Comments on: Should I go to London Toy Fair?

By: GetSheila

GetSheila — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:54:32 +0000

Heh. I WOULD volunteer if I did not live: 1 ocean + 1 continent = 2 far.

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei

Hsien-Hsien Lei — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:12:28 +0000

Oh, I just re-read your comment, Sheila, and realized I assumed YOU were volunteering to be my assistant. HahhaHAHa Were you? o_O

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei

Hsien-Hsien Lei — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:11:36 +0000

getsheila: I so wish you could come! Well, you are always welcome to visit us, Toy Fair or no Toy Fair!

By: Play Library » We’re Going to London Toy Fair!

Play Library » We’re Going to London Toy Fair! — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:47:37 +0000

[...] With the exception of one person who didn’t care whether I was going to London Toy Fair or not, I wanted to thank everyone who offered encouragement and support when I was busy stressing myself out yesterday. I especially appreciate the folks at Toyology who sent me a private email urging me to go and to bring my son with me. They’re experienced trade show goers who know what it’s like so the email went a long way towards calming my nerves. I hope I’ll get to meet the toyologists in person next week! [...]

By: getsheila

getsheila — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:37:45 +0000

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.

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei

Hsien-Hsien Lei — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 16:05:34 +0000

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?!?!

By: Kerri Aldrich

Kerri Aldrich — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:09:55 +0000

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!!!

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:10:21 +0000

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.

By: DevonT

DevonT — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:52:56 +0000

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!