Category: Events

Many of the top multi-location retailers and buying groups, representing billions of dollars in purchasing power, will attend the June Markets in Dallas including Apparel & Accessories (June 11-14), Total Home & Gift Market (June 19-25), and Lightovation (June 19-22). Retailers and buying groups are coming to Dallas Market Center to discover the newest items across gift, home, lighting, apparel, and accessories from permanent and temporary exhibitors.

Once again, Friendly Unofficial Networking (F.U.N.) launched a series of informal networking events in Las Vegas to complement the Licensing Expo 2024 trade show. The week of Licensing Expo 2024 F.U.N. events kicked off on Sunday Night, May 19, at The Golden Tiki for a F.U.N. Tiki Night sponsored by GeekiTikis. The evening included unique tropical drink specials, themed drinkware, and a tiki mug raffle. 

Jada Toys, renowned worldwide for its meticulously crafted die-cast collectibles, proudly presents FuelFest, on June 1st in Los Angeles, California, at Irwindale Speedway. This partnership marks a significant milestone as Jada Toys steps in as the official title sponsor of this iconic event for the very first time. Featuring live performances by acclaimed rapper Xzibit, FuelFest promises an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

Block your calendars! For the first time ever, the Minecraft community will have their chance to experience a real-world, immersive, interactive Minecraft adventure. To celebrate Minecraft’s 15th anniversary, Experience MOD and Mojang Studios announced Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue,which is set to debut in Dallas on September 20, 2024, giving longtime Minecrafters, players and non-players alike, and families of all ages their first chance to be heroes in a real-life, in-person Minecraft quest. Dallas is just the first stop; Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will tour to additional cities around the world to be announced at a later date.

Entries for The Licensing Awards close on Thursday 30 May 2024. All of the award categories – including those for licensed products, licensed properties, retail, marketing, honorary achievement, plus the awards for sustainability, international retail and licensed live events – can now be entered, for free, via the website.

The buzz is getting louder each day for The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview, including the marquee networking event taking place on Tuesday, September 10. All toy industry professionals are invited to attend and encouraged to register. (Registration is complimentary but must be completed in advance.) Held on the second day of the Association’s dedicated market week (September 9 to 13), the LA Fall Preview Networking Party will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Otis College of Art and Design, home of one of the nation’s leading Toy Design programs. Anyone who is involved in the toy industry and will be in LA during that time is invited to attend.

The winners of the 2024 Licensing International Excellence Awards were unveiled in a ceremony that brought together industry executives from around the world to celebrate the best of the global brand licensing community.   The winners were selected from 197 finalists in 32 categories. More than 800 submissions were received, narrowed down by an expert global judging panel of 200 judges from 20 countries.   Returning this year, the Excellence…

Looking for new ways to create a more effective toy marketing strategy? Don’t miss “Kids Today: Data-Driven Insights Into the Media Research That Matters,” an upcoming Toy Association webinar taking place Thursday, May 16 at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Registration is now open.

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles announces its first-ever “Yes, KAWAII is Art” Plush Toy Drive, collecting kawaii plushie toys to support the Chase Child Life Program at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. Translating to “cute” or “adorable,” the toy drive is in fitting with the kawaii movement, which fosters a sense of joy, self-love, and community.