2021 TOTY Finalists Promoted Coast to Coast

December 14, 2020 | With families still looking for last-minute gift ideas, The Toy Association’s trends team has been at work promoting the 2021 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards finalists as must-have holiday items in broadcast segments filmed remotely from their homes.

Since announcing the 117 TOTY finalists on October 29, The Toy Association has featured 42 toys and games from 39 companies on televised holiday toy segments in major U.S. markets, including Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit , Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Sacramento. Thus far, the segments have generated more than half a million impressions. More airings are scheduled for the coming weeks.

“Our trends team has been front and center to ensure the TOTY finalists are at the top of kids’ wish lists and parents’ gift lists,” said Adrienne Appell, senior director of strategic communications at The Toy Association. “Featuring members’ products in broadcast segments is a critical part of our efforts to highlight the wonderful creativity and innovation of the toy industry – and the diverse toys and games that are sure to keep kids engaged, entertained, and learning new skills well beyond the holiday season.”

Adding to the exposure among online influencers, this year’s TOTY finalists were revealed and unboxed by top toy and game kids’ content creators, including DisneyCarToys, KhanFlicks, Lucky Penny Shop, My World,  Shartimus Prime, and others, garnering 26+ million online and social media impressions to date.

Toy fans everywhere have until January 5 to vote for their TOTY favorites at ToyAwards.org, where they can also download last-minute holiday shopping lists. Consumers in the U.S. are also invited to enter The Genius of Play’s giveaways on Facebook and Instagram featuring TOTY finalists.

TOTY winners in each category, as well as the highly coveted overall “Toy of the Year” Award and the “People’s Choice” Award, will be announced during the virtual TOTY Awards gala on Friday, February 12, 2021. The event marks the first time ever the TOTY Awards will be open to the public, inviting toy fans everywhere to tune in. Free complimentary tickets are now available.

Toy companies that wish to promote their own TOTY finalists using social media assets, including TOTY-branded images and copy for posts, can find information online at ToyAwards.org/Press.

In addition to recognizing the best toys, games, and properties in the marketplace, the TOTY Awards serves as a critical fundraiser for The Toy Foundation (TTF). Companies can lend their support when they reserve ad space in TTF’s digital 2021 Tribute Book, the official event program for the TOTY Awards.

For more information and to reserve your TOTY ticket, visit TOTYAwards.org.