Toy Association Chair Aaron Muderick Talks New Toy Fair NY Timeline on ‘The Playground Podcast”

May 17, 2022 | Aaron Muderick, chair of The Toy Association and founder & president of Crazy Aaron’s, appeared on “The Playground Podcast” this week, chatting with Christopher Byrne, aka The Toy Guy, and Richard Gottlieb, president of Global Toy Experts, about the new fall timeline for Toy Fair New York and what’s in store for the 2023 Preview & 2022 Holiday Market this fall.

During the discussion, Muderick provided insights into how the Board came to the decision to move Toy Fair New York to a fall timeframe and the many factors that contributed to the change, including the impact of the pandemic on the global supply chain. He also spoke of how Toy Fair NY will still work to serve the needs of large, mid-sized, and small toy companies by allowing for longer lead times to actually develop products and mitigate some supply chain risks.

The conversation also addressed the importance of this year’s Preview & Holiday Market for the greater play community. Muderick pointed to the hybrid nature of the show, which will showcase both current and future product, as a steppingstone to what Toy Fair NY may look like in the future.

“At this point, I think we are all desperate for the opportunity to get physical facetime with buyers,” said Muderick of the upcoming fall show in Dallas. “Whether you are ready or not, whether it’s the optimal situation for your business or not, you are going to benefit by being there physically with buyers and with other vendors and manufacturers. We all know that stew of everyone stirring together, making hallway connections – it has a real benefit.”

Listen to the full episode here.

“The Playground Podcast” covers toys, culture, and toy history, and talks with some of the leading people in the business of toys and children’s entertainment. The podcast is available on multiple streaming services, including Apple Podcasts, Anchor.fm, Google Podcasts, Radio Public, Spotify, and Stitcher.