Nearly 700 buyers attended the October 7-9 show, including representatives from AAFES, Amazon, Big Lots, CVS Health, Dollar Tree, Sears Holdings Corp., Target, Toys“R”Us, Walgreens and Walmart. Among the nearly 350 retailers in attendance, a wide range of outlet types was represented, from drug stores and supermarkets to discount chains and department stores. The expanded marketplace was also open for the first time to high-volume specialty retailers with expressed interest in the gift and toy markets. Total attendance (excluding exhibiting companies) was 1,320.

350 toy companies displayed new and developing product lines in closed, open or combination booths, including Blue Orange Games, Cardinal Industries, Cloud B, The Haywire Group, Kahootz, Learning Resources, Melissa & Doug, Moose Toys, and Wicked Cool Toys. From action figures and dolls to arts & crafts and collectibles, creative toys were spotted by buyers, licensors and others visiting the Dallas Market Center from around the globe, with the largest delegations hailing from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, Australia and the Netherlands.

“We are pleased to report that Fall Toy Preview was an upbeat and successful show!” said Marian Bossard, TIA vice president of meetings and events. “Industry stakeholders from nearly three dozen countries once again kicked off the annual toy buying cycle at our fall marketplace, with several exhibitors reporting that they were fully booked with buyer appointments, had several drop-ins, and received enthusiastic feedback on their 2015 lines.”

Business and networking opportunities were met with brand-new educational programming, including Fall Toy Preview’s first-ever keynote address, delivered by Doug Van Andel, executive creative director for global shopper marketing firm Saatchi & Saatchi  X.

“The keynote address was well-received by all who participated, with many attendees sticking around after Doug’s presentation to ask questions about connecting with shoppers and improving customer relationships in the retail environment,” added Bossard.

The Opening Night Party, sponsored by The Beatrix Girls, gave attendees the chance to connect with one another in a fun and lively setting. Proceeds from the party will help support the philanthropic work of the Toy Industry Foundation. The TIA Young Professionals Network cocktail party, held on the second night of the show, fostered continued networking and relationship-building among toy professionals aged 35 and under.

TIA’s Fall Toy Preview gives toy buyers from mass, long-lead and high-volume specialty outlets the opportunity to meet one-on-one with toymakers and marketers more than a year in advance of in-store delivery. Several enhancements were successfully introduced at the 2014 show, including new open booth displays that enabled exhibitors to highlight items and encouraged buyers to discover new products, trends and suppliers. For more information, visit www.FallToyPreview.org.