Nurembergpreview
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Toy World talked to Phil Cassidy, chairman, and Paul Cassidy, joint managing director, of Casdon to find out more about the company’s 50th year exhibiting at Nuremberg.
Phil Cassidy Paul Cassidy
How does it feel to have Casdon at the Nuremberg Toy Fair for the 50th year? Phil Cassidy: We are, of course, very proud. What we are most proud of is being able to continue my Grandfather’s legacy. Business is going very well for us, and we are in the fantastic position of growing steadily year on year.
“We are sure that the Toys 3.0 special will show the way for future developments in the toy market. Visitors find other new products in the Innovation Center in Hall 4 and the Toy Business Forum there from 13:00 to 15:00 daily from Thursday onwards also provides an overview of trends. The knowledge we offer culminates in the Global Toy Conference on Monday, at which international experts reveal how retailers can increase their success with online marketing and e-commerce. All this knowledge means the fair visitors are well equipped for business in 2013.” Roger added: “Other highlights include
a refurbished Hall 12.2 where many of the large permanent brand-stands are situated, the devotion of a full day to Licensing at the Toy Business Forum – and (for the British visitor) a new-look British Pavilion in Hall 12 with, rumour has it, a pub atmosphere.” And what about the visitors to the
show; how can they make the most of the fair? Ernst said he “constantly hears from retailers that they don’t have enough time at the Fair.” He said: “They stuff their diaries full of meetings and then return home. Visitors could exploit the fair’s potential better by allowing at least two to three hours for a tour of the new products, the Toy Business Forum or the Monday for the Global Toy Conference. In this way everyone can leave his well-trodden path and be open for inspiration and undreamt-of business opportunities.”
52 Toyworld Fair facts
Fair date 2013 30 January–4 February Opening hours
9am–6pm daily (5pm on last day)
Venue Nürnberg Convention Center Exhibition Centre Messezentrum 1 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
Website
www.toyfair.de
Reasons for visiting • Worldwide: 2,776 exhibitors from 62
countries, 76,055 visitors from 120 countries.
• Unique: 808 exhibitors attend no other fair, 30,650 visitors only attend this fair.
• Industry-wide: 1,000,000 products, including 70,000 new products, brands and mass articles for all sales channels.
• Media highlight: 2,500 journalists will be in attendance
• Informative: Comprehensive knowledge programme including the Toy Fair Special, the Global Toy Conference and the Toy Business Forum.
• Ready to make decisions: 88.6 % of the visitors have a licence to order.
How has the Nuremberg Toy Fair evolved over the years Casdon has been exhibiting? Paul Cassidy: My father Tom and his brother Joe first exhibited in 1961. The Fair was small by comparison with today, but still held 1,237 exhibitors. There were primarily three multi- story brick buildings, Messe Haus, Wieseler Haus and Benedictushaus in 1961, and three large marquees. The location was on Bayreuther Srasse, which you take to the airport past the main rail station. Casdon was in a marquee for two years before moving to a new brick building in 1963; this was the Max Sheerer Haus, and held most of the British exhibitors together. This building was unusual in that exhibitors could leave their stand and samples in the booths until the following year and was used exclusively for the toy fair; very handy. The entrance charge in 1961 was DM5, back when the exchange rate was DM13 to £1. The fair was moved to it’s current location, Langwasser, in 1973, and travelling to it was a nightmare unless you had your own transport. Casdon exhibited before the Association (BTMA) formed the British Group, which I think first showed in 1963. The companies that did particularly well in the German market were toy gun manufactures, as it was then prohibited to make them in Germany, and Jig Saw companies, as the Germans had never seen them before.
How important are trade shows to your business? Phil Cassidy: Trade shows are hugely important. It’s because they enable you to showcase your new lines, give us the ability to continue to build on relationships with our existing customers, and hopefully meet plenty more new customers.
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