Editorial Calendar
Click here to download Playthings' 2010 Editorial Calendar as a PDF file.
About our deadlines:
Playthings magazine is published monthly. Unlike a consumer publication with a long lead time, each issue of Playthings is published during the month that the issue says it will appear. As a trade publication, our goal is to bring you the most up-to-date information about what's new in the toy business each month, so when we say something will be in our August issue, that means it will be in the issue that comes out in August. Typically, our editorial deadline is on the 1st of the month* prior to the next month's issue (ex: July 1 for the August issue).
* Our Feburary (Toy Fair) issue's deadline is December 1. There are also early deadlines for our June issue's Licensing Show coverage and our October issue's Mass Market Toy Show coverage. Contact us directly for dates as they change annually.*
About our monthly content:
In addition to our in-depth feature stories, each issue contains some or all of the following department pages. Each covers a certain topic or section of the toy and related children's entertainment product markets.
• Exclusive: An in-depth interview with a person of note within the business
• Minding Your Business: Industry experts offer up their advice on topics in which they are expert. Currently those topics are selling toys from the perspective of a manufacturer's sales rep (by Richard Gottlieb) and intellectual property issues as they relate to toys (by Marc Cooperman)
• Global View: An inside look at toy business conditions in countries outside of the U.S. by the editors of toy trade magazines in other countries who, like Playthings, are members of the International Toy Magazines Association.
• Kids Entertainment: Where we cover product-related trends (ex: toys for special needs) or issues within the toy space.
• Mature Audiences: Where we cover toys designed to appeal to teens and adults, primarily collectibles, along with video games and properties that impact this segment of the business.
• Licensing: Where we spotlight developments in the worlds of children's programming, film and other areas that influence the creation of the toys and children's entertainment merchandise.
• Retail: A place to spotlight successful toy and children's entertainment retailers and share tips on how to become a better merchant.
• Off the Shelf: A themed round-up of new product the editors find interesting.
• Bookshelf: A themed round-up of new children's books, along with interviews of authors and others having an impact in that area of the children's entertainment marketplace.
• Multimedia: Where we highlight the latest in new children's audio and video releases
• What's Selling: A monthly listing of the best selling products at select independent retailers around the U.S.
If you have questions about Playthings' editorial plans and policies, please contact Cliff Annicelli, editor in chief.