Page 15 - Toy & Hobby Dec-Jan 2020
P. 15

Jonathan: Generally speaking there’s a vibe out there in most retailers who will tell you quite openly what their top [toy is] or what people walk in and ask for.
And that gets around, we know that. Everyone wants such and such and the judges will know that too – they’ve all got mates in the industry and they’ll ring them up and say, ‘what was working for you?’ and that’s what you want.
Alice: I think it’s more obvious now if a certain product wins Product of the Year – it’ll be accepted.
There’s always going to be controversy – I don’t think you’re ever going to keep everyone happy – but we think this is the right step forward.
Jonathan: And most of the people that’ll be in that hall will have a pretty fair idea of what was working.
Imogen: What’s your hope for the impact the awards will have now?
Jonathan: I would like to think it would be certainly accepted, but not just accepted but that it’s given a position of being, ‘they’ve made the right decision.’ Not just accepted but approved. That it’s got the approval.
Alice: I think it will definitely get approval and will be accepted as the way to move forward.
Imogen: Are there categories small to medium businesses can enter?
Alice: Absolutely, all categories can be entered by any business and if their product did well in the Australian market then they are up for a chance of winning.
There are also categories such as Specialty that were created with the smaller exhibitors
in mind.
Jonathan: I do think small people should be putting something in.
If you’ve got something that’s interesting and innovative, the judges need to see these things, you just never know.
SPONSORED CONTENT
AWARD CATEGORIES
• Action Product of the Year – Products that include action figures and their play sets/accessories.
• Australian Development Product of the Year: Any toy or children’s product that is 75% or more Australian made content or 100% Australian designed.
• Collectable Product of the Year: Products that compose a set; can include novelty playthings, miniature versions of existing lines, licensed collectibles etc.
• ConstructionProductoftheYear: Products that include building and engineering sets.
• Craft & Activity Product of the Year: Arts and crafts and other indoor products that inspire creative play through various forms of activity.
• Doll of the Year: Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay, wood, plastic and porcelain and their play sets/accessories.
• Educational Product of the Year: Educational games and learning products that are used as props to enhance a child’s development and IQ e.g. memory retention, reading skills, hand eye coordination and maths skills.
• ElectronicProductoftheYear: Physical products that are electronic or interact with a smartphone, tablet or gaming device.
• Game of the Year: Children’s board, card, electronic or other physical game formats and puzzles (does not include video games or apps).
• Hobby Product of the Year: Models, RC and powered or non-powered vehicles and their play sets/accessories.
• Infant/Pre-School Product of the Year: Products that are developed for infants/ pre-schoolers (up to five years).
• Outdoor Product of the Year: Products that are designed for active, outdoor play.
• Plush Product of the Year: Dolls or products made from fabric as of silk, cotton, wool etc.
• Specialty Product of the Year: Products primarily distributed through specialty retailers.
• STEM/STEAM Product of the Year: Products that encourage kids to develop skills in the core disciplines of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
• Overall Product of The Year: Chosen from the award winners of all categories.
ENTRY CRITERIA
• Product must be suitable for children 0-13 (except Infant/Pre-School which is up to five years).
• Entry to the Product of the Year awards is open to Toy Fair Exhibitors only.
• Must be new product first released in
Australia after 1st November 2018
and up to 31st October 2019 (Q3).
• Maximum of two entries per category,
per exhibitor.
• Entry must be an individual product
(assortments accepted).
• An entry cannot be submitted into
more than one category.
Alice: You have to be in it to win it! ❉
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER / JANUARY 2020 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER 15


































































































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