Richard Gottlieb

Sports/Leisure and Outdoor Toys

It was buried at the bottom an article entitled “HONG KONG: Nuremberg show adds World pavilion.”   Right there, in the next to last paragraph, was this throw away sentence:  “Meanwhile, Spielwarenmesse [The German name for the Nuremberg fair] added a category for sport, leisure and outdoor products at Nuremberg. The International Toy Fair Compass – the show directory – will include the new category.”

I have been involved over the years with several sport, leisure and outdoor products and really enjoyed the experience.  It is less competitive than 4^th quarter products, is less brand and license driven and is a virtual playground for anyone with the entrepreneurial spirit. 

My only complaint was that it could have been a much bigger business if only it had the critical mass to support the requisite buying shows.  Toy Fair was for 4^th quarter products so buyers just weren’t interested in looking at 2^nd and 3^rd quarter goods.  The few attempts to create shows for outdoor products had been lackluster and ultimately terminated.

Hopefully, this move by Spielwarenmesse could mean that the buying seasonality could potentially shift.  Buyers will have to consider 2^nd and 3^rd quarter products at the same time that they work the 4^th quarter.  I know, I know; buyers are already overwhelmed and overworked.  They will need to look at goods much further out and yes, it will distract some buyers who want to focus on the 4^th quarter. 

It is, however, in the best industry of toy nation to shift the buying season to coincide with the big shows.  Why?  The answer is because a shift in the timing and potentially a shift in focus could make the Sports/Leisure and outdoor toy category bigger . . . much bigger.  In an industry with steadily falling revenues, this would be a good thing; a really good thing.

Posted by Richard Gottlieb on July 23, 2008 | Comments (1)