42 RETAIL ONLY TIA UPDATE Big plans underway as Toy Trust hits 20
Key events planned to help charity raise £300k Media Auction at Toy Industry Awards notches up £86,660… by Samantha Loveday
THE THREE Peaks Challenge and a money can’t buy auction are just two of the special events being planned by the BTHA this year to help mark the Toy Trust’s 20th anniversary. The aim is to raise £300,000 for the charity and break the £3 million mark notched up since its inception. First up, a special auction will be launched in April, offering people the chance to bid for ten distinctive and rare items or experiences. June 22nd, will see the return of the annual Fundraiser at Rutland Water – consisting of an alternative costume triathlon and other activities – while the Three Peaks Challenge will take place over July 6th and 7th. The event has received
COUNTER INSURGENT
Dispatches from the retail front line...
Another year of shows out of the way, and there was plenty of buzz around Toy Fair as most
retailers seemed to come out of the year with less stock and buoyed by a good first couple of weeks in January (let’s not mention what’s happened since though). I heard several complaints of lack of innovation, however. Not sure that I would agree, but I guess that it was ‘steady as she goes’ with safe ranges expanded and poorer sellers relegated to a sidewall that we would miss. Seriously, why do they bother to have those silly little rooms that supposedly hide from geeks and the outside world all the latest toys from films, TV and other manufacturers? The trailers shown have been on the internet already, and the images of most of the
MARCH 2012
toys are already out there. I think I saw one range that I didn’t already know about and that is now in the public domain following the New York Toy Fair. I do have a suspicion that next year we are going to have our phones taken away from us...
However, year on year they bring in ranges from their vast American line and at first look you think no chance, but you look again, look at the pricing and think, just maybe. Lego was great and Playmobil had a very strong range again. I bet Paul Lamond
There was plenty of buzz at Toy Fair as most retailers were
buoyed by a good first couple of weeks in January.
Who did I like? Well, Melissa and Doug is always a great stand to visit; never has a company amazed me with how they operate their UK operation. When we were told a few years back that they would call from the US, that they would run the UK shows by parachuting in sales guys from the States, we all laughed and thought, give you a year…
couldn’t believe the reaction to Subbuteo and it just goes to show, ‘if it ain’t broke don’t bugger about with it’. Hasbro never fails to excite with its line; all the film properties looked great and Nerf was very strong. I’m all for guns that fire the darts/discs further as it means we sell loads more refills. Kre-o was at last available for people like me
to stock, but the two exclusive partners from last year had it half price before I could get it. The biggest disappointment has to be the demise of Lite Sprites. In my first ramble last year after Toy Fair, I highlighted it as a fantastic product that once was in the hands of a few would start to take off. Mumsnet then flagged it up and away it went, only for the States
to have nicked the UK stock. This was always going to be a year two product and with WowWee now not running Lite Sprites in the UK, it goes into the same toy box as others which weren’t around for long enough like Starcom and Princess Magic Touch. And, as for Moshiland, I’m still taking the aspirin to get my head round it all…
The annual FUNdraiser at Rutland Water is just one of the events planned this year...
huge support, with 95 individuals representing 23 companies from across the industry tackling the peaks of Mount Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike.
Members of the industry are also being encouraged to host their own local charity events to help raise funds for the Trust.
An events manual containing guidance on coordinating an event can be downloaded from the Toy Trust section of the BTHA website. The bid to raise £300,000 has already got off to a strong start, with £86,660 raised at the annual Media Auction which concluded at the Toy Industry Awards in January.
In 2011, £180,000 was raised for
the Toy Trust in total. For more information on all the events and fundraising activities which are taking place during 2012, visit
www.btha.co.uk/toytrust. Alternatively, contact Matt Jones on 020 7701 7127 or
matt@btha.co.uk.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76