66% of visitors travelled from abroad, with the UK and US posting the biggest increases.
International visitor numbers increased at this year’s Spielwarenmesse, although overall numbers did suffer a slight dip.
63,500 independent retailers and buyers headed to the Nuremberg exhibition centre from January 29 to February 2, from 136 countries. The 2019 show saw 66,876 visitors from 132 countries, with the decline in visitor numbers being linked to fears surrounding Coronavirus.
Meanwhile, 66% of visitors travelled to the fair from overseas (2019: 62%), with the UK and US posting the biggest increases.
With 2,843 exhibitors from 70 countries, 92% of them were very happy or happy with the outcome of the fair, praising the quality of the trade visitors.
Providing a good reflection of the current market, the three trends – Toys for Future, Digital goes Physical and Be You – were well received by trade visitors and exhibitors. A key focus was also on environmental awareness and on connecting digital and traditional toys.
“The Spielwarenmesse perfectly reflects our philosophy of sustainability which will play an even stronger role in the industry in the future,” commented Alain De Rauw, international sales director at PlanToys.
The organiser has plans to expand this theme at the next Spielwarenmesse.
Ernst Kick, ceo of Spielwarenmesse eG, concluded: “The high proportion of international visitors and the positive mood among exhibitors corroborates our forward-looking approach to the event.
“Venturing down the right track early on, we set our sights on leading the industry into a new and successful business year.”
Spielwarenmesse 2021 will run from January 27-31.
