The Results of the Toy Fair Survey

I am pleased to release the results of the Toy Fair Survey. Four hundred and four people responded. This is the biggest response we have received for any of our surveys. Thank you to all of you who took the time to answer the questions.

We decided to survey the toy industry about The Toy Association’s decision to move Toy Fair from February to the Fall because it was a historic decision. The February Toy Fair has been a centerpiece to the U.S. toy business calendar for 118 years. We wanted to find out how individuals felt about the move and what impact it would have on their business decisions.

I am going to wait to give you my insights. I want to provide you with time to determine your own. So, below are the results without any commentary. I will offer my thoughts in my next article.

Here are the responses:

1. How do you feel about The Toy Association’s decision to move Toy Fair from February to September?

I am happy — 48%

I am unhappy — 22%

I am unsure — 18%

I am ambivalent — 10%

I am confused — 2%

2. Exhibitor Question: The Toy Association has decided to move Toy Fair from February to September. How does it affect you?

I will exhibit and maintain the same size exhibition space — 54%

I will not exhibit — 26%

I will exhibit and decrease my exhibition space — 14%

I will exhibit and increase my exhibition space — 6%

3. Attendee Question: The Toy Association has decided to move Toy Fair from February to September. How does it affect you?

I will attend and stay the whole time — 62%

I will attend and stay fewer days — 16%

I will not attend — 16%

Other — 6%

4. Has the move to September affected your staffing plans?

I will bring the same amount of personnel — 63%

I will not send any personne — 19%

I will bring fewer personnel — 18%

5. Will moving Toy Fair to September cause you to exhibit or attend another show?

I will not add a new show to my itinerary — 51%

I wish to add a new show to my itinerary, but have not yet decided — 29%

I am adding a new show to my itinerary that I have never exhibited at or attended before — 20%

6. Some think Toy Fair should move to another city other than New York. If Toy Fair were to move out of New York, what is the best place to hold it? Below is a list of the ten largest convention centers in the United States in order of size. Give us your top choice.

Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, NV — 23%

Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, FL — 20%

McCormick Place – Chicago, IL — 18%

Anaheim Convention Center – Anaheim, CA — 15%

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, NV — 9%

Georgia World Congress Center – Atlanta, GA — 5%

Sands Expo & Convention Center / The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV — 4%

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – New Orleans, LA — 3%

Kentucky Exposition Center – Louisville, KY — 2%

NRG Park – Houston, TX — 1%