Should I go to London Toy Fair?
January 17, 2007 by Lei
Filed under Children's Toys, General Play Library Goodies
Am I insane? I am trying to organize myself to attend next week’s Toy Fair as a member of the media and am starting to have second thoughts.
First of all, from my house to the exhibition center takes at least an hour and a half so if I have to pick up my four-year-old from school mid-afternoon, that gives me only about two hours at the Fair (and three-plus hours commuting) each day on the safe side. The other option is to bring my son since press are allowed to bring their children, but that would mean I’d have to keep an eye on him instead of taking as many pictures or talking to as many people as I would like. And, of course, if he were in a bad mood that day, it wouldn’t be any fun at all. Although how could he be in a bad mood when surrounded by the newest and latest toys?!
In any case, I seem unable to register via their online form right now. If I can’t manage to do that then all bets are off. Not to mention that since all my work with toys is online here at Play Library, I’m not sure they’d be enlightened enough to let me in on a press pass. Although, bloggers were treated as press at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show.
I really feel that I must take advantage of being in London (since my family will be moving again in a few years’ time) and shouldn’t let silly things like bureaucracy and other nonsense get in my way. On the other hand, how devoted am I to the whole toy scene? I’m just a scientist for goodness sakes! 
So what do you think I should do? Help me decide by taking the poll below!
Update: I registered online successfully for both my son and me! But I still don’t know if I should bring him.
HT: Toyology
Tags: toys, london, toy fair, children, kids, parenting, family
Is getting someone to watch your son an option? A play-date for that day? Still too young?
I think you have to go. Just a scientist? I’ve learned more about new toys (and old favorites I wasn’t familiar with) from your blog in the past several months than any other source.
So, maybe you go with your son but don’t take as many pictures…still a cool experience and one that will inform one of your interests. And if you are thinking that you might regret not going…you can pretty much bet you’ll regret not going.
Hope to hear all about it!
I cover a lot of trade fairs as a journalist and I think it’s important to make an important distinction. The Toy Fair isn’t really about toys, it’s about the toy business. New product releases, distribution deals, emerging trends.
You usually can’t buy product at toy fairs and many of the exhibitors are too busy doing business even to talk to press.
There might be one or two children’s events on the last day, but I don’t think your son will find press conferences, interviews or look, but don’t touch demos very interesting. It would be like being in a cyndy shop without being to taste the sugar.
Where’s the “Fly Kerri to London and take turns watching S/going to the Toy Fair” option in the poll?!? I think that’s a very practical solution. :p Very excited for you to go!!!
Devon: Thank you for the much needed encouragement! It’ll be my first trade show and so I’m a bit flustered. And I’m going specifically for Play Library so I’ll try to do the reporting justice.
Kate: I get what you’re saying but the London Toy Fair might be a little different. They’re asking Press to register their children so they each have a special press sash and goody bag plus a Hamleys gift certificate. I think they’re hoping to use the Press children as models as well because we’re to sign them in with the PR agency on site.
Kerri: I would soooo love it if we could go together!!! When are we ever going to be in the same room?!?!
Ooh, definitely go. Can you bring an “assistant” with you, too? Maybe you can get a friend to come and watch Stephen while you do the worky worky part. May not be an option but thought I would throw it out there.
getsheila: I so wish you could come! Well, you are always welcome to visit us, Toy Fair or no Toy Fair!
Oh, I just re-read your comment, Sheila, and realized I assumed YOU were volunteering to be my assistant. HahhaHAHa Were you? o_O
Heh. I WOULD volunteer if I did not live: 1 ocean + 1 continent = 2 far.