“Tangible Benefits” for Toymakers as Tens of Thousands of Retailers Make Plans for Preview & Holiday Market

August 26, 2022 | With buyers representing more than 55,000 stores (not even including e-commerce) registered to attend this year’s show, The Toy Association’s 2023 Preview & 2022 Holiday Market, taking place September 20 to 22, 2022 at the Dallas Market Center, will be the place to be for toy companies hoping to make an early splash with their 2023 playthings and close out the 2022 holiday with strong sales.

“The overwhelming response we’ve received from the retail community confirms what we already knew: buyers are making the Preview & Holiday Market a priority, and for toymakers, being at this toy show is going to have tangible benefits for their business,” said Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association.

There’s still time left to sign up to exhibit. Beyond meeting with buyers big and small, including many of the top 25 North American retailers, exhibitors can take advantage of the show’s hybrid booth options to preview their innovative product for next year behind closed doors while helping buyers fill holes for Q4 2022 with on-display items.

“The 2022 Preview & Holiday Market in Dallas is going to bring life and excitement the toy industry hasn’t seen in over two years,” said Scott Flynn, CCO of PlayMonster, one of the hundreds of exhibiting companies that will be at the show. “You can only do so much virtually. No matter how great an internet connection, camera, or video you have, nothing beats touching, feeling, and playing with a product—you can never truly replicate that experience remotely.”

Showgoers will also have the opportunity to attend multiple on-site events over the course of the three days, including The Toy Foundation (TTF)’s eagerly awaited Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards & Opening Night Party on September 20, which brings the industry together to reconnect, unveil the much-anticipated TOTY category winners, and support the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation.

Additional happenings include Women in Toys’ Empowerment Day (September 19); TTF’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program, sponsored by Jazwares (September 21); and the opportunity to meet with The Toy Association’s trends team as it maps out its 2023 trends report, which will be presented on March 8 during “The Play Date” media event, hosted in partnership with Adventure Media & Events.

Toy companies interested in exhibiting can apply and buyers can register at ToyAssociation.org/PreviewMarket.