Category: Events

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) celebrates the success of its first NAVC HiVE event this week with the Vet Nurse+Tech HiVE in Austin, TX. Veterinary professionals from across the country were at the Palmer Events Center for this three day event designed to elevate and advance the careers of veterinary nurses and technicians. Many of the registrants and attendees were first-time participants in any event, anywhere, fulfilling the NAVC’s goal of providing accessible learning and networking opportunities to all members of the community.

Hasbro, Inc (NASDAQ: HAS), a leading toy and game company, announced Hasbro Girl Innovators of Play at the Girls Leading Change event. In partnership with Girl Up, a girl-centered leadership development initiative of the United Nations Foundation, the program will launch in early 2024 and build on the recent Hasbro Women Innovators of Play, a Challenge that calls for the next great women-led mass-market toy or game. Girl Innovators of Play will include a robust STEM-based bootcamp and invitation to girls between the ages of 13-24 to submit a social impact project idea focused on a cause they are passionate about and receive up to $1,000 in funding to transform that vision into reality.

Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is proud to announce its 2023 Wonder Women Winners, who were celebrated at the 18th annual Wonder Women Awards at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York City. The leading global organization focused on advancing and advocating for women in the toy, consumer products, licensing and entertainment industries, also honored Laura Zebersky with the Visionary Leader Award; Lisa McKnight, who received the Trailblazer Award, and Nyla Hayes, recipient of the Future Leader Award. The Wonder Women Awards honors top female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and other changemakers for their extraordinary accomplishments and impact within the toy, licensing and the entertainment industries.

Moose Toys, an innovative leader in the toy industry, won two prestigious accolades, including Champion of Diversity & Inclusion for Art Director Brent Bell in the inaugural people-focused awards, and an inaugural Marketing Campaign of the Year Award (Silver) at the Toy Foundation’s 24th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. The TOTY Award winners were announced at an awards ceremony at Cipriani’s 42nd Street in New York City, opening day of The Toy Association’s 2024 Preview and 2023 Holiday Market. “A dynamic, dedicated and zealously active leader, Brent was the catalyst for adding the LQBTQIA+ Workstream to Moose’s global workplace D&I initiatives,” said Paul Solomon, CEO, Moose Toys. “Under his leadership, Brent and his small team of volunteers designed a program that supports Moose’s commitment to building a workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We look forward to becoming further educated and enlightened under his thoughtful leadership and are so proud that his important efforts are being recognized and rewarded.”

Toy Fair 2023 (aka the North American International Toy Fair) opened its doors at the Javits Center in New York City, bringing together thousands of global play professionals to scout the hottest toys, games, and youth entertainment products of the holiday season and beyond from more than 1,000 exhibiting toy companies. Produced by The Toy Association, the sold-out show is a massive celebration of play and provides unparalleled access to the lucrative $40 billion U.S. toy marketplace and key markets around the globe. Taking place Saturday, September 30 through Tuesday, October 3, the largest toy show in the Western Hemisphere has been reimagined for 2023 to feature more exciting experiences and insights than ever before, while maintaining its legacy as the place to spot the latest innovations in play. Toy Fair continues to be a vital marketplace, and the proof is in the numbers – in 2020, the show hosted 890 exhibitors, and that number has grown to 1,021 for 2023.

wards, philanthropy, and entertainment on the eve of Toy Fair in New York City. Barbie, LEGO, Squishmallows, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were among the top winners of the evening, along with standout wins for Blue Marble, Thames & Kosmos, WowWee, and others that were honored with a prestigious award before Grammy Award winner Wyclef Jean took the stage. Hosted by and in support of The Toy Foundation (TTF), the TOTY Awards are an opportunity for the toy industry to unite behind their Foundation’s work delivering the extraordinary benefits of play to children in need. Collectively, approximately $800,000 was raised to support TTF’s programs benefitting the mission partners that participated in the celebration — Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Metro World Child, and University of Maryland — as well as hundreds of additional national and international nonprofits. The TOTY Awards’ Presenting Sponsors — Amazon, Mattel, Inc., and Spin Master — all joined TTF on stage to highlight the importance and impact of the mission partners’ work.

MAGNA-TILES, has rolled into victory, winning Preschool Toy of the Year for their Downhill Duo magnetic building set at the Toy Foundation’s 2023 Toy of the Year Awards. The winners of the 2023 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards were unveiled by The Toy Foundation at the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards on Friday, September 29th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The product category winners were determined by votes from Toy Association members, toy retailers, media and consumers. The awards celebration kicked off Toy Fair week, taking place from Saturday, September 30 through October 3, 2023, in which MAGNA-TILES will showcase their award-winning portfolio of magnetic construction toys.

The European experts in making stories come to life through its fully developed character-driven toy line are hitting the Toy Fair floor, revealing some adorable additions to their already award-winning product line. Slated to launch at New York City’s iconic Toy Fair, Bababoo and friends is expanding its categories, recently teasing the release of its “Best Friend” plush line on social media. For children ages 0+ years, Bababoo and his diverse and fun-loving character friends, Yuki, Pippa, Wilma, and Lolo offer children additional ways in which they can play and explore the world of Bababoo and friends. These fully developed characters that once only existed in board books are made using high-quality, soft-textured materials, and each has a personality that children can relate to. Their backstories radiate positivity, inclusion, friendship, and courage, and with them now being available in plush format bring the characters to life like never before. 

Moose Toys, a leading product and marketing innovator in the toy industry, marks its first appearance back at North American International Toy Fair with the display of its most sought-after holiday toys, including TOTY finalist and social media sensation Cookeez Makery. The latest release from Moose to mirror the smashing success of Magic Mixies, Cookeez Makery launched in July and has flown off shelves, requiring air freighting to keep up with growing retail demand. Cookeez Makery solidifies Moose’s domination in the new era of toy design by perfectly blending traditional play patterns with never-before-seen tech features designed to ignite multiple senses.