Barnes & Nobles Looks for New Discoveries at Preview & Holiday Market

August 8, 2022 | From games and ride-ons to educational and sustainably sourced toys, the range of playthings that will be on display at The Toy Association’s 2023 Preview & Holiday Market is far-reaching and for buyers that means endless opportunities. Buyer registration is now open.

Taking place September 20 to 22 at the Dallas Market Center, the Preview & Holiday Market invites retailers to meet with the hundreds of exhibiting companies – including Basic Fun!, Jazwares, Bonkers Toys, Hape, PlayMonster, Melissa & Doug, and many more. The show also presents equal opportunities for buyers to shop Q4 items to round out shelves for this holiday and take appointments behind closed doors for 2023 product previews. See the latest floorplan here.

For buyers like Barnes & Noble’s Marnie Lawrence, senior director of merchandising, the Preview & Holiday Market also offers the opportunity to trend-spot and make new discoveries walking the show floor.

“I am particularly interested in discovering new suppliers and new products,” said Lawrence. “After two years of not attending trade shows, the prospect of unearthing new gems at an in-person show is incredibly exciting. Over the course of the pandemic, we stayed in close contact with our vendor partners and capitalized on their new product launches. However, finding new suppliers, new innovations, new categories of business – these discoveries happen in person.”

The Preview & Holiday Market is also critical for buyers that have very focused business objectives, which can often get side-lined in a virtual meeting.

“An in-person show allows the buyer to concentrate on specific product that suits their business needs rather than going through an entire line review, and with far fewer distractions,” said Lawrence. “Reviewing product, brainstorming ideas, innovating, and ultimately making selections for your stores requires the buyer to touch the product, to experience the play value - all of which necessitate a face-to-face, in-person meeting.”

Beyond the show floor, attendees will also be able to network during the various events happening over the course of the three-day show. Night one will bring the industry together for The Toy Foundation’s esteemed TOTY Awards and Opening Night Party, unveiling the much-anticipated TOTY winners and supporting the philanthropic work of the Foundation. Other happenings include WiT’s Empowerment Day (September 19) and The Toy Foundation’s one-day diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming (September 21).

Toy companies interested in exhibiting can apply and buyers can register at ToyAssociation.org/PreviewMarket.