SPIELWARENMESSE
SPIELWARENMESSE 2019 Annual Trade Fair Celebrates 70th Anniversary with New Toy Trends
SPIELWARENMESSE 2019: CELEBRATING AND DOING BUSINESS The world’s leading toy fair is getting ready for its big birthday party, and everyone in the toy business is invited. Taking place Jan. 30 to Feb. 3 in Nuremberg, the next Spielwarenmesse celebrates its 70th anniversary. The fair is fully tuned to the future, with changes to the product groups and new, on-trend shows that reflect market and industry needs. Retailers and buyers from all corners of the world will see more than 120,000 innovations, with access to industry experts to help them in the daily running of their businesses. IT’S SHOWTIME IN NUREMBERG The Spielwarenmesse will introduce new ideas to respond to market changes, perfectly timed to coincide with its anniversary. The product group Electronic Toys will debut in Hall 4A. This category encompasses R/C toys, robots, electronic educational toys, and virtual play. Silverlit, Spin Master, Stadlbauer, and Jazwares are just some of the major names featured in this segment. Last year's Tech2Play area, a crowd-pulling feature that is set to stay, laid the foundation for this new segment. The biggest move is taking place in Hall 7A, merging the Model Railway and Model Construction segments. This step
will highlight the international diversity of both sectors, which offer a wide portfolio to identical target groups. Groundbreaking changes are also afoot in the Festive Articles, Carnival, and Fireworks product group in Hall 9. The Spielwarenmesse is an important gathering for all the best-known suppliers, prompting the event to extend this segment into part of Hall 8. A major highlight is the new ShowTime area, which will give exhibitors the opportunity to spotlight their products at fashion shows and presentations in an area of approximately 2,153 square feet. The area for Baby and Infant Articles between Halls 2 and 3 is back again, offering plenty of inspiration for appealing add-on ranges for the youngest members of society. The Toys meet Books area, first launched in 2018, will also continue. Situated in an exposed location close to Entrance Mitte, it features a presentation of non-book products for booksellers, along with dedicated talks from retail experts. The TrendGallery in Hall 3A provides guidance for buyers in search of the latest trends. Products in the gallery will illustrate three Spielwarenmesse trend themes. The trends are identified by the international TrendCommittee, whose members include experts from the U.S., India, Germany, Itally, France, Spain, Poland, and the UK.
The gallery also features the nominees and winners of the ToyAwards, which are presented in five categories: Baby & Infant (0-3 years), Preschool (3-6 years), School Kids (6-10 years), and Teenager & Adults (10 years and up). The new Start-Up category targets companies that have been in business for fewer than five years. WHAT'S IN STORE Wednesday, Jan. 30: #trend The world is changing rapidly. Ideas, innovations, and trends are constantly emerging, not just in the toy industry, but in the trade sector in general. The trick is to recognize the relevant trends quickly. Thursday, Jan. 31: #retail Online retail and digitization pose enormous challenges for the trade sector. But they also offer new opportunities. Instead of trying to compete with online retailers, the focus should be on giving the customer a lasting experience. Friday, Feb. 1: #consumer Consumer behavior is often puzzling. Purchase processes are influenced in more complex ways than ever before. Those who want to optimize their offering and increase sales must know their customers’ wishes and needs in detail. Saturday, Feb 2: #change Companies must reinvent themselves
A look inside Spielwarenmesse 2018, including Toy Meets Books, Tech2Play, and the Trend Gallery
88 THE TOY BOOK | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | toybook.com
