The New York Toy Fair is still a couple of weeks away, but the New York International Gift Fair has just wrapped up with many toymakers having represented there, showing off their wares to a more varied audience of buyers than they'll experience at Toy Fair.
Creativity is still hot on the toy market, with companies like Bead Bazaar introducing craft kits for children of all ages, while the market for back-to-basics toys made of wood and fabric is still being tapped by makers like B. Shackman, Petra, and Jack Rabbit Creations. Upscale children's clothier Zutano introduced a line of soft toys, and many smaller toymakers and new companies chose the Gift Show over Toy Fair to showcase their latest offerings, citing the increased exposure to buyers and the hopes that they won't be knocked off by other manufacturers quite so quickly.
Toy juggernauts Melissa and Doug and Manhattan Toys both previewed their entire selection of new products at the Gift Show, with highlights including a $60 wooden grand piano from Melissa and Doug and new incarnations of Manhattan's popular Groovy Girls brand. The future looks bright for creative, interactive play!
