A 23% surge in registered retailers has been seen since attendee registration opened a month ago, compared to the same period last year.

The Toy Association, organiser of the event, is optimistic that registration numbers will continue to rise as the Dallas show draws near.

The Fall Toy Preview is billed as the industry’s premier autumn marketplace for mass, long-lead, and speciality buyers, and will take place 2nd to 4th October at the Dallas Market Center in Dallas, Texas.

Tim Knock, director of audience relations at The Toy Association, commented: “We are expecting Fall Toy Preview 2018 to be the most dynamic and energetic show in recent history, with a diverse array of large and small retailers looking to grab market share of toy sales lost by the closure of traditional toy outlets. Retailers are seizing the opportunity to secure their piece of the toy business in their cities and communities. At Fall Toy Preview they will find the most comprehensive gathering of brands with ready-to-preview 2019 lines.”

Notably, 42% of this year’s registered retailers did not attend the 2017 event, and companies are sending more individual buyers to Dallas, with the number of retail representatives tracking 63% higher than this time last year.

Event organisers estimate that approximately 300 retail outlets will attend the show, an increase of 65% over last year, including Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and J.C. Penney.

To view the full list of participating buyers, and for information on registration, hotel reservations, and more, visit FallToyPreview.org.