Despite the news that both Spielwarenmesse (Nuremberg) and New York Toy Fair have cancelled in-person shows this year, the BTHA has confirmed its Toy Fair is to go ahead at Olympia London next week (25-27 January 2022).

BTHA’s Public Relations & Events Manager, Rebecca Deeming, explained to us what attendees and exhibitors can expect, the emerging trends within the nursery toy market – and the importance of nursery toys for retailers:

The Toy Fair is next week; we’ve waited a long time to get back to large-scale in-person trade events – what are people most excited about?

“I think most people, like us, are just so excited to finally get back to Toy Fair, seeing everyone again and being able to have business meetings in person after so long away. Getting hands-on with the new toys for 2022 is invaluable and much better than over Zoom!”

Any trends (specifically within nursery toy brands and ranges) that are emerging?

“We are seeing licensed nursery and pre-school toys becoming really popular thanks to the increasing popularity of Bluey and CocoMelon, as well as the ever popular Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig! So we expect to see the trend of licensed toys to continue to grow throughout 2022.”

What’s the importance of nursery toys?

“Not only are nursery toys fun and engaging for young children to play with but they are incredibly important, particularly as toys are the tools of play and help stimulate learning from a young age. Toys have many educational and development values, some you may not even realise and they help children to develop fundamental life skills.”

www.toyfair.co.uk