The morning LicenseTalks from Wednesday to Friday represent a new addition to the programme.

Trends and innovations, the challenges of digitalisation and change management are all topics facing today’s toy industry. Every day between 1pm and 3pm and from 30th January to 3rd February 2019, experts at the Toy Business Forum in Hall 3A will show independent retailers and buyers how to equip themselves for changing markets. Each day is devoted to a different topic area. The presentations spotlighting the trends at the Spielwarenmesse bring each day to a close.

The presentations start on Wednesday with a focus on trends in the toy industry and retail trade. Recognising the right trends at the right time is, of course, key to success. Two experts from the USA will take a closer look at this topic. Toy trend expert Reyne Rice will shed a light on the latest toys and technical toys, Richard Gottlieb, CEO of Global Toy Experts, will outline the global challenges facing the toy industry. Visionary Frank Rehme (gmvteam GmbH) will present retail trends from different countries.

On Thursday, attention will turn to the future of bricks-and-mortar retailers in the era of digitalisation and online trade. Offering plenty of inspiration, speakers will include Christian Prill, Klaus-Dieter Koch, Claudia Rivinius, and Kimberly Mosley, president of American toy retailers’ association ASTRA.

On Friday, Axel Dammler, iconkids & youth GmbH, will look at how children play around the world, and Florian Klaus, K&A Brand Research AG, will start with the generational difference between parents and grandparents making toy purchases. Karen Klessinger of Berlin-based Dan Pearlman will explain how retailers in the digital age can benefit from their customers in two different ways.