The Toy Association

🎅 A toy is never just a toy. This holiday season, The Toy Foundation’s Toy Chest (formerly the Toy Bank) is calling on toy companies to help deliver the joy of play. By donating product this October, you can ensure thousands of children receive the only gift they may get this holiday season. 📦 Donations are picked up at no cost to companies and coordinated through our national nonprofit network. It’s a simple way to give back, support CSR goals, and make an unforgettable impact. 👇 Learn more and submit your holiday donation form today below #ToyFoundation #GivingBack #ToyIndustry

🎥 Flashback Friday! Relive the magic of last year’s Chicago Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG) as you prep for this year's show! CHITAG is the only U.S. consumer event where families, kids, and holiday shoppers meet the inventors and brands behind their favorite toys & games. From game demos to headline-grabbing launches and smiles all around, CHITAG 2024 generated 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭.𝟱 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 and unforgettable moments for exhibitors and attendees alike. Here’s a look back at the energy, creativity, and pure joy that make CHITAG such a cornerstone of POP Week. 👉 Ready to be part of this year’s fair (Nov 8–9)? Don’t just watch the highlight reel, be a part of the next one: https://lnkd.in/ekjP2Uir #POPWeek2025 #PeopleOfPlay #CHITAG2025 #TAGIEAwards #YoungInventorChallenge #ToyIndustry Mary Couzin Ahren Hoffman, CTRS, CPE People of Play

The Toy Association is monitoring how the federal government shutdown may impact functions related to consumer products — particularly in areas related to product safety, import oversight, and regulatory activity. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has implemented its contingency plan, keeping approximately 45% of staff on duty to continue “essential functions” that “protect life and property,” with a focus on critical safety operations such as import surveillance and identifying hazardous or noncompliant consumer products. This marks a significant increase from past shutdowns, when less than 10% of staff typically remained on the job. Despite this expanded essential workforce, many CPSC activities have paused. Routine compliance reviews, rulemaking, administrative functions, and responses to non-urgent inquiries are currently on hold until federal funding is restored. Companies should expect delays in regulatory communications and processing. ➡️ Members with questions about how this may affect your products or imports, can contact Joan Lawrence, SVP, Standards & Regulatory Affairs (jlawrence@toyassociation.org).

People of Play has announced the 2025 Toy and Game Innovation Awards, the TAGIEs honorees: 🏆 Lifetime Achievement Awards – Mike Moody & Phil Orbanes 🌟 Industry Game Changer – Judith Ellis Join us Saturday, November 8 at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, IL as we celebrate this year’s theme, “Friendship” — honoring the creativity, collaboration, and community that make the toy and game industry feel more like family. Hosted by Karri Bean (Disney) with a keynote by Jeremy Padawer (Jazwares), this unforgettable evening will bring together inventors, designers, and leaders from across the globe. 🎫 Be part of the celebration — purchase your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/gN7Jua9V #POPWeek2025 #PeopleOfPlay #CHITAG2025 #TAGIEAwards #YoungInventorChallenge #ToyIndustry

📣 Webinar Reminder: Join us this Thursday for a Toy Association webinar, "Cracking the Code: Smarter Media Planning for Success," offering a practical playbook for building effective kids and family media campaigns. Led by Tim Jones of Blue Plate Media Services and moderated by The Toy Association's Anne McConnell, this session will uncover how to: ✅ Build smarter, data-backed kid-targeted media plans ✅ Engage parents effectively within the media mix ✅ Optimize creative, timing, and retail media for maximum impact When: Thursday, October 9 | 2–3 p.m. (ET) 👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/e9CKExiN #webinars #toyindustry

💡 Inventors & Designers — Your moment awaits! Applications are open for Creative Factor Inventor Day at Toy Fair 2026, the ultimate opportunity to pitch your ideas to the biggest names in toys and entertainment. Deadline to submit is October 31. Top companies will be ready to hear the next big thing in play innovation. 📍 When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 📍 Where: Toy Fair 2026 @ the Javits Center, New York City 🗓️ Apply by: October 31 Submit your online application + 90-second video for a chance to pitch your concept live at Toy Fair! As Kimberly Carcone, EVP of Global Experiences at The Toy Association, says: “Every iconic toy started as someone’s idea — and Inventor Day gives emerging talent the chance to be seen, be heard, and bring their innovations to life.” 🔗 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gJC9xyTQ #ToyFair2026 #InventorDay #CreativeFactor #ToyDesign #InnovationInPlay #ToyIndustry

🚨 The countdown to People of Play's POP Week 2025 (Nov 5–9, Rosemont, IL) is on! Five days. Countless opportunities to connect, showcase, and inspire. How to get involved: ✔️ Attend Chicago Toy & Game Fair ✔️ Sponsor or become a judge for the Young Inventor Challenge® and empower the next generation of creators ✔️ Exhibit, network, and be part of the toy & game community’s biggest Q4 gathering POP Week unites the industry, from consumer-facing fun at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair to innovation spotlights, inventor showcases, and more. 👉 Don’t miss your chance to take part in the fun: https://www.chitag.com/ #chitag #peopleofplay #younginventorchallenge #yic #peopleofplay #chitag2025 Mary Couzin Ahren Hoffman, CTRS, CPE Stacy Liebensohn

🚧 Heads up, Toy Association members! Our website will be offline this weekend as we make updates. We'll be back Monday, October 7 with a fresh new look and experience. Thank you in advance for your patience as we roll out a makeover designed to better serve YOU. #ToyAssociation #toyindustry #toynews

🌟 Calling All Industry Leaders & Innovators! The People of Play’s Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) at POP Week 2025 is seeking judges to help inspire and guide the next generation of toy & game creators. Each year, kids ages 6–18 pitch their original inventions to industry professionals. As a judge, you’ll: ✔️ Review innovative ideas from young minds ✔️ Provide valuable feedback and encouragement ✔️ Help shape the future of play and a lasting impact on young inventors’ journeys. 👉 Interested in serving as a YIC judge this November in Rosemont, IL? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/emJ7ZBsp or contact Ahren Hoffman, CTRS, CPE for more info. #POPWeek2025 #PeopleOfPlay #CHITAG2025 #TAGIEAwards #YoungInventorChallenge #ToyIndustry

🏆 The Toy Association™ has been honored with Advanced Solutions International, Inc. (ASI)’s 2025 Great Things Award in Digital Transformation! The award recognizes our work integrating OpenWater software into The Toy Foundation’s website to streamline the Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards process. The Toy Association's Isabel Carrion Geigel, CiA, senior director of digital communications, and Tanyoka Williams-Hester, senior manager of digital communications, (pictured center) accepted the award. “This recognition validates our efforts to embrace innovation that strengthens our programs and makes processes easier for our members, partners, and community,” said Carrion. Thank you to Advanced Solutions International (ASI) for this honor, and to our members and partners for inspiring us to keep raising the bar. More details here: https://lnkd.in/erM6DHHc #ToyIndustry #asiawards