The awards were presented at a gala event held in Olympia’s Apex Room following the first day of the 66th annual Toy Fair. 

MGA’s L.O.L. Surprise!, Character Options and The Entertainer triumphed last night at the annual Toy Industry Awards winning Toy of the Year, Supplier of the Year and Toy Retailer of the Year respectively. BTHA Golden Teddy Awards were presented to Simon Kohler of Hornby Hobbies and Stuart Crawford of MV Sports, in recognition of the 40+ years each has dedicated to the toy industry.

BTHA chair Foye Pascoe announced the winners of the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards, while TRA chairman Alan Simpson unveiled the Toy and Supplier of the Year Awards.

The full line up of winners is as follows:

Toy Retailer of the Year Winners

• Independent Toy Retailer of the Year – Banba Toymaster
• Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (2-29 stores) – East Midland Toy Company
• Specialist Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year (30 stores or more) – The Entertainer
• General Multiple Toy Retailer of the Year – Sainsburys Argos
• Department Store Toy Retailer of the Year – W J Daniel & Co, Windsor
• Online Toy Retailer of the Year – Shop Direct
• Overall Toy Retailer of the Year – The Entertainer

Toy and Supplier of the Year Awards

• Plush Toy of the Year – Scruff-a-Luvs, Worlds Apart
• Outdoor Toy of the Year – Super Wubble Bubble Ball, Vivid Imaginations
• Craze of the Year – Soft’n Slo Squishies, Character Options
• Game of the Year – Jumanji, Spin Master
• Collectible Range of the Year – L.O.L. Under Wraps, MGA Entertainment
• Fashion Doll of the Year – Barbie Care Clinic, Mattel
• Doll of the Year – Poopsie Surprise Unicorn, MGA Entertainment
• Licensed Product Range of the Year – Harry Potter, Lego
• Action Figure of the Year – Roblox, Jazwares
• Pre-School Range of the Year – Paw Patrol, Spin Master
• Supplier of The Year – Character Options
• Toy of the Year – L.O.L., MGA Entertainment

Foye Pascoe, chair of the BTHA, commented: “On behalf of the BTHA, I would like to congratulate all the winners of this year’s Toy Retailer Awards. In what was a challenging year, judges were impressed with the high standard of entries received and the achievements made in 2018 by all of the shortlisted retailers should be highly commended. Deliberations to finalise the retailer shortlists were long and hard because of the very high standard of entries received. Congratulations must also go to our worthy runners-up who, it should still be remembered, were the best in their categories, and our sincere thanks go to everyone for their participation.”

Alan Simpson, chairman of the TRA, added: “Our industry makes amazing and innovative toys that inspire joy and development in children. It was a difficult process to choose the few that could be shortlisted for a coveted award, and more difficult still to pick the winners from a competitive field of great products. On behalf of the Toy Retailers Association, I congratulate all those that were shortlisted and won awards for great products and licences, and for building strong relationships with retail partners to the benefit of our whole industry.”