Page 20 - Toy & Hobbly Retailer Magazine August-October 2019

MID YEAR PREVIEW
2019 WRAP UP
ATA Scores Hat-trick with Mid Year Preview
The 2019 edition of the Mid Year Preview was held over two days at Rydges in Rosehill from 26-27 June. The third instalment of the show saw 36 exhibitors showcase key products and offers to more than 120 unique attendees. Imogen Bailey reports.
LICENSES ON SHOW
THE Australian Toy Association’s Mid Year Preview has once again demonstrated its importance to the Australian toy industry, after the third consecutive – and growing – year of the show.
The 2019 edition of the show saw 36 exhibitors participate in the fair, up 28.6 per cent from 28 in 2018. 21 returning exhibitors and 15 newcomers to the show filled the boardrooms, mezzanine and ballroom spaces, with new and familiar faces showcasing products and special offers for the second half of 2019. Newcomers
to the fair were Baby Brands, Bensons Trading, Bio Dough, The Bugg Report, Cactus, Early Life Projects, Geomagworld Australia,
Happy Distribution, Impact Posters, Johnco, Kapla, LaQ Australia (Smart Toys Trading), Licensing International, Rainbow Pacific and Trendy Toys. Meanwhile returning exhibitors were Australian Toy Distributors, Axis Toys, Big Balloon, Big Wheel Toys, Crown & Andrews | Goliath Games, Funrise Australia, HeadStart International, Heebie Jeebies, Jasnor (Australia), Jedko Games, Keycraft Global, MJM Australia, New Dimension Oz, Plum
Products Australia, Theatrix Magic Stuff, Toy Revolution, Toynetworx, U. Games Australia VR Distribution, Winning Moves and Zimbler.
The exhibitors interacted with 126 unique visitors over the two days. Retailers from all of Australia’s eastern states – including Big W, Mr Toys Toyword, Catch and Kidstuff – attended the show, with 72 attendees weaving their way through the fair on day one, while 54 made their way around on day two.
On the second morning of the Mid Year Preview NPD Australia gave an insightful presentation into the state of the Australian toy market. According to the statistics NPD collects, the Australian toy market experienced a 10 per cent decline in dollar sales in the
year to May 2019. NPD attributes this decline to more than just Toys R Us’ exit from the market, including declines in licensed toys and collectibles sales; the rise in online shopping which removes the opportunity for impulse purchases; and, the rises in the use of consumer electronics and video games.
The Mid Year Preview is scheduled to return in June 2020. ❉
FACES AT THE FAIR A small selection of the faces Toy & Hobby Retailer managed to snap at the fair!
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR
LEFT: Sean Richardson - Baby Brands; Andrew McDougall - Geomagworld (AKM Toys);
Peter O’Brien - New Dimension Oz; Corinne Winkelmeier and Scott O’Rafferty
- Australian Toy Distributors; Plum Play Australia;
U. Games and NPD Australia; Keycraft Global
20 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019