019) NY TOY FAIR FOCUSES ON SHELF SPACE, INNOVATION The 116th annual North American International Toy Fair is focusing on the realities of limited shelf space now that one of the biggest retailer, Toys R Us has vanished from the landscape. "Everybody here is focused on 2019. This whole show is about who is the buyer today. Who am I going to sell to for the balance of 2019 and especially Christmas 2019," Steve Pasierb, president of the The Toy Association said. The annual toy industry showcase held in New York City brings manufacturers and companies from around the world together to show off new product innovation, and create buzz ahead of the holiday toy buying season. "The North American International Toy Fair or Toy Fair New York for short. Largest one we have ever done. Over 1000 exhibitors. 31,000 people from 105 countries around the world," Pasierb said. Trends like unboxing where a toy is revealed through creative packaging and throwback toys are all present at this year's Toy Fair. "Unboxing's a big big trend that's going on YouTube. So we made the actual real unboxing toy with LOL. And when you open it there's 7 to 15 surprises. And to find a surprise is a very detailed mini doll," Isaac Larian, CEO, MGA Entertainment said. Larian's toy LOL was named a Toy of the Year for 2019. Innovation in the toy industry is facing competition as retailers have limited shelf space to devote to a large variety of the same toy. "You may see less items. So where maybe somebody would make a puzzle or play set and they'd make it in different colors. You may not see a blue, green and yellow one. You may just see the one. So there may be a streamline in terms of different product lines within a line. But the innovation is still going to be there in the product," Adriennne Appell, a toy trend specialist for The Toy Association said. Annual toy sales were down 2 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, amid the liquidation of Toys R Us, according to NPD, a market research group. It marked the first decline in four years. "And without Toys R Us it's kind of, what do they say, necessity is the mother of invention," Scott Bachrach, CEO of Tastemakers said. Bachrach's company makes vintage arcade games for the home, and has had to rethink product packaging. "And so what's happened is because of that with the limited shelf space we have actually it's required us to look at different ways to showcase our products. So now retailers who have very precious space. We ship it in a flat box and we put a working prototype next to it. So they actually see how it works, a demonstration piece." Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 in September 2017 and announced it was going out of business in March 2018.   A former Toys R Us executive and now CEO of the new company called Tru Kids Brands, told The Associated Press he and his team are exploring options to resurrect the iconic brand. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...