Christian Elies’ Post

The best performer in Europe so far this year, and the only country in growth, is the Netherlands. This territory is growing in value terms by +6% compared to last year, though it is also the third smallest country in value size and makes up around 6% of the European of the European toy market. When looking at supercategory trends, there are many smilarities with other European countries. But also two big differences - The Netherlands is the only country where the Action Figures and Infant /Toddler & Pre-School Toys categories are growing. The top property in Action Figures - growing at +16% -is Funko Pop! There is also strong growth from Super Mario Bros, Pokemon and Smashers, and the growth from these properties is outperforming other European countries. In Infand/Toddler & Pre -School Toys, Little Dutch wooden toys are one of the top performers. The Netherlands is the key market for this brand, and it is adding value versus last year, outperforming many of the properties around it in this category. Paw Patrol is growing with double digit value growth too. And although there is growth in other countries , the trend in the Netherlands is the strongest across Europe. The other countries are all in decline, with Germany and the UK in the strongest decline at -7% for Germany and -5% for the UK. These two countries represent the largest the third largest markets, so these numbers are a significant contributor to the overall -4% figure for Europe. It will be interesting to keep an eye on the country trends as the year progresses, and there are potential factors that could influence some countries more than others. How will the Olympics in Paris impact sales in France? And could we see a new product arrive out of the blue to boost sales in one particular country? #toys #toyindustry #toynews

Embracing the Future with Baby Circus: Deploying Strategic Integrations and Nearshoring in Mexico.   In an increasingly globalized world, Baby Circus’ movement towards adapting, innovating, and growing confirms the company’s dedication to providing an elevated brand experience. The potential opportunity to utilize nearshoring in Mexico 🇲🇽 is strategic, displaying our intent to boost commercial synergies and operational efficiency.   Baby Circus’ active participation in Mexico’s vast opportunities and booming manufacturing industry shows the ambition to uphold quality, sustainability, and social responsibility, paired with economic growth. Our historical and ongoing investment in commercial expertise through partnerships with international and local respected brands, including—Disney, FisherPrice, Avent, Mead Johnson, Sears, Walmart, Coppel, and Chedraui—aims to diversify our product portfolio, capture new demographic markets, and accelerate commercial innovation.   As we set our sights on 2024, our performance and trajectory make us a prime candidate for exploring new avenues in nearshoring and strategic collaborations. This promising direction anticipates unparalleled opportunities for our customers, collaborators, and stakeholders, inspiring a substantial growth and investment vision. It paints a picture of a brighter and more sustainable road to the future.   #StrategicPartnerships #NearshoringMexico #Growth2024 #InvestingInMexico #ManufacturingInMexico #BabyClothes

Andy Keimach Interim President & Chief Executive of The Toy Association, wants to hear from you! Things are changing... Andy, what are you working on now?  Having been at the helm of The Toy Association for just over a month now, I have been able to touch on many different aspects of the organization and begin work on priority issues that will benefit the entire industry we serve. I am also engaging in one-on-one conversations with as many industry members as possible, with special care to reach well beyond our current membership, to collect feedback and gain a deeper understanding of the wants and needs of everyone in the industry. The goal in improving outreach to the entire industry is to find improved solutions for how The Toy Association can be of service to all. This includes (but is not limited to) listening to the needs of new and small businesses that will drive future growth through innovation, the inventor community, and specialty toy retailers. In the end, I view The Toy Association as the “Big Tent” for our industry. My concern is that today, many feel like they are on the outside looking in, and I want to change that moving forward. That said, here is what I am currently working on: READ MORE... #peopleofplay #interview #tradeassociation #toyindustry #toyassociation https://lnkd.in/g2zkPCbN

This video is for store owners and retailers who are looking for inspiration to improve customer experience, retention and repeat business through product engagement. It's from my 2018 visit to Babybanden in Oslo, Norway and I have shortened the original video to a few highlights. These examples are all transferrable to any retail category. They're low-cost measures to implement with meaningful and measurable impact. It really doesn't matter if you're in the baby stroller business, toys, music equipment, tools & hardware, powersports or automotive aftermarket. I love good retail. Before getting into manufacturing, I came from independent retail. The idea of letting customers engage with products rather than only displaying products on the shelf was always important to us and it stuck with me. When I heard what Babybanden did in Oslo, I had to see it. This video is 6 years old now but remains relevant. It's still top of mind as a customer and supplier. A special thank you to Babybanden's René Eide Natvig who came up with these things in the first place. Enjoy! #retail #retailindustry

