Why are you going to toy fair?

Harcourt has been exhibiting at Toy Fair for about 15 years," says Zoe Lawler, specialty retail sales manager. "Our strategy there is to reach out to nontraditional customers at gift and toy stores...That's one of my favorite things about Toy Fair—you never know who's going to walk into your booth. Over the past five years or so, we've expanded the number of 'novelty' books on our list. Toy Fair is a great place to showcase these new additions."

As a 20-plus-year veteran of the show, "Our strategy is to showcase what's 'new and hot' for summer/fall 2007, as well as to remind our customers about our key backlist properties," publicist Lisa Moraleda says, noting that they hope to meet with independent toy retailers as well as existing buyers. The publisher will also exhibit at New York Comic-Con (NYCC).

"We meet with our regular book buyers as well as independent toy retailers. We've always had a fantastic response from toy buyers at the show, as our books cross over into the toy category," says Jennifer Bittorf, marketing coordinator. A Toy Fair veteran since its inception, the publisher will also exhibit at Book Expo America (BEA), "where we will be launching two fantastic new titles in our Groovy Tube series: Magical Creatures and Mythical Beasts," she says.

"This is the first time we're showing and we're very excited to both see our old toy customers and make new ones," says Kira Lynn, publisher. Adds Sondra LaBrie, marketing manager, "We're eager to present our multi-cultural books. We're also confident that our presence at the Toy Fair will result in new accounts and encourage current customers to carry the award-winning picture books that Kane/Miller is known for." Kane/Miller will also exhibit at BEA.

Klutz will be kicking off the celebration to its 30th anniversary this year with the debut of six interactive titles, according to Melissa Bloomfield, publicist for Scholastic, which now owns Klutz. "Toy Fair is a great time for Klutz to reinforce its longstanding relationships with the toy retail market," she says. "As a company that publishes books-plus, having a strong presence in the toy market has been a key part of Klutz's success." Klutz will also exhibit at BEA.

"At Toy Fair, we highlight our licensed brands, bestselling titles and books with particular appeal to toy retailers," says Tracy van Straaten, vice president of publicity. "The primary focus is on non-traditional book outlets," she says. Scholastic will also exhibit at both NYCC and BEA.

"We have been exhibiting at Toy Fair for the past eight years, and it continues to be one of our best shows," says Lynn Brennan, acquisitions manager. "It basically put us on the map...It's a great opportunity for us to catch the attention of independent toy retailers, special market accounts and larger retailers and distributors that may not be familiar with our hands-on, kit-based product. It's a great venue for us." The publisher will also exhibit at BEA.

"This will be the first year that Sleeping Bear Press exhibits at Toy Fair," says senior publicist Audrey Mitnick, who notes that the publisher's Discover America State by State series is "a perfect fit for independent toy retailers," while its backlisted alphabet books "are great partners for the games, toys and art supplies offered by toy retailers," especially when displayed together. "We're really interested in learning what we as a publisher—along with our authors and illustrators—can do to support these retailers."