President's Letter: LA Fall Preview Market Week: A Celebration of Play, Purpose, and Possibilities

Coming off a busy and productive week in Los Angeles, I am energized by The Toy Association’s renewed focus to be a “unifying force in service of our members” and the inaugural LA Fall Preview being the perfect example of this commitment. As a brand-new venture for our Association, created in direct response to the evolving needs of our industry, the LA Fall Preview has already become a major networking event on the toy industry calendar for companies looking to showcase their upcoming lines and connect with key buyers during the critical fall preview season.

While nearly 80 tenants are still taking meetings in showrooms at 2250 East Imperial Highway through the end of the month (in addition to other showrooms in the toy district and the greater Los Angeles area), the LA Fall Preview dedicated market week, which took place from September 9 to 13, offered valuable opportunities for key networking and business development. This concentrated week of activities has brought together industry professionals, from top executives to emerging talent, in an environment ripe for forging new relationships and exploring collaborations.

One of the highlights of the week was The Toy Foundation’s “Party with a Purpose” fundraising event. Held at TAO Los Angeles on September 9, this event combined the best of networking and philanthropy, bringing together industry professionals for a fantastic evening — all while raising more than half a million dollars for children’s hospitals. The funds raised will help provide play therapy resources to pediatric hospitals in under-resourced communities. It's moments like these that remind us how the toy industry can come together to give back, using the power of play to make a real difference in the lives of children in need.

The following evening on September 10, colleagues and friends gathered at Otis College of Art & Design for the market week’s marquee networking party that brought together more than 300 industry professionals. One of the most exciting parts of the night was heading up to the Toy Design floor, where attendees had the unique chance to meet with students and see projects they are working on. The creativity and innovation on display were inspiring, and it was clear that the future of toy design is in great hands.

Presentations from Circana and Spielwarenmesse provided another level of value to exhibitors and attendees. Circana’s deep dive into the current state of the U.S. toy market provided valuable insights into emerging trends and shifting consumer preferences. (Our members can request an executive summary of the presentation by reaching out to Anne McConnell.) Spielwarenmesse’s Florian Hess also shared an update on the Nuremberg trade show at an exclusive press conference.

The grand finale of the week on September 13 was the 2024 Wonder Women Awards, hosted by Women in Toys, Licensing, & Entertainment at the iconic Beverly Hilton. This year’s event honored some of the most accomplished women in the industry, and I couldn’t be prouder that our very own Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association, was among the honorees. Her leadership and contributions continue to leave a lasting impression on the toy industry.

Momentum is strong as the LA Fall Preview continues through the end of September, but it’s hard not to be filled with anticipation as we look ahead. With People of Play’s Inventor Pitch and Innovations Summit, TAGIE Awards, and Chicago Toy and Game Fair in Chicago this November 6 to 10 and the TOTY® Awards and Toy Fair® New York coming up from February 28 to March 4, the excitement continues to build for what lies ahead. If our market week is any indication, the future is looking brighter than ever as we work to create connections across the diverse groups in the toy community.

I would like to personally thank our Toy Association team for their dedication and passion, and our members and partners for their support. Your feedback is invaluable as we strive to be of service to our members and bring value in as many ways as possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time – you can contact me at gahearn@toyassociation.org.

With warm regards,

Greg Ahearn
President & CEO
The Toy Association