Well! What a show this year - it was truly inspiring to see the industry in such a positive frame of mind. It seems that many manufacturers are responding to tough economic times by upping their game, and there are some simply outstanding new products hitting the shelves this year.
As the manufacturers circus moves on, first to Birmingham then Nuremburg, it's time for me to take stock of everything I saw, and come up with a hit list for what goes on the shelves, at little old Bus Stop Towers this year. Space in a blog doesn't allow me to mention everything I saw, so I'll limit myself to the three manufacturers that I thought were the stars of the show. My criteria for deciding was quite simple - I went around with a notepad all day, and these three far outstripped the others in terms of the notes I took. I'll cover them over the next few weeks, then round up the 'best of the rest' for you too.
First up, for today's post is Tomy. They were the stars of the year last year for me, and are looking pretty good for 2011. The biggest news is probably in their K'Nex range, which has landed a couple of simply massive licenses - Top Gear and Mario Kart.
We all know that construction toys are as much about Dads as kids, so the Top Gear license is a massive coup for K'Nex - whilst the models are only at early prototype stage so far, we're promised that the sets, due out in the latter part of the year will feature some of the most famous stunts from the TV show - superb.
The Mario Kart K'Nex kits look like being a hot, hot product later on this year too. With no drop in the popularity of the Wii game, the kits will allow kids (and big kids) to recreate all the best of the action in K'Nex format. Another outstanding product.
Meanwhile, on the collectibles front, Pinypon are a range of collectible, anime-style dolls with customisable accessories that look a sure-fire hit. There's also Teacup Piggies Glam Stars, which look adorable and a sensational RC hit-to-be called the GX Buggy. Well done, Tomy - looks like another great year.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Preparing for Toy Fair 2011
A week to go, and I'm still trying to figure out when exactly I'm getting there. Hmm. Still - it'll all work out in the end. 2011 sees the Toy Industry in a defiant mood. Analysts keep telling us how well/badly/indifferently the Toy Sector is doing, but judging by the people I speak to, 2010 was tough for most of us. Toy Fair though is our chance to come together and show off how good we are as an industry. I thought this week I'd take a quick run through of the things I'm looking forward to the most at Toy Fair this year. (With an unashamed bias towards suppliers we stock!) Lets plough on...
Tomy were the stars of the show last year for me, with Tomica, A-Team and Harry Potter. Three words - KNex Mariokart Wii. That could swing it for me, again this year. There's more Tomica too, so its one stand I can't wait to see.
Meanwhile, a supplier that just gets better and better, it's all about Pokemon this year for Esdevium. Pokemon Black & White became the fastest ever selling launch for the DS in Japan, and signs are that the Pokemon TCG will be back in a huge way in 2011. The excellent Cobi range has further additions due too. Can't wait.
Meccano risk offending the purists by heading off into outer space with their new 2011 ranges. I don't care - I think they look great. Trove have further expansion to the Breyer range, which is definitely one I want to get established this year.
The In Thing stand always excites me - there's always a pile of new Pocket Money ideas and I can't wait to see what this year has in store. Aurora also has a stand, and I can't wait to see more additions to our current chart-topper, Yoohoo & Friends. Above all else though - highlighting the big kid I am, I can't wait to see Playmobil Secret Agents. It just sounds too good to be true.
I'll let you know all about it next week.
Tomy were the stars of the show last year for me, with Tomica, A-Team and Harry Potter. Three words - KNex Mariokart Wii. That could swing it for me, again this year. There's more Tomica too, so its one stand I can't wait to see.
Meanwhile, a supplier that just gets better and better, it's all about Pokemon this year for Esdevium. Pokemon Black & White became the fastest ever selling launch for the DS in Japan, and signs are that the Pokemon TCG will be back in a huge way in 2011. The excellent Cobi range has further additions due too. Can't wait.
Meccano risk offending the purists by heading off into outer space with their new 2011 ranges. I don't care - I think they look great. Trove have further expansion to the Breyer range, which is definitely one I want to get established this year.
The In Thing stand always excites me - there's always a pile of new Pocket Money ideas and I can't wait to see what this year has in store. Aurora also has a stand, and I can't wait to see more additions to our current chart-topper, Yoohoo & Friends. Above all else though - highlighting the big kid I am, I can't wait to see Playmobil Secret Agents. It just sounds too good to be true.
I'll let you know all about it next week.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Another New Blog From Me
This is just an introduction post to another new blog from Duncan at Bus Stop Toy Shop. The 2011 New Year's resolution was to get more serious about blogging, and so here we are.
Of course there's already the main Bus Stop blog, where we talk about the new releases in store, there's a new YuGiOh! blog, all about the card game, and there's one more to come, which you'll see soon. Why all the blogs? Well they're all aimed at different audiences and the aim this year is to post to each of them, at the very least weekly.
So what's this one about then? Well I've been selling toys and hobbies for a few years now. I love what I do and I love the industry I work in. Toys and the Toy Industry continue to provide things that amaze me and also, from time to time, things that irk me. So that's what this blog is for. Next week, I'll give my thoughts ahead of the UK's 2011 Toy Fair. Stay tuned.
Of course there's already the main Bus Stop blog, where we talk about the new releases in store, there's a new YuGiOh! blog, all about the card game, and there's one more to come, which you'll see soon. Why all the blogs? Well they're all aimed at different audiences and the aim this year is to post to each of them, at the very least weekly.
So what's this one about then? Well I've been selling toys and hobbies for a few years now. I love what I do and I love the industry I work in. Toys and the Toy Industry continue to provide things that amaze me and also, from time to time, things that irk me. So that's what this blog is for. Next week, I'll give my thoughts ahead of the UK's 2011 Toy Fair. Stay tuned.
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