Toy Fair 2023 has sold out four months before the show opens, with 89% of stand space booked by returnees following success in 2022.
The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) has announced that Toy Fair 2023 has sold out four months ahead of the show opening, with all exhibition spaces including the Greenhouse, now with waiting lists.
The prestigious annual show, which is back for its 69th year, is taking place from the 24th-26th January 2023 at Olympia London. With 250 exhibiting companies in attendance, occupying the Grand and National halls on both levels, the toy industry is gearing up for one of the busiest shows to date.
After another successful show earlier this year, the BTHA is delighted with the number of re-bookings for 2023 as well as a significant number of new applications. Toy Fair 2023 will be welcoming exhibitors from large, renowned brands through to mid-size and smaller innovative start-ups, many of which can be found in the popular Greenhouse area in the Grand Hall.
Director of Fairs & Special Events, Majen Immink, commented: “The momentum and excitement we have seen for Toy Fair 2023 is just fantastic. The fact that the show has sold out already, and 89% of exhibition space has been booked by returnees after a successful 2022 showcase following the hiatus in 2021, speaks volumes as to the strength of the toy industry and the importance of the fair to participants.”
Names joining the ranks for Toy Fair 2023 include Hasbro, Moose Toys, Lego, Dolu, Funko, Kidicraft, Rubies Masquerade, Rainbow Designs, Mood Bears, Playmobil and John Adams, among many others.
The full floorplan and exhibitor list can be found on the Toy Fair website. Any companies interested in joining the waiting list are encouraged to get in touch with Rebecca@btha.co.uk.
Majen Immink added: “We recognise the continued challenges the industry is facing and are thankful to all our exhibitors for the continued support. We look forward to working with exhibitors and supporting them in the run up to the event and making Toy Fair 2023 a show to remember.”
Many brands consider Toy Fair as pivotal to their overarching annual strategy. Adam Moore, Marketing communications manager at Playmobil commented; “Toy Fair is one of the biggest events in the Playmobil calendar each year. Attending Toy Fair is extremely important to us and we start planning the next show almost immediately after one finishes. It is the best place to meet with buyers from major national and independent retailers and provides us with the opportunity to build on our current relationships and create new ones.”
Those in attendance will be showcasing thousands of new and exciting products ranging across categories including tech toys, plush, games and puzzles, construction and many more, to retailers, buyers and the media. There will also be sneak previews of new themes and trends for 2023 and exclusive on-site retail offers.
Kasia Leskow, head of Marketing GB/IE at Zapf Creation, commented: “Zapf Creation is truly excited to be exhibiting at Toy Fair 2023 – a huge event for the toy industry. Toy Fair offers us a fantastic platform to showcase our ranges to key retailers and industry friends, in addition to communicating our commitment to sustainability with our plastic-free packaging.”
Visitor registration will open in late September at toyfair.co.uk. Press day will take place on the first day of the show. Follow Toy Fair on Instagram and Twitter @toyfairuk for more updates.
