the spirit of play Full of
Spielwarenmesse is a truly global toy fair welcoming visitors and exhibitors from across the world. With ever-increasing attendance figures and attracting some of the most important retail buyers, 2014’s event was positively received. Tom Roberts reports.
It all started here The show began in style with the opening ceremony and the awarding of this year’s Toy Awards. A Bavarian hip-hop dance troupe cartwheeled their way onto the stage and entertained the crowds with an energetic dance routine that really set a playful tone for the event. There’s nothing quite like watching a man literally sliding across a stage on his head to make you feel ready for a show as physically demanding as Nuremberg; if he can do that then I can certainly walk the massive distances between halls without complaint.
The opening speeches from
the Lord Mayor of Nuremberg and Spielwarenmesse CEO Ernst Kick were full of praise for the city and the show and warm welcomes to visitors and exhibitors alike. In his speech, Ernst Kick said: “This year we’ve received the gift of a brand new hall and increased the amount of products on show. The team have worked extremely hard to make Spielwarenmesse the best
and traders coming mainly from the American, Asian and European markets. The unveiling of the new Trend Gallery initiative was also a hit and served to identify and showcase products that fit into four trends: Fit4Life, Mini is King, Retromania and TechToys. Speaking after the show closed, Ernst Kick, CEO
W
of Spielwarenmesse eG, said: “We are delighted that Spielwarenmesse 2014 has again created the platform our exhibitors and visitors desire for their businesses. The extension of the Baby and Infant segment, and the restructuring of the product segments in general, attracted an excellent response from all sides. This spurs us on even more for 2015’s show.”
elcoming over 76,000 trade visitors from 112 countries, 2014’s Spielwarenmesse experienced a 5% increase in attendance with the extra buyers
platform for you all to exhibit and to trade in. I wish you the greatest of success over the coming days.” The event then moved onto the Toy Awards. The winners were as follows: • Baby and Infant (0–2 years), Heros Building Block Chain/Simba Toys
• •
Pre-school (3–5 years), Playmobil Leisure Park, geobra Brandstätter
School Kids (6–10 years), Cartoon Workshop, Dorling Kindersley Verlag
• Teenager and Family (11 years plus), Revell Control Nano Quad, Revell
The winning products wowed the jury with their
originality, safety, play fun, workmanship and quality. Attendees were also able to see the winning and nominated products in the new Hall, 3A.
The British Pavilion According to feedback from British companies exhibiting at Nuremberg, 2014’s show was an extremely positive experience. Comments included
positive reactions to the addition of the new hall, the Trends Gallery and the Exhibitor Centre all working extremely well. The British Pavilion remains a well- oiled machine in Hall 11 overseen by Stuart Whitehill, account director of the Overseas Fairs Division at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and his team. Stuart commented: “We have our fixed area in the show and obligations to our regulars, but also to our new exhibitors who are taking advantage of the support on offer to them through us. The media support from the UK toy trade magazines is also vital to the section’s continued success as it adds a certain amount of credibility. The British companies were extremely happy with the show, and so far we’ve heard no reports of companies not considering returning next year. Incidentally, 2015 will see us celebrating ten years of involvement with the Spielwarenmesse show, and we’re very pleased to continue supporting the event; our hotel rooms are already booked.” UK visitor numbers were up, notably more Irish visitors made the journey to the show, and plenty of overseas buyers made a point of visiting the British Pavilion. Stuart added: “In truth, the only concern that was
brought to my attention is the crossing over of the dates of Spielwarenmesse and Paperworld; a few British companies who have stationery sitting in their core offerings are having to make a choice between the two next year. Spielwarenmesse didn’t change their dates, the other show did, so we will wait and see what happens in terms of re-bookings. Spielwarenmesse does exactly what it says on the tin; it is the most internationally attended show on the calendar and of tremendous benefit to those companies that exhibit.” Finally, after over 40 years in the trade fair agency business, Roger Sherman of PattExpo is retiring. Up until the 2014 show, Roger was the UK-based representative of Spielwarenmesse. He said he was delighted that the last of his shows proved to have been Nuremberg’s largest and most international Fair. Roger will spend his retirement travelling throughout Europe by train, since he says he’s had enough of airports. The new representatives for the 2015 Spielwarenmesse will be Pattern, currently the agents for Messe München. Companies wishing to exhibit in 2015 (the space deadline is 30th April 2014) should contact David Owen or Léonie Brooker on
info@pattern.co.uk or 020 3375 8230. Next year’s show dates are 28th January to the 2nd
February, 2015, and exhibitor registration information is already available on the Spielwarenmesse website.
Toyworld 83
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 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100