Summer show to sidestep widespread SARS fears
Summer show at ITC geared to address international travel concerns of toy industry buyers, manufacturers
by Maria Weiskott -- Playthings, 6/1/2003
Industry execs are taking a proactive stance as fear of SARS ripples through the international trade community. The International Toy Center and the United League of Toy Representatives Association (ULTRA) are joining forces to sponsor an event geared to insure that the upcoming buying season is preserved.
The New York Spring & Sum- mer Show, set for June 23-27, will be held at the ITC's showrooms on Fifth Avenue and Broadway. The Toy Industry Association, according to the ITC's Thomas Arbuckle, also endorses the event. The trade show is "a viable alternative" for those who would normally be traveling to Asia now, Arbuckle added.
Additional information about the show is available from either the ITC or from ULTRA.
Meanwhile, Peter Woo, Hong Kong Trade Development Council chair, notes that the World Health Organization has restated its position on the safety of goods from SARS-affected regions, confirming that "no restrictions are recommended." Woo said that "This is essential news for those who rely on Hong Kong's global supply chain." He added that "Production is still going on uninterrupted in factories in the Pearl River Delta," and cargo is moving efficiently.