The Complicated Relationship with Toys of an Adult Who Grew Up Without Them I grew up in Romania during the communist regime, one of the toughest and somberest in Eastern Europe. My family was hard-working but fairly poor, and the greatest gift they gave me was a huge respect for education. Thank you, mom. Thanks to our strict regime that banned goods from those “evil” capitalist countries, the only toys we had were either Made in Romania or, if we were lucky, Made in China (thank you, “comrades”). So, my childhood memories aren’t exactly filled with toy-filled wonderlands. Instead, I was the kid whose Christmases and birthdays meant unwrapping a magical stash of Jules Verne books. It’s like Santa knew I was an introvert who preferred adventures on the page rather than in the yard. (Still am, by the way.) Fast forward to my late 20s, and I stumbled upon designer toys. Cue the dramatic shift from “Oh, I had a wooden toy once” to “Let me win this eBay bidding war at 3 AM for a limited edition figurine!” My apartment quickly turned into a quirky museum, much to the amusement (and occasional horror) of my friends and family. At 40, I packed my bags, switched continents, and landed in Los Angeles with a dreamy plan to work in the Designer Toys industry. Spoiler alert: it’s a niche market that doesn't exactly pay the bills. So, I dropped “designer” and went with plain old “toys.” My first real job in the US was at Landis’ Labyrinth, my neighborhood toy store. The biggest challenge? Selling “nostalgia” toys—those classics everyone else grew up with but I was seeing for the first time. I felt like an imposter nodding along to customers’ childhood memories, pretending I too had played with those toys. But then, the shiny piles of toy catalogs in the owner’s office caught my eye. Soon enough, I convinced her to trust me with the buying and ordering. It was like unleashing a kid in a candy store, except I was the kid who grew up without candy. Magical doesn’t even begin to describe it. A few years later, I found myself at TPG Creations/The Pencil Grip, diving into product development and attending trade shows. Even now, I continue to see the toy industry through the eyes of my 5-year-old self, and I believe that’s one of my greatest strengths. So here I am, sharing this journey with you. If you ever wondered how someone can have a complicated yet deeply fulfilling relationship with toys, look no further. My story is proof that it’s never too late to rediscover the magic of play. https://lnkd.in/guV5e_UE

Toy Fair 2023 Recap: Now that we’ve all had a chance to decompress and process the show, one sentiment still sticks out far beyond many others. The largest companies and brands didn’t want to be there and the smaller vendors and companies NEEDED to be there. In my opinion, this show was a day longer than it needed to be and each day was two to four hours longer than required. Day one and two initially had me thinking this was going to be a comeback story for Toy Fair. Then they dropped the news of the venue change and it killed the mood and the fun. The final day of the show was nothing but exhibitors wandering the floor and complaining about the show attendance and the changes for 2026-2028 to New Orleans. We were so grateful that the traffic of the first few days gave us the opportunity to have the meetings we needed to, demo the products we came to show and set up follow up meetings for products people were actually interested in. Obviously it was essential that we reconnected with long time contacts and retailers and we couldn’t have been happier with the notion that companies ARE looking to onboard new and innovative products to their current product mix. We have seen a little bit of everything over the last 40 years and have certainly had our share of ups and downs but product development is, in someways, recession proof. In good or bad economic times companies need innovative ideas to excite and delight their customers. While people were met with relatively closed doors by the larger brands upstairs, the first floor was a buzz with people looking to make connections and build relationships with retailers, manufacturers, and distributors with one common goal; getting new products to the shelves of their stores, into their catalogs, and then showcasing the opportunities to display their product lines to the masses through e-commerce channels. #toyfair2023 #toyfairnyc #productdevelopment #innovation #sourcing #intellectualproperty #inventions #researchanddevelopment #manufacturing #productdesign #additivemanufacturing #digitalprototyping #prototyping #marketingmaterials #patents #licensing #royalties #licensingnandroyalties #housewares #toys #games #tradeshow #tools #hardware #security #electronics #engineering #education #kitchenware #automotive #automotiveindustry #appdevelopment #companionproducts #petindustry #pet #fashion #fashionindustry #sports #sportinggoods #hunting #fishing #recreation #medicaldevices #medical #homeandgarden #hvac #hospitalityindustry #novelty #gifts #target #walmart #amazon #bestbuy #costco #samsclub #cvs #walgreens #Intromark #inventhelp

Dive into the epic battle for supremacy in the toy industry! 🚀🎢 "The Tug of War: Hong Kong Seizes Its Crown Anew, As Los Angeles Makes a Bold Leap Forward!" 💪👑 Who's leading the charge? Find out in this riveting article! A golden chance to dive deep into the world of toys awaits. 🌈🔥 Don't miss out! 🇮🇹 Tuffati nella battaglia epica per la supremazia nell'industria dei giocattoli! 🚀🎢 "Il Tira e Molla: Hong Kong Rivendica il Suo Trono, Mentre Los Angeles Avanza Audacemente!" 💪👑 Chi sta prendendo il comando? Scoprilo in questo articolo avvincente! Una grande opportunità per immergerti nel mondo dei giocattoli ti aspetta. 🌈🔥 Non perderlo! 🇩🇪 Tauche ein in den epischen Kampf um die Vorherrschaft in der Spielzeugindustrie! 🚀🎢 "Das Tauziehen: Hongkong Nimmt Seine Krone Zurück, Während Los Angeles Vorwärts Stürmt!" 💪👑 Wer führt jetzt? Finde es heraus in diesem packenden Artikel! Eine großartige Gelegenheit, tief in die Welt der Spielzeuge einzutauchen, wartet auf dich. 🌈🔥 Verpasse sie nicht! 🇫🇷 Plongez dans la bataille épique pour la suprématie dans l'industrie du jouet! 🚀🎢 "Le Tir de la Guerre: Hong Kong Reclame Sa Couronne, Tandis Que Los Angeles Fait Un Bond en Avant!" 💪👑 Qui mène la danse? Découvrez-le dans cet article captivant! Une chance en or de plonger profondément dans le monde des jouets vous attend. 🌈🔥 Ne le manquez pas! 🇪🇸 ¡Sumérgete en la batalla épica por la supremacía en la industria del juguete! 🚀🎢 "La Batalla de Fuerzas: Hong Kong Recupera Su Corona, Mientras Los Ángeles Avanza Firmemente!" 💪👑 ¿Quién está al mando? Descúbrelo en este emocionante artículo! Una oportunidad de oro para sumergirte en el mundo de los juguetes te espera. 🌈🔥 ¡No te lo pierdas! #ToyIndustry #HongKong #LosAngeles #Innovation #ToyBattle #MarketLeaders #ToyTrends #EpicBattle #ReadNow #ToyDesign #IndustryInsights #CreativeToys #ToyNews #BusinessGrowth #MarketTrends #ToyTalk #ActionFigures #EducationalToys #BoardGames #TechToys 🚀🎢💪👑🌈🔥

With no New York Toy Fair in 2024, the industry is seemingly scrambling to find the ideal meeting place. While many are currently exhibiting at the London Toy Fair and some are soon to be off to Nuremberg for Spielwarenmesse, others will be heading to NETs and Toy Fest in the next few weeks. While some say that trade shows are a thing of the past, it is important to remember that trade shows play a pivotal role in the success of the toy industry by providing a platform for manufacturers, retailers, and enthusiasts to converge. These events offer a unique opportunity for industry players to showcase their latest products, innovations, and trends. The face-to-face interactions foster networking, partnerships, and collaborations that are crucial for the growth of the toy sector. Additionally, trade shows serve as a valuable market research tool, allowing businesses to gauge consumer preferences and stay ahead of competitors. The exposure gained at these events can significantly impact brand visibility and market presence, making trade shows an indispensable component of the toy industry’s landscape. What are you thoughts on trade shows? #toyindustry #Spielwarenmesse #Londontoyfair #toybusiness #newyorktoyfair #tradeshows #tradeshowsuccess

The highly anticipated BIG Toy Book is out! See my article reviewing the U.S. toy industry performance last year as well as my thoughts on the 2024 U.S. toy industry on page 34. Also this year, Circana has provided stat shots for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil toy markets starting on page 30. #toys #toynews #toyindustry #licensing #entertainment #retail #wearecircana

Barbie can do it all, including sell beauty products! 👠 💄 👱♀️    We found that brands using #barbiemovie licensing saw sales boosts not just during the month of the movie launch, but over the entire summer period and even sustained through the fall    Download the full infographic for even more insight 👇  https://lnkd.in/esFJpnJd #niqbeauty #beautyindustry #barbie #beautytrends