What’s Next?

As we were preparing this article, President Biden announced that U.S. travel restrictions for vaccinated international visitors would ease in November. The move reopens the country to millions of people and boosts the recovery of the exhibition, conference and event industries. Members of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance were thrilled, calling it a “win-win.” The news gives us confidence that the live tradeshows here and abroad will be held, as scheduled, early next year.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

January 5-8, 2022

Las Vegas

ces.tech

The tradeshow organized by U.S. Consumer Technology Association (CTA) will return to an in-person event next year with one popular online component from 2021– the CES Anchor Desk. It will connect digital audiences to exhibitors, conference sessions, keynotes and product announcements taking place at the live event.

More than 1,000 companies have signed up so far to exhibit at what is arguably the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. Eureka Park, the CES incubator area, will feature startups from around the world, including large delegations from France, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea. The first CES was held in NewYork in 1967 with 250 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees.

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market

January 5-11

Dallas Market Center

dallasmarketcenter.com Considered the first big market of the year, Dallas gives specialty toy retailers a head start on lining up brand new products, top trending toys, and proven bestsellers.

In June, the summer edition of the show welcomed a surge of enthusiastic buyers from across the country. A sharp increase in new buyers for children’s apparel and accessories, gifts, toys and more was recorded at The KidsWorld Market. Overall, retail decision makers from 47 states attended the trade event, including an historic number of new buyers. The result was record attendance compared to both June 2019 and January 2021, which is typically the larger of the two annual events. Buyers ordered deeply to fill depleted inventories, exhibitors report.

The January 2022 market promises special events, seminars, discussions, organization meetings, and tours, plus displays of thousands of new products.

Atlanta Gift Show

January 11-18

americasmart.com

At this summer’s staging of the show, there was a big uptick in out-of-region attendees, independent retailers and buying groups. “Buyers and brands were energized by the ability to come together again to tap the unmatched discovery opportunities that can only be found at Atlanta Market,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “Recovery is accelerating with market attendance beating projections.”

Retailers and designers were eager to get out on the trade show floor as reports of a record number of early arrivals circulated before the market officially opened on July 13. Featuring some 8,000 lines, the show continued through July 19. Notable were nearly 60 new relocated and expanded brands that opened among the market’s 1,000-plus gift and home décor showrooms. Temporary exhibits have expanded significantly since the winter 2021 edition with more brands and renewed partnerships with the Accessories Council, the Museum Store Association, and Virginia’s Finest.

Spielwarenmesse

February 2-6

Nuremberg, Germany

spielwarenmesse.de The first-ever Summer Edition of the world-renowned toy fair was scheduled for July 2021 after its January event was postponed. But following the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, that show was cancelled and focus shifted to 2022. Next year, the in-person experience in Nuremberg will be combined with the virtual world thanks to Spielwarenmesse Digital. The expanded coverage provides a great benefit to exhibitors.

There are also new opportunities for international startups. An affordable package deal features a variety of services such as a fully-equipped booth in the new StartupArea in Hall 8, additional exposure in the “Innovation Made in Germany” pavilion, a profile on the digital platform and other marketing services, and access to a meeting lounge. Any international toy company that has been trading for no more than five years is eligible to take part.

Toy Fair New York

February 19-22

Jacob K. Javits Center

toyfairny.com

Booth reservations and attendee enthusiasm for a live Toy Fair in 2022 continue to grow, especially since the cancellation of Toy Fair Dallas scheduled to take place this October 5 through 7. “While our exhibitors and hundreds of retail buyers were looking forward to coming back together in person this fall, the health and safety of the greater toy community remains The Toy Association’s number-one priority,” explained Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association, in August. “In the interim, we remain committed to the ‘possible’ and continue to focus our efforts on providing retail buyers and toymakers with effective ways to connect and do business.”

In 2020, The Toy Association pivoted to offer the Toy Fair Everywhere 24/7 digital marketplace which continues to be active and vital today. To help the industry deal with the impact of the global shipping crisis, the platform offers thousands of toy and play products available for immediate distribution to retailers.

ToyFest West

February 28-March 2

South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas

toyfestwest.com Managed by the nonprofit Western Toy & Hobby Rep Association (WTHRA), the show presents new products to toy buyers located west of the Mississippi in the most cost-effective manner possible. The first event took place in LosAngeles in 1961, the year LEGO came to the U.S. The industry had been moving from a holiday-only operation to a year-round business and by then was experiencing a growth spurt. West Coast reps saw an opportunity to give their retail customers a chance to experience (and purchase) the hot toys being promoted at Toy Fair on the East Coast, and the show they developed has been a hit ever since.

The South Point Hotel offers room rates well below East Coast and Southern California prices, plus world-class restaurants onsite.