Showing posts with label toy fair olympia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toy fair olympia. Show all posts
Friday, 25 February 2011
Monday, 21 February 2011
Best of the Rest at Toy Fair
To go back to what I said a few posts ago - Toy Fair 2011 was the best one I've been at. Here's a few other things that deserve honourable mentions this year.
DKL Marketing are always one of my favourite suppliers (Hama, Wonderworld and Corolle) - this year they bring us Velcro Kids products which look fantastic and the quite frankly sensational looking Mic-o-Mic Construction range - can't wait to have that one in.
Playmobil's Secret Agent range raises their considerably high bar another few notches. What I love about the range is the added play value that comes with every set - working web cams, motion sensors and much more besides that can be detached from their original playsets and played with in their own right. Looks like another good year from them.
Esdevium is where I get geeky - I'd love to stock just about everything in their mammoth catalogue - highlights this year include the new Discworld Boardgame, more Cobi Construction, Iwako Erasers, Pokemon Black & White and a hundred others besides. I could go on.
Meccano risk upsetting the purists with Space Chaos - I love it though - they've also got distribution on a couple of fantastic robots in the UK - Blazor, Mechatars and Penbo all look great - there's also super new stuff for the fan of good old-fashioned Meccano too.
It's going to be a fun year!
DKL Marketing are always one of my favourite suppliers (Hama, Wonderworld and Corolle) - this year they bring us Velcro Kids products which look fantastic and the quite frankly sensational looking Mic-o-Mic Construction range - can't wait to have that one in.
Playmobil's Secret Agent range raises their considerably high bar another few notches. What I love about the range is the added play value that comes with every set - working web cams, motion sensors and much more besides that can be detached from their original playsets and played with in their own right. Looks like another good year from them.
Esdevium is where I get geeky - I'd love to stock just about everything in their mammoth catalogue - highlights this year include the new Discworld Boardgame, more Cobi Construction, Iwako Erasers, Pokemon Black & White and a hundred others besides. I could go on.
Meccano risk upsetting the purists with Space Chaos - I love it though - they've also got distribution on a couple of fantastic robots in the UK - Blazor, Mechatars and Penbo all look great - there's also super new stuff for the fan of good old-fashioned Meccano too.
It's going to be a fun year!
Monday, 31 January 2011
The Aftermath of Toy Fair
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.
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.
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.
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