Despite a record snowfall of close to 29 inches, the 103rd American International TOY FAIR kicked-off with fervor on Sunday, February 12th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell opened the festivities with an inspiring keynote address. The general session also included a performance from Broadway's 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the release of 2005 industry sales data from The NPD Group. More than 11,000 buyers crowded the aisles of the Javits Center in search of items to stock their shelves with for the 2006 holiday season.

Global media presence continued to be strong, with over 700 members of the media reporting from 12 countries including England, Germany, Italy and Japan. The 2006 show was held February 12th-15th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The four-day event is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere, and is the showcase for the newest toy trends for 2006, specifically the upcoming holiday season, which accounts for 65% of annual toy sales. In addition to the number of exhibitors at the Javits Center, other manufacturers showcased their latest innovations in showrooms at the International Toy Center (ITC) and other locations in the Toy District.

"We've seen a continuing trend of quality buyers attending from an array of outlets, including Sam's Club, Target, Amazon.com, Learning Express, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Barnes and Noble," said Francesco C. Leboffe, Vice President, Marketing, Toy Industry Association, which owns and operates TOY FAIR. "The face of the youth industry is evolving and from the number of attendees and exhibitors, we see that the show, especially our special exhibit areas is catering to the needs of the industry and is very relevant in today's business world."

A total of 1,373 exhibiting companies from 23 countries showcased their products at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and in other New York City showroom locations. International pavilions representing countries including China, Hong Kong, Spain and Thailand and special product categories including the brand-new Urban Bazaar: Indie Art Toys and e@play, a dedicated section for children's electronic edutainment, added to the broad scope of the show and helped buyers in meeting their specific needs.

Hot Trends: Youth Electronics/ Licensing

Kids today have grown up with technology, and the industry is responding to the needs of these tech-savvy consumers. New products include classic toys/recognized brands with a new technology twist and products made specifically for an even younger audience. Examples include DVD versions of traditional board games, games that interface with MP3 players and children's adaptations of adult-oriented games, such as Sudoku.

Licensing accounts for 29% of toys on store shelves today. Popular characters from movies, television and comic books are tied to an array of youth products from books and DVDs to plush and sporting goods. Licensed products should see a surge in sales, with multiple hot new movies slated for 2006, and a steady stream of entertainment properties suitable for kids.