Page 26 - Toy & Hobby Retailer Magazine Mar-Apr 2019

Toy, Hobby & Licensing Fair 2019
WELCOME TO THE
2019 Australian Toy Hobby & Licensing Fair
Gabby Anderson welcomes Toy & Hobby Retailer readers to the 54th edition of the industry’s favourite fair.
MARCH will kick off with a bang for the Australian Toy Association
(ATA) who is set to hold its flagship event, the 2019 Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair from Sunday 03 March to Wednesday 06 March at the iconic Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Across four-action packed days more than 6,000 retailers, exhibitors, media and buyers will come together to buy, sell, witness new toy trends and network amidst a carnival- like atmosphere of colour and movement.
The fun will extend right onto the venue concourse thanks to activations from
Entertainment One, NBC Universal, Big Balloon and Nickelodeon who will be delighting Fair attendees and the general public across the four days.
The first day of the Fair will see the industry’s primary consumers, Aussie children, attend the Fair before toy executives dress up in the theme of ‘a bit of glam’ for the annual Gala Dinner at the Crown Palladium Ballroom.
During the Gala event, proudly sponsored by Headstart International, the ATA will hand out the prestigious Toy of the Year & Licensed Property Awards, induct a new entrant into the Hall of Fame and award a
Rising Star who is making a name for his/ herself in the industry. It promises to be an amazing evening with lots of laughs and great music by Stereo Stars.
On day three the ATA will hold its annual LIMA Licensing breakfast which will bring together Australia’s foremost licensing experts to discuss the state of licensing in Australia and the world today.
The ATA will also be holding its 25 Year Club Function on Monday 04 March. This event recognises the individuals who have worked in the industry for 25 years or more and is always a wonderful function that
brings together the individuals who make the industry the vibrant community that it is today.
With a new layout and a range of new exhibitors such as Funtastic and MGA, the 2019 Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair is expected to be the biggest ever. Many thanks goes out to sponsors such as HeadStart Interntional, Ty, Big Balloon, Nickelodeon Viacom and LIMA Licensing that have once again assisted the ATA in pulling together what we hope will be a world-class trade event.
Once the Fair finishes, the ATA will turn its attention to its next major event, the Mid- Year Preview to be held in Sydney this June. At this annual event, some of the biggest toy companies in Australia will be showing off their wares and new offers to retailers as we move into the important second half of 2019. Stay tuned for details.
The ATA is also continuing its important work in the areas of safety and compliance to ensure Australian children are only being exposed to the highest quality toys that don’t compromise their health and wellbeing. It also continues to promote the Value of Play through a partnership with the Toy Association in the USA which will come to life further over the coming months.
It’s an exciting time to be in the Australian toy industry.
We look forward to seeing you at the Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair! ❉
26 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER MARCH / APRIL 2019