A report on our site on Feb. 12, “Toy Fair divided in two,” needs some clarifications: The second yearly toy trade show, which will debut Oct. 21-23, 2003 in New York, will be targeted the larger mass-market retailers, not specialty retailers as we had reported. The new show will be called “Fall Mass Market Toy Expo, The Show for Early Buyers.”
The new show, which like the main show in February will be sponsored by the New York-based Toy Industry Association (formerly the Toy Manufacturers Association) will be designed to fulfill a need for a modified buying timetable that many mass retailers had requested. By completing most of their buying decisions before the February American International Toy Fair, it will enable them to focus on the smaller manufacturers at the February show.