Five Things to Know about Fall Toy Preview 2017
September 26, 2017 | The Toy Association’s Fall Toy Preview in Dallas, TX is just one week away. Are you ready? Here are five things happening at the show to get excited about!
- Get acquainted with ShopToys365.com.
The Toy Association is offering all Fall Toy Preview exhibitors a complimentary Premium Subscription to ShopToys365.com, the play community’s digital marketplace that connects over 20,000 global buyers with suppliers. With this subscription, exhibitors can access features like SalesMatch™, lead insights and tracking, enriched buyer profiles, showroom and profile visitor traffic, order receiving, and lead generation. On Monday at 3 p.m., there will be a free ShopToys365.com training session open to all exhibitors, where STF365 experts will demonstrate the tool and offer one-on-one assistance. Experts will also be available during the show to offer additional exhibitor and buyer training.
- Trend-spotting!
Toy companies still have time to book appointments with The Toy Association’s trends team, who will be at the show to preview products and scout trends for 2018. Show your key products to the team to help them determine next year’s biggest trends in toys, play, and youth entertainment, which will be unveiled at the 115th North American International Toy Fair, incorporated in the Association’s 2018 media messaging, and used for broadcast and editorial opportunities. The team will keep the information gathered under embargo until next year.
- Don’t miss the Opening Day Morning Meeting.
To kick off the show, The Toy Association will host a morning meeting open to all show attendees at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Atrium Lobby. At the meeting, members will vote to review and approve a range of updates to the Association’s bylaws. In addition, the Board of Directors will be available to speak with members. Continental breakfast will be served.
- Attend the Opening Night Cocktail Party – a benefit to raise money for children affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The annual opening night party will take place on Tuesday in the Grand Pavilion atrium of the Dallas Market Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Exhibitors will receive two complimentary tickets, while additional tickets are only $25 per person, for an evening of food, cocktails, entertainment, and networking. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the party’s ticket sales will be donated to raise money for more than 50 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and other clubs that serve some 20,000 kids impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Guests can make additional monetary donations during the party to help the affected Boys & Girls Clubs and donate at show registration counters.
- Donate product to the Toy Industry Foundation’s (TIF) Toy Bank.
This year’s Toy Bank collection is especially important given that donated toys and games will also be given to the local Boys & Girls Clubs. At precisely 5:01 p.m. on October 5, the day of the show’s close, volunteers will sweep exhibitor booths to collect toys and games for children in need. Exhibitors who wish to join these crucial efforts are encouraged to fill out a product donation form and send it to The Toy Bank. Every toy counts!
Taking place October 3 to 5, Fall Toy Preview will showcase innovative playthings coming to market in 2018 from more than 300 registered exhibitors. Throughout the three-day show, exhibitors will do business with hundreds of global buyers from both mass and high-volume specialty retail outlets.