Toy World caught up with suppliers that have been making inventive arrangements to present their new ranges over the traditional preview and trade fair season.
In our special Touching Base feature, suppliers share the multitude of ways they will showcase product and engage with retailers in these unusual times. With options ranging from video presentations and zoom appointments to PowerPoint presentations, digital catalogies and immersive tours, there are a whole host of ways for buyers to view product and make selections. There’s personal comment from Mary Wood of Tomy, Ross Bradley of Wilton Bradley, Thomas Baker of Learning Resources, David Allan of Toynamics, Tom Hudson of Marvin’s Magic, Alison Downie of HTI, Kerrie Corrigan of Coiledspring, Kate Gibson of Gibsons Games, Barry Hughes of Golden Bear, Neil Fripp of Hornby, Anil Boodhoo and Roger Martin of Asmodee and Nick Saunders of Brainstorm.
This week, the UK toy industry would have been heading to Olympia for Toy Fair, but this year will be finding other ways to get together. To help, the feature contains listings for the virtual showrooms, with clear details of how retailers can get in touch and make appointments to see the latest ranges.
“The circumstances of this year meant it was the ideal time to set up a virtual showroom,” explains Toynamic’s David Allan. “Without the direct contact we all loook forward to through shows, these virtual showroom options give buyers a great opportunity to plan their ranges and keep in contact with our team.”
Mary Wood of Tomy added: “Thorough planning, preparation and rehearsal will be the key to success. Buyers’ time is precious, and even more limited than in recent years as businesses have contracted numbers of staff. When time is tight, buyers don’t want to hear too much marketing stuff; they want to focus on the brands most relevant to them.”
The Touching Base feature, which was published in the January edition of Toy World, can be viewed here. Virtual Showroom Guide listings, with full details of how to make appointments, can also be viewed here.
