Richard Gottlieb

Help for Risk Takers

All this week I have been writing about risk with a particular eye towards entrepreneurs. One of the best ways to reduce risk is to become educated in how the toy industry works. A great source for this information is your national toy industry association. 

I have listed below links to various European and American organizations. Seriously consider joining. In most cases, these associations have reduced rates for small companies. By joining you will not only have access to information about the toy industry and how it works but you will also become a part of your national toy community. This will allow you to meet people from whom you can learn. It will also allow you to learn the culture and customs of the toy industry.

Australia
Australian Toy Association
www.austoy.com.au
Canada
Canadan Toy Association

www.cdntoyassn.com
China

China Toy Association

www.toy-cta.org/en/index.asp
Denmark

The Danish Association of Toy Manufacturers
peter.trillingsgaard@europe.lego.com

France

Federation Francaise des Industries Jouet Puericulture (FJP)

www.fjp.fr

Germany

Die Velt der Spielwaren im Internet (DVSI)
www.toy.de

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Toys Council

www.toyshk.org

Italy

Assogiocattoli

www.assogiocattoli.it   

Japan

The Japan Toy Association

www.toys.or.jp

Netherlands

Ornes Organisatie van Nederlandse

ornes@planet.nl  

Spain

Asociacion Espanola de Fabricantes de Juguetes

www.aefj.es   

Russia

Russian National Toy Association

www.rnta.ru

United States

The Toy Industry Association (TIA)

www.toyassociation.org

United Kingdom

British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA)

www.btha.co.uk

If you would like a full list of all international organizations go the website of the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) http://www.toy-icti.org/about/memberlist.html

In addition to these national industry organizations, there are also smaller associations that focus on a particular aspect of the industry.  For example, if you want to manufacture games you may want to contact the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at www.gama.org or Discover Games at www.discovergames.com. If you are interested in the Specialty toy market you can contact the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) at www.astratoy.org. 

There are too many smaller organizations to mention here so if you are an organization that I did not list, please write in and inform our readers.

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on June 26, 2008 | Comments (0)