Toy Fair traffic up
By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, February 24, 2010
NEW YORK—Overall attendance at the American International Toy Fair grew 4 percent in 2010, organizer the Toy Industry Association said today, helped by a gain in retail buyers.
Total attendance at Toy Fair 2010, including buyers, retailers, trade guests, media and exhibiting staff, increased to 25,030. That tally included approximately 10,600 buyers, a gain of 3 percent from 2009, from 5,744 distinct organizations, a 2 percent increase from 2009. They came from 85 countries.
The attendees were exposed to more than 1,100 exhibitors who showcased an estimated 100,000 toys and youth entertainment products across more than 345,500 net square feet of exhibit space. Nearly 285 of the exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents were first time exhibitors, TIA added.
“Attendance, energy and momentum were all up this year,” said Carter Keithley, president, Toy Industry Association. “Buyers lined the aisles and exhibitors were writing a steady stream of orders, creating an unmistakable buzz that carried throughout the four days of the show.”
Nearly 1,000 media representatives from 14 countries converged at the show to report on this year’s toy trends.
Next year’s event, the 108th American International Toy Fair, will be held Feb. 13–16, 2011, at Manhattan’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
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