D – Producers, publishing companies and industry associations from all over the world welcomed an international trade audience at their stands at the Nuremberg Toy Fair from January 30 – February 3, 2024. According to the official accounts, 2,354 exhibitors from 68 countries met up with 57,000 visitors from 125 nations. The leading trade fair of the toy industry thus offered the best prerequisites for maintaining existing contacts and establishing new ones.
The exhibition space extended across more than twelve halls, which were in some cases multistorey. There was plenty to discover – not only at the stands, but also in the scope of the lectures of the Toy Business Forum and the Talks in the License Lounge, a cooperation with BrandMate, the event for licenses and brand cooperations.
Speakers from different areas, from business and advertising, through to design and science talked at the Toy Fair, among others about artificial intelligence, influencer marketing, sustainability and the industry trend “Kidults“, which was the focal theme of this year’s trade show and which was also addressed by the special zone entitled “Life’s a Playground”. Adults are becoming increasingly more important as a target group for the games and toy industry. Playing is becoming more and more a central human cultural technology in all phases of life. In addition to collectibles and building and crafting models and playing with building bricks, especially trading cards, board and role games are popular.
Many companies that offer their board games, playing cards, spinning tops, puzzles, building blocks, sports devices, cuddly toys, etc. not only to the retail trade, but also individualised to the B2B sector, such as Bartl, Cartamundi, Gollnest & Kiesel, MTS Sportartikel/Schildkröt, Schäfer Toy, Sigikid, Tipp-Kick, Winning Moves and Wooden City, were represented at the Toy Fair again.
The next Nuremberg Toy Fair is scheduled to take place from January 28 – February 1, 2025.
// Andreas J. Haller
Photos: Andreas J. Haller, © WA Media
