FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 21, 2022
Media Contact:
5W Public Relations
NYNOW@5wpr.com
212-999-5585
PLAY USA to provide the retail industry with a new and needed section to source and sell the latest and greatest toy and trend merchandise
NEW YORK (September 21, 2022) – NY NOW®, owned by Emerald Holding, Inc., the leading national gift and home wholesale trade show, today announced the launch of a new, dedicated toy destination, PLAY USA, to its market. Beginning with NY NOW’s 2023 Winter Market, taking place February 5-8, 2023, at the Javits Center, PLAY USA will showcase toys, games, and trend merchandise and will capture the spirit of discovery, whimsy, and joy that the products on display are created to evoke.
PLAY USA will provide a venue for the vibrant and essential specialty toy market in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, as well as national accounts across the US beginning February 2023, which is traditionally the most important time of the year to discover new and exciting product introductions. The timing of NY NOW creates a viable and important new toy and trend resource for buyers as they look to discover new merchandise for their stores after the end of the year holiday cycle.
“The toy industry is thriving. Despite pandemic-related challenges, toy sales have continued to spike, and the toy market is expected to reach $231 billion by 2028,” said Alana Branston, Group Vice President, Gift & Home. “We are excited to create a home at NY NOW ‘PLAY USA’ for the toy, game, and trend professionals who want to continue doing business in the industry’s epicenter: New York City.
We are looking forward to inviting some of the toy brands on Bulletin, like Candylab Toys, Green Sprouts Inc, Pebble Child, Kaspiland, and many more. PLAY USA is guaranteed to be a vibrant and successful ‘show within a show’ for toy manufacturers, distributors, and retailers alike.”
Through this new venture, NY NOW offers a hub to the U.S., and international retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. Early brands who have signed up to exhibit at PLAY USA include Ty, Schylling, Ravensburger. Tonies, Fat Brain Toy Co., Playmobil, Mindware, Thames & Kosmos, Crazy Aaron Puttyworld, Tangle, Super Impulse, License-2-Play, Daron Worldwide, Baby Paper, Spincopter, Uniche, Fantasma, Fun Express, Dreamgear, and Brightz. It is expected that 100’s of companies will be featured, covering toys, arts & crafts, publishing, and trend in more than 20,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Jeffrey Kennis, whose company Enchanted Moments, Inc is known as the most comprehensive sales organization representing the toy and gift industry for the entire East Coast and key accounts nationwide, stated, “Enchanted Moments, a sales representative firm servicing the toy, gift, and trend segment of the retail community, and has been a proud exhibitor at NY NOW for more than 25 years. We are thrilled to learn about the launch of the dedicated PLAY USA format on February 5-8, 2023. The PLAY USA area will provide NY NOW attendees a much-needed beginning of the year venue in NYC as they navigate the show in search of the latest trends and ‘hottest’ new products.”
Both buyers and distributors welcome PLAY USA’s addition to NY NOW:
“I have attended the NY NOW show for years and always find something new and incredible. The variety of vendors, exhibiting everything from the latest trends to the most sought-after items, makes this a show I never miss,” said Debbie Imperatore, of Funky Monkey, Greenvale, NY.
“NY NOW has always been an integral channel to provide the quality of service our retailers have come to expect from us. We are excited to see the continued investment and expansion of NY NOW with the addition of PLAY USA and think this will provide even more resources at the show for our retailers, both existing and new,” said Scott Harper, CEO of Harper Group.
Jose Verger, VP of Field Sales, Ty, Inc., added, “NY NOW has opened so many doors for our company. Every year we walk away with new business leads, increased sales, and inspiration for our next product launch. There’s no better show for us than NY NOW, and we are looking forward to showcasing our products at the Winter Market.”
Industry suppliers interested in exhibiting at PLAY USA should contact Stephanie Gaspari at Stephanie.Gaspari@nynow.com or 914-421-3366 to reserve their space. Based on expressed interest, it is expected that this dedicated area of the show floor will sell out.
For more information about NY NOW, visit www.nynow.com, and follow @ny_now on social media for more updates.
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About NY NOW + Bulletin:
NY NOW is the largest gift and home wholesale trade show in New York, where brands, buyers, and designers gather to connect and discover. Held twice a year in New York City, America’s design capital, NY NOW and online wholesale marketplace partner, Bulletin, connect 4,000+ independent brands with over 40K U.S. and international buyers from independent stores, museums, department stores, bookstores, galleries, general gift shop, art & entertainment venues and many more. For more information, please visit www.nynow.com and www.bulletin.co.
About Emerald:
Emerald is a leader in building dynamic, market-driven business-to-business platforms that integrate live events with a broad array of industry insights, digital tools, and data-focused solutions to create uniquely rich experiences. As true partners, we at Emerald strive to build our customers’ businesses by creating opportunities that inspire, amaze, and deliver breakthrough results. With over 140 events each year, our teams are creators and connectors who are thoroughly immersed in the industries we serve and committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. For more information, please visit www.emeraldx.com.