Special Feature - INDX

INDX toys and gifts galore

The 2024 edition of INDX Toy & Gift will be held at Cranmore Park from the 3rd to 4th September. Rosie Marshall, head of Toys and Children’s Gifts at AIS and leader of the team responsible for curating the show, spoke with Toy World about the upcoming event, revealing what visitors can expect this year.

This year, INDX Toy & Gift will take place in the autumn for the first time. Is this date change predicted to be permanent?

The decision to hold the show in September was made in collaboration with the industry and driven by feedback from suppliers and retailers. We will continue forward in this calendar slot: the dates for next year are already confirmed, 2nd to 3rd September 2025. We want to support all year-round trading, and the September show dates will help suppliers and buyers to strategise beyond the Christmas period, maximising on annual sales - not just seasonal ones. As the only dedicated toy trade show taking place in the autumn, the INDX Toy & Gift show will be a unique opportunity to stock up for the Christmas period and preview upcoming products for the year ahead.

This means INDX Toy & Gift will be overlapping with Autumn Fair. What has been the feedback from visitors hoping to attend both shows?

This decision has been seen as a positive move. As Cranmore Park is only a few minutes’ drive from Autumn Fair, which will held at the NEC Birmingham from the 1st to 4th September, visitors will easily be able to attend both events. This will make the trip to the Midlands more meaningful and time-efficient, also reducing travel expenses for retailers.

The INDX Toy & Gift exhibitor line-up is very different from that of the Autumn Fair; we have a range of exhibitors that will suit all kinds of buyers, from garden centres and toy specialists to leisure attractions. These include Character Options, Spin Master, Brainstorm, Ravensburger and The Carat Shop.

AIS is known to be open to feedback, is the team planning to share post-show reactions?

After each show, we send feedback surveys to all exhibitors and visitors. The results from these surveys are collated and published on our INDX website. Our priority is to continue to bring exhibitors and retailers an authentic trade show which meets their business needs, and this feedback is invaluable in ensuring we develop and evolve in line with their requirements.

The theme of the show for 2024 is ‘heritage’. Why was this theme chosen and what will it look like in practice?

Visitors can look forward to taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and we will be highlighting key suppliers and beloved branded ranges cherished over generations. These include Gibsons, Galt and Playmobil, to name a few.

Once again, exhibitors and visitors can get involved in the INDX Toy & Gift Quiz Night. Do you feel after-show events like this are important for a tradeshow?

After a busy first day of the show, it’s important to be able to have time to unwind and relax. The Quiz Night is a great way to bring everyone together. It’s hosted by an award-winning Quiz Master and held at a lovely local pub, only a couple of minutes’ drive from Cranmore Park. The INDX Toy & Gift Quiz Night is an opportunity for exhibitors and visitors to get together informally and have some fun. It’s lively, engaging and of course there’s a great competitive spirit among the teams. It’s something that everyone looks forward to every year.

And finally, what does INDX Toy & Gift offer that other toy tradeshows don’t?

First and foremost, INDX Shows are exclusively organised by Associated Independent Stores (AIS) – one of the UK’s leading buying, services and events groups for independent retail. Furthermore, INDX Shows take place at Cranmore Park, our own exhibition venue which is centrally located, easy to get to and offers unrivalled hospitality. This includes free refreshments and free parking for all visitors and exhibitors. INDX Toy & Gift is buyer approved and curated by a team of inhouse product and retail experts, ensuring visitors enjoy a commercially authentic product showcase, featuring top brands and driven by market trends and insight. INDX Toy & Gift is renowned for its order-writing status and quality attendance. Access to the show is strictly reserved for retailers and buyers, and 100% of visitor registrations are vetted to guarantee a professional, business orientated show. We look forward to seeing you there.