NEW YORK, NY — At a press conference this week, Toy Association President and CEO Steve Pasierb outlined a number of industry changes that are affecting the way retailers buy and are behind the association’s decision to move the dates of its flagship industry event next year. The largest marketplace for toys, games and youth entertainment in the Western Hemisphere, the 118th The 2nd annual Toy Fair will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from September 30 to October 3, 2023 in New York City. The show will return to the Javits in 2024; dates to be determined.
The association’s board of directors made the decision to move the show date to the fall, instead of February, due to a number of factors. “We’re seeing significantly longer production and shipping times, and the entire supply chain has changed permanently,” Pasierb said. “We need to align our trade shows so people can experience our products with that in mind.”
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The buying cycle for toy retailers has also changed, Pasierb said. “The buying cycle for a lot of toy sales has moved a lot forward, and some shoppers are waiting until summer. Everything has moved earlier.”
All of these changes have been exacerbated by the pandemic, Pasierb said, and are likely to persist.
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Pasierb was enthusiastic about what he called a “reimagined show” in New York, saying the location would best serve all the audiences that rely on Toy Fair and could leverage New York’s position as a financial and media center.
Since the changeover could not take place in 2022, the association will host a 2023 Preview and 2022 Holiday Market Sept. 20-22 at the Dallas Market Center for retailers to shop for this holiday season and preview products for next year.
Contact Steve Pasierb at spasierb@toyassociation.org or (212) 675.1141