[US Toy Insider Sweet 16 Fair Expo]
[Mario from Mario Bros. waving to camera]
[FurReal toys]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “Some big things we’re seeing this year is food toys, whether it’s play food that seems magical or food that you can actually make with your toys. That’s a really big trend. We’re calling it Yes Chef. It’s kind of like that bear, you know, has become really popularized in pop culture. So, anything focused on food and cooking, pretending to, being able to make something after you’ve already played with the toy is perfect.”
[FurReal toy display featuring Maggie the Feed & Follow Cow]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “The biggest hit is going to be the Fur Real Maggie, the feed and follow cow. It’s a Highland cow, which is a very trendy animal out there lately. So, Maggie’s a highland cow that you can pet, interact with, and when you feed her bottle, she’ll follow you everywhere you go.”
[Plush toys on display]
[A toy bear dressed in colorful clothes]
[Exhibitor showcasing plush toys]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “For kids who are really into those chic looks that really have their own sense of style, that are discovering their interest in fashion, in clothes, in style, in customization. So, it really celebrates what’s great about each individual kid’s sense of styles, and then they can all come together and still have a fashion show together.”
[Promotional poster highlighting 3Doodler play]
[Creative gingerbread cupcake display]
Max Bogue (interview): “For the first time ever, for example, we can make a gingerbread house that will stick together quite well, and then we can decorate it right away, and it’s completely edible. It’s completely edible. It’s a sugar substitute as well, so it’s even safer than regular candy in that sense of it, and yet you can eat this till you’re happy and satisfied.”
[Gingerbread edible home cookie]
[Presenter demonstrating a kid-friendly 3D pen]
Max Bogue (interview): “This is a kid friendly 3-D pen. It allows us to draw and make physical objects. So, I drew in flat pieces and assembled this representation of space time for, for example, this dinosaur, which is just drawn in five pieces with the device and then assembled together with the device. And it gets quite extensive, you know. My wallet, for example, is also made using one of these devices, or my phone case is equally made using one of these devices. So, you can quite literally make anything that you want. You can even make moving things. So, this is an example of like an engine, for example, that is completely comprised of flat pieces that were then combined together.”
[3d flat piece designed engine]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “Great great ways to keep kids interested in learning is to make your toys fun while they’re learning. A couple examples are the 3D pens that we looked at from 3Doodler. A lot of them you draw with the plastic filament, kids can make their own creation, a lot of STEM learning, but there’s new great ones where the candy and the chef pens where you can create with sugar. So, you can make candy or dessert toppings. That’s a really great way to learn and play. And then you can also look at the Booksy line from PMI Kids’ World, which is super fun. It features their favorite Disney characters with little books hidden inside. So, you get entertainment, but also that literacy.”
[Colorful Wicked inspired plush toys]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “So ‘Wicked’ is gonna be a big blockbuster this year. People are so excited for it already. So, the Care Bears Wicked two pack is gonna be amazing. It’s gonna a perfect gift. You get the two besties, so two Care Bears dressed up as Glinda and Elphaba in one pack. So, you can either keep them both, collect them, display them by yourself, or you can share one with your best friend.”
[Toy fire station display]
[Woman demonstrating a toy cooking set]
[Attendees exploring Jelly Bands booths]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “I think that consumers should definitely be expecting to spend a little bit more on their toys this holiday season and what it’s going to be is actually going to vary from toy to toy. We could see anywhere from 10 to 30 percent. Right now, we’re even seeing rises from 2 percent up on what they were on MSRP’s, but I think customers should go out there expecting to spent more and budget that in.”
[Child playing with remote-controlled cars]
[Toy bears displayed in boxes and attendees examining toys]
[Toy cars racing on track]
Ali Mierzejewski (interview): “I think that’s a really big deal, and people, there’s plenty of budget-friendly options out there for whatever your kids love, there are other options, but I think customers should be really wary of third-party sellers and non-trusted brands, so it’s really good to use your resources and do your research before going out there and shopping.”
[Attendees posing for a photo]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.