BY ANDY KEIMACH
Interim President and CEO The Toy Association
Thank you to everyone who joined us for The Toy Association’s Annual General Meeting and Board Election, held virtually on March 7.
As I said during the meeting, so many of you have a deep affinity for our industry. While it is tough going right now, we are a resilient community that is driven by creativity and innovation, and The Toy Association is committed to listening to, engaging with, and bringing together the entire toy industry.
For those who were unable to attend the AGM, my remarks discussed how we have been increasing our outreach by listening to companies both small and large, including manufacturers, retailers, inventors, and other key stakeholders, to ensure we are addressing the issues that matter.
I continue to encourage members of the toy community to get involved by joining one of our many committees, which help guide The Toy Association’s work on everything from advocacy- and regulatory-related topics to key program areas like the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
The Toy Association is making progress on both short-term and long-term activity in Los Angeles. As I reported during the AGM, applications are now open to rent private meeting space in El Segundo for the full month of September 2024 (including an organized Fall Preview marketplace week from Sept. 9-13). Long-term, the Association, led by our Board of Directors, is looking for a solution to meet current demand we are seeing from companies who would like year-round office and showroom space in Los Angeles that will enable them to meet with buyers during preview seasons, and on an as-needed basis.
Delivering increased support for The Toy Foundation is crucial. TTF is a pillar of the Association, and a focal point of our industry. We are committed to focusing more resources and support to enable the Foundation to achieve its mission and vision of delivering play to children in need.
The Toy Association staff touched on topics ranging from marketplace events, to advocacy, to the fiscal health of the Association. Executive vice president of global market events, Kimberly Carcone, shared that over 465 companies have recommitted to Toy Fair 2025 as of late February, and 67 percent of available exhibit space has already been requested. Indications are positive for Toy Fair’s return from March 1-4, 2025, and is tracking on par with the sold-out Toy Fairs in 2020 and 2023. Attendee registration for the show will open in mid-September.
Covering the Association’s crucial advocacy work, Ed Desmond, executive vice president of global government & regulatory affairs, discussed the many ways in which The Toy Association protects and promotes toy and play companies by working to ensure state, federal, and international legislation and regulations are based on good science, evidence, and provide an ongoing path for companies to do business.
Our work, as always, is guided by a devoted and passionate Board of Directors and Executive Committee. During the meeting, Sharon Price John, president & CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, was elected as chairperson of the Board. Sharon’s diverse toy background and impressive tenure at Build-A-Bear Workshop speaks volumes about her strategic acumen and leadership. Her proven track record of revitalizing brands across companies and driving sustainable success will undoubtedly bolster our mission of advancing the toy and play industry.
Our membership also elected seven new members to our Board representing a wide range of company types and sizes. They are: Vish Chandran, CEO of Wild Republic; Tim Kilpin, president of toys, licensing, & entertainment at Hasbro; Bryan Scott, vice president of merchandising at Target; Wes Hardin, CEO of Diverse Marketing; Max Rangel, director, global president, & CEO of Spin Master; Rob Michaelis, vice president of commercialization, parks, experiences, & consumer products at The Walt Disney Company; and Duncan Billing, chair of the board of advisors at Moose Toys. We recognized six outgoing board members for their many contributions.
The Toy Association’s 2024 Executive Committee will include: Sharon Price John as chairperson; Geoffrey Greenberg of Just Play as vice chairperson; Tim Kilpin of Hasbro as secretary-treasurer; and Jared Carr, senior vice president & U.S. general manager of LEGO Systems, and Vish Chandran of Wild Republic as members at large.
The Toy Association team, alongside our Board of Directors and numerous volunteer committees, is focused on addressing the diverse needs of members across all scales and sectors of the industry. We recognize that everyone plays an integral role in the vitality, expansion, and innovation within the toy and play community.
The Toy Association’s Annual General Meeting in can now be viewed online. The slide deck is available here.
