Short takes
Staff -- Playthings, 6/1/2002
TRU no show-stopper
Toys R Us will be taking its check book overseas for merchandise next year, opting out of DITIS (Dallas International Toy Import Show), the industry's letters of credit show that was built around the mass retailer about 10 years ago.
Even so, the "show will go on," Georgia Davis, executive vice president of the Dallas Market Center, assured the show's traditional roster of exhibitors. She said the center, which hosts DITIS and myriad other market shows, was "in the process of confirming dates and retail participation for the DITIS 2003 event and will have an update by early summer."
Monthly fun instead
Following the loss of two report contributors—Electronics Boutique and Gamestop—NPDFunworld has opted to only publish monthly reports on video game sales. But the addition of The Wiz, Pamida and Boscov's to the monthly list of retail reporters has enhanced this report, according to Ilene Hasse, director of toys and video games, NPD Funworld.
'Peek' season set
Rest up; the next toy season is just a vacation or two away. The eighth annual New York Toy Preview has been set for Sept. 18-20, 2002. The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is sponsor of the by-appointment-only-event.
The dates, a TIA spokesman said, were chosen to eliminate overlap with travel to Hong Kong for L/C business and also to avoid conflicts with September and October religious and civic holidays.
