TIA’s Next PlayCon to be Held in San Francisco, May 7-9, 2018

December 20, 2016 | The Toy Industry Association (TIA) has finalized the dates and location for the next iteration of PlayCon, TIA’s International Conference of Play Professionals, which will bring together toy, play and youth entertainment professionals for three days of actionable content and networking with industry peers.

The next PlayCon will take place May 7-9, 2018 at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, CA. The event was moved to the Golden City to provide attendees with a variety of hotel options and “walkable” experiences to round out the conference’s energetic atmosphere. After taking a hiatus in 2017, the conference will become a biannual event.

PlayCon 2018 will feature presentations and interactive workshops on the latest trends in technology, digital content, retail, and other areas to provide participants in the business of play with cutting-edge research and intelligence.  It has already been confirmed that Jeremy Gutsche, founder of TrendHunter.com, will be a keynote speaker at the conference, sharing global insights and trends related to the toy and play industries.

The conference’s new leadership board will facilitate all the exciting things taking place at PlayCon 2018. The Board’s six members now include:

  • Jane Ritson-Parsons, PlayCon Chair, Group Executive, Global Marketing Organization, Hasbro Inc.
  • Kathleen Campisano, Vice President, GMM of Toys, Games, Hobby & Collectibles, Barnes & Noble Inc.
  • Sharon Hartley, Vice President, Global "R" Brands, Toys“R”Us
  • Lourdes Arocho, Vice President, Toys and Hardlines, NBCUniversal, Inc.
  • Jennifer Sullivan, President, memBrain, LLC
  • Rachel Barry, Vice President, Marketing and Publicity, DK

“In today’s rapidly evolving play space, PlayCon allows toy and play professionals to expand their horizons and learn tips for tackling the future of play,” said Marian Bossard, TIA’s senior vice president of global market events. “Over the years, many new perspectives and conversations that were shared at PlayCon turned into profitable business ideas. PlayCon 2018 will be no exception.”

More information about the conference will be shared in early 2017 at www.ToyAssociation.org/PlayCon.