BOTI Global Ltd.

Years ago, I started posting articles about our crazy toy industry on Linkedin. The response was amazing. Soon many others in the industry tried to follow in my footsteps. Some say I should take pride in these people seeing me as the example of great taste. Just to name a few: Richard North, Richard Derr, Jeremy Padawer, Anton Rabie, The LOL-man and many others, all trying to share their success-stories, learnings, promoting their books, do's & dont's and ofcourse promoting their toys. What followed was a battle for attention. For likes, support and a positive comment. A regular public bitch fight between some of the biggest ego's in our industry was a bonus. That is the burden of my life setting the example, the trend, with many people to follow...then just to see them all publish an overload of posts on a daily basis. Volume over value. I can't track these posts anymore. Do you? I must have created a monster! And I admire them all. Geniuses are they. Just to give an example: While I was busy chasing girls and annoying my parents as a teenager, Jeremy Padawer found time to write 1000 letters to famous people. Thousand letters!! Only a genius can do that. Just imagine the effort. And how do I know about this? Well thanks to linkedin! And I am sure Jeremy is going to share all 1000 letters with us in the years to come. Mark my words! Just imagine during his puberty, Jeremy's hormones conversing with eachother about what to with Jeremy and then one of them saying: "Hey, let's make him go write a lot of letters...". Obviously my hormones where pushing me in a very different direction. Or take Richard North. His infamous curly hairstyle was specifically designed during his teenage hippie years in the 1960s. Once married...it still took him another 50 years to change his hair style. And how do I know that? Well, Richard shared it recently on this platform, including picture of proof. Richard to me is the Harry Potter of our industry. Years ago, I decided to set up camp in Los Angeles. Pioneer it, check it out, work the streets. Yes Mattel, MGA, Playmates and some others have been based in LA for decades, but I saw LA as the future 'global' centre of 'branded' toys. Soon word was on the street (us usual). 2 years ago LA had 35 toy suppliers, last year 70 and the coming 2 weeks of LA Previews:...250 (!) toys suppliers have followed my path since. Even the The Toy Association realised "you can fight it, but you can't beat it" setting up their own LA toy show as part of LA previews: Isn't that the world upside down?!? But like with linkedin, did I create a monster as the pioneer of the 'Global' LA Previews? 250 suppliers in different locations presenting newnewss to the world with the majority of the customers coming the 2nd week. Will this go seamlessly? Volume over value? Fingers crossed. Where is my award by the way? #toys #toyindustry #LApreviews #tradeshows #toytrade James Zahn John Baulch Alfred Kropfeld

On June 6th forthcoming, I will attempt to bike the Alpe D'Huez in the French Alps (only..) 6 times to raise money for cancer research. A little back ground: 'Alpe d'HuZes is a unique sporting event where as much money as possible is raised for cancer research and for improving the quality of life of people with cancer. On a single day, 5000 participants will bike, hike or run the Alpe d'Huez. Attempting a maximum of six climbs, under the motto 'giving up is not an option'. The race day is always on the first Thursday in June and is part of a complete week, which is being prepared for a full year. A special week full of solidarity, in which cancer is openly discussed for everyone.' I am looking for sponsors and if you can miss some money in change to support this fantastic event, it will be most welcome (and needed). Click the link below, it is easy and quick. Thank you! #cancerresearch #alpedHuzes #alpeduez #toyindustry #toys BOTI Global Ltd. GOODMARK EUROPE https://lnkd.in/er8Mgek4

For BOTI Global Ltd. the #LApreviews have so far been a succes. Now, we look forward welcoming the US/Canadian retailers this coming week for another round before we can pack up an go back home. While both the April and September previews are a long stretch, without any doubt and with all respect for #hongkong and other venues, the LA previews seem more productive under the Californian sun due its length. Not always easy for suppliers who have to spend more time (and cost) in LA, but the return is we have more time for the customers. So if that is the investment we have to make to present a better proposition to our customer base ...well that is what we, toy suppliers, just have to do. And where some win, some others lose. As I have predicted several times #distoy is a dead end road and will likely not happen as 2025/2026. As much as #NYTF will never be the same again. The The Toy Association has finaly realised fighting an uphill battle against the inevitable, doesn't do any good, so a move to LA is now in the making. BUT it hurts their wallet so much. The Toy Association being a commercial driven institute, rather than a non-profit organisation is seeking for funds... For example if you want to book a hotel in El Segundo during the LA Preview in September, guess what...you have to book it through the TA.... that is a bold move from an organisation despising LA for such a long time. A TA focusing on making money first before caring about the industry is in principle wrong. As much as paying its CEO close to 1 mio USD a year is nothing but a disgrace. It is no surprise a new US Toy Association is in the making. And as always, very little is dull in our industry... Thank god. #toys #toyindustry #losangeles #toyassociation #LA James Zahn John Baulch Alfred Kropfeld #toyfair #retail

Never stop innovating, never stop creating! "Cre-A-tures" is a new interactive electronic pet for kids 3-5 developed by BOTI Global Ltd. Winning Toy of the Year award im fall of 2023 and having only 5* star reviews since its is release this is a must have toy for kids who like to built their DIY electronic buddy. Mix, Mix and Match! Check out the TVC...one of the best we have made so far in my humble opinion (thank you Diaframma Advertising) While we have closed many markets, there is still open regions. Don't hesitate to DM me or contact our sales team for further inquiries. #toys #toyindustry #innovation #creations #electronicpets #diy #toynews #toyfair Larissa Blauw-Louwman Karen Starkey Stephanie Peyret J. Steven Tucker Bruno Van Speybroeck Daan de Kroon Andy Kingsley-Smith Ken Danielsen Adrienne Abrevaya Alex Prieto Scott Ray Stefan Volcke Kerrie Lydon Boss Nina Brackeen https://lnkd.in/eME2h75Y

It needs to be said and at the risk of my head being chopped off by a few disbelievers BUT for those who plan to enter the German market: According to Circana the German market shows a devastating -12% (!!) in the month of January '24, compared same period in '23. And 2023 as a year was already dramatic. Now anyone responding to this post, by saying it is the economy', I warn you..I will BLOCK you! This is not a very good start. Now Smyths Toys is not included in the Circana reports...and actually that is a good thing as the data would be (far) less negative and would not give a true representation of the rest of the market. What is going on? * Most German retailers shut down for new business in January and most of February Why? Well it is the traditional stock clearance, end of year auditing and what have you: "our warehouse is full" and "our shelfs are packed" * There is a big disconnect between retailer and todays consumer (the gamer, the kidult etc) * German buyers love German toy companies. Germany 1st and that is totally fine. However with the exception of a few, most German companies are not experiencing the best of times * Believe it or not, most retailers have yet to place their '24 spring orders * One believes the German consumer is different..WRONG! * One believes the German mother stills make the decisions...WRONG.."das war mal' * If the licensed merchandise is not related to a movie, TV series, book...it simply doesn't exist"...again..WRONG! It is one of the biggest frustrations for suppliers dealing with Germany. Some buyers say "let's make the final decision for Spring'24 when we meet at Nurnberg Toy Fair...2024"...hmm oké...so you expect suppliers just to stock new product in the hope...you buy? Well let me tell you, first comes, first gets...we don't hold inventory if we can sell it now...so we may have no product for you at all! If the German toy market wants to improve the 2024 (and beyond) performance...then it needs its a total reset. From independent to specialist to mass market! To prove my point...There are a couple of German retailers who have broken the "status quo" and guess what, these companies show increase year-on-year...against the negative trend.. Now what do these retailers do? 1) Total connected to the end consumer... 2) Understanding today's consumer is a global consumer 3) The "global" consumer is diverse and of all ages --> Opportunity!! 4) Understanding and exploring what is happening in other markets 5) The year has 365 days...so 365 days to sell product, not 250 days.. 6) New product drives traffic to store...traffic means business...and the opportunity to make an incremental sale 7) Spring season starts Mid- December, Fall season starts in Mid-June... What do you do when the store you visit offers you the latest of the latest, and the store across the street offers old product?… you go (and stick) to the first one. #toyindustry #toys #spielzeug #germany

Talking about cultural differences... whenever I bring a box of toy samples on the plane, I alway get the following questions from the crew European crew: What is in the box? Me: Toys European Crew: Really? Children toys? American Crew: What is in the box? Me: Toys American Crew: Really? Adult toys? Perhaps it just happens to me, but odd it is. #toys #toyindustry #lifeintoy #travelling BOTI Global Ltd.

2024 is the year of the video game and YouTube based collectibles and merchandise. As a retailer your don't want to miss out on #stumbleguys, #sonic, #onepiece #rainbowfriends, #fivenightsatfreddys #bloxfruit, #doors, #petsimulator #poppyplaytime and more. AND you don't need to look far: BOTI Global Ltd. has them all!. On top of the above BOTI Global Ltd. is bringing some exciting new YouTube influencer toy properties to Germany, France and Benelux. Two of these exciting new brands are LankyBox and Aphmau. Both #lankybox and #aphmau are in the top 10 new properties in the UK/I Market for the month of December. This promises to be a "hot" spring for the French, German and Benelux markets. Retailers, you don't want to miss out on any of the above...oh and did I mention we have #pokemon, #tmnt and #newempire as well? Come check out LankyBox and Aphmau, next to our other fantastic toys, during the #nurnbergtoyfair this week at the BOTI booth, Hall 12.0/F04. #toys #toyindustry #nurnberg #toytrends #lankybox #apmau #stumbleguys #sonic #rainbowfriends #bloxfruits #roblox #fnaf #petsim #poppyplaytime #doors #newempire #pokemon #tmnt #kong #godzilla #kongvsgodzilla. PMI Kids World @Bonkers Jazwares, LLC Playmates Toys Inc. PhatMojo